This has to be a record for the smallest amount of albums that I listened to in a week. I even listened to more than this the week my hip was replaced. They are good records, and all four received more than one listen. I am slowly making progress on the King Crimson stack of wax.
King Crimson – Lizard
Lizard is the third album by King Crimson, and much like their previous album, In The Wake Of Poseidon, we have a band in transition and turmoil. It was the second consecutive King Crimson album recorded by transitional lineups of the group that did not perform live, following In the Wake of Poseidon. This is the last of two albums by the band to feature Gordon Haskell (and the only one where he was both the lead singer and the bass guitarist, as he only sang one song on the previous album) and the band’s only album to feature drummer Andy McCulloch.
When released, the album received mixed reviews, and listeners still have inconsistent responses. Robert Fripp has been very critical of the album, calling it “unlistenable” and lovers of it as “very strange.” However, he revised his opinion upon listening to Steven Wilson’s surround-sound mix of the album for the 40th anniversary reissue, proclaiming, “For the first time I have heard the Music in the music.”
I regret that my quad music system was stolen, but I will set up a 5.1 system using a DVD to hopefully recreate some of the magic Mr. Fripp is alluding to. Listening to the original recording on either CD or LP, I enjoyed the record. I must admit that I am a lifelong King Crimson fan, and I can’t say that I don’t like any of their material. I also enjoy listening to jazz, and Lizard has plenty of jazz influence. I rate Lizard with a 4-star rating.
Magilla Funk Conduit – Just Dance
Recorded by the omnipresent Nik Kozub, aided and abetted by bassist Thom Golub, trumpet player Bob Tildesley, rapper Cadence Weapon, and singer/songwriter/saxophonist Brett Miles. Brett Miles is the son of legendary football player “Rollie” Miles.” This is a local band; I live in Edmonton and had trouble finding anything about Magilla Funk Conduit online. I know they were active in the early 00s playing live at the Sidetrack Cafe; I miss that venue. They released two albums besides Just Dance, which I found on Discogs. Just Dance isn’t in Discogs. I may have to do an entry for it.
This record was fun to listen to. I will have to keep my eyes peeled for the two albums that I do not have. It is funky and quality, and I enjoyed listening to it.
Dan Hicks And His Hot Licks – Where’s The Money?
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks are a band that I have been listening to for a very long time. Their albums are not all top-shelf quality, but this one is perfect. Where’s The Money? has all of the traits that make Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks one of my long-time listeners. Last Train To Hicksville is probably the album I like the most, but Where’s The Money? is a close second.
Leslie Phillips – The Turning
The Turning is a pivotal point in Leslie Phillips’s career. Although this is considered a contemporary Christian album, The Turning moves her away from that image and into the career of Sam Phillips.
Courtesy of Wikipedia:
“This album marks the first time Phillips worked with producer T Bone Burnett. The two married soon after the release of this album, and Burnett would go on to produce more albums for the singer. The Turning stands out as a turning point in Phillips’ career as a singer and songwriter; on one side, the cheerful, upbeat pop-rock albums that she recorded in the early 1980s, and, on the other, the quirky 60’s music influenced rock and folk albums, with a much darker and more poetic tone lyrically.”
I like this album. Its rhythm and “feel” run through it, setting the stage for each song and making the cohesive album an enjoyable half hour. Plus, I love the music of T Bone Burnett.
That, all folks. A grand total of four albums this week. Four enjoyable albums that all received more than one listen. Next week, we will feature more King Crimson and some music from the fine people who send me new music to listen to. Who those fine people are will be revealed next Monday; until then, happy listening to my friends.
It is Monday October 21 and all is well in the wake of Posedon. This weeks listening has been dominated by Poseidon, a king in Greek mythology, and Daniel Amos, a pair of Biblical mythical prophets. A Pair Of Prophets would be a good name for a two person band. I scored some new vinyl this week: Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks – Where’s The Money?, Nick Lowe – Pinker and Prouder Than Previous, Daniel Amos – Horrendous Disc, and Steve Taylor And Some Band – Limelight I have been listening to Librarians With Hickeys – How To Make Friends By Telephone for over a week and all I can come up with is ‘this is good pop’ music.
They all gave me some quality listening time. I needed good music to distract me. I scraped the side of my car coming out of an underground parkade. I have been trying to get the dent out with a kit I bought on Amazon, to limited success. I will try again today, with more music to keep my head up instead of jumping into the valley of despair.
I hope you have a good week with no damage to our cars and lots of good music.
King Crimson – In The Wake Of Poseidon
There are some who have called In The Wake Of Poseidon volume 2 of In The Court of the Crimson King. I disagree with them. Although there are similarities between these two albums in the musicians, the lyrical content and the music, that does not make it a copy. I see it more as an extension of In The Court of the Crimson King. Turmoil and drama were swirling as In The Wake Of Poseidon was recorded, resulting in some lineup differences.
That instability contributed to the record’s dynamics, but I do not see that as a negative. It added to the music and contributed to the band having its own identity, separate from In The Court of the Crimson King. I hear a band evolving finding their unique song. They are doing a band up job of it.
