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