1001 Albums We're Hearing in 2017

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Day 55: The King arrives...with some classics and some cheese

Album 177/1031

Elvis Presley - From Elvis in Memphis (1969)

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
1.	"Wearin' That Loved On Look"	Dallas Frazier, A.L. Owens	January 13, 1969	2:46
2.	"Only the Strong Survive"	Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff	February 19, 1969	2:42
3.	"I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)"	Eddy Arnold, Thomas Dilbeck, Vaughan Horton	January 22, 1969	4:34
4.	"Long Black Limousine"	Bobby George, Vern Stovall	January 13, 1969	3:38
5.	"It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'"	Johnny Tillotson	February 20, 1969	2:36
6.	"I'm Movin' On"	Hank Snow	January 14, 1969	2:43

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
1.	"Power of My Love"	Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye	February 18, 1969	2:36
2.	"Gentle on My Mind"	John Hartford	January 14, 1969	3:21
3.	"After Loving You"	Janet Lantz, Eddie Miller	February 18, 1969	3:05
4.	"True Love Travels on a Gravel Road"	Dallas Frazier, A.L. Owens	February 17, 1969	2:38
5.	"Any Day Now"	Burt Bacharach, Bob Hilliard	February 20, 1969	2:59
6.	"In the Ghetto"	Mac Davis	January 20, 1969	2:57

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

Golf's verdict: Hmm. Glad as I am to see Elvis' arrival on the list, it's an inconvenient truth that he was not well-known for his classic albums. Whilst the extended version we heard today had Suspicious Minds and Kentucky Rain included, the original has some great stand-out tunes like Gentle on My Mind and In the Ghetto, but also a lot of pretty stodgy stuff more suited to the lounge-crooner period that would soon follow.

Maire's verdict: It should be noted for the record that I'm a huge Elvis fan. The original album has one of my all-time favourite Elvis tracks, 'In the Ghetto'. I listened to the reissue which has 2 more of my favourite songs: 'Kentucky Rain' (his best ever as far as I'm concerned) and 'Suspicious Minds'. What's not to love?

Album 178/1031

Sepultura - Roots (1996)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_(Sepultura_album)

Golf's verdict: Brazilian thrash-metal band? Why not? We both love System of a Down and Faith No More so I was expecting to like this more. I loved the injection of the folk music into their sound, but ultimately did not think it had enough range for a 70+ minute album.

Maire's verdict: Not that bothered by the lyrics ('What lyrics?' I hear you ask) but quite enjoyed the style, at least initially. Interesting mix of thrash metal and indigenous music. Album was too long, though ('Canyon Jam' was about 13 mins alone) and got repetitive mid-way through.

Album 179/1031

Crusaders - Street Life (1979)

Track listing

"Street Life" (Will Jennings, Joe Sample) – 11:18
"My Lady" (Wilton Felder) – 6:43
"Rodeo Drive (High Steppin')" (Sample) – 4:28
"Carnival of the Night" (Felder) – 6:24
"The Hustler" (Stix Hooper) – 5:18
"Night Faces" (Sample) – 5:10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Life_(The_Crusaders_album)

Golf's verdict: Randy Crawford sings Street Life and you will definitely recognise it. The rest sounds like incidental music from a 1980s TV movie, sadly.

Maire's verdict: I hadn't clicked that I knew the title song until it started playing. It's the highlight of the album. The rest is too jazzy for me and sounds dated.

