Well...this is tough! There has been some doozies in the past 20. Mott the Poodle (484), sounded like a cheap Bowie rip-off, while if I saw Gang of Four (483) perform live I probably would have walked out; very little to hold my interest. Steve Earle (482) and Merle Haggard (477) were enjoyable as was Funkadelic (479) while Faith on Faith by George Michael was really the only thing worth listening to on that album. The rest just kind of ran together for me. I want to punch Morrissey in the throat after listening to The Smiths first album (473). Did you even try to sing on that album dude or just moan into the microphone? The surprises were Elvis Costello and the Attractions' Armed Forces (475) and Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits (478). I have never really given either a chance and both were very accessible for me. Elvis Costello, at least at one point, did a great job of combining a quirky approach with real musicianship while Loretta Lynn could sing to me anytime of the day. Oh! And The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was white boys playing the blues as best as they can. I'll take them over B.B. King any day.
Here's to hoping it gets better quick...
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Impressions: The First 15
Well...thus far, by far, I have found more albums that have tested my resolve to see this quest through to the end. Take for instance The Stones Roses (498) and the Eurythmics (492). I knew before hand that I was only a greatest-hits type of Eurythmics fan and listening to a whole album by them made me question even why I was that type of fan. KISS (489) was bearable as was ZZ Top (490) and due to Husker Du's (488) lack of...color, variety, and any real skill, Cyndi Lauper (487) was my saving grace today.
However, there have already been some surprises. Boz Scaggs (496 - Boz Scaggs, 'Boz Scaggs'), whom I have never even heard of, was fresh and bright, and I never thought I would say this but I like a Bonnie Raitt album. Give It Up by Bonnie Raitt (495) is an album I will listen to again; folksy blues with a energetic New Orleans jazz blended in.
Wilco (493), MGMT (494), and Earth, Wind, & Fire (486) were like talking to old friends and much needed during the first 15.
However, there have already been some surprises. Boz Scaggs (496 - Boz Scaggs, 'Boz Scaggs'), whom I have never even heard of, was fresh and bright, and I never thought I would say this but I like a Bonnie Raitt album. Give It Up by Bonnie Raitt (495) is an album I will listen to again; folksy blues with a energetic New Orleans jazz blended in.
Wilco (493), MGMT (494), and Earth, Wind, & Fire (486) were like talking to old friends and much needed during the first 15.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
500 Greatest Albums of All Time - The Quest
So I decided to undertake a quest...I will listen to every album on the Rolling Stones 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, starting with 500 and ending at 1. Which is a crap load of music! And assuming the average length of an album is 45 minutes (why not I guess), that is over 15 days of straight music. Though I will not listen each album all at once. That would stupid. But I do intend to listen to each album.
Now, I haven't looked through the list yet but I have a feeling I will greatly disagree with the list, especially as I approach # 1. However, that's the nature of music or any form of art. Music and art communicate to different people in different ways. And that's the way it should be. Variety in music and culture and life gives life depth and meaning...and variety. With that said, it doesn't mean that I can't give my opinion along the way. I won't comment on each album but just moments that catch me along the way.
And by the way B.B. King ( #499 - B.B. King - Live in Cook County Jail)...uuuuuuuhhhhh. If that's all I had to listen to for the rest of my life I wouldn't listen. He's a talented blue musician but give me break, mix it up my friend. And not just on an album (or performance) but especially over your career.
Why? I don't know. Bored. I've got a lot of years to live. Broaden my appreciation for pop music. And I always love when I find music I have never heard before that catches me off guard. I assume that will happen doing this.
Until later...
Now, I haven't looked through the list yet but I have a feeling I will greatly disagree with the list, especially as I approach # 1. However, that's the nature of music or any form of art. Music and art communicate to different people in different ways. And that's the way it should be. Variety in music and culture and life gives life depth and meaning...and variety. With that said, it doesn't mean that I can't give my opinion along the way. I won't comment on each album but just moments that catch me along the way.
And by the way B.B. King ( #499 - B.B. King - Live in Cook County Jail)...uuuuuuuhhhhh. If that's all I had to listen to for the rest of my life I wouldn't listen. He's a talented blue musician but give me break, mix it up my friend. And not just on an album (or performance) but especially over your career.
Why? I don't know. Bored. I've got a lot of years to live. Broaden my appreciation for pop music. And I always love when I find music I have never heard before that catches me off guard. I assume that will happen doing this.
Until later...
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Planet of Naissance, where, before The Great Flame and The Deep Cold, the Vertige once lived.
This story started with the picture below. I have been fooling around with Photoshop for years now I had decided I wanted to make a planet. That got me to thinking what I would call this planet. And why did it look so dead. And who once lived there. The following story is taken from a history book found on the planet Melmac...
