Zonker.net – Page 16 – Blogging, Books, Cats, Music, Mayhem

September 5, 2016

“Gordon” by Barenaked Ladies (No. 36)

Barenaked Ladies Gordon, like Stunt, is all over the place musically and thematically. There’s frenetic and lighthearted pieces, pseudo-jazzy, and deep and introspective all mooshed together. Sounds like it should be a hot mess, but it’s well-balanced and there’s not a wasted track on the album.

Pretty sure I enumerated most of the reasons I love BNL in the Stunt entry, but let’s recap briefly; fantastic songwriting, incredible harmonies, superb musicianship, and killer live shows. All of the above are present on Gordon.

Continue reading ““Gordon” by Barenaked Ladies (No. 36)”

September 4, 2016

“OK Computer” by Radiohead (No. 37)

I don’t consider myself a big Radiohead fan, but OK Computer is just too damn good not to make the list.

OK Computer popped up on my radar sometime after I started aggressively looking for “new” music in the mid-2000s. At some point I realized that I wasn’t buying or listening to new music. New as in “new to me,” whether it was released yesterday, ten years ago, or sixty years ago. The problem was stagnation. I recognized some of OK Computer from college radio, of course – but I hadn’t given the entire thing a play through.

If you follow any of the music mags, you’ll know that OK Computer was widely hailed as the best thing since sliced bread, and then a backlash set in when lots of critics agreed it was overrated. I’m of the opinion they were mostly right the first time.

Continue reading ““OK Computer” by Radiohead (No. 37)”

September 3, 2016November 9, 2024

“Animals” by Pink Floyd (No. 38)

Pink Floyd responded in part to the punk rock movement’s fast, short, and aggressive tunes by… putting out an LP with five complex and relatively languid songs, three of which are longer than 10 minutes. And it is awesome.

1977’s Animals is an album that’s best experienced as an album. I suppose you could play “Sheep” or “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” as stand-alones, but why would you? If you’ve never listened to this one, you need to clear an hour (actually about 45 minutes) and sit down and give it some attention. Continue reading ““Animals” by Pink Floyd (No. 38)”

September 2, 2016

“Going Somewhere” by Colin Hay (No. 39)

Going Somewhere by Colin Hay album cover

Colin Hay is a storyteller. This is immediately evident if you have the opportunity to see him perform live as a headliner, as the stories between songs will be just as interesting and entertaining as the songs themselves. The songs, of course, are also stories.

Other 70s and 80s kids will recognize Hay from Men At Work, a damn good rock band out of Australia that managed three studio albums before breaking up in 1986. (They reunited for some touring between 1996 and 2002, but didn’t produce any new studio albums.) Hay’s voice will be immediately recognizable from his Men At Work days here, but Going Somewhere is a different beast entirely. Continue reading ““Going Somewhere” by Colin Hay (No. 39)”

September 1, 2016

“Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon (No. 40)

If it weren’t for Warren Zevon, I’d have almost nothing to sing at the Karaoke bar. Whether this is laudable or something he should be ashamed of is left as an exercise to the reader. But give me a drink or three, and a mic, and I’ll be happy to belt out most of the songs on Excitable Boy.

Sad to say, I didn’t really follow Zevon’s career until it was late in the game. I knew several tunes, but I didn’t dig into Zevon’s catalog until his collaboration with R.E.M. on the Hindu Love Gods in 1990. You just haven’t lived until you’ve heard Zevon belting out a bluesy take on Prince‘s “Raspberry Beret.” Come to think of it, I also owe Zevon and the Love Gods (in part) for actually paying closer attention to blues music. Continue reading ““Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon (No. 40)”

August 31, 2016

“Psonic Psunspot” by Dukes of Stratosphere / XTC (No. 41)

Psonic Psunspot is the best collection of 60s psychedelia ever recorded in the mid-80s. The members of XTC, working under the pseudonym Dukes of Stratosphear basically channeled some of their musical influences from the 60s and delivered 10 outstanding replicas that easily stand alongside XTC’s best work.

Psunspot is actually XTC’s second venture back in time under the Dukes name, the first release was an EP called 25 O’Clock. I prefer Psunspot not just for length, but also because the lyrics are a little sharper and it has a few truly outstanding tracks. Continue reading ““Psonic Psunspot” by Dukes of Stratosphere / XTC (No. 41)”

August 30, 2016

“Life’s Rich Pageant” by R.E.M. (No. 42)

It’s almost by accident that I wound up being a big fan of R.E.M. A happy accident, I might add.

Earlier in this series I talked about my early obsession with Robyn Hitchcock. Not long after I became a big fan of Robyn Hitchcock, a friend of mine turned up with tickets to R.E.M.’s Green tour. Was I interested? “Dunno,” I responded, “I’m not really a big R.E.M. fan” – and threw out an unlikely scenario “unless Robyn Hitchcock is opening or something…” Turns out, yes, he was. So… I decided to brush up on my R.E.M. Continue reading ““Life’s Rich Pageant” by R.E.M. (No. 42)”

August 29, 2016

“O, You Sinners” by Eliza Rickman (No. 43)

A few years ago, I went to see Welcome to Night Vale, expecting to be moderately amused. Instead, I was blown away by the WtNV cast, and their supporting musical act Eliza Rickman. At first I was thinking “well, this lady with the toy piano should be interesting.” And then… she sang.

Having almost no expectations, I was absolutely blown away when Rickman began singing. Her voice is lovely, powerful, and entrancing. If she were a siren, I’d have gladly steered my ship towards the rocks. Instead, I steered myself to the merch table and snagged O, You Sinners.

Continue reading ““O, You Sinners” by Eliza Rickman (No. 43)”

August 28, 2016

“Rust Never Sleeps” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (No. 44)

Rust Never Sleeps is another album I experienced mostly through radio until I was in my late 20s. Experienced piecemeal, the songs are great. Pulled together, and given the dichotomy of the first and final tracks, it’s even better.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse have a strong track record, but this is the one I’d run back into a burning building for – assuming it was the only copy, and I couldn’t just head to Vintage Vinyl and pick up a new copy. Also why are they leaving the only copy with me? That’s just irresponsible. Continue reading ““Rust Never Sleeps” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (No. 44)”

August 27, 2016

“Pretty Hate Machine” by Nine Inch Nails (No. 45)

Nine Inch Nails album cover for Pretty Hate Machine

When I wrote about Hallucination Engine by Material I alluded to two albums on this list being purchased solely on the strength of a review. Nine Inch Nails‘ debut, Pretty Hate Machine is the other, and it was love at first listen.

The first few seconds of “Head Like a Hole” grabbed me, sort of like Depeche Mode‘s Black Celebration had a few rough years and bought a few Skinny Puppy albums. Continue reading ““Pretty Hate Machine” by Nine Inch Nails (No. 45)”