U2: "Achtung Baby"

 Probably nothing I can say about this album that hasn't already been said, but damn it still sounds great.  Picked it up a vinyl copy last night for a really decent price, and falling in love with it again.  Every freaking song on this album is killer - no exceptions, no filler.   Absolutely amazing songwriting, and the perfect production for the time and the material.   It's dark, shadowed, exciting, electronic, guitar rock..  but the real strength is the feeling and meaning of each song.    One of the all-time classic albums in rock history, no question.   And although they have had many stellar moments, I have a feeling "Achtung Baby!" will end up being their greatest single achievement when all is said and done. 

Rush: "Presto"

Found a good vinyl copy of this overlooked gem at Record and Tape Exchange tonight.   Listening to it now and as always am amazed by this bands' musicianship.    They are simply extraordinary.   "Counterparts" and "Roll The Bones" were bigger hits and get more attention, but I've always had a HUGE soft spot for "Presto".    2 of my favorite Rush tunes are on this album - - "The Pass" and the title track.   "Show Don't Tell" is a killer opening track and great first single - bringing them back to tight and powerful rock after the murky and meandering MOR synth-rock of most of "Hold Your Fire."   "Presto" is far more incisive and was a definite return to form.   It was an effect u-turn for a band that badly needed one.

Best Tracks of the 70s: My Picks

1. John Lennon - Imagine
Very few songs transcend like "Imagine."   It's simplistic beauty and gleaming sincerity make it an ageless anthem that is instantly recognizable and almost universally revered.   It seems naive but is so earnestly hopeful that you think, just maybe, it could be true.  

2. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
The rock epic of epics.  A generation was riveted by this song.  It's lilting, folky melody, mystical lyrics and eventual eruption into an avalanche of molten rock captured the imagination of listeners since it's debut.   It's become an almost holy relic of rock and roll.   Everything about it comes together perfectly, especially Page's incendiary solo and Robert Plant's slowly building drama and voice-searing wail during the climax.  
 
3. Neil Young - Heart of Gold
There is a reason "Heart of Gold" was Neil Young's one and only ascent to the #1 spot on the pop charts.  It all comes together here.  Young's odd, high and wavery voice, a yearning melody, and ghostly steel guitar played by the great Ben Keith that will glide all in, out and around your brain.  

4. David Bowie - "Heroes"
Bowie looked like an alien anyway, and this was music beamed directly from whatever planet spawned him.  His Berlin period - "Low" "Heroes and "Lodger" - were the fuel that led to countless new wave imitators.  It's a dark, industrial, spooky and intense soundscape, and "Heroes" is the moment where it all soars.   In the shadows of one of the great mars on humanity, the Berlin Wall, "Heroes" is the human spirit - however dim - peering through the muck and daring to hope. 

5. Fleetwood Mac - Landslide


6. The Temptations - Just My Imagination
7. 10cc - I'm Not In Love
8. Marvin Gaye - What's Goin On
9. Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK
10. Donna Summer - I Feel Love

11. Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee
12. Jefferson Starship - Miracles
13. David Bowie - Life on Mars?
14. The Beatles - The Long and Winding Road
15. Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road

16. Rod Stewart - Maggie May
17. Elton John - Daniel
18. Pere Ubu - Final Solution
19. Chris Bell - Speed of Sound
20. The Clash - London Calling

21. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
22. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
23. Blondie - Heart of Glass
24. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
25. Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

26. Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet
27. Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song
28. Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
29. CCR - Have You Ever Seen The Rain
30. Santana - Black Magic Woman

31. Kiss - Hard Luck Woman
32. Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary
33. Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue
34. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
35. Pink Floyd - Sheep

36. Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
37. Joy Division - Transmission
38. Neil Young - After The Gold Rush
39. Climax Blues Band - Couldn't Get It Right
40. The Cure - Boys Don't Cry

Strand of Oaks: "Pope Killdragon"

Made a wonderful discovery on emusic today.   Strand of Oaks is the project by songwriter/musician Tim Showalter, and it's a stunner.   It was just released and is available for now only at emusic.com.   It's a taut, incredibly tense collection of haunting acoustic-based tracks, with the occasional release into gripping electric rock.   Showalter's voice is expressive and beautiful, and musically he incorporates just enough color and unexpected twists to add the right flair of drama and feeling to the songs.   Truly imaginative production.