One outstanding piece of music for me is from In The Wake Of Poseidon is ‘The Devil’s Triangle. It is an instrumental in three movements: King Crimson’s interpretation of Gustav Holst’s ‘Mars: Bringer of War.’ (from the Planets suite), which they often played in their live performances; however, Holst’s estate forbade the band from using a note-for-note rendition of the piece for the album, so the band used a different staccato riff.
I. “Merday Morn” (3:47)
II. “Hand of Sceiron” (4:01
III. “Garden of Worm” (3:45)
As is often the case with music, the more I play it, the more I can hear the intricacies the musicians placed here and there and another over here. It is like furnishing a house; they start with a blank slate, gradually fill in bits and moving bits about, and eventually arrive at the state you hear it in on this record. One of the beautiful things about King Crimson is that they are not locked in, never to be changed. I have seen them live a couple of times, and it is new and exhilarating each time.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – Anthology – Through The Years
Tom Petty isn’t on my top ten list (I don’t have one), but I enjoy his music and will give credit when it is due. Tom Petty knew how to write 3 minute top ten songs. My goodness, these CDs are loaded, especially the first. Tom Petty was good at his job, and we benefitted from that work by having songs we could sing along with and tap our toes. Disc one lived in my car CD player for a week and had numerous trips around the city with me. I enjoyed this Anthology and may return to it before much time has passed; thank you, Mr. Petty, for this excellent music.
Daniel Amos – Horrendous Disc
This is the second album from the band that would go on to be one of my favourites. It comes out on the heels of the C/W album Shotgun Angel. I have trouble connecting with Shotgun Angel, a situation that goes way back. My brother wanted me to listen to Shotgun Angel, and I did, but in my booze-addled mind of that time period, I found nothing on the album that connected with me. A few years later, I went to the other side, and I still didn’t connect with Shotgun Angel, but I found Horrendous Disc and Daniel Amos were permanently seared into my neural networks. I still enjoy listening to it 43 years later, and today, I noticed one for sale on Facebook Marketplace and bought it, my third copy; I can’t wear the grooves out on this release. An interesting side note: the person who offered it for sale had a list of albums, and this was listed in the A column for Amos rather than under D for Daniel Amos. It’s not the first time I have seen this happen; even my favourite record store has been guilty. I know they don’t listen to much “Christian Music,” so this fax pau is easy to commit. Many people may buy it expecting a pop music album and could even feel that after listening to it. When Daniel Amos sings of love, it could allude to God or express love to a person. An easy mistake to make. This is another example of why I don’t like labels very much. When a band or artist gets a label applied to them, it can be a life-long weight to carry. Some bands carry that weight and often find it detrimental to their career in the music machine. Daniel Amos has had a long career with many great albums in their discography. I have them all, including Shotgun Angel.
Steve Taylor And Some Band – Limelight
Steven Taylor is another artist who has had a long and fruitful career in music, hovering on the edge of the Christian Music genre label. Limelight was recorded early in his career after only two albums were released. Many of Steve Taylor’s songs are aimed at Christian hypocrisy with satire and double entenders; this marginalized his music in the Christian music section of record stores. His music would hold up reasonably well in those stores’ pop/rock section. Steve Tayor was also part of the band Chagall Guevara, who vigorously tried to avoid being a “Christian” band. Their music (albeit against their wishes) was distributed through Christian bookstores, and they never rose above the Alternative Christian label, unfortunate to say the least.
Nick Lowe – Pinker and Prouder Than Previous
I have been a fan of Nick Lowe since the nascent days of the British New Wave music movement and his album Jesus of Cool. Nick Lowe has had an impressive career in music and associated and collaborated with an equally impressive list of fellow musicians. A New York Daily News article quoted Lowe as saying his greatest fear in recent years was “sticking with what you did when you were famous.” Every Nick Lowe album is different, exploring new styles and new genres. I like it when I buy a Nick Lowe album, and I don’t know what I will hear.
Pinker and Prouder Than Previous is on its second listen since I bought it yesterday. It sounds like classic Nick Lowe with a few twists and turns, such as Geisha Girl, an old country music hit by Hank Locklin. Nick has a good relationship with country music, especially since he is about the most average English guy you will ever meet. He married Carlene Carter, the daughter of June Carter Cash and her first husband, Carl Smith. I’m sure hanging around the Carter/Cash family would impact his records.
Nick also ventures into a reggae beat on the song Cry It Out. I would leave the reggae to others; not everyone can pull off the unique, offbeat rhythms.
As with every Nick Lowe record that I own, I like it. It doesn’t break the mould of his sound, but it does sound new and exciting with a few twists and turns off the beaten path. I am sure this will get a few more listens; I am, after all, a Nick Lowe fan.
Librarians With Hickeys – How To Make Friends By Telephone
My first impression of this recording is that it is pleasant pop music. I’ll get back to you after I have listened a few more times and read the lyrics. I am listening to the stream of this courtesy of Big Stir Records.
Daniel Amos – Motor Cycle
I found This oldie goldie while checking the sound on my stereo. For some reason, it drops the right channel every once in a while. I’ve checked the plugs without finding anything wrong. It could be time for a new needle or, heaven forbid, a new turntable. It dropped while listening to Nick Lowe, so I popped in a cassette to see if it also dropped the right channel, but it didn’t. It was getting late, so I left it for this morning. Side two of Nick Lowe is playing with both channels; cross my fingers.
