177. Bitches Brew

Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
1970

Tracks
1. Pharaoh's Dance
2. Bitches Brew
3. Spanish Key
4. John McLaughlin
5. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
6. Sanctuary


Real classy title, Davis.  It made me fall in love with this album from the start!!!


Seriously, though, this was torture.  The tracks are SO LONG!!  The first one is about twenty minutes and the next one is twenty seven minutes.  I don't know how long the others ones are because I haven't listened to them yet.  Don't worry, non existent readers who never comment >:<, I am finishing it right now but I just got so bored!!  First of all, I am not a jazz fan to begin with so I knew this would not be very pleasant.  Couple that with really repetitive tracks that all blur together and you know I am hooked.  Yikes.  Maybe I hated it even more because it is Wednesday.  I could never get the hang of Wednesdays.

RATING: 0/5

176. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek and the Dominos
1970

Tracks
1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues 
3. Keep on Growing 
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyday 
7. Key to the Highway 
8. Tell the Truth 
9. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? 
10. Have You Ever Loved a Woman? 
11. Little Wing 
12. It's Too Late 
13. Layla 
14. Thorn Tree in the Garden


So yesterday I was in a deep lethargic state and today I slept in until 11:15.  The feeling is beginning to set in again (it is 4:38 pm after all) so I am going to be short and sweet again so I can completely veg out.


Derek and the Dominos was a rock band formed by Eric Clapton (a familiar face!).  Clapton was in love with George Harrison's wife and "Layla" was a song inspired by his unrequited love.  So romantic!!!  Sorry, my girlishness is showing.  Anyway, it was a pretty good album, which was unexpected because I had never heard of this band in my life.  It was some nice blues rock for a soon to be lazy afternoon.  


RATING: 3/5

175. Cosmo's Factory

Cosmo's Factory
The Creedence Clearwater Revival
1970

Tracks
1. Ramble Tamble
2. Before You Accuse Me
3. Travelin' Band
4. Ooby Dooby
5. Lookin' Out My Back Door
6. Run Through the Jungle 
7. Up Around the Bend 
8. My Baby Left Me 
9. Who'll Stop the Rain 
10. I Heard It Through the Grapevine 
11. Long as I Can See the Light


We are starting the 70s!!!  To be honest, I am a bit scared.  Wasn't this the era of disco?  Yikes. By the way, thanks for leaving such great comments on my awards post.  I love the controversy you guys invoked!  Jerks.


Anyway, I really like The Creedence Clearwater Revival.  I never remember, though, until I listen to one of their albums.  They have a really folksy, Americana vibe that I get really into.  This is odd, because I hated Easy Rider.  I think the highlight in this album is definitely "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".  They really make the song their own and I actually prefer it to Marvin Gaye's.  Great way to start the 70s!

RATING: 4/5

1001 Sixties Awards

Good evening, ladies and germanies,


I am officially done with the sixties.  Before I started this journey, my mind would immediately turn to the sixties when I thought of a great era of music.  Of course, I didn't realize how little I actually knew and how much true beauty can be in a simple album.  I didn't know who Frank Zappa or the Creedence Clearwater Revival was and I couldn't relate to anyone who worshiped Jimi Hendrix.  I didn't know just how much music would evolve from Joan Baez and I thought Motown was a band.  In short, I was missing out on a lot of beauty, poetry, and truth.  I am going to pick out my favorite/least favorite bands or singers from this wonderful era.  Please comment (I don't mind an argument) and make up your own categories if you want.  Have fun!


BEST ALBUM: Chelsea Girl (you thought I would pick the Beatles, didn't you)

WORST ALBUM: Trout Mask Replica

BEST FEMALE SINGER: Nico


WORST FEMALE SINGER: Janice Joplin


BEST MALE SINGER: Nike Drake


WORST MALE SINGER: Frank Zappa


BEST SONG: "These Days" by Nico


BEST SONG WRITING: Alexander Spence


BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Tommy by The Who

174. Hot Rats

Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
1969

Tracks
1. Peaches En Regalia
2. Willie The Pimp
3. Son Of Mr Green Genes
4. Little Umbrellas
5. Gumbo Variations
6. It Must Be A Camel


WE ARE DONE WITH THE SIXTIES!

