365. Zombie

Zombie
Fela Kuti and The Africa '70
1976

Tracks
1. Zombie
2. Mister Follow Follow

Ladies and gentlemen, I have posted twice in one week.  Don't call me a hero.   If you absolutely have to call me that make sure I am within hearing distance.

After a string of great albums, we get to this one, which was somewhat of a dud for me.  Thirty minutes of essentially the same song was a bit tiresome.  However, with an album like this, enjoyment isn't exactly necessary.

This album evidently criticized the Nigerian government heavily (it's a bit hard to divine this meaning after just one listening).  Consequently, Fela Kuti's mother was murdered and his commune was destroyed by Nigerian soldiers.

I didn't enjoy this album.  However, listening to it, and remembering what it cost to make, is an important experience that I think we should all have.

RATING: 3/5

364. The Ramones

The Ramones

The Ramones

1976

Tracks

1. Blitzkrieg Bop 
2. Beat On The Brat 
3. Judy Is A Punk 
4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend 
5. Chainsaw 
6. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue 
7. I Don't Wanna Go Down In The Basement 
8. Loud Mouth 
9. Havana Affair 
10. Listen To My Heart 
11. 53rd And 3rd 
12. Let's Dance 
13. I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You 
14. Today Your Love Tomorrow The World

I know a lot of my readers have been scanning this blog lately, trying to find at least one artist or album that they recognize and can actually enjoy reading about. So here is a band that we probably all know and like.  I say we probably all like them because the song "I Wanna Be Sedated" is damn infectious and anyone who says differently will  be on the receiving end of a hissy fit by yours truly.

Anyway, I never actually heard any of their other songs.  I only heard the above one because the character Spike in Buffy The Vampire Slayer mentioned it and in my effort to be his perfect woman, I looked it up.

Everyone, including me, seems to agree that all of their songs sound the same.  Well, at least the melody they keep repeating over and over again is fun.  I do have to say there are some subtle differences; at least, enough for me to decide that "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" is my favorite.

I will dock one star for their lack of originality but honestly, I had a lot of fun with this one.  Definitely worth a listen and hey, it is only 29 minutes of your life.

RATING: 4/5

Does anyone know all the lyrics to "I Wanna Be Sedated"?  I can only repeat the title in an endless loop!

363. Oxygene

Oxygene
Jean-Michel Jarre
1976

Tracks
1. Oxygene I
2. Oxygene II
3. Oxygene III
4. Oxygene IV
5. Oxygene V
6. Oxygene VI

We have been hit with a lot of instrumental albums lately and I have to say, I have been enjoying the ride.  Whenever someone says "electronica" I usually picture weird guys in their basement playing with their keyboard's sound effects.  However, this was pretty beautiful album; it was certainly better than some symphonies I have heard.

I don't really have a whole lot to say about this album.  It is pretty hard to tell the tracks apart, but every once awhile you will hear a melody that is truly gorgeous.  I was writing at the time and had to stop sometimes just to sit and listen.

I hope this string of good albums doesn't end soon; if you are looking for a good rant, however, check out my movie blogs.  We are in a real slump over there.

RATING: 4/5

362. Music From the Penguin Cafe

Music From the Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
1976

Tracks
1. Penguin Cafe Single 
2. From The Colonies
3. In A Sydney Motel
4. Surface Tension (Where The Trees Meet The Sky) 
5. Milk 
6. Coronation 
7. Giles Farnaby's Dream 
8. Pigtail
9. The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter
10. Hugebaby
11. Chartered Flight

As I have been explaining (whining about) on my other blogs, I recently had ankle and foot surgery.  I am not allowed to put weight on my right leg for seven more weeks.  You would think that since I am in bed all day I would be posting three albums daily.  However, I have been napping and aching so much that I haven't really had time. Today, though, I was ready to give this album a try and I am so happy that I did.

"Penguin Cafe Single" immediately put me in a good mood.  I know I am always complaining about an album's lyrics, whether because they are incoherent or simply poorly written, but I was quite content that only a few of these tracks had words.  I am a huge fan of the cello and the violin, both of which were featured prominently.

The Book mentioned that this was an important album for the progression of pop.  Maybe that is why I liked it so much, since I love pop.  

I think this is an album that will please the music snobs and well...people like me.  I will say that I think the first half was a lot stronger than the second, but the entire album still deserves five stars.

I will try to get back on here soon; I am trying to do a rotation of books, movies, and albums since each post wears me out.

RATING: 5/5

361. Mothership Connection

Mothership Connection
Parliament
1976

Tracks
1. P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) 
2. Mothership Connection (Starchild) 
3. Unfunky UFO 
4. Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication 
5. Handcuffs 
6. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) 
7. Night Of The Thumpasorus People

I apologize for not posting in awhile.  It was partly due to personal stuff that I don't want to whine about here, but mostly due to the fact that listening to an album with a song called "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication" on it didn't make it high on my to do list.  

This album really has nothing to offer but quintessential funk.  There is absolutely original in this album, which is perfectly fine if you are a funk fan.  I, however, am not and after five minutes of "Give Up The Funk" which essentially repeats the same verse over and over again, I was ready toss my laptop out of the conveniently open window next to me.

I simply don't like funk that much, so I was set against this album from the beginning.  However, I will not entirely excuse this album since I think great music transcends genres.  And believe me, there was nothing great about this album.

RATING: 2/5

360. Rocks

Rocks
Aerosmith
1976

Tracks
1. Back in the Saddle 
2. Last Child 
3. Rats in the Cellar 
4. Combination 
5. Sick as a Dog 
6. Nobody's Fault 
7. Get the Lead Out 
8. Lick and a Promise 
9. Home Tonight

This is Aerosmith's second chance to wow us.  The first time I was impressed by how catchy all the songs were but the lyrics left a bit to be desired.  This time, the songs were even less entertaining and there is even less meaning in the lyrics.

"Back in the Saddle" is about...what you would expect and is treated with as much delicacy and beauty as the movie American Pie treated women.  I am not saying that we have have to treat it with Victorian delicacy, but I was definitely cringing throughout the song.

Then we hit all the other points of general debauchery and overall, it is just quite boring.  I have heard that Aerosmith just gets worse and worse, but I was hoping we could put it off, at least for a little while.

RATING: 2/5

359. Joan Armatrading

Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
1976

Tracks
1. Down To Zero
2. Help Yourself
3. Water With The Wine
4. Love And Affection
5. Save Me
6. Join The Boys
7. People
8. Somebody Who Loves You
9. Like Fire
10. Tall In The Saddle

As soon as I started listening to this album, I was smiling.  This is a really fantastic album and it is a shame that more people haven't heard of her.

I am going to make this review nice and short, since my stress level is starting to reach an alarming height.  

Upon the release of this album, it was said that "we now have a black artist in Britain with the same sort of vocal range, originality (in fact even greater originality in terms of musical influences) and lyrical sensitivity as Joni Mitchell".  It is exciting to listen to a black female artist (have we had one since Sarah Vaughn?) and even more exciting to hear her compared to one of my favorite female artists.

"Down to Zero" is, of course, a great track but I was really intrigued with "Water With The Wine".  It is extremely catchy, albeit a bit alarming.  Everything was consensual...right?

Just a beautiful album that deserves its place in our list and our hearts (groan, I hate that I wrote that!).

RATING: 5/5