365 album challenge

[poorpete]

Nice!

Btw, Peaches released "Diddle my Skittle" in 2000, earliest reference I've found so far, and I dunno if I'm going to research this any further, ha.

Jay-Z brags in "Drunk In Love" that he's like Ike Turner. Damn, that should have been a warning sign.

Update: Followed this up by going on Genius, where they go in depth on the awfulness of this brag. Glad many others caught this, if anything, I'm late to the outrage party. http://genius.com/2548136

Update: Mine, with the Drake singing the line "fuck what you heard your mine your mine", also could be seen through the lens of Jay Z's infidelity, as Drake is playing the role of husband in the song. No reason she being so honest in this song, but not here, repeating his false assurances.

Update: don't buy the reason for the Challenger accident sample. It'd make sense for "Heaven" maybe, but XO is a love anthem not a mourning anthem. https://genius.com/2569857
There's few samples in this whole album, which is amazing because it has a bunch of great grooves, so why pick such an unwise sample?

Damn I'm having trouble with this album because there's a whole lot to like.

[Phoebe]

The skittles research is in fact important. And of course Beyonce makes her own Peaches reference which I'm sure should put us in mind of more than a few historic musical Peaches. In my idiosyncratic, probably unsupported opinion, XO sounds great but is a completely bizarre occult/satanist song masquerading as a love anthem, not to mention that it's even worse than the others in light of Jay-Z's little Ike Turner reference. On the other hand, I have to believe Beyonce is a sophisticated performer with years of practice building layers around her "real life" all the way out to "Super Bowl" and "social media", so I hope we don't really know what is going on over there in her days or marriage or anything. No denying that disturbing things bubble up - sometimes it feels like she's being incredibly honest about her inmost self and life. You never know what's for show in this life - I mean, when is a pussy bow JUST a pussy bow? Who can say?

I've listened to Aretha Franklin's Rock Steady about 50 times in the past 36 hours so got off the album challenge and need to dig into something else today. I think I will do the Miles Davis recommendation.

[Phoebe]

1. Beck - Morning Phase
2. God Lives Underwater - Empty
3. Beyonce - Beyonce
4. 21 Pilots - Vessel
5. 21 Pilots - Blurryface
6. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
7. Duke Ellington - Sacred Concert (the original one)

The Miles Davis was interesting and his playing is always lovely, but I didn't much like the electric organ and other keyboards on this album, or really the songs themselves. A lot of them felt like preliminaries - like an introduction to a song that just kept going until it was the whole song, and then fizzled out. It's either so complicated I'm not capable of following it and hearing the good stuff, or it was just too mellow for me.

It did make me want to hear more jazz, and Duke Ellington has said various times that his Sacred Concerts were the most important work he did. I wondered why so decided to sit down and listen to the first one, and it was AMAZING. I might have to listen to the other two now sometime, to see where it goes from here. The female vocalist on some of those songs, Esther Marrow, is apparently 24 and now has had a lifelong career as an amazing gospel and jazz singer, so it makes me want to hear some more of her later work too. I've heard her sing before but don't remember specifics and need to listen again. Anyway, highly recommend the Sacred Concert for any who like that sort of thing.

[poorpete]

Alright. here's my take on the first seven.

1. Morning Phase by Beck
This lived up to the hype. There's a few merely good songs in the middle, but there's some pure gems in here, and a near perfect final song. It started as a mimic of "Sea Change" but after a few songs, really became it's own.
Will I listen again? Yes!
Stand out track: "Waking Light"

2. The Love Movement by A Tribe Called Quest
I've hesitated on this for a long time due to the critics saying their 4th and 5th albums were subpar. But ATCQ mediocre I assumed was other people's decent. There's nothing here bad, but after a week with this, there's nothing I really remember, accept the catchy choruses to "Da Booty" and "Against the World." Oh, also I was impressed as usual by the musicality and production. Dancable for sure. Maybe I should have given this more focus, and their "Midnight Murauders" slowly grew on me, but as is, after a week, this is 5th place of the 5 albums I've hear of theirs.
Will I listen again? Meh!
Stand out track after a week: "Against the World" I guess

3. In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
It's good. It's solid. Unlike Kind of Blue and Sketches of Spain, it hasn't grabbed me from the start.
Will I listen again? Sure, when doing work or somethin'
Stand out track: Meh!

4. Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen
Seven of these songs I've heard on the radio. Born in the USA is of course quality, but it's six note ear worm makes it unlistenable if by choice. Of the few I haven't heard, Downbound Train was very good, they were all just fine. Again, nostalgia heavy, very 80s. Of the singles, I've always loved Glory Days, have always been apathetic to Cover Me. But I'm On Fire and My Hometown, forgot how good those were. And Dancing in the Dark. You can hear Arcade Fire all over it.
Will I listen again? Probably, but I'll skip the first 2 songs.
Stand out track: Dancing in the Dark

5. A Brand New Me by Dusty Springfield
Mostly great stuff. Then played it to my daughter, who hasn't heard much soul, and she loved it too. I feel all the negatives here have only to do with how the songs are packaged. The cover is second-rate and the title makes no sense (sure the song is on the album, but if anything, Dusty is doubling down on a music aesthetic that was going out-of-style. Really wish this was called "Dusty in Philly"). Starting to memorize lyrics, and that's a great sign I'll be sticking with this album for a long time. My dive into Dusty will continue, as will a dive into the producers/songwriters Gamble & Huff, who if this album is any sign, I should have heard of longer ago than yesterday.
Will I listen again? Yes!
Stand Out Track: Never Love Again! It should have been a single, should have gone to #1, and should be playing on an oldies station somewhere right now.

6. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones, Ltd. by The Monkees
I am nostalgic and defensive of The Monkees, so I was primed to appreciate this album, and, it's, fine. As with Beyonce, many of the quality songs have issues. She Hangs Out is a good rocker (and my daughter started singing along by the end of it) but the lyrics are pretty misogynist (hey dude, I wanna bone your little sister). Cuddly toy is cute but at the same time not. Star Collector has issues. Words and Love is Only Sleeping are quality. The other stuff are harmless, but this is no towering achievement. Reminds me of middling Kinks and Rolling Stones songs from that era.
Will I listen again: probably pick and choose a few favs and ignore the rest.
Standout track: Pleasant Valley Sunday. There's a reason it's the only hit from this.

7. Beyonce by Beyonce
I don't have much more to say about his. High quality production, fun to dance to. So many issues. I'm amazed at how few samples there are for such great beats. Beyonce is loveable, issues already mentioned.
Will I listen to again: Probably
Standout track: All the great songs have issues, so I'll just go with the silly sex song "Blow", it has issues, but they are all silly issues, otherwise it won me over.

My list for next week (with reasons):

8. Frank Ocean - Blonde (loved his debut album)
9. James Taylor - Sweet Baby James (i only know his hits)
10. Hotter Than July - Stevie Wonder (Adore his 5 album "classic" period, love "Master Blaster", heard this got mixed reviews)
11. Wicked - Original Cast Recording (going to see this in a few months, also been diving into musical theater lately)
12. Paganini - Violin Concerto 1 and 4 (his 24 caprices might be my favorite pieces in classical music, it's about time I listen to something else from him)
13. twenty one pilots - Vessel (if I had to pick, should it be this or the other one?)
14. Lin Manuel Miranda - Hamilton Mixtape (have a shot to listen to this and will thus not throw away said shot)

Very disappointed the Duke Ellington Sacred concert was not on Amazon Prime. I was ready to kick out one of these for it. Where did you listen to it?

[poorpete]

Already disappointed in myself that the artist behind all my picks this week are male, although I could say listening to Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Manzel sing lead counts as well as a load of female guests on the Hamilton Mixtape. Still at best 1.25 out of 7.

So, usually been trying to get equal playtime for all at the start of the week, but I've listen to "Hotter Than July" three times since last night.

[Phoebe]

We have 365 albums to listen to; I'm sure it will range all over all kinds of music before we're done. I listened to the Duke Ellington Sacred Concert on youtube. I know the Second Concert is on Amazon Prime so that's probably coming down the road soon.

I would listen to Blurryface first, actually, because the songs are just SO freaking catchy and accessible, and if you like it then you'd want to dip into Vessel (highlights IMO: Guns for Hands, Trees, House of Gold) and earlier things. There's a multi-song sequence in the middle of Blurryface that is just incredibly good and will stay with your brain for weeks: Ride, Fairly Local, Tear in my Heart, and Lane Boy. Some people like Stressed Out a lot too, which comes right before Ride, but honestly my Unimpressed feeling about that song is why it took so long for me to get into this band despite my kid listening to them constantly. I was like, eh, Stressed out band, whatevs, not worth it... but oh yes, SO worth it.

[poorpete]

Still have yet to hit Wicked and twentyone pilots, but quick thoughts so far.

I know somehow Stevie Wonder went from recording 5 classic albums in the 70s to "I Just Called to Say I love You" in the 80s, and figured there'd be a noticeable decline in quality. I'm beginning to think Barry's theory is false.