What about the album Motor Cycle? Right, it’s Daniel Amos, no doubt about that. Terry Scott Taylor has his unique way of singing, and the band plays into that style and the lyrics to good effect. I often listen to Daniel Amos on vinyl or CD; this one is on cassette. It was hiding in the cassette drawer, and I had forgotten about it. I was happy to listen to this, almost like new since it has been quite a long time since I had rummaged through there. I need to bin dive in the tapes more often.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here is what I listed to this past week, there were a lot of samples, one off songs and such that didn’t make the list, here is the good stuff that did.
Our Noise – Our Noise
I was introduced to this album by my friend Daniel Jones at Mystic Sons PR. Can I call you my friend Daniel? We only know each other through the internet portals. Regardless, I have listened to this album over and over. And again and again. It is playing as I write this, with a bit of volume, which seems fitting for the music of Our Noise.
I’ve had a hell of a time writing something about Our Noise, both the album and the band. Inspiration just hasn’t hit me. I like the album, so that’s not the problem. It has smart music and lyrics; that’s not the problem. The problem is me getting an angle to hang this album on.
Let’s start with some basic facts about Our Noise.
They are a power trio.
They are from Toronto.
They are Lucy Di Santo on bass and vocals, Dan Cornelius on drums and Steve Fall on guitar.
I can’t put them in a nice, neat genre box.
They have elements of pop, punk, grunge, rock and even bits of metal. Mix that all together, and what we come up with is the album Our Noise.
The album starts with the hard-rocking track Break You. That sounds like a revenge plot. I’m going to break you!
Track two comes out of the gates at a full charge. The grinding solo guitar sets the stage for lyrics about pressing on despite the odds and the difficulty. Tracks three and four continue the hard, edgier sounds. Track five, Hereafter shifts gear to a more pop, radio-friendly sound. Track six is F.L.A., which starts with some nice bass lines and then moves on with a guitar sound I like. I’m curious what effect pedals were used. F.L.A. is a more complex track musically. Lyrically, I think it is about being on the road and looking forward to a place to park for a while.
Seven, Soul Killer, takes us back to grunge guitar land and lyrics to match. Take a Shot is track 8, played at a blistering pace; it throws out a challenge to take a shot at me. Next to last is the song Try, a more melodic track with introspective lyrics. The album ends with the song Amends; it starts with some nice acoustic guitar that shifts to a pop-rock sound as it moves along. More pain was on the closer track, Amends, but I was ready to try again.
There we have it, a mini-review of what is, in my opinion, a decent album. It certainly held my attention for a long time and many plays.
Next in line is King Crimson, and this will be a marathon. I have ten of their albums and may have more by the end of this blog. I have more on CD, but I will save that for another day, focusing on vinyl for now.
King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King
Today, October 10, is the 55th anniversary of the release of In The Court Of The Crimson King. The album has taken on an almost mythical status in the world of music. I got on the bandwagon early, sometime in either 1970 or 1971. I heard the album playing in a record store in Montreal, and when I asked the staff who was making that music, he showed me the album. Seeing the cover sealed the deal, I took it home with me. I still love it. In The Court Of The Crimson King/(An Observation By King Crimson) is a deserted island album for me.
I had considered doing a full review of each King Crimson release as I went through their releases alphabetically. I quickly dispelled that consideration before the mere thought of that load bent me like Atlas carrying the heavens on his shoulders. I played this album through, start to stop, four or five times as I contemplated the movements of the music and the meaning of the lyrics. I tossed all that, and I ended up enjoying the album for the sheer joy of hearing the music, nothing else, just enjoying some outstanding music—the end. Well, not really; it is on to the next King Crimson release, In The Wake Of Poseidon.
L.S.U. – Dogfish Jones
The world lost a great musician on March 12, 2024, Michael Knott. L.S.U. was one of his projects, and Dogfish Jones was the last release under that nom de plume. While the music of Michael Knott was often jarring to some and confusing to others, he had a fan base and was respected in the circles of life he swirled about in. He released over 30 albums that took his music in many different directions, but never losing the essence of Michael Knott.
“Originally released on Light Records in 1998, Dogfish Jones is the result of musical genius and cult legend Michael Knott. Enlisting the help of such notables as Chuck Cummings and Gene Eugene, Knott’s last LSU release continues to push the boundaries of creativity in alternative rock. With Dogfish Jones, Knott creates a masterpiece by taking the dark, psychedelic, post-punk feel of David Bowie and meshing it with the aggressiveness of Jane’s Addiction. It was an album ahead of its time in 1998. Hopefully, this many years later, this classic heavy album can be appreciated for it’s musical brilliance.″ -Retroactive Records
King Crimson – In The Wake Of Poseidon
I only listened to this once yesterday, so I will have to fire up the record spinny thingy and hear it again.
40/52; we have passed the equinox and are on a downhill toboggan ride to winter, my least favourite season. “I think Jamaica in the moonlight.” An American Dream can also be a Canadian Dream. We are considering a return to the island, hopefully soon. In the meantime, the Canadian Finals Rodeo finished yesterday, and I am in a cowboy frame of mind, so put your Stetson on and join the rodeo.
