It's Fer Me Ma IV
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Artist: Autour De Lucie
Album: Faux Movements
Why: Lent by Michelle
Thoughts: It's a beautiful album. It's reminiscent of early Portishead, only sung in French. I can only catch a word or two here and there, but I rather enjoy it.
If you're curious: Je Reviens
Would My Mother Approve? Probably so. It's a little low energy for her tastes, but I think overall she'd like it.
Artist: Leonard Cohen
Album: Dear Heather
Why: I love everything Cohen's done...
Thoughts: ...with the exception of this album. It comes off as scattered, and doesn't have too many tracks I find interesting. Additionally the spelling of words on the title track sets my teeth on edge. I recall reading that this is the first album that Cohen came out with after winning his lifelong battle with depression, further lending credence to the theory that pain breeds great art. That said, there are some fantastic tracks on here, but I don't think it holds together as an album.
If you're curious: Vilanelle For Our Time
Would My Mother Approve? Eh. I can't recommend this album, so I doubt it.
Artist: Ghostface Killah
Album: Ghostdini Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City
Why: His albums range from good to great
Thoughts: No. Just...no. So, this album was apparently created as an R&B fusion. I had forgotten that modern R&B sucks. So, when you hear him rapping next to a dude that's singing plaintively requesting a "do over" you just want to reach into the stereo and slap him. About a quarter of the tracks are listenable. The rest are crap. There's one track that's about three minutes of him and a girl talking nasty in verse, which is hilarious, but is pretty much the only track that stands out for me. Hell, the track I'm going to link below is a remix off the far superior Fishscale.
If you're curious: Back Like that Remix
Would My Mother Approve? I can't fucking stand this album, so, no.
Artist: Howlin Wolf
Album: Moanin in the Moonlight & Howlin Wolf
Why: I had heard the name for countless years, but never the music.
Thoughts: So, both his first and second albums came to me as one CD, so I haven't really been able to separate them out mentally. I don't think that's much of a problem, as not much seems to have changed artistically between the two. Most of them tracks off the second album are Willie Dixon standards, but it's easy to hear Wolf's influence on all the people that would sing them after him. I also think he's about the only dude who could out-grit Tom Wait's voice.
If you're curious: Smokestack Lightnin
Would My Mother Approve? Mmmm. Maybe.
Artist: The Impressions
Album: People Get Ready
Why: I had heard a dozen covers of the title track, but never the original.
Thoughts: So, to show my ignorance, I had no idea Curtis Mayfield was part of a group before doing music under his own name. Unsurprisingly for an album heavily crafted by Mayfield, it's a work of beauty. If you like Motown, I can't imagine that you wouldn't like this album. It's also fun to dig back throuhg all these records and catch the snatches that have been sampled in countless Rap songs.
If you're curious: People Get Ready
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: Interpol
Album: Turn on the Bright Lights
Why: The name kept popping up, so I figured I should give em a whirl.
Thoughts: Eh. On the first and second listens this just seemed like a more banal Radiohead. The third listen through I enjoyed it a little more, so maybe another listen will make it more palatable, but overall, I don't get what the buzz about them is.
If you're curious: PDA
Would My Mother Approve? I doubt it.
Artist: Iron & Wine
Album: Our Endless Numbered Days
Why: I had been hearing the name here and there, and then Bill mentioned seeing him play when I was visiting, and I was sold. Bill has good taste for music.
Thoughts: This album is fantastic. The music & his voice are beautiful, and it's a listen or two before you realize just how creepily morbid most of the lyrics are. It's like catching James Taylor singing Warren Zevon.
If you're curious: Cinder and Smoke
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: Johnny Guitar Watson
Album: Gangster of Love
Why: I had ended up with an album of demos instead of the album while trying to hunt him down.
Thoughts: Fantastic early rock/blues stuff. It's odd I don't hear Watson's name more often when people are citing early rock influences, because it seems like the stuff on this album is a good chunk ahead of it's time. Or I could be wrong. Anyhow, great album, and Watson's energy is fantastic.
