Rolling Stones- Stickey Fingers

The Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers

The year was 1971, Brian Jones was no longer a Stone, and the Stones were in a heated battle over who would own the rights to the back catalog. Mick and the boys settled into Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama to record for a few days in December of 1969 to record "Wild Horses" and "Sister Morphine which was cut for the Exile on Main Street album but held over for stickey fingers.
According to stories, the song Wild Horses was written for Marianne Faithful. Jager would later say that Keith came up with the melody and music, then Mick wrote the heart felt lyrics. He says that it was a time in his life when he needed to write something that close to him.
But what really makes this album great is the song "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". Both Keith Richards and new guitarist Mick Taylor open it up with a sick leading riff which Keith than switched to the rhythm for the verses.
But the Magic happens about 2:40 into the jam. The first guitar you hear is Keith, then theres the sax solo by Bobby Keyes. All the while Richards has been meandering in the back round, when finally the Sax and Keys solo stop and Mick Taylor starts with his long smooth solo. This was quite the departure from earlier Stones albums, being that no more multi-instrumentilist Brian Jones will be heard again.
But this album also features "I've got the Blues" which was later covered by Thalia Zedik and her band Come. And the Jagger/Richards/Faithful penned song "Sister Morphiene" with Ry Cooder on bottle neck slide.
Once again if you haven't heard this entire album, go run into traffic or jump off a cliff.

Otis Blue

Otis Redding- Otis Blue

in 1964 Sam Cooke was shot and killed at the Hacienda Hotel in L.A., by the hotels manager. Otis Redding looked up to Sam Cooke, being that Cooke is considered the pioneer of soul music. So for what most critics say is the start of Otis Reddings real career Otis decided to sing "A Change is Gonna Come", "Wonderful World" and "Shake" for his late friend. Now sure these two men sound nothing a like, Sam being polished and Otis being raw, and pleading. But Otis really makes these songs his own. But thats not the end of the cover songs. There's B.B. Kings "Rock Me Baby, The Temptations "My Girl" , the Rolling stones "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" and Stax label mate Will Bells "Don't you miss your water".
The highlights are the entire album, Otis shows of his self reflecting side with the opener "Ole Man Trouble" and his original version of "Respect". Then theres a little song he wrote with The Impressions singer Jerry Butler, "I've Been Loving You To Long".The man is pleading from his knees.
Angst ridden lyrics, with a smooth horn showered velvet back drop. I well up everytime I hear "You don't miss your water". Trust me folks, Otis hit it right on the head here. If you never listened to this album, please go play in traffic.

The Black Crowes- Amorica


Some folks will say Southern Harmony is better. But to me this album does it all. Another great opener from the Crowes to start the album off but then you run into Cursed Diamond, and Non-fiction. And Chris Robinson never sounded better. And he's prepared with tongue in cheek lyrics. Then around track 6 "She gave good sunflower" the album changes direction. Visually I see a trip to paradise, yours being what yours would be and mine being mine.
The songs start flowing into each other the way beer and foam would if you were trying to pour a lot of beers at once. They stretch out the slides and talk boxes in the funk of P. 25 London time. Than it's right back on the bus to paradise.
All in all this album does have a few slow moments but when it hits you, it really hits you.

You may tire of me

Death Cab For Cutie- Transatlanticism

I don't know if this is an end or a beginning, but what better way to greet it than with the first song on this album. This is the New Year may be the best album opener ever. This alum is charged with grief, rebirth, love, guilt. It flows both sweet and cruel, and to depths it speaks of longing.
Lyrically simple, the words almost sound like they are being choked out of Ben Gibbards soul.
There are no specific highlights to this album, as a whole it is a must listen. But there are certain points I fall in love with every time I listen. Like how the song Tiny Vessels is a confession with lines like:
"And she was beautiful, but she didn't mean a thing to me"

and the whole bridge

" I wanted to believe in all the words that I was speaking
As we moved together in the dark
And all the friends that I was telling
And all the playful misspellings
And every bite I gave you left a mark

As tiny vessels oozed into your neck
And formed the bruises
That you said you didn't want to fade
But they did and so did I that day"

And then the songs of being a young man, like in "We Looked Like Giants". Ben tells the story of being a young man in the north part of the country. But we finish on the sweetest note, when Giants ends, and swells into the finale of the album, "A Lack of Color". After rehashing old thoughts of old souls, the singer is now looking at now. This song is simple, beautiful, and wanting.

