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Miles Davis – Bitches Brew – Columbia (1970)

Well it only took me a year to figure this album out.  Final verdict:  Wow.  As someone whose only real experience with jazz was Davis’ “Kind of Blue” (still my favorite jazz album ever) and the Charlie Brown Christmas album, this album is not something a jazz neophyte picks up and really digs.  It’s a difficult listen.  Several of the tracks go upwards of 20 minutes, many of those minutes seem to be 5 different instruments playing 5 different songs, until they all come together and just blow your mind.  I’ve spent various periods over the last year really getting into jazz.  My music collection has grown extensively with the likes of Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong.  It took a lot of listening to those artists, as well as earlier Miles, to get to the point where I appreciated this album.  One day it just clicked, and I heard, and it was good.

Bottom Line: Not for jazz newbies, listen to “Kind of Blue” and some Coltrane first.

P.S.  I’m not going to give these grades anymore.  I can’t explain why, but it just doesn’t feel right.

Allow me to gush unabated for a moment.

This past Saturday, my wife and I went on a roadtrip to Weatherford, Oklahoma of all places, to see Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers play a free show at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  We left Canyon at 7:00 pm and made the 3 hour trip to the Sooner state, arriving shortly after the concert had begun.  Walking into the campus Wellness Center gymnasium, I was appalled at the size of the crowd.  There couldn’t have been more than 40 people or so, 30 of them being the people that follow the band around from show to show.  The few students who were there seemed more concerned with acting like asses and mocking the band than listening to the music.  Did the band seem upset?  No.

My history with Roger Clyne goes way back.  I loved The Refreshments when they first came out in the 90s.  When they broke up I was upset, but soon thrilled to find out they had formed a new band.  Learning this little tidbit of info led to the greatest road trip in the history of road trips.  A trip that took me and three friends to Denver, Colorado where I had the greatest concert experience of my life, one that I doubt very seriously could ever be topped, barring Roger ever shows up and plays a show in  my living room.  RCPM are an integral part of my favorite memories from college.  From sitting on the porch in the freezing cold, drinking beer and talking philosophy while they play in the background, to the aforementioned road trip, Roger was there.  Taylor and I even talked to him on the phone once to discuss shooting a documentary about them (which fell through).  We were barely able to contain ourselves throughout the conversation.  Sadly, I didn’t realize how big a part he had played in my transition to adulthood until he started playing Mekong in that small school gymnasium in Weatherford, Oklahoma.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  I got emotional.  Tears welled up in my eyes.  I couldn’t even sing along to my favorite Roger Clyne song.  Memories just kept coming.  I wanted Taylor, Chuck, and Matt there.  I felt guilty that they were missing out. 

Here’s the thing.  Roger Clyne is far and away the most gracious rock star I’ve ever witnessed.  Was he upset that an entire campus of students skipped his concert to go do whatever it is people do on a Saturday night in Weatherford, Oklahoma?  No.  He thanked the stupid emo kids for dancing.  Was he upset when he asked how many people had never seen them before and 5 people raised their hands?  No.  He told them to go take a couple of CDs and pay whatever they felt they were worth.  After every song he clasped his hands and bowed to thank the crowd for listening and cheering and everytime he did it, I thought they were done for the night.  Then they’d play another song and he’d bow and thank the crowd again.  I was shocked.  Most other musicians would throw a tantrum, bitch at the crowd, and storm off (Ryan Adams, I’m looking in your direction), but not Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers.  They had fun.  They do it because they love the music and appreciate their fans.

Right before they played Mekong, Roger spoke a couple of lines of the song to the crowd:  “If your bottle’s empty, help yourself to mine.  Thank you for your time.  Here’s to life.”  He was sincere and it killed me.

Friends, I want you to know that if your bottle is ever empty, you can help yourself to mine.

Here’s to life.

