tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post1684589204967622294..comments2024-03-27T23:24:02.731-04:00Comments on PowerPop: Weekend Listomania: Special How Do You Say Self-Indulgent in French? EditionNYMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863355110457910935noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-66406718740871929312018-05-28T11:25:35.945-04:002018-05-28T11:25:35.945-04:00Todd Rundgren- Something/Anything?
Mott The Hoople...Todd Rundgren- Something/Anything?<br />Mott The Hoople- Mott<br />Roxy Music- Siren<br />Marshall Crenshaw-Debut<br />Prince- Dirty Mind<br />James Booker-Classified<br />Queen-Sheer Heart Attack<br />David Bowie-Aladdin Sane<br />NRBQ At Yankee Stadium<br />10cc-The Original Soundtrack<br />Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-58839214849346620052018-05-26T15:42:49.903-04:002018-05-26T15:42:49.903-04:00A fair number of these were discovered via Stereo ...A fair number of these were discovered via <i>Stereo Review</i>, especially reviews from Joel Vance, Noel Coppage, and some guy whose name rhymes with Sleeve Nimels...<br /><br />Warren Zevon’s self-titled album and “Excitable Boy” - Literate, funny, and rocks - what more do you want?<br />Tonio K, “Life in the Foodchain” - Ditto. <br />Joe Walsh, “The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get” - an eclectic mix of styles on that one, and “Dreams” is one of the coolest love songs ever written. Plus the only really good use of talk box guitar (Frampton’s got a lot to answer for...).<br />Richard & Linda Thompson, “Shoot Out The Lights” - got me going on a very long and fulfilling journey with RT’s music.<br />Bryan Ferry, “Bete Noir” - the faster numbers on this one are some of the most soulful, seductive pop ever recorded, with the great Johnny Marr providing much of the guitar.<br />Chris Whitley, “Living With the Law” - simply stunning, and like nothing else in 1991 (or now, for that matter).<br />Smithereens, “Especially for You” - just glorious power pop.<br />Pretenders, self-titled debut - leading off with “Precious”, has any female singer ever performed with that much attitude and been able to back it up all the way through the last cut?<br />Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, “Men Without Women” - passionate and tuneful, what a record! Saw Little Steven last year on his “Soulfire” tour and he definitely brought it, 25 years later. <br />Evie Sands, “Take Me For A Little While” - I was born too late to catch this the first time, but thanks to the aforementioned Little Steven’s Underground Garage channel on SiriusXM, i caught Ms. Sands’ original version of this song, and was simply blown away by her soulful and passionate performance here; simply stunning. <br />cthulhunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-8724395588242375622018-05-26T11:22:03.168-04:002018-05-26T11:22:03.168-04:00In relative chronological order, these are the mus...In relative chronological order, these are the musical touchstones that veered my music/album listening growing up<br /><br />Pre-High School:<br /><br />"Headquarters" by the Monkees<br />"Destroyer" by KISS and "Alice Cooper Goes To Hell" -- where I realized how important a producer was to an album (both produced by Bob Ezrin)<br />The Dr. Demento show on the radio (and the compilation albums released on Rhino during that time.) Mind-blowing comedy!<br /><br />High School:<br /><br />Whatever George Carlin album I first heard (I think it was "Toledo Window Box"...)<br />"Q: Are We Not Men A: We Are Devo" (big game changer there...)<br />"Get The Knack"<br />"A Young Persons Guide To King Crimson" -- I didn't get "Prog" *at all* until somebody gave me this.<br />"English Settlement" by XTC -- one of those albums where you hear the first couple of songs at a party and have to immediately know everything about the band.<br /><br />College and immediate Post-College:<br /><br />Then there was a gap until I discovered (later), "Let it Be" by the Replacements post-college (this was after the band had the famous show at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, so I only heard of the band after that fact and never saw them live (well Tommy and Paul) until the reunion tour a few years ago and I kick myself for that very fact every single day...)<br />"Element of Light" by Robyn Hitchcock<br />"The Dreaming" by Kate Bush<br /><br />And then much much later as the 90s felt like a lost decade for me musically:<br /><br />"We Are The Pipettes" (seriously), "Between The Bridges" by Sloan and "After School Special" by Teen Machine -- a lost gem that I felt special for finding -- all contributing to my rekindled my love for all things PowerPop!<br /><br />"Come On Feel the Illinoise" by Sufjan Stevens. This was the last album that seriously moved me and made me realize that there was still something that felt new and different out there in the musical world.<br /><br /><br />Nothing since those last few albums (over a decade now!) has been a game changer (though there have been many great albums since then). I'm still searching for the next one!<br /><br /><br />Shrinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12908213967283171538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-7109200384596967572018-05-26T07:41:34.706-04:002018-05-26T07:41:34.706-04:0010. Spottiswoode and His Enemies, ENGLISH DREAM (2...10. Spottiswoode and His Enemies, ENGLISH DREAM (2014, Old Soul). Reminded me how much joy and art and wisdom can be shoved into one album from an arty band that works at its craft and still gets no attention.<br /><br />9. Elliott Murphy, AQUASHOW (1973, Polydor). Made me realize that the American dream (with its pros and cons) is at the center of rock, and that I prefer dreams that are less panoramic and more Beat-influenced. Hey, I grew up in New York City, and not New Jersey. We drove cars, but we also took subways.<br /><br />8. Sparks, EXOTIC CREATURES OF THE DEEP (2008, Columbia). With each successive album, Sparks confirms to me the role wit plays in rock. The best of many killer Sparks albums.<br /><br />7. Mott The Hoople, BRAIN CAPERS (1972). Reminded me that being at the top of your game often goes underappreciated.