"Alex Kona" is an immediate standout for me.  Definitely a Neil Young "On the Beach" vibe.   The lyrics are sparse and enigmatic, but powerful.  They hint at horrible things untold.   "You don't understand what it's like growing up here" is the ending refrain, repeated forlornly... before the burst of Crazy Horse-style feedback called "Giant's Despair" provides release. 


Even on first listen, I have the feeling I will be spending a great deal of time with this record.  It's exceptionally well done;  vocally, lyrically, musically - and a gorgeous, rich production that is warm and immediate.

Get this album.

Prince: "Lotusflow3er"

Been in something of a Prince mood lately, since his new album "20ten" hit newsstands.   Ordered the "Lotusflow3r" 2-LP set on vinyl from Amazon.com.  It arrived yesterday, and getting a chance to listen to it now.

Sounds remarkably rich and full.   In my view, "Lotusflow3r" has been criminally underrated, and it may be Prince's best album of the last decade.   It has a very warm, vibey sound to it that gives it more depth than some of his other work, which can sometimes sound overly clean and sterile to me.   The songwriting on this record also seems to be at a higher level than other recent albums.   This album lends itself to the advantages of vinyl, for sure.  Another interesting thing about listening to the vinyl version is envisioning the album in "sides".    Growing up listening to vinyl (and even cassettes), there was always a distinct impression about a particular side of an album.  That has been lost with the ascension of first CDs, and then the digital mp3 takeover.   But to me its part of the whole process of absorbing an album.

I do prefer "The Morning After" in place of "Crimson & Clover", though.  It sounds evident to me that "Crimson & Clover" was a late addition to the record.  It sounds a bit out of place and less natural than "The Morning After", and mars the record a little in my opinion.    Maybe at the last minute Prince decided he needed something with more commercial spark, but at this stage in his career he should just focus on putting out the best records possible.   His days of having multiple Top 40 hits from each album are sadly over.

Not that there aren't some strongly commercial tunes on this record.  "Dance 4 Me", "Dreamer", "Feel Good, Feel Better Feel Wonderful", "$" and others - - all would have been potential major singles if Prince still had the commercial appeal as in the 80s.   "Dance 4 Me" in particular has the sound of a classic Prince hit - - very funky, groovin' tune.  Nowadays the only Prince songs radio stations play are his classics, and it's mostly the die-hard fans (of which there are still plenty) paying much attention to his more recent work.

I also think one of the reasons why this album doesn't get more acclaim is lingering fan resentment over the website fiasco that accompanied this album's release.  $77.00 for a years membership that basically got you the album (which could be purchased at Target for $12.00), the ability to navigate a few videos, and pictures.  That's about it.   Huge scam, and a miracle Prince didn't get hit with a suit of some sort. 

Anyway, it's a true shame this album is so neglected.  "Lotusflow3r" (with "MPLSound" comprising the 2nd disc), is a terrific Prince record, and I'm definitely enjoying it tonight.

Smashing Pumpkins: "Gish" & "Siamese Dream"

Hit the CD Cellar in Falls Church this weekend for a little record shopping.  They didn't have what I was looking for, but I ended up with an excellent alternative - sealed vinyl copies of the Pumpkins' stellar debut "Gish" and the monumental "Siamese Dream."   Played them both back to back and enjoyed the swirling guitars, the immense, psychedelic sound.

Melissa Etheridge: July 20, 2010, The Strathmore in Bethesda.

Saw Melissa Etheridge last night at the Strathmore.  It was my first time seeing her, and my first time at that venus.  Had a terrific time.   Melissa's voice is incredibly strong and she played for about 2 hours, 40 minutes.   Most of her new album "Fearless Love" was performed, as well as many old classics.  I was a little disappointed that so many of the songs were drawn out with long segments in the middle that seemed unnecessary, especially since she could have fit in some tracks from albums that were completely ignored (especially the stellar "Breakdown").   But that minor quibble aside, it was a great show.

Set list:

We Are The Ones
Fearless Love
Miss California
If I Only Wanted To
Yes I Am
Company
I Want To Come Over
The Wanting of You
Nowhere To Go
Come To My Window
To Be Loved
No Souvenirs
Indiana
I Run For Life
Drag Me Away
Nervous
I'm The Only One
Bring Me Some Water
Like The Way I Do

Encore:

Gently We Row