Which reminds me of how many people hate The Eagles just because The Dude in The Big Lebowski hates them. Movie characters, sometimes they are wrong...

Anyways, "Hotter Than July" is very very listenable.

[Phoebe]

Yeah I'm not sure Stevie Wonder declines in quality. People say weird things about Curtis Mayfield and Funkadelic/Parliament in that regard too. I think they weren't ready for what's happening in those later albums.

Anyway, for 1/8 I listened to a really weird album I had never heard before, in honor of Elvis' birthday: Elvis Country. Elvis is pretty wild and woolly on these tracks, which makes it highly enjoyable but also, well, weird! Most (all?) the songs are followed by some little snippet of I'm 10,000 Years Old, which I guess explains the album's subtitle. Where is that song, though? It never shows up and we want to hear it whole.

Tracks:
Elvis' rendition of Snowbird would be sweet except that the backing music is unlistenably bad. I sat there cringing, really.

Tomorrow Never Comes is dramatic in a heavy but fun way, and it's less "country" than Gospel imo.

Little Cabin on the Hill and Whole Lotta Shaking Going On are standout tracks with frisky, up-tempo accompaniments.

The Country version of Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away is actually pretty appealing. I have another version on a different album and I'm not sure I don't prefer this one, surprisingly! The vocal stylings here are nicely done, Elvis!

I Don't Really Want to Know and There Goes My Everything are kind of boring, typical, slow Elvis drama.

A hilarious little song I had never heard of before was It's Your Baby, You Rock It. I think he's singing to another man who has had a baby with Elvis' former woman and maybe has some regrets now. So maybe he has to rock the woman, his "heartache", and even a literal baby now!

The Fool is an awesome, bouncy little bluesy-country song, on which Elvis sings mostly low and soft. If more country music of that era had been influenced by songs like this and Little Cabin / Whole Lotta Shaking, the entire genre would have been improved considerably. After the previous "talk to the hand" track, this song is Elvis regretting that he gave up that woman.

Faded Love is back to typical Elvis crooning, with crap, boring two-step country-music accompaniment, piteously bad harmonica and deeply unimpressive guitar. Yuck. Skip it and go straight to...

I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water - good uptempo song with controlled-but-exciting vocals, with poorly mixed horn sounds (are those even horns? that's how bad they sound) but rockin' piano and drums underneath!

Make the World Go Away closes out the album with one last slow song, but this time finally it's a GOOD one. I have another version of this one by Elvis too, and it's just a good song regardless. I'm not a fan of the twangy guitar noodling in the background here, but it's tolerable because Elvis is pretty awesome. I totally get it, Elvis, and I want it to go away too. The bullshit politics, the disregard of climate change, the pissy-feline behavior of some people at work, and so on. Just make all of this nonsense go away and let's try something better.

[poorpete]

I definitely want to hit an Elvis album, but Amazon Prime is filled with either older stuff (want to hear first stuff first), compilations (want to hear an album preferred), and the Sun Sessions (which I've heard plenty).

I have nothing bad to say about Hamilton Mixtape. Okay one thing, and it's probably what everyone complains about, for different reasons, "You'll Be Back" as performed by Jimmy Fallon. Now, I don't hate Fallon, at least I don't think I do. But I think part of the joy of this song is how righteous it is. And the two people have played George III on Broadway are both openly gay. I'd have liked to hear Rufus Wainwright or MIKA or Robbie Williams (who is straight but whose long-time songwriter is not and is more than happy to play the part) sing this. So he does a good job at it, but I like to think I sing it well too, would have liked someone else. But Roots played a big part in the success of Hamilton, and if they wanted to put in their friend-boss, that's understandable.

[poorpete]

First thoughts on Wicked: Defying Gravity is clearly the standout song. Wonderful and Popular were fun. Idina and Kristin were as expected, ya know, amazing. The theme to Wicked (no one mourns) was grating on first listen.

[Phoebe]

Wow, totally agree. I was really confused at first thinking this pair was Kristin BELL, like it was Frozen Anna/Elsa. But this is a different Kristin. The first two songs are so horrifyingly awful I almost turned it off and went elsewhere, but after that you get into all kinds of fun songs. I never would have listened to this unless you had recommended it, so that is great, thank you!