More Great Albums

The Good Life-Album of the Year

Tim Kasher appears again, this time with his "solo project". Really the only thing that The Good Life is, is another spring board for Kasher to throw his soul against. These songs seem to soft for what Cursive was doing at the time. To me this album became a prelude to what would become of Cursive later on down the line.
If you purchase the enhanced version of the album you get a second disc which is the entire album done acoustic. With Kasher singing on "Inmates" solo. Every time I listen to it, my heart gets torn out of chest.

Dinosaur Jr.- Whatever's Cool With Me

Now this really isn't an album, It's a Maxi-single. In 1988 Dinosaur Jr released the album Bug, which would be the last time that Lou Barlow would record with J. Masicas and Murph till 2007.
In 1991, DJ released Green Mind, which brings us to this release. WCWM serves as the single for "The Wagon" and "Whatever's Cool With Me".
Now to why I picked this one. You will never hear a better live 3 piece band like you do on the song "Thumb". Now the original version has a flute playing in the beginning, not this version!
First you get the gritty J. Masicas riff of all riffs, then Lou and Murph demolish whatever was left of your ear drums! This song made me fall in love with the Marshall bass stack sound.
Whatevers Cool with Me has been re-released with some more goodies on it, but you can't beat the original Australian pressing. With songs like Quicksand, Not You Again, Thumb, and the other live song on this disc, Keep the Glove.
Just sit back and listen to J. Masicas solo, and then back to the intro, back to an ear shattering solo # 2. Ah, it takes me back to being in my teens.

Built To Spill-Perfect From Now On

This is in my top 5 favorite albums of all time!!! There are just not enough words or superlatives to describe this album. It taught me how to start a song at point A and end it at points unknown.
This album was recorded 3 times, Once by Doug Martsch himself playing everything except drums. But he and producer Phil Ek didn't like the sound. So then bring in Scot Plouf on drums and Bret Nelson on Bass. The band recorded, but the tapes where damaged from heat during a drive from Seattle to Biose for over dubs.
Following up "Theres Nothing Wrong With Love" , "Perfect From Now On" is tighter, brooding. Sonically gorgeous, often with 3 to 4 guitar parts going at a time. When I talk about how these songs start somewhere and end up a different place, check out Velvet Waltz, or Kicked it in the Sun.
This to me is a perfect snap shot of autumn. And a great album to take a long trip with.

Top 50 part 2

Here is the second installment of My top 50 albums




Jawbox- For Your own Special Sweetheart

In the 90's there was so much music to choose from. Most of my favorite bands are from this time. One of them being Washington D.C.s own Jawbox. This album marks the first time a D.C. based or any post-hardcore band left Dischord records for a major.
And let's just say the awsomeness that is Jawbox's sound only got better with this release. Yes it is polished yet still raw. Angry disonent guitars give way to catchy choruses and spleen shattering verses. Lyrically vauge as just about all of the Jawbox albums, the words are open for your interpitation.
I'm sure some of you have heard the Deftones cover "Savory". And I'm sorry, but the cover doesn't hold a candle to the original.


Blind Melon-Soup

As with all great things, there must be an end. I don't think anyone was expecting the daeth of Shannon Hoon on October 21st. 1995. This album wasn't the commercial success that Blind Melon-Blind Melon was. But the Different approach the band took to recording this album pays off. They decided to go down to New Orleans with producer Andy Wallace to record Soup. With it's unconventional sound darting back and forth between Folky back woods to full throttle rock.
Also included in this album is the Dirty Dozen Brass Band who will apear somewhere on this list again. With songs of drug abuse, suicide, birth, and serial killers where could you possibly go wrong. This is a must have.

At The Drive-In- Relationship Of Command

Before there was the Mars Volta, and Sparta there was At The Drive-In. Now if you've never had the chance to see ATDI you would have missed the most impressive and electrically charged live performance ever. This is a summer time album to me, it's full of energy and movement. this is just the first of the ATDI albums I plan on putting on the list. If you want to hear rock music the way you've never heard keep a close eye on Cedric and Omar.

Elliott Smith-Figure 8

Another untimely death makes the list. Elliott Smith was found dead in his home with "self inflicted" stab wounds to his chest. To say this man suffered from depression is an understatement. You can tell just by apathetic tone in his lyrics. The suffering from drug abuse and depression makes its mark through out this and every other Elliott Smith album.
This one has my favorite song on it "In the lost and found(honkey bach)". A love song from a distance. "Stay with me , hanging around the lost and found"
He's begging to be found and loved, in the long run aren't we all?