Okay, so I am having a phenomenal day.  The kind of day that I will remember.  It even inspired me to have a spontaneous dance party during the album.  Seriously.  That was something that no one wants to see, ever.  Look at me; getting along with Frank Zappa.  It is like if Joan Crawford and Bette Davis made up and were happy for each other's career.


I need to settle myself down to write this review though I can't stop smiling.  Frank Zappa realized that he sucked and decided to go in a different direction with jazz.  And you know what?  It was awesome.  You don't even have to hear his voice!


Now, I know that my review may be slightly colored by the amazing mood I am in.  But isn't that what music is all about?  I like the idea that I am putting a little bit of myself into each listen and later I can go back to an ordinary album and remember different parts of my life.  So I will remember this album as being the best damn album there is!

RATING: 5/5

173. Oar

Oar
Alexander "Skip" Spence
1969

Tracks
1. Little Hands
2. Cripple Creek
3. Diana 
4. Margaret-Tiger Rug
5. Weighted Down (The Prison Song)
6. War In Peace
7. Broken Heart
8. All Come To Meet Her
9. Books Of Moses
10. Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin For Yang)
11. Lawrence Of Euphoria
12. Grey/Afro


So it is Valentine's Day.  Instead of being off somewhere with a sweetheart, I am in my pajamas listening to songs by a crazy person.  Literally, he was insane.  He broke into the motel room of his fellow Moby Grape members with an ax (real "here's Johnny" kind of stuff) and was institutionalized.  He wrote this album during his...um...rest.  At least my friend brought me flowers and chocolate is in my future.  Sigh...


Anyway, I am sure you have heard enough depressed Valentine ramblings already so let's get to my date tonight, Alexander Spence (more pronounced sigh).  I loved it.  I don't know what that says about me.  By Darwin, I am becoming quite the cat lady.  The lyrics were slightly incoherent but still profound at parts.  Read this:

A broken heart would be lovely

Broken on the ground

A knife stuck in the ribs of me

Would be better be found

Hanging tree blowing gently

A noose would be ignored

Then to stand upon the receiving end

Of the right hand of the Lord

So you see?  A bit crazy but poetic.

RATING: 5/5

My favorite:

172. The Stooges

The Stooges
The Stooges
1969

Tracks
1. 1969
2. I Wanna Be Your Dog
3. We Will Fall
4. No Fun
5. Real Cool Time
6. Ann 
7. Not Right 
8. Little Doll


I gave all my blogs a makeover; I hope you enjoy it!  Also, check out the new label section to see the albums sorted by star rating, year, and genre.  I actually got a request by a reader to do that (honestly, I am not pathetically making that up!).


So, the Stooges!  Don't worry, I am not going to make any lame three Stooges jokes.  I really hate those guys.  Actually, I not only really hate them but I bet I would dislike their fans as well.  If you are reading this and are of fan of the three Stooges, please comment and we can sort out this dispute.


I am really having trouble getting to the point today.  This is another early punk album, very much like MC5.  I was prepared to write a rave, but then I listened to "We Will Fall".  I would have rather watched an episode of The Three Stooges.  The track was a ten minute long "song" that sounded like a druggy death march.  I watched a horrible, Czechoslovakian movie yesterday (I really have no life) called Alice that also played out like a bad acid trip and I am really sick of that kind of stupor being called art.


Anyway, the rest of the album was enjoyable, but I still must deduct a star for bad behavior.

RATING: 3/5

171. Scott 4

Scott 4
Scott Walker
1969

Tracks
1. Seventh Seal
2. On Your Own Again
3. World's Strongest Man
4. Angels Of Ashes
5. Boy Child
6. Hero Of The War
7. Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo Stalinist Regime)
8. Duchess
9. Get Behind Me
10. Rhymes Of Goodbye


I just realized how close we are to the end of the sixties.  I am really excited to start the seventies, mostly because I can barely name five artists from that decade.  I feel like this project keeps transforming itself into different, fun things.  I am pumped for the next phase!


