Here's the next 5 followed with some comments from my friend and yet another respected music geek Todd along with another of Matt's reviews of an album I feel is beneath me. Kidding! He's actually put up some pretty good ones, says I. Anyway, onward....
270. Cuckoo - Curve ( 1993)
This one even my music geek compatriots might scoff at. I love this band. The duo of Dean Garcia and Toni Halliday seemed more destined to despise each other than to form a band. The first time they tried to play nice the band dissolved into a pair of lawsuits, one against the other. Despite this, the two formed Curve years later and established a mix of sampled beats and guitar/bass licks with a killer female vocal that alternated from sweet to sour and predated Garbage. This particular album is their least critically acclaimed and most deserving of praise. Their second album, Cuckoo, branched out from the shoegazer goth of their first effort to include more alt rock and psychedelica. Do yourself a favor and find All Of One, Superblaster and Left Of Mother for greatness.
269. Give Up - Postal Service (2003)
This band was named for the way Jimmy Tamborello would send instrumental tapes to Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard, and the return of said tapes after Gibbard added vocals and did some editing. Their only album features several incredible electronic pop songs, none greater than The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, which would easily be in my top 100 songs (hear that, Josh?). Every time I hear Owl City I cringe and wish to the musical Gods that Postal Service would regroup and show us how it's really done.
268. Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1960)
For years, jazz music had broadened musical horizons both structurally and through mad improvisations, yet it rarely strayed from a 4/4 time signature beat. Basically, jazz songs were like a march. This album, originally released as a sort of experiment, would forever change that. Most popular for it's use of a 5/4 beat, Brubeck and his band didn't just paint new strokes, he emptied buckets of colors into this album. Take Five is the most popular, as it should be, but this album was far from critically lauded upon it's release. Classical jazz, improvisation, African and Turkish folk rhythms, it's all over the map in the best possible way.
267. The Crane Wife - The Decemberists (2006)
Based on a Chinese folk tale meshed with Shakespeare and a few other tales tucked in, The Crane Wife doesn't seem as though it should be an album that was well-structured and engaging. It is, and it's the best album The Decemberists have put out yet. The short version of the story arc is man finds wounded crane, cares for it until it can fly, woman meets same man and marries, woman makes secret cloth to secure fortune man isn't allowed to see made, mans sees woman is crane using own feathers for cloth, woman/crane flies away. That completely makes you not want to hear this album at all, doesn't it? That would be your loss. In turns sweet and touching and inspiring and heartbreaking, this is an excellent concept album you shouldn't skip out on hearing.
266. Fun House - The Stooges (1970)
All of my music geeks tend to love Raw Power or the debut album from our homestate punks as their fave. I believe this to be the best Stooges album. If you were paying attention in earlier posts, the debut came close. I just preferred it when the band learned how to actually play their instruments...a little better. To me, this was definitely the band's most accomplished work, despite the collective drug problems. Iggy Pop called the album "troglodyte groove." A completely confrontational, vicious wail of an album check Down On the Street, TV Eye and the slowed-down Dirt. Inspired by fellow Michiganders MC5, it's easy to see how instrumental this band, and album, truly were in the incoming conquering tides of punk rock.
Here are a couple comments from Todd, yet another much respected music geek I have the pleasure of knowing. This is in regards to my wondering if The Wall ranked so low would be in issue for many...
No controversy from me ! On either Pink Floyd or REM ! While I was blown away when the Wall came out. It just doesn't hold up to the other great music made by the psychedelic dudes. Or the passage of time. Too much hatred ! Or at the very least, anger ! Roger Waters isn't my hero. If anyone from the Floyd is, it would have to be David Gilmour.
Yeah, somebody agrees! Here's a brief threat about my "hatin'" on Coldplay....
Dude, Stop dissing Coldplay ! If you don't, I have to send out my soldiers!
Hey, they did make the list, so they can't be all bad, right? Send me a review of an earlier album if ya like. Finally, here's another review from our good friend Matt. Never really got into this musician, but many friends like his style...
James Blunt-'Back to Bedlam' Most notably known for the debut single 'Beautiful'. This incredible songwriter with 'Rod Stewartess' vocals had his biggest success to date with this album. From cover to cover he covers a gambit of emotions from up tempo sing alongs, to songs of love and heartbreak, to politics and religion. There's something for everyone.