I have not abandoned this endeavor.  I’ve just been really busy and haven’t been able to sit down and devote the time and energy required for the next album, Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew.”  It’s heavy.  I’m talking 20 minute free form jazz tracks heavy.  I’ll get it.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River – Fantasy (1969)

Favorite Song:  Bad Moon Rising
Favorite Song I’d Never Heard:  The Night Time is the Right Time

One of my high school football coaches ruined CCR for me.  Every day in the weight room it was either CCR or Boston blaring over the stereo.  I really liked CCR at one point, but that just ruined it.  I equated them with pain and sweat.  I’m glad I listened to this album because it helped me to appreciate them again.  There were only a few songs on here that I’d ever heard, the obvious one being “Bad Moon Rising” or as it’s also known “The Song of Hilarious Misheard Lyrics.”  “The Night Time is the Right Time” is a great blues song and Fogerty’s voice lends itself well to the blues growl.  While I won’t be listening to this album over and over again (there’s still scars) it is a step in the right direction for me to reacquire a taste in CCR.

Bottom Line:  There’s a bathroom on the right.
Final Grade:  B-

The Who – Tommy – MCA (1969)

Favorite Song:  Pinball Wizard
Other Notables:  Sparks (the song from Almost Famous)

I’ve been a big fan of The Who for a long time and this is probably my favorite album of theirs, mainly because it was the first I discovered.  Tommy is a rock opera/concept album telling the story of Tommy Walker, a young boy who witnesses his father’s murder and goes into a state of being deaf and blind.  The story in the album is fairly loose, but the general gist is that he suffers physical and sexual abuse from family members, develops an incredible talent for playing pinball, eventually snaps out of it, and starts a cult where he makes everybody play pinball while deprived of all their senses.  Your typical American story, er, told by British dudes.

The great thing about this album isn’t the story, it’s the music and arrangement.  Pete Townshend pretty much wrote the whole thing himself, and I’m sure he was totally sober the whole time.  The highlight of this album is definitely “Pinball Wizard,” one of the few songs that stands on its own without the need of another song leading into it.  However, this album is meant to be listened to from beginning to end.  Townshend’s guitar work is phenomenal, and Keith Moon is easily one of the greatest rock drummers ever to have lived (and OD’d).  I was actually pretty shocked at how low on the list Tommy is.  I expected it in at least the top 25.  Tommy is an influential masterpiece.

Bottom Line:  “Listen to Tommy with a candle burning and you will see your entire future…” (Almost Famous)
Final Grade:  A-

Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan – Columbia (1963)

Favorite Song:  Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright
Favorite Song I’d Never Heard:  Girl From the North Country

I’m going to warn you now, I absolutely love Bob Dylan.  You don’t ever want to argue with me on the talent of Bob Dylan as I might end up punching you.  You either love him or you hate him.  Bob Dylan is the biggest conflict I have with my inlaws.  At least once a month I mention something about Bob Dylan simply to get a rise out of them.  “He can’t sing!” they say to me.  Does he sing off key?  No.  Does he have a unique voice?  Yes.  Is his voice for everybody?  No, but it should be.  Seriously, a person that can’t sing doesn’t sing the right notes.  Bob Dylan sings the right notes and no one else in the world sounds like him.  Of course, what the crap do my inlaws know about music, they listen to Rush for crap’s sake.  Of course, when I bring up their love of Rush I’m sure to mention that they are not allowed to talk about Bob Dylan not being able to sing if they think Geddy Lee can.  I thought he was a woman until I saw him.  Seriously, Rush?  Ugh.  My wife doesn’t make her opinion known, probably because she knows she has to go home with me.  But I digress…

I haven’t listened to many of Dylan’s older full albums, I’ve mainly stuck to his later (70s) stuff, a few of his live “bootleg” albums and “The Essentials”, and it’s now that I realize that I’ve made a huge mistake.  Oh, I know all the classics and a few of the more obscure ones, but have missed out on a few hidden gems.  This album is fantastic, though the quality kind of starts to drop off at the end.  I’m not a big fan of the “Talkin’ Blues” style songs, unless it’s Todd Snider’s “Talkin’ Seattle Blues.”  The first 3/4 of this album, however, must be heard.  It starts with what is possibly Dylan’s most well known song “Blowin’ In the Wind” and then goes into a few you may or may not have heard, but should:  “Girl from the North Country” and “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”  As I type this, I’m hearing “Corrina, Corrina” for the first time and will soon be learning this on the guitar so I can play it myself.  “Don’t Think Twice” makes me think of my homie Taylor.  We used to sing this just so we could say “babe” like Bob does.  If you like Bob Dylan at all (and as I mentioned before, you very well should), give this album the full listen it deserves.