"Far from you, there is the galaxy Oubliés where the planet Naissance floats, though it is now just called Douleurs. Though this planet has long since been cold and silent, it once was bright and full of life. Home to a wonderful and excellent people that called themselves the Vertige. For thousands of years they lived peacefully on their planet and in harmony with their neighboring intersolar planetary brothers of the Sœurs Cinq. But in the year 2189 GCT (galactic common time), the ruthless and hardhearted peoples of Rastochka attacked. While the Vertige had preserved their planet and tended it well, the Rastochka took what they wanted and gave no thought for the future. The First Intersolar War lasted only 6 months and was fought mostly in the outer realms between solar systems. The Second and Third Intersolar wars grew more wide spread and lasted 6 and 3 respectively. The first planetary battles were fought during the Third war wherein the Rastochka sought complete control of Naissance but ultimately with the help of mercenaries from Leerlauf, they were driven back home to Pochva. Leerlauf, Tochi, and Tiroddigonedd, being smaller and much more peaceful planets, kept mostly out of the battles except for the last half of the Third war; they felt that planetary battles violated the Sisters Contract and feared that Rastochka would soon turn their sights on them if Nassiance fell. Heavy sanctions and governmental oversight of Pochva followed the end of the Third War. This however only came as an embarrassment to the Rastochka and enraged them. The Plan was soon devised by the inhabitants of Pochva and they no longer sought ownership and domineerance of Naissance; they wanted blood and annihilation. For the next 15 years scientists were stolen from all over the galaxy and forced to devise the ultimate weapon. Not one that would attack the planet itself but the very source of its energy and life; its star...
Once they were deployed Naissance and the Vertige didn't stand a chance; their planet would soon be enveloped and burnt to a crisp as their sun was forced to go supernova on them. All hopes for fighting off Pochva were gone and an immediate evacuation of Naissance began.
Hundreds of exodus ships tried to launch but tragically few survived the copious amounts of radiation put off from the supernova. With Pochva possessing such a weapon, Leerlauf, Tochi, and Tiroddigonedd were too afraid to take these refugees in and the few that remained from the race of the Vertige were forced to wandering the galaxy in search of a new home, stuffed into three exodus ships, The Espérer, The Souvenir, and The Revanche.
After 22 years stuck, wandering, in space, the Vertige finally found a new home. With a bit of luck, a dash of perseverance, and lot of headstrongness they stumbled across an uninhabited planet which they named Calebila.
Calebila, vast in resource and beautiful in its extent, will be the home of the Vertige for thousand of years to come. And perhaps the Rastochkans should have something to fear..."
"Far from you, there is the galaxy Oubliés where the planet Naissance floats, though it is now just called Douleurs. Though this planet has long since been cold and silent, it once was bright and full of life. Home to a wonderful and excellent people that called themselves the Vertige. For thousands of years they lived peacefully on their planet and in harmony with their neighboring intersolar planetary brothers of the Sœurs Cinq. But in the year 2189 GCT (galactic common time), the ruthless and hardhearted peoples of Rastochka attacked. While the Vertige had preserved their planet and tended it well, the Rastochka took what they wanted and gave no thought for the future. The First Intersolar War lasted only 6 months and was fought mostly in the outer realms between solar systems. The Second and Third Intersolar wars grew more wide spread and lasted 6 and 3 respectively. The first planetary battles were fought during the Third war wherein the Rastochka sought complete control of Naissance but ultimately with the help of mercenaries from Leerlauf, they were driven back home to Pochva. Leerlauf, Tochi, and Tiroddigonedd, being smaller and much more peaceful planets, kept mostly out of the battles except for the last half of the Third war; they felt that planetary battles violated the Sisters Contract and feared that Rastochka would soon turn their sights on them if Nassiance fell. Heavy sanctions and governmental oversight of Pochva followed the end of the Third War. This however only came as an embarrassment to the Rastochka and enraged them. The Plan was soon devised by the inhabitants of Pochva and they no longer sought ownership and domineerance of Naissance; they wanted blood and annihilation. For the next 15 years scientists were stolen from all over the galaxy and forced to devise the ultimate weapon. Not one that would attack the planet itself but the very source of its energy and life; its star...
In the year 3065 they attacked and the Fourth Interstellar War began and ended with only 9 months in between. The Rastochkans hit Naissance hard and fast and deployed several StarCrunchers® on the planet of Naissance.
Once they were deployed Naissance and the Vertige didn't stand a chance; their planet would soon be enveloped and burnt to a crisp as their sun was forced to go supernova on them. All hopes for fighting off Pochva were gone and an immediate evacuation of Naissance began.
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