Thursday, November 17, 2011

Rock Albums Post IX : Ramblings...

Some of the albums in this post have already been featured in other posts on this blog. This is from a document I recently found on my previous computer (Sony Vaio). I transferred the doc to my current computer and decided to use it on this blog. I wrote this about 2 years ago for an old facebook page but never put it up. This is a recollection of my memories of these albums. This is more personal instead of fact filled. 





Adrian Belew - Lone Rhino (1982) - (Yep, I know I just did a comprehensive review of Belew's music on this blog... but what can I say).I first recognized Adrian Belew in 1981 on Tom Tom Club’s classic debut album. I was mesmerized with Belew trippy guitar work on song such as “L’Elephant”, “On, On, On, On” and of course “Genius Of Love”. Shorty after that discovery I paid more attention to his work on Talking Heads’ albums “Remain In Light” and “Fear Of Music” which I bought a few years prior. It was only natural that when Belew released his debut solo album that I buy it. Fortunately his debut was outstanding.  “Big Electric Cat” is one of those songs I still play to this day. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HM6AQW/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20







Bjork - Homogenic (1997) - With this album Bjork became one of my favorites. I love the songs “Hunter” , “All Is Full Of Love” and “All Neon Like”. “Homogenic is one of modern rock’s leading edge album’s of the 90’s which has helped to shape todays sound in music. This album can require a bit of getting used to, especially if you are not familiar with Bjork. But once you get the meaning and feel the feel of “Homogenic” you will be gripped.



The following is part of a review I found on amazon.com:

For starters, "Homogenic" is the complete opposite of the Euro-friendly, house-filled "Debut," which found Bjork bringing fire on the dancefloor at four in the morning. Instead, we find her as the hunter, looking for the next kill, or as the screaming numbed soul excusing herself for being about to explode. Complete with wavy beats and minimalist industrial crunch fading in and out throughout the whole album, this is a difficult heart-renching listen that's filled with everything that is Bjork: beauty, love, despair, loneliness, and finally defeat with hope.






Blondie - Eat To The Beat (1979) - In early 1979 I bought Blondie’s “Parallel Lines” and just loved that album. Debbie Harry became a quick favorite. When “Eat To The Beat” came out I was first in line to buy it. I played both albums countless times, but it was “Eat To The Beat” which became my favorite Blondie album. I equate this album with my youth… so many great memories. “Die Young Stay Pretty” and “Accidents Never Happen” were my favorites back and still are today.






David Bowie - Scary Monsters (1980) - There are other Bowie albums which are considered classics, but this is the Bowie album which really caught my attention. I first bought it because for the song “Ashes To Ashes”, which was a fantastic sequel to “Space Oddity”.  But than the album includes classic Bowie such as “Fashion”, “Up The Hill Backwards” and my favorite “Scary Monsters”. This was Bowie successfully moving into a new wave sort of techno punkish sound.







Brian Eno – Here Come The Warm Jets (1974) - I had heard about Brian Eno for since the mid 1970’s but never really ventured into his music until around 1983. At that point I had several Talking Heads, David Bowie, Roxy Music and other albums he worked on. Finally in ‘83 I bought some of his classic albums from the 70’s and wondered why I didn’t latch on to him sooner. I began with “Here come The Warm Jets” and soon after purchased all of Eno’s pop and rock releases (at the time). Eno completely appeals to the oddball yet dark side of me.








Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love (1967) - This one has a fantastic sense of color and artistry along with some totally awesome guitar, bass and drum work. This is one of those albums that not only grows on you but pretty much becomes an extension of yourself for a while. There are so many levels of emotions expressed in different ways (primarily through Hendrix’s inspiring guitar work. Each song has a depth that only escalates with each song until we reach the penultimate “Bold As Love”, with this song the colors of the spectrum come alive with every emotion experienced throughout the album. Emotions of confusion, sadness and even jealousy. “If you love rock and you don’t own this album, you gotta go ahead and get it. It is worth owning.







The Kinks - Low Budget (1979) Originally, I bought this one for the song “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman”. After a few listens it ends up the entire album was great from beginning to end. My favorite song from the album is “Moving Pictures” with a cool upbeat new wave feel the song fit well with others like The Cars and Gary Numan.






Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother (1970) - This one caught the dark side of my emotions. It has an acoustic nature with an understated atmosphere of electronic emotion. Roger Waters’ “If” and David Gilmour’s “Fat Old Sun” are amongst the most beautiful and deep reaching songs Pink Floyd ever recorded. This album is specifically important in my life. I bought it back in 1982 and it became part of my life. It was like another limb, part of my own body. When I listened to this album not only did I hear fantastic music, but I also able to see the colors of the emotions from this album in my mind. I could feel this music in my bones.







Renaissance - Camera Camera (1981) – “Camera Camera”, appeals to a level of superficiality we all have hidden in ourselves. Throughout the 1970’s Renaissance gained acclaim for their symphonic prog rock stylings. “Camera Camera” found them exploring a harder edged new wave style, which at some points had similarities to Lene Lovich, while still maintaining a hint of their earlier prog rock days. Surrounded with excellent musicianship Annie Haslam’s lead vocal is as always out of this world fantastic. I practically played the grooves off of this album and especially hooked on “Tyrant-Tula”, “Ukraine Ways” and the title track “Camera, Camera”.







Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973) - This wasn’t the first album I owned by Roxy Music and it’s not the album that got me hooked on them. I discovered Roxy Music in 1979 with the album “Manifesto”, I loved the album cover and the new wave-dance sound was excellent. It is with “Manifesto”, that Roxy Music became a staple in my music listening life. But it’s “For Your Pleasure” that made the biggest impression on me. I first bought “For Your Pleasure” in 1982. The first thing to strike me was the dark album cover. It somewhat fit with my persona at the time. The music blew me away. The album was 9 years old when I bought it, but was still relevant to a certain culture of music listeners of the time. On the technical side of music (in 1973) FYP was light years ahead of their contemporaries. With it’s strangely charming yet dark and eerie songs, the album appeals to my ghoulish side. I must have played “In Every Dream Home A Heartache” at least 10,000 between 1983 through 88. It is through Roxy Music that I discovered Brian Eno.






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1 comment:

  1. Loco, me gusta tu blog muy buena entrada segui asi... Saludos desde argentina.

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