Sunday, April 27, 2014

360. Rocks

Rocks
Aerosmith
1976














Tracks
1. Back in the Saddle 
2. Last Child 
3. Rats in the Cellar 
4. Combination 
5. Sick as a Dog 
6. Nobody's Fault 
7. Get the Lead Out 
8. Lick and a Promise 
9. Home Tonight


This is Aerosmith's second chance to wow us.  The first time I was impressed by how catchy all the songs were but the lyrics left a bit to be desired.  This time, the songs were even less entertaining and there is even less meaning in the lyrics.

"Back in the Saddle" is about...what you would expect and is treated with as much delicacy and beauty as the movie American Pie treated women.  I am not saying that we have have to treat it with Victorian delicacy, but I was definitely cringing throughout the song.

Then we hit all the other points of general debauchery and overall, it is just quite boring.  I have heard that Aerosmith just gets worse and worse, but I was hoping we could put it off, at least for a little while.

RATING: 2/5

Sunday, April 13, 2014

359. Joan Armatrading

Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
1976














Tracks
1. Down To Zero
2. Help Yourself
3. Water With The Wine
4. Love And Affection
5. Save Me
6. Join The Boys
7. People
8. Somebody Who Loves You
9. Like Fire
10. Tall In The Saddle


As soon as I started listening to this album, I was smiling.  This is a really fantastic album and it is a shame that more people haven't heard of her.

I am going to make this review nice and short, since my stress level is starting to reach an alarming height.  

Upon the release of this album, it was said that "we now have a black artist in Britain with the same sort of vocal range, originality (in fact even greater originality in terms of musical influences) and lyrical sensitivity as Joni Mitchell".  It is exciting to listen to a black female artist (have we had one since Sarah Vaughn?) and even more exciting to hear her compared to one of my favorite female artists.

"Down to Zero" is, of course, a great track but I was really intrigued with "Water With The Wine".  It is extremely catchy, albeit a bit alarming.  Everything was consensual...right?

Just a beautiful album that deserves its place in our list and our hearts (groan, I hate that I wrote that!).

RATING: 5/5