Wicked is album 10; #9 was (in honor of Jimmy Page's birthday) his collaboration with Roy Harper. Unbelievably, I purchased this vinyl album half a lifetime ago and used to listen to it fairly often. So many years have passed, I had to figure out what I was listening to back then. The A side has 4 songs I really like. Nice folk album with fairly edgy ideas. The first song on the B-side quickly descends into hippy dippy disjointed mush, so bad you can't even listen to it. The next song () is really beautiful, even though the hippy dippy lyrics continue and it kind of hurts. They're just so... dippy! I'm not sure he can help it. The next song hits you with amazing guitars and you're thinking, wow, this is going to be great, and then it turns into some kind of hippie pornography complete with very off-putting sex noises. The listener is evenly torn between "I must bust out laughing at this idiocy!" and "I feel so sorry for this pathetic person!", but in the end one sits there with a frozen facial expression of horror, because it's SO bad you can't even laugh at it properly. Just... why??? Let's get back to Beyonce and her Skittles, ok? That was weird too, but at least it doesn't make me want to hide under the table with my hands over my ears. In the last song he sings fervently about how he is "really stoned", and then you realize he probably is telling the truth and that explains why the song is so utterly wretched.

[poorpete]

"I'm stoned" songs are almost always disappointing. I still am not a fan of Rainy Day Woman.

Half way through Frank Ocean's "Blonde", and I just like him. His beautiful voice, his lyrics, his melodies... He's not afraid to stop the dance party, to do away with beats.

Just heard a "Here There and Everywhere" reference in his "White Ferrari" song. This guy. I just like him. ( update: confirmed: http://genius.com/10264663 )

Interesting to think of him in league with Adele, always singing about their ex-boyfriends, their first true loves, even though they no doubt have moved on personally. Keeping mining it for all it's worth!

Hidden Track is unlistenable. But hey, so was Nevermind's.

[poorpete]

3am dish washing with Blurryface. I. Am. Conflicted. Like there's a devil and angel on my shoulders.

Devil: this is bullshit. This is alternative music for the masses. And the constant worrying about what is and what is not cool or popular on the radio. He says this song won't be on the radio and then they release it as a single, is that awesomelly ironic or just fake from the beginning? The guy inflects a British accent throughout. He's obviously influenced by The Kooks, why don't I just listen to The Kooks, they are actually British. Then he inflects a Jamacan accent, and talks about 'our people' in the song. He talks about this being "the real him" but would not be shocked if four albums from now he strips out all the production values and plays Beck acoustic ballads and says "no, finally, this is the real him." Come on!

Angel: this is awesome. This is catchy pop. This is a well done, super produced, synthesis of many genres, and it does it really really well. Catchy, catchy as hell. I was just commenting on Frank Ocean and his melodies, and this is chuck full. It got beats too and is willing to stop the party to get out the uke. You like playing the uke, Pete! Also, when playing, Pete, love to mix genres up, love to be self referential in song. He's obviously influenced by The Kooks! You loved The Kooks! Relax man, this is your jam! (do people still stay that). Hey the way you're doing this, angel vs devil, self referential, angry happy, christian based, that's this band man. You are this band.

So yeah. Conflicted. Ok bedtime part 2.

[poorpete]

Woah, calm down there me. I'm going to try to listen again, and hopefully more dancing, less eye-rolling.

So still no complaints on Hamilton. Andra Day's version of "Burn" is the only one I think that gets close to the greatness of the original.

No complaints on "Sweet Baby James." It's listenable. Nothing bad. Two great songs, but they are the songs i've heard before. Hoping at least one of the others rise.

Paganini's concertos... it's good. At times amazing. At times meh. I've heard the complaint that the orchestration is only there to make the violin look good, do their job and get out of the way. I'd agree. It's pretty much listening to wait for the next solo. He was a great violinist, and a great composer on the violin. But, ya know, dunno if much else.

[Phoebe]

Keep in mind that 21 Pilots is very hot with the junior high crowd. So when I embrace them, I get that I'm embracing the darlings of the junior high crowd, and that dude's lyrics probably reach the limit of their appeal with the junior high crowd. That's fine, I have no idea what he's singing about. I am way too old to care! I just like the songs, I'm just going with it. Kind of like at one point when I was in 9th grade my mom was like, That Led Zeppelin sure has some Catchy Tunes! I think I like it!

[Phoebe]

[poorpete]

I suggest "Dusty in Memphis" if you haven't listened to that, that's the one I started with, and the one everyone loves. "Brand New Me" is much less known, and part of the reason it surprised me so.

Hamilton Mixtape: Immigrants, being a riff on six words in "Battle of Yorktown" created a good line on its own, "we're America's ghost writers", a great hybrid of political and hip hop message, and yet another diss to Drake.

[poorpete]

Just finished twenty one pilots again. I was trying to find songs where I did not roll my eyes at lyrics. "Polarize" and "Hometown", congratulations!

