787. The GoGos--Beauty and the Beat (1981, #1) (3)
1. Our Lips Are Sealed (9) (sounds as good today as when it came out!)
2. How Much More (?) (2)
3. Tonite (?) (2)
4. Lust to Love (?) (2)
5. This Town (2)
6. We Got the Beat (8)
7. Fading Fast (?) (2)
8. Automatic (?) (2+)
9. You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep) (?) (2+)
10. Skidmarks on My Heart (?) (2+)
11. Can't Stop the World (?) (2+)
REVIEW: What a joy it is to hear (and see) this stuff again! The two big hits were filled with such unbridled exuberance and the passion of youth. I remembered only one other song, This Town, which I didn't care for. But Our Lips Are Sealed may have been the very first video I saw on MTV, shortly after graduating from high school. I give it a 3 overall.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
789. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins--Rabbit Fur Coat (2006; #88) (2)
789. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins--Rabbit Fur Coat (2006; #88) (2)
1. Run Devil Run (?) (2)
2. The Big Guns (?) (2)
3. Rise Up With Fists!! (?) (3)
4. Happy (?) (2)
5. The Charging Sky (?) (2)
6. Melt Your Heart (?) (3)
7. You Are What You Love (?) (5)
8. Rabbit Fur Coat (?) (2)
9. Handle With Care (7+)
10. Born Secular (?) (2)
11. It Wasn't Me (?) (2+)
12. Happy (Reprise) (?) (3)
REVIEW: Nothing wrong with this. I give it a 2 for now.
1. Run Devil Run (?) (2)
2. The Big Guns (?) (2)
3. Rise Up With Fists!! (?) (3)
4. Happy (?) (2)
5. The Charging Sky (?) (2)
6. Melt Your Heart (?) (3)
7. You Are What You Love (?) (5)
8. Rabbit Fur Coat (?) (2)
9. Handle With Care (7+)
10. Born Secular (?) (2)
11. It Wasn't Me (?) (2+)
12. Happy (Reprise) (?) (3)
REVIEW: Nothing wrong with this. I give it a 2 for now.
Monday, March 21, 2011
791. 10,000 Maniacs--Our Time in Eden (1992) (2)
791. 10,000 Maniacs--Our Time in Eden (1992) (2)
1. Noah's Dove (?) (3)
2. These Are Days (6)
3. Eden (?) (3)
4. Few and Far Between (?) (3)
5. Stockton Gala Days (?) (4)
6. Gold Rush Brides (?) (3)
7. Jezebel (?) (3)
8. How You've Grown (?) (3)
9. Candy Everybody Wants (6)
10. Tolerance (?) (3)
11. Circle Dream (?) (2)
12. If You Intend (?) (2)
13. I'm Not the Man (?) (3)
REVIEW: Well, you can tell I haven't played this CD much, as I only know the two popular songs from it. I like those two fairly well, but nothing from the rest of it caught my ear. I give it a 2.
ED'S TAKE:
791. 10,000 Maniacs--Our Time in Eden (1992)
1. Noah's Dove (10)
2. These Are Days (8)
3. Eden (9)
4. Few and Far Between (8)
5. Stockton Gala Days (7)
6. Gold Rush Brides (9)
7. Jezebel (9)
8. How You've Grown (9)
9. Candy Everybody Wants (9)
10. Tolerance (8)
11. Circle Dream (9)
12. If You Intend (8)
13. I'm Not the Man (9)
OVERALL RATING: 8 (NOT the sum of its parts)
DISCUSSION: Natalie's voice was always quite appealing to me. The songs she sang were not. While I don't mind the fact that this one didn't have many "hits", the songs "non-descriptness" work individually better than as an album. There are simply not enough REAL highs. I still find listening to Merchant quite appealing (I saw her live with the Maniacs) but this is NOT an album I'd want to listen to in one sitting, except as background.
1. Noah's Dove (?) (3)
2. These Are Days (6)
3. Eden (?) (3)
4. Few and Far Between (?) (3)
5. Stockton Gala Days (?) (4)
6. Gold Rush Brides (?) (3)
7. Jezebel (?) (3)
8. How You've Grown (?) (3)
9. Candy Everybody Wants (6)
10. Tolerance (?) (3)
11. Circle Dream (?) (2)
12. If You Intend (?) (2)
13. I'm Not the Man (?) (3)
REVIEW: Well, you can tell I haven't played this CD much, as I only know the two popular songs from it. I like those two fairly well, but nothing from the rest of it caught my ear. I give it a 2.
