(no subject)
On the way back from Cincinnati last week (where we saw Locksley opening for Rooney, in yet another oh-God-I'm-so-old episode), Jenny and I were discussing music, and we tried to compile individual lists of albums that we can each listen to all the way through, no skips, on a regular basis. And we discovered that our lists were really small. Even on many of my favorite albums, there's always one or two lame songs that drag down the mood or get on my nerves. For this reason, I couldn't even put any silverchair or Hanson offerings on the list -- blasphemous, right?
But I find it interesting that I could think of so few. I'm picky, obviously. But I also think that the state of the music industry nowadays has something to do with it -- for example, the most recent album I list here is Ben Folds' Rockin' the Suburbs, which was released in 2001. I think it's like Ben and Jason from the Jimmy Carter Experience said when I interviewed them awhile back -- in the digital era, everything is single-based. You're encouraged to download songs whenever you want them, one at a time. The whole experience of buying an album, excitedly ripping off the cellophane, and shoving it in your CD player is gone. When was the last time I actually bought an artist's full album and not a single, soundtrack, or compilation? I'm not sure I remember.
At any rate, here's my list -- no "Best of" or soundtracks allowed here. Full albums from the artists only!
1. Weezer, the self-titled blue album: I got this album all the way back in 1995 sometime, when I was still in middle school. It's ten songs of quirky pop-rock perfection, from the authoritative lead-off track "My Name is Jonas" to the nonsensical fun of "Undone (The Sweater Song" to the gently mumbled eight-minute opus of "Only in Dreams". In short, I loved this album. Still do. New-school Weezer is okay, but old-school Weezer is where it's at.
2. 311, Music: These guys were doing the subtle melding of rap/rock long before bands like Linkin Park or, God forbid, Limp Bizkit, and they've always done it a hell of a lot better. Their debut indie album is chock full of reggae and funk, enticing the listener to dance ("Welcome to this groove, you can move, right?"), and the songs run the gamut from hard-rocking and body-slamming ("Feels So Good" and "Fat Chance") to mellow ("Nix Hex" and "My Stoney Baby") to everything in between. And because 311 chooses positive (albeit often silly) lyrics instead of negativity, I always feel good after hearing a run-through of this album.
3. Veruca Salt, Eight Arms to Hold You: Not quite as classic as Heart, but not girls-done-wild trashy like Hole, Veruca Salt captured my attention back in the day with "Shutterbug" and its strange music video. When I bought the album, I was pleasantly surprised to get a wide variety of sounds: hard rock in "Volcano Girls", harmonies in "Awesome", pure pop in "With David Bowie", and snarky sarcasm in "Stoneface". Unfortunately, the original lineup that included both Nina Gordon and Louise Post is no more, but in this album you can hear them at their best.
4. Counting Crows, August and Everything After: A perfect album of smooth, moody music. "Anna Begins", "Rain King", "Omaha"? Yeah. I can remember traveling back from Ohio late one night in college and literally listening to this one over... and over... and over. Still Adam Duritz's best lyrics and vocals.
5. Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs: Even after getting over the fact that Ben Folds Five was no more, it took me awhile to love this one. But over time, I finally came to appreciate all the songs. Ben Folds' voice is questionable at times, but his piano-playing and showmanship (in my opinion) are up there with Elton John. The moody "Annie Waits", rollicking "Zak and Sara", poppy "Losing Lisa", and self-effacing title track are only a few reasons this one still gets regular rotation in my player.
6. Fiona Apple, When the Pawn...: I actually prefer this one over her debut. The songs feel stronger and more focused, and who says Fiona can't write a catchy tune? "Paper Bag" always has me bobbing my head. Tracks like "Fast As You Can" and "Limp" highlight her staccato, aggressive side, while her voice practically purrs and melts during the lilt of "The Way Things Are". When I'm in the mood for some feminine angst, this is my go-to record.
7. Joan Osborne, Relish: Perhaps I'm biased towards her because she's from Kentucky, but I was mightily impressed by this album. She's known for "One of Us", but the rest of the album outshines that overhyped single. Her voice is deep and husky, like someone who's had a lifetime of too many cigarettes, but I love it. "The Man in the Long Black Coat" and "Dracula Moon" in particular always get to me. "Let's Just Get Naked" is hilariously lackadaisical, and "Right Hand Man" is spunky and sexy.
Literally, that's all I have. Seven totally listenable albums from a collection of hundreds. There were plenty that came close, with only one or two 'bad' songs, but I was strict and didn't include them, mainly to justify my point: catchy singles are nice, but it's really difficult to make a full album of solid, diverse tunes.
