This Year's Model
Elvis Costello
1978
Tracks
1. No Action
2. This Year's Girl
3. Beat
4. Pump It Up
5. Little Triggers
6. You Belong To Me
7. Hand In Hand
8. I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea
9. Lip Service
10. Living In Paradise
11. Lipstick Vogue
12. Night Rally
I must confess, I wasn't overly impressed by The Only Ones and was hoping that the 400s would kick off on a higher note (that was a music pun for the people in the back). However, this album more than made up for the meh quality of our previous entry.
Elvis Costello is back, ladies and gentlemen. My frequent readers will recall that I absolutely loved My Aim is True. This managed to be even more impressive. While his previous album reminded me heavily of Buddy Holly, this sound was something entirely his own. I had this on while my sister was working and I kept exclaiming "No, wait! This one is my favorite." I think I might have deserved a punch to the face.
Is Costello punk? I am probably betraying my own ignorance with this question (although that ship might have sailed already). But this album had a really punk feel to it, just a tad more intelligent lyrics wise.
RATING: 5/5
The Only Ones
The Only Ones
1978
Tracks
1. Whole Of The Law
2. Another Girl Another Planet
3. Breaking Down
4. City Of Fun
5. Beast
6. Creature Of Doom
7. It's The Truth
8. Language Problem
9. No Peace For The Wicked
10. Immortal Story
400! I decided to squeeze two albums in today to make it to this milestone. I certainly will say again and again that I don't really know anything about music (I will also frequently have that shouted at me in the comments). However, I do love Lists, learning about new things, and complaining! Thank you everyone who has been reading and following along. I promise I won't stop until I have completed this project!
Okay, let's see. The Only Ones. This was quite an improvement from our last album, though, of course, that isn't saying much. It is quite a dark album, as the songs "Breaking Down" and "Beast" seem to hint at. However, it feels pretty upbeat. It actually reminded me of the Ramones, a band I completely adore.
Still, this was pretty average. None of the songs struck me as particularly catchy. In fact, I am trying to remember the melodies and I can't. So, in summary, a completely ordinary way to kick off the 400s.
RATING: 3/5
Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
1978
Tracks
1. Navvy
2. On The Surface
3. Dub Housing
4. Caligari's Mirror
5. Thriller!
6. I Will Wait
7. Drinkin' Wine Spodyody
8. Ubu Dance Party
9. Blow Daddy O
10. Codex
I started to play this album when my sister was in the room as she was getting ready to leave for the gym. Basically, she fled as quickly as possibly. So, you know, if you ever need motivation to go work out, I can chase you around with my laptop while playing one of these albums.
Before my sister ran from our apartment, she asked, "How can you understand what they are saying??" Well, truthfully, I couldn't. As my frequent readers are always hearing me whine about how I can't enjoy an album without getting into the lyrics, I will spare everyone the diatribe. Is the point of punk or even post punk to listen to the lyrics? Or is it to just understand the anger that is driving these musicians? I guess I get it now and am angry too. But mostly since this took thirty-five minutes of my life away.
This kind of just felt like a continuation of Pere Ubu's first album, Modern Dance, that I listened to a couple of weeks ago. There was no fresh feeling to this. My sister also said, "this isn't what music should be!" I suppose that is a rather heavy statement, but one that I am inclined to agree with after this album.
RATING: 2/5
Vento de Maio
Elis Regina
1978
Tracks
1. Vento De Maio
2. Sai Dessa
3. Tiro Ao Alvaro
4. So Deus E Quem Sabe
5. O Que Foi Feito Devera
6. Nova Estacao
7. Saudade Eterna
8. Outro Cais
9. Rebento
10. O Trem Azul
11. O Medo De Amar E O Medo De Ser Livre
12. Se Eu Quiser Falar Com Deus
13. Aprendendo a Jogar
I managed to squeeze this album in today while reading Dostoyevsky's The Devils. I was originally going to watch a movie, but I can't find the next one on my blog anywhere. The List life is a struggle. Anyway, let's get going with my second choice.
