Author: jzb

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“The Queen is Dead” by The Smiths (No. 50)

The Smiths ‎– The Queen Is Dead album cover

The Smiths ‎– The Queen Is Dead album coverThe Smiths didn’t last long, but they left behind an amazing legacy and incredible impact. By the time the band recorded The Queen is Dead they were already fraying at the seams, but it didn’t diminish their ability to create amazing tunes.

“Frankly, Mr. Shankly” is Morrissey at his lyrical best, or worst, telling off an imaginary boss. The line about making Christmas cards with the mentally ill took me for a loop the first time I heard it, it was so offbeat. The music is compelling, but quirky, and completely unique. Continue reading ““The Queen is Dead” by The Smiths (No. 50)”

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“Rumors” by Fleetwood Mac (No. 51)

Fleetwood Mac Rumors album cover

Fleetwood Mac Rumors album coverRumors is an album I’m not really aware of being introduced to at any specific point. Fleetwood Mac’s defining album was just ever-present when I was growing up, I’m not sure if any of the songs on Rumors escaped heavy rotation on album oriented rock (AOR) stations like KSD and KSHE. By the time I got around to listening to the entire thing start to finish, all of the songs were ingrained in my conscience.

This post is going to be a bit shorter than I originally planned, as I got delayed by several hours on my way to LinuxCon Toronto. Instead of flying into Toronto, I’m stuck overnight in Detroit and getting checked in significantly later than planned. But I do want to talk a little about just how damn good Rumors really is. Continue reading ““Rumors” by Fleetwood Mac (No. 51)”

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“Details” by Frou Frou (No. 52)

Details by Frou Frou album cover

Details by Frou Frou album coverWere it not for Zach Braff, I might have missed out on Frou Frou, The Shins, and missed Colin Hay’s solo career. So it’s a damn good thing my friend Rikki suggested we catch Garden State when I was visiting Lawrence, Kansas many years ago.

The first song on Frou Frou’s Details, “Let Go,” is featured in the movie and on the Garden State soundtrack. It was some of the first new music I’d been enthused about in a while. Turns out, the entire album is at least as good as “Let Go,” and a few of the tracks even better. Continue reading ““Details” by Frou Frou (No. 52)”

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“Black Celebration” by Depeche Mode (No. 53)

Black Celebration by Depeche Mode album cover

Black Celebration by Depeche Mode album coverNo instruments were harmed in the making of this album. Well, no instruments were used in the making of this album, anyway. I kid, of course, but I remember debating fiercely with friends in the 1986-1987 time-frame whether Depeche Mode made “real” music because the bulk (if not all) of the music was made with synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines.

I believe we’ve come down firmly on the side of yes, you can make music with electronic instruments, especially when you consider influential works like Black Celebration. Continue reading ““Black Celebration” by Depeche Mode (No. 53)”

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“Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo” by Aimee Mann (No. 54)

Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann album cover

Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann album coverBachelor No. 2 is the album that, if Interscope had its way, wouldn’t have been released at all. Instead, Aimee Mann bought the rights back and released it on her own through her website – a gutsy move in 2000, but it paid off for Mann and her fans.

Most of Mann’s albums make me unreasonably happy, but Bachelor No. 2 is wall-to-wall awesome. Let’s start with the opening track, “How am I Different?” It’s a perfect album opener, starting just with acoustic guitar, light drums, piano, and Mann’s voice. After a couple of verses, the music swells and carries you away. I love everything about this song, the melody, the bluesy guitar, Mann’s voice, and the lyrics. “Just one question before I pack, when you fuck it up later, do I get my money back?” Continue reading ““Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo” by Aimee Mann (No. 54)”

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“Duran Duran: The Singles 81-85” by Duran Duran (No. 55)

Duran Duran The Singles album cover

Duran Duran The Singles album coverThis next entry may be cheating, slightly. Does a box set count as an “album?” Let’s ask the judges if they’ll allow it. Oh, right. I’m the judge, so … yeah, I’m allowing it. My next pick is Duran Duran‘s collection, The Singles 81-85.

I’ll be honest, Duran Duran didn’t win me over initially with their consistently catchy songs. They didn’t win me over with John Taylor’s damned decent bass playing. It wasn’t the slick album art, nor Andy Taylor’s tasteful lead guitar playing. Nope, it was definitely the scantily clad women in the “Girls on Film” video. In my defense, I was 12 or 13, and scantily clad women were very relevant to my interests. Continue reading ““Duran Duran: The Singles 81-85” by Duran Duran (No. 55)”

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“I’m Your Man” by Leonard Cohen (No. 56)

I'm Your Man album cover

I'm Your Man album coverThere are two kinds of people: Those who appreciate Leonard Cohen, and those who are wrong. I present as evidence Cohen’s eighth studio album, I’m Your Man.

Released in 1988 with heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines/electronic drums, I’m Your Man should sound dated. Indeed, if you focus on the backing tracks for the songs on this album, you’ll notice the distinctive sound of cutting-edge mid-80s technology. But it’s the songs, the lyrics, and the voices that propel I’m Your Man – and Cohen’s voice, the lyrics, and his backing chorus are timeless. Continue reading ““I’m Your Man” by Leonard Cohen (No. 56)”

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“Apostrophe(‘)” by Frank Zappa (No. 58)

Frank Zappa album cover Apostrophe(')

Frank Zappa album cover Apostrophe(')Great googly moogly! Frank Zappa‘s Apostrophe(‘) fills me with unmitigated joy every time I listen to it. Apostrophe(‘), particularly the “Yellow Snow Suite” on the first half of the album, is equal parts silliness and brilliant composition and execution.

The first four songs on the album, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” through “Father O’Blivion” are best consumed together, even though you’ll run into a badly edited single version of “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” here and there. Continue reading ““Apostrophe(‘)” by Frank Zappa (No. 58)”

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“Black Snake Diamond Röle” by Robyn Hitchcock (No. 59)

Black Snake Diamond Role album cover

Robyn Hitchcock - Black Snake Diamond Role album coverThe first solo Robyn Hitchcock album, Black Snake Diamond Röle, literally opened a new world of music for me. A friend in high school declared that I’d like it, and handed me a cassette recorded from the LP. She was wrong, though. I didn’t like it, I loved it.

This was around 1986, and at the time I was mostly into classic rock – The Beatles in particular. I dabbled a bit in popular 80s music, but I hadn’t really gotten into alternative yet. Robyn Hitchcock was my gateway drug. Continue reading ““Black Snake Diamond Röle” by Robyn Hitchcock (No. 59)”