Day 49 - Blackstreets back, ok? No!

Blackstreet - Blackstreet
I feel like bashing my head on the desk repeatedly. This album has started with one of those soft porn beats, synths, some bloke going on about sex and sounding like he's smoking a joint (which he probably is). It hasn't started well. It hasn't continued well either. This week is one of those weeks where I just can't find much to like in the music I am forcing myself to listen to - another album where I wish I hadn't made that promise to myself to listen to each one in its entirety and skip nothing. Utter tripe.
Standout Tracks: Having a laugh right..

Day 48 - Black Wednesday

Cilla Black - The Abbey Road Decade
Someone is having a laugh here surely. Cilla? I know she's one of our own but really ... one of the top 1000 albums of all time? Oh well, we'll give it a go, all 24 tracks! Well, I'm on track 3, and already want this pain to end - Cilla can belt it out for sure, and some of the musicianship in the background is good, but the songs are truly, truly awful. I guess you had to be there to appreciate it. Please, make it stop. Why did I ever agree to listen to every album in its entirety, when albums like this come along and I just want them to end? Back in an hour .... (Edit: Some time later ... she's still going ... only 1 more song after this. The suffering is nearly at an end)
Standout Tracks: None, all crap.

Black Uhuru - Red
Wonderful, more reggae. Reggae seems to be featuring quite prominently on this list of 1000 albums, but maybe that's just my perception as I don't enjoy it very much. This album seems to be all at one pace, like their metronome got stuck on 70bpm and never moved. One thing I do like is it's written in a very minor key, so the music is a little darker than your average reggae album, and it's loaded with almost jazz like chord progressions, but like most reggae the constant skanking and Jamaican vocals really do start to grate on my nerves after a while. For reggae, it's quite good, for me, it's dull.
Standout Tracks: Rockstone, Carbine

Day 47 - A fine debut

Bjork - Debut
When I first met my wife this was one of the CDs that she had on her CD shelf. I didnt take much notice as at that stage I wasn't really in a place to appreciate any music other than rock and metal. Things are different these days, and the oddity of Bjork is something that appeals a to me a little more now. This is a really interesting album, I know its pop music (which I ordinarily hate) but its very creative, and Bjork herself weaves an odd path through familiar chord progressions. Wierd, truly, but cool and inventive.
Standout Tracks: Human Behaviour

Day 46 - Meh! Meh! Meh!

Big Youth - Screaming Target
I was expecting reggae when reading the description of this album, and sure enough reggae is provided. Much Jamaican accented wailing, skanking, and deep bass lines grooving their way through each track. The record is not bad, but reggae is not my thing, as I have probably stated before. It has a certain purity to it though, a feeling that the music is not commercial, nor written for a large audience, but is a genuine outpouring of the songwriters feelings and experiences. Vaguely enjoyable, as many of the tracks are of the laid back, Malibu drinking type, rather than the upbeat protest and political stuff that reggae sometimes churns out. I don't particularly like it, but I do respect it.
Standout Tracks: They all sound pretty much the same, nothing standing out.

The Birthday Party - Prayers on Fire
Weird shizzle. This album has to be listened to in order to appreciate how odd it is. It's always interesting I will grant you that. It's creepy in places, but always inventive, and Nick Cave (who I am familiar with) has that haunting vocal style that demands to be listened to. Dissonance plays a big part in this album, but unlike other tunes that dissonance never quite resolves itself, leaving you on edge throughout the album (Resolve! Resolve, dammit!). It's not bad, it's just plain weird. On a completely side note, the production is either terrible on this album, or Google Play has a particularly bad version!
Standout Tracks: Ho Ho, Yard (for pure oddness)

Day 45: One of those "save meee!" moments

Betty Boo - Boomania
The name is familiar, and the music is vaguely familiar, I guess she was all over the radio back in the day when I was at University - but I can guarantee to you that I would have turned off said radio as soon as this rubbish came on. Betty Boo is from London but likes to rap like she is from New York, loads of synths stab away in the background while she drones on and on. This really is not my thing, but I'll push on like a true soldier and try to find at least one track that stands out above the rest of this mediocre pop rubbish. Absolute drivel, the standout tracks only stand out because they are not as bad as all the others. Different tastes I guess. There's a couple of remixes at the end of the record .. don't mind if I give those a miss do you?
Standout Tracks: Valentines Day was vaguely ok.. Don't Know What to Do.