ED'S TAKE:
791. 10,000 Maniacs--Our Time in Eden (1992)
1. Noah's Dove (10)
2. These Are Days (8)
3. Eden (9)
4. Few and Far Between (8)
5. Stockton Gala Days (7)
6. Gold Rush Brides (9)
7. Jezebel (9)
8. How You've Grown (9)
9. Candy Everybody Wants (9)
10. Tolerance (8)
11. Circle Dream (9)
12. If You Intend (8)
13. I'm Not the Man (9)
OVERALL RATING: 8 (NOT the sum of its parts)
DISCUSSION: Natalie's voice was always quite appealing to me. The songs she sang were not. While I don't mind the fact that this one didn't have many "hits", the songs "non-descriptness" work individually better than as an album. There are simply not enough REAL highs. I still find listening to Merchant quite appealing (I saw her live with the Maniacs) but this is NOT an album I'd want to listen to in one sitting, except as background.
792. Neil Young--Live at Massey Hall 1971 (2007: #6)
792. Neil Young--Live at Massey Hall 1971 (2007: #6)
1. On the Way Home (?) (2)
2. Tell Me Why (5)
3. Old Man (8)
4. Journey Through the Past (?) (2)
5. Helpless (8)
6. Love in Mind (?) (3)
7. A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold Suite (?) (2/9)
8. Cowgirl in the Sand (5)
9. Don't Let It Bring You Down (3)
10. There's a World (?) (3)
11. Bad Fog of Loneliness (?) (2)
12. The Needle and the Damage Done (5)
13. Ohio (9)
14. See the Sky About to Rain (?) (2)
15. Down By the River (3)
16. Dance Dance Dance (?) (3)
17. I Am a Child (?) (2)
REVIEW: Good stuff...didn't realize he had released anything since "Living with War" in '06(?). If I were to rate it, it would get a 6--not to be confused with its highest chart position shown above--but I don't want that to go into Valerie's records, so forget I said that :-)
ED'S TAKE
792. Neil Young--Live at Massey Hall 1971 (2007)
1. On the Way Home (9)
2. Tell Me Why (10) A REAL favorite from "After the Goldrush"
3. Old Man (10)
4. Journey Through the Past (10)
5. Helpless (10)
6. Love in Mind (10)
7. A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold Suite (10) ....a beautiful, if misunderstood, song.
8. Cowgirl in the Sand (10)
9. Don't Let It Bring You Down (10)
10. There's a World (8)
11. Bad Fog of Loneliness (8)
12. The Needle and the Damage Done (10)
13. Ohio (10)
14. See the Sky About to Rain (9)
15. Down By the River (10)
16. Dance Dance Dance (8)
17. I Am a Child (10)
OVERALL RATING : 10
DISCUSSION: Amidst a lot of superlatives, Neil Young HAS been my favorite singer for a long, long time. As a matter of fact, often I have listed his "After the Goldrush" as my favorite album....Period. I can't think of another album in my lifetime I've listened to more times.....even the older ones. So, for me anyway, the ratings here reflect more how I feel about the songs.....the vocals are consistent and superlative for me. Frankly, I DID enjoy "A Man Needs a Maid" without the orchestration.
1. On the Way Home (?) (2)
2. Tell Me Why (5)
3. Old Man (8)
4. Journey Through the Past (?) (2)
5. Helpless (8)
6. Love in Mind (?) (3)
7. A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold Suite (?) (2/9)
8. Cowgirl in the Sand (5)
9. Don't Let It Bring You Down (3)
10. There's a World (?) (3)
11. Bad Fog of Loneliness (?) (2)
12. The Needle and the Damage Done (5)
13. Ohio (9)
14. See the Sky About to Rain (?) (2)
15. Down By the River (3)
16. Dance Dance Dance (?) (3)
17. I Am a Child (?) (2)
REVIEW: Good stuff...didn't realize he had released anything since "Living with War" in '06(?). If I were to rate it, it would get a 6--not to be confused with its highest chart position shown above--but I don't want that to go into Valerie's records, so forget I said that :-)