JC Miller – Blackberry Canes
A tip of the Stetson to Shauna at Shameless Promotion PR for introducing me to this album. JC Miller has a good voice. I’m thinking/hearing early Springsteen gone Country. He has crafted an album here with a rich, lush sound. The steel guitar, the dobro, and the classic C/W feel to the album are all there. My only complaint is that the story and the country/western ethos get lost in that rich, lush sound and move closer to Americana than C/W. That doesn’t take away from the overall appeal of Blackberry Canes. Blackberry Canes is still a solid album that stands on its own, no matter which genre I try to press it into.
“The song ‘Blackberry Canes’ came about from thinking about the rambling, ramshackle path of growth sometimes. It’s not always a pretty pattern but it gets the job done, always reaching and somehow surviving… Blackberry trunks go sideways and every which way and travel a roundabout trail, never a straight line. It is a small passing thought really but it serves to remind us that you have to keep moving forward no matter what into the unknown just to grab the next beam of light,” says JC Miller.
I love eating blackberries, but the vines are painful. They are full of sharp spikes that could have woven an excellent crown of thorns for a certain somebody. I like the imagery that JC has weaved into the song Blackberry Canes. Life is not always pretty, but it is worth chasing, even when it comes to a blackberry grove.
Kris Kristofferson passed away last week, prompting me to listen to some of his albums. His early releases were my favourites, and I think they will still be good in another 20 years.
Kris Kristofferson – Collections
Collections is a terrible waste of a perfectly good CD. It sounds like it is pulled off a vinyl using a microphone, and it has more pops and crackles than any of the vinyl recordings that I have of Kristofferson, and some have been to rough and rowdy parties. See below for the details.
Kris Kristofferson – Jesus Was A Capricorn
Jesus Was A Capricorn is a great album, according to WeatheredMusic.ca. It is full of great songs, such as the title track, Jesus Was A Capricorn, which the liner notes tell us that Kristofferson owed to John Prine, another great songwriter and performer Jesse Younger and Why Me, are songs that stand strong 52 years after they were recorded. It’s a delightful recording.
Kris Kristofferson – The Silver Tongued Devil And I
I can’t cherry-pick any songs off this album to tell you how good this recording is. It is one great song after another. It contains one of his biggest hits, Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again). It was a hit for Kristofferson and a hit recording for Roger Miller in the same year, 1971. Tompall & the Glaser Brothers took Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) to the charts in 1981. This song has a truckload of recordings by other artists, some better than others.
Other versions
Waylon Jennings recorded the song for his 1971 album The Taker / Tulsa.
Billie Jo Spears recorded the song as “Loving Him Was Easier (than anything I’ll ever do again)” in 1977 for her album If You Want Me.
Nana Mouskouri recorded the song as “Loving Him Was Easier” in 1982 for her album Song for Liberty.
Willie Nelson and Dyan Cannon recorded the song as “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” for the film Honeysuckle Rose.
Anita Carter with Billy Sanford (gt) Recorded 29 January 1971
Skeeter Davis with Vocal Accompaniment by The Jordanaires and The Nashville Edition, 1972.
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded the song for his 2016 album Thin Line.
The Highwaymen performed the song during their American Outlaws tour in 1990; the song′s featured on their compilation album Live: American Outlaws (2016).
All of these add up to the royalty pennies; that is why he was able to retire to Hawaii.
Phil Keaggy – Private Collection Vol. 1
This album shows us some of his guitar skills. I enjoyed Private Collection Vol. 1 the best of the vinyl I have with his name on it. I have two CDs and 8 Cassettes that I will have to get around to playing one of these days. Perhaps when I have listened to all of the Zolas records, I will venture into the cassette realm. I hesitated to do that because there have been fewer cassettes in Discogs, and I don’t enjoy putting them in manually. On second thought, I will do CDs after the vinyl—cassettes after that, and then 8 tracks, reel to reel, and lastly, wire recordings.
Wilfred N and the Grown Men – Passing Through
I have other recordings by Wilfred N and the Grown Men (henceforth known as WN&tGM), and since I am always on the lookout for more material from them, I was pleased to acquire this CD from a gentleman through Kijiji. This CD has been sitting in my car for a week, and after listening to it umpteen times, I can confidently say that this is my new favourite by WN&tGM. His voice evoked memories of David Bryne, and the music at times felt influenced by The Talking Heads. It was not a blatant ripoff. It was a compliment to The Talking Heads by using their music as a springboard to something new. I’ll let this sit on the shelf and see how well it holds up to a second listen sometime down the road. I hope it will be as good as the first listen because that was favourable.
The Klaxxons – Clap Clap Sound!
And now for something completely different. I was unable to find any information about The Klaxxons. I know they are an accordion band and play music that I associate with the town of Smoky Lake, Alberta, and the Ukrainian heritage of that town. Playing this album has been an enjoyable diversion.
Doug Kershaw – Alive & Pickin’
While it seemed that Kershaw had appeared out of nowhere in the outlaw county music of the 1970s, he had, in fact, already sold millions of copies of the records he had made in the early ’60s with his brother, Rusty. “Louisiana Man” had been a Top 10 country hit in 1961, and its follow-up, “Diggy Liggy Lo,” had done almost as well.
Alive & Pickin’ gives us a quick overview of his music from the time with his brother in the early ’60s to the release of this live album in 1975. He plays cajun music with a backing band that perfectly fits Kershaw’s voice,fiddle playing, and choice of songs. I don’t generally listen to Cajun music, so Doug Kershaw fills that gap in my music catalogue, and it is an enjoyable diversion.