Big Brother and the Holding Company - Cheap Thrills
I should take these albums in isolation, but I have to say after the last load of tripe (Betty Boo) this is a breath of 60s infused fresh air. Funky blues, rasping Joplin, and just a little bit on the unhinged side. It's incredible how abrasive Janis Joplin's voice is, yet still remains great to listen to - and the guitars that complement her are in the style of that warm 60s fuzz/twang combination, the solos in Summertime being a wonderful example. Some tracks are akin to rock and roll, some are more traditional blues, with a little jazz thrown in there on occasion. A splendid mixture of cool 60s style.
Standout Tracks: I need a man to Love, Summertime, Turtle Blues, and of course Piece of my Heart

Big Star - Radio City
Well, it's nice. Hard to classify, as it's not quite rock - perhaps soft rock would be appropriate. Melodic and laden with jangling guitars and major chords, the record has plenty of melody and tune but is not doing anything for me at all. It's nice enough, but that's just it, perhaps too nice and cute. There are moments on the album that are very good, but the whole thing is just ... well, in the words of my ranking system on these albums ... meh! Wikipedia describes them as "power pop" which I suppose is an apt description, with the addition of jangling guitars (not a sound I particularly enjoy - think "The Byrds"). Overall, a disappointing experience given the accolades poured onto this band.
Standout Tracks: You get what you deserve, Morpha Too, I'm in love with a girl

Day 44: Reelin' and Rockin' beach cocktails

Jorge Ben - Samba Esquema Novo
Never heard of this guy, nor his album, but remarkably when the first song hit I immediately knew it. It's the brilliant Mas, Que Nada! used in World Cup football adverts for years, and it's wonderful! Hopefully the rest of the album follows suit. And it does! This record is just lots of samba goodness, everything you imagine great about Brazil and it's people and music. Just a joy to listen to! So nice, I listened to it twice, it swings beautifully from start to finish, conjuring up images of beach walks and cocktails along the way. Brilliant.
Standout Tracks: Mas, Que Nada!, Chove Chuva and to be honest, all the others too.

Chuck Berry - Reelin' And Rockin'
Alright, we all know he got his style from Marty McFly, but this is the first time I have listened to a Chuck Berry album, not being a fan of that old school 50s rock thing. Johnny B Goode is the opening track, and one I know very well indeed. The rest of the tracks are a variation on a theme, as Berry borrows from his own riff frequently, but there are some other style tracks on there that stand out, Down Bound Train being a good example with its bluesy gospel feel (and something haunting about it). The rest is just typical rock'n'roll fayre, groundbreaking in its day, which I can respect, but not my listening matter of choice.
Standout Tracks: Johnny B Goode, You can't catch me, Down Bound Train.

The Beta Band - The Three EP's
Indie pop from the 90s. Reminds me (again, I think I have blogged this before!) of my room mate during my first year at Leicester University. He had the curtains and the indie record collection when all I was interested in was heavy metal. It's only later in life that I can go back to this music and appreciate it for what it is - trippy, indie guitar pop - a more spaced out Oasis or Radiohead. The Beta Band fall into that category of "quite good but there were a million bands doing it" back in the 90s. It's ok, but it isn't setting my world on fire, rather making it swirl in a field full of daisies and buttercups and twirling women in long skirts and ... well, you get the idea.
Standout Tracks: B+A, Inner Meet Me, The House Song, Monolith

