Week 16

Last week I caught Leon Russell with Medusa Stone opening at the Lincoln Theatre. I'm excited to see what direction Medusa Stone heads, as a new heavily Black Sabbath influenced tune closed their set, showing signs the band might be headed in a varied musical direction. One of the coolest moments of the evening was learning that the ES-335 that Leon's guitarist played was once owned by Freddie King. Leon played with Freddie who gave Leon the guitar, and now Leon gifted it to his guitarist. Witnessing an actual passing of the torch (the guitar was cherry red) on stage was a surreal experience. I also got a chance to see A Rooster For The Masses, which I can say was a band I would certainly pay to see again. They are great musicians with a solid collection of songs, but it would be nice to get a little more on-stage presence from the entire band. On to this week's set (4/19-4/25):

Motorhead - Ace Of Spades
Jethro Tull - Aqualung (vinyl)
Alice In Chains - Facelift
George Michael - Faith
Puddle Of Mudd - Famous
ZZ Top - Fandango!
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home
The Felice Brothers - Felice Brothers, The
Pink Floyd - Final Cut, The
Small Faces - First Step
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

AC/DC - Flick The Switch

Jethro Tull's Aqualung is one of the creepiest, but coolest album covers in rock archives. The title track is perhaps the most famous song from the album, but Locomotive Breath is my favorite tune from the album. The entire track was overdubbed to create the song and the record itself incorporated one of the first uses of quadraphonic sound. Quadraphonic sound is basically the first form of surround sound in 4.0. The technology was way ahead of its time, but was too expensive to last in the era of its invention. Back to Aqualung, the album is said to be a concept album, but Ian Anderson has gone on record saying it was just a collection of songs. The record does have two distinct themes as side 1 is a collection of songs about sorted characters while side 2 contains a predominantly anti-church theme. It's not hard to see how some of this material had an impact on the heavy metal world in retrospect. One interesting note on Jethro Tull, Tommy Iommi of Black Sabbath and Phil Collins did a very short stint in the band, but at different times.

This week had a nice heavy mix of folk-style singer/songwriting with Norah Jones, Fleet Foxes, and Nick Drake. The debut release Five Leaves Left is a great album while it also contains that sad aura of an artist that departed well before his time. Just like Otis Redding, much of Nick Drake's musical success took place after passing on into the great beyond. Thanks to the miracles of recording technology for preserving some this timeless musicians abilities. Norah Jones' Feels Like Home is a gem of an album. In addition to containing covers of Gram Parsons, Tom Waits, and Townes Van Zandt the originals shine just as brightly. The album also contains Levon Helm on drums for What Am I To You? and a duet with Dolly Parton on Creepin' In which garnered one of three Grammy's for this album. The album may play tribute to it's antecedents while sounding fresh, just as the Fleet Foxes have done with their break-through self-titled release. Perhaps the two might join for a tour one day - I for one would shell out for such a billing.

First Step was credited as the Small Faces in the US to garner more commercial success, but this is just the Faces debut album. The "Small" portion of the band name was dropped due to the addition of larger than life additions Ron Wood and Rod Stewart fresh off their departure from the Jeff Beck Group. This album is raw, but is packed full of great tunes. Production is very loose which makes this album feel more like a live performance with little overdubbing. The later studio releases gained the band bigger success in the US, but this album was exactly as titled - a First Step.

This week had some big name acts, but the lesser volumes from their catalogs. The Final Cut by Pink Floyd, AC/DC's Flick The Switch and Famous by Puddle Of Mudd. Decent albums, but not the finer collections that have been covered. I got to finally listen to Motorhead which has been on my list of bands that I'm familiar with, but never actually listened to fully. Ace Of Spades is just like their front-man, Lemmy, brash and bold with a driving assault of unadulterated rock Not something I think I'll be listening to over and over, but when the mood to listen to thrash rock hits I'll know where to turn.

Week 15

As Tax Day came and went I was reminded of the George Harrison tune Taxman which was the opener for  Revolver:

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.

George was rather ticked about learning how much tax the UK government was taking from their earnings since they had reached the highest tax bracket. The song still holds true over 40 years later. This week was heavy on the modern rock with Alice In Chains, QOTSA, Vertical Horizon, Saliva, Rage, and Hinder. Mixed in were the contrasting styles of Def Leppard, Yes, Widespread Panic, The Cranberries, and Neil Young. The icing on the rock cake this week had to be Exile On Main St., or perhaps it was the entire cake. We'll tie our tax theme back in when we get to Exile below, so away we go (4/12-4/18):

Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue
Yes - Big Generator
Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
Rolling Stones - Exile On Main St.
Def Leppard - Euphoria
Saliva - Every Six Seconds
The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Widespread Panic - Everyday
Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want
Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire
Hinder - Extreme Behavior
 
After a 14 year hiatus from their last studio album and the death of lead singer Layne Staley, Alice In Chains are back with Black Gives Way To Blue and a new front-man. The album was written almost entirely by Jerry Cantrell making the album seem like a solo album with the AIC name attached. William DuVall sounds much like Staley helping keep the bands sound in tact, but isn't an exact copy. Think of it like the Bon Scott to Brian Johnson transition for AC/DC. The new album is just as good as the albums made over a decade ago. The same messages exist, but the production is a little tighter. This album did not disappoint me with it's expectations. One odd point to note is Elton John adding piano to the title track. As one review I read noted, nothing about the piano is unique and could have been played by nearly any studio pianist. I give this one a solid thumbs up and worth buying.

