What are you listening to? May 2018

[Old Uncle Toe]

Yeah, most time as we all know, remakes are a bad idea...

When I read that, my mind slung to After The Goldrush with Dolly Parton on lead vocal. I have so much love and respect for the three artists that I won't comment further. I will say that the first Trio album was fantastic and pushed me to buy the second one, which was mostly very good.

Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton - Trio II

 

[lpfreak1170]

Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer (2018)

Parts of this are very Prince-like. Other parts are reminiscent of late-80s-through-the-90s R&B. And still other parts are similar to her previous albums.

Once again, a well done album that fans of her previous albums will enjoy.

Listening to this now. Some very good songs on here.

 

[Ojai Sam]

When I read that, my mind slung to After The Goldrush with Dolly Parton on lead vocal. I have so much love and respect for the three artists that I won't comment further. I will say that the first Trio album was fantastic and pushed me to buy the second one, which was mostly very good.

Unfortunately, "After The Goldrush" wasn't Dolly's biggest faux pas in the cover department. Behold "Stairway To Heaven", done up bluegrass style:

View album 12
Not on Spotify, and I can sure see why.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Christopher Teret & Stephanie Rabins - Chris And Stephanie Predicted The Whole Civil War (Mountain Collective For Independent Artists 2001)

Dark acoustic folk duet accompanied mostly by their own fiddle and guitar. Powerful stuff. I don't remember why I dug this out of the vault but I'm mighty glad I did. In fact, I'm going to track down the other issues from this defunct label based in the mountains of Brooklyn, NY.

RIYL Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Black Francis - Abbabubba (2010)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Vijay Iyer - Far From Over (2017)

 

[Ojai Sam]

It's 1975 day! (only official in Zeeba-land ) -

Starting a day with a playlist of every number one hit on the year. The hits are a perfect example of the wacky and wild variety of 70s radio music from cool soul to horrible schmaltz. Although my sentimentality to the era has me enjoying more than many normally would, even my ears can't take some of it

Songs we might all enjoy include:
"You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt
"Fire" by Ohio Players
"Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire
"One of these Nights" by Eagles (I know there are some Eagle hates but this is a good 'un)
"Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band"
"Black Water" by Doobie Brothers
"Lady Marmalade" by Labelle

Songs I'm partial to but could easily see why others don't:
"Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell
"Get Down Tonight" and "(That's The Way) I Like It" by KC and the Sunshine Band
"Laughter in the Rain" by Neil Sedaka
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by BJ Thomas

Songs that I Can't Understand Why Anyone Enjoys:
Elton John's "Island Girl" and putrid remake of "Lucy in the Sky" (I did like "Philadelphia Freedom - Elton had three #1 this year)
"Please Mr. Postman" by The Carpenters (done wonderfully twice by Marvelettes and The Beatles...leave it alone)
"He Don't Love You (Like I Love You" by Tony Orlando & Dawn

I actually love Elton and enjoy some Carpenters and Tony Orlando but this was not their best
Hey! "Jive Talkin", "The Hustle", "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" and Bowie's "Fame" were this year too (out of all his songs, surprised this hit number one). Such a fascinating year on the AM dial

Great idea, Zeeb. We're pretty much on the same page, although I would move Neil Sedaka down and The Carpenters up.

My favorite memory of 1975 is not musical, however. That was the year I graduated law school and bought a new car:

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Live! (1975)

Listened to my 1975 #1 songs playlist yesterday but not much time for anything else
After listening today to Born to Run and Queen's Night At The Opera, here's what's next

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Funkadelic - Let's Take It To the Stage (1975)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Vijay Iyer - Far From Over (2017)

Listening now. This is an outstanding jazz sextet album. Iyer never disappoints, but then neither does @JazzyRandy. Some of the songs are pretty avant garde, but it all flows nicely.

Jazz Times sez:

Iyer is one of the most decorated musicians in jazz. His technical erudition and facility are beyond question, but he is not for everyone. His music, in its precise, rapid execution of complexity, can sound more mathematical and austere than lyrical and personal. Far From Over plays to his strengths. With elite players around him, he can focus on creating ferocious protean energy (he is one of the most rhythmically centered and rhythmically gifted of pianists) and let his sidemen provide passionate responses to the form and content of each composition. The band is alto saxophonist Steve Lehman, tenor saxophonist Mark Shim, cornetist Graham Haynes, bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. Far From Over is more emotionally complicated, more nuanced, than a protest concept album. There is yearning in this music, and compassion.

 

[lpfreak1170]

Accept - Balls To The Wall

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Zuma (1975)

Such a good album. Surprised I don't break this one out more

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Surprisingly good. Denver’s voice sounds great, and the album shows his charisma with the audienc

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! (2018)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel (2018)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Crazy Left Experience - Death, Destruction And Magic (2018)

 

[JazzyRandy]

David Binney - Bastion Of Sanity (2005)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Michael Blanco - Spirit Forward (2016)

Young bassist Blanco has been fortunate enough to land talented veterans to perform on his first couple of albums. I don't have his first, but I was fortunate enough to have this one land in my lap last year -- out of the clear blue skies. John Ellis' playing on the saxes is a spot-on match for my listening sensibilities. And that (along with fine playing from the other musicians and great songs from Blanco) make this a very good listen for me.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys (1974)

Did you ever listen to a familiar artist you're not fond of and say to yourself " Why didn't I like this guy before? He's really great! "

Just now I had that kind of epiphany when I played Good Old Boys, which arrived randomly via Music Boomerang. No way would I have spun it otherwise. Of course I know Randy Newman, but always discounted his work as cruelly sarcastic and self-indulgent. Boy was I wrong. This record presents a devastating but honest view of the South, with all of its good, bad and ugly characteristics in full view. The character studies here add up to an unblinking but nuanced view of a complex society with one foot in the past and one in the future. It richly deserves its place in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Move To Savannah. For sure I'll be searching out more Newman without waiting for Da Boom to deliver.

on the Sam-O-Meter. This record made me a new man.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Re-Stoned - Analog (2011)



Russia's finest stoner rock.