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.