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Post by doso on Jul 28, 2023 9:35:24 GMT -6
Brilliant record. Will be near the top of my list, for sure. The album art and “Isn’t She Lovely” in particular are ingrained in my early childhood memories. I hadn’t listened to the album much as a young adult, but about 15 years ago, I was dating someone who got super amped up about “As” on a road trip. After that, I was super obsessed for a month and mildly obsessed ever since. And yeah, no doubt a much different double album experience than Exile. monasterymonochromeHope the weather is better in DTW than it is here! |
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Post by Tweet on Jul 28, 2023 15:21:29 GMT -6
Yee haw
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Post by doso on Jul 29, 2023 13:18:04 GMT -6
 Here it is - the greatest Disaffected Rockstar album of all time. In case anyone doesn't know the story - Jackson's fame was peaking in 1976, when his wife, actress Phyllis Major, passed away in March. He then threw himself into touring, working out his feelings while writing and performing new songs on the road. These songs were then mostly recorded live, touched up in studio, and released in 1977 as Running on Empty. If it only had the title track, I'd still consider it for my list. What a fuckin' gut-punch of a song. I mean: "Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through / Looking into their eyes, I see them running too" I never clocked this line when I was a kid, but godDAMN did this hit when I re-discovered Browne later in college. Normally when artists write about the banality of touring / life on the road, it can be dry. But not here. Browne's tales of ennui and temporary escape are harrowing. The Road, Rosie, Shaky Town. The red-eyed cover of Rev. Gary Davis' "Cocaine". He's just laying it all bare. And dressing everything up with melodies snappy enough and arrangements slick enough to make you think for a second that he's having a good time. Browne was figuring it out in his buses and hotel rooms in 1977. The scary truth: The road goes on forever, and the party never ends. (my only real complain w/ this record, btw, is that I'm pretty sure he could afford to pay his roadies more than the minimum wage) Also, this record includes one of the all-time great songs about masturbation. |
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Post by scoots on Jul 31, 2023 9:02:12 GMT -6
My wife had some coworkers over for a grill out yesterday, and I decided to play my 70s playlist I've been putting together as part of this project. It was a huge hit with the group and now my kids are obsessed with Queen and David Bowie, so all in all a good day.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 9:24:37 GMT -6
 I've spent a lot of time with this record in 2023. First, it was to get ready for her (excellent) set at Big Ears. In my experience, this record doesn't bowl you over right away. It has its ear-perking moments, hit single "Chuck E's in Love," the "Sal say goodbye" refrain in "Weasel and the White Boy's Cool," etc. But something in Rickie's waaay back of the beat jazz delivery, her streetwise characters, and the numerous odd, idiosyncratic chords just nestle into your brain. It's the kind of record that you keep going back to, hearing something new and inspiring with every listen. And suddenly, you end up like me and you've heard this record several dozen times in 2023 alone. I bought her memoir Last Chance Texaco in Knoxville and figured this week was a good a time as any to read it. And maaaan her story is crazy. She truly lived all the hardscrabble, wanderlust tales of her songs. Grew up in a transient household, left home at 14 to hitch around the country - with all sorts of close-calls, dust-ups, and serendipitous miracles accompanying her travels through her early 20s, when she somewhat-settled in LA's burnt-out Venice Beach. Three years later, came this record and her star was on the rise. She talks a lot about her main influences at this time, and you can hear them all on this record. Laura Nyro's intimate, insular worlds. Steely Dan's fusion-tinged arrangements. The heart-on-the-sleeves affectation of showtunes. It's all there. But it's all her. Fantastic stuff. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 9:56:51 GMT -6
 Last weekend my friends and I played a game we've called Frogball, which is basically volleyball on a tennis court. Went super hard, but felt fine that day... probably something to do with the 4 ibuprofen I took that morning to offset the aftereffects of the 10 Busch Lites the night before. So yesterday I got 3 hours of sleep, woke up sore as hell, and flew back to NYC. Couldn't sleep on the plane b/c my neck hurt, then went super hard at a Phish show at MSG. So, I woke up today feeling even more sore. Tired as shit, slogging my way thru work, but also ready to do it all again tomorrow? This is all to say - these are ideal conditions to enjoy me some more Tom Waits. Cuz, let me tell you, this shit is HITTIN' right now, godDAMN. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 10:50:46 GMT -6