If you're curious: Gangster of Love
Would My Mother Approve? Yeah, probably.
Artist: Jurassic 5
Album: Quality Control
Why: Came upon them through Pandora.
Thoughts: Jesus fuck, I can't imagine why I hadn't heard this album before. This is seriously one of the most offbeat but fantastic rap albums I've ever heard. It's unique to the point where the last track is... I don't know, a techno-swing-rap instrumental track. Fantastic album.
If you're curious: Jurass Finish First
Would My Mother Approve? If there were a rap album she'd like, I think this would be it.
Artist: Kronos Quartet
Album: Floodplain
Why: If Kronos puts an album out, I buy it.
Thoughts: Conceived as a concept album of music written by people in regions of regular flood (hence the title), the album is gorgeous. Much easier to listen to than some of Kronos' more experimental stuff, with a heavy middle-eastern flavor to most of the tracks.
If you're curious: Tashweesh
Would My Mother Approve? Yeah, I think so.
Artist: Mastodon
Album: Crack the Skye
Why: They're being heralded as the saviors of prog-rock & metal
Thoughts: Not quite the religious experience I was looking for. The musical side is great - well composed, excellently played - the only thing that let me down were the occasional cookie-monster metal vocals. I think that I went into the album with too high of expectations, unfortunately, which I think has left me with less of an appreciation of the album than will come in time.
If you're curious: Oblivion
Would My Mother Approve? Yeah. Mom likes her metal.
Artist: The Pogues
Album: Red Roses for Me
Why: I've fallen in love with the Pogues
Thoughts: Their first album, and it does seem to lack the cohesiveness of the next one - that said, still a great album, as long as you like your Irish Punk-Rock. Fun, but not fantastic.
If you're curious: Streams of Whiskey
Would My Mother Approve? Maybe.
Artist: Raekwon
Album: Only Built for Cuban Linx...II
Why: The follow-up to the masterpiece
Thoughts: So, the first album took me a while to get my head around, and it's one of the rare albums that gets better with age. Linx II doesn't seem to have the same problem. There are some straight up great tracks on here, there are some that are good, and really, only one that I'd skip. An exceedingly solid album, that's slightly odd in the feel, due to the multitude of producers on it. At 24 or so tracks, it might have done with a little trimming down, but I could be wrong.
If you're curious: House of Flying Daggers
Would My Mother Approve? Nah. Not her thing.
Artist: Dusty Springfield
Album: Dusy in Memphis
Why: Because the only thing I had heard her sing before was Son of A Preacher Man
Thoughts: Widely considered her masterpiece, and I have to agree. Her voice is nothing short of gorgeous. I ended up with a re-release that more than doubles the album's length, and it doesnt' get old. Aside from 'Cherished.' That song sucks. The inclusion of a cover of 'The Windmills of Your Mind' also confuses me, but that's due to remembering the song from The Muppet Show.
If you're curious: Just One Smile
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: Vladimir Vissotski
Album: Le Vol Arrete
Why: Lent to me by Michelle
Thoughts: This is great, and I haven't the slightest clue what he's singing. Vissotski was a legend in the USSR, apparently, who had to sneak out of the country to record his albums. And to my understanding, he sings in Russian like Dylan sings in English, which means I really have no idea what he's saying. Though interestingly enough, his music was used in White Nights.
If you're curious: Prervannyj Polet
Would My Mother Approve? Uh, probably a bit too odd for her.
Unfortunately I didn't hear the rest of Michelle's albums with enough regularity for them to make an impression, so hopefully, I'll be able to write more about them next time around.
On the chopping block for next time:
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Jean Grae - Jeanius
The Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
Mississippi John Hurt - The Best Of
Freddie King - Live at the Electric Ballroom, 1974
Reverend Glasseye & His Wooden Legs - Black River Falls
The Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke Em If You Got Em
Scarface - Mr. Scarface Is Back
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin On
Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's How You Land
Tarbox Ramblers - Tarbox Ramblers
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Tom Waits - Glitter & Doom Live
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Artist: Autour De Lucie
Album: Faux Movements
Why: Lent by Michelle
Thoughts: It's a beautiful album. It's reminiscent of early Portishead, only sung in French. I can only catch a word or two here and there, but I rather enjoy it.
