I will make sure the next album is something special from the 70's
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Can - Sing Swan Song
So you will want to stay tuned... I was going through some of the record collection and I think I may just offer one up free of charge mailed to one of you fine folk. I will come up with an idea on how to make it a little challenging or easy for you to get your hands on a classic record from the 70's. I will let you know which album in the next few days.
Until then enjoy "Sing Swan Song" by "Can".
Friday, February 25, 2011
Can - Ege Bamyasi
So when I started doing the dive into the 70's music I told you that I would be looking at bands I had heard of and bands I had not heard of. Can is one of those bands that falls into the latter part, I had never heard of these guys.
The first listen through of the album I could only say to myself "is this really from the 70's?". I am amazed at how this music could stand up with any of today's sounds and it would fit right in.
When I listen I could hear how many bands had to be influenced by this band and the music they were producing. You can hear how bands like "The Flaming Lips", "Radiohead", "The Mars Volta" and even "The Beastie Boys" had to be influenced by this band.
When you listen to the song called "Sing Swan Song" you would swear it was either a "Massive Attack" song or "Radiohead" with the way it is sung, and the sounds that are added give it a new sound. This song by the way is amazing it is probably the strongest on the album next to "Vitamin C" which is a spectacular listen. The rest of the album files a strong suit with only 7 songs and 2 of those going over 9 minutes long it is well worth the listen.
Some of the songs have a very "Beastie Boys - In Sound from the Way out" feel to them but that shows they have a strong the Jazz influence, with the ability to improvise.
Anyway as I ramble on we are wasting time..... go listen to this album. You will thank me for it..... No seriously you will thank me for it... I gotta go to the Can.
The first listen through of the album I could only say to myself "is this really from the 70's?". I am amazed at how this music could stand up with any of today's sounds and it would fit right in.
When I listen I could hear how many bands had to be influenced by this band and the music they were producing. You can hear how bands like "The Flaming Lips", "Radiohead", "The Mars Volta" and even "The Beastie Boys" had to be influenced by this band.
When you listen to the song called "Sing Swan Song" you would swear it was either a "Massive Attack" song or "Radiohead" with the way it is sung, and the sounds that are added give it a new sound. This song by the way is amazing it is probably the strongest on the album next to "Vitamin C" which is a spectacular listen. The rest of the album files a strong suit with only 7 songs and 2 of those going over 9 minutes long it is well worth the listen.
Some of the songs have a very "Beastie Boys - In Sound from the Way out" feel to them but that shows they have a strong the Jazz influence, with the ability to improvise.
Anyway as I ramble on we are wasting time..... go listen to this album. You will thank me for it..... No seriously you will thank me for it... I gotta go to the Can.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Up next... we go to the Can.Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Pink Floyd - The Wall
So set the doobie down and follow what I am about to communicate.
This is an amazing album, and has stood the test of time with the greatest of ease. I listened to it on the old 50's RCA Victor Hi Fi and it has such a great tone that almost anything sounds good... I said almost anything.
This album just met my 70's album cut of being that it was released in 79'. So if you have never heard this rock opera you are in for a treat the general story line is loosley based on Roger Waters.
The character that the story revolves around "Pink" has issues in his youth to when he is an adult and the traumas that an oppressive mother and school teachers along with the loss of his father as a young boy made him build walls in his mind. The story progresses to where "Pink" has problems and the eventual break up of his marriage, Drug use and relationships being ruined make him build a final wall closing himself off from the world completely.
He eventually thinks he is a dictator ruling the people and when he preforms on stage he has made the performances into a type of rally, pitting men on people he deems unworthy. His inner guilt gets the better of him and puts himself on trial to tear down the walls. What is cool is how the album ends with "Isn't this where.... we came in?" setting it up to go full circle.
Every song on this album fits together so well you have to appreciate the work that went into this and with some of the songs you hear themes that you would not have heard in any Pink Floyd albums previous. Such as the disco feel in "The Wall Part 2" this gave the song a different feel but it also makes you appreciate that the band was willing to try something different.
If I were to pick a song on the album that I would say is my favorite I would go with "Hey You", it has a slow power to it that just strikes a chord with me.
So anyway I recommend this album and think if you have not had a chance to soak your eardrums in the concrete mix that made "The Wall" you will need to....
Isn't this where.... we came in?
This is an amazing album, and has stood the test of time with the greatest of ease. I listened to it on the old 50's RCA Victor Hi Fi and it has such a great tone that almost anything sounds good... I said almost anything.
This album just met my 70's album cut of being that it was released in 79'. So if you have never heard this rock opera you are in for a treat the general story line is loosley based on Roger Waters.