Doug Kershaw – The Best of Doug Kershaw The Louisiana Man
This record is almost a song-for-song copy of the Alive & Pickin’ album. The main difference is that one is live, and the other is studio recordings. The live version has flourishes that the studio album lacks, but the studio album has a cleaner sound. Take your pick; they are both excellent records.
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
I have listened to the music of Ezra Collective for a good bit now. Dance, No One’s Watching is only their third album and is just as good as their first two. An interesting side note is that I do not have any of their recordings on physical material. I’ll have to look at the jazz section at https://www.recordcollectorsparadise.ca on Wednesday.
An Ezra Collective or King Crimson will leave the store with me if we have either one in stock, which is a pretty high chance, knowing how deep their catalogue is.
Speaking of King Crimson, I will begin my journey through their catalogue this week. I pulled the albums, all 12, and I still need two of their albums on vinyl. I must remedy that situation since they are one of my deserted island bands. After I have listened to them chronologically, I will post my thoughts regarding their recordings. The photo below was taken in the London Royal Albert Hall in 2019, King Crimson put on an amazing concert.
In the meantime, happy listening my friends and remember that there is no bad music, just some that is better than others.
Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby present to you my listening fixes from the past week. Explosions In The Sky was a highlight live, and The Armoires had the most spins. Check them out, you may just find it as entertaining and enjoyable as I did.
Explosions In The Sky – Live at Midway
We have every album EITS (Explosions In The Sky) released, so we were excited to hear them live. They did not disappoint us. The show was excellent in every way. The venue was a good choice for them; it was not so large that they were playing in a half-empty room and not so small that we were packed like sardines in a tin. We had a good view straight in line with the middle of the stage and on the rail overlooking the standing-room floor. The volume was perfect; so many shows have the volume cranked to a level that must damage the speakers and have way too much bass. EITS had none of that. The stage lights were great as well. They didn’t use the front-of-stage lights; they are an instrumental band, so they don’t need to highlight the lead vocalist. Most of their music is collaborative, so there is no need to spotlight the soloist because they don’t usually have one. Their performance style, which is a testament to their collaborative nature, was a sight to behold. They employed plenty of back-of-house lighting to create a similar effect to shadow puppets.
The music, ah, yes, the music, it kept me enthralled for the entire show. EITS is a five-man band: a drummer, a keyboard player who also plays guitar, both bass and six-string, two electric guitar players and a bass/six-string player who often swaps guitars mid-song. They had moments when the music exploded from the stage to engulf us. EITS are experts at building tension in the music that gradually rises until the stage can’t hold it any longer, and it washes over us in a tsunami of sound.
Having Joel treat me to this concert as a gift for my seventieth birthday was beautiful. What a grand way to celebrate starting a new decade. Thank you, Joel.
Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
This album is a frequent spinner on my turntable. It is not my favourite Dylan album; that title belongs to Desire, but Highway 61 Revisited is still a good album.
The Armoires – Octoberland
Big Stir Records
THE ARMOIRES – the Burbank, California-based band led by Christina Bulbenko (vocals, keys) and Rex Broome (vocals, guitar), also known as the founders of Big Stir Records – have exuded equal parts brash confidence and sophisticated mystery. There’s been the swirling psych-pop manifesto “We Absolutely Mean It,” the sweetly comforting “Music & Animals,” the dramatic strings-driven “Here Comes The Song,” and, up next, the giddy postpunk pulsebeat of “Ridley & Me After The Apocalypse.” All of them display the band revelling in their unique sound: the ambiguously androgynous harmonies of Broome and Bulbenko, the intricate instrumental interplay between Larysa Bulbenko’s endlessly versatile viola and the electric 12-strings, sweeping synths and delicate piano of the band leaders, and the unerringly empathetic rhythms of John M. Borack (drums) and Clifford Ulrich (bass).
Octoberland is easy to listen to, but I would not call it easy listening. It is playful but not childish. It is profound but not abysmal. It is joyous without being mawkish. It is sweet without being syrupy. In my own words, it is a damn good album.
Various – Cheapskates Vol. 4
This is not a good road trip listener. It does have some good tunes, just not enough for the road noise.
Various – At the Foot of the Cross
Valerie liked this one a lot. I used to like it a lot, but that has slipped, and I’m just liking it now. It is high quality in every aspect; if you are into Christian music, this should be on your playlist.
Various – Country Greats
It is a mixed bag of county and Western music, mainly from the sixties. This recording has no flow, and even the mix level is crazy. One song was so low we had to turn the volume up, and the next one blared at us to turn the volume down. The bass was too heavy on some songs, and the vocals were buried in the mix of instruments on other tracks. The songs didn’t have a chronological flow or have like-minded songs grouped.
They had a version of Jambalaya by George Jones, a good recording artist, no doubt, but this song belongs to Hank Williams. Daddy Sang Bass was by Carl Perkins on this CD, and it should be Johnny Cash. The list goes on. There are too many errors accumulated in these three CDs for an enjoyable listen; there are some great songs on here, but not enough, and not enough by the right artists or in the correct place on the tracklist.