As for the lyric that made me most mad, it was "I wasn't raised in the hood but I know a thing or two about pain and darkness" in "Lane Boy" (by the way, "boy", that's problematic too). He's taking back rap and the world "boy" for the white man. Of course, this isn't his real intention in his message, so this is why I'm torn. As Yoda would say: not woke, this is.

Now to be as positive as I can be. The guy, I love his love of music (even when he uses a Jamaican accent to say he's "wanted and on da run" on a song about feeeeelings), his obvious attention to detail (which of course, confuses me when he says "don't trust a song that's flawless"). I like his desire for melody (even if he takes a roll-my-eyes line like "this song won't be on the radio", then slow downs his voice to sound black, repeats the line over and over, includes the line "black like a funeral", and then releases the song to the radio).

Here's my analogy, and it's too hip hop! Sometimes you gotta ignore great rappers rapping about, ugh, murdering their enemies, or, ugh, getting their dick sucked, in every song, because you like their flow, you like the honesty, and you like the beats and grooves going on behind them. And that's what I need to learn to do here.

Better yet, I want him to have a full-time lyricist. I also want him to produce albums for other artists. Until then, see you on the dance floor at a wedding, blurryface.

[Phoebe]

Yes, i concur with your reasonable assessment. There's a reason their concerts are populated primarily by white kids ages 13 - 17. The lyrics on Vessel are better, but ... What really won me over / cracked me up was when in concert he played the beginning of Heart's "Alone" on the piano and turned it into Heathens. I like to think he had some formative experience while strapped into a carseat when his mom sang that with the car radio.

Oh, and I started with Dusty Springfield's Brand New Me and will do Memphis next. Love her voice - we need the songs mixed with 21 pilots production 2017 so she doesn't have to fight bad background vocals and noises!

[poorpete]

8. Blonde by Frank Ocean
Atmospheric, meloderific, honest, sweet. A few skippable songs, but plenty of gems. Doesn't have a "Pyramids" epic song, but you can't always include the best hip hop epic song ever. And like Earl Sweatshirt in "Super Rich Kids", a highlight arrives in the form of Andre 3000, who in 40 seconds gets in more than most in entire albums.
Recommended? Highly
Standout track: So many, but let's say "Self Control"

9. Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
James Taylor is boring. I thought. He's really just on a different level. He's quiet, but he's quality, he's Paul Simon, a writer of quality songs, excellent at guitar, but also can't really sell a blues song because his voice is just too nice, but at least appreciates a blues song. Nothing awful here.
Recommended: Yes
Standout track: "Country Road" (but really, "Fire and Rain")

10. Hotter Than July by Stevie Wonder
Very listenable, quality album. Makes me happy playing it. Now, after about 4 or 5 listens, some of the songs are starting to wear a bit. But just some, others continue to amaze, and a song that is primed to be annoying, "Happy Birthday", has stayed on my good graces.
Recommended: Highly
Standout track: "All I Do" (but really "Master Blaster)

11. Wicked
Love how "Wonderful" reminded me of "Mr. Cellophane" and good, since Joel Gray has played both roles. The theme song is still the worst, but everything else is classic Broadway. Come for Idina's strength, but stay for Kristin Chenoweth's bubbly line readings.
Recommended: Yes
Standout track: Popular (but really "Defying Gravity")

12. Violin Concerto 1 and 4 by Paganini
Hasn't grabbed me like his classic 24 caprices. Some fun voilining though.
Recommended: I think so

13. Blurryface by twenty one pilots
Said so much already. Just add, Frank Ocean in "Sweet Life" sings: "The best song wasn't the single, but you weren't either." That's how I'd prefer people talk about what's on the radio, as a metaphor.
Recommended: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Standout track: "Polarize"

14. Hamilton Mixtape by Lin Manuel Miranda and Friends
Like the musical better, but definitely nothing wrong with it. At times felt these tracks made me want the guest artists appear in the musical itself. All the ballads are well done. My Shot 2.0 is great, Immigrants is essential. There's two section where solo female artists sing ballads, and they are great. Maybe I should hear more Kelly Clarkson. Andra Day is definitely on my radar now. I'd like to hear more of the original cast in the next Mixtape.
Recommended? Yes
Standout track: "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)"

On tap for next week:

Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color (recommended by facebook friend)
Duke Ellington - Sacred Concert (recommended by Phoebe)
Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (have heard "I never loved a man" and best of a few times)
Andrew Sisters - The Best of... (Bugle Boy + Inspired by Boswell Sisters = gotta give them a fair look)
George Michael - Faith (as good time as any)
Ramones - Ramones (not sure if I listened to the whole thing before, will switch out if so)
Sondheim - Sunday in the Park with George (I've heard a few of these songs but not all the way through)