#104: The Louvin Brothers - Tragic Songs of Life (1956)

 

Zack: What is there to say about this album that can’t also be said about a vacuum cleaner: it droned a lot and drove my dog crazy. I bet you were expecting me to go somewhere else with that. It plays like the stereotype that any non-country fan (myself included) would expect a country album to sound like. Every song seems to sound like yadda ya -yadda ya - ya ya - yadda ya. I’m told that all those yadda’s were actually words, but I remain unconvinced. Tragic Songs of Life isn’t without redemption, however. For one thing, it’s so old that its stereotypicalness was actually the basis for all future stereotypical country albums! That’s something…I guess.
Favorite Tracks: Katie Dear; In the Pines; Take the News to Mother 

Emily: As I sat down to listen to this album, I mentioned to my dad that I was listening to country music today. His response: “Why do you need to listen to the whole album? It all sounds the same!” Twelve Tragic Songs of Life later, I tend to agree with him. What makes the Louvin Brothers a cut above the rest of the country music that sounds like them, however, is that they were first. They pioneered the traditional, twang-ish sound that we now stereotype as country music. It was totally new to me, but instantly familiar. Case in point: the song In the Pines. It’s a traditional song, but I hadn’t heard of it. As soon as it started playing, though, it sounded completely familiar. It took me a second to realize why: on Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged album, they play a very similar song called Where Did You Sleep Last Night? A quick Wikipedia search commenced, and it turns out they’re the same song. Just goes to show how this whole list is connected, not to mention the history of popular music – no matter how different ‘90s grunge and ‘50s country may seem.                Favorite Tracks: In the Pines; Knoxville Girl; Kentucky

#103: Khaled - Kenza (1999)

Emily: I learn something new every single time I listen to an album for this blog. Never is this more apparent than with world music. Though I do enjoy the Putumayo CDs that play on repeat at my job, I had never been introduced to raï before today. For the uninformed and curious, raï is a genre of Arabic, Algerian folk music. Khaled is one of the modern kings of raï. He infuses traditional instruments and melodies with modern Western influences. This sentiment comes together perfectly on my favorite track from the album, a cover of John Lennon’s Imagine. With lyrics sung in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, Khaled takes a song that has been covered a million times over and still makes it his own, fusing raï with pop and West with Middle East.
Favorite Tracks: Imagine; Aâlach Tloumouni; El Aâdyene

Zack: We were well overdue for a “world music” album, but looking at the list is so intimidating that we kept pushing it off. Finally, the day arrived when we could not possibly postpone any longer, and we picked (mostly by random) Kenza by Khaled. There was really very little thought put into it, but looks like luck was on our side. Kenza was an enticing blend of different genres, instruments, and cultures. It has a uniqueness that even managed to shine through while covering the iconic song Imagine by John Lennon. Certain songs are so big that for an artist to really make it their own in any way that isn’t terrible always catches me off guard. Kenza, after a while, was so impressive that I think I may not wince at the thought of reviewing the next world album. Or maybe I’ll just leave it at a slight grimace. Baby steps.

Favorite Tracks: Imagine; Leïli; E'dir E'sseba

#102: Madness - The Rise & Fall (1982)

Emily: Madness is perhaps best known for a little song called Our House. Start humming a few bars, and the upbeat tune will be instantly recognizable from dozens of commercials and TV shows. What most people don’t know, however, is that Madness had a lot more to say. Although never released in the US, The Rise and Fall was one of Madness’ most successful and acclaimed albums overseas. They take two-tone ska beats and mix them with different styles and influences, from jazz to the sounds of India. Throw in a bit of politicizing over the bouncy beats, and what do you get? A thoroughly enjoyable album that is more than just a one-hit (one-house?) wonder.

Favorite Tracks: Mr. Speaker Gets the Word; Calling Cards; Our House

Zack: Our House is such a big song that not having heard of it is pure, well, madness. After that point, my knowledge of the band was somewhat limited. I knew that they walked a fine line between pop and ska, and that was enough to peak my curiosity. When it actually came to listening to the album, I felt that this ska-pop description wasn't nearly accurate enough. For one thing, they tended more towards pop than anything else. Furthermore, the "ska" description was a bit misleading. They infuse their pop sound with multiple genres, one of which is ska. That makes them about as much a ska band as any musician who ever went "I think this song needs more cowbell. And maybe a little trumpet too." As far as pop albums go, though, this extra complexity added a pleasant depth that I really appreciated. I think more pop artists should introduce bangin' sax solos intro their songs. Maybe "bangin'" wasn't the right adjective there, but I'm sticking with it. Anyways, I wish more of the music that makes its way onto radio sounded like Madness. Here's hoping that 30 years of trends suddenly reverse themselves!

