407. Public Image

Public Image
Public Image Ltd.
1978

Tracks
1. Theme 
2. Religion 1 
3. Religion 2 
4. Annalisa 
5. Public Image 
6. Low Life
7. Attack 
8. Fodderstompf 

Is it odd that I enjoy punk a lot more than post punk?  Shouldn't post punk be an improvement?  I can't help feeling we are moving in the opposite direction.  Although considering the dip that music takes in the eighties, I suppose it is something I should get used to.

I guess I can't really claim that the Sex Pistols' lyrics were that much better than this.  At least that just felt like the band was telling us they were angry that they had no future.  I felt like Public Image was trying to teach me something.  The "Religion" tracks were all about how hypocritical organized religions are.  I am aware.  In fact, I think every is aware of that fact by high school.  It just sounded very juvenile to me.

Of course, in "Fodderstompf" they get this lyric in "We only wanted to finish the album with the minimum amount of effort which we are now doing very successfully."  I found this lyric to be very cowardly. If you are making something, you should stand by it.  I just think if you make something that someone doesn't like, your response shouldn't be "well, I really didn't try anyway."

RATING: 1/5

406. Duck Stab!

Duck Stab!
The Residents
1978

Tracks
1. Constantinople
2. Sinister Exaggerator
3. Booker Tease
4. Blue Rosebuds
5. Laughing Song
6. Bach Is Dead
7. Elvis and His Boss
8. Lizard Lady
9. Semolina
10. Birthday Boy
11. Weight Lifting Lula
12. Krafty Cheese
13. Hello Skinny
14. Electrocutioner

I really don't know what to say about this one.  I try and I try with this Book.  But honestly, how I possibly supposed to enjoy this?  For those of you who don't know (oh how I envy your ignorance) this could essentially be described as a horror album.  They speak in cartoonish voices and do their best to scare the pants off of you.  For example, in Birthday Boy the song sounds like the recording of a birthday party where all the guests were massacred.  Ugh.

I looked into this band and I think I threw my neck out rolling my eyes (seriously, if you are not using your neck when you do it, you aren't doing it right).  Apparently this band is an "art collective" which tries to maintain an air of anonymity.  They wear tuxedos, eyeball helmets, and top hats.  They have released over 60 albums, heaven help us, and produce short movies.  Pretentious doesn't even begin to cover it.

I suppose no one actually listens to this music for fun.  There must be something else they get out of it, like when I force myself to watch upsetting documentaries.  I just have no idea what it is.

RATING: 1/5

405. Third/Sister Lovers

Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
1978

Tracks
1. Kizza Me 
2. Thank You Friends 
3. Big Black Car 
4. Jesus Christ 
5. Femme Fatale
6. O, Dana 
7. Holocaust 
8. Kangaroo 
9. Stroke It Noel 
10. For You 
11. You Can't Have Me 
12. Nightime 
13. Blue Moon 
14. Take Care 
15. Nature Boy 
16. Till The End Of The Day 
17. Dream Lover
18. Downs 
19. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 

I had never heard of Big Star before and was a bit wary of an album that had a song called "Holocaust" on it.  There were a few tracks I could have done without, and quite a few unnecessary covers, but it was overall a lot less frightening that I expected.

Every time I was truly impressed with the lyrics, I would look up the song and it would be a cover.  The band clearly has good taste, as they take songs from Nat King Cole and the Velvet Underground, but I still don't think a 1001 album should have so many unoriginal songs, especially when they weren't doing anything particularly inspired with their source material.

I am bitching quite a lot; I actually did enjoy this album.  The singers certainly have charisma.  And you know what?  "Holocaust" wasn't that bad!  Wait, let me rephrase that...

RATING: 4/5

404. Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts

Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
1978

Tracks
1. One Chord Wonders
2. Bored Teenagers
3. New Church
4. One the Roof
5. New Boys
6. Gary Gilmore's Eyes
7. Bombsite Boy
8. No Time to Be 21
9. Safety in Numbers
10. New Day Dawns
11. Drowning Men
12. On Wheels
13. Great British Mistake

Now this is finally some punk I can get into.  The band has the same anger and frustration of the Sex Pistols but the musicians are actually talented!  This felt like one of the smartest albums I have heard in a long time.

