326. Grievous Angel

Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
1974

Tracks
1. Return of the Grievous Angel
2. Hearts on Fire
3. I Can't Dance
4. Brass Buttons
5. $1000 Wedding
6. Cash on the Barrelhead
7. Hickory Wind
8. Love Hurts
9. Ooh Las Vegas
10. In My Hour of Darkness

The Book lists this as the first country rock album.  However, we had some Lynyrd Skynyrd before this, which I think definitely counts as country rock.  The Book also says that the worst parts of this album were "I Can't Dance" and "Ooh Las Vegas" which were actually my favorite tracks.  Finally, The Book actually thinks this album is good whereas I think that it was pretty disappointing.

I did initially like this album.  Emmylou Harris, who did the back up vocals, definitely added something beautiful to the album; their voices complimented each other's nicely.  And, like I said, "I Can't Dance" was a fun track that I can definitely relate to and "Ooh Las Vegas" was a nice break after a lot of similar slow songs.

Every other song sounded pretty much the same.  Gram Parsons sang in a slow, mournful voice about either his mother or lost love.  This is one of those cases where I think most of the guy's fame came because of his early death.  I definitely don't think he is a genius.

That being said, it wasn't terrible and I think I would listen to it again. RIP Gram.

RATING: 2/5

325. Rock Bottom

Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
1974

Tracks
1. Sea Song
2. A Last Straw
3. Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road 
4. Alifib 
5. Alife 
6. Little Red Robin Hood Hit The Road

That was kind of strange.  I read that Robert Wyatt made this album right after he became paralyzed.  Apparently, he fell out of a window when he was drunk.  Anyway, I imagined I would gain insight into the kind of emotions that he was experiencing at the time.  However, it was pretty much gibberish.

I am not just saying gibberish because I didn't like it.  Actually, much of the album was complete nonsense.  And, of course, that is my major problem with the album.  Wyatt could have really some really beautiful lyrics about his journey.  Instead there was a random poem and a rambling narrative.

However, I did enjoy the music.  The melodies had a haunting quality that almost sounded like Miles Davis.  I did get an idea of the pain and suffering he went through by listening to his music.  Still, I can't go all the way with this one because of the stupid lyrics.

RATING: 3/5

324. Natty Dread

Natty Dread
Bob Marley and the Wailers
1974

Tracks
1. Lively Up Yourself 
2. No Woman No Cry
3. Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
4. Rebel Music (3 O'clock Roadblock) 
5. So Jah Seh 
6. Natty Dread 
7. Bend Down Low 
8. Talkin' Blues
9. Revolution

I am not trying to discount the male species' musical tastes, but I found that most guys' in high school favorite band was either Bob Marley And The Wailers or Pink Floyd.  Though I am sure this isn't true with every guy in high school, this certainly seemed to be the depth of their musical understanding of the guys I knew.  When I was in high school, I used this fact to weasel my way into many guy groups.  Of course, I didn't get go out on a date at all in high school so my data isn't exactly reliable.

But I will save stories about my high school experience for my therapist.  For now, we are talking about Natty Dread.

I do like Bob Marley but I was initially hesitant about this album because I heard that it was his angriest work.  I figured the music would just be a means to get a message across which is never really that enjoyable.

However, this album was just beautiful. First, we have the song "No Woman No Cry" which I think everyone has heard at least once.  The song conveys such powerful emotions that I, baby that I am, began to tear up when he started to sing "Everything's gonna be all right."  My favorite lyric, though, would have to be "my fear is my only courage."  Just beautiful.

Like I said, I had heard this album was very angry but to me, it seemed to convey more sadness and disappointment than anger (except when he started advocating bombing churches; there he sounded pretty pissed).  "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" is a new favorite of mine.

In his message for freedom and equality, he never forgets that music should, first and foremost, be enjoyable and catchy.  A new favorite.

RATING: 5/5

323. Good Old Boys

Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
1974

Tracks
1. Rednecks 
2. Birmingham 
3. Marie 
4. Mr President (Have Pity On The Working Man) 
5. Guilty
6. Louisiana 1927
7. Every Man A King 
8. Kingfish 
9. Naked Man 
10. Wedding In Cherokee County 
11. Back On My Feet Again
12. Rollin'

After a couple of pretty good albums we dip down again to this album by Randy Newman.  I have several problems with Randy.  I, like everyone else who wasn't around during the seventies, immediately think of his Disney career.  So, needless to say, it is a bit startling to hear the man who did the music for "The Princess and the Frog" say "we don't know our ass from a hole in the ground."  I also listened to quite a few commentaries that Randy did. He seems so pleased with himself that I really don't see the need for anyone else to go to the trouble.

Now, I know that "Rednecks" isn't really a song slamming rednecks or African Americans.  Instead, it is a song slamming liberal people who are just as racist but still look down on Southerners.  I know this, just as I know that the song "Short People" is actually a rant against short people.  Really, I get the irony.

Still, that doesn't mean that I think his songs are in any way clever or necessary.  I still find any song that uses the word "nigger" that many times extremely offensive.  Another one of his songs was "Louisiana 1927" which was a song about a flood in Louisiana and how bad Southern people are at construction work.  This is a relevant song even now, after Hurricane Katrina.  So semi props for that.

So if you want to hear Randy complain about everyone and anyone, get this album.  In the meantime, I hope to god that was the last Newman album, unless we get a soundtrack on the list.

RATING: 1/5

322. Pretzel Logic

Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
1974

Tracks
1. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
2. Night By Night
3. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
4. Barrytown 
5. East St Louis Toodle Oo
6. Parker's Band
7. Thru With Buzz 
8. Pretzel Logic
9. With A Gun 
10. Charlie Freak
11. Monkey In Your Soul

Happy Easter, everyone!

I am sitting here with an indecent amount of chocolate and a great novel, listening to Steely Dan.  What a great day.

After a string of albums that no casual listener has probably ever heard, we get Pretzel Logic, which is actually pretty well known.  This album certainly deserves to be better known than some of the not so impressive albums we have been subjected to lately.

One of the great things about Steely Dan is their ability to blend musical genres.  While the songs are short and sweet like pop tracks, the actual melodies are quite jazzy and bluesy.  The catchiest song on this album is by far "Barrytown" but really, any of the songs are addictive, especially after a couple listens.

As far as songwriting goes, we get some interesting lyrics, particularly with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" which is a great song about unrequited love.  A good album that should be added to any collection.

RATING: 5/5

321. No Other

No Other
Gene Clark
1974

Tracks
1. Life's Greatest Fool
2. Silver Raven
3. No Other
4. Strength Of Strings
5. From A Silver Phial
6. Some Misunderstanding
7. True One, The
8. Lady Of The North

This album was a major flop upon release both critically and commercially.  It is also considered to have been one of the largest wastes of money in the music industry of all time.  Wow, that is quite the resume.  Needless to say, I was nervous about this one.

At first I was scared that this is one of those albums that elitists put on the list to prove that they are misunderstood by the mainstream.  However, this album actually wasn't half bad.  In fact, it was pretty inoffensive and standard; I was surprised at how much it had flopped.  It is weird that pretty normal music will do so poorly but space sound effects will fare so well.

However, this album wasn't good enough to be considered an underrated masterpiece.  Really, its obscurity is no great loss to our society but it was still a pleasant way to spend an hour.

RATING: 3/5

320. The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour
George Jones
1974

Tracks
1. Grand Tour
2. Darlin'
3. Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)
4. She'll Love the One She's With
5. Once You've Had the Best
6. Weatherman
7. Borrowed Angel
8. She Told Me So
9. Mary Don't Go 'Round
10. Who Will I Be Loving Now
11. Our Private Life

This album should be titled "Every Country Music Album Ever".  Not the most creative title, I will admit, but it is an accurate one.  Jones sounds almost exactly like Conway Twitty (in fact, Twitty did several covers of Jones' songs).