 That RLJ write-up had me thinking about show-tunes, so naturally I reached for Bat out of Hell with the quickness. I wrote this off for a long, long time thinking I was too cool for me. But then I saw Rocky Horror and finally gave it a listen. Just phenomenal fun. It's Springsteen with the cheese and camp of his masculine fantasies extracted and turned up to 11. Showtunes for the rock-set. So deeply, profoundly uncool that it becomes awesome. Like, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" becoming a hit and part of classic rock canon is such a weird phenomenon. Really foresaw the 50s nostalgia + showtunes market that Grease would exploit the following year. I went to a wedding in Alabama earlier this year and all the conservatives there - who'd been half-assing it on the dancefloor all night - suddenly turnt up for a synchronized line dance to this one? Like, wtf? I really like this album, but sometimes I really really really don't want to haha. Anyways, it's an unforgettable one, not to mention having one of the greatest album covers of all time. Will surely end up on my list somewhere. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 10:56:30 GMT -6
That RLJ write-up had me thinking about show-tunes, so naturally I reached for Bat out of Hell with the quickness. I wrote this off for a long, long time thinking I was too cool for me. But then I saw Rocky Horror and finally gave it a listen. Just phenomenal fun. It's Springsteen with the cheese and camp of his masculine fantasies extracted and turned up to 11. Showtunes for the rock-set. So deeply, profoundly uncool that it becomes awesome. Like, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" becoming a hit and part of classic rock canon is such a weird phenomenon. Really foresaw the 50s nostalgia + showtunes market that Grease would exploit the following year. I went to a wedding in Alabama earlier this year and all the conservatives there - who'd been half-assing it on the dancefloor all night - suddenly turnt up for a synchronized line dance to this one? Like, wtf? I really like this album, but sometimes I really really really don't want to haha. Anyways, it's an unforgettable one, not to mention having one of the greatest album covers of all time. Will surely end up on my list somewhere. Speaking of which, would the Rocky Horror soundtrack album be eligible? |
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Post by zircona1 on Jul 31, 2023 11:05:35 GMT -6
re: Bat Out of Hell
A few of the guys from the E Street Band played on that album, so it's Springsteen-esque in more ways that one.
And I still like it, except for 'For Crying Out Loud'.
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Jul 31, 2023 11:47:20 GMT -6
I saw a Meat Loaf tribute act over the weekend sort of on accident, I was dropping by my old stomping grounds at Knuckleheads and they happened to be playing...
...To like 500 people. I was shocked, and equally shocked at how actually decent the band was.
They did a small segment of the show that was just 'the music of Jim Steinman' so they did It's All Coming Back to Me and Total Eclipse of the Heart, as well as a few Rocky Horror Picture Show songs during a separate portion. Really fun set; once again I can't believe I'm typing that about a Meat Loaf tribute
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Jul 31, 2023 11:50:31 GMT -6
oh sweet meat recorded Its All Coming Back To Me Now
(apologies for posting ineligible content)
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 11:58:49 GMT -6
I saw a Meat Loaf tribute act over the weekend sort of on accident, I was dropping by my old stomping grounds at Knuckleheads and they happened to be playing... ...To like 500 people. I was shocked, and equally shocked at how actually decent the band was. They did a small segment of the show that was just 'the music of Jim Steinman' so they did It's All Coming Back to Me and Total Eclipse of the Heart, as well as a few Rocky Horror Picture Show songs during a separate portion. Really fun set; once again I can't believe I'm typing that about a Meat Loaf tribute Would 1000% see this if they were around. Sounds like a great night |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 12:07:24 GMT -6
 This is the other record, alongside RLJ's self-titled, that I've spent an inordinate amount of time with in 2023. Huge shout-out to William Strings for getting me into John Hartford. His take on "With a Vamp in the Middle" had me seeking out the original, which led me to this perfect little record, Aereo-Plain. A touchstone of 70s "newgrass" - Hartford weaves together traditional bluegrass instrumentation and structures with sweet and wry tunes that owe as much to the hippies as to Bill Monroe. I love how gentle his voice is, personally. The band is top notch (Norman Blake, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements), the mood is bright, but it's that voice that keeps me coming back. It's very Prine-esque in striking that perfect balance between goofy and heartfelt. Exploring John Hartford's catalogue has been one of my favorite musical journeys of this year, and this is the perfect starting point. Check it out too! |
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Jul 31, 2023 12:26:18 GMT -6