An interesting twist on this album is the Queen of Soul, Tina Turner, singing three songs taken from her C/W album Good Hearted Woman. This isn’t her first C/W album either; Ike Turner had her record the album Tina Turns the Country On! in an attempt to expose her to a wider audience. I actually like her take on these songs; they are probably my favourite songs on a sketchy album.
The Moody Blues – Greatest Hits
I’m not a big fan of The Moody Blues, but I appreciate their music in general and a few songs in particular. Tuesday Afternoon, Nights In White Satin, & I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) are all three good tunes; I remember them from being big hits on the radio way back when. Once upon a time, I had these on vinyl. Now I just have this on CD.
Phil Keaggy – Play Thru Me
Continuing my trip thru the alphabet we are still in K, and Phil Keaggy, who we started listening to last week. Play Thru Me is another good example of his guitar playing. This album has excellent notes on the inner sleeve that tell us which guitars he played on each song and a bit of history on how he wrote them. I wish more albums had inner sleeves this good; thanks, Phil.
This is my playlist for this week. It is heavy with Phil Keaggy. He has often been cited as one of the best guitar players out there. These albums do not bolster those claims. These are straight-up Christian praise and worship albums.
Days of Flower Power. Tiny Tim. ‘Nuff said.
The album Alternative Worship is a collaboration of other top-notch Christian artists, but it is not your typical church hymns. It is an album that showcases the talents of three of my favourite artists, Christian or otherwise. It is just plain enjoyable for me as I listen to it. It also has the distinction of being in my collection in three different formats: cassette, CD and vinyl. Yeah, I like it. I got a few new records with the money I got as a birthday present. Alternative Worship was a birthday gift, along with John Lennon and Bob Dylan, CSN&Y Live at the Filmore in the mail.
Dylan and Lennon are artists that I have enjoyed listening to forever. New Morning is not Dylan’s strongest album, but it is still Dlyan. New Morning was released shortly after Self Portrait, which critics have beaten near to death. But I did not beat it; I liked it and can now enjoy it on vinyl.
John Lennon Plastic Ono Band is a long overdue replacement. This is another album that didn’t get much praise when it was released but has worked its way up since then. I still enjoy listening to it. As an afternote, it has a good cast of players, but no Paul.
Phil Keaggy – Love Broke Thru
Gene Eugene • Michael Knott • Terry Taylor – Alternative Worship (Prayer, Petitions and Praise)
Another week has passed by, and another selection of great music. This week is highlighted by a pair of Kansas songs and a new release from David Gilmour.
Mark Bacino – Top of the World
Joy Division – Closer
Kurt Kaiser – Master Designer
David Gilmour – Luck and Strange
Kansas – Song For America
Kansas -Point of Know Return
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Mark Bacino – Top of the World
This is a new record, and I’m still looking for something to jump out of it and inspire me. Other than my wall of writer’s block, there is nothing terrible about this recording. I’ll listen to it again.
I listened to it again.
Mark Bacino goes for several more spins around the digital turntable, and I am still waiting for inspiration to hit me. I like his new album, Top of the World, but have not been hit with a deep insight to write about it. I think it is good music, and it has intelligent lyrics. I lost the lyric sheet. Fortunately, Mark has a good voice, and his vocals do not get drowned out in a sea of overloaded instruments.
I listened to it yet again.
The first time I heard this, I thought Marks’s voice sounded like someone else; it turned out to be Harry Nillson. I don’t feel that Mark is trying to be a protege of Harry. I do get the feeling that it is a pair of New Yorkers making good music. Going in their own directions. Regardless, I think Mark Bacino has delivered a clever pop album, and I hope he sees my comparison to Harry Nillson as a compliment because I have enjoyed Nillson Schmillson for more years than I want to admit to, it turns out to be 53 years, and I feel Top of the World is stepping in that direction .
There are several stand-out tracks on Top of the World. The snappy opener, “Kaylee Hughes,” is a toe-tapping song that gives a great introduction to the album. “Why Does This Woman Love Me” is an honest question for me to ask. I wonder how my wife loves me? “I Like Wearing Clothes” is a humourous romp and another toe-tapper.
“How The Story Ends” is the track that most resembles Harry Nillson in my head. It is an excellent song from Mark with gentle instrumentation that carries the lyrics along and builds into charging crescendos of sound. I like it. And I like the whole album. Excuse me while I go and listen to Top of the World again. I’ll let you know in
Joy Division – Closer
Released two months after the suicide of the band’s lead singer and lyricist Ian Curtis, Closer seems darker and more mysterious than the band’s previous record, Unknow Pleasure. This perception is no doubt loaded because I got Unknown Pleasure first and listened to it significantly more often. I also like Closer and will have to give it more spins than the two I did today.
Kurt Kaiser – Master Designer
I got this in a box of records I purchased from Kijiji for a bargain price. There must have been close to 200 albums, and I am still inserting them alphabetically into the library as I listen to each of them. This record was also the first album in the letter K in the library. It is a nice, clean Muzak with competent piano playing and modest string sections. It is a decent album if I listen to it in that context.
David Gilmour – Luck and Strange
I am a fan of Pink Floyd, from their early albums to their solos. Luck and Strange is David’s fifth solo album, and after the first listen, I think it stacks up favourably with his earlier material. The hard copy is in the mail. Stay tuned for more info when the vinyl arrives.
