Shuffle of the week #48

1. Lemonheads – Rudderless (It’s a Shame About Ray, 1992) [singlepic id=105 w=80 h=50 float=left]

As written earlier, Boston based Lemonheads’ lonely claim to fame. Solid, melodic alternative rock that unfortunately quickly lost its rudder when it grew up.

2.Tom Waits – Diamonds & Gold (Rain Dogs, 1985) [singlepic id=89 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Satisfied with a bunker full of professional musicians (including Keith Richards), Tom snaps out for some fresh air and smokes a cigarette or ten on the roof top. Coming from the distant neon spoiled city, he can hear the industrial sound of synthesizers and drum machines. After inhaling a last shot of imagination, he’s ready to go back inside. Unleash the Chinese drunk and give me your best midget’s bar mitzvah’s sound.

3. Beirut – A Candle’s Fire (The Rip Tide, 2011) [singlepic id=92 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Not playing at the Ba Da Bing anymore, but at his own Pompeii label on this third album. Pleasant and fresh indie pop, but lacking the musical class from his first two albums. Looking forward to number four nevertheless.

4. The Doors – The Unknown Soldier (Waiting for the Sun, 1968) [singlepic id=343 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Like I said last time, probably the Doors album with their best songs on it. Although I consider this one not among them, it became the album’s first single (with a stripped-down outro) and closed side 1. Rather an anti-media than anti-war song, with typical Morrisonesk catharsis in the end.

5. Of Montreal – Eros’ Entropic Tundra (Satanic Panic in the Attic, 2004) [singlepic id=68 w=80 h=50 float=left]

According to its name, you might associate this band with Canadian peers like Islands, Sunset Rubdown, Apostle of Hustle and Arcade Fire. However, these guys are from Athens, Georgia and rather linked to a group of guys who regarded the unfinished Smile-album as their Holy Grail, recorded albums in their Pet Sounds Studio and like to hang around in their pedestrian-based eco-village: Elephant 6. Collective sixties-tribute.

6. Jack Eliott – Boll Weevil (Jack Takes the Floor, 1958) [singlepic id=378 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Traditional from Jack Eliott’s third studio album, recorded off-the-cuff in London while this New York cowboy (for real) was touring across the British pubs and nightclubs. Keith Richards and Paul McCartney could have been among his audience and after returning to the US, he adopted Bob Dylan as his musical son: all admirers of the Ramblin’ Jack Eliott.

7. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Country Girl (Déja Vu, 1970) [singlepic id=10 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Victory of vocals, with Young’s After the Gold Rush –visions still being very present on this song.

 

8. Feist – Honey Honey (The Reminder, 2007) [singlepic id=377 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Ending up in Canada at last, with former Broken Social Scene vocalist Leslie Feist. Feist broke through with her second album Let it Die, but this third one was the biggest success after all, especially commercially. Good album, although the shuffle didn’t hit its strongest track.

9. Spirit – Soldier (Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, 1970) [singlepic id=303 w=80 h=50 float=left]

What I said last time about Gary Usher’s work on The Notorious Byrd Brothers, does as well apply to David Briggs’ production of this fourth Spirit album: it completely disguised the hostilities between the band’s greatest actors, guitarist Randy California and singer Jay Ferguson. The original line-up still fell apart a month after the release, but the album was certified Gold five years later.

10. Beirut – The Bunker (Gulag Orkestar, 2006) [singlepic id=268 w=80 h=50 float=left]

The shuffle heard my prayers and delivers an early Beirut just in time, back in Tom’s bunker. Cheers.

50 Albums you must hear before you buy a house 3.0

With the end of another year in sight, it’s time to set in an annual tradition by asking albumblog’s music professors the vitally important question: “Which are the best rock albums of all time?”. It’s the third edition since 2012, when GenesisSelling England by the Pound was jointly picked by R.K. Hofmeijer and G. van Zwanendonk as the ultimate best album of all time. Last year they were joined by senior student musicology D. Oude-Kamphuis, resulting in top positions for Kid A, The Velvet Underground & Nico and Band on the Run respectively.

However, DOK didn’t put enough time in his postdoc last year, clearing the way for this year’s senior student Guus Fog to join the action. This is the first part of their contemplation’s result, with #50-41 (GvZ’s & RKH’s last year’s ranking between brackets):

GvZ:

50. (*) Donald Fagen – The Nightfly (1982)
Turning craftsmanship into mastership.”

49. (47) Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966)
The Breakfast Album.”

48. (*) Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Essential postcard of the hanging.”

47. (46) Jefferson Airplane – After Bathing at Baxter’s (1967)
“If you try, you can almost smell 1967.”

46. (*) Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (2011)
Deep in the woods, the dwarfs are gathering around a little folk bar where pixies play the blues.

45. (39) The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground (1969)
Rarely did a band make such an abrupt sound switch without losing a single bit of its quality.

44. (*) The Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree (2005)
There’s gonna be a party when the wolf comes home!

43. (27) The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers (1971)
“Second part of one of rock’s most impressive trilogies.”

42. (38) Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River (1969)
Take me back down where cool water flows.

41. (28) Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Although born in ’85, most of my time on university was spent on air guitaring on ‘Time’.

RKH:

50. (47) Radiohead – The King of Limbs (2011)
Let’s try to redefine modern rock music once more. To be continued.

49. (43) Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
I am Yankee. I shall play you the song of my people.

48. (39) J.J. Cale – Naturally (1972)
Pass me the peace pipe and let me pet the buffalo.

47. (33) Lee Hazlewood – Cowboy in Sweden (1970)
Diary of a psychedelic cowboy.

46. (36) Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
I meant what I sang there. I truly truly did.

45. (26) Panda Bear – Person Pitch (2007)
Brain Wilson’s illegitimate child. Loves sand boxes.

44. (42) Afghan Whigs – Gentlemen (1993)
Greg Dulli thinks you’re a wimp and he’s probably right.

43. (29) Cream – Disraeli Gears (1967)
Pass me the joint and let me pet the dragon.

42. (50) Lambchop – How I Quit Smoking (1996)
I smoke sixteenthousand packs of sigarettes a day. These are my musings.

41. (*) The Byrds – The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)
Loose the walrus, perfect the vocal harmonies. That tune is mellow, man

GF:

50. Richard and Linda Thompson – Shoot Out the Lights (1982)
Dit album hoort hoger. Nummer 25 ofzo.

49. Phosphorescent – To Willie (2009)
Vuurvliegen tijdens een zomernacht op the countryside te Lille.

48. Shearwater – Palo Santo (2006)
Pure natuur, gemaakt door een birdwatcher op een onbewoond eiland.

47. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend (2008)
Fieest!

46. Tom Waits – Rain Dogs (1985)
Herfst, winter, whisky en sigaren!

45. Mogwai – Mogwai Young Team (1997)
Voor iedereen die tijdens de stiltes van ‘Like Herod’ zijn volumeknop nog verder opendraait.

44. Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue (1977)
Barokke plaat, bedacht in de pure Zwitserse Alpen.

43. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River (1969)
De enige muziek waarin ik en mijn vader elkaar vinden.

42. Neil Young – On the Beach (1974)
Mijn favoriete plaat, tot ik gelukkiger werd.

41. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)
Wie zich herkent in de vrouw van ‘Nature Boy’ mag mij mailen.