I saw a Meat Loaf tribute act over the weekend sort of on accident, I was dropping by my old stomping grounds at Knuckleheads and they happened to be playing... ...To like 500 people. I was shocked, and equally shocked at how actually decent the band was. They did a small segment of the show that was just 'the music of Jim Steinman' so they did It's All Coming Back to Me and Total Eclipse of the Heart, as well as a few Rocky Horror Picture Show songs during a separate portion. Really fun set; once again I can't believe I'm typing that about a Meat Loaf tribute Would 1000% see this if they were around. Sounds like a great night They're in New York on 8/4 and 9/9, time to put your money where your mouth is  |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 12:40:50 GMT -6
Would 1000% see this if they were around. Sounds like a great night They're in New York on 8/4 and 9/9, time to put your money where your mouth is Damn these guys are on the grind. This show would rip at the Ramada in Nebraska. Closed to me is prob that West Lake, PA show. I'll be in Jersey with my parents that weekend, let's see if my Dad wants to swing up to Philly for a show lmaooo |
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Post by doso on Jul 31, 2023 12:49:58 GMT -6
Meet Loaf: All the Places You Don’t Want to Go Tour 2023
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 13:02:33 GMT -6
 I've always been partial to Grievous Angel, myself. Gram was probably the first country / country-rock artist I really loved. Saw him included on Rolling Stone's original Top 100 artists of all time list. I was like 14 and thought I had a good grip on classic rock history. So who's this dude I've literally never heard of? Pulled him up on Youtube and listened to enough songs to order his CD on eBay. Happily, it came packaged with GP too, so I soon became well versed in Gram's solo output. Sowed the seeds for when I'd properly get into country music almost a decade later. You can have Simon & Garfunkel. Crosby, Still, and Nash. Maybe even The Beach Boys. But I'll take Gram & Emmylou's harmonies 1st overall in the draft. Unfuckingbelievable. "In My Hour of Darkness" is sublime. I get chills every time I hear it - usually right around that "But he was just a country boy" line. Gram's other originals here are classics, namely the title track and "Ooh Las Vegas," the best gambling song of all time. Eat your heart out, Robert Hunter and Kenny Rogers. And the ballads here are tremendous. Honestly, Gram's known mainly for his country rock impulses, but maaan could this dude sing a ballad. Love Hurts, Hearts on Fire, and the aforementioned "In My Hour" - all stunning. A masterpiece of a record - the swan song of a tragic figure, and the launchpad for an ascending star. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jul 31, 2023 14:13:36 GMT -6
 Sometimes the public gets it right. Like, they elected Nixon twice, but they also made Tapestry one of the biggest selling albums of all time. Hell yes. georgebush_missionaccomplished.jpg I love this album so much. It's like a balm - chicken noodle soup for the 21st century brain. This album feels familiar, cozy, warm. The songs are classics, but they never get old. I don't care - I'm getting emotional listening to "So Far Away" the 200th time just as I did the 2nd time. Carole King is simply one of the all-time great songwriters, and here she flexes her own chops as a singer and bandleader just cuz she can. Then casually sells 30 million albums and defines an era of pop music. What're y'all's favorite Tapestry tracks? Mine is "Home Again," a piano-driven ballad that KO's me in under 2.5 minutes. And maaan her piano melodies here are just the best. Like floating on air, genuinely moves me more than any piano playing shy of Keith Jarrett. Also, I have a shirt with a drawing of the cat on the windowsill that I wear all the time. My mom was so psyched when she saw me wearing that haha. |
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Post by doso on Jul 31, 2023 14:35:37 GMT -6
“Home Again” is my favorite, too, but the record is jam-packed with A+ tunes.
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Post by borracho on Jul 31, 2023 15:24:19 GMT -6
I saw a Meat Loaf tribute act over the weekend i totally get and i also totally don't get the crazy popularity of tribute acts that seems to have exploded over the last few years. i guess it's because a lot of the ticketbuyers haven't seen or can't see the real thing? since i've seen the real things with most of these i don't have a desire to see a copycat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it's not my thing at all, but some venues here in okc are booking these acts left and right and filling the place. |
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Post by teekoh on Jul 31, 2023 16:05:45 GMT -6
Nobody can afford to see “real” bands
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Post by nanatod on Jul 31, 2023 18:41:29 GMT -6
Smackwater Jack puts Tapestry on the 100 best albums of the 1970's list for me.
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Post by Tweet on Jul 31, 2023 19:05:35 GMT -6
Probably haven't listened to this album since ~2005. Finally put it on last week and cannot stop thinking about it, for reasons that have little if anything to do with the actual music. What was I saying. Oh. I think tunes 2-4 are some of the best runs of songs in the decade. I also think it's weird that NYC skyline just does not exist anymore. Supertramp could still make a lot of money on a tour, in theory.
