234. A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse
The Faces
1971

Tracks
1. Miss Judy's Farm
2. You're So Rude 
3. Love Lived Here 
4. Last Orders Please 
5. Stay With Me 
6. Debris 
7. Memphis 
8. Too Bad
9. That's All You Need 


I delayed writing this review for a little while because really, I had no idea what to write.  This is one of those albums that has zero personality.  In my life, I have met several people who fall under this category and let me tell you, they are exhausting.  They aren't mean, rude, or offensive in any way but they have absolutely nothing of interest to say for themselves.  Sometimes, I prefer talking to people who I hate just because at least they excite some emotion in me.


Is this what everyone considers the beginning of Rod Stewart's descent into embarrassment? The album is just plain generic and boring but certainly not embarrassing.  The book seemed rather apologetic of putting this album in so maybe no one likes or dislikes this album.  It is just...there.

RATING: 3/5

233. Live!

Live! 
Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa '70 with Ginger Baker (way too long)
1971

Tracks
1. Let's Start 
2. Black Man's Cry
3. Ye Ye De Smell
4. Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want To Die)


First of all, I FINISHED ULYSSES!!!  That was easily the toughest book I have ever read and it was on my to do before I am thirty bucket list (maybe someday I will start a blog on that; you have been warned).  I am really proud of myself.  I absolutely hated it, but I am still counting it as a positive experience.


Sorry, my bookishness is showing.  Actually, it kind of relates to the music blog since the reason I have been listening to so many albums lately is that I have been sitting alone reading (high school all over again).  Anyway, this album was playing during the last chapter so it was kind of my victory music.  It really made me want to dance like they do in West Side Story during the "America" number.  It had some good beats but I can't see ever listening to it again (this seems to be my mantra).  Why am I using so many parentheses?


RATING: 3/5

232. Pearl

Pearl
Janis Joplin
1971

Tracks
1. Move Over
2. Cry Baby
3. Woman Left Lonely
4. Half Moon
5. Buried Alive In The Blues
6. My Baby
7. Me And Bobby McGee
8. Mercedes Benz
9. Trust Me
10. Get It While You Can


I don't know why I am doing so many of these lately; I just always seem to have an album on.  I am not going to question it though, because like I mentioned at album #200, I sometimes feel like quitting this blog.  1971 is just my year.


Janis Joplin reminds me strongly of Adele, although I think Adele is a bit better (please don't kill me).  This album was released after Janis kicked the bucket which forever immortalizes her as a legend since she didn't have a chance to do any wrong.


You know how some people believe that you can feel when you are going to die before it happens?  Well, they might want to use this album as evidence for that theory.  There is so much pain packed into this album that it feels very foreboding.  There are certain songs that seem more upbeat but overall there is a feeling of ickiness as Cher would say.


Poignant and sad but beautiful in its way.


RATING: 3/5

231. Maggot Brain

Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
1971

Tracks
1. Maggot Brain
2. Can You Get to That
3. Hit It and Quit It
4. You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks
5. Super Stupid
6. Back in Our Minds
7. Wars of Armageddon


I tried not to judge this album too harshly before listening to it.  I mean, if you are not supposed to judge a book from its cover I figure the same thing applies to albums.  I also tried to not think too hard about the name of the album and how disgusting it truly is.  I really did not succeed in either area.

However, I read so much about how absolutely amazing the title track was that I was indeed intrigued.  Apparently George Clinton (who sounds like an absolute lunatic) told the guitarist to play like his mother just died and then as if you found out she was alive.


First off, I have to say I found this album jarring.  There were such sweet songwriters and singers before this on the list that I was lulled into an innocent serenity.  And then we just had to get funky.  Damn kids with their noise.


Anyway, I am not a huge guitar solo fan.  I have a guitar that I think my sister gave me when she got sick of it.  I never got rid of it because I figured if I started to play it I would look like this:

No luck so far.  The point is I was not able to appreciate the first track like everyone seems to think you should.  This whole album was way too funky for my taste.  Simply not my genre of choice.

RATING: 2/5

230. Blue

Blue
Joni Mitchell
1971

Tracks
1. All I Want 
2. My Old Man 
3. Little Green 
4. Carey
5. Blue
6. California 
7. This Flight Tonight 
8. River 
9. Case Of You 
10. Last Time I Saw Richard


Wow, that was absolutely beautiful and this is coming from a girl who is a pissy mood right now (I blame the book Ulysses that I can't stop bitching about and Leonard Cohen).  Can I just say that female musicians in this era absolutely rock?  We got Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Dolly Parton.  Take that society!


Joni Mitchell's voice is one that can't really be described; you really just have to listen to it.  It is sort of a cross between Joan Baez and someone that can actually hit high notes (sorry Joan).  Needless to say, it is haunting and pretty.  The songs are just as beautiful.  If I had known the song "California" when I went to France, I would have known exactly how to put what I was feeling into words.  Definitely one of the best albums of all time (I also feel this way about Tapestry, American Pie, Who's Next, Rubber Soul, and Chelsea Girl just so you can get a feel for my taste).

RATING: 5/5

229. Songs of Love and Hate

Songs of Love and Hate
Leonard Cohen
1971

Tracks
1. Avalanche
2. Last Year's Man
3. Dress Rehearsal Rag
4. Diamonds In The Mine
5. Love Calls You By Your Name
6. Famous Blue Raincoat
7. Sing Another Song Boys
8. Joan Of Arc


Last time I listened to a Leonard Cohen album, it was right after I found out my grandpa died.  Add that to the fact that Leonard Cohen makes Billie Holiday look like The Mamas And The Papas, and you have an extremely depressing experience.  This album is unique in that Cohen is also very angry in addition to being sad.


What can I say?  This is an emotion-packed album for sure.  If you are looking for some sort of catharsis, you will find it here.  However, this album is certainly not enjoyable.  You will feel kind of crappy afterwards, like after eating a whole carton of Fudge Tracks ice cream.  The ice cream is great but consuming it for forty minutes is not a good idea.

RATING: 3/5

228. Pictures At An Exhibition

Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
1971

Tracks
1. Promenade
2. Gnome
3. Promenade
4. Sage
5. Old Castle
6. Blues Variation
7. Promenade
8. Hut of Baba Yaga
9. Curse of Baba Yaga
10. Hut of Baba Yaga
11. Great Gates of Kiev
12. Nut Rocker


If you have read my blog before, you will see that I sometimes complain about pretentious music.  Well, I apologize because that was nothing compared to this.  This is a rock cover of a classical piece of music done by Modest Mussorgsky in 1874.  Mind=blown.


I know so little about classical music it is embarrassing.  I went to a symphony once and fell asleep.  I can name about five composers. I also hated the movie Amadeus. I know so little, in fact, that I considered doing the 1001 Classical Recordings project but figured that would end in me swan diving out of my window.


Anyway, this is probably the most intellectual album I have ever listened to.  Naturally, it went over my head.  I feel like Woody Allen in Small Time Crooks.  I don't even feel like I can criticize it too much.  It would be like me trashing sports.  I know that just because I don't like it, doesn't mean other people won't fall in love with it.  Just not my cup of tea.

RATING: 1/5