50 Albums you must hear before you buy a house 2.0 (4): 35-31

Going up in our lists with another fine selection of records this week. We ran into some of them already, like The Magnolia Electric Co and Tea for the Tillerman, which are shared by DOK and RKH. The lists of GvZ and RKH to the contrary barely have anything in common to this point, best illustrated by their number of albums from  the sixties: 13 versus… 1 (The Velvet Underground & Nico).

DOK:

31. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
32. Radiohead – OK Computer (1997)
33. Jethro Tull – Thick As A Brick (1972)
34. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory (1970)
35. Cat Stevens – Tea for the Tillerman (1970)

GvZ:

31. (26)  The Byrds – The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)
32. (41)  Van Morrison – Astral Weeks (1968)
33. (31)  The Band – Music from Big Pink (1968)
34. (9)    The Beatles – Rubber Soul (1965)
35. (19)  The Move – Shazam (1970)

RKH:

31. (20)  Prince – Purple Rain (1984)
32. (34)  Santana – Abraxas (1970)
33. (10)  Lee Hazlewood – Cowboy in Sweden (1970)
34. (36)  Song:Ohia – The Magnolia Electric Co (2003)
35. (32)  Pixies – Doolittle (1989)

However, a similarity shows up this week, as both professors present one  of their top ten albums from last year, dropping into the lower regions. The Beatles’ Rubber Soul is one of them, together with DOK’s Sgt. Pepper being the first albums from the Fab Four. Another remarkable choice: the legendary Thick As A Brick, a personal favorite from the local record magnate. Has the 50 Albums you must hear before you buy a house recently become a victim of a powerful lobby?

Shuffle of the week #28

This is an ode to the shuffle. How better to get a good insight in your digitized album collection than by a classic shuffle? Finally discover the albums you never got into, finally throw the ones away you will never get into and worship those classics that never grow old again. The Shuffle of this week:

1. Pink Floyd – See-Saw (A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968) [singlepic id=95 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Spacey track from one of my favorite Floyd albums. It’s one of the two songs written by Richard Wright, while it’s the only album on which his number of lead vocals outnumbers those of Waters, Gilmour and Barett. Wright’s songwriting might have been overshadowed throughout the years by that of Waters and Gilmour but is not to be underestimated, witnessing this one, ‘Remember a Day’ and the brilliant ‘Summer ‘68’ on 1970’s Atom Heart Mother.

2. Gong – You Can’t Kill Me (Camembert Electrique, 1971) [singlepic id=264 w=80 h=50 float=left]

The Flying Teapot only just floated out of my playlist from the past few weeks and the shuffle is already offering an alternative. I definitely prefer this one, containing better harmonies and a generally harder sound, including a nice guitar riff in this six and a half minutes song. It was written by band founder Daevid Allen, who before he continued his career in France with Gong, invited the 16-year old Robert Wyatt to play in the Daevid Allen Trio before founding Soft Machine together.

3. Metallica – Disposable Heroes (Master of Puppets, 1986) [singlepic id=266 w=80 h=50 float=left]

So it took about 30 times before Metallica finally shows up here. Compared to its predecessor, Metallica’s second and strong album Ride the Lightning, the guitars even sound harder and Hetfield’s stories improved strongly while recording this one in Denmark. ‘Disposable Heroes’ is of course one of those classics, about the soldier whose fate is in the hands of his commanders.

4. Killing Joke – Primitive (Killing Joke, 1980) [singlepic id=126 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Song that surprisingly fits in well after the previous one. A little less loud and some bit slower, but for all other things this could be something the guys from Metallica might (have) like(d).

5. Anathema – Don’t Look Too Far (Judgement, 1999) [singlepic id=262 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Another one with explicit guitars. Ran into this band before, but didn’t follow up back then. A band that was said to be a doom metal band before this release, which obviously was a step towards accessibility although the lyrics still deal with enough depression and desperation for the fans.

6. Beirut – The Rip Tide (The Rip Tide, 2011) [singlepic id=263 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Some beautiful and sophisticated tones then, instrumentally as well as vocally. The piano clearly  claims the lead role on this track from the homonymous third album, on which Zach Condon has returned from southern Europe and presents some fresh New Mexican indie pop.

7. Cat Stevens – Peace Train (Teaser & The Firecat, 1971) [singlepic id=163 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Album filled with tunes that will stick in your head for weeks, this song being a nice example.

 

8. James Taylor – Steamroller (Sweet Baby James, 1970) [singlepic id=265 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Not heard in years and not something I would immediately associate with Taylor, witnessing the huge horn section in the middle. Hmmm.

9. Muse – Apocalypse Please (Absolution, 2003) [singlepic id=233 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Ran into a classical influenced song from this album earlier, and this one simply would have been named prog rock if made some 30 years earlier.