ED'S TAKE
792. Neil Young--Live at Massey Hall 1971 (2007)
1. On the Way Home (9)
2. Tell Me Why (10) A REAL favorite from "After the Goldrush"
3. Old Man (10)
4. Journey Through the Past (10)
5. Helpless (10)
6. Love in Mind (10)
7. A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold Suite (10) ....a beautiful, if misunderstood, song.
8. Cowgirl in the Sand (10)
9. Don't Let It Bring You Down (10)
10. There's a World (8)
11. Bad Fog of Loneliness (8)
12. The Needle and the Damage Done (10)
13. Ohio (10)
14. See the Sky About to Rain (9)
15. Down By the River (10)
16. Dance Dance Dance (8)
17. I Am a Child (10)
OVERALL RATING : 10
DISCUSSION: Amidst a lot of superlatives, Neil Young HAS been my favorite singer for a long, long time. As a matter of fact, often I have listed his "After the Goldrush" as my favorite album....Period. I can't think of another album in my lifetime I've listened to more times.....even the older ones. So, for me anyway, the ratings here reflect more how I feel about the songs.....the vocals are consistent and superlative for me. Frankly, I DID enjoy "A Man Needs a Maid" without the orchestration.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
795. The Eagles--The Eagles (1972; #22) (3)
795. The Eagles--The Eagles (1972; #22) (3)
1. Take It Easy (8)
2. Witchy Woman (8)
3. Chug All Night (?) (2)
4. Most of Us Are Sad (?) (2)
5. Nightingale (?) (2)
6. Train Leaves Here This Morning (?) (2)
7. Take the Devil (?) (2)
8. Earlybird (?) (2)
9. Peaceful Easy Feeling (1+)
10. Tryin' (?) (2)
REVIEW: Like the first two tracks (classic rock staples). It's just amazing how they'll latch onto a song or two and play those to death and ignore the rest, which I NEVER hear (except for Peaceful Easy Feeling, which I don't like). But that's their modus operandi--go with the familiar to hang onto the listener so that the ratings don't go down and they can no longer attract advertisers. This one gets a 3.
ED'S TAKE:
95. The Eagles--The Eagles (1972; #22)
1. Take It Easy (9)
2. Witchy Woman (9)
3. Chug All Night (8)
4. Most of Us Are Sad (8)
5. Nightingale (7)
6. Train Leaves Here This Morning (9)
7. Take the Devil (8)
8. Earlybird (8)
9. Peaceful Easy Feeling (9)
10. Tryin' (8)
OVERALL RATING: 8
DISCUSSION: I've always kind of liked the Eagles. They were never one of my favorite groups but whenever an album came out, there were always songs that became part of my existence, usually the ones that had those beautiful harmonies. This isn't a great album but it is still quite listenable to me, with a few really high points.
1. Take It Easy (8)
2. Witchy Woman (8)
3. Chug All Night (?) (2)
4. Most of Us Are Sad (?) (2)
5. Nightingale (?) (2)
6. Train Leaves Here This Morning (?) (2)
7. Take the Devil (?) (2)
8. Earlybird (?) (2)
9. Peaceful Easy Feeling (1+)
10. Tryin' (?) (2)
REVIEW: Like the first two tracks (classic rock staples). It's just amazing how they'll latch onto a song or two and play those to death and ignore the rest, which I NEVER hear (except for Peaceful Easy Feeling, which I don't like). But that's their modus operandi--go with the familiar to hang onto the listener so that the ratings don't go down and they can no longer attract advertisers. This one gets a 3.
ED'S TAKE:
95. The Eagles--The Eagles (1972; #22)
1. Take It Easy (9)
2. Witchy Woman (9)
3. Chug All Night (8)
4. Most of Us Are Sad (8)
5. Nightingale (7)
6. Train Leaves Here This Morning (9)
7. Take the Devil (8)
8. Earlybird (8)
9. Peaceful Easy Feeling (9)
10. Tryin' (8)
OVERALL RATING: 8
DISCUSSION: I've always kind of liked the Eagles. They were never one of my favorite groups but whenever an album came out, there were always songs that became part of my existence, usually the ones that had those beautiful harmonies. This isn't a great album but it is still quite listenable to me, with a few really high points.
