(August 2014) I have completed phase 35 of my “opus project” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: PAUL SIMON (solo).
Favorite song: Still Crazy After All These Years
Favorite album: There Goes Rhymin’ Simon
Biggest surprise: the strength of his most recent two albums, Surprise (2006) and So Beautiful So What (2011), Very good
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2014) I have completed phase 34 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. This was the biggest I have done and will do in this project. Some 1150 pieces of music (I did not include items in the catalogue whose authorship is doubtful or falsely attributed to J.S. Bach). It took almost six months. I don’t know how many hours, but I see that the running time of the complete Bach CD box set is 175 hours.
Favorite big work: Mass in B minor
Favorite category of music: orchestral pieces (concertos)
Favorite concerto: Brandenberg #4
Favorite movement: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, II. Air (the most beautiful piece of music ever written)
Favorite chorale prelude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2014) I have completed phase 33 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s discography from beginning to end. This episode: BLUR.
Favourite album: Parklife
Favourite song: Coffee and TV
Special sauce: Graham Coxon
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2014) I have completed phase 32 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography in chronological order. This episode: OASIS.
Favourite album: Definitely Maybe
Favourite song: Keep the Dream Alive
Started strong with two excellent albums, finished strong with two good albums, with the weaker ones in between
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2014) I have completed phase 31 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography in chronological order. This episode: OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL with spin-off bands THE SUNSHINE FIX and CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.
Favorite album: Music from the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle
Favorite song: I Have Been Floated
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2014) I have completed phase 30 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to a band’s entire discography from start to finish. This episode: SIMON AND GARFUNKLE.
Favorite album: Bookends
Favorite song: The Boxer
Compared to expectations: same
(June 2014) I have completed phase 29 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: PETER GABRIEL (solo).
Favourite song: Solsbury Hill
Favourite album: Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt)
Low points: the two recent ‘covers’ albums
Compared to expectations: same
(June 2014) I have completed phase 28 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography from start to finish. This episode: U2.
Favourite album: Achtung Baby
Favourite song: Where the Streets Have No Name
Bono: sings too much
Special sauce: The Edge
Compared to expectations: ↓
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(June 2014) I have completed phase 27 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography. This episode: JET.
Favourite album: Shine On
Favourite Song: Bring It On Back
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2014) I have completed phaze 26 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the entire discography of an artist from beginning to end. This episode: another great Italian, FRANK ZAPPA. This was a looooooong one, the longest I will do by a non-exclusively classical composer. 90+ albums, almost 6 months. But very engaging, funny, and illuminating. I learned a lot. Highly recommended.
Favorite album (Mothers era): We’re Only In It For The Money
Favorite album (solo): You Are What You Is
Favorite song: Peaches en Regalia
Favorite period: original Mothers of Invention (1966-69)
Low point: Thing Fish
On the menu: baby octopus, creamed corn, muffin rem-nants
What’s happening: Becky?
Special sauce: Muffin Utility Research Kitchen
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 