If you're curious: Je Reviens
Would My Mother Approve? Probably so. It's a little low energy for her tastes, but I think overall she'd like it.
Artist: Leonard Cohen
Album: Dear Heather
Why: I love everything Cohen's done...
Thoughts: ...with the exception of this album. It comes off as scattered, and doesn't have too many tracks I find interesting. Additionally the spelling of words on the title track sets my teeth on edge. I recall reading that this is the first album that Cohen came out with after winning his lifelong battle with depression, further lending credence to the theory that pain breeds great art. That said, there are some fantastic tracks on here, but I don't think it holds together as an album.
If you're curious: Vilanelle For Our Time
Would My Mother Approve? Eh. I can't recommend this album, so I doubt it.
Artist: Ghostface Killah
Album: Ghostdini Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City
Why: His albums range from good to great
Thoughts: No. Just...no. So, this album was apparently created as an R&B fusion. I had forgotten that modern R&B sucks. So, when you hear him rapping next to a dude that's singing plaintively requesting a "do over" you just want to reach into the stereo and slap him. About a quarter of the tracks are listenable. The rest are crap. There's one track that's about three minutes of him and a girl talking nasty in verse, which is hilarious, but is pretty much the only track that stands out for me. Hell, the track I'm going to link below is a remix off the far superior Fishscale.
If you're curious: Back Like that Remix
Would My Mother Approve? I can't fucking stand this album, so, no.
Artist: Howlin Wolf
Album: Moanin in the Moonlight & Howlin Wolf
Why: I had heard the name for countless years, but never the music.
Thoughts: So, both his first and second albums came to me as one CD, so I haven't really been able to separate them out mentally. I don't think that's much of a problem, as not much seems to have changed artistically between the two. Most of them tracks off the second album are Willie Dixon standards, but it's easy to hear Wolf's influence on all the people that would sing them after him. I also think he's about the only dude who could out-grit Tom Wait's voice.
If you're curious: Smokestack Lightnin
Would My Mother Approve? Mmmm. Maybe.
Artist: The Impressions
Album: People Get Ready
Why: I had heard a dozen covers of the title track, but never the original.
Thoughts: So, to show my ignorance, I had no idea Curtis Mayfield was part of a group before doing music under his own name. Unsurprisingly for an album heavily crafted by Mayfield, it's a work of beauty. If you like Motown, I can't imagine that you wouldn't like this album. It's also fun to dig back throuhg all these records and catch the snatches that have been sampled in countless Rap songs.
If you're curious: People Get Ready
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: Interpol
Album: Turn on the Bright Lights
Why: The name kept popping up, so I figured I should give em a whirl.
Thoughts: Eh. On the first and second listens this just seemed like a more banal Radiohead. The third listen through I enjoyed it a little more, so maybe another listen will make it more palatable, but overall, I don't get what the buzz about them is.
If you're curious: PDA
Would My Mother Approve? I doubt it.
Artist: Iron & Wine
Album: Our Endless Numbered Days
Why: I had been hearing the name here and there, and then Bill mentioned seeing him play when I was visiting, and I was sold. Bill has good taste for music.
Thoughts: This album is fantastic. The music & his voice are beautiful, and it's a listen or two before you realize just how creepily morbid most of the lyrics are. It's like catching James Taylor singing Warren Zevon.
If you're curious: Cinder and Smoke
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: Johnny Guitar Watson
Album: Gangster of Love
Why: I had ended up with an album of demos instead of the album while trying to hunt him down.
Thoughts: Fantastic early rock/blues stuff. It's odd I don't hear Watson's name more often when people are citing early rock influences, because it seems like the stuff on this album is a good chunk ahead of it's time. Or I could be wrong. Anyhow, great album, and Watson's energy is fantastic.