So, this isn't a meme, but feel free to take it and run with it. I'm curious to know the albums you guys love to listen to all the way through. And remember, no 'Greatest Hits', compilations, or soundtracks allowed. :)
But I find it interesting that I could think of so few. I'm picky, obviously. But I also think that the state of the music industry nowadays has something to do with it -- for example, the most recent album I list here is Ben Folds' Rockin' the Suburbs, which was released in 2001. I think it's like Ben and Jason from the Jimmy Carter Experience said when I interviewed them awhile back -- in the digital era, everything is single-based. You're encouraged to download songs whenever you want them, one at a time. The whole experience of buying an album, excitedly ripping off the cellophane, and shoving it in your CD player is gone. When was the last time I actually bought an artist's full album and not a single, soundtrack, or compilation? I'm not sure I remember.
At any rate, here's my list -- no "Best of" or soundtracks allowed here. Full albums from the artists only!
1. Weezer, the self-titled blue album: I got this album all the way back in 1995 sometime, when I was still in middle school. It's ten songs of quirky pop-rock perfection, from the authoritative lead-off track "My Name is Jonas" to the nonsensical fun of "Undone (The Sweater Song" to the gently mumbled eight-minute opus of "Only in Dreams". In short, I loved this album. Still do. New-school Weezer is okay, but old-school Weezer is where it's at.
2. 311, Music: These guys were doing the subtle melding of rap/rock long before bands like Linkin Park or, God forbid, Limp Bizkit, and they've always done it a hell of a lot better. Their debut indie album is chock full of reggae and funk, enticing the listener to dance ("Welcome to this groove, you can move, right?"), and the songs run the gamut from hard-rocking and body-slamming ("Feels So Good" and "Fat Chance") to mellow ("Nix Hex" and "My Stoney Baby") to everything in between. And because 311 chooses positive (albeit often silly) lyrics instead of negativity, I always feel good after hearing a run-through of this album.
3. Veruca Salt, Eight Arms to Hold You: Not quite as classic as Heart, but not girls-done-wild trashy like Hole, Veruca Salt captured my attention back in the day with "Shutterbug" and its strange music video. When I bought the album, I was pleasantly surprised to get a wide variety of sounds: hard rock in "Volcano Girls", harmonies in "Awesome", pure pop in "With David Bowie", and snarky sarcasm in "Stoneface". Unfortunately, the original lineup that included both Nina Gordon and Louise Post is no more, but in this album you can hear them at their best.
4. Counting Crows, August and Everything After: A perfect album of smooth, moody music. "Anna Begins", "Rain King", "Omaha"? Yeah. I can remember traveling back from Ohio late one night in college and literally listening to this one over... and over... and over. Still Adam Duritz's best lyrics and vocals.
5. Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs: Even after getting over the fact that Ben Folds Five was no more, it took me awhile to love this one. But over time, I finally came to appreciate all the songs. Ben Folds' voice is questionable at times, but his piano-playing and showmanship (in my opinion) are up there with Elton John. The moody "Annie Waits", rollicking "Zak and Sara", poppy "Losing Lisa", and self-effacing title track are only a few reasons this one still gets regular rotation in my player.
6. Fiona Apple, When the Pawn...: I actually prefer this one over her debut. The songs feel stronger and more focused, and who says Fiona can't write a catchy tune? "Paper Bag" always has me bobbing my head. Tracks like "Fast As You Can" and "Limp" highlight her staccato, aggressive side, while her voice practically purrs and melts during the lilt of "The Way Things Are". When I'm in the mood for some feminine angst, this is my go-to record.
7. Joan Osborne, Relish: Perhaps I'm biased towards her because she's from Kentucky, but I was mightily impressed by this album. She's known for "One of Us", but the rest of the album outshines that overhyped single. Her voice is deep and husky, like someone who's had a lifetime of too many cigarettes, but I love it. "The Man in the Long Black Coat" and "Dracula Moon" in particular always get to me. "Let's Just Get Naked" is hilariously lackadaisical, and "Right Hand Man" is spunky and sexy.
Literally, that's all I have. Seven totally listenable albums from a collection of hundreds. There were plenty that came close, with only one or two 'bad' songs, but I was strict and didn't include them, mainly to justify my point: catchy singles are nice, but it's really difficult to make a full album of solid, diverse tunes.
So, this isn't a meme, but feel free to take it and run with it. I'm curious to know the albums you guys love to listen to all the way through. And remember, no 'Greatest Hits', compilations, or soundtracks allowed. :)