Favorite Tracks: Madness (Is All in the Mind); Our House; Calling Cards

#101: Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (1975)

 

Zack: In New Jersey, speaking ill of Bruce Springsteen is a serious crime. In southern NJ specifically, where I hail from, it’s actually punishable by the death penalty. We take The Boss very seriously around here, thank you very much. Among his many great works, many argue that Born to Run is his best work. It’s not difficult to see why. It’s one of his most iconic albums. It has one of his most iconic songs on it. It even has an iconic cover. It has everything you need for a great experience from one of the most iconic musicians ever. But it has something else, on top of the greatness that oozes out of Bruce. It has an incredible, although understated, performance by Clarence Clemons on saxophone. The songs simply wouldn’t have worked without The Big Man blowing away in the background. Unfortunately, after 69 years that included a remarkably successful music career, he passed away due to complications of a stroke two days ago. Truly, the world lost an incredible musician and person that day. Clarence Clemons, you were born to play the tenor sax, and you will be missed.

Favorite Tracks: Born to Run; Jungleland; Thunder Road 

Emily: Bruce Springsteen is one of those iconic American musicians. He’s been making music for 30+ years, is always touring, and just knows how to craft great rock songs. This album is perhaps one of the earliest (and best) examples of Springsteen’s musical prowess. There’s powerful rock guitar and vocals from Springsteen himself, rounded out by the diverse instrumentals of the E Street Band. It’s a formula that’s built for playing loud, singing along, and seeing in concert – arena rock at its best.

Favorite Tracks: Jungleland; Born to Run; Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

100 Reviews Spectacular!!!

Truly, it is a magical day! We're 100 albums in!! That's a whopping 10%!!! We're so excited that we can't stop using exclamation points!!!!  

But now the question is how do we celebrate this achievement? Is this even worth celebrating the fact that we still have over 900 albums left to listen to? Couldn't we just celebrate this milestone by reviewing the 101st albums and moving on with our lives? Have we forgotten how to use periods?

And then, just as we were preparing to resort to colon jokes, the answer descended from the heavens: our own awards ceremony. There is nothing more tastefully modest than ostentatiously announcing one's superiority (or inferiority, as the case may be) over it's competitors. Put on your best evening gowns/tuxedos, call the babysitter, and get ready to reminisce about all we've been through. But most importantly, get comfortable and enjoy the first of our ten-part series of 1001 Album Review Awards.

Emily: First, I would like to honor the albums that have changed my views on music the most. Going into this process, I admittedly had a very narrow taste in music. Now, 100 albums in, I have expanded my musical horizons to artists and genres I never would have considered listening to before writing the blog. The "Game Changer Award" is presented to the album that most contributed to this growth. The nominees are:

Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited

Common – Be

Miles Davis – Birth of the Cool

Fugees – The Score

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced?

And the winner is…Common – Be! Before the blog, I was adamantly opposed to listening to hip-hop. Zack has figured out the best way to ease me into it, however, and I’ve found that there is rap out there for me. Although Be wasn’t the first album where I realized this, it definitely was the one that spoke to me the loudest. Common’s lyrics are powerful, and the production behind them only enhances that power. After listening to Be, I told Zack that I wanted more socially conscious hip-hop to listen to. The me of last October would have been very confused and perhaps a bit frightened by this request, but it’s really a testament to the influence of the great music on this list.

Zack: As time goes by, things are forgotten. Usually, this is a gradual process. But other times, the thing to be remembered was so forgettable, that it leaves your memory banks almost immediately. The albums nominated for the "LeBron James Award," named after the disappearing act The (Ringless) King had in the NBA Finals this year, all managed to go in one ear and out the other. Some were actually pretty good, some were actually pretty terrible, but all had the staying power of Right Said Fred. The nominees are...

The Kinks - Face to Face

Talking Heads - Fear of Music

Living Colour - Vivid

Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual

Blur - Blur

And the winner is.... Blur - Blur! While going back over our reviews, I was completely taken by surprise to learn that we had listened to a Blur album. I was then taken by even more surprise to learn that we had done it like 2 weeks ago. The other albums in contention had more time to be forgotten. But Blur was able to achieve forgettableness in record time. Congratulations, whoever it was that won this award. I've already forgotten who you were.

Zack: But while time erased all memory of the previous albums, not enough has gone by to heal these wounds. These albums were able to inflict such deep wounds on my eardrums that I'm still disoriented. These artists were experts in cringe-inducing, just as the awards namesake. The nominees for the "Nick Cage Award" are...

Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time

Ministry - Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs

Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

And the winner is...Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret! Admittedly, I have a predisposition against New Wave, but Soft Cell pushed my limits past distaste all the way to disgust/rage. What hurt the most was that I had hopes. High ones at that. But they were dashed. Hard against the cold ground. Curse you, Soft Cell. Curse you for breaking my tender little heart. I hope this award makes you remember just how much you hurt me. I have my doubts that that will happen, but at least I have hope again.

Emily: In addition to the many fantastic albums, we’ve also heard our fair share of duds. One would think that a list of 1001 albums to hear before you die would only be the best of the best, but clearly tastes differ from listener to listener. Here are some of the weirdest, most unpleasant, and the just plain worst albums we’ve heard so far. The nominees for the “WTF Were They Thinking Award” are…

Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica

Daft Punk – Homework

Ministry – Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs

Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle

Soft Cell – Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

And the winner is…Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica! If any album deserves to be booted off the list, it’s this one. The hour and a half I spent listening to loud, distorted, mismatched noise (and the headache that ensued) is time that I wish I could get back to do pretty much anything else.

Zack: And now, the moment you may or may not have been waiting for. It's time for our favorite albums. First up is, well, me. Obviously. The nominees for the "James K. Polk Award" (named after America's most badass President) all made their mark by their sheer awesomeness. Some I had heard before and so came into this blogging experience fully aware of their spectacularness. Others I went into with some virgin ears and was quickly won over. They come from different genres and eras, but each is ball-bustingly terrific. And now, because I've given way too much adieu, the nominees...

The Specials - Specials

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

The White Stripes - Elephant 

Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

And the winner is... The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?! This album is just plain loaded with greatness. As of right now, it is my favorite album of all time, and has been since well before I started this excursion. Some may call that bias, but how can it be bias to recognize an out of this world example of great music? Are You Experienced? is a transcendentally good album and a guitar virtuoso's masterpiece. It is a mind-numbing, breathtaking example of divine excellence in music. It will take something masterful to ever top this in my mind, but who knows what the next 100 albums will bring.

Emily: Over the past nine months and 100 albums, we’ve listened to a lot of great music. Some was new, some was old, some I had already heard, and some were completely unknown. Out of that list, a few have stood out and are worthy of the title of best album (so far, that is). The nominees for the "New Classic Award" are...

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Henry's Dream

Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Jeff Buckley – Grace

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced?

Nirvana – Nevermind

And the winner is…Jeff Buckley – Grace! It’s simply a beautiful album that I can listen to again and again and never get tired of it.

Well, that's all for now. We hope you enjoyed this special (and lengthy) post. We also hope that you will stay with us for the next 901 albums. We've picked out some more to review and normal updates will commence again shortly. Until then, have a splendid day/night, whichever is appropriate.

#100: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Henry's Dream (1992)

Emily: Do you know Nick Cave? If you’re like me, then probably not. As we organized the list by genre and artist, Zack and I were both perplexed as to why this guy was honored with multiple listings. Now that we have listened to the first of these albums, I understand why. For the uninformed, Nick Cave is an Australian musician who has dabbled in alternative rock and post-punk since the mid-‘80s. Henry’s Dream, Cave’s seventh album with the Bad Seeds, is both alternative and post-punk, but not like anything I’ve heard before. It plays like a soundtrack to a rock opera musical – and I mean that as a high compliment. It’s theatrical and vaguely over-the-top, but the band backs it up with great music. It sounded like blues meets post-punk meets orchestra; an odd combination that somehow works together harmoniously. I’m not quite sure why Nick Cave is so unknown (or maybe I’m just not paying attention), but the creators of the list definitely got it right this time. With one album down, I look forward to the music to follow.

Favorite Tracks: Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry; Christina the Astonishing; I Had a Dream, Joe

Zack: I had admittedly never listened to much Nick Cave before today, but I will look to remedy that unfortunate circumstance in the very near future. There was a subtle, dark beauty to this album. Even on the first listen, the passion perfectly placed into the songwriting process is practically palpable. Isn’t alliteration awesome? I developed an especially strong liking to the sing Brother, My Cup Is Empty; probably because I too am a poor whiskey enthusiast. I found it really relatable, especially that part where the protagonist is begging for whiskey. Not every song has such a simple narrative, however. Other tracks tell complex, five-minute dramas which can move you to tears. Alright, maybe they weren’t that emotionally taxing, but there was a certain power behind them. I can’t wait to explore Nick Cave’s lyrical genius further in the three albums of his that remain.