Day 54: A triple platinum day, plus some Goo

Album 173/1031

Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters (2004)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Laura"	Scott Hoffman, Jason Sellards	Scissor Sisters	3:36
2.	"Take Your Mama"	Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	4:31
3.	"Comfortably Numb" (Pink Floyd cover)	David Gilmour, Roger Waters	Scissor Sisters	4:25
4.	"Mary"	Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	4:43
5.	"Lovers in the Backseat"	Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	3:15
6.	"Tits on the Radio"	Hoffman, Ana Lynch, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	3:16
7.	"Filthy/Gorgeous"	Hoffman, Lynch, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	3:46
8.	"Music Is the Victim"	Derek Gruen, Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	2:57
9.	"Better Luck"	Gruen, Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	3:08
10.	"It Can't Come Quickly Enough"	Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	4:42
11.	"Return to Oz"	Hoffman, Sellards	Scissor Sisters	4:34

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scissor_Sisters_(album)

Golf's verdict: Literally all killer and no filler. I initially thought the cover of Comfortably Numb a travesty, but my guilty pleasure love of disco soon turned me. This got a lot of plays back in 2004/5 and it was great to hear it again.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM!: I loved this album when it came out but must admit to forgetting about it in recent years. Shame as it still stands up. Will definitely be listening to it again in the near future and could well be added to the vinyl list.

Album 174/1031

Sonic Youth - Goo (1990)

All music composed by Sonic Youth (Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley).

No.	Title	Lyrics	Vocalist	Length
1.	"Dirty Boots"	Moore	Moore	5:28
2.	"Tunic (Song for Karen)"	Gordon	Gordon	6:22
3.	"Mary-Christ"	Moore	Moore, Gordon	3:11
4.	"Kool Thing"	Gordon	Gordon, Chuck D	4:06
5.	"Mote"	Ranaldo	Ranaldo	7:37
6.	"My Friend Goo"	Gordon	Gordon, Moore	2:19
7.	"Disappearer"	Moore	Moore	5:08
8.	"Mildred Pierce"	Moore	Moore	2:13
9.	"Cinderella's Big Score"	Gordon	Gordon	5:54
10.	"Scooter + Jinx"	—	—	1:06
11.	"Titanium Exposé"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goo_(album)

Golf's verdict: By 1990 I think their best days were behind them, but it was good that they got the recognition and Geffen record deal off the back of the Nirvana insurgence. But if you are new to Sonic Youth buy Sister or Daydream Nation before this.

Maire's verdict: I may have missed the boat on this. I can see why it would be an absolute winner if you heard it in your formative years (not sure why I didn't as I would have loved it as a 16 year old in 1990) but just sounds a bit same-y to this 43 year old.

Album 175/1031

Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)

All tracks written by Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Airbag"	4:44
2.	"Paranoid Android"	6:23
3.	"Subterranean Homesick Alien"	4:27
4.	"Exit Music (For a Film)"	4:24
5.	"Let Down"	4:59
6.	"Karma Police"	4:21
7.	"Fitter Happier"	1:57
8.	"Electioneering"	3:50
9.	"Climbing Up the Walls"	4:45
10.	"No Surprises"	3:48
11.	"Lucky"	4:19
12.	"The Tourist"	5:24

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

Golf's verdict: A regular challenger to greatest album of all time and I won't be putting up a case against that. If you are in the mood then this can really be an almost transcendent experience. People who accuse Thom York of just being miserable miss the point. (That IS the point)

Maire's verdict: Another album I'd forgotten about. How? It's brilliant.

Album 176/1031

Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (2006)

All songs written and composed by Matt Bellamy.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Take a Bow"	4:35
2.	"Starlight"	3:59
3.	"Supermassive Black Hole"	3:29
4.	"Map of the Problematique"	4:18
5.	"Soldier's Poem"	2:03
6.	"Invincible"	5:00
7.	"Assassin"	3:31
8.	"Exo-Politics"	3:53
9.	"City of Delusion"	4:48
10.	"Hoodoo"	3:43
11.	"Knights of Cydonia"	6:06

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

Golf's verdict: In which Muse continue to rummage in the musical-style dressing up box, before finally setting upon Queen as their favourite stylistic template. Nothing wrong with that, but I preferred them before, when they were still trying out Van Der Graaf Generator and Can. Knights of Cydonia is absolutely, hilariously OTT though.