Day 43 - That's all folk

Bellowhead - Burlesque
This is really very good indeed. It's folk music, jazzy in places, but excellent musicianship and a style that reminds me a lot of a country singer I listened to a lot when I was younger called Don Francisco. Lots of energy and passion here. This sort of album is what makes this (very lengthy!) journey worthwhile, every now and again I discover something that I would never have listened to ordinarily, but that I really find enjoyable. The album is rooted in folk, but with a little imagination doesn't become one long fairytale folk song after another. Plus it gets a little wierd around Flash Company, which I rather liked for its quirkiness.
Standout Tracks: Jordan, Across the Line, Flash Company (for the pure wierdness!), Fire Marengo

Day 42 - Remembering halcyon days

The Beat - I Just can't stop it
Reminds me of the halcyon days of my youth without a care in the world. Not that I listened to this sort of music when I was eight, but it has that early 80s ska, reggae, bags of energy feel to it. I can't help feeling its nothing special, formulaic even, but that might be my reggae prejudices coming out. It's lively enough, and not bad, but just a little uninteresting. Plus, it has all the overproduced problems that a lot of music has - it's not raw enough, everything is perfectly produced; if there is supposed to be an edge to this music, it's lost in the compression effect unit somewhere. Overall, not bad, but not one I would return to in a hurry. Oh and this particular "deluxe" version has five remixes of the same track on it ... don't mind if I skip a couple do you?
Standout Tracks: Twist and Crawl, Rough Rider, Can't Get used to losing you

Sidney Bechet - Shake 'em up
Must say, for such an old recording (c. 1938-1947) the production quality of this album is excellent. Classic dixie jazz tracks, bluesy and interesting, and played superbly, evoking images of dance halls, flowing skirts and uniformed men milling around. It's just great, so cheerful and uplifting. Bechet's clarinet playing is exquisite and fits the mood perfectly (and loved by Coltrane the rumour goes).

Standout Tracks: All of them!

Beck - Mellow Gold
I remember Beck (vaguely) from my University days, particularly the opening track "Loser", which is an infectious, guitar tinged hip hop thing, great stuff. Lots of guitar on this album. On reflection, I think I saw Beck play live once at a festival, and I have a dim memory of him being quite good. The album is a head bobbing pleasant listen, with enough things going (weird arrangements, different instruments) to make it interesting to listen to. There are elements of psychedelia, in the mode of Syd Barrett, which is a good thing - gives the album an airy feel, but with a darker undercurrent that I keep catching snatches of. All in all, a top effort, enjoyed it, a nice blend of hip hop, country, and psychedelia.
Standout Tracks: Loser, Beercan, Steal my body home (purely for the sitar!). Mutherfu*er

Belle and Sebastian - If you're feeling sinister
Fairly inoffensive 1960s throwback folk, pleasant enough to listen to. The songs are expertly crafted, if a little cliché, and I can't help but wonder whether this style of electric/acoustic folk hasn't been done before, only better. That's not to say its a bad album, not at all, but it nods a little too much in a certain direction without seeming to have it's own definition. The songwriting is great, all are well crafted, and one of them is playing a sweet sounding stratocaster (or similar single coil affair) that lilts through the album. I can imagine this stuff going down well at festivals, and you can see where bands like Mumford and Sons came from - take this style of music and remove the electric instruments, and there you go. Not bad, but not enough going on to keep me interested. I did enjoy the spiritual struggles in the title track in particular though, lyrically very good indeed (as, to be fair, is most of the album).
Standout Tracks: Me and the Major, If you're feeling sinister

