16. Manu Chao – Clandestino

World Music…is a name that Americans give to music that came from somewhere else.  Folk Music from Russia would not be under the genre “folk” here…just throw it in the bargain bin and label it “World Music” and those culture nuts and hippies will buy it…or at least that seems to be the most common attitude among music retailers.  Maybe I’m one of those hippies or culture nuts, but I generally enjoy “World Music”.  Being the most generalized genre makes “World” alot of fun for me to listen too, because I honestly will have no idea what to expect.  So….here goes.

Manu Chao is the first World music artist I get to listen too.  From what I can tell he takes European music and South American music…throws in some electronic beats and boom, we have music.  I honestly do not know what to expect so this should be fun.

Clandestino – hrm..well.  The first track was a bit generic.  I hope the rest of the album is a bit better. Its has a very Spanish feel about it but it sounds like any other Spanish song you’d hear on Latino radio.

Bongo Bong – I don’t know whats going on…

Je Ne T’aime Plus – its actually a very nice love song if you understand French, if not it sounds like stoner reggae with a synthesizer.

Luna Y Sol – the guitar in this song is amazing.  So far this one is my favorite.  It’s very Latino and is the “funnest” sounding so far.  This Frenchman pulls off Spaniard very well.

Welcome to Tijuana – Thanks for the very strange welcome….but can I leave now please?

Okay..well.  First off I want to say I’m too ill equipped to properly comment on this album.  I do not speak Spanish or French.  The lyrics to these songs could be the most deep and moving words known to man, and I wouldn’t know…that being said, musically this album was nothing special.  The beats could be heard on any Latin radio station in the Houston area.  The few songs that were sung in English were absolutely indescribable…in a bad way.  They were just weird and slightly creepy.  This was probably the oddest album I’ve heard from the book…

On that note: Thanks to Tom Moon and to bluebeat.com for keeping me legal.

 

 

 

Excuse #374

First off, I’m sorry for the lack of update.  I have been rather busy as of late.  If all goes well tomorrow I will be putting a brand spankin new update up.  Now, what could I possibly be busy with that would cause me to not update my blog.  Well, if it wasn’t obvious before, I’ll admit I am a bit of a geek.  Its Renaissance Festival time here in the Houston area, and for me that means Christmas comes early.  On a scale of one to ten, I put the Renaissance Festival at a 15.  But like I said, hopefully tomorrow I’ll have time to listen to my first World album for the blog and tell you guys all about.  Thanks to those who seem to check daily for updates….sorry I’ve been fail the past couple of weeks.

15. Mose Allison – Allison Wonderland

Today will be my first post on the genre “Vocal”.  Now, in the past when I’d upload CD’s onto my computer and play them with iTunes, the term Vocal would show up sometimes.  There was no connection with the artists it was connected to though.  (From Sarah Brightman to Perry Como….)  When I looked up the term “Vocal” every definition said that it was simply music with lyrics.  So, I’ve come to my own conclusion about Vocal music, that I may or may not be wrong about.  Vocal music happens when the human voice and/or lyrics out weighs the music.  But after reading Tom Moon’s description in “1000 Recordings” I think the music backing up Mose Allison is going to be good as well.  Oh well, no matter the definition of the genre…onto more important things.

I’m rather excited to listen to this recording.  Mose Allison is a southern born man, who found a niche somewhere between jazz and blues.  If you’re read my previous posts you know I’m a sucker for jazz and blues. I don’t really know what to expect from this VERY long recording….47 tracks.  This might take a while.  If you guys haven’t figured out yet, I write this blog in real time, so as to pick up my initial reaction from the song.  I don’t mind sitting here for the sake of my project and listen to 47 songs, but its 12:30 in the morning at the moment.  This blog may be split into 2 or 3 different sittings which you might notice in changes of mood or typing styles.  Well….here goes nothin’.

Back Country Suite (Blues) – Oh wow…I may be doing this in one sitting…not really but I wish I could.  Its amazing, his smooth voice accompanied with jazzy/bluesy piano is just so unique together.  I also love his slight southern drawl.

Lost Mind – I was wrong about the voice out weighing the music in vocal music.  Very wrong.

Eyesight To the Blind – Love the idea behind this song.  Basically his woman looks so good she gives eyesight to the blind.

