162. The Allman Brothers

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

I have completed episode 162 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE ALLMAN BROTHERS. They didn’t invent Southern Rock*, but they pretty much defined it (see Midnight Rider and Blue Sky). A always enjoy the fret and slide work of Dickey and Duane. Their output after the 1970s often resembled little more than talent-rich bar band.

Favorite album: Idlewild South

Favorite song: Jessica

Favorite period: 1969-72

Compared to expectations: same

* Gregg Allman once made an astute comment that “Southern rock” was a redundant term, like “rock rock.”

161. The Sonics

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2018) I have completed episode 161 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE SONICS. The Beatles, Stones, Who and Kinks of the mid-1960s deserve all the accolades they’re given, but none of them rocked harder than the Sonics. Out of Tacoma, WA, they were a definitive garage band, and their tonal aggression clearly influenced punk. After some 50 years, they were still spry enough to put out a kick-ass album (2015).

Favorite album: Here Are The Sonics

Favorite song: The Witch

Compared to expectations: same

160. George Frideric Handel

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2018) I have completed episode 160 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL. I love me some baroque, and I enjoy many Handel works. But this was a tedious effort. So many lengthy operas and oratorios — quite a slog. Prefer the chamber works.

Favorite work: “Water music” suites (HWV 348-350)

Favorite category: violin sonatas

Compared to expectations: same

159. Jean-Michael Jarre

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2018) I have completed episode 159 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: JEAN-MICHEL JARRE. As a big fan of the golden age of electronic music, JMJ’s 1970s albums have always been in my rotation. Unlike some contemporaries, JMJ’s career did not wholly descend into new age-y drivel (like Tangerine Dream) or wander into vocals (like Mike Oldfield).

Favorite album: Óxygene

Favorite song: Équinoxe 5

Favorite period: 1973-78

Best ambient: Waiting for Cousteau (song)

Compared to expectations: same

158. Squeeze

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2018) I have completed episode 158 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: SQUEEZE. I’ve long been a fan of the clever song-writing of the Difford-Tilbrook collaboration, who created one of the most melodically tuneful outfits from the UK New Wave. The first five albums are great; the 80s and 90s are serviceable but not memorable; the 2015 and 2017 albums are rather catchy.

Favourite album: East Side Story

Favorite song: Is That Love

Most resembles a late-period Paul McCartney album: Cradle to the Grave

Compared to expectations: same

1981_squeeze-eastsidestory

157. Michael Hedges

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2018) I have completed episode 157 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: MICHAEL HEDGES. I still get amazed by the wizardry of his “violent acoustic” guitar — two-handed hammer-ons, thumping, harmonics, etc. But when he adds vocals it ruins the magic.

Favorite album: Aerial Boundaries

Favorite song: Aerial Boundaries

Worst album: The Road to Return

Compared to expectations: ↓

156. The Breeders

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2018) I have completed episode 156 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: THE BREEDERS. I recently did the Pixies, so I thought it natural to do the Breeders.

Favorite album: Last Splash

Favorite song: Cannonball

Compared to expectations: same

155. The Jam

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2018) I have completed episode 155 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: THE JAM. It is my shame that I dismissed, even mocked, this band back in the day. But as I grew to avidly embrace the mod sounds of the early Who, early Kinks, Small Faces and the Creation, naturally I came to realize how f-ing awesome The Jam were. Oy!

Favorite album: All Mod Cons

Favorite song: In the City

Favorite cover: David Watts

Compared to expectations: same ↑↓

154. Public Enemy

January 19, 2019April 7, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

I have completed episode 154 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: PUBLIC ENEMY. PE is my favorite rap act; Chuck D is my favorite rapper. Their influence cannot be overstated. They do not suffer from subtlety. And they still bring it (check out their rockin’ 2017 release).

Favorite album: It Take a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Favorite song: Fight the Power

Favorite late-period album: Rebirth of a Nation

Compared to expectations: same

153. Janis Joplin

January 19, 2019April 6, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2018) I have completed episode 153 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: JANIS JOPLIN. One of best voices of all-time. Many classic songs, although the albums, with the variety of backing bands, are uneven affairs.