If you're curious: Gangster of Love
Would My Mother Approve? Yeah, probably.
Artist: Jurassic 5
Album: Quality Control
Why: Came upon them through Pandora.
Thoughts: Jesus fuck, I can't imagine why I hadn't heard this album before. This is seriously one of the most offbeat but fantastic rap albums I've ever heard. It's unique to the point where the last track is... I don't know, a techno-swing-rap instrumental track. Fantastic album.
If you're curious: Jurass Finish First
Would My Mother Approve? If there were a rap album she'd like, I think this would be it.
Artist: Kronos Quartet
Album: Floodplain
Why: If Kronos puts an album out, I buy it.
Thoughts: Conceived as a concept album of music written by people in regions of regular flood (hence the title), the album is gorgeous. Much easier to listen to than some of Kronos' more experimental stuff, with a heavy middle-eastern flavor to most of the tracks.
If you're curious: Tashweesh
Would My Mother Approve? Yeah, I think so.
Artist: Mastodon
Album: Crack the Skye
Why: They're being heralded as the saviors of prog-rock & metal
Thoughts: Not quite the religious experience I was looking for. The musical side is great - well composed, excellently played - the only thing that let me down were the occasional cookie-monster metal vocals. I think that I went into the album with too high of expectations, unfortunately, which I think has left me with less of an appreciation of the album than will come in time.
If you're curious: Oblivion
Would My Mother Approve? Yeah. Mom likes her metal.
Artist: The Pogues
Album: Red Roses for Me
Why: I've fallen in love with the Pogues
Thoughts: Their first album, and it does seem to lack the cohesiveness of the next one - that said, still a great album, as long as you like your Irish Punk-Rock. Fun, but not fantastic.
If you're curious: Streams of Whiskey
Would My Mother Approve? Maybe.
Artist: Raekwon
Album: Only Built for Cuban Linx...II
Why: The follow-up to the masterpiece
Thoughts: So, the first album took me a while to get my head around, and it's one of the rare albums that gets better with age. Linx II doesn't seem to have the same problem. There are some straight up great tracks on here, there are some that are good, and really, only one that I'd skip. An exceedingly solid album, that's slightly odd in the feel, due to the multitude of producers on it. At 24 or so tracks, it might have done with a little trimming down, but I could be wrong.
If you're curious: House of Flying Daggers
Would My Mother Approve? Nah. Not her thing.
Artist: Dusty Springfield
Album: Dusy in Memphis
Why: Because the only thing I had heard her sing before was Son of A Preacher Man
Thoughts: Widely considered her masterpiece, and I have to agree. Her voice is nothing short of gorgeous. I ended up with a re-release that more than doubles the album's length, and it doesnt' get old. Aside from 'Cherished.' That song sucks. The inclusion of a cover of 'The Windmills of Your Mind' also confuses me, but that's due to remembering the song from The Muppet Show.
If you're curious: Just One Smile
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: Vladimir Vissotski
Album: Le Vol Arrete
Why: Lent to me by Michelle
Thoughts: This is great, and I haven't the slightest clue what he's singing. Vissotski was a legend in the USSR, apparently, who had to sneak out of the country to record his albums. And to my understanding, he sings in Russian like Dylan sings in English, which means I really have no idea what he's saying. Though interestingly enough, his music was used in White Nights.
If you're curious: Prervannyj Polet
Would My Mother Approve? Uh, probably a bit too odd for her.
Unfortunately I didn't hear the rest of Michelle's albums with enough regularity for them to make an impression, so hopefully, I'll be able to write more about them next time around.
On the chopping block for next time:
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Jean Grae - Jeanius
The Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
Mississippi John Hurt - The Best Of
Freddie King - Live at the Electric Ballroom, 1974
Reverend Glasseye & His Wooden Legs - Black River Falls
The Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke Em If You Got Em
Scarface - Mr. Scarface Is Back
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin On
Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's How You Land
Tarbox Ramblers - Tarbox Ramblers
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Tom Waits - Glitter & Doom Live
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary