581. Guitar Town

Guitar Town
Steve Earle
1986

Tracks
1. Guitar Town
2. Goodbye's All We've Got Left
3. Hillbilly Highway
4. Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)
5. My Old Friend The Blues
6. Someday
7. Think It Over
8. Fearless Heart
9. Little Rock 'N' Roller
10. Down The Road

I am attempting to get more writing done during the week by shaking up my writing routine. This involves putting an album on in the morning, writing for the entire length of the album, that swinging around here to share my thoughts about it, all before the work day begins. Consequently, this would mean increasing my speed through the List, and maybe finishing this project within the next couple years. We'll see how it goes.

I wouldn't consider myself the biggest country fan, but the mention of the genre does not induce sudden spasms in me, like the mention of metal. But there is actually some country that is quite good, this just, unfortunately, isn't it.

There are a couple of decent tracks on this album, mostly when he sounds like someone else, like Bruce Springsteen in "Someday" and Johnny Cash in "Fearless Heart." Songs like "Hillybilly Highway," though, can be wholeheartedly skipped.

New writing routine, new me! Tomorrow is a metal reggae album. That's just...great.

RATING: 3/5

336. Pieces of the Sky

Pieces of the Sky
Emmylou Harris
1975

Tracks
1. Bluebird Wine 
2. Too Far Gone 
3. If I Could Only Win Your Love
4. Boulder To Birmingham 
5. Before Believing
6. Bottle Let Me Down 
7. Sleepless Nights 
8. Coat Of Many Colors 
9. For No One 
10. Queen Of The Silver Dollar

Well I am sick with some cold that seems designed to make me as unattractive as possible (we are talking Gollum voice and runny and raw nose).  Subsequently, I missed a fun family dinner and spent my Saturday night listening to this album and I have to say, there are worse ways to spend your time.

I loved Emmylou's voice; it was very unique and interesting.  My main problem with this album is the backing vocals, which seemed to be mostly comprised of men.  I would have preferred to just hear her voice; the backing vocals seemed to transform the ballads into songs that almost sounded like hymns.

I was pleased to see that the album contained a few love songs, my favorite being "Too Far Gone".  It was kind of refreshing to get such personal songs; I am used to songs about how much society sucks: we are in the seventies after all.

This is not necessarily my genre of choice but it was a good album that I would definitely recommend.

RATING: 4/5

Too Far Gone:

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

271. Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd

Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
1973

Tracks
1. I Ain't The One 
2. Tuesday's Gone 
3. Gimme Three Steps 
4. Simple Man 
5. Things Goin' On 
6. Mississippi Kid 
7. Poison Whiskey 
8. Freebird

This has been a bit of a crazy day with my sister moving away (once again) and lots of ice cream to make up for it.  I started this album a couple days and haven't been able to get back into it until today.  Actually, correction: I am still not into it but I finished it at least.

So country rock is kicking off 1973 for us.  This is certainly an improvement from the bluegrass shit we have heard previously but I still am simply not a country fan.  That makes me biased when reviewing albums like this but screw it; it is my blog.

The most famous track, of course, is "Freebird" and they have a few other fairly decent songs here.  Still, I fundamentally don't like the genre.  If you do, go die in a hole.  Or just listen to this album.

RATING: 2/5