Day 275: Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you were...

Album 980/1031

Jay Z - The Blueprint (2001)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Ruler's Back"	Shawn Carter Roosevelt Harrell Phill Hurtt Bunny Sigler	Bink	3:50
2.	"Takeover"	Carter Kanye West Eric Burdon Lawrence Parker Alan Lomax Bryan Chandler Rodney Lemay Jim Morrison John Densmore Robby Krieger Ray Manzarek	West	5:13
3.	"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"	Carter West Berry Gordy Alphonso Mizell Freddie Perren Deke Richards	West	4:00
4.	"Girls, Girls, Girls"	Carter Justin Smith Tom Brock Robert Relf	Just Blaze	4:35
5.	"Jigga That Nigga"	Carter Jean-Claude Oliver Samuel Barnes	Poke & Tone	3:24
6.	"U Don't Know"	Carter Smith Bobby Byrd	Just Blaze	3:19
7.	"Hola' Hovito"	Carter Timothy Mosley	Timbaland	4:33
8.	"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"	Carter West Michael Price Dan Walsh	West	3:43
9.	"Never Change"	Carter West Bobby Miller	West	3:59
10.	"Song Cry"	Carter Smith Douglas Gibbs Ralph Johnson	Just Blaze	5:04
11.	"All I Need"	Carter Harrell	Bink	4:27
12.	"Renegade" (featuring Eminem)	Carter Marshall Mathers	Eminem	5:38
13.	"Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)"	Carter Harrell Al Green	Bink	3:41

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blueprint

Golf's verdict: He really is quite significantly better at this sort of thing than many of his peers, isn't he? Really enjoyed this and bemused how Kanye West is even considered worthy of comparison.

Máire's verdict: Whilst it’s very good, it is a trifle long.

Album 981/1031

The Icarus Line - Penance Soiree (2004)

1. "Up Against the Wall Motherfuckers"
2. "Spit on It"
3. "On the Lash"
4. "Caviar"
5. "Spike Island"
6. "Kiss Like Lizards"
7. "Getting Bright at Night"
8. "Big Sleep"
9. "White Devil"
10. "Meatmaker"
11. "Virgin Velcro"
12. "Seasick"
13. "Party the Baby Off"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penance_Soiree

Golf's verdict: Who? Apparently, this was one of the records of 2004 by certain 'tastemakers'. Must have passed us by. Nothing special. Sounds a bit like Sonic Youth crossed with the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Máire's verdict: Something and nothing.

Album 982/1031

Joanna Newsome - Ys (2006)

All tracks written by Joanna Newsom.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Emily"	12:07
2.	"Monkey & Bear"	9:29
3.	"Sawdust & Diamonds"	9:54
4.	"Only Skin"	16:53
5.	"Cosmia"	7:15
Total length:		55:38

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ys_(Joanna_Newsom_album)

Golf's verdict: I quite liked 'Only Skin', but the rest of it was the wrong side of that not-really-singing-but-wailing style of delivery that Martha Wainwright manages to keep just the right side of. I realise that only those of you familiar with Martha's wonderful work will have any clue of what I have just written. Go seek her out!

Máire's verdict: She’s listened to a lot of Björk and not in a good way. Really fucking irritating.

Album 983/1031

Fela Kuti - Live! With Ginger Baker (1971)

All songs by Fela Ransome-Kuti, except where noted.

1. "Let's Start" - 8:06
2. "Black Man's Cry" - 12:12
3. "Ye Ye Dey Smell" - 13:55
4. "Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want To Die)" - 12:37

Bonus track :

1. "Ginger Baker and Tony Allen Drum Solo" - live 1978 (Fela Kuti, Ginger Baker, Tony Allen) - 16:21

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live!_(Fela_Kuti_album)


Golf's verdict: Further proof that Ginger Baker was probably the greatest drummer ever to come out of the rock and roll era. Approach with caution though, large parts of this are basically extended drum solos!


Máire's verdict: Not really my genre.

Album 984/1031

Neil Young - Harvest (1972)

All tracks written by Neil Young.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Out on the Weekend"	4:35
2.	"Harvest"	3:11
3.	"A Man Needs a Maid"	4:05
4.	"Heart of Gold"	3:07
5.	"Are You Ready for the Country?"	3:33

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Old Man"	3:24
2.	"There's a World"	2:59
3.	"Alabama"	4:02
4.	"The Needle and the Damage Done" (recorded in concert January 30, 1971)	2:03
5.	"Words (Between the Lines of Age)"	6:40

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_(Neil_Young_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! A perfect album. Probably in my Top 5 of all time. We were so taken with this record when we first discovered it 15 years or so ago that we bought about 5 additional copies to give to friends and family. It started a love of Neil Young that has led to our owning more records by him (I think) than any other artist. 'Old Man' is just extraordinary and 'The Needle and the Damage Done' is the most heart-wrenching song about losing friends to heroin addiction ever written.

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Pure genius. Love this album and have done for a long time.

Album 985/1031

k.d. Lang - Shadowland (1988)

Side one[edit]

1. "Western Stars" (Chris Isaak) – 3:12
2. "Lock, Stock and Teardrops" (Roger Miller) – 3:28
3. "Sugar Moon" (Cindy Walker, Bob Wills) – 2:26
4. "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" (Frank Loesser) – 3:07
5. "(Waltz Me) Once Again Around the Dance Floor" (Don Goodman, Sara Johns, Jack Rowland) – 2:35
6. "Black Coffee" (Sonny Burke, Paul Francis Webster) – 3:17

Side two[edit]

1. "Shadowland" (Dick Hyman, Charles Tobias) – 2:28
2. "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" (Slim Willet) – 2:20
3. "Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them" (Fred Tobias, Charles Tobias) – 3:03
4. "I'm Down to My Last Cigarette" (Harlan Howard, Billy Walker) – 2:46
5. "Busy Being Blue" (Stewart MacDougall) – 3:40
6. "Honky Tonk Angels' Medley" – 2:55
   • "In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)" (Leroy Carr, Don Raye)
   • "You Nearly Lose Your Mind" (Ernest Tubb)
   • "Blues Stay Away from Me" (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore, Wayne Raney, Henry Glover)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowland_(k.d._lang_album)

Golf's verdict: She has a wonderful voice and this is a very well produced - perhaps overly so - album. I'd love to hear a Rick Rubin style back-to-basics approach. 

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Gorgeous voice and a gorgeous album.

Album 986/1031

MC Solaar - Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo (1991)

1. "Intro" (instrumental)
2. "Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo"
3. "Matière grasse contre matière grise"
4. "Victime de la mode"
5. "L'histoire de l'art"
6. "Armand est mort"
7. "Quartier nord"
8. "Interlude" (instrumental)
9. "A temps partiel"
10. "Caroline"
11. "La musique adoucit les mœurs"
12. "Bouge de là (part. 1)"
13. "Bouge de là (part. 2) (impro)"
14. "Ragga Jam (impro)"
15. "La devise"
16. "Funky Dreamer" (instrumental)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qui_s%C3%A8me_le_vent_r%C3%A9colte_le_tempo

Golf's verdict: I am rather partial to a drop of French Hip-Hop and this delivers the goods very effectively.

Máire's verdict: Pleasant to listen to but would prefer to understand the lyrics.