<br /><br />6. Chad and Jeremy Of CABBAGES AND KINGS (1967, Columbia). Made me understand that art and commerce in pop music could stand side-by-side, even if such art didn’t always result in sales.<br /><br />5. The Dandy Warhols, THE DANDY WARHOLS COME DOWN (1997, Capitol). Reminded me that psychedelia can be as powerful as any other form of rock, and that such music as this can be quite clever. Also reminded me to NOT overlook bands with stupid names (see below, and 7., above)<br /><br />4. Echo and the Bunnymen, PORCUPINE (Sire, 1983). Made me realize that power in rock need not be heavy, and that urgency is a great element of great rock.<br /><br />3. Acid, TALES OF CONTEMPT (2015, Main Man). Reminded me that dirty loud bubble gum mixed with distortion and disdain goes a long way. Perhaps the hardest power pop album ever.<br /><br />2. The Yardbirds, FOR YOUR LOVE (1965, Epic). Introduced me to and made me appreciate British blues in rock. HAVING A RAVE UP and LITTLE GAMES may be better albums, but this is where I really got on the bus.<br /><br />1. Eric Burdon and the Animals, LOVE IS (1968, MGM) Made me understand that a glorious mess can be a great album. Along with The Yardbirds, The Animals were the centerpieces of my developing musical taste. And this to me is the best of the best.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13063639986915628650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-38913660352694614612018-05-25T13:58:04.039-04:002018-05-25T13:58:04.039-04:00So if we're excluding the "classic rock&q...So if we're excluding the "classic rock" greats....<br /><br />Patti Smith - S/T<br />The Ramones - S/T<br />Pere Ubu - Modern Dance<br />Talking Heads - S/T<br /><br />All of the above were 'I've never heard ANYTHING like that before' moments that, one way or another, changed how I listened to music.<br /><br />Prince - 1999<br />U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday (extended 12" single)<br /><br />Loaded - Velvet Underground<br />Fear - John Cale (very cool to see a Cale album on your list, too)<br /><br />Gummohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09947040598570967596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-10044945125612065772018-05-25T13:38:43.665-04:002018-05-25T13:38:43.665-04:00Yardbirds: "Having a Rave-Up" --- wait, ...Yardbirds: "Having a Rave-Up" --- wait, that's a GUITAR???<br />Love: "Love" --- THAT's how you do "My Little Red Book"<br />Steely Dan: "Pretzel Logic" --- is it jazz? Is it rock? Who cares?<br />Grateful Dead: "Skull and Roses" --- specifically, "Not Fade Away" -> "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad"<br />Jefferson Airplane: "Surrealistic Pillow" --- between Gracie, the songwriting and the musicians, my tiny mind was blown<br />U2: "Achtung, Baby" --- the only album I think of as musically circular; you can start anywhere<br />BGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-30452703034781260812018-05-25T11:01:29.672-04:002018-05-25T11:01:29.672-04:00And more recently:
St Vincent "St Vincent&quo...And more recently:<br />St Vincent "St Vincent"buzzbabyjesushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09375127662096374324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-4944322720080072082018-05-25T11:00:22.420-04:002018-05-25T11:00:22.420-04:00Four of yours are also mine, and I see others in t...Four of yours are also mine, and I see others in the comments. <br />Here's mine:<br />Little Feat "Sailin' Shoes"<br />Roy Harper "HQ"<br />Richard Thompson "Henry The Human Fly"<br />Red Red Meat "Bunny Gets Paid"<br />U-Roy Dread Ina Babylon<br />Genesis "Foxtrot"buzzbabyjesushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09375127662096374324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-65152765165920841762018-05-25T10:51:55.163-04:002018-05-25T10:51:55.163-04:00David Johansen - "Donna"
Gary Stewart - ...David Johansen - "Donna"<br />Gary Stewart - Out of Hand<br />Sonic's Rendezvous Band - "City Slang"<br />The Real Kids - S/T<br />Michael Hurley & Co. - Have Moicy!<br />Neil Young - "Danger Bird" <br />Destroy All Monsters - "Bored" <br /><br />Lastly, Jim Dickinson and the Catmando Quartet - "Shake 'Em On Down." A firestorm of a record. J. Lewellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11825954460204646408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-67031316904821944272018-05-25T10:46:26.756-04:002018-05-25T10:46:26.756-04:00King Crimson - In the Court of
Aerosmith - Get You...King Crimson - In the Court of<br />Aerosmith - Get Your Wings<br />Keith Jarrett - Bremen/Lausanne<br />The Cure - Happily Ever After (1981 combo of their previous 2 recs)<br />Everything but the Girl - s/t (the US version of "Eden")<br />Tuatara - Flying Nun Records' first compilation<br />Gorecki's 3rd<br />My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything (actually, the B-side "Cigarette in Your Bed" did it for me)<br />Nanci Griffith - Once in a Very Blue Moon<br />Fleetwood Mac - Bare TreesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-32032705373330370212018-05-25T08:44:06.169-04:002018-05-25T08:44:06.169-04:00I think you broke your own rules by including Spri...I think you broke your own rules by including Springsteen, but since you did I'll double down on Spirit In The Night<br /><br />Watching the Detectives -Elvis Costello and the Attractions. First two albums the most influential in my life outside of Dylan and Springsteen<br />Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers, which lead to discovering Jonathan Richman and many hours of fun.<br />Romeo is Bleeding - Tom Waits. I've been a follower for years, but this turned me into a fan, though the double whammy of Swordfish Trombones/Rain Dogs was probably the more life changing combo.<br />Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders. Need I say more? Also, was played for months on WHFS before their album was released stateside.<br />Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells. Just hit 12 year old me in the perfect place at the perfect time and so reminds me of a warm gray winter day on the beach in Hawaii.<br /><br />Well, this could turn into a therapy session, so I'll quit now.<br />edwardnoreply@blogger.com