The character that the story revolves around "Pink" has issues in his youth to when he is an adult and the traumas that an oppressive mother and school teachers along with the loss of his father as a young boy made him build walls in his mind. The story progresses to where "Pink" has problems and the eventual break up of his marriage, Drug use and relationships being ruined make him build a final wall closing himself off from the world completely.
He eventually thinks he is a dictator ruling the people and when he preforms on stage he has made the performances into a type of rally, pitting men on people he deems unworthy. His inner guilt gets the better of him and puts himself on trial to tear down the walls. What is cool is how the album ends with "Isn't this where.... we came in?" setting it up to go full circle.
Every song on this album fits together so well you have to appreciate the work that went into this and with some of the songs you hear themes that you would not have heard in any Pink Floyd albums previous. Such as the disco feel in "The Wall Part 2" this gave the song a different feel but it also makes you appreciate that the band was willing to try something different.
If I were to pick a song on the album that I would say is my favorite I would go with "Hey You", it has a slow power to it that just strikes a chord with me.
So anyway I recommend this album and think if you have not had a chance to soak your eardrums in the concrete mix that made "The Wall" you will need to....
Isn't this where.... we came in?Sunday, February 20, 2011
Building a wall..
So I have selected some progressive rock for the next review. I am working on building a wall... That is a hint.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Lemmy
Off the topic.. but still in a way on the topic. The Lemmy movie is now available to buy so get on it and learn all you can. Remember... "We are the road crew".
Friday, February 18, 2011
Iggy & the Stooges - Raw Power
I think the beauty of going back and looking at these old albums is a good chance to learn all the stories behind the music while the albums were being made. And well... this album is one of those albums that have an excellent story.
There are allot of purists out there that only will listen to the original version of the album produced by David Bowie (which is the version I have), but if you listen to the most recent re-do, re-production of the album you will see that it is just as good and it is a different point of view from Iggy. By going back and doing the re-production of the album he has put his take on what he wanted the album to sound like, kind of a chance for you to be Iggy Pop and listen to the album in ear drum splitting decibels the way he likes it.
Funny thing is this album almost didn't happen, Iggy & the Stooges had essentially broken up after they had released 2 previous albums. Drugs and alcohol were the main reasons for this happening, and well that is a song and story we have all heard. Luckily there was a bloke in Britain that was a big fan and wasn't willing to have the band dissolve into obscurity. David Bowie got Iggy to come to London to get him away from the lifestyle and then essentially got the Stooges with a few minor changes to the lineup(all the same players were there just moved around and added to) to join back up and make this album "Raw Power".
There were a few requests by the record company the first being that they needed at least 2 ballads on the album "Gimmie Danger" and "I Need Somebody", Now if you haven't heard either of these you will have to treat yourself. "Gimmie Danger" is probably one of the best songs you will hear, not a sappy slow tear jerker but as close as you will get from a band that is working for a primal animal instinct sound. I would say this is the kind of song a wolf would sing once he rips open a Caribu and is crunching away it is as primal as it gets, as Iggy says in the song "there's nothing left alive but a pair of glassy eyes".
The rest of the album is what would later in the 70's be the blueprint for the emerging Punk Rock scene, very few bands had this bare bones bang and crunch especially in the late 60's early 70's. Other bands that were in the same pool would have been MC5, and the Sonics. I know I have mentioned the Sonics before and I will do it again they were the beginnings of Punk... before Punk
Anyway I digress.
So the rest of the album is pure energy dipped in gasoline, from "Search and Destroy" starting the album clear through the last song "Death Trip". Any reading I have done talks about how the original recordings were mixed by Iggy but they were done so poorly that they got Bowie to re-mix them before they could put them on the album. That is why years later they did a few different remasters, and re-mixed versions of the album.. also it helped the pocket book.
I recommend this album to anyone that is serious about music, it has been the benchmark for many a band and allot of the sounds we hear today are a direct result of this album.
There are allot of purists out there that only will listen to the original version of the album produced by David Bowie (which is the version I have), but if you listen to the most recent re-do, re-production of the album you will see that it is just as good and it is a different point of view from Iggy. By going back and doing the re-production of the album he has put his take on what he wanted the album to sound like, kind of a chance for you to be Iggy Pop and listen to the album in ear drum splitting decibels the way he likes it.
Funny thing is this album almost didn't happen, Iggy & the Stooges had essentially broken up after they had released 2 previous albums. Drugs and alcohol were the main reasons for this happening, and well that is a song and story we have all heard. Luckily there was a bloke in Britain that was a big fan and wasn't willing to have the band dissolve into obscurity. David Bowie got Iggy to come to London to get him away from the lifestyle and then essentially got the Stooges with a few minor changes to the lineup(all the same players were there just moved around and added to) to join back up and make this album "Raw Power".
