Back in action. Action Jackson. Action Zakson. son.
309 - Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys: Straight up CCR. I don't know anybody that doesn't like CCR on some level. Maybe except for Blake. Nah, I bet he don't like 'em. I've really only ever been a "best of" when it comes to CCR so I was happy this album didn't feel like it lacked from not being the "best of." Nice album through and through.
308 - Frank Sinatra, Songs for Swingin' Lovers!: I might catch some flack for this one...in fact I'm sure I will...but I don't like Frank Sinatra. I won't say that he's not good. That bands he played with were great. But I just get this sick feeling in my stomach whenever I listen to him, like I'm stuck at a wedding I don't want to be at with celery in the chicken-salad, or that I'm watching a montage in a chick-flick showing all the good times this couple is having. This scene always precedes the "conflict act" wherein the couple breaks up or fights or sleeps with other people or all the above, only to have it all work out in the end by the means of forgiveness and honesty, at which time Frank comes back in to let us all know happily ever after is fully on. Dude. But I'll never begrudge anyone for liking him. I once tried to convince myself that I liked him too. (I vaguely remember this had something to do with me seeming more appealing to women.) It was also around the time I tried to convince myself that Peanuts was a humorous cartoon. That didn't work out either. But that had nothing to do with a girl. (And now that I think of it, the Peanuts movies and TV specials had excellent music by the one and only Vince Guaraldi. Seriously check out the albums "Cast Your Fate To the Wind" and an album he did with Bola Sete called "From All Sides." Both excellent choices.) Frank Sinatra will be just fine without my support.
307 - The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night: It's probably my favorite pre-Rubber Soul Beatles album. And few songs can take me back to the earliest days of experiencing music like the title song. I once had a roommate who hated the Beatles and he sited that song saying that's all they were. I tried to explain how they were so much more than A Hard Day's Night and even explain what their early song writing did for rock and roll song writing in general but it didn't help. I should have just made him a mix-tape. Regrets. If you've never explored the Beatles earlier stuff you couldn't find a better place to start. This or Help!
306 - Beck, Odelay: Hell yes! (Suck it Kanye!) There are singer/songwriters and there are artist/musicians. He's an artist that primarily expresses himself via music, and specifically it is in the variety of the music he produces that his "artisanship" expresses itself. Few musicians are capable of effectively expressing themselves and who there are in multiple genres like Beck has. And yes, most of what he releases, including such albums as Sea Change and Morning Phase, would be classified as alternative, however, the musical influences he expresses are genuine and not merely nodes to them. He's an artist for music's sake as his Record Club project and Song Reader album/sheet music would testify. Odelay is not where is started but it was the base upon which he created the rest of his career and blew away the winds of "one-hit-wonder" talk. Produced by the Dust Brothers, it's got plenty of sampling, cuts, musical inserts and it's use of mixed musical styles creates the sort of the interest and oddity you find in mixed medium or junk art. Alternative, noise rock, hip-hop, folk, country, electronic. Good stuff. You've probably heard The New Pollution and Where It's At so may I suggest Novacane, Sissyneck or Ramshackle.
305 - Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road: Liked it. Really liked it. If you are fan of alt-country (or even country) or Sheryl Crow with a littler more growl then you should defs check this shiz. Folk, a little dirty, a little southern rock, and all wonderful. I'll own this one. Can't Let Go, Greenville, Joy
304 - Jeff Buckley, Grace: Likely everyone has heard Jeff Buckley's Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, which I happen to feel is the best interpretation of that oft covered song. However, there is far more to this album then just one graceful sonnet. Seriously. It's as subtle at times and epic (without the butt) as rock can be. It's also got that quintessential 90's production sound, which I love. Of course it's on Rolling Stones Top 500 albums so it's earned a lot of praise from many but on the short list you can find Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and it's not hard not to hear its influence on both the vocals and guitar voicing of Matt Bellamy from Muse. It's the type of album I am glad I found later in life; 'twill be fun to digest. Lilac Wine, Lover, You Should've Come Over, Eternal Life
303 - Bob Dylan, John Wesley Harding: I have a feeling that this album has to be understood in context of Dylan's full catalog but I don't have much of a reference for that. (Like I've mentioned before, Bob Dylan is one artist that I have been
hoping to gain a better appreciation of along this journey but I feel
like I need to just listen to each of his albums starting with the first
and pushing on through.) With that said, I enjoyed it but nothing generally stood out to me. It was more country then folk, as far as Dylan is concerned and has All Along the Watchtower but it's hard for me to make a judgement call regarding it's spot in the annals of music history. Though I guess 303 is a good enough spot.
302 - Public Enemy, Fear of the Black Planet: I miss the art and creativity of sample heavy hip-hop from this era. (And they always make me think Mr. Barlow.) And this is thick with it. But it's more than just heavy beats; it's a complex album and like all the great rap albums from this time in America, it's socially conscience and a medium for an activists' voice to be heard. What's sad is that it's been 25 years since this album and the message is still true for as many now as it was then. Just look at the need for Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. Brothers Gonna Work It Out, Fear Of A Black Planet, Fight The Power
301 - Dolly Parton, Coat of Many Colors: It might not have been the Golden Era of Country but country was in full stride during the 1970's. And Dolly Parton was knee deep in it. One of the most emblematic female voices in country; sweet and strong. My impressions of Dolly Parton growing up was that she was just a big-breasted caricature of a country vocalist but quickly, once I actually had the...maturity (perhaps?) to listen to her music, I fell for her. Second only to Patsy Cline. Coat of Many Colors is a solid country album and I say give it a listen. There's substance here. (Most of you slacks out there are haters when it comes to country.) Travelin Man, My Blue Tears, The Way I See You