Baby, Please Don’t Go – After hearing this I don’t think any female would leave…until he started making that weird noise during the piano solo

Hey, Good Lookin’ – My mom sang this to me as a child, so it has a special place in my heart.  His version is my new favorite…after my mother’s.

Your Mind Is On Vacation – This man can play the piano.  Amazing solo in this song.

I Ain’t Got Nothing But the Blues – Listened to this one twice.  It makes me want beignets and chicory in my coffee.

Theres quite a few live tracks included in this collection.  The sound of tableware clinking together and hushed chatter adds a sweet charm to his extremely charming music.

Okay! I’m done! Took me a day or two…or three. But I managed it.  I loved it, but I’m slightly disappointed in…well I don’t really know who to be disappointed with, but I’m disappointed I haven’t heard his name or his music before. Thank you to Tom Moon and to Classical Music TO_day!

Word of Warning: Do not read below this line unless you want to hear the frustrated rant of a newbie blogger….

I have enjoyed this blog so far, and to those that thought it necessary to make me feel inferior because I have had no classical music training (actually I have but did not make it aware to everyone) or because I haven’t worked in the music industry, I’m sorry you feel the need to make yourself sound better to everyone by pointing out your achievements.  But I’m going to continue writing this blog in my “non professional” way, because if I started being more “professional” with it, it would be less fun for me.  Like I’ve pointed out (more than a few times) I’m not a professional music critic, nor is it in my plans to ever be one.

14. Arthur Alexander – The Ultimate Arthur Alexander

R & B music is something I don’t know a lot about.  I love old school R & B.  I asked my mother for the Time Life Doo Wop collection at the age of 14 ( which I never received…)  Recent R & B is a hit and miss with me.  And, I’ve never heard of Mr. Alexander, but I’m looking forward to listening to him.  From what Mr. Moon says in “1000 Recordings” he’s more old school so there’s more of a chance I’ll like it.

“You Better Move On” – Yes Yes Yes Yes!!! I’m going to enjoy this album so much.  This was the first album I was unable to find streaming somewhere on the internet, so I had to break down and buy it before hearing it. I’m not regretting it all.  That old school beat is something I love (I don’t own nearly every #1 from the 50’s and early 60’s for nothing).

“Anna (Go to Him)” is so good.  (So good, I listened to it twice) It has a kind of jazzy, swingin’ piano beat, and his voice is so smooth it makes this R&B/Jazz gumbo that I really like.  I want more songs like this.  I could start a rant now about this versus todays R&B but I’ll save it for the end.

“Call Me Lonesome” I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is going to be my favorite song on this album lyrically (Anna would be my favorite musically)  I probably shouldn’t jump to conclusions when I’m only half way through the album.  Maybe I’ll end up changing my mind, but I really doubt it.

“Pretty Girls Everywhere” If I ever throw my dream sock hop birthday party, this one will be on the play list.

“I Hang My Head & Cry” I like this song.  No particular reason as to why, but I liked it enough to give it a mention.

I didn’t want this album to be over, it could be the insomnia talking (its 2:30 am here ) but I doubt it.  I wish R&B today sounded more like this.  If I had to choose between listening to this album and anything that has been released in the past 10 years, I would choose this album every time.  Since I don’t know a lot about the R&B genre, I don’t have any recommendations about what else to listen to.  But I’m definitely going to be exploring this genre pre 1970’s in the near future.

Thank you Tom Moon for recommending this gem and for 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.

13. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Woo! An update! I know they haven’t been as quick as they were in the beginning.  I’m working more which is good for me, but bad for my blog.  With the recent re-release of The Beatles albums, coupled with the release of The Beatles: Rock Band (which is amazing btw) I thought I would go a bit out of my planned order of things and listen to my favorite Beatles album.  I know Sgt. Pepper is considered one of the “weirder” Beatles albums, but maybe that says something about me…maybe. I honestly don’t know if I can say anything bad about any of these songs…but I will listen critically, and see what happens.  Maybe I’ll hear a guitar chord I don’t like…but don’t count on it.

With A Little Help From My Friends – One of my most favorite (thats right I said “most favorite”) Beatles song.  Ringo’s voice is so unique, and the song is universal…everybody needs a little help every now and again.

Lucy, In the Sky With Diamonds – Julian Lennon drew a picture of a classmate standing in the night sky, and titled it Lucy, In the Sky With Diamonds….the rest is Lennon-McCartney history.