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Jul 31, 2023 19:52:03 GMT -6
They're in New York on 8/4 and 9/9, time to put your money where your mouth is Damn these guys are on the grind. This show would rip at the Ramada in Nebraska. Closed to me is prob that West Lake, PA show. I'll be in Jersey with my parents that weekend, let's see if my Dad wants to swing up to Philly for a show lmaooo sounds like you're not as interested in a meat loaf tribute act as you'd like people to believe... also genuine HARD laugh at the ramada date, i missed that the first time, holy shit |
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Jul 31, 2023 19:52:41 GMT -6
I saw a Meat Loaf tribute act over the weekend i totally get and i also totally don't get the crazy popularity of tribute acts that seems to have exploded over the last few years. i guess it's because a lot of the ticketbuyers haven't seen or can't see the real thing? since i've seen the real things with most of these i don't have a desire to see a copycat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it's not my thing at all, but some venues here in okc are booking these acts left and right and filling the place. Nobody can afford to see “real” bands meat loaf is also dead |
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Post by thebosma on Jul 31, 2023 20:11:47 GMT -6
i totally get and i also totally don't get the crazy popularity of tribute acts that seems to have exploded over the last few years. i guess it's because a lot of the ticketbuyers haven't seen or can't see the real thing? since i've seen the real things with most of these i don't have a desire to see a copycat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it's not my thing at all, but some venues here in okc are booking these acts left and right and filling the place. Nobody can afford to see “real” bands meat loaf is also dead Keep in the celebrity depth thread bucko |
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Jul 31, 2023 20:22:55 GMT -6
Keep in the celebrity depth thread bucko ![]()  |
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Post by teekoh on Jul 31, 2023 20:25:34 GMT -6
i totally get and i also totally don't get the crazy popularity of tribute acts that seems to have exploded over the last few years. i guess it's because a lot of the ticketbuyers haven't seen or can't see the real thing? since i've seen the real things with most of these i don't have a desire to see a copycat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it's not my thing at all, but some venues here in okc are booking these acts left and right and filling the place. Nobody can afford to see “real” bands meat loaf is also dead that’s too bad, I bet he would’ve loved meet loaf |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Aug 1, 2023 7:31:49 GMT -6
Probably haven't listened to this album since ~2005. Finally put it on last week and cannot stop thinking about it, for reasons that have little if anything to do with the actual music. What was I saying. Oh. I think tunes 2-4 are some of the best runs of songs in the decade. I also think it's weird that NYC skyline just does not exist anymore. Supertramp could still make a lot of money on a tour, in theory. Would attend a Supertramp / Gym Class Heroes tour |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Aug 1, 2023 8:58:19 GMT -6
 How much do you know about Link Wray? Until a few years ago, my knowledge began and ended with "Rumble," his seminal 1958 instrumental recording - with electric guitar so gnarled and distorted that it was banned from the radio in New York and Boston. But this man lived a fascinating life. Wray, who identified as Shawnee, grew up dirt poor in the 40s. Was sent to Korea in 1950, where he was wounded and lost a lung after contracting tuberculosis. Doctors told him he wouldn't be able to sing anymore - hence his adoption of instrumental guitar. After the surprise hit of "Rumble," Link tried with diminishing success to maintain his music career. By the late 60s he went back to square one. Moving back to his father's old place and converting the family's chicken shack into a 3-track recording studio. There, he and his band - "The Family" - turned to roots music. Folk melodies, blues staples, country-fried sounds. Link took up vocals again. And the result was this, Link Wray's jaw-dropping 1971 eponymous record. It's a show-stopper. Basically a mash of The Band's homespun take on Americana with the ramshackle country arrangements of the Stones. Wray channels Taildraggin' Willie Dixon, baptist rave-ups ("Fire and Brimstone"), the mystical gospel of the Delta ("Black River Swamp"), and a deep, deep soul that cuts straight to the heart of American music. Specifically, I'm referring to "Fallin' Rain," this record's unimpeachable classic. I love me some Neil, but there's something so visceral and shocked by Link's delivery of "And don't forget Kent State where kids lay bleeding on the ground," that surpasses anything from "Ohio" in sheer pathos. One of the great protest songs, and one that will always feel prescient. All that is left is the falling rain. (Also, s/o to Karl Blau's perfect Introducing Karl Blau for getting me into this song/record + many others) |
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