Maire's verdict: I just don't understand why this is in the 1,001 list and Origin of Symmetry isn't. It's a solid album but certainly not their best. A great gig band, they've petered off in terms of quality recently IMHO.

Day 53: Rush make us Illmatic and Christina makes us Dirrty

Album 170/1031

Nas - Illmatic (1994)

Track listing[edit]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Genesis"	Nasir Jones, Fred Braithwaite	Nas, Faith N.	1:45
2.	"N.Y. State of Mind"	Jones, Christopher Martin	DJ Premier	4:53
3.	"Life's a Bitch" (featuring AZ)	Jones, Anthony Cruz, Olu Dara Jones, Robert Wilson, Oliver Scott	L.E.S., Nas (co.)	3:30
4.	"The World Is Yours"	Jones, Peter Phillips	Pete Rock	4:50
5.	"Halftime"	Jones, William Paul Mitchell, Gary Byrd	Large Professor	4:20
6.	"Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)"	Jones, Martin, Reuben Wilson, Peg Barsella	DJ Premier	4:08
7.	"One Love"	Jones, Jonathan Davis, Jimmy Heath	Q-Tip	5:25
8.	"One Time 4 Your Mind"	Jones, Mitchell	Large Professor	3:18
9.	"Represent"	Jones, Martin	DJ Premier	4:12
10.	"It Ain't Hard to Tell"	Jones, Mitchell	Large Professor	3:22

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

Golf's verdict: To these ears, far superior to the Ghostface Killah album of a day or two ago (Fishscales). If nothing else, we're certainly getting to hear a lot more hip-hop than in our usual musical diet. Not that I dislike it, just that I rarely know where to look, so head back to the old-school favourites like NWA and Public Enemy. Whilst hardly a new act, I'd only ever heard of Nas, not his music. Really enjoyed it. Thoughtful, articulate rap. A few years later he released a follow up album called Stillmatic. Geddit?

Maire's verdict: Pleasant enough (not sure that's the vibe he was going for), although probably didn't like it enough to seek out more.

Album 171/1031

Rush - 2112 (1976)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"2112" I. "Overture" (0:00 – 4:33) II. "The Temples of Syrinx" (4:33 – 6:45) III. "Discovery" (Music: Lifeson) (6:45 – 10:14) IV. "Presentation" (Music: Lifeson) (10:14 – 13:56) V. "Oracle: The Dream" (13:56 – 15:56) VI. "Soliloquy" (15:56 – 18:17) VII. "Grand Finale" (18:17 – 20:34)"	20:34 4:33 2:12 3:29 3:43 2:00 2:21 2:17

Side two
No.	Title	Length
2.	"A Passage to Bangkok"	3:32
3.	"The Twilight Zone"	3:16
4.	"Lessons" (Lyrics: Lifeson)	3:51
5.	"Tears" (Lyrics: Lee)	3:30
6.	"Something for Nothing" (Music: Lee)	3:59

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2112_(album)

Golf's verdict: Another band that, based on my love of bands like Cardiacs and Ultrasound, friends are convinced I will like. I don't. Christ, they've another album on the list to sit through...

Maire's verdict: Shite, but not as bad as Hawkwind.

