1001. Get Behind Me Satan

Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
2005

Tracks
1. Blue Orchid
2. The Nurse
3. My Doorbell
4. Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)
5. Little Ghost
6. The Denial Twist
7. White Moon
8. Instinct Blues
9. Passive Manipulation
10. Take, Take, Take
11. As Ugly As I Seem
12. Red Rain
13. I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)

1001! I did it!! I'll write a follow up post after this to wrap things up, but wow. It's a bit hard to concentrate on the album at hand!

But I am going to try anyway, because it's The White Stripes. This isn't the best White Stripes album on the List. Both White Blood Cells and Elephant are better. Still, it contains their unique sound that is always compelling, and they aren't afraid to experiment here.

I just read an article that compared the Meg White/Jack White relationship to a comedy duo. Jack White is the funny guy, always pushing the limits, and Meg White is the straight man, pulling him back in again. I think that is a hella accurate comparison, and it makes for a fascinating dynamic. I'll try to keep that in mind when I dress up like Meg tomorrow for Halloween.

You'll hear from me again soon...

RATING: 4/5

998. Aha Shake Heartbreak

Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
2004

Tracks
1. Slow Night, So Long
2. King Of The Rodeo
3. Taper Jean Girl
4. Pistol Of Fire
5. Milk
6. The Bucket
7. Soft
8. Razz
9. Day Old Blues
10. Four Kicks
11. Velvet Snow
12. Rememo

Kings of Leon are back, and this time it's even less personal. I feel like their music lacks intimacy or innovation. I enjoyed their previous entry on the List, but I don't think they needed another one.

The Listmakers probably panicked toward the end here, and I would guess that these last few entries have all been replaced by other entries in subsequent editions. That's not to say they are bad albums, but they are bit repetitive and showcase artists who have already been represented with superior albums.

Such is the case with the Kings of Leon, who don't really grow or do anything different from their previous album. Listenable music, but one album from this band was probably sufficient.

RATING: 3/5

989. The Libertines

The Libertines

The Libertines
2004

Tracks
1. Can't Stand Me Now
2. Last Post On The Bugle
3. Don't Be Shy
4. The Man Who Would Be King
5. Music When The Lights Go Out
6. Narcissist
7. The Ha Ha Wall
8. Arbeit Macht Frei
9. Campaign Of Hate
10. What Katie Did
11. Tomblands
12. The Saga
13. Road To Ruin
14. What Became Of The Likely Lads

Once you know what a mess this band was and how horrible the bandmates were to each other, it kind of loses its fun. Not that it was trying to be much fun to begin with.

So this is one of those moody early 2000s album that is very mopey, with just a dash of punk. It's reminiscent of those really fucked up bands in the 70s. I hope Pete Doherty is able to turn it around. 

Not terrible music, but the quality isn't good enough to justify their abusive relationship.

RATING: 3/5

968. Youth and Young Manhood

Youth and Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
2003

Tracks
1. Red Morning Light
2. Happy Alone
3. Wasted Time
4. Joe’s Head
5. Tranny
6. California Waiting
7. Spiral Suitcase
8. Molly’s Chambers
9. Genius
10. O Dusty
11. Holy Roller Novocaine

Once again, we are treated to a great rock band with a decidedly retro feel. I guess we all discovered everything post 2000 was a mistake and we should just make the best of it with throwback after throwback.

And I'm not complaining. I really enjoyed this despite never hearing of Kings of Leon before. They are reminiscent of the Strokes and the Rolling Stones, although I enjoyed them more than the latter.

So a pretty great album. We are in a good streak lately.

RATING: 4/5

966. Elephant

Elephant
The White Stripes
2003

Tracks
1. Seven Nation Army
2. Black Math
3. There's No Home For You Here
4. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
5. In The Cold Cold Night
6. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart
7. You've Got Her In Your Pocket
8. Ball And Biscuit
9. Hardest Button To Button
10. Little Acorns
11. Hypnotise
12. Air Near My Fingers
13. Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine
14. Well It's True That We Love One Another

I am going to dress up as Meg White this Halloween, by which I mean I will be wearing a red t-shirt. But I relate to Meg White; I also strive to be a loud introvert.

Jack and Meg White have such an interesting dynamic, and it's that push-pull relationship that makes their music so fascinating to listen to. None of the recording equipment used in this album was newer than 1963. This makes for a very rich sound that still manages to be modern.

We have one more White Stripes album to go, and it's the last album on the List. So in a way, dressing up as Meg White will be a tribute to finishing this List, and now I have to get it done by Saturday.

RATING: 5/5

938. White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
2001

Tracks
1. Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground
2. Hotel Yorba
3. I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman
4. Fell In Love With A Girl
5. Expecting
6. Little Room
7. The Union Forever
8. The Same Boy You've Always Known
9. We're Going To Be Friends
10. Offend In Every Way
11. I Think I Smell A Rat
12. Aluminum
13. I Can't Wait
14. Now Mary
15. I Can Learn
16. This Protector

It's difficult to dislike the White Stripes. They possess the punk sensibility and mix it with a heavy blues influence. Songs like "I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman" are just so damn charming for some reason.

The best song is probably "FeIl in Love With a Girl," but I also really enjoyed the instrumentals in "I Think I Smell A Rat." But really, every song packs a punch in their short runtimes.

It feels like a very stripped down album, which is a delight, particularly after the parade of overproduced albums from the likes of Destiny's Child and Britney Spears.

RATING: 4/5

676. Ragged Glory

Ragged Glory
Neil Young and the Crazy Horse
1990

Tracks
1. Country Home
2. White Line
3. Fuckin' Up
4. Over And Over
5. Love To Burn
6. Farmer John
7. Mansion On The Hill
8. Days That Used To Be
9. Love And Only Love
10. Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)

"Past their prime" is such a mean phrase, and I am not saying it applies here, but I certainly didn't expect to see a Neil Young album show up in 1990. I am glad it did, though, even if it was not quite as impressive as his previous work.

This was fairly unpolished, and I got the feeling he was trying to develop more of an edge than he had previously. I particularly enjoyed "Over and Over" and "Love to Burn." 

So maybe not as offbeat or edgy as he was going for, but still an enjoyable album. 

RATING: 4/5

235. Teenage Head

Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
1971

Tracks
1. High Flyin' Baby
2. City Lights
3. Have You Seen My Baby
4. Yesterday's Numbers
5. Teenage Head
6. 32 20
7. Evil Hearted Ada
8. Doctor Boogie
9. Whiskey Woman


Really, The Flamin' Groovies?  The only thing flaming is the name of your band (A-O!).  But seriously folks...


This is another interesting little gem that I would have never discovered if it wasn't for the list.  Apparently they broke up shortly after this because they weren't cut out for the US music scene.  I got excited reading about this album, though, because it is described as a throwback to the Beatles.  Yay!


I loved it.  If I had to date it just by listening to it, my guess would have been mid sixties.  I know it doesn't seem like a big deal that it sounds around six years older than it is, but I personally don't really like the direction that music is heading in during the 70s.  Ahead of us, we got disco and funk on the horizon.  Yuck.  My dad has a theory that they stopped making good music after 1971 and I am finding myself agreeing with him...


This album has often been compared to Sticky Fingers but I just do not see the similarities: this is so much better!


RATING: 5/5