Favorite Tracks: Brother, My Cup Is Empty; Straight to You, Loom of the Land

#99: Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)

 

Zack: I have long had plans to go see Parliament perform live with Emily’s mom, and listening to this album just reinforced that notion. It just doesn’t get any cooler than them. They start off Mothership Connection with a song that seemed to perfectly encapsulate what I was hoping to get from this album with its repeated use of the phrase “I wants to get funked up.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. I just wanted them to be “doin’ it to [me] in the earhole,” and that is exactly what they delivered. Hell, in that song they even managed to heal my aching back with their brilliant advice to lay down on the radio (I used my laptop instead) and “let the vibes flow through.” Truly, P. Funk delivered all I could have asked for and more. And then, Mothership Connection proceeded to continue delivering on its funky promises by blasting fantastic song after fantastic song right into my brain until I couldn’t stop calling everyone I saw a jive turkey. No matter how hard I begged, this album would not let up on its funky assault. The bass was bumpin’, the horns were blarin’, and I was dancin’. Truly, Mothership Connection is Parliament at their out-of-this-world best, but it is so powerful that you need to be cautious about approaching it if you fear the funk’s power.

Favorite Tracks: P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up); Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Suckers); Mothership Connection (Star Child)

Emily: Zack and my mom have decided that they’re going to go to a Parliament concert together. While I’m not quite sure why, after listening to this album I’ll definitely try to join them. Parliament and its sister band, Funkadelic, are the definition of 70s funk. With a huge group of musicians (Wikipedia counts 17 singers/hand-clappers alone), the band creates a complex sound like no other. Horns, percussions, and other random sounds create music that can only be described as funky – it’s loud, it’s sexy, and it’s a ton of fun. I can only imagine the spectacle they would put forth in concert. To paraphrase George Clinton himself: I want the funk! I gotta have that funk!

Favorite Tracks: Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker); Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples; Unfunky UFO

#98: The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Emily: Even though I had never listened to the Velvet Underground before today, I had one connection set in my head about the band, and that connection was to Andy Warhol. I didn’t know the music, but I knew the banana. Perhaps one of Warhol’s best-known works, the original cover of Velvet Underground & Nico features a banana stylized with the faces of the band. It’s no ordinary drawing, however. This picture peels away to reveal, what else, but a naked banana. I’m sure it wasn’t meant this way, but this cover art reflects how I listened to this album. Not knowing what to expect, I approached this album with an open mind. I enjoyed the first few tracks but didn’t really delve too much into their meaning. However, as I progressed through the album, I became a much more active listener – as if a layer were peeling away. Although clearly I couldn’t detect every nuance of the music and every detail of the lyrics, the meaning and emotion was there for me. Unlike a banana, however, I’m sure there are more layers that I haven’t discovered to the Velvet Underground – and I look forward to exploring them.

Favorite Tracks: I’m Waiting for the Man; Femme Fatale; Heroin

Zack: According to Wikipedia, The Velvet Underground invented edgy music. While I have my doubts as to the truthiness (shout-out to Colbert, of course) of that statement, an emotion accompanied by my surprise that Microsoft Word didn’t even flinch at my use of the word “truthiness,” I can see where they would get that idea. Even just a cursory listen of this album creates the impression that there was some darkness in them there lyrics. Sometimes, it’s a line about making someone kiss your leather boots that sticks out. Other times, it’s the repeated references to heroin in a song arranged to mimic the mind of a speed junkie in a song titled with levels of subtlety comparable to that of Perez Hilton (hint: the song title begins with the letter “H” and ends with “eroin”). That song, mind you, is absolutely superb. The way it accelerates to simulate the rush of injection and then decelerates as if that fix is wearing off is sheer brilliance. While I would definitely point to Heroine as the high point of the album (pun definitely intended) there is no low point to speak of. Every song, whether sung by Nico or Lou Reed, is a beautiful composition. Even Sunday Morning, a song specifically written to be a radio-friendly single, is surprisingly good, despite the contrast with the rest of the harsher, more experimental tracks. The Velvet Underground & Nico is often pointed to as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time, and one that every single person should definitely listen to before they kick the bucket.
Favorite Tracks: Heroin; Venus is Furs; European Son

#97: The Strokes - Is This It (2001)

