373. Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue
Electric Blue Orchestra
1977

Tracks
1. Turn To Stone
2. It's Over
3. Sweet Talkin' Woman
4. Across The Border
5. Night In The City
6. Starlight
7. Jungle
8. Believe Me Now
9. Steppin' Out
10. Standin' In The Rain (Concerto For A Rainy Day)
11. Big Wheels
12. Summer And Lightning
13. Mr. Blue Sky
14. Sweet Is The Night
15. Whale
16. Birmingham Blues 
17. Wild West Hero

This post probably came from out of the blue, since I haven't written in awhile.  I would promise to not make awful puns anymore, but unfortunately, it happens often and when you least expect it.  Stay alert and travel in pairs, people.

When I hear the word "orchestra" I think of symphonies and old men glaring at me because I clapped before the set was over (which is just wishful thinking to the point of idiocy).  However, to my great relief, it was pretty much a typical progressive rock album.  Actually, some of the tracks didn't even sound that progressive; they felt like they could be unpopular Beach Boys songs.

The whole thing was rather unremarkable.  And what is with the cover art?  With art like that, there should have been some cheesy space sound effects. I mean, I would have complained about that too but at least there wouldn't be consistency issues.

Easily skippable.  I promise I will try to write more than once in a blue moon.  That was the last one, I swear.

RATING: 3/5

372. Exodus

Exodus
Bob Marley and the Wailers
1977

Tracks
1. Natural Mystic 
2. So Much Things To Say
3. Guiltiness 
4. Heathen 
5. Exodus 
6. Jammin' 
7. Waiting In Vain 
8. Turn Your Lights Down Low 
9. Three Little Birds 
10. One Love/People Get Ready

I am devoting this entire day to my blogs, since I have been far behind on all of them.  This project usually ends up being the neglected middle child in my blog family since it has the least amount of readers, but this time I am writing this review before I work on my movie blog.  The scrap of attention that I am throwing it will ensure years of therapy as it tries to work out if I may have loved it after all.

Most of these songs are recognizable, particularly "Three Little Birds".  The most beautiful song on this album was by far "One Love/People Get Ready".  I was really blown away by the vocals, which is something I really don't expect with a Marley album.

This is such an improvement from previous Marley albums and I am trying to figure out why.  The political messages are still there, but I felt like they flowed a lot better with the melodies.  It really felt like art; not propaganda.

An absolutely beautiful, must-hear album.

RATING: 4/5

One Love/People Get Ready:

371. The Stranger

The Stranger
Billy Joel
1977

Tracks
1. Moving Out
2. Just The Way You Are
3. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
4. Vienna
5. Stranger
6. Only The Good Die Young
7. She's Always A Woman
8. Get It Right The First Time
9. Everybody Has A Dream

I expected to absolutely love this album because who doesn't love Billy Joel?  I dare anyone to hear "Only the Good Die Young" on the radio and not sing along.  It will like the Ice Bucket challenge but more interesting to watch.  However, with the exception of "Moving Out", I got a pretty sexist vibe from this album without the benefit of any good beats.

Younger people will probably immediately think of Bruno Mars when they hear the song title "Just the Way You Are".  For the unaware, Mars' song describes how beautiful his girlfriend is, even though she doesn't always think so.  Joel's song, though, has a slightly less touching vibe.  Here are some of the lyrics:

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

Is he calling her stupid?  Or I am being sensitive?  Will his next song be about how women are really sensitive?  He is still doing music, right?

"Only the Good Die Young" is such a fun song that it makes up for the rest of the album being blah.  Almost.

RATING: 3/5

370. Trans-Europa Express

Trans-Europa Express
Kraftwerk
1977

Tracks
1. Europa Endlos 
2. Spiegelsaal 
3. Schaufensterpuppen 
4. Trans Europa Express 
5. Metall Auf Metall 
6. Abzug
7. Franz Schubert 
8. Endlos Endlos

I was only about two minutes into this album when my sister shouted from the other room that she hated it.  Unfortunately, that was the best part of the album so hopefully, the pointed door slam and the subsequent lack of complaining means that she was able to block it out.  I was not so lucky and had to listen to the whole thing.

There are two different types of this album, the English and the German version.  I listened to the English one, since I am pretty sure that is what the book was referring to.  However, I suppose for a more "authentic" experience, you should listen to the German one.