Queens Of The Stone Age mix art rock with punk-metal and catchy guitar licks. While the bands lineup has changed multiple times the core of the group is Josh Homme. Era Vulgaris is the last studio album released by QOTSA from 2007. Homme's latest project is Them Crooked Vultures with David Grohl and John Paul Jones - which sound amazing and has been added to the wish list. Talks have surfaced that QOTSA will begin working on a new album in the summer which is exciting to see former members returning. Era Vulgaris is a strong release, but not quite up to par with Lullabies To Paralyze or Songs For The Deaf. Era Vulgaris wins when it comes to album covers.

Exile On Main Street is perhaps the greatest rock n' roll album ever made. It has a mix of nearly every genre of music and doesn't have a single bad track. The band moved from England to the French Riviera and into Keith Richard's Villa Nellcôte to record this album. The reason for the move - to avoid paying taxes in England due to financial hardships. Even the world's greatest rock n' roll band can't avoid the Taxman. The re-release of Exile is set to hit stores May 18 and includes 10 new tracks and collectors book. I cannot wait to get my claws into it. In researching stories on the album (of which thousands exist) the most interesting item I found was the link on the Rolling Stones magazine site with the original review from 1972. Initial reviews are not glowing, but that's how I felt listening to it just a few years ago. The lore of the album was out there, but I didn't get it the first time I listened either. The album has grown better with each listen and is for certain in the top 5 of my albums to have on a deserted island. Exile has become the litmus test of albums. If you don't own it, buy the re-release.

Aside from the albums listed above, my favorite two from this week were Evil Empire and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. The two albums are nearly as far apart as you can get on the musical spectrum. As I stated in one of the first few weeks Tom Morello is one of my favorite guitarists. Evil Empire is what you get when you smash Public Enemy and Guns 'N Roses together. Political/social activist rapping mixed with a driving rhythm section and technically proficient lead guitarist. Contrast that with Neil Young's Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere which contains one of his most recognizable songs - Cinnamon Girl. The album also marks the beginning of Young's collaboration with the band Crazy Horse. Both albums are fabulous listens.

Week 14

This week I added another trip around the sun to my tally. My mother reminded me that I was born on a Friday and that she was happy my birthday fell on a Friday again this year. Also of note, the time I was born - 5:03 PM. Coincidence that I was born three minutes after quitting time on a Friday and that I live for weekends!? That's known as a rhetorical question for anyone that thinks an answer is warranted. This week had a healthy dose of electricity, some hip-hop, southern rock, with a dash of punk rock. Sounds like a recipe for a good eclectic week of music (4/5-4/11):

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
ZZ Top - El Loco
North Mississippi Allstars - Electric Blue Watermelon
Levon Helm - Electric Dirt
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
Alicia Keys - Element Of Freedom, The
The White Stripes - Elephant
Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk
Eminem - Eminem Show, The
Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue (vinyl)
Allman Brothers Band - Enlightened Rogues (cd & vinyl)


This week was heavy on the southern rock with a few helpings of Allman Brothers and a side of ZZ Top. Eat A Peach contains one of the longest jams that I've ever heard on any album - Moutain Jam - at 33:41. The album title came from a quote Duane Allman gave not long before his death, "There ain't no revolution, it's evolution, but every time I'm in Georgia I eat a peach for peace." The album contains classics like Melissa, Blue Sky, and their version of Muddy's Trouble No More. Losing Duane really hurt this band musically, as evidenced by the contrast between Eat A Peach and Enlightened Rouges. Enlightened Rouges is a good album, but the difference between Duane and Dan Toler make it obvious why the band was called the ALLMAN BROS. As for the side of ZZ Top, El Loco marks the transition the band made from dirty blues rock to main stream blues rock with songs like Tube Steak Boogie and Pearl Necklace.

North Mississippi Allstars make another appearance this week with arguably their best album Electric Blue Watermelon. Seeing these guys several time I think I've heard every song on this album live at shows. The audience loves these tunes and obviously the band does as well to play them out live. This album is a must own in any music collection as it crosses many genres while staying true to the roots . Luther may have joined the hippie ranks enlisting in The Black Crowes, but his true home lies in North Mississippi Allstars with brother Cody and big Chris Chew. Mean Ol' Wind Died Down is by far my favorite track on this album.

While hip-hop is clearly not my top genre of choice, the mix of Eminim and The Black Eyed Peas contrasted nicely with this weeks play list. Getting to hear Joe Perry re-doing his guitar work from Dream On on The Eminim Show is great as Joe has stated many times it makes him nauseous to hear his playing on the original recording. While I can't say I agree with all of Marshall Mather's ideals, his album is thought provoking and the way in which he samples and mixes is far less excessive as most in the genre. The Black Eyed Peas are an easy way to add a pickup to a boring day. Elephunk contained some hits, but I enjoyed the fact that this album feels more like a rebirth of Sly And The Family Stone, with members trading instruments for the mixing board. Simple yet thought provoking music.

