Music Monday

Today I'm launching a new feature here at ESTD - Music Monday. For the foreseeable future, I will be focusing on my personal CD collection. (Yes, I still have CDs. I like and use digital music, but I am slow to completely adopt new technology.)

My Music - A to Z
It won't surprise any of you that most of my CDs are in alphabetical order by artist. (Soundtracks, musicals, classical and "international" are the exceptions.) While trying to decide what to listen to one day, I realized there are many CDs that don't make it into my regular listening rotation. So I've embarked on a quest to listen to all of my CDs, in order, and review them. And when I say ALL of my CDs, I mean it - the good, the bad and the embarrassing.

With each review I will include:

1. Title, artist and year of album release
2. Whether or not I have seen the artist live/compare to recording
3. Thoughts on how well the recording works as an album (The Attorney and I have talked about this a lot lately and have the theory that digital music has hurt the concept of an album - artists/producers know people are going to download singles, so they don't put the effort into creating a cohesive piece.)
4. Favorite song(s)

I am also attempting to keep each review at 100 words or less.

Today's entry will be a little lengthy since I have been listening, but not reviewing, for a couple of weeks now.

So Far, So Good - Bryan Adams (1993)
And we start with the embarrassing! I have never seen Bryan Adams live, so I don't know if his earnestness comes across onstage or only in the studio. The album succeeds because it does what it sets out to do - provide a collection of greatest hits. And most of the songs are actually hits, with only a few second tier (Do I Have to Say the Words? Kids Wanna Rock) 80's/early 90's cheese with just enough nostalgia and rock to make it go down. And I can sing along with almost all of them.

Faves: Summer of '69, Heaven

Heartbreaker -Ryan Adams (2000)
I have seen Ryan Adams live and it was not pretty: lots of jamming on his guitar and yelling about getting high, but not much singing. I was disappointed because Heartbreaker is an amazing album - each song flows into the next with a great balance of ballads and up tempo. The title is appropriate because there is something bittersweet about even the rockin'est songs. The emotion is raw and the production stripped down. I'm also a sucker for great harmony and Adams blends well with all the ladies, including Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch. Definitely a keeper.

Faves: Oh My Sweet Carolina, Come Pick Me Up

Greatest Hits - Air Supply (1984)
Probably the less said about this the better. I never saw them live. Are they even together anymore? For years I thought the group was a man and a woman because guys can't sing that high. It is mostly a greatest hits album, except for the random Chances. (Anyone actually remember that one?) It didn't bother me as a kid that they obviously didn't play any instruments, but it bothers me now for some reason. However, it is good to have on hand if you can't get your fix of this stuff from Delilah. And they have really good harmony.

Faves: The One that You Love, Even the Nights are Better

History: America's Greatest Hits - America (1975)
These guys must have done some serious drugs. Or maybe that's just how songwriting was in the 70's. The lyrics don't make much sense ("alligator lizards in the air"), but I know them all, and, gosh darn it, I like them. Haven't seen them live, but would if tickets weren't too expensive. They also have good harmony, definitely influenced by Crosby, Stills and Nash. And I'm pretty sure they play their own instruments. The guitar lick on Ventura Highway is awesome.

Faves: A Horse with No Name, Sister Golden Hair, Ventura Highway

Little Earthquakes - Tori Amos (1991)
I want to like Tori Amos - she plays the piano, she's full of angst, she's a soprano...But I've never been able to get into her. Maybe because I didn't listen to her in high school (not sure why), when I would have loved her. She's definitely been an influence on a lot of artists that I do like and I appreciate her musicianship. But I can't listen to this whole album. It gets on my nerves after a while. Too much angst? Too much dissonance? Not as annoying as Bjork. I've never seen her live. Maybe that would help.

Fave: Silent All These Years

Spoofernatural: Nineteen Biblical Parodies of Rock Hits - ApologetiX (2000)
In the band's own words: "ApologetiX specializes in Biblical parodies of rock songs from the 50's through today. In 1994 the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that parodies can be a fair use of an original, requiring no permission or royalties. The band's name comes from "apologetics," which means the defense of the Christian faith." A gift from TIA, I can only handle it in small doses.

Faves: Elijah (parody of Elvira), Every Crown Has It's Thorns

Tidal - Fiona Apple (1996)
She's full of angst, she plays the piano - and I like her! I hear the Tori Amos influence here, but I'm not annoyed by Apple. Maybe it's because her songs rock a little more and she's kind of a naughty girl, a definite theme that runs through the album. I saw her live in 1997, just her and a piano, and she was great. I actually prefer the less produced version of many of the songs. I hadn't listened to this one in years, but will put it back in regular rotation.

Faves: Criminal, Sleep to Dream

Funeral - Arcade Fire (2004)
I chose not the brave the crowds to see these guys at the ACL fest, and I regret it. They are supposed to be a spectacle. Some aspects of that come through in their music, but I think they are meant to be seen as well as heard. These guys are artists in the true sense of the word, and Funeral is an artist's album. It's not the most accessible music ever, but once I "got" it, I really liked it. Not the kind of songs I put on mixed CDs - it works much better as a whole.

Fave: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

Neon Bible - Arcade Fire (2006)
There is a pipe organ on this CD. And an orchestra. Arcade Fire doesn't do things halfway. They like big sounds. This album doesn't seem as "planned" as Funeral, but it is a good album. There is consistency, but not repetitiveness. There is a common theme of dissatisfaction in all the songs. And there is a driving rhythm that carries through from beginning to end, so this is not something to listen to when you want to relax.

Fave: Black Mirror

Acoustic Soul - India Arie (2001)
The title of this CD pretty much sums it up. I like the combination of soul music and acoustic guitar. Arie's lyrics are, to use one of The Attorney's favorite words, empowering. It's mellow, but with a beat. But it's also a little self indulgent and repetitive. I would rather listen to parts of this than the whole.

Faves: Brown Skin; Strength, Courage and Wisdom

The Complete Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington Sessions (1963)
It doesn't get much better than this. These tracks were laid when both men were in their prime and the result is glorious. There is a good balance of vocals and instrumental solos, with both men getting to shine on their instruments. There is also a good mix of ballads and faster numbers and plenty of standards. If you don't own much jazz, this is a great place to start.

Faves: Solitude, I'm Beginning to See the Light