Kansas – Song For America
Song For America is Kansas’s second album. It has an expansive prog/ rock feel and some heavier rock reminiscent of that era. Released in 1974, it was a minor hit when it was initially released and got middle-of-the-road reviews. Some liked it a lot, others not so much. To me, it is an album by a band that is still trying to find its sound and direction. They found that voice in the album Point of Know Return, released in 1977.
Kansas -Point of Know Return
Point of Know Return would be Kansas’ highest-charting album in the US and their most significant commercial success. Gone are the epic 10-minute prog tracks found on their early recordings in favour of mostly pop radio-friendly 3—to 4-minute songs. Point of Know Return also has one of their most recognized tracks, Dust In The Wind. I struggle to play Dust In The Wind on my guitar, but I love hearing it on my turntable.
I listened to several of this week’s albums more than once, which indicates how much I appreciated and enjoyed them. Happy listening, my friends.
This blog contains The albums I listened to this past week, September 8-15. Highlights are Kansas and David Gilmour.
Mark Bacino – Top of the World
Joy Division – Closer
Kurt Kaiser – Master Designer
David Gilmour – Luck and Strange
Kansas – Song For America
Kansas -Point of Know Return
Mark Bacino – Top of the World
This is a new record, and I’m still looking for something to jump out of it and inspire me. Other than my wall of writer’s block, there is nothing terrible about this recording. I’ll listen to it again.
Joy Division – Closer
Released two months after the suicide of the band’s lead singer and lyricist Ian Curtis, Closer seems darker and more mysterious than the band’s previous record, Unknow Pleasure. This perception is no doubt loaded because I got Unknown Pleasure first and listened to it significantly more often. I also like Closer and will have to give it more spins than the two I did today.
Kurt Kaiser – Master Designer
I got this in a box of records I purchased from Kijiji for a bargain price. There must have been close to 200 albums, and I am still inserting them alphabetically into the library as I listen to each of them. This record was also the first album in the letter K in the library. It is a nice, clean Muzak with tinkling piano and modest string sections. It is a decent album if I listen to it in that context.
David Gilmour – Luck and Strange
I am a fan of Pink Floyd, from their early albums to their solos. Luck and Strange is David’s fifth solo album, and after the first listen, I think it stacks up favourably with his earlier material. The hard copy is in the mail. Stay tuned for more info when the vinyl arrives.
Kansas – Song For America
Song For America is Kansas’s second album. It has an expansive prog/ rock feel and some heavier rock reminiscent of that era. Released in 1974, it was a minor hit when it was initially released and got middle-of-the-road reviews. Some liked it a lot, others not so much. To me, it is an album by a band that is still trying to find its sound and direction. They found that voice in the album Point of Know Return, released in 1977.
Kansas -Point of Know Return
Point of Know Return would be Kansas’ highest-charting album in the US and their most significant commercial success. Gone are the epic 10-minute prog tracks found on their early recordings in favour of mostly pop radio-friendly 3 to 4-minute songs. Point of Know Return also has one of their most recognized tracks, Dust In The Wind.
I listened to several of these albums more than once, indicating how much I appreciated and enjoyed their music.
What we have here, folks, is a list of what Norman listened to this week. As usual, it is a somewhat eclectic group of musicians, and I don’t see that pattern changing anytime soon. I wandered from George Jones’s country and western to Kings X’s hard rock on the same day. All music is good; just some of it sounds better some days.
U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
Released in 1984, Unforgettable Fire is U2’s fourth album. Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, It took the band in a new direction with a gentler, more ambient sound, which should come as no surprise with Brian Eno producing it. The album received praise from critics and the buying public, placing it favourably in the charts.
Amy Grant – Simple Things
Simple Things is easy listening from the Queen of Christian Pop. Amy Grant is the highest-selling Christian artist of all time, and she managed to chart on both the Christian charts and Billboard. We saw her live on the House of Love tour. There is no denying that she had talent.
Billy Joel – 52nd Street
Billy Joel – Glass Houses
These two albums gave me stubborn earworms, which isn’t really a bad thing because I like both of these albums. There are numerous top ten songs spanning these two albums that got plenty of airplay and most likely gave them the foothold in my ear. I enjoyed revisiting these two.
George Jones – The Crown Prince of Country Music
The title is a bold and brazen declaration, one that I am not at ease with. I understand that George Jones was a talented County and Western artist, but many other great artists could also wear that crown. If George Jones were the Crown Prince, then Hank Williams would be the king. This is a compilation album with a complicated backstory that I am not going to write about; Wikipedia has all the details. Having said all that, we get to the music. Did I like it or not? I did.
Kings X – Faith Hope Love
I hadn’t listened to Kings X for ages and ages. They used to grace my disc player frequently because they are a good, hard-hitting rock and roll band with overtones of faith, but this is not a theist recording. I probably won’t listen to them again for a while. Faith Hope Love is not a bad record; it’s just not really good, either—middle of the road.
