91. Velvet Underground and Nico

Velvet Underground
Velvet Underground and Nico
1967

Tracks
1. Sunday Morning
2. I'm Waiting For The Man
3. Femme Fatale
4. Venus In Furs
5. Run Run Run
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Heroin
8. There She Goes Again
9. I'll Be Your Mirror
10. Black Angel's Death Song
11. European Son


Amanda: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!


At least, it is for me.  Brie will probably put this up later and it will be November.  Which practically makes me a time traveler by the way.


I was trying desperately to fit this album into a Halloween theme.  I got nothing, though it is pretty dark.  It actually discusses drugs really candidly which got it banned off a few radio stations and ignored by others.  In fact, people pretty much hated it when it came out, but now it is called one of the most influential albums of all time.  Brie said I would hate it.  I liked it but didn't love it.  Nico has an amazing voice but she rarely sings in this album.  The main singer did have an interesting voice.  I thought a lot of the songs sounded too similar.  Loved "All Tomorrow's Parties."


RATING: 4/5


Brie saw someone dressed like Buddy Holly today.

Brie: This is my favorite album we have reviewed since Blonde On Blonde. I've actually been a fan of the Velvet Underground for a while now. Not one track on this album can be singled out. They are all so amazing and special in their own way; they are all worth listening to. The album was recorded in New York in an eight hour session that cost $2000. It was produced by Andy Warhol, so I love it even more for that. I have never heard another album quite like this.

Listen to John Cale's viola on "Venus In Furs"! Love it. If I had to pick out a few favorites, they would be "Femme Fatale", and "All Tomorrow's Parties" (which was also Andy Warhol's favorite by the Velvets). By the way, the Velvet Underground is probably the coolest band name I have ever heard.

As Amanda said, Lou Reed's lyrics about sex and drugs are in pretty plain terms, which got the album banned on radio stations. This album, and the Velvet Underground in general, have influenced too many new age, punk and alternative bands to count.

Side note: I am in love with Lou Reed, and our love has endured his recent collaboration with Metallica. Ugh, that was tragic. I still love you, Lou.

RATING: 5/5

90. The Who Sell Out

The Who Sell Out
The Who
1967

Tracks
1. Armenia City In The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo/Radio London
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See For Miles
8. I Can't Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael 1


Amanda: This is actually one of the rare "funny" albums on the list.  The Who recreate a radio program, complete with random jingles and songs.  I really like themed albums (who doesn't?).  We listened to My Generation a little while ago, and I thought that it was fantastic.  However, this album brings something new to the table.  I think this idea for an album is a great concept but easy to get hung up on.  However, The Who pulls it off nicely.  "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand" is worth listening to, even if you don't want to commit to the entire album.  Lovely job, boys.

RATING: 4/5

Brie: I think The Who is one of my favorite groups we have reviewed so far. The Who Sell Out is a jab at consumerism and advertising. The whole album was basically a piece of pop art (which I love). The songs are just incredible. I can only imagine being alive in 1967 and hearing this album for the first time. The Who were on a whole different level than anyone else at the time. Except maybe Pink Floyd. You should listen to the whole album, but the highlights for me were "Tattoo", "Our Love Was", "I Can See For Miles", and "Sunrise". Pete Townshend wrote most of the songs on the album, and the ones he did not write were of poor quality. Well, they were okay but paled in comparison to Townshend's masterpieces.

RATING: 4/5

89. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Pink Floyd
1967

Tracks
1. Astronomy Domine
2. Lucifer Sam
3. Matilda Mother
4. Flaming
5. Pow R Toc H
6. Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk
7. Interstellar Overdrive
8. Gnome
9. Chapter 24
10. Scarecrow
11. Bike


Amanda: Although I do enjoy discovering new bands and artists, I love listening to the classics.  I have always seen Pink Floyd shirts and have heard references to their music (American Beauty, anyone?).  Before today, I couldn't name one of their songs.  Embarrassing!


Anyway, I hated it.  This was disappointing.  I am just so sick of acid rock, and I feel like they didn't do anything original.  Oh well.  I always have liked the people who like this music.  I will have to find other things in common with Kevin Spacey.

