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.