(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
(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
(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
(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: ↓
(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
(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 ↑↓
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
(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.
Favorite album: Pearl
Favorite song: Me and Bobby McGee
Favorite song written by Janis Joplin: Move Over
Special sauce: Big Brother and the Holding Company
Compared to expectations: same
(December 2017) I have completed episode 152 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. Cosmic 1970s jazz-prog rock fusion.
Favorite album: The Inner Mounting Flame
Favorite song: Vital Transformation
Compared to expectations: same ↓
(December 2017) I have completed episode 151 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: the PIXIES. I don’t know what I was listening to in college instead of the Pixies, but whatever it was was less than the Pixies. Listening in retrospect, their influence can be heard in many places.
Favorite album: Doolittle
Favorite song: Debaser
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 