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Now, this is a really good album. I can’t count how many times I have had the pleasure of spinning this slab of vinyl. Unknown Pleasures also has an iconic album cover featuring artwork designed by artist Peter Saville, using a data plot of signals from a radio pulsar. Unknown Pleasures is the only album from Joy Division that was released during lead singer Ian Curtis’s brief lifespan. Closer, their second album Closer was released after his suicide. I will listen to Closer tomorrow, and that will finish my trip through the letter “J”. “K” will feature some of my deserted island recordings, so I look forward to that and revisiting some of the new recordings I have been introduced to.
DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
I had forgotten about this band until I pulled this CD out and reacquainted myself with them. Their music is not on the same level as Joy Division’s, but it is still of decent quality.
Mark Bacino – Top of the World
I have only had one listen to this, and it wasn’t a focused session, so I will give it another listen soon.
Modest Mouse – Everywhere and His Nasty Parlour Tricks
This isn’t my favourite Modest Mouse recording, but Modest Mouse on a bad day is still better than plenty of other bands on their best day.
Hungrytown – Circus For Sale
I keep coming back to this album, and I still don’t know what compels me to listen but not comprehend. Stay tuned for more listens. Thanks for scrambling my neurons Big Stir. LOL
David Gilmour – Luck and Strange
I have enjoyed David Gilmour’s solo career almost as much as his role in Pink Floyd. Actually, it is a big “almost.” I had a go at this late at night and didn’t have enough of a listen to make any judgment call, so I will give it another listen in the near future.
This is done for another week. Next week, I will feature Joy Division, Hungrytown, Mark Bacino, Kurt Kaiser, The Klaxons, and whatever else catches my ear. Happy listening, my friends. I look forward to these recordings, and I will see you next week.
Welcome to my list of music I enjoyed listening to this week. A few artists have been friends of my turntable for a long time, and a few new ones to expand my repertoire.
Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra – Road Gore: the band that drank too much
Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra – Battle Hymn of the Apartment
Hungrytown – Circus For Sale Big Stir
Sting – Brand New Day
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘N Roll
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
Various – Alternative Worship/Prayer, Petitions and Praise
Timbuk3 – Greetings From Timbuk3
Billy Joel – The Piano Man
Billy Joel – The Stranger
Here is the expanded version with cover art and a few thoughts about what I heard.
Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra – The Band That Drank Too Much
Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra – Battle Hymn of the Apartment
I am trying to remember how I was introduced to Jerry Jerry in the early 1980s. I don’t recall, but I was hooked, and that fascination with this band continues. Their music has elements of punk, rockabilly, and good old rock and roll, and the lyrics run the gamut of found love, lost love, and everything in between, as well as a running theme of religious imagery. They also have two of the best album titles of all time.
I caught Sting live on a double bill with Peter Gabriel and was very impressed with what I heard. Having experienced Stewart Copeland previously, I had two-thirds of the Police on my concert compendium but none of their albums. While bin diving a week or so back, I scored a pair of CDs by Sting; I finally listened to them today.
Hungrytown – Circus For Sale via Big Stir
I have been listening to this record for the last week, and after numerous spins, I am no closer to understanding what is going on with this recording and my neurons. I like what I hear, but it doesn’t hit any buttons to elicit a more comprehensive review. I am not giving up on it, though, so stay tuned. I am confident that I will eventually “get” this album. Thanks to Big Stir for letting me hear it.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘N Roll
It’s a lovely trip down memory lane. After all these years, the album came out in 1982, 42 years ago, and the music still conveys much of the energy I remember from those years. It was rebellious, edgy, and a statement, “I love Rock and Roll.” I did two spins around the spindle for this album because I love Rock and Roll.
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
Wow, another oldy. 1971 for this one, 53 years ago. I remember when I bought it and played it when I got home. We had one stereo in the house, Mom and Dads and it was in the living room. My parents were not as enthusiastic about the music as I was. They definitely heard it as rebellious. It’s funny; the only two albums they ever complained about were Aqualung and Imagine by John Lennon. And then I bought my stereo and a good pair of earphones and never heard them critique my music again.
Various – Alternative Worship/Prayer, Petitions and Praise
This one is a score from an antique store for a Loonie. I have the CD and liked it enough to get the cassette version. The vinyl version is in the mail. There are a couple of artists here who are my favourites. Terry Taylor, Mike Knott and Gene Eugene. * Terry Scott Taylor (born May 24, 1950) is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies(credited as Camarillo Eddy). Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group Lost Dogs. *Wikipedia I had the pleasure of seeing both Daniel Amos and Lost Dogs live, and they enthralled me. I did not have the pleasure of seeing Michael Knott perform live, but I have followed his music for a long time. He had a long and winding career in the alternate Christian music scene. Gene Eugene led Adam Again, a band that gets a lot of air time in my ears. The word Worship might stop people from hearing this album; it is not your typical praise and worship album. These artists view God and their relationship to God through the prism of life and experience. It is worth listening to just for the change of pace it offers.
Timbuk3 – Greetings From Timbuk3
The Futures So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades. ‘Nuff said, classic music.
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
This album is a hangover from last week. I just had to hear it one more time and add the cartoon.
Billy Joel – The Piano Man
Billy Joel – The Stranger
Billy Joel is one of those artists hanging on the fringe of my listening sphere. I gave these two albums a good listen and followed the lyrics, and I have a fresh appreciation for Billy Joel’s ability to tell a story. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant blew me away when I finally paid attention to it. Billy Joel is off the fringe and into the sphere.
Weathered Music 