Getting Better – Paul knows its Getting Better…but John thinks its just because “it can’t get any worse…”

“Within You, Without You” – I like sitar music anyway, The Beatles + sitar music is just amazing.  Thank you George.

“When I’m Sixty-Four” – I just like this song.  I have nothing really to say about it other than that.  For some unknown reason its one of my favorites on this album.

Okay, its true, I have nothing bad or negative to say. I’ll leave the negative things to the conspiracy theorists and code breakers.  Well guys, from here is hard to say what else to listen to, but I’m going to go even weirder and say its time to break out  “Magical Mystery Tour”, specifically Hello Goodbye and Penny Lane (but also I am the Walrus, see if you can figure out what it all means)

I’m very glad for the re release (with your choice of mono OR stereo box set….personally I want both please)  and the game.  People who didn’t listen to the Beatles will be exposed to their music and I hope there will be a second round a Beatlemania!  Now I’m gonna go analyze the album cover again…

In other, more personal news, The Man, Tom Moon blogged about my little project.  Wow, how cool is that?  I’m honored. I was very surprised when I saw that he had left a comment on my page, but I haven’t had a chance to properly responded until today, and that was when I found my way to his blog (www.1000recordings.com) and saw the post.  So, as usual, thanks to Tom Moon for 1000 Recordings AND for taking the time to support my project.

12. AC/DC – Back in Black

I love rock ‘n roll.  Its the genre that I most often find myself listening to.  It can be happy and positive, depressing and thought provoking, angry, or just goofy.  Rock can be divided into numerous sub genre’s, but I’m going to try to avoid that for this project… I also know that some artists, people would consider “rock” artists, and that other people would not. I will go ahead and put this out there: If you have a problem with the genre that an artist is grouped into, take it up with Tom Moon, and not me.  I’m just putting the recording/artist into the genre he did.  Seeing as he’s got quite a bit of experience with this type of thing, I’m going to go with what he says.  Now that’s out of the way….to the music!

I like AC/DC.  I’ve had AC/DC ringtones (classy aren’t I) and anytime they come up on the radio I’m serenading anybody in listening range.   I’m also quite sad that they are anti digital music.  Its true, if you want a (legal) AC/DC album, you have to take yourself down to your local Wal Mart  (IE: Black Ice) to get their album.  An extra thank you to bluebeat.com this time around.

They start this album with Hell’s Bells.  Like I’ve said before (and I know I’ll say again) I love it when an album starts out on a strong note.

Since I don’t own this particular album, I haven’t listened to all the tracks.  I love the song “What Do You Do For Money Honey.”  Brian Johnson’s voice, plus the guitars turns this into one of those songs that get stuck in your head, but doesn’t get annoying.  (Unlike a certain Rhianna song about anti precipitation devices)

Back in Black! Title Track! Epic! (And this was once my ringtone)  Okay okay, I have to listen to this with out singing along.  What is it about this song?  If I find it on the radio I HAVE to stop even if its almost over.  Maybe I’m obsessed with catchy guitar riffs.  Maybe its just one of those songs that my personal tastes attract me to.  (Personal Request: If the guys that make the Rock Band games read this, can you add this song to the Market Place please)

“You Shook Me All Night Long”  Probably my 2nd favorite AC/DC song.  I think I hear this more at huge sporting events than anywhere else.  And why not?  This is one of those songs that most everyone has heard.  Songs played at stadiums are usually ones that the majority of people have heard…groups of people singing the same song brings unity, unity brings support, support (supposedly) makes the team want to win more…etc.  When a song about a women with “American Thighs” brings unity…you know you’ve made it.

The last song “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” has great guitar (thanks Angus) and the message is quite clear.  Written at a time where rock and roll was still considered controversial, they let everyone that rock and roll is just rock and roll…basically…get over it.

I very much enjoyed listening to this album.    Thanks to Tom Moon for 1000 Recordings to Hear Before you Die and once again to bluebeat.com .  And thanks to you guys that read this, you guys keep me on track to finish this.

(Edit: I failed to mention when I first published this entry, that AC/DC hail from Australia.  Thank you to my dear friend Andy the Aussie for pointing that out.)