Jack White is a great guitarist, not because of his technical abilities, but rather the simplistic hook riffs he creates. Elephant is my favorite White Stripes album. Catchy tunes like We Are Going To Be Friends, There's No Room For You Here, and Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine are my favorites. No two songs on this album are alike. Each track has a totally unique sound making the full album listen far-from-boring. If you're going to buy one album from this band - this is the one. Notably it includes their largest commercial tune also in Seven Nation Army.

Emotional Rescue is a solid album from the Stones, but far from a classic.However, it does contain one of their more classic tunes - She's So Cold. The album is basically a collection of songs that didn't make the cut  from the Some Girls album. Not a bad album considering they were considered second rate by the band the first time over. This album also marked the point where the rift between Jagger and Richards began to open at a rapid pace. One need look no further than the lyrics of the closing track - All About You - to see just how apparent it was:

“

Well if you call this a life, Why must I spend mine with you? If the show must go on, Let it go on without you

”

Not to be lost in this week's set are three great album all light years from each other - masterpieces from Jimi, Levon, and Alicia. All true musicians making music at the top of their genre. Electric Ladyland, Electric Dirt, & The Element Of Freedom. The only review they need is - If you haven't heard them you're missing out.

Week 12 & 13

Let's call this "double" week. First, because  it's been two weeks since I posted and because I listened to a few albums twice (dual-format). I moved during this two week blog and between packing and unpacking there was little time to write. One reader inquired about whether I was only listening to only the albums I write about each week. The answer is absolutely, NO! Often I listen to something completely different in the truck or at home on vinyl or CD. When I'm in the "mood" for something I do what every person does, I satisfy that indulgence.Well of course I mean rocking out or mellowing down easy, well you get the point. Despite the two week coverage, I didn't get through that many albums for the project. (3/22 - 4/4):

Blind Faith - Blind Faith (vinyl)
Aerosmith - Done With Mirrors (cd & vinyl)
Green Day - Dookie
Keb Mo' - Door, The
The Doors - Doors, The
Gov't Mule - Dose
Golden Smog - Down By The Old Mainstream
Stephen Stills - Down The Road (cd & vinyl)
Aerosmith - Draw The Line (cd & vinyl)
Toby Keith - Dream Walkin'
Train - Drops Of Jupiter

Blind Faith was a super-group formed by Steve Winwood (Traffic) and Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (Cream) and Rich Grech (Family). The band was only together for less than a year, but the connections formed would last years beyond the project. Delaney & Bonnie toured with Blind Faith and Clapton spent time after Blind Faith touring with them. Keeping in line with the double theme - this album had two covers due to the controversy surrounding the original album which featured a topless minor child holding a phallic airplane. The album I own has the alternate band photo cover, but some of the crazy theories on the girl on the cover make for some wild stories.

Albums that follow a hiatus often fall short of expectations and Done with Mirrors is no different. Aerosmith was piecing the puzzle back together while attempting to kick their addictions. During the tour rehearsals prior the to studio work on this album, someone played Steven Tyler a song and he said "We should cover this" and when he asked who the artist was shocked to learn it was one of Aerosmith's songs. I personally like the album, but it got terrible critical reviews.The only song from the album which makes it into live rotation is the Joe Perry Project carry over song Let The Music Do The Talking. My personal favorites are She's On Fire and Darkness. Quite in contrast to Done With Mirrors, Draw The Line is a masterpiece of classic Aerosmith. The band rented out a mansion and lived in virtual isolation of each other, but managed to record some amazing music. There isn't a truly bad track on the album with my favorites being the title-track, Critical Mass, and Sight For Sore Eyes.

The Doors self-titled debut is a ground breaking album. People either like The Doors or hate them and I for one love them. Hits like Break On Through (To The Other Side) and Light My Fire are encompassed here, but it has gems like The Crystal Ship, Alabama Song, and Twentieth Century Fox. Morrison is pretentious and often created cosmically weird lyrics, but that's what made The Doors enjoyable. They don't bore from track to track, make you think, all while rocking in an art-folk style that has stood the test of time.

Back to the double theme is Gov't Mule's second album Dose. Two of my favorite songs from Gov't Mule are the opening tracks Blind Man In The Dark and Thorazine Shuffle.

Another super-group hitting the radar this week is Golden Smog. Members include Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), and Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum). If you like alt-country rock then Down By The Old Mainstream is one of the finest works available. While the album contains no hits it is worth a good listen. It even contains a cover of the Faces tune Glad & Sorry which is far from the albums best track.

One of my favorite Stills albums is the final Manassas work Down The Road. The Hillman/Stills penned So Many Times has be covered on the latest Black Crowes album Before The Frost...Until The Freeze. The Crowes version is my favorite. My favorite tracks from this album are Isn't About Time and the title-track. Not up to par with the original Manassas album, but certainly a wonderful album.