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

305. Fulfillingness' First Finale

Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
1974

Tracks
1. Smile Please
2. Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away
3. Too Shy To Say
4. Boogie On Reggae Woman
5. Creepin'
6. You Haven't Done Nothin'
7. It Ain't No Use 
8. They Won't Go When I Go
9. Bird Of Beauty
10. Please Don't Go

Another great Stevie Wonder album on the list.   This man seriously can do no wrong.  And he just keeps getting better; this album topped them all.

The songs are great and catchy, my favorite being "Please Don't Go".  They also contain a message; on YouTube I saw several videos for "You Haven't Done Nothin'" accompanied by pictures of George Bush.  This is really proof that the songs are as relevant today as they were then.  

The album also is really cheerful and just altogether perfect. Check it out!

RATING: 5/5

304. Inspiration Information

Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
1974

Tracks
1. Inspiration Information
2. Island Letter
3. Sparkle City
4. Aht Uh Mi Hed
5. Happy House
6. Rainy Day
7. XL-30
8. Pling!
9. Not Available

All right, first of all: who the hell has heard of Shuggie Otis?  This is one of those picks from the list that will no doubt fuel my dad's opinion that this list is incredibly pretentious since I guess this guy was never popular to the masses.  At least we have avoided disco so far, that is all I have to say.

Anyway, I think the reason this album is so obscure is just because it is so…meh.  There is some mildly interesting psychedelic funk in this album but, come on Shuggie, get with the program.  This is no longer 1967.

Not astonishing, not awful.  Will most likely forget about it in two to three weeks.

RATING: 3/5

303. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Genesis
1974

Tracks
1. Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 
2. Fly on a Windshield 
3. Broadway Melody of 1974 
4. Cuckoo Cocoon
5. In the Cage 
6. Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging 
7. Back in N.Y.C. 
8. Hairless Heart
9. Counting out Time 
10. Carpet Crawlers 
11. Chamber of 32 Doors
12. Lilywhite Lilith 
13. Waiting Room 
14. Anyway 
15. Supernatural Anaesthetist 
16. Lamia 
17. Silent Sorrow in Empty Boat
18. Colony of Slippermen: The Arrival/A Visit to the Doktor/The Raven
19. Ravine 
20. Light Dies Down on Broadway 
21. Riding the Scree 
22. In the Rapids 
23. It

I have been in a really bad mood today; it is one of those days where every task you set out to do somehow turns into five impossible ones.  Of course, I had three sugar cookies to calm me down, but I thought music would be better able to calm my nerves.  This is when my handy book comes in.

This is the last Genesis album in the book.  Evidently, I was supposed to be saddened by that fact.  Instead, I thought to myself "Have I listened to any Genesis albums yet?".  Two, actually.  Not exactly a lifelong bond.

Anyway, this is one of those concept albums that scare me.  I have hated concept albums ever since I listened to Tommy many moons ago.  Actually, I only knew it was a concept album because I read about it.  I have no clue what the story was supposed to be.

This is actually not too bad.  Sure, you get a little pretentiousness; I mean, it is prog rock after all.  Still, some melodies were pretty catchy and Peter Gabriel has some great vocals. Check it out.

RATING: 3/5