11. ABBA – Gold

I’ll admit it…I love pop music.  Its generally happy and up beat, and so dang catchy.  A lot of it is a shame to music though, especially in an age where its about how you look not how you sound.

Okay, I already know I like ABBA (I’ve seen Mamma Mia! and I love it) and most of their songs are classics.  The only thing that worries me about listening to this greatest hits album, is that I more than likely will be singing “Dancing Queen” repeatedly at work tonight.

“Dancing Queen” kicks this album off.  I love this song.  It gets stuck in your head, but its so fun and good to twirl around to.

“Mamma Mia” has a hit musical named after it.  Of course its amazing.  I can’t listen to it without picturing Meryl Streep dancing around though.

“I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” sounds older than what it is. It almost sounds like it should come out of sock hop juke box.  This is one of my favorite ABBA songs.

“Gimme Gimme Gimme” has the best opening.  If I wasn’t busy listening, I guarantee I’d be giving an award winning performance with a hair brush microphone in front of my mirror.

Okay okay, this whole CD is just fun.  What can you say negative about ABBA…well, I can admit, you do not have to have to have a brain to like it.  But even if you are a rocket scientist, you should have no shame in admitting you like ABBA.

Thanks to Dingo RG and to Tom Moon for writing 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.

On a more personal note, with the way work is going lately, I doubt I’ll be posting a blog everyday, but I will be as often as possible.  And when I do, they’ll be better than this I promise.  I admit, I hurried through the writing portion of todays, but I did listen to the entire album.  I’ll be less fail next time, and try to be more win.

10. John Adams – The Death of Klinghoffer

Opera.  Alot of  people imagine opera as something that involves people singing in viking costumes or a masked phantom lurking about stalking young women.  I can honestly say I have no opinion on opera one way or the other.  I went to an opera my freshman year of high school, and it was a fun experience and I enjoyed the opera (Pagliacci) very much.  But as far as to listen to one and enjoy it for reasons other than amazing singers, well, I don’t know how to.  I admit I am slightly dreading this since previous recordings by John Adams weren’t exactly fun to listen to. But, here goes (Tom Moon don’t fail me now!)

This opera is based on the murder of Klinghoffer during a hijack.

Okay…opening is a chorus “Chorus of Exiled Palenstinians” is actually not bad.  (Later note: this is my favorite song, unforunately, its the only song I really liked…figures)

The opera is…extremely….for lack of a better word I will quote Twist from Spaced…samey.
All the conversations just go on and on and on and on…and ZzzzzzZzzzzzzz

Okay Act II….lets do this!

ZzzzZZZZzzZzzZZz…..

I want my 2.2 hours back…

Well…Tom Moon….thanks for nothing.  Maybe its in the book because of its controversal  topic (Tension between Palestinians and Jews) but as far as someone listening to it through headphones its hard to enjoy.  Perhaps on the stage with actors its better.  I’m going to go listen to Phantom of the Opera now.

Thanks to Classic Music Today and to Tom Moon for 1000 To Hear Before You Die.

Again with the lame excuses….

While weekends were originally going to be my “days off” from the blog, I was going to update this weekend since I was way off the ball the end of this week.  But see, I have these people that I like to do things with on weekends (family and friends, perhaps you’ve heard of them).   If I get more than a couple hours in a row free this weekend I’ll update (opera is long…)  but I probably won’t.  But Monday I’ll be raring to go! And you people did not leave comments save for Emily! And unless the 3 readers I know about viewed my page ALOT then theres more of you guys out there…so come on…own up! (pretty please

Work Work Work

Well guys, no REAL updates two days in a row.  Boo on me for not being on the ball, but I have a good excuse…work!
I work for a company who sells video games…and yes its probably the one you’re thinking of.  (Hint Hint: Our mascot is an adorable smart aleck rabbit…) ANYWAYS…as a lot of gamers know Madden 2010 comes out tomorrow, and we are having a midnight release tonight, so lots of working.  Tomorrow afternoon/evening I should be posting my experience on listening to the opera “The Death of Klinghoffer”  (I’m dreading it actually since its by the same guy that did Harmonium, but heres to hoping)  But yes, I hope all you guys are having a great week!

(I know of 3 actual readers, but if I don’t know your reading it and you are, please leave a comment or let me know via twitter or facebook, I’d like to thank you personally or at least RT you )