Thanks again, Matt! I'll have the next 5 up as soon as I can. Comments and reviews and naysaying, people, that's what I'm hungry for. FEED THE BEAST....sorry. Seriously, though.
270. Cuckoo - Curve ( 1993)
This one even my music geek compatriots might scoff at. I love this band. The duo of Dean Garcia and Toni Halliday seemed more destined to despise each other than to form a band. The first time they tried to play nice the band dissolved into a pair of lawsuits, one against the other. Despite this, the two formed Curve years later and established a mix of sampled beats and guitar/bass licks with a killer female vocal that alternated from sweet to sour and predated Garbage. This particular album is their least critically acclaimed and most deserving of praise. Their second album, Cuckoo, branched out from the shoegazer goth of their first effort to include more alt rock and psychedelica. Do yourself a favor and find All Of One, Superblaster and Left Of Mother for greatness.
269. Give Up - Postal Service (2003)
This band was named for the way Jimmy Tamborello would send instrumental tapes to Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard, and the return of said tapes after Gibbard added vocals and did some editing. Their only album features several incredible electronic pop songs, none greater than The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, which would easily be in my top 100 songs (hear that, Josh?). Every time I hear Owl City I cringe and wish to the musical Gods that Postal Service would regroup and show us how it's really done.
268. Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1960)
For years, jazz music had broadened musical horizons both structurally and through mad improvisations, yet it rarely strayed from a 4/4 time signature beat. Basically, jazz songs were like a march. This album, originally released as a sort of experiment, would forever change that. Most popular for it's use of a 5/4 beat, Brubeck and his band didn't just paint new strokes, he emptied buckets of colors into this album. Take Five is the most popular, as it should be, but this album was far from critically lauded upon it's release. Classical jazz, improvisation, African and Turkish folk rhythms, it's all over the map in the best possible way.
267. The Crane Wife - The Decemberists (2006)
Based on a Chinese folk tale meshed with Shakespeare and a few other tales tucked in, The Crane Wife doesn't seem as though it should be an album that was well-structured and engaging. It is, and it's the best album The Decemberists have put out yet. The short version of the story arc is man finds wounded crane, cares for it until it can fly, woman meets same man and marries, woman makes secret cloth to secure fortune man isn't allowed to see made, mans sees woman is crane using own feathers for cloth, woman/crane flies away. That completely makes you not want to hear this album at all, doesn't it? That would be your loss. In turns sweet and touching and inspiring and heartbreaking, this is an excellent concept album you shouldn't skip out on hearing.
266. Fun House - The Stooges (1970)
All of my music geeks tend to love Raw Power or the debut album from our homestate punks as their fave. I believe this to be the best Stooges album. If you were paying attention in earlier posts, the debut came close. I just preferred it when the band learned how to actually play their instruments...a little better. To me, this was definitely the band's most accomplished work, despite the collective drug problems. Iggy Pop called the album "troglodyte groove." A completely confrontational, vicious wail of an album check Down On the Street, TV Eye and the slowed-down Dirt. Inspired by fellow Michiganders MC5, it's easy to see how instrumental this band, and album, truly were in the incoming conquering tides of punk rock.
Here are a couple comments from Todd, yet another much respected music geek I have the pleasure of knowing. This is in regards to my wondering if The Wall ranked so low would be in issue for many...
No controversy from me ! On either Pink Floyd or REM ! While I was blown away when the Wall came out. It just doesn't hold up to the other great music made by the psychedelic dudes. Or the passage of time. Too much hatred ! Or at the very least, anger ! Roger Waters isn't my hero. If anyone from the Floyd is, it would have to be David Gilmour.
Yeah, somebody agrees! Here's a brief threat about my "hatin'" on Coldplay....
Dude, Stop dissing Coldplay ! If you don't, I have to send out my soldiers!
Hey, they did make the list, so they can't be all bad, right? Send me a review of an earlier album if ya like. Finally, here's another review from our good friend Matt. Never really got into this musician, but many friends like his style...
James Blunt-'Back to Bedlam' Most notably known for the debut single 'Beautiful'. This incredible songwriter with 'Rod Stewartess' vocals had his biggest success to date with this album. From cover to cover he covers a gambit of emotions from up tempo sing alongs, to songs of love and heartbreak, to politics and religion. There's something for everyone.
Thanks again, Matt! I'll have the next 5 up as soon as I can. Comments and reviews and naysaying, people, that's what I'm hungry for. FEED THE BEAST....sorry. Seriously, though.
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