This album is full of rather depressing ballads which talk about his failed marriage.  In fact, the only slightly cheery song is about how tabloids ruin stars' lives.  I suppose this could be a satisfying album if you were going through a painful divorce.  Still, honky tonk takes its toll; I had to stop and take breaks throughout the album.

Not my cup of tea.  Supposed to be filled with great songs about heartbreak but no particular lyric stuck with me.

RATING: 1/5

319. On the Beach

On the Beach
Neil Young
1974

Tracks
1. Walk On
2. See The Sky About To Rain 
3. Revolution Blues 
4. For The Turnstiles 
5. Vampire Blues 
6. On The Beach
7. Motion Pictures 
8. Ambulance Blues

As soon as "Walk On" began to play, I knew I was in for a treat and that I was going to love this album.  Neil Young keeps coming up on this list but instead of getting sick of him, he just keeps growing on me.  Now, this album isn't all cupcakes and smiles; as you can see, there are a lot of blues in this album, some even concerning Charles Manson.

It is hard for me to list a favorite track for this album.  "For the Turnstiles" is sad and uses strings that sound almost lazy, but in a good way.  "Walk On" is really catchy.  "Vampire Blues" (sadly is not about him:

The song is actually about oil barges and, of course, because it is Neil Young, it is political and liberal.  However, most of the songs are about his disappointment in fellow hippies, which is a very interesting and different perspective to take in an album.  Definitely one of my favorite Neil Young albums.

RATING: 5/5

Full album available here:

318. Sheet Music

Sheet Music
10cc
1974

Tracks
1. Wall Street Shuffle
2. Worst Band In The World
3. Hotel
4. Old Wild Men
5. Clockwork Creep
6. Silly Love
7. Somewhere In Hollywood
8. Baron Samedi
9. Sacroiliac
10. Oh Effendi

So I am back from a bit of a hiatus.  I have been way more interested in watching movies lately than listening to albums.  I guess I was craving a bit more escapism than these albums were willing to give me.  But now I am back and I forge ahead with this unknown little gem.

I, for one, had never heard of 10cc.  Apparently, a lot of their songs appear in car commercials.  The Book also says that this band has written the most ironic songs of all time.  This made me a little wary, since I figured that ironic meant hugely pretentious.  However, I was very pleasantly surprised.

This album is catchy and smart, especially in songs like "Worst Band in the World." It seems to use every instrument under the sun, but blended very well.  Definitely one to check out.

RATING: 4/5

317. Sheer Heart Attack

Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
1974

Tracks
1. Brighton Rock

2. Killer Queen
3. Tenement Funster
4. Flick Of The Wrist
5. Lily Of The Valley
6. Now I'm Here
7. In The Lap Of The Gods
8. Stone Cold Crazy

9. Dear Friends

10. Misfire
11. Bring Back That Leroy Brown 
12. She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettos)
13. In The Lap Of The Gods (2)

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!  In honor of the occasion, I am sitting alone in my bedroom listening to a Queen album.  A happy day indeed.

Anyway, I consider myself a bit of a Queen fan, but this was quite disappointing.  It's weird, because this album is fun and pretty much a continuation of Queen II.  Absolutely no risks were taken with this album, and I guess I expected something a little more cutting edge with Queen.  Still, it's a fun album that you should listen to today.  Wait, you have other plans today?  Strange…

RATING: 3/5

316. Winter in America

Winter in America
Gil-Scott Heron and Brian Jackson
1974

Tracks
1. Peace Go With You, Brother
2. Rivers Of My Fathers
3. A Very Precious Time
4. Back Home
5. The Bottle
6. Song For Bobby Smith
7. Your Daddy Loves You
8. H2Ogate Blues
9. Peace Go With You Brother

I started this album a week ago and only just finished it today.  I enjoyed it, but it was quite a lot to take at once; it is an extremely angry album.

This is a brilliant mix of jazz, soul, and blues.  In fact, some tracks even felt like the beginning of the rap genre.  The music is quite beautiful, I was sometimes lured into thinking that this was a pleasant album.  However, when you listen to the lyrics, you realize Heron is condemning America for the treatment of African Americans (can't say I blame him).  "H20gate Blues" is a particularly angry track that is not that hard to interpret as a criticism of the entire government.

A very beautiful, I could listen to his voice all day.  Even if he is mad at me.

RATING: 5/5

314. Crime of the Century

Crime of the Century
Supertramp
1974

Tracks
1. School 
2. Bloody Well Right 
3. Hide In Your Shell 
4. Asylum 
5. Dreamer
6. Rudy 
7. If Everyone Was Listening 
8. Crime Of The Century

I passed a pretty pleasant hour listening to this album and reading a novel.  These songs are definitely catchy: "Dreamer" and "Asylum" in particular.

Still, it simply isn't as good as other prog rock I have listened to; even the albums I haven't really enjoyed had more of a punch.  A reason for their pretentiousness, if you will.  It also sounded a bit like a rip off of Dark Side of the Moon. 

But I am sort of nitpicking at this point.  It is an entertaining album that has some great keyboard solos.  Good, not great.

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

312. Phaedra

Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
1974

Tracks
1. Phaedra 
2. Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares 
3. Movements of a Visionary 
4. Sequent c'

I know I will be revealing my nerdiness to a damning degree here when I say this, but if planet Hoth had a soundtrack, it would be this album.  The whole album has a very ice planet feel, for those that don't speak geek.  I have no idea why it is an ice planet and not just another planet but to answer that, you have to listen to the album.

The entire album is synthesized weird noises.  It sounds like that would get obnoxious but it actually is soothing (and only 30 minutes).  Still, I don't know if semi relaxing noises has a place in this list.  But next time you want to listen to music to de stress, this is certainly a viable option.

RATING: 3/5

311. Country Life

Country Life
Roxy Music
1974

Tracks
1. Thrill Of It All
2. Three And Nine 
3. All I Want Is You 
4. Out Of The Blue 
5. If It Takes All Night 
6. Bittersweet 
7. Triptych 
8. Casanova 
9. Really Good Time 
10. Prairie Rose

Ah, Roxy Music we meet again.  I have been putting this off for a little while but right now I have a horrible cold and am lying in bed.  And what better way to get rid of a headache that listening to art rock?

I just don't get it.  I don't hate it, I just don't understand what the big fuss is about.  I feel the same way about The Great Gatsby and the board game Apples to Apples.  That is incredibly random but I am allowed to say whatever I want because this is my blog and I am sick.

I guess the most remarkable thing about this album is the cover; in fact, when I googled this album to learn more about the band, most of the search results were about the models.  All I thought about when I saw at the cover was how uncomfortable those women looked. God, men.

I didn't hate it and I even thought "Triptych" was a little catchy.  Still, people worship Roxy and I just don't understand why.  If anyone wants to explain it to me in the comments section, be my guest.

RATING: 2/5

Best song from the album:

310. Queen II

Queen II
Queen
1974

Tracks
1. Procession 
2. Father To Son 
3. White Queen (As It Began)
4. Some Day One Day 
5. Loser In The End 
6. Ogre Battle 
7. Fairy Feller's Master Stroke 
8. Nevermore 
9. March Of The Black Queen 
10. Funny How Love Is 
11. Seven Seas Of Rhye

I became mildly obsessed with the song "Somebody To Love" a couple years ago and that is pretty much the extent of my Queen knowledge.  As always, the list came through and helped me expand my knowledge of this band.

All right, so from reading about this album it sounds like Queen is more of a guilty pleasure for people than a revered band.  And, of course, since my taste has always been more pop than prog, I enjoyed it immensely.  It is just fun; a seamless combination of rock and metal. No song really stands out and it is certainly not the best I have heard, but it was an entertaining forty five minutes.

Check it out!

RATING: 4/5

Sorry for the short post: lots to do, lots to do.