RATING: 2/5

  Brie: Pink Floyd are like the London version of the Grateful Dead. I like The Piper at the Gates of Dawn much better than any other psychedelic music we have listened to so far. When this album came out in 1967, it was like nothing else on the music scene at the time. Overall, I liked the album, but some of the songs (like "Interstellar Overdrive") could get redundant. Sorry about that, I know everyone says "Interstellar Overdrive" has amazing guitar playing or something, but I don't have enough knowledge in that area to make an intelligent statement about guitar technique.  My favorites were "Flaming" and "Pow R Toc H". Most of the time I am a fan of songs with lyrics, but I really preferred the instrumental tracks on this album.

I know there is this big 'thing' among Pink Floyd fans, or just music fans in general, about who the best leader of the band was. Syd Barrett, David Gilmore or Roger Waters. I don't have enough knowledge about or exposure to all three of them, so as we listen to more Pink Floyd, we can discuss the pros and cons of each further.

RATING: 3/5

88. Disraeli Gears

Disraeli Gears
Cream
1967


Tracks
1. Strange Brew
2. Sunshine Of Your Love
3. World Of Pain
4. Dance The Night Away
5. Blue Condition
6. Tales Of Brave Ulysses
7. Swlabr
8. We're Going Wrong
9. Outside Woman Blues
10. Take It Back
11. Mother's Lament




Amanda: I hate the name of this band.  Cream.  What does that even mean?  They probably thought this sounded so cool even though it means absolutely nothing.  A better question than wtf  does that mean? would probably be why I am getting so worked up about it?  That punctuation was all over the place. It has been a long week, ladies and germs.


I thought this album was kind of a yawn.  For acid rock, the songs were incredibly slow not to mention rather unoriginal.  Apparently, this album is pretty much the definition of psychedelic rock, but I have enjoyed plenty of albums of this genre a lot more.  Blah.


RATING: 3/5

Brie: This album is basically what I think of when psychedelic music is mentioned. I have to say, I am a fan of Eric Clapton's bluesy guitar. Our book says that it "opened the doors to many future musical genres". Yeah, yeah, whatever. That doesn't mean we have to like it. All of you Jimi Hendrix fans have Cream to thank. Hendrix was really inspired by their work. If you have never heard the song "Sunshine of Your Love", where have you been? Ginger Baker's singing on "Blue Condition" didn't do it for me. His voice was too monotone with no personality or unique qualities to it. I did, however, like "Tales of Brave Ulysses", as it is very poetic.

According to Wikipedia, "SWLABR" could mean 'she walks like a bearded rainbow', or 'she was like a bearded rainbow'.

So, for those of you psychedelic rock fans, I'm sure this album is a big deal for you, but it just isn't my preferred genre.

RATING: 3/5

87. Forever Changes

Forever Changes
Love
1967

Tracks
1. Alone Again Or
2. House Is Not A Motel
3. Andmoreagain
4. Daily Planet
5. Old Man
6. Red Telephone
7. Maybe The People Would Be The Times
8. Live And Let Live
9. Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This
10. Bummer In The Summer
11. You Set The Scene


Amanda: So apparently Love is going to be a thing in this book.  I figured it was going to one of the bands that we hear from once and then forget about.  I brought Love up with my brother when we were discussing music and he had never heard of them.


This album is a lot better than Da Capo.  I found the songs to be a lot more enjoyable.  I had finally gotten caught up with my iTunes with all the songs I have been adding but it looks like I need to start a new list.  I don't think I can live without "Alone Again Or" on my iPhone (not to be dramatic).  These guys really hit their stride.  Proud of you!


RATING: Four album units.

Brie: I have actually been exposed to Love before beginning this blog. I really liked them, but not enough to put them on my iPod, so I just forgot about them. I agree that they are a lot better than Da Capo. This album marked the time in Love's career when they were coming down after spiraling out of control with their drug use. Forever Changes failed to chart, and Love pretty much fell apart after the album was released.

Forever Changes was kind of acid rock with acoustic guitars and a symphony orchestra. The entire album was an experience; I don't recommend a single specific song to listen to.

RATING: 4/5