Afghan Whigs-Gentelmen

Now anyone who actually knows me knows I've been a huge Whigs fan for a long time. When I first moved to Vegas from Monticello, NY I got the chance to see the whigs open for Aerosmith. Now I spent 75 bucks for one ticket to see one band (I left before Aerosmith came on).
I knew it would be the last time they full band would tour together, so I went. This album was my first taste of Greg Dullis, bottle of whiskey half a pack of smokes sexually deviant rasps.
At the time in my life I got into the Whigs it was perfect, I felt like I was the only one in the world that had those thoughts running through my head. This album holds moments of lust, greed, longing, shame, bitterness, and finally surrender.
The song "My Curse" ends with these delicate words sung by Marcy Mays

"Hurt me baby
I flinch so when you do.
Your kisses scourge me.
Hyssop in your perfume.
Oh I do not fear you,
And slave I only use as a word to describe
The way I feel when I'm with you.

If I have to lie about it everytime I came undressed."

With the next song being "Now You Know" where Dulli scolds the listener with the following:

"Since you're aware of the consequences
I can pimp what's left of this wreck on you
Bit into a rotten one, now didn't you?
Now I can watch you chew
Did you have blinders on my dear
Or were you just willing?
Or was I unaware of the damage a lie can do?
I thought you knew."

You can see this album is a struggle from front to back. This is one of the most bitter sweet albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

I'm only gonna do 5 albums today. I think it's a lot easier to read this way

Please feel free to leave your comments

The Top 50

Well for my first topic I've decided to take on My Top 50 Albums of all time.

Now keep in mind that my mind and tastes change quite frequently so there will be a lot of artists that you may have never heard of, and plenty of things you'll disagree with. So feel free to leave your comments.

I will do this with 5 installments of 10 albums.
*note these are not in any order

Elvis Costello- My Aim Is True

The first release from Elvis Costello. To me this is his best work. The snarl and sardonic tone of his words really sets up this album. This album does not have one stand out song to me. The songs swing from sweet heart wrenching songs like "Allison" to the aggressive Fuck yous like "I'm not Angry".
You have to realize that at this time artists like Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello were both the doing exactly the opposite of what others were doing in England. Taking heavily from the early American rock 'n' roll movement. While others like the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and the Cure were creating the english punk sound, with the latter authoring what we know as "Goth".
To sum it up, Elvis Costello knows how to write a song!!! And this album let's you know it.
Did I mention that the song "Watching the Detectives" was also added to the American pressing of this album!



Nirvana- In Utero


Well music becomes the soundtrack to certain times in life. And being a teenage boy during the reign of Nirvana, how could I not mention them. Lyrically Kurt Cobain talked about the insecurities of being a human. With an almost caustic sincerity.
"Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet /Cut myself on angel hair and baby's breath"
Make what you want of those lyrics, I know I do. that's one of the beautiful things about music it's all based on interpretation.
Back to the music, well for fucks sake look at the line up. I mean The drummer goes on to front his own giant of a band. And Kurt knew how to write a song that kept you interested.


The Beatles-Revolver


Once again I will stress that music is the soundtrack to life. You can put an album or song on and you are brought to a time when life was different. The Beatles always remind me of being a kid. Now growing up the most listened to Beatles album in our house was "The White Album". But as I got older, this album really made me into a fan. It's got soul people. Not the soul that Billy Preston brings, that wouldn't occur for another 3 years. A year earlier the album Rubber Soul was released and these 2 albums would become my favorites.
I love the production, the true stereo mix. George Martin was one of the great producers.
Every track is special in its own way. And this is the original version of Elenor Rigby, but check out Aretha Franklin on "This Girls In Love With You".


Of Montreal-Skeltal Lampings

Before I heard this album I had never heard any Of Montreal's stuff. This album to me is like if Beck, the Flaming Lips, And the Beatles had a baby with Prince. I mean this is one of the most amazingly weird, savory pieces of ear candy I've ever heard! Now the story this album tells is of Georgie Fruit. Much like David Bowies "Ziggy Stardust" this charecter is an extension of Kevin Barnes. These are stories of his fears, and fantasies. I hghly reccomend this album if you've never heard Of Montreal before and want to try some out.
This album is made with little snippets of music that perfectly fit together like a cracked out jig-
saw puzzle. This is something you should listen to from front to back.

