Reviews by socksonfire

A band name like "the Auteurs" is bound to put me in a miserable mood. You'd need to be aggressively undermining the pretention in your music to avoid me hating you. This is not quite there, but does just enough to avoid a disgraceful rating.

I really do love a lot about this energetic album. Sleater -Kinney has been a favourite live gig over the past 20 years ir so, and I always thought the studio albums don’t quite capture the magic. Still, good good good.

This is a fine old country album. It exists in a weird nexus between Elvis and Roger Whittaker and John Denver. It could not remind me less of Night Life. But who's to quibble?

I really just started tomlisten to Steely Dan a bit in the 5-10 years. I picked up a few of their most famous albums, incuding Aja, from some bargain bin somewhere. While I loved Can’t But a Thrill, I really have trouble connecting with Aja. Ok, smooth jazz or whatever. Has it grown on me after a few listens? No.

What a delightful little discovery this was for me. An entire band of unconscionable showboats (possibly a bank of synthesizers doing it all?) all playing at once. I’m not sure if it all adds up to much in the long run, but very hard not to bob your head while it’s happening.

I really expected to like this and rate it higher. In spite of a couple fun tracks, it did not live up to my memory. Micheal Stipe’s nasally singing voice gives an unemotional veneer. Do I sing all nasally like that? I think maybe I do.

This was one Cozy-Ass listen. I want to go play it again right now.

My attitude about work is that you give me money and I take care of some problem you have. In a nutshell. You need someone to do something, and so give me money and I’ll be that person. I’m not one of those people who brings my own problems up the line that much, unless I already have a couple,e ideas what to do about the issue. I encourage people who report to me to bring solution ideas along with any problem they think I should help solve for them. It makes sense anyways since if you’re bringing a issue up the line guaranteed you’ve thought more about it than your boss has.
So what does all this have to do with Neil Young. I found myself comparing Neil to Bob Dylan a lot while I was listening to After the Gold Rush. They aren’t that similar once you scratch the surface, but they do share some DNA. The biggest thing I kept thinking is “Neil Young just comes to me and points at miserable problems. Bob Dylan does the same, but also seems to be orchestrating the associated revolution on the back end.” Of course both these guys are prolific and write about all sets of things, but was just what I was thinking about as I listened this time. It made me a bit annoyed at Neil. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a long long looong time beloved album for me. In a way it is the template for Weil You g in his purest form.

But I was also feeling complained at, and maybe I’ve been complained at too much lately.

Generalized “album”, devoid of character or elevation, it simply exists as as the perfect mean version of the form. So why doesn’t the perfect mean get a three? Why indeed.

This has to be one of Tom Waits straightest albums. Decent set of songs but I missed his funhouse whimsy. Never uninteresting, but not a top-tier entry.

I’ve gone through a few listening patterns so far on this project. Currently I’m in a bit of a kick of letting a weeks or so’s worth pile up and then listening to a bunch of albums over the course of a day or two to catch up. Listening to albums in bunches is just fun.
So for today’s catch-up, going Stooges - Peter Gabriel - Iggy Pop all in a row…well this is your standard shit sandwich. Iggy was scratching an itch today, so all the more happy to get a double dose. Lust for Life is a very different sort of beast from Raw Power, but no less fun to listen to. Full marks, Iggy! Now don’t rest on your laurels.

The combination of “Peter Gabriel toots” and general Genesis ambivalence pepped me for an onerous listen. I enjoyed the album though. I was ready for it to be over when it got there, but probably one of the better Peter Gabriel spins I’ve listened to.

Albums like this are so wonderful and heartwarming that I really don’t tend to write much of a review. The tunes just speak for themselves.

Nah. Nah. Nah-nah-nah. Nanananananana. Oilers Suck.

Every time I hear Iron Man I am reminded of this cultural groundswell that pervaded my hometown acquaintances way back in around 1989/1990. It is so strongly embedded in my subconscious that I cannot stop it from coming out my mouth.

Nah. Nah. Nah-nah-nah. Nanananananana. Oilers Suck.

Listening to the entire album for the first time in a long time I was struck by how well it would have fit into the 90’s grunge scene. It would have topped a lot of albums that were famous at that time, if I’m being honest. Very nice album and Oilers suck.

Great album cover, let’s get that straight.

Based on my small dose of Thundercat so far in life, I was expecting something very different. Basically had a vision of a bluesy guitar-driven thing. Now I can’t even identify why I thought that.

Entirely weird set of songs, and mostly disappointed I wasn’t having my baseless vision satisfied. Also, never a good sign when I think “will this album ever end?” about halfway through.

After one song I was not happy. I began writing my 1-star review in my head. 2nd song didn’t really turn me around. But then it grew on me.

This album is the most epic expression of funkiliciosness I have ever bumpadankadillidunked. It gives me a little tingle.

Some albums are simply all-time 5-Star classics. Discovering (or rediscovering) them has been one of the greatest joys of this project.

I didn't recognize the band or album, so I was sort of surprised with a dose of excitement as the first track started playing. "Ohhhh, THAT Street Life!" Just an all time track. I'm a sucker for funky soul and that song is a plain old good time (for a song with downer lyrics). Was it enough to elevate the overall album, which is real good, but all pretty straightforward, to 5-Star level? Not quite. But a damn fine spin all around.

10 years ago a simple idea was born. That every Monday a setlist should be produced and shared that is exactly 10-tracks, no more and no less. While the idea has gone through many tweaks and evolutions over the years since, the core is as solid today as it ever was.

160711_chump sauce, my first setlist contribution to this wellspring of joy, first track:

Blue Monday-Fats Domino

First track.