Zack: A brief history of garage rock for those of you unfamiliar: it is the predecessor to punk and thrived in the 60s, then kind of fell of the map for a while until there was a revival at the start of the new millennium. It was led by what came to be known as the The Bands: The White Stripes, The Hives, The Vines, and The Strokes. As you can see, The Strokes fall into some pretty awesome company. I mean, one of those bands is Australian! How much more badass can you get? But while I do enjoy The Strokes, I’ve always been a way bigger White Stripes fan. I mean, the White Stripes have 3 fewer members, but have produced a total of 6 studio albums compared to The Strokes’ 4. They also have 6 more Grammys than The Strokes, 1 more US Platinum album, and 1 more album on the list. Work the math out and the fact that The White Stripes are better is undeniable. Also, I think that formula proves that the world is going to end on October 21^st, but that’s something different entirely. But comparing these two great bands isn’t exactly fair. The White Stripes sound is defined by Jack White’s brilliant guitar playing and an overall brashness, while The Strokes are more about melodies and creating a cohesive sound. In this way, The Strokes are a tad more accessible to newer listeners. That being said, if you are going to compare them, then you have to acknowledge that Is This It is The Strokes' Elephant equivalent. It’s strong from start to finish, albeit a little repetitive. It has that natural, no fancy post-production shenanigans, feel to it. If you want to know what The Strokes are all about (maybe you’ve been frozen for the past decade or something) then this is the perfect first stop.

Favorite Tracks: Last Nite; Soma; Someday

Emily: Garage rock made its mark in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but no one really cared again until the Strokes brought it back. Is This It brings the garage rock sound into the 21^st century. This album is straightforward, but never boring. Although their home-garage is based in New York, The Strokes have a cool, Brit-like sensibility, which perhaps explains their popularity across the pond. At once, they sound both retro and modern, both familiar and like something you’ve never heard before. As the Strokes stage a comeback 10 years after their landmark debut, I can only hope that their future work can embody the same sense of independence, uniqueness, and cool that Is This It conveys.

Favorite Tracks: Last Nite; The Modern Age; Someday

#96: Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974)

Emily: With a mix of covers, new arrangements, and original songs, Eric Clapton shows off a range of bluesy goodness on 461 Ocean Boulevard. Although critical reception for the album is mixed and its merits have been debated over time, it is Clapton through and through, and I enjoyed it upon my first listen. Original, blues-infused tracks like Let It Grow show creativity, while unique covers (Bob Marley, anyone?) show depth and diversity. On every track, however, Clapton puts his guitar-playing prowess at the forefront. Whether it’s rock, blues, or a combination of the two, a Clapton guitar solo is always a classic.

Favorite Tracks: Let It Grow; I Shot the Sherriff; Motherless Children

Zack: The task of deciding which albums to include so as to adequately represent the musical achievements of Eric P. Clapton is one that I certainly do not envy. He is a certified guitar god, a multi-genre genius, and a virtuoso of his craft. He churns out must-have albums like it’s his job (which I guess it sort of is). An album would have to be a perfect microcosm of his works to make the cut. It would have to blend blues and hard rock together into that signature Clapton sound. It would have to feature at least one of his more famous singles: Cocaine or maybe, hmmm, I don’t know, I Shot the Sheriff possibly. It would have to ooze “Slowhand” from every pore. Enter 461 Ocean Boulevard, which is practically just a long list of check marks for what a Clapton album should be. Sure, it may not be as dynamic as some of his other works, but that just helps to show off the bluesier side of his guitar even more. From start to finish, this album was a pure example of Clapton’s brilliance and a great first step for anyone looking to explore Slowhand’s vast discography.

Favorite Tracks: Let it Grow; I Shot the Sheriff; I Can’t Hold Out

#95: Belle & Sebastian - Tigermilk (1996)

Emily: Belle and Sebastian are darlings of the indie music community, and from this album alone that distinction is rightfully theirs. Tigermilk is smart, thoughtful, and thoroughly enjoyable – no small feat for any band, but especially so for a small-scale debut. The arrangements are simple and the vocals are soft, which create a subdued tone. All of this softness and light does not make for a boring listen, however. There is uniqueness in Belle and Sebastian’s simplicity. A variety of tempos, instruments, and lyrical content set the band apart from legions of cardigan-and-glasses-wearing imitators. Not that I have a problem with glasses and cardigans, of course.

Favorite Tracks: Expectations; We Rule the School; The State I Am In

Zack: I have to question both the flavor and nutritional value of Tigermilk, but I don’t need to question its awesomeness. This album had a pleasant and relaxing sound that can help alleviate even the most hectic day. It’s not quite indie pop, but not really indie rock either. Tigermilk is really just quintessentially indie, in a more generic sense. Kudos to Belle & Sebastian for making such an exemplary album, and I look forward to a similar experience with the next one.

Favorite Tracks: The State I Am In; I Could Be Dreaming; My Wandering Days Are Over