120. Vangelis

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2017) I have completed episode 120 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: VANGELIS. Best known for his lush, new age-y soundtracks, his career is much more, covering psychedelic rock, avant-garde jazz, ambient and experimental electronica. As a fan of 1970s electronic music, I especially like his pioneering work in that period. Also, his first band, Aphrodite’s Child, makes an excellent contribution to psychedelic rock and probably should have received its own treatment.

Favorite album: Heaven and Hell

Favorite soundtrack album: Opera Sauvage

Favorite song: The Dragon

Favorite period: 1975-79

If you want nine hours of uninterrupted meditation music: The Tegos Tapes

Compared to expectations: same

119. Fleetwood Mac

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2017) I have completed episode 119 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: FLEETWOOD MAC. Remember that they put out eight albums before becoming the Gods of Soft Rock after Buckingham and Nicks joined, first as a pure blues band, then blues-rock, then early-70s pop rock. The Rumours album is remarkable: 9 of the 11 tracks got radio play from what my ears tell me.

Favourite album: Rumours

Favourite song: Oh Well

Worst album: Time

Special sauce: Christine McVie

Compared to expectations: same

118. Boston

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2017) I have completed episode 118 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: BOSTON. Simultaneously everything that people love about classic rock and everything that people hate about classic rock. A future historian of 20th century music couldn’t provide a better singular example of a Classic Rock Album than their debut LP.

Favorite album: Boston

Favorite song: Foreplay/Long Time

Worst album: everything else

Compared to expectations: same

117. Dmitri Shostakovich

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2017) I have completed episode 117 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH. I’m a big fan of 20th century Russian composers. I especially like his dynamic symphonies and string quartets. I noticed how he modulates between loud and quiet, and tends to finish movements quietly rather than with a classic flourish. It’s amazing to learn how he navigated his artistic expression through war and the Soviet system, suffering two denunciations. His martial works lauding Stalin and the Red Army come off as creepy, but that’s what he had to do to stay alive.

Favorite work: Symphony No. 5

Favorite movement: Largo, 3rd movement of Symphony No. 5

Favorite string quartet: 8th

Favorite opera: The Nose

Favorite overture: Festive Overture

Favorite piano work: Piano Trio No. 2

Compared to expectations: ↑

116. L7

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(march 2017) I have completed episode 116 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: L7. No-frills punk/grunge/metal. They’ll always be on my shitlist.

Favorite album: Bricks are Heavy

Favorite song: Deathwish

Compared to expectations: same

115. Electric Light Orchestra

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2017) I have completed episode 116 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (along with two JEFF LYNNE solo albums). With its combination of Beatlesque melodies and prog-rock orchestration, you would think I would have been more into ELO than I was. Would the songs sound better with the layers stripped off ? Lynne’s later work suggests yes. ELO was the soundtrack of the portion of my youth spent in roller and ice rinks (and as a parent, the Astrophere.)

Favourite album: Eldorado

Favourite song: Fire on High

Worst album: Balance of Power

Compared to expectations: same

114. Foreigner

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2017) I have completed episode 114 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: FOREIGNER. A higher concentration of rock lyric cliches per song than any other band. If you came of age in the late 70s or early 80s, their hits of are high nostalgic value. If not, and with the non-hits, don’t bother.

Favorite album: Foreigner

Favorite song: Hot Blooded

Worst album: Mr. Moonlight

Compared to expectations: same

113. T. Rex

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2017) I have completed episode 113 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: T. REX. Marc Bolan started out with bongo-infused psychedelic folk and helped define glam rock with the fabulous Electric Warrior, but then kinda just repeated himself after that.

Favourite album: Electric Warrior

Favourite song: 20th Century Boy

Compared to expectations: ↓

112. Bikini Kill / Le Tigre

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2017) I have completed episode 112 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: BIKINI KILL and LE TIGRE. The commonality here is Kathleen Hanna and fierce feminist content. But the sounds are rather distinct — BK is riot grrrl punk while LT is eclectic electro-dance.

Favorite Bikini Kill album: Pussy Whipped

Favorite Le Tigre album: Le Tigre

Favorite song: Rebel Girl

Compared to expectations: same

Le_Tigre_(album).jpg

111. Blondie

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2017) I have completed episode 111 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: BLONDIE. A good ride on the new wave, but mostly meh.

Favorite album: Parallel Lines

Favorite song: Heart of Glass

Best late-period album: The Curse of Blondie

Compared to expectations: ↓