A Century of Music

[Unsomnambulist]

Instead of Gwyneth, Fiona Apple always reminded me of a happier Alanis Morissette (granted a rare thing)

Except Fiona probably understands what irony is.

 

[axolotl]

Except Fiona probably understands what irony is.

Anyone who names a album The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do understands irony quite well.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Brian Wilson - Smile (2004)

I'm curious what @Ojai Sam (probably our biggest Beach Boys fan) thought when Brian Wilson presented his version of Smile (and also when the Smile Sessions came out as a box set years after that). As one of those mythical unreleased album that was suspected in the 60s to be the best thing ever, was it better to keep the idea of the album in one's head or to get a final product that (while clearly not what it would've been originally) to me is a bit underwhelming. I guess if the original Smile had been released, THAT would have been the forum for "Good Vibration" and "Heroes and Villains" so maybe I'm marking it down a bit unfairly as those songs are known as released in other forums. Still, sometimes the myth is greater that the reality.

As my uncle Claudius (the classical scholar) used to say, a myth is as good as a mile.

Not to overanalyze, but for me the Smile Sessions seemed to reflect Brian's increasing detachment from reality. I enjoyed his 2004 reconstruction more than the original sessions. Given his difficulties during that time period, he deserved a lot of credit for even dragging this material out of the closet to finish. But it still sounded almost embarrassingly self-indulgent, like baby pictures best left in a box on the shelf next to the bronze shoes.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

A bit of catch up posting, but I have been slowly listening to the music of 2006 this week
Started with my playlist of singles/songs from the year on Monday/Tuesday including artists like Amy Winehouse, Gnarls Barkley, Justin Timberlake, Muse, Beyonce, Shakira, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly Furtado, Weird Al ("White and Nerdy"), Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Akon, Band of Horses, Fergie, Pink, Arctic Monkeys, and Beyonce

 

[axolotl]

A bit of catch up posting, but I have been slowly listening to the music of 2006 this week
Started with my playlist of singles/songs from the year on Monday/Tuesday including artists like Amy Winehouse, Gnarls Barkley, Justin Timberlake, Muse, Beyonce, Shakira, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly Furtado, Weird Al ("White and Nerdy"), Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Akon, Band of Horses, Fergie, Pink, Arctic Monkeys, and Beyonce

This is all at home, right?

P. S. So, you listened to Beyonce twice and everything else once. Good move.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Yesterday:
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not (2006)
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (2006)
Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)

Though limited listening Wednesday, was excited about spinning the Arctic Monkeys and Amy Winehouse albums as both with probably appear in my top 5 for the decade (definitely top 10)

At time Joanna Newson's Ys sounds like the unique indie folk album that got so much critical love in 2006. Other times, it sounds like it would be very effective at extracting information from political prisoners. Jeez, even the troubadours of old wouldn't go on for 17 minutes.

Fun fact you probably know but that I just discovered this year: Newson is married to SNL/Brooklyn Nine Nine star Andy Samberg

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

This is all at home, right?

P. S. So, you listened to Beyonce twice and everything else once. Good move.

I like Beyonce

This reminds me of the Blazing Saddles exchange:
Rape, murder, arson, and rape.
Hedley Lamarr: You said rape twice.
I like rape

Not sure that joke elicits the same chuckle it once did (or at least one would admit it does)

Good pick up, Axo, on the old type, but actually I did spin a couple songs by her and by several of these artists

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Definitely a fuller day of listening today to 2006 albums

Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther (2006)
Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations (2006)
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (2006)

Not much of a surprise to those who know me that I enjoy the Springsteen or even The Decemberists album from 2006, but (though I haven't broken it out in awhile), Midlake's album is one of my faves of the year. Has such a great sound and stands above a lot of the indie albums of the era IMO - I guess it's not such a surprise as it almost has a 70s California, yacht rock vibe

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (2006)
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (2006)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

OK, after the usual song playlist on Monday of the year 2007, started on the albums of the year:
Yesterday's albums:
Bruce Springsteen - Magic (2007)
The White Stripes - Icky Thumb (2007)
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand (2007)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

And today's albums:

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Some thoughts about 2007 so far (and not done with it yet) - some real enjoyable listens this year. As I mentioned before there was kind of a dead zone of listening in the 2000s, but when I joined the MG in 2009, many of 2007 albums were still being discussed and listened to regularly by members. Most of the albums of 2007 are not the "best albums" by the groups (Radiohead IMO, Arctic Monkeys, White Stripes, Springsteen and looking ahead Arcade Fire and Kanye), but they are really good listens that perhaps don't get broken out (by me at least) as some of each group's/artist's bigger releases. Add to these debuts by Bon Iver and MGMT that were unique in their own sound and a wonderful rootsy albums by Plant/Krauss and you've got yourself a pretty strong year.

In fact listening again, I like Icky Thump and Favourite Worst Nightmare even better than before. MGMT's album too (had not appealed to me as much in the past).

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Several albums over the past couple of days to wrap up 2007:

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007)
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)
Kanye West - Graduation (2007)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (2007)
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)
M.I.A. - Kala (2007)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

So after a 2008 playlist on Monday (as usual), started 2008 albums today:

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (2008)
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)
Lady Gaga - The Fame (2008)
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely (2008)

Gonna try to stay on schedule with 2008 though away through weekend after tomorrow afternoon. Should be able to get in some assorted listens.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

TV on the Radio - Dear Science (2008)
Portishead - Third (2008)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig!!! (2008)

Some 2008 albums I was able to spin while away - gonna try to finish 2008 this year amidst St. Paddy's Day listening

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Yesterday:
Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
The Black Keys - Attack & Release (2008)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Finishing up 2008:

Beck - Modern Guilt (2008)
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (2008)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Starting the year 2009 today with my 2009 song playlist. Lots of artists including Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, The Black Eyed Peas, Keisha, Flo Rida, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Phoenix, Dirty Projectors, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Avett Brothers, Eminem, Mumford & Sons

As I've mentioned before - joined the MG in 2009 and, at the time, this introduced me to a lot of the albums of this era. Excited to get to some of them tomorrow.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Some 2009 albums spun in the past couple of days:

Fun - Aim and Ignite (2009)
Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11 (2009)
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More (2009)
The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You (2009)
Florence + the Machine - Lungs (2009)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (2009)
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
Yeah Yeah Yeah - It's Blitz (2009)

After listening to some of my personal 2009 faves (that I still break out today), turned to some of the year's most critically acclaimed albums (Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective are typically at the top of 2009 lists depending on the list). Gained a new appreciation of Veckatimest that I had not had in past listens (which granted were several years ago) - can an album name actually turn one off an album btw. I have a feeling I'll be revisiting this one a bit more than I have. It's Blitz too

OTOH, my listen of Merriweather Post Pavilion (an album which I have spun in recent years) only confirms my views that it's overrated - zzzzz!