832. First Band on the Moon

First Band on the Moon
The Cardigans
1996

Tracks
1. Your New Cuckoo
2. Been It
3. Heartbreaker
4. Happy Meal II
5. Never Recover
6. Step On Me
7. Lovefool
8. Losers
9. Iron Man
10. Great Divide
11. Choke

I know I have been grumpy with the last few posts (it's the music, I swear, not just me having having a case of the Mondays), but I think we are all in agreement that "Lovefool" is a helluva annoying song. The rest of the album isn't so bad, but that's a pretty big track to forgive.

I did like the vibe of the other tracks. The vocals were actually really sweet, which disguised the fact that these are fairly depressing songs. I can dig that. But I just can't get over "Lovefool," because now it is going to be stuck in my head all day, and my brain is in enough shambles as is. 

I guess it's a shame I am letting one song define a band. Sorry not sorry.

RATING: 3/5

807. Jagged Little Pill

Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
1995

Tracks
1. All I Really Want
2. You Oughta Know
3. Perfect
4. Hand In My Pocket
5. Right Through You
6. Forgiven
7. You Learn
8. Head Over Feet
9. Mary Jane
10. Ironic
11. Not The Doctor
12. Wake Up
13. You Oughta Know (2)
14. Your House

We had a really great stretch of female singer/songwriters which was rudely interrupted by an avalanche of britpop. This album clearly has its roots in Liz Phair and Tori Amos's music, but it's brattier and consequently sounds less mature.

Of course, it's still fun. And of course "You Oughta Know" is iconic. Her vocals sometimes grate, but I suppose that is part of her style. And she is vastly superior to her endless parade of imitators, from Cher Lloyd to Avril Lavigne. 

It's not quite as timeless as its obvious influences, but I think it definitely deserves its spot on the List.

RATING: 3/5

481. Beauty and the Beat

Beauty and the Beat
The Go-Gos
1981

Tracks
1. Our Lips Are Sealed 
2. How Much More 
3. Tonight 
4. Lust To Love 
5. This Town 
6. We Got The Beat 
7. Fading Fast 
8. Automatic 
9. You Can't Walk In Your Sleep 
10. Skidmarks On My Heart
11. Can't Stop The World

I have made a fantastic start on my "listen to an album a day" resolution by skipping the past four days.  I just had a hard time bringing myself to listen to an album titled "Beauty and the Beat" especially when I knew that it contained the song "We Got The Beat" (is it playing it your head now?  I apologize).  But I must soldier on, and this actually wasn't quite as cringeworthy as the title suggests.

So yes, some of the songs have been overplayed, most notably "We Got The Beat" (sorry again).  I am not sure it would have annoyed me so much if I hadn't hurt it roughly a hundred times before.  But I shouldn't fault the band for their own popularity.  Some of the other tracks were actually quite good, and had an edge that I didn't expect.  I also appreciated hearing a female group, as most of this List is a total sausage fest.

The next album on the List thankfully isn't a pun, so I will probably get back here tomorrow.

RATING: 3/5

313. Kimono My House

Kimono My House (whatever the fuck that means)
Sparks
1974

Tracks
1. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us
2. Amateur Hour
3. Falling In Love With Myself Again
4. Here In Heaven
5. Thank God It's Not Christmas
6. Hasta Manana Monsieur
7. Talent Is An Asset
8. Complaints
9. In My Family
10. Equator

This is another extremely odd album.  Don't you miss the days when we just had Sinatra singing old love songs?  The more recent the album, the freakier it is.

That is not to say that freaky is bad.  In fact, I quite enjoyed this album (except the last track is so annoying that I tried to cover my ears with a pillow).  This is really wacky pop rock music that sounds like it could be playing at a circus.  I haven't read a single bad review for this album and that is because it is just plain fun!  Weird fun but that is the best kind.

RATING: 5/5

254. Something/Anything?

Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
1972

Tracks
1. I Saw The Light 
2. I Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference 
3. Wolfman Jack 
4. Cold Morning Light 
5. Takes Two To Tango 
6. Sweeter Memories 
7. Intro 
8. Breathless 
9. Night The Carousel Burned Down 
10. Saving Grace 
11. Marlene 
12. Song Of The Viking 
13. I Went To The Mirror 
14. Black Maria
15. One More Day (No Word)
16. Couldn't I Just Tell You
17. Torch Song 
18. Little Red Lights
19. Overture 
20. Money/Messin' With The Kid 
21. Dust In The Wind 
22. Piss Aaron 
23. Hell It's Me 
24. Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me 
25. You Left Me Sore 26. Slut


This is one of those glorious hodge podges of pure gems.  I have no idea how to categorize this album; it represents so many genres.  This seems like it would be a Nina Simone-esque mess but it actually comes together beautifully.


All right, so the "game" he comes up with in the middle of the album is really strange.  Still, I think this is one of the best albums of the 70s.  He has a very sweet voice, whether he is singing a ballad or a fast song.  My personal favorite was "I Wouldn't Have Made A Difference" which is really bittersweet:

A really fun album that is hard to describe so check it out! RATING: 5/5

243. #1 Record

#1 Record
Big Star
1972

Tracks
1. Feel 
2. Ballad of el Goodo 
3. In the Street 
4. Thirteen 
5. Don't Lie to Me 
6. India Song 
7. When My Baby's Beside Me 
8. My Life Is Right 
9. Give Me Another Chance 
10. Try Again 
11. Watch the Sunrise 
12. St 100/6


I am going out tonight so I have enlisted my sister to do my hair, dress me, and do my make up.  This might be a short post because I am pretty sure I will receiving orders soon on how to fix...all this.  I imagine the scene will play out like this:

Anyway, back on topic.  I have never heard of these guys before.  Apparently, some of these songs are in That Seventies Show but I never got into that show mostly because I hate everyone involved.  Still, this was a pretty enjoyable album.  Not memorable in the slightest bit, but a fun little pop rock gem.

RATING: 3/5

217. Surf's Up

Surf's Up
Beach Boys
1971

Tracks
1. Don't Go Near The Water
2. Long Promised Road
3. Take A Load Off Your Feet
4. Disney Girls (1957)
5. Student Demonstration Time
6. Feel Flows
7. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)
8. Day In The Life Of A Tree
9. Till I Die 
10. Surf's Up


At first glance, this seems to be the typical Beach Boys album.  I mean, an album title like "Surf's Up" seems like the same kind of breezy, light album that we are used to.  However, one listen of "Don't Go Near the Water" and you learn that this is something completely different.


Now before you think it is a transition that is like Obi Wan going to the dark side, you can still tell from the harmonies that these are the Beach Boys that we know and love.  But for the first time, they have a message.  Whether it be about "the good times" or a green message, they have a purpose with this album.  I loved it.  Previous Beach Boys albums are always fun but they really leave no lasting impression.  This album, I have a feeling, is going to haunt me for awhile.  Listen to it!

RATING: 5/5

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