309. Court and Spark

Court and Spark
Joni Mitchell
1974

Tracks
1. Court And Spark
2. Help Me 
3. Free Man In Paris 
4. People's Parties
5. Same Situation 
6. Car On A Hill
7. Down To You
8. Just Like This Train
9. Raised On Robbery
10. Trouble Child 
11. Twisted

Joni Mitchell seems to get on everyone's nerves but my own.  My sister even does a rather cruel (but accurate) impression of her.  Even people who like some of her songs have trouble listening to her voice for a full album.  Nico has the same problem.

Well, maybe I just like weird voices because I loved this album.  I think her unique voice keeps the album interesting.  It is also not as depressing as Blue, though not quite as good. Apparently her career went into a bit of an artistic decline after this album, although I don't know this for sure since I am still stuck in 1974.  I could Google it but….nah.  Too lazy.

RATING: 5/5

308. It's Too Late To Stop Now

It's Too Late To Stop Now
Van Morrison
1974

Tracks
1. Ain't Nothin' You Can Do
2. Warm Love 
3. Into The Mystic 
4. These Dreams Of You 
5. I Believe To My Soul 
6. I've Been Working 
7. Help Me 
8. Wild Children 
9. Domino 
10. I Just Want To Make Love To You 
11. Bring It On Home To Me 
12. Saint Dominic's Preview 
13. Take Your Hands Out Of My Pocket 
14. Listen To The Lion 
15. Here Comes The Night 
16. Gloria 
17. Caravan 
18. Cypress Avenue

Happy New Year everyone!  Well, my goal last year with this blog was to get to 506.  That would have worked out if I listened to an album everyday.  So I was a tad bit off in my calculations.  Still, I am going to make an effort to have music in my life everyday this year. We shall see.

In the mean time, I have been listening to this album for about two weeks.  It is extremely long and I haven't had a ton of free time.  Most people's experience with Van Morrison is the song "Brown Eyed Girl" which I think is one of the most annoying songs of all time.  Still, I found myself liking this album.  The song "I Just Want To Make Love To You" was extremely catchy and fun.

A little too long but still a good time.  Insert dirty joke here.

RATING: 4/5

307. Autobahn

Autobahn
Kraftwerk
1974

Tracks
1. Autobahn 
2. Kometenmelodie 1 
3. Kometenmelodie 2 
4. Mitternacht 
5. Morgenspaziergang

Well, that was exceptionally strange.  Fortunately, I like experiencing weird new things (you have to if you want to try any of the 1001 lists).

For my non German readers, Autobahn refers to the German highways.  Apparently, the song "Autobahn" is supposed to make you feel like you are riding that highway.  I mean, if you riding the highway but there were a bunch of synthesizers on the side of the road.

So, obviously, I couldn't understand anything that was being said.  But it really doesn't matter.  I am not a big instrumental album fan but this was absolutely incredible.  This is definitely a huge musical leap from folksy people singing with a guitar.  There are some strange moments but overall really enjoyable and fun.

RATING: 5/5

306. 461 Ocean's Boulevard

461 Ocean's Boulevard
Eric Clapton
1974

Tracks
1. Motherless Children 
2. Give Me Strength 
3. Willie And The Hand Jive 
4. Get Ready
5. I Shot The Sheriff 
6. I Can't Hold Out 
7. Please Be With Me 
8. Let It Grow 
9. Steady Rollin' Man 
10. Mainline Florida

I loved this album and I was really pleased with myself for liking it.  I mean, Eric Clapton is a big name, right?  Look at me, actually enjoying the classics!

Then I did some research on this album and found out that everyone actually hated this album.  Apparently, Eric Clapton made incredibly racist remarks and is an overall douche.  In this album, he kind of channeled some Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder into his albums, which makes people really mad.

Well, the comments he made are certainly disgusting but sometimes we have to separate the art from the man.  I thought this albums was really catchy and fun (though Marley does "I Shot The Sheriff" better).  "Let It Grow" is a really sweet song that The Book compares to "Stairway to Heaven".  So I hate the guy but love the album, even if it feels like exploitation a bit.

RATING: 4/5