Bottom Line:  Rush Sucks.
Final Grade:  A

Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model – Rhino (1978)

Favorite Song: (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea
Favorite Song I’d Never Heard:  Little Triggers

Finally, an album with songs I’ve heard before.  I love Elvis Costello.  I’m not entirely convinced there’s anyone in the world cooler than this guy.  Not only does he write extremely catchy songs that sound like they could have been written yesterday, but he makes weird cameo appearances in shows like “30 Rock” and movies like “Talladega Nights.”  Seriously, go get a dictionary, look up the word ‘cool’ and I guarantee you there’s a picture of him.  This album contains some of his best known songs (“Radio, Radio”, “Pump it Up”, “Chelsea”), though is missing my favorite Costello tune “Good Year for the Roses.”  I was actually shocked to read that this album came out in the 70′s.  It sure as crap doesn’t sound like it.   “Chelsea” is easily my favorite song on the album.  It serves as the opening song on my as yet unwritten and unshot short film about a single male teacher/coach who lives alone in a town where he doesn’t know anybody (no idea where that idea came from, these things just pop in my head people).

Bottom Line:  Uh, yes please.
Final Grade: A-

Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On – Epic (1971)

Favorite Song:  Luv & Haight
Other Notables:  Spaced Cowboy,  Thank You for Talkin’ To Me, Africa

 I’ve never really given funk more than the occasional listen, and one of the points of doing this project is to expand my musical horizons, so I went into this album with a little hope and a little trepidation.  The only song I can name by Sly & the Family Stone is “Everyday People” which has been ruined by commercials.  Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed this album.  Sly has a smooth voice and all of the wah effects start to grow on you.  There’s even a little harmonica and yodeling on “Spaced Cowboy.”  I will admit that I’m a sucker for a sweet bass groove and this album is chock full of them (of course, that’s pretty much what funk is). Listen to “Thank You For Talkin’ To Me, Africa” for an especially awesome one.  Also, I’m pretty sure if you look like this, it’s impossible to make terrible music:

Bottom Line:  Thank You For Going Easy On The Clarinet, Sly
Final Grade:  B

As stated previously I’m going to be listening to the top 100 albums of all time (according to Rolling Stone) and posting my thoughts on them here.  Obviously, the order is very very debateable, but this is the list I’m going to go by.  So without further ado, number 100.

Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning – Capitol Records (1954)

Favorite Song:  In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Favorite Song I’d Never Heard:  In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning

I have to admit, I’m not the biggest Sinatra fan on the planet, but can handle small doses when in the right mood.  I much prefer Dean Martin, and truthfully, if I’m listening to any Rat Pack music, it’s probably December, and I’m listening to “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”  So it goes without saying, this was a tough listen for the first album of this blogoseries.   The title track is easily the strongest and after that it all starts to blend together.  “Can’t We Be Friends” stands out for it’s enjoyable loungeyness.  I felt like I was sitting in a hotel lobby smoking a cigarette and drinking a martini.

This is a great album for a romantic dinner with your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend, listening to late at night, or just when you’re feeling a bit melancholy and enjoying it.  Not exactly my cup of tea, but I can appreciate it.

Bottom Line:  Too many woodwinds.
Final Grade:  C+

P.S.  I don’t want to beg, but please comment and let me know what you think.

In order to force myself to blog more often, I’ve assigned myself a project. After recently browsing over at rollingstone.com, I discovered they have a list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.  After acquiring a Zune Pass today, it became economically feasible to listen to these albums ($15 a month, unlimited downloads).  So here’s what’s going to happen.  I’m going to listen to the top 100 albums on this list and blog my thoughts about them.  I’ll do them in 3-5 album posts, listing my favorite tracks, favorite track I’ve never heard, and my thoughts on the album.  Stay tuned…this will be coming soon.