Day 41 - All around the world and back

King Sunny Ade - Juju Music
I was sort of anticipating what this album would be all about, and it has matched up to expectation. There is a certain funky element to it, that stands out really well against the superb percussion playing - and unexpected guitar playing. There's a real depth to the music here, and traditional sounding African percussion and beats are married up with synth and guitar sounds very well. An enjoyable album, the vocals are easy on the ear, but there is certainly enough going on to keep you interested. It's quite uplifting - something I need today. Incidentally, Juju is a word that describes West African witchcraft - or more specifically objects associated with witchcraft, which is interesting.
Standout Tracks: Eje Nlo Bga Ara Mi, Sunny Ti de Ariya

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
Used to own a copy of this a long time ago, before I really understood psychedelia (and developed a passion for Pink Floyd). As a result I rarely listened to it, so its nice to go back now and have a look. It's quirky, wierd, full of imagination, and quite excellent! Songs disappear of in directions that you don't expect, and (sometimes) get brought back again. There are similarities to Roger Waters influenced Pink Floyd tunes (obviously), and listening to this it's easy to imagine that Floyd would have continued down this road had Barrett remained with them, instead of the Gilmour influence taking over. All in all, an eccentric but fun album to listen to (despite the utterly meaningless lyrics and random chord progressions).
Standout Tracks: Terrapin, Octopus, Long Gone

Basquiat Strings - with Seb Rochford
Wierd combination of classical stringed instruments, drums and upright bass. Dissonance and discord abound, in the jazz tradition, tension without resolution in many cases. In places it is quite epic, the soundscape created by the group wide and gorgeous - in other places it is frantic, chaotic, and drives your brain mad (in a good way). Reminds me of a stringified version of the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (also worth a listen if you have time!). In the end, the groove carries the album through, I can imagine the strings alone would get jarring after a while, but the album works and is an enjoyable listen.
Standout Tracks: Lonely Woman, Junk

The Beach Boys - Today
I'll admit to it, been dreading this one. The Beach Boys are one of my least favourite bands, but I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised, if this album isn't full of all the cliches that I dislike about the band. The sad problem is, it is full of everything I dislike about the Beach Boys. Cheesy 12 bar arrangements with saxophones, those oh so Beach Boys harmonies, and songs about surfing and girls. Just really dull dreary stuff, that I imagine makes someone smile but not me. It's one of those few albums where I just spend each song wishing it would end, and I started with a relatively open mind! Sorry Beach Boys fans, this just isn't good, not good at all. It's saving grace is that hardly any of the tunes are more than 2 1/2 minutes long.
Standout Tracks: Didn't like any of them

Day 40 - Bad Plus Good

The Bad Plus - Give
I've had to listen to this one twice, as I lost my first review in a laptop switch (although my cool spreadsheet has a "love!" in the like/love/loathe/meh column!). Ah yes, it's ringing bells now. Laid back funky jazz with just a piano, drummer, and upright bass to keep things moving. It's jazzy in places, but in other places it's pretty epic piano playing over the top of a grooving bassline and drum pattern. Imagine some Rachmaninov thrown over the top of some 70s Miles Davis jazz funk and you get the idea. It's wierd, but cool, and different enough to make it stand out from the crowd. I like it, even includes a wierd concerto style interpretation of Black Sabbath's Iron Man as the last track. Bravo sirs!
Standout tracks: Iron Man

Gato Barbieri - Last Tango in Paris OST
One of a series of film soundtracks I have listened to, this one perhaps more orchestral in places than previous ones. Suitable tension, with dark undercurrents, that give way to a little 60s style groove on occasion. It's not the most unpleasant album in the world, but some of the organ noodling (that sounds wrong..) starts to do your head in after a while - keyboard jazz is not really my thing. That aside though, there is some rather cool and grooving latin style jazz on this record that rescues it from the turgid organ sounds. Parts of the soundtrack are eerily familiar, even though I have never seen the film (watched Last Tango in Halifax though, I imagine it's similar...), I suspect the music has been reused in adverts, or other such trite ways. Overall, the jazz bits are great, the orchestral bits not so much, it's sultry and sexy and pretty good.

Standout Tracks: Last Tango in Paris (Jazz).... both of them