10. Led Zeppelin – Bron-Y-Aur (Physical Graffiti, 1975) [singlepic id=226 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Closing with a little dash of instrumental folk from the Grandmasters, having become regular customers here.

50 Albums you must hear before you buy a house 2.0 (3): 40-36

Entering the top 40 in our lists this week, with another number of albums that can enlighten a dark winter evening. Here we go, with two recurring albums this time: Merriweather Post Pavillion and In the Aeroplane Over the Sea:

DOK:

36.  The Doors – The Doors (1967)
37.  Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009)
38.  Traveling Wilburys – Vol.1 (1988)
39.  The White Stripes – Elephant (2003)
40.  Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)

GvZ:

36. (*)   Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
37. (*)   13th Floor Elevators – Easter Everywhere (1967)
38. (33) Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River (1969)
39. (*)   The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground (1969)
40. (25) Cream – Disraeli Gears (1967)

RKH:

36. (28) Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
37. (25) Cat Stevens – Tea for the Tillerman (1970)
38. (41) Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
39. (*)   JJ Cale – Naturally (1972)
40. (*)   The Kingsbury Manx – The Kingsbury Manx (2000)

DOK keeps digging in the 2000’s, with another three albums from that decade. This brings his personal rate at 8/15, making it also the most popular decade overall so far (15/45). The sixties are following in second place (12/45), mainly due to GvZ’s choices (9/15), who adds another five gems to that collection this week. Have a nice weekend.

Shuffle of the week #27

This is an ode to the shuffle. How better to get a good insight in your digitized album collection than by a classic shuffle? Finally discover the albums you never got into, finally throw the ones away you will never get into and worship those classics that never grow old again. The Shuffle of this week:

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Hey Tonight (Pendulum, 1970) [singlepic id=259 w=80 h=50 float=left]

B-side from the single ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain’, which is on the same album, Creedence’s penultimate one. CCR also deviated from its traditional pure guitar sound in these orchestral times on Pendulum, which was their second album in 1970 after Cosmo’s Factory and the last one with Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar. You can pep up any party with this sing along.

2. Jethro Tull – Nothing Is Easy (Stand Up, 1969) [singlepic id=16 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Moving back one year when Jethro Tull is disclosing itself as an upcoming band. Still playing uptempo folk rock on this album, some kind of Cream-like hard rock actually on this track, but flirting with hazardous prog some years later.

3. The Beatles – Octopus’s Garden (Love, 2006) [singlepic id=45 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Originally from the same year of course, this Starr-Harrison collaboration from Abbey Road.This is the remixed version from 2006, thanks to George Martin and son. Especially the intro has some added value here, towards the end we slightly fade into the reversed Sun King.

4. Echo & The Bunnymen – Pictures on My Wall (Crocodiles, 1980) [singlepic id=35 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Heard this album plenty of times since last time, just like Ocean Rain. After long consideration I have to admit I might prefer this great debut in the end.

5. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (Born to Run, 1975) [singlepic id=258 w=80 h=50 float=left]

An artist I didn’t listen to for some months. Never been a huge fan, but of course an admirer of some of his albums, like this one.

6. Motorhead – Iron Horse/Born to Lose (No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith, 1981) [singlepic id=135 w=80 h=50 float=left]

An almost traditional couple of minutes live music then, from Lemmy and friends this time. Despite the album’s title it was not recorded in the London Hammersmith but in Leeds and Newcastle during a tour with the wonderful name ‘Short, Sharp Pain In The Neck’. I think there’s no other band that has a live album but no studio album in my collection.

7. The Beatles – Think for Yourself (Rubber Soul, 1965) [singlepic id=12 w=80 h=50 float=left]

If one band can’t surprise by coming around two times it must be this one. Harrison song with that typical Rubber Soul sound, uptempo folk rock with gordeous harmonies. Also the first album on which Harrison starts to write songs equally as good as those of Lennon and McCartey.

8. 13th Floor Elevators – I’ve Got Levitation (Easter Everywhere, 1967) [singlepic id=257 w=80 h=50 float=left]

The magical year also delivers an album this week. One of those many psychedelic rock albums released in the aftermath of the Summer of Love, predicted to be played many times during the following weeks.

9. Dub Trio –  Respite (Another Sound Is Dying, 2008) [singlepic id=260 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Tested and rejected.

10. The Olivia Tremor Control – Jumping Fences (Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle, 1996) [singlepic id=261 w=80 h=50 float=left]

An album that was recommended many times by a colleague music professor, but without any success. However, in the nick of time it ends up on the playlist for the upcoming weeks.