There were a few requests by the record company the first being that they needed at least 2 ballads on the album "Gimmie Danger" and "I Need Somebody", Now if you haven't heard either of these you will have to treat yourself. "Gimmie Danger" is probably one of the best songs you will hear, not a sappy slow tear jerker but as close as you will get from a band that is working for a primal animal instinct sound. I would say this is the kind of song a wolf would sing once he rips open a Caribu and is crunching away it is as primal as it gets, as Iggy says in the song "there's nothing left alive but a pair of glassy eyes".
The rest of the album is what would later in the 70's be the blueprint for the emerging Punk Rock scene, very few bands had this bare bones bang and crunch especially in the late 60's early 70's. Other bands that were in the same pool would have been MC5, and the Sonics. I know I have mentioned the Sonics before and I will do it again they were the beginnings of Punk... before Punk
Anyway I digress.
So the rest of the album is pure energy dipped in gasoline, from "Search and Destroy" starting the album clear through the last song "Death Trip". Any reading I have done talks about how the original recordings were mixed by Iggy but they were done so poorly that they got Bowie to re-mix them before they could put them on the album. That is why years later they did a few different remasters, and re-mixed versions of the album.. also it helped the pocket book.
I recommend this album to anyone that is serious about music, it has been the benchmark for many a band and allot of the sounds we hear today are a direct result of this album.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Something went right somewhere.
So when your 11 year old son starts talking to you about the Buzzcocks you know something went right somewhere.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Beach Boys - Disney Girls (1957)
So take a listen to this song and tell me if you think it has the Eagles sound to it (except for the trademark Beach Boys harmonies). There is so much 70's style in this song it oozes Boogie Nights.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Beach Boys, The - Student Demonstration Time
Here is the tune "Student Demonstration Time" I think it has a Beatles feel to it.
You be the judge.
You be the judge.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Beach Boys Surf's Up Album
I listened to this album probably 6 or 7 times yesterday (so many times that the kids were singing the songs). I found that it takes a couple of listens to hear everything that is going on.
Those Boys from the Beach really liked to layer the songs with different sounds and voices, "Take A Load Off your Feet" is a prime example of the layers. Every noise you can think of from clanging hub caps, to car horns, and all sorts of percussion.
I found that the album really takes off when the song "Student Demonstration Time" plays after that it is followed up by "Feel Flows" the real gem of the album.
The song "Disney Girls" would be a song that I would say has a very 70's feel to it and you could put it on an Eagles album and it would fit right in.
The last 3 songs on the album bring the tone down but in a way I think it all fits together.
The song "A Day In The Life Of A Tree" is an interesting hymn like tune, and like the rest has lots of layers.
I recommend this album and I think it was a good starting point for me to dig back into the 70's. If you get a chance to find it you should put it in your collection, if anything the album cover is a good conversation piece.
Those Boys from the Beach really liked to layer the songs with different sounds and voices, "Take A Load Off your Feet" is a prime example of the layers. Every noise you can think of from clanging hub caps, to car horns, and all sorts of percussion.
I found that the album really takes off when the song "Student Demonstration Time" plays after that it is followed up by "Feel Flows" the real gem of the album.
The song "Disney Girls" would be a song that I would say has a very 70's feel to it and you could put it on an Eagles album and it would fit right in.
The last 3 songs on the album bring the tone down but in a way I think it all fits together.
The song "A Day In The Life Of A Tree" is an interesting hymn like tune, and like the rest has lots of layers.
I recommend this album and I think it was a good starting point for me to dig back into the 70's. If you get a chance to find it you should put it in your collection, if anything the album cover is a good conversation piece.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Music History
So I decided to go back and check out either albums I have not heard before, or albums I have heard but never appreciated. I am going to try to to go with 2 a week I want to make sure to take some time just in case the first few times I listen I don't like what I hear. I may increase from there depending on how I feel.
The time frame I am going with is 70-79, I figured I would pick some of the top albums from that period.
Well... Lets get at it.
The first album is by the Beach Boys called "Surfs Up" It was released in 71'. In my first pass through I can really hear the heavy Brian Wilson influence, even has a Beatles feel to it. Also a very political sound which is different from the "Little GTO, California Girls" type of Beach Boys that I am used to. One cool thing is the song "Feel Flows" was featured on the Almost Famous soundtrack.
I will give a better review in a few days once I have a chance to listen to it a few times.
Anyway keep your ears open.
Surf's up on Amazon
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