Album 172/1031

Christina Aguilera - Stripped (2002)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Stripped Intro"			1:39
2.	"Can't Hold Us Down" (featuring Lil' Kim)	Christina Aguilera Scott Storch Matt Morris	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	4:15
3.	"Walk Away"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	5:47
4.	"Fighter"	Aguilera Storch	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	4:05
5.	"Primer Amor Interlude"			0:53
6.	"Infatuation"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	4:17
7.	"Loves Embrace Interlude"			0:46
8.	"Loving Me 4 Me"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	4:36
9.	"Impossible"	Alicia Keys	Keys	4:14
10.	"Underappreciated"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	4:00
11.	"Beautiful"	Linda Perry	Perry	3:58
12.	"Make Over"	Aguilera Perry	Perry	4:12
13.	"Cruz"	Perry Aguilera	Perry	3:49
14.	"Soar"	Aguilera Rob Hoffman Heather Holley	Hoffman Holley	4:45
15.	"Get Mine, Get Yours"	Aguilera Steve Morales Balewa Muhammad David Siegel	Morales Muhammad^[a]	3:44
16.	"Dirrty" (featuring Redman)	Aguilera Dana Stinson Muhammad Reginald Noble Jasper Cameron	Rockwilder Aguilera Muhammad^[a] Cameron^[a]	4:58
17.	"Stripped Pt. 2"			0:45
18.	"The Voice Within"	Aguilera Glen Ballard	Ballard	5:04
19.	"I'm OK"	Aguilera Perry	Perry	5:18
20.	"Keep on Singin' My Song"	Aguilera Storch	Storch Aguilera^[a] E. Dawk^[a]	6:29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stripped_(Christina_Aguilera_album)

Golf's verdict: At a punishing 77+ minutes this is obviously the product of someone who thinks every note of music they make is worth sharing. I'd beg to differ. It's very samey and overlong, but is rescued by a few stand-out smashers, like the talent show staple: Beautiful; and Dirrty is also fun.

Maire's verdict: I enjoyed this, much to my surprise. I knew a couple of the tracks but used to put her in the same pile as Mariah. Would I buy her album on vinyl? Probably not, but don't mind listening to her again.

Day 52: The Boss and a new discovery...

Album 168 /1031

A deliberate, rather than a random, pick for today's first cut - as we are off to see Bruce & the E Street Band tonight at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland.

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (1982)

All tracks written by Bruce Springsteen.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Nebraska"	4:32
2.	"Atlantic City"	4:00
3.	"Mansion on the Hill"	4:08
4.	"Johnny 99"	3:44
5.	"Highway Patrolman"	5:40
6.	"State Trooper"	3:17

Side two
No.	Title	Length
7.	"Used Cars"	3:11
8.	"Open All Night"	2:58
9.	"My Father's House"	5:07
10.	"Reason to Believe"	4:11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska_(album)

Golf's verdict: The album that tipped Bruce towards the much more mainstream Born in the USA that made his a stadium-filler, it's a relatively sparse and sombre affair but does have Johnny 99 for some light relief. Otherwise, it builds on the universe of the earlier blue-collar community tales and is one of his strongest albums.

Maire's verdict: I do like a bit of Bruce (luck seeing as we're going to see him this evening). This is certainly a pared back album compared to last week's 'Born In the US' but I probably love it for that very reason. Gorgeous.

Later edit: Here's pic of the man himself in action from the final night of the Australia/NZ Tour 2017:

Photo credit: Chris McKeen/Fairfax NZ

Album 169/1031

Girls Against Boys - Venus Luxure No 1 Baby (1993)

All tracks written by Girls Against Boys.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"In Like Flynn"	4:25
2.	"Go Be Delighted"	3:57
3.	"Rockets Are Red"	5:03
4.	"Satin Down"	5:56
5.	"Let Me Come Back"	3:24
6.	"Learned It"	3:25
7.	"Get Down"	4:32
8.	"Bulletproof Cupid"	4:51
9.	"Seven Seas"	2:55
10.	"Billy's One Stop"	2:59
11.	"Bug House"	4:51

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Luxure_No._1_Baby

Golf's verdict: Proof that, despite a life of obsessively discovering new music, there are always a few that completely slip by. By rights I should know and love this band. Right era, right genre, ex-members of a band (Fugazi) I know and like. Yet, until today I had never even heard of them. let alone heard their music. We will definitely be giving this a few more plays. On first listen it sounds like a post-hardcore gem, mixing some Minutemen-style twin bass with a Garbage-style production sheen and very much coming across as being from the golden era of American guitar music. Track it down on Spotify.

Maire's verdict: POTENTIAL HIDDEN GEM!: Never even heard of the band before never mind the album, which is a great shame. Loved it and will definitely be seeking out more.