50 Albums you must hear before you buy a house 2.0 (2): 45-41

Time for another 15 timeless records with the next section of the 50 albums you must hear before buying yourself a house, with a lot of albums from the past decade this time. We run into Funeral and The King of Limbs again, while also Songs:Ohia, Queens of the Stone Age, Animal Collective, KORT and Wilco’s excellent Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (twice) gain a spot in this weeks lists.

DOK:

41. Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R (2000)
42. Radiohead – The King of Limbs (2011)
43. Songs: Ohia – The Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)
44. Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St. (1972)
45. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

GvZ:

41. (22)  Fleetwood Mac – Bare Trees (1972)
42. (18)  King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
43. (*)    Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009)
44. (*)    Blind Faith – Blind Faith (1969)
45. (46)  Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory (1970)

RKH:

41. (40)  Lou Reed – Berlin (1973)
42. (44)  Afghan Whigs – Gentlemen (1993)
43. (*)    Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
44. (*)    KORT – Invariable Heartache (2010)
45. (*)    Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004)

Last poll asked whose vocal harmonies you like best. The B-bands happened to be clear favorites, as The Beatles won the vote before The Beach Boys and The Byrds. With the new poll you can give your opinion about your favorite George Harrison composition.

Shuffle of the week #26

This is an ode to the shuffle. How better to get a good insight in your digitized album collection than by a classic shuffle? Finally discover the albums you never got into, finally throw the ones away you will never get into and worship those classics that never grow old again. The Shuffle of this week:

1. Jethro Tull – Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square (Stand Up, 1969) [singlepic id=16 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Second and short track from Tull’s second album, on which the bands’ blues rock roots are still strongly present. The Jeffrey who is mentioned is Jeffrey Hammond, the band’s bass player from the later Aqualung (1971) till Minstrel in the Gallery (1975). Ian Anderson of course already knew Hammond from his first band The Blades at the time he wrote this song.

2. Panda Bear – Take Pills (Person Pitch, 2007) [singlepic id=250 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Also the album’s second track, one of the seven genius pieces of music that together form one of the best albums from the past ten years. This song was the last of five that were released as a single before the album came out, containing a nice sample from Scott Walker’s ‘Always Coming Back to You’. Playing this album has become a ritual act on a first summer day.

3. Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed (McCartney, 1970) [singlepic id=251 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Getting spoiled with this classic from McCartney following. This debut solo album was released only a week after The Beatles broke up and a month before Let It Be still had to came out. Like other songs on it this one was written for Paul’s wife Linda, with some  great guitar playing by McCartney himself, as he played all the instruments on the album (!). It’s a good album, that was a commercial success (because of the break-up) but one that was badly received by music critics (because of the break-up).

4. dEUS – Instant Street (The Ideal Crash, 1999) [singlepic id=246 w=80 h=50 float=left]

One of the biggest hits for this Belgian rock band, from their strong third album. Their early albums get my attention once a year and after the debut last time it’s time to crash now.

5. Led Zeppelin – Black Dog (Led Zeppelin IV, 1971) [singlepic id=249 w=80 h=50 float=left]

A loyal customer of the shuffle, not playing live this time. This is the opening song from that great fourth album, featuring the band’s most mature sound till that point. Despite the diverse strange influences on that album, the band still rocks in an old-fashioned way on this track built around a great riff written by John-Paul Jones. Vocals and band alternate like the early Fleetwood Mac on ‘Oh Well’.

6. Paul McCartney – Mrs. Vandebilt (Band on the Run, 1973) [singlepic id=252 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Not the first time to shuffle the same artist twice within ten songs, but highly unusual. But you don’t say no against an extra McCartney song a day. Great bassline.

7. Frog Eyes – The Heart That Felt Its Light (The Folded Palm, 2004) [singlepic id=164 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Indie rock from Canada, been a while. Third album by this band, mainly consisting of singer Carey Mercer and his wife Melanie Campbell on drums. But on this song it’s the piano playing from Grayson Walker that stands out.

8. Jefferson Airplane – 3/5th of a mile in 10 seconds (Bless Its Pointed Little Head, 1969) [singlepic id=248 w=80 h=50 float=left]

One live song a week is something that’s highly applauded and that’s why the Airplane is welcomed again after last time. Slick and Balin are once again taking up the vocal battle against each other on this psychedelic showpiece, originally from Surrealistic Pillow .

9. They Might Be Giants – Turn Around (Appolo 18, 1992) [singlepic id=253 w=80 h=50 float=left]

A band I totally forgot about, so time to catch up. A pioneer band, as the 21 separate short tracks that together constitute ‘Fingertips’ (4’35”) on this album were specially designed for the shuffle mode of CD players.

10. Fleet Floxes – The Cascades (Helplessness Bues, 2011) [singlepic id=247 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Just like last week, the closing song is again located in the land of the elfs. Little dwarfs are waking up and rub the dew out of their eyes on this beautiful instrumental.