Oops. I really got behind this time. Which is pretty much what I say every time but this time I mean it. Moving from Texas to Chicago will do that to you though. So before I keep listening to more albums I am making myself at least give you a quick list.
Leave on the Shelf
These are albums which I either didn't like, will never listen to
again, or down right pissed me off.
These are albums which I either didn't like, will never listen to
again, or down right pissed me off.
379 CrazySexyCool, TLC - Creep and Waterfalls will always make me feel crazy nestalgic for watching MTV in the house I grew up in but that is all this album will do for me. (Fully admit I will never own an R&B album from this era.)
375 Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne - Another Jackson Browne album?!?
374 Siren, Roxy - Brian Eno strikes again!!! I feel like I missed the boat for this genre of music. If you weren't listening to it in the 70s good luck enjoying it now.
373 Volunteers, Jefferson Airplane - I'm all set.
370 Mott, Mott the Hoople - We already have a David Bowie, thank you very much.
367 Ray of Light, Madonna - Madonna's House/TripHop transition is in full swing and I hate it.
357 Between the Buttons, The Rolling Stone - Sorry Mr. Moore, the Beatles already wrote a better version of this album. Though Wes Anderson has got plenty to borrow from here.
Listen to on Spotify
Enjoyed and maybe I'll check in on it on from time to time.
383 More Songs About Buildings and Food, Talking Heads - A band I have never really given a chance and I may end up loving them. The hyperactivity and ADD nature in their music could be exactly what I need. This is the sound of a band discovery a new way of writing music without sounding like they are just making it up on the spot or being pretentious about it.
381 Smile, The Beach Boys - If I get into the Beach Boys more I may buy this album but it's more of a documentary than a record.
378 (What's The Story) Morning Glory, Oasis - A band I have been quite biased against since my youth because it wasn't cool to listen to them in the mid 90s. At least if you skated it wasn't. On the whole, ok songs, and worth a listen.
369 Louder than Bombs, The Smiths - Once you accept Morissey for who is The Smith's become far more enjoyable and almost adorable. If I was listening to music in 1986 I might have loved this album, as it stands it's a good listen but only occasionally.
368 The Eagles, The Eagles - Breezy cool Eagles as is standard. Good for a Tuesday afternoon. It ain't prime-time listening.
363 Substance, New Order - A poster on my brother's door growing up made me curious. This album is a compilation of the band's singles up to 1987. New Order developed and embodied what may be considered quintessential 80s pop.
361 Stankonia, Outkast - I will never listen to the whole album ever again (it fails on the grand scale) and that's why it's not on the buy list but some of my favorite Outkast tracks are on this album. So Fresh, So Clean, Ms. Jackson, and B.O.B.. B.O.B. will always get me pumped up. I'm going to listen to it right now.
360 Singles Going Steady, Buzzcocks - Yeah. It was fun and not nearly as terrible as the Ramones loved to be. Plenty to hook yourself with.
359 Honkey Chateau, Elton John - Great reminder that Elton John didn't always sound like lame. Rocket Man and Honky Cat. Great choices. But still maybe just take the greatest hits.
Buy
Or already own.
380 Funky Kingston, Toots and the Maytals - I've always admitted that I am a Bob Marley fan and not necessarily a reggae fan. But! I have always wanted to be more of a reggae fan. Toots embodies all that I love about Marley but still stands apart for me. If Marley is the dealer then Toots is the sweet ganja he's slinging.
377 The Ultimate Collection, John Lee Hooker - All that I love in the blues Hooker gave me. Most other blues musician seem to merely recycle him which makes me grimace.
376 Post, Bjork - Bjork is often accused a merely being weird for the sake of being different but I never bought that. She's weird because that's was comes out of her but it's her norm. Post is sweeping (Army of Me to It's Oh So Quiet) and uses soundscapes better and more directly than most can (Isobel).
372 Reggatta de Blanc, The Police - You want find anyone who sounds like The Police and if you do it's probably some terrible cover band at a county fair. This album is their classic blend of punk and reggae and all before Sting was truly hate-able. If you don't like Walking on the Moon I say walk away now, but otherwise, spin it.
371 Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not, Arctic Monkeys - British-pop-punk. Simple, straight forward, energetic, infection. Try Dancing Shoes on for size.
366 American Recordings, Johnny Cash - By far the best thing I stumbled across this last go. Simple as country can get and that's the beauty of this album. It is just Cash and his guitar. The entire album. Basic songs, no fancy studio tricks. Rick Rubin knew there was a force still inside Cash and helped him show it by stepping out of the way. The themes are classic, mostly about God and forgiveness (Down There By The Train) and it's a beautiful record.
365 Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against the Machine - "Your anger is a gift." It's angry and uses simple riffs and hard knocks to prove it. William Wallace loves Freedom.
364 L.A. Woman, The Doors - The last of The Doors is maybe some of the best of The Doors. I know I have a soft spot in my heart for this album because Steve was always willing to rock out to L.A. Woman.
362 Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock, Today, and maybe throw in a little Geek USA and you've got the makings of a great album. Mid 90s at their best.
358 Sketches of Spain, Miles Davis - Oh hell yes!!! One of my favorite Miles Davis albums. It gets plenty of criticism for not being a jazz album and people don't know what to do with it but few albums can get me to stop what I am doing and just listen. Davis and Gil Evans were trying to encompass the beauty of Spanish music without just hawking it. I won't even suggest a song to listen to from it as an introduction. It really is a work that has to be listened to in it's entirety.You just have to put it on let it work for you if it will. It's slow, melodic, and textured.