This is a Brazilian album and I am afraid I keep procrastinating learning Portuguese. I didn't even the slightest idea what any of these songs were about. Frequent readers may have learned that lyrics are my main attraction to music. I was very confused what I was listening to. I think this is a compilation album, but there seem to be conflicting reports about when it was released. Some sources say that it came out in the 80s but obviously, the Book is saying 1978. So wait...what's happening?
Is it possible for me to like an album that isn't English? I think so, as I remember taking to Miriam Makeba quite a bit. This one just didn't do it for me. I liked her voice, but I felt like I was listening to the same song over and over again (this is most likely because of the language).
I can't really fault the album for my lack of enjoyment, since it is just a culture clash. But I doubt this one will remain in my memory for long.
RATING: 2/5
Parallel Lines
Blondie
1978
Tracks
1. Hanging On The Telephone
2. One Way Or Another
3. Picture This
4. Fade Away And Radiate
5. Pretty Baby
6. I Know But I Don't Know
7. 11:59
8. Will Anything Happen
9. Sunday Girl
10. Heart Of Glass
11. I'm Gonna Love You Too
12. Just Go Away
Finally, we get an album that, to me, actually resembles music I could listen to. And, of course, other reviewers label it "vacuous." It's amazing how I always love anything that hipster music lovers hate. I am like the anti-hipster. But does that make me even more of a hipster? This is heavy stuff.
If you have never heard the song "One Way or Another," please invite me to your hobbit hole sometime. That was the only track title I recognized but it turns out I was familiar with "Sunday Girl" as well. I feel like I have heard it in a movie before, but I cannot for the life of me remember what the film was. Good thing that kind of stuff doesn't bother me. *grabs tissues for nose bleed*
I loved the energy behind this album. I have been somewhat um, romantically frustrated myself lately. There was a lot of anger behind some of the songs but it still was always fun and catchy. I have been listening to "Heart of Glass" on repeat since I started writing this review.
I am going to go ahead and give this album five stars. That was fun. I guess let's go back to being artsy...
RATING: 5/5
The Man-Manchine
Kraftwerk
1978
Tracks
1. Die Roboter
2. Spacelab
3. Metropolis
4. Modell
5. Neonlicht
6. Die Mensch-Maschine
It is albums like this that make me think the whole List is an elaborate joke, designed to make us all look like idiots. I feel like I heard of someone doing that with modern art. Someone had their child paint a few pictures, claimed the paintings were done by an anonymous artist, and critics went gaga over them. Now we have some band playing with sound effects and it makes me wonder: "Is this a joke?"
The songs feature laser sounds, with the band saying "We are robots" approximately a thousand times. I felt like I was listening to the same song for an hour, which would be annoying even if it was a track I loved. As is, I think it is going to resurrect the migraine I had on Monday.
Wow, I miss the sixties.
RATING: 1/5
Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
1978
Tracks
1. Non-Alignment Pact
2. Modern Dance
3. Laughing
4. Street Waves
5. Chinese Radiation
6. Life Stinks
7. Real World
8. Over My Head
9. Sentimental Journey
10. Humor Me
I have written around four thousand movie reviews today, so I am a bit tapped out at the moment. I really want to catch up all my blogs, though, so my lovely music lovers will just have to suffer with a subpar review. I apologize that you are my least loved child.
I had never heard of the band, this album, or any of the songs. I also am not really clear what art punk is. So gather around everyone, to hear my well informed opinions!
I had a hard time getting into this one. I had to remind myself to pay attention to the music, because I was in danger of zoning out completely and having absolutely no memory of this album. Because of my diligent efforts, I am able to partially recall parts of this. I will take my medal any time you are ready.
With a name like Modern Dance, you might suspect something truly frightening and pretentious. Instead, you just get something quite mediocre. For example, here are the lyrics to "Life Stinks": "Life stinks, I'm seeing pink, I can't wink, I can't blink, I like the Kinks, I need a drink, I can't think, I like the Kinks, Life stinks." At least it made me feel better about my own writing.
RATING: 3/5