EL-P- Fantastic Damage

Before he went solo, EL-P was part of the greatest NY underground hip hop group ever, Company Flow. Right from the begining you are drawn into this album. Now friends I will let you in on a little secret and one of the reasons I love everything on Def Jux. There are very few samples used to make this record. This is a man, a keyboard, Kaoss pad and turntables using pro tools.
The mans flow is fierce, and you can tell he's sick of these big labels trying to low ball and take away the beauty of the art that is music. He lets you in on his childhood, complete with alcoholic step dads and more. If you have not heard this album go and find it. (download it from Itunes or the Def Jux web site) Get out your headphones, and be prepared to have your mind imploded.
Unlike what you hear on the radio, this is real hip hop! This is soul music for the new millenium.
The mans angry, just before he released this album Rawkus records came to him and wanted him to change the whole thing, because it wasn't a radio friendly album. So he left Rawkus and started Def Jux. "Signed to Rawkus? I'd rather be mouth fucked by Nazis unconscious"
That line should be a good idea of what this album is about.

Funkadelic- Maggot Brain

Now a lot of people out there and think Funkadelic is P-Funk. This is half true. Parliment and Funkadelic were 2 groups that were led by George Clinton. Parliament was a 5 pc vocal group that was under contract with a bankrupt label. After some success Clinton put together a 5pc backing band for Parliament but Clinton lost the rights to the name Parliaments. And renamed the band Funkadelic, so they could record for other labels.

Now this is not the first Funkadelic album, this is the 3rd.
This deserves song breakdown folks.
Track 1- Maggot Brain.
How else are you going to start off a funk/soul album in 1971? How about the most moving and passionate 10 minute long guitar solo you've ever imagined, now swell that up by 1,000. Eddie Hazel makes you feel like Mother Earth is crying. It's moving and a surprising choice to open an album.
Track 2- Can You Get To That

" I once had a life or rather, life had me I was one among many, or at least I seemed to be"

12 string acoustic guitar, groove for days, harmonies! Funkadelic was paying attention to what was going on around them.

"When you base your life on credit and your lovin' days are done Checks you signed with
a love and kiss'll later come back signed insufficient fun"
Just plan good ol' music!

Track 3- Hit It And Quit It.
The funk continues

Track 4- You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks
Now it's starting to get hot and sweaty.

Track 5- Super Stupid
Now this is 1971, do you hear this guitar tone?
Either way this album is art at it's highest get up off your ass and dance peak.

Cursive- Domestica

This reminds me of driving to San Diego to go play a show. The sun was in the west, the moon up high in the east. The windows were down, radio cranked, and the smoke was great.
Later on that night, on Garnett Iwas coming out of a drive through taco place with this playing and was asked by some guy who this was. I told him, it's Cursive, and they are going to be huge.
They aren't, but they still make great albums. And I fell in love with them because of this album.
Thank you Tim

Prince-Prince


October 1979, Prince is 21 and has just released his second album. Considering the first one flopped he was pressured to write an album with some hits. How about I wanna be your lover, Why you wanna treat me so bad?, and I feel for you! Later made famous by Chaka Khan, of course. Now Prince plays all the instruments on this album. he wrote everything, produced everything, the man was a genius at an early age. This album from top to bottom is a masterpiece. Just check out the harmonies on "It's gonna be lonely" the last song on the album.


Mr. Bungle- California

One of the most ambitious albums to ever make it to your ear drums. Mike Pattons voice is both soothing and aggetating. This album sounds like The Beach Boys on tons of caffine. The Pacific themes of this album will at times make you turn your head like a confused puppy. Because they are met by Scat loving greasers, gypsies, and art types. And I guess in a way thats what California is all about.
Just trust me, Mike Patton is one of the most talented man with vocal chords ever!


Elbow- Cast of Thousands

I first picked this album up when I was living in Alaska. This was a corner stone in my drive back in the early fall of 2004. The opening "Ribcage" couldn't have been more perfect to cap my life changing experience that was Alaska. A perfect road trip mix tape opener. I can feel the orange sun, and the crisp smell of the trees in the cold wind.
Track 3 "Fugitive Motel" has a line in it that makes my heart ache every time I hear it. "Blow you a kiss, it should reach you tomorrow." This album brings you from soft and loving to smokey and resentful. I feel almost as if this is a coming of age story. One that starts in the mid 20's.

Welcome

Since I have so much free time lately I've decided to jump into the world of posting things that very few people care about other than me. Here I will talk about subjects such as best 50 albums of all time (in my mind). Favorite soda (it's not pop!) , favorite food, movies, but mostly music.
I hope you enjoy my random ramblings of recent things.
Enjoy