Friday, March 18, 2011
796. The Verve--Urban Hymns (1997; #23) (1)
796. The Verve--Urban Hymns (1997; #23) (1)
1. Bitter Sweet Symphony (8+)
2. Sonnet (?) (3)
3. The Rolling People (?) (2)
4. The Drugs Don't Work (?) (3)
5. Catching the Butterfly (?) (2)
6. Neon Wilderness (?) (2)
7. Space and Time (?) (2)
8. Weeping Willow (?) (3)
9. Lucky Man (2+)
10. One Day (?) (4)
11. This Time (?) (2)
12. Velvet Morning (?) (2)
13. Come On/Deep Freeze (?) (2)
REVIEW: Other than the big hit (Bitter Sweet), mostly sounds similar. One Day sounded like it had a good hook. Never cared for Lucky Man. One of the loudest bands I've ever heard, despite their downbeat sound (saw them at a festival concert). A 1.
ED'S TAKE:
796. The Verve--Urban Hymns (1997; #23)
1. Bitter Sweet Symphony (9)
2. Sonnet (10)
3. The Rolling People (10)
4. The Drugs Don't Work (10)
5. Catching the Butterfly (9)
6. Neon Wilderness (10)
7. Space and Time (10)
8. Weeping Willow (10)
9. Lucky Man (10)
10. One Day (10)
11. This Time (10)
12. Velvet Morning (9)
13. Come On/Deep Freeze (10)
OVERALL RATING: 10
DISCUSSION: I remember liking this album but not THIS much. Maybe too much emphasis was placed on Bittersweet Symphony and I didn't let myself be taken away by the album as a piece. Frankly, this is going opposite of my experience before where the album as a whole is thought to be less than the sum of its parts, i.e., the songs. Here, I'm not sure the songs that I've given 10's to would be 10's if taken separately. The fact is, here, I've experienced them TOGETHER, and it works wonders for me. I simply feel that this works as an ALBUM....it HAS a signature sound and I truly like it. (Ok, I still thing they might have overdone it a wee bit with "Bittersweet Symphony" but it's a beauty nonetheless.)
1. Bitter Sweet Symphony (8+)
2. Sonnet (?) (3)
3. The Rolling People (?) (2)
4. The Drugs Don't Work (?) (3)
5. Catching the Butterfly (?) (2)
6. Neon Wilderness (?) (2)
7. Space and Time (?) (2)
8. Weeping Willow (?) (3)
9. Lucky Man (2+)
10. One Day (?) (4)
11. This Time (?) (2)
12. Velvet Morning (?) (2)
13. Come On/Deep Freeze (?) (2)
REVIEW: Other than the big hit (Bitter Sweet), mostly sounds similar. One Day sounded like it had a good hook. Never cared for Lucky Man. One of the loudest bands I've ever heard, despite their downbeat sound (saw them at a festival concert). A 1.
ED'S TAKE:
796. The Verve--Urban Hymns (1997; #23)
1. Bitter Sweet Symphony (9)
2. Sonnet (10)
3. The Rolling People (10)
4. The Drugs Don't Work (10)
5. Catching the Butterfly (9)
6. Neon Wilderness (10)
7. Space and Time (10)
8. Weeping Willow (10)
9. Lucky Man (10)
10. One Day (10)
11. This Time (10)
12. Velvet Morning (9)
13. Come On/Deep Freeze (10)
OVERALL RATING: 10
DISCUSSION: I remember liking this album but not THIS much. Maybe too much emphasis was placed on Bittersweet Symphony and I didn't let myself be taken away by the album as a piece. Frankly, this is going opposite of my experience before where the album as a whole is thought to be less than the sum of its parts, i.e., the songs. Here, I'm not sure the songs that I've given 10's to would be 10's if taken separately. The fact is, here, I've experienced them TOGETHER, and it works wonders for me. I simply feel that this works as an ALBUM....it HAS a signature sound and I truly like it. (Ok, I still thing they might have overdone it a wee bit with "Bittersweet Symphony" but it's a beauty nonetheless.)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
799. Sting--Brand New Day (1999: #9) (4)
799. Sting--Brand New Day (1999: #9) (4)
1. A Thousand Years (?) (3)
2. Desert Rose (7+)
3. Big Lie, Small World (?) (3)
4. After the Rain Has Fallen (?) (5)
5. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong (?) (4)
6. Tomorrow We'll See (?) (2)
7. Prelude to the End of the Game (?) (2)
8. Fill Her Up (?) (4) (interesting--starts out country--I'm thinking Sting? Country? uh-uh. Ends up jazz-tinged)
9. Ghost Story (?) (2)
10. Brand New Day (7+)
REVIEW: Pretty good stuff, with a chance to move up if I became familiar with the rest of the album aside from the two hits I know. 4.
