904. The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides
Air
2000

Tracks
1. Playground Love (With Gordon Tracks)
2. Clouds Up
3. Bathroom Girl
4. Cemetary Party
5. Dark Messages
6. The Word Hurricane
7. Dirty Trip
8. Highschool Lover
9. Afternoon Sister
10. Ghost Song
11. Empty House
12. Dead Bodies
13. Suicide Underground

I have never seen the movie The Virgin Suicides, but I did read the book when I was going through my Jeffrey Eugenides phase. Middlesex rules. As can be surmised by the title, it's a relentlessly depressing story, so this score suits it well.

Of course, that doesn't mean I want to listen to it. I'm not a big fan of ambient music in general, and casting it in such a gloomy light doesn't help. 

I guess if you are an uber fan of the movie, you'll enjoy this. Otherwise, it's fairly skippable.

RATING: 2/5

709. Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

1992

Tracks

1. Xtal
2. Tha
3. Pulsewidth
4. Ageispolis
5. i
6. Green Calx
7. Heliosphan
8. We Are The Music Makers
9. Schottkey 7th Path
10. Ptolemy
11. Hedphelym
12. Delphium
13. Actium

So this is another album that is regarded as a work of genius, but didn't do much for me, although it is super impressive that he started composing at the age of thirteen. 

Many moons ago I listened to Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports. When I saw the title of this album I thought there was a high likelihood they would just imitate Eno. Actually, this sounded completely original. But personally, this music will always be regulated to background noise for me. I need me some lyrics to really connect with something.

Not my taste but certainly a worthy offering from the List.

RATING: 2/5

425. Ambient 1: Music For Airports

Ambient 1: Music For Airports
Brian Eno
1978

Tracks
1. 1/1 
2. 2/1 
3. 1/2 
4. 2/2 

I asked for a break from punk and I got it with an album that has no lyrics and a very loose definition of what music actually is.  Surprisingly, I loved every minute of it.

This album oozes pretension, from the track titles to the album cover.  Still, at its core it is a damn good album.  I am not saying it is music you put on en route to work or when you feel like dancing.  But it works well as installation music; apparently, it played at the main terminal of LaGuardia airport in the eighties.  I was writing while I listened to this and it really put me at ease.  That's saying something, as I have been particularly fussy lately.

There is something almost distant about this music.  I felt like I was passing a house and could only faintly hear piano notes from within.  Very peaceful and exactly what I needed after X-Ray Spex.

RATING: 4/5