So Scott is back from album 130 and has definitely improved.  I really liked his last album but this was just phenomenal.  It is a curious mix of sadness and celebration; I have rarely heard anything like it.  Scott Walker is a very talented singer and guitarist. After this album, Walker considered himself a failed musician and stopped writing songs.  Why did he have to stop while Frank Zappa keeps pumping out albums??  Life is so unfair.

RATING: 5/5

170. Liege & Lief

Liege & Lief
Fairport Convention
1969

Tracks
1. Come All Ye
2. Reynardine
3. Matty Groves
4. Farewell Farewell
5. Deserter
6. Medley
7. Tam Lin
8. Crazy Man Michael


We have officially made the change!  I transferred the blog to my account and Brie will no longer contribute.  Sad, but I don't want her to do it if she doesn't have fun with it.  Hopefully, she will comment and my reviews can be as insightful as her's were.  I am going to try to liven things up on this blog, though, because my opinions on music are...um...well, let's just say I still can't stop listening to "Countdown".


Anyway, I listened to this album when my sister was visiting and she absolutely hated it.  In her words: "I just hate it...um...I just hate folk.  Sorry."  I think this is pretty concise reasoning, but for those of you don't, I suppose I must elaborate.  This album is the folksiest album I have ever heard in my life.  This may be a good or bad thing depending on your tastes.  I am not a big folk person but some of the songs I could see dancing to in a town square in Europe.  Anyone know what I mean by that?  Anyone?


 RATING: 3/5


Best song in album:

157. Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
1969

Tracks
1. Whole Lotta Love
2. What Is And What Should Never Be
3. Lemon Song 
4. Thank You 
5. Heartbreaker 
6. Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)
7. Ramble On
8. Moby Dick
9. Bring It On Home


Amanda: I actually expected this album to be a lot better than the previous Zeppelin but I thought they got worst.  They sounded more inconsistent and, for lack of a better word, messy.  They weren't singing, they were yelling and they weren't playing instruments, they were blaring them.  I got sick of them really easily.  Maybe it was because I had to listen to so many albums today but I really did not enjoy this.  Oh well, we will try again tomorrow.

RATING: 2/5

156. The Band

The Band
The Band
1969

Tracks
1. Across The Great Divide
2. Rag Mama Rag
3. Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
4. When You Awake
5. Up On Cripple Creek
6. Whispering Pines
7. Jemima Surrender
8. Rockin' Chair
9. Lookout Cleveland 
10. Jawbone
11. Unfaithful Servant
12. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)


Amanda: This is truly a great and fun album.  The kind that I just wanted to sit back in my chair and let soak in, which is rare for me.  I looked back at my review of the previous Band album and it seems I was impressed by I didn't rush to iTunes like I did with this one.  The songs are fun and bluesy, with a wee bit of country in there.  The voices were great and I was relieved that every song was mostly lyrics; I was getting sick of the purely instrumentals tracks I have been listening to lately.  Lots of fun, especially "Up On Cripple Creek".


RATING: 5/5

169. Songs From a Room

Songs From a Room
Leonard Cohen
1969

Tracks
1. Bird On The Wire
2. Story Of Isaac
3. Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes
4. The Partisan
5. Seems So Long Ago, Nancy
6. Old Revolution
7. Butcher
8. You Know Who I Am
9. Lady Midnight
10. Tonight Will Be Fine


Fun fact about Leonard Cohen time!  One of my heroes in life is Roger Ebert, the best film critic of all time.  When he was leaving the hospital after a surgery on his throat, he paused to listen to a Leonard Cohen song before pulling out.  When he was listening to it, I think an artery broke and he began spurting blood everywhere.  Thankfully, he was still in the hospital parking lot and not in the middle of traffic.  Moral of the story: Leonard Cohen saves lives.


Anyway, I hated this album.  It is not hard to hate it, it is really depressing.  Like ruin your day kind of depressing.  Now, I think this works sometimes in entertainment (tragic romances are the best) but not with an album.  I knew nothing about this guy's life or romances so I really didn't care.  I just didn't want to listen to him whine and bring me down.  It is a Wednesday night and I have been working a lot lately.  Quit making it worse, Dustin Hoffman's doppelganger!

RATING: 2/5