The opening track is "One Chord Wonders" and immediately sets the tone of the album with lyrics like "I wonder how we'll answer when you say we don't like you, go away."  It's self deprecating, fun, and never falters.  The message in each of the songs are rather uninspired (everything is terrible blah blah blah), but that's punk for you.  I actually found the songs to be quite melodic, considering the genre.

A wonderful album that has completely reconsidering punk music.  And a female bassist?  How mythical.

RATING: 4/5

403. Honky Tonk Masquerade

Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
1978

Tracks
1. Cornbread Moon
2. Because of the Wind
3. Boxcars
4. Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)
5. Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown
6. Honky Tonk Masquerade
7. I'll Be Your Fool
8. Fingernails
9. West Texas Waltz
10. Honky Tonkin'

I don't think we have had an American album for awhile, but we return now to the United States and to a rather frightening genre from albums past: country music.  I know a lot of people absolutely hate country music.  When I have been on dates (I swear it does happen!) and casting around for conversations subjects, the question "what kind of music do you like?" always comes up.  I swear, every guy I have asked this question to has responded "anything but country."  Every.  Time.  When did people get so boring? 

Anyway, I think country music can be quite beautiful but it can also be the worst thing you've ever heard (after all these years, I haven't forgotten Louvin brothers).  Thankfully, this was somewhere in between.  Yes, there were a few things that made me cringe, like the beginning of the song "I'll Be Your Fool."  Overall, however, this album was a pleasant surprise, with smart lyrics and catchy melodies.  My favorite song was "Jericho" but this album doesn't actually have that many lows.

America didn't embarrass me that much with this album.  But we still have disco for that I suppose.

RATING: 3/5

402. All Mod Cons

All Mod Cons
The Jam
1978

Tracks
1. All Mod Cons
2. To Be Someone (Didn't We Have A Nice Time)
3. Mr Clean 
4. David Watts 
5. English Rose
6. In The Crowd 
7. Billy Hunt 
8. It's Too Bad
9. Fly 
10. Place I Love 
11. 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street
12. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

This is another fantastic album!  It makes me wonder if we are going to have a streak of brilliance, instead of duds!  Am I jinxing us?

I loved this album.  It was so delightfully British.  Although I don't know why anyone would be at tube stations at midnight; don't they stop running at 12:00?  Or perhaps I am betraying my own squareness by even asking such a question.  In any case, any sign of a mod revival excites me and I definitely got a strong Who vibe from this album.

Personally, I couldn't stop listening to the song "It's Too Bad" but lyrically, all of these songs are brilliant.  I suppose it's not a particularly new sound, but it is a damn fun one.

RATING: 4/5

401. This Year's Model

This Year's Model
Elvis Costello
1978

Tracks
1. No Action
2. This Year's Girl
3. Beat
4. Pump It Up
5. Little Triggers
6. You Belong To Me
7. Hand In Hand
8. I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea
9. Lip Service
10. Living In Paradise
11. Lipstick Vogue
12. Night Rally

I must confess, I wasn't overly impressed by The Only Ones and was hoping that the 400s would kick off on a higher note (that was a music pun for the people in the back).  However, this album more than made up for the meh quality of our previous entry.

Elvis Costello is back, ladies and gentlemen.  My frequent readers will recall that I absolutely loved My Aim is True.  This managed to be even more impressive.  While his previous album reminded me heavily of Buddy Holly, this sound was something entirely his own. I had this on while my sister was working and I kept exclaiming "No, wait!  This one is my favorite."  I think I might have deserved a punch to the face.

Is Costello punk?  I am probably betraying my own ignorance with this question (although that ship might have sailed already).  But this album had a really punk feel to it, just a tad more intelligent lyrics wise.  

RATING: 5/5