ED'S TAKE:
799. Sting--Brand New Day (1999: #9)
1. A Thousand Years (6)
2. Desert Rose (7)
3. Big Lie, Small World (4)
4. After the Rain Has Fallen (5)
5. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong (4)
6. Tomorrow We'll See (4)
7. Prelude to the End of the Game *
8. Fill Her Up (5)
9. Ghost Story (4)
10. Brand New Day (6)
OVERALL RATING: 5 (On a lot of days, this would be a 2-0 meaning unlistenable. )
DISCUSSION: It's been awhile. Frankly, I can't remember how many of Sting's solo albums I still have in my collection.....TOO MANY! I don't like the guy much. I don't like his "signature sound", whatever it is. Sometimes when I listen to him, instead of hearing his "artistry", I hear boring easy listening/lite jazz. When I think of the first time I heard Roxanne and then hear THIS, I do not think evolution. (Call him devo....d-e-v-o)......Hey, he surely has the right to make whatever suits him, either as an expression of his art or for the buck. I mean, ok, Elvis C. has evolved/devolved since my favorite of his, "Pump it Up", but his later stuff is usually quite listenable regardless of stylistic changes. But that's Elvis and this is Sting.
God, Mark, were there HITS on this album? By the time I was trying to listen to this one for the first time, I was probably so disconnected that I had no idea which were the "big songs". (I'm sure I bought most of them, after the first, in used bargain bins for $.50-2.50. That's one of my problems. I convince myself that at bargain basement prices, it's worth taking a flier, even if only a few songs are good enought to ever play again. I wind up clogging my collection with a lot of lightweight stuff that I keep for others, not me. People sometimes think of Sting and Bono in the same breath....both with one name pretensions and both quite vocal about their causes which may irritate some people but if he gives money and time and publicity for the good of humanity, I'll forgive him his ego. The difference is, even today, I expect to enjoy U2's new music. I never expect much from Sting.
1. A Thousand Years (?) (3)
2. Desert Rose (7+)
3. Big Lie, Small World (?) (3)
4. After the Rain Has Fallen (?) (5)
5. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong (?) (4)
6. Tomorrow We'll See (?) (2)
7. Prelude to the End of the Game (?) (2)
8. Fill Her Up (?) (4) (interesting--starts out country--I'm thinking Sting? Country? uh-uh. Ends up jazz-tinged)
9. Ghost Story (?) (2)
10. Brand New Day (7+)
REVIEW: Pretty good stuff, with a chance to move up if I became familiar with the rest of the album aside from the two hits I know. 4.
ED'S TAKE:
799. Sting--Brand New Day (1999: #9)
1. A Thousand Years (6)
2. Desert Rose (7)
3. Big Lie, Small World (4)
4. After the Rain Has Fallen (5)
5. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong (4)
6. Tomorrow We'll See (4)
7. Prelude to the End of the Game *
8. Fill Her Up (5)
9. Ghost Story (4)
10. Brand New Day (6)
OVERALL RATING: 5 (On a lot of days, this would be a 2-0 meaning unlistenable. )
DISCUSSION: It's been awhile. Frankly, I can't remember how many of Sting's solo albums I still have in my collection.....TOO MANY! I don't like the guy much. I don't like his "signature sound", whatever it is. Sometimes when I listen to him, instead of hearing his "artistry", I hear boring easy listening/lite jazz. When I think of the first time I heard Roxanne and then hear THIS, I do not think evolution. (Call him devo....d-e-v-o)......Hey, he surely has the right to make whatever suits him, either as an expression of his art or for the buck. I mean, ok, Elvis C. has evolved/devolved since my favorite of his, "Pump it Up", but his later stuff is usually quite listenable regardless of stylistic changes. But that's Elvis and this is Sting.
God, Mark, were there HITS on this album? By the time I was trying to listen to this one for the first time, I was probably so disconnected that I had no idea which were the "big songs". (I'm sure I bought most of them, after the first, in used bargain bins for $.50-2.50. That's one of my problems. I convince myself that at bargain basement prices, it's worth taking a flier, even if only a few songs are good enought to ever play again. I wind up clogging my collection with a lot of lightweight stuff that I keep for others, not me. People sometimes think of Sting and Bono in the same breath....both with one name pretensions and both quite vocal about their causes which may irritate some people but if he gives money and time and publicity for the good of humanity, I'll forgive him his ego. The difference is, even today, I expect to enjoy U2's new music. I never expect much from Sting.
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