Did anyone else find the mirror song incredibly annoying?  How many times were they going to repeat the same line? The few mildly entertaining melodies surely weren't worth that!

RATING: 2/5

369. Before and After Science

Before and After Science
Brian Frampton
1977

Tracks
1. No One Receiving
2. Backwater
3. Kurt's Rejoinder 
4. Energy Fools The Magician
5. King's Lead Hat
6. Here He Comes
7. Julie With...
8. By This River 
9. Through Hollow Lands
10. Spider And I

WE HAVE FINALLY HIT 1977!  I think I have spent more that an actual year on 1976 which is just plain odd when you think about it.  Our first introduction into 1977 is a really pretentious ark rock album by Brian Eno!  Time to find the nearest window that unlocks.

We have had a few experiences before Brian Eno and I recall thinking that he was overrated and all over the place.  Now, with a bit more experience with experimental music, I found him to be a lot more tame and a lot less remarkable than before.

"Julie With" has absolutely beautiful lyrics but its lack of a memorable melody makes it pretty forgettable.  I actually felt that way about all of the tracks: good lyrics and good music were pretty much mutually exclusive.

So I still got the scattered feeling but none of the potential intrigue.  Thumbs down.

RATING: 2/5

368. Frampton Comes Alive!

Frampton Comes Alive!
Peter Frampton
1976

Tracks
1. Baby Something's Happening 
2. Doobie Wah 
3. Show Me The Way
4. It's A Plain Shame 
5. All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
6. Wind Of Change 
7. Baby I Love Your Way 
8. I Wanna Go To The Sun 
9. Penny For Your Thoughts 
10. I'll Give You Money 
11. Shine On 
12. Jumpin' Jack Flash 
13. Lines On My Face
14. Do You Feel Like We Do

Has it really been around a month since I posted?  Rest assured, I am never going to give up on this journey but I am definitely slowing down.  Between physical therapy and trying to fit in my other blogs, I have had a bit of a hard time settling down to listen to anything.  I will try harder to post but as I don't exactly have a large fan base on this blog, it may fall by the wayside again.

Let's get to Frampton, shall we?  I have a personal prejudice about live albums, so right off the bat I was wary.  I don't like listening to the crowd sing lines of songs or excessively long applauses.  I understand why people like being able to experience the energy of venues, but I don't even like real concerts.  They are loud and parking is always a nightmare.  But I digress.

I don't really have too much to say on this album.  I felt like if any of the songs on this album played on the radio, I wouldn't immediately change the station.  Still, no song was that memorable or grabbing.  

I have done some research on Frampton and apparently, a lot of people think he is cheesy. Maybe he is a bit, but I think you can still always have fun with that.  Better cheesy than annoyingly pretentious like some of the other "artists" we have had to deal with here.

RATING: 3/5

Side note: the person who wrote the entry for this album in The Book ended the passage by saying "We are not worthy!"  Dramatic, much?

367. Songs in the Key of Life

Songs in the Key of Life
Stevie Wonder
1976

Tracks

1 Love's in Need of Love Today
2 Have a Talk With God
3 Village Ghetto Land
4 Confusion
5 Sir Duke
6 I Wish
7 Knocks Me off My Feet
8 Pastime Paradise
9 Summer Soft
10 Ordinary Pain
11 Isn't She Lovely
12 Joy Inside My Tears
13 Black Man
14 Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing
15 If It's Magic
16 As 
17 Another Star
18 Saturn
19 Ebony Eyes
20 All Day Sucker
21 Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)


Now we finally get an album that most people have actually heard; in fact, it would be almost impossible to have never heard the song "Isn't She Lovely".  Happily, I think we have finally gotten to the point today when everyone realizes it is a song for a baby so everybody can stop playing it at their weddings and looking like morons.

I don't know if any album should be as long as this one.  It is around an hour and twenty minutes which is just way too long for me to listen to anything, even the sweet, sweet sound of Stevie Wonder's voice.

It is kind of a given that this album is beautiful, given the talent of Stevie Wonder.  Before I listened to it, though, I did a little research and after all the gushing I read, I was a bit disappointed.  I suppose it is impossible not to be disappointed when there is that much hype.  Still, was anyone else bored by the end?  Like I said an hour and twenty freaking minutes of the same style and voice!  Am I alone in this?

RATING: 3/5