80. Tangerine Dream

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(March 2016) I have completed phase 80 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography. This edition: TANGERINE DREAM. This was a lesson learned for my project, of falling down a rabbit hole, not being able to get out, and forcing myself to make it to the end. I absolutely love Tangerine Dream’s work in the 1970s as pioneers of electronic music. From the 1980s, it was mostly banal, new age, synth drivel, although it had some value in soundtracks. With 98 albums and parts of 22 others, this was quite a time suck.

Favorite album: Phaedra

Favorite song: Phaedra

Favorite period: 1971-78 (mostly the “Virgin years”)

Favorite soundtrack: The Keep

Worst album: among many, I select the recording of cover songs “Under Cover — Chapter One”

Compared to expectations: ↓

79. Buffalo Springfield

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2016) I have completed phase 79 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This edition: BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD. More than a launching pad for Neil Young and Stephen Stills, Buffalo Springfield made an indelible contribution to the explosion of music in the mid-1960s.

Favorite album: Buffalo Springfield Again
Favorite song: Mr. Soul .

Special sauce: Neil Young

Compared to expectations: same

buffalospringfieldbuffalospringfieldagain

78. Supergrass

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2016) I have completed phase 78 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This edition: SUPERGRASS. Never understood why this effervescent, talented British alt-band with a sense of humor never gained wider attention. Try it.

Favourite album: Life on Other Planets
Favourite song: Alright

Compared to expectations: same

life_on_other_planets_album_cover_by_supergrass

77. David Bowie

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(March 2016) I have completed phase 77 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography. This edition: DAVID BOWIE. Catalyzed by his passing, this effort newly exposed me to the wide variety and creativity of his work. While not every recording has aged well, Bowie never settled on a patented sound; rather, he kept innovating until the end.

Favourite album: The Man Who Sold The World

Favourite song: Ziggy Stardust

Favourite period: 1969-1973, which also speaks to the guitar and arranging talents of Mick Ronson

Also great with a very different sound: the ‘Berlin Trilogy,’ 1977-79, which shows that what Brian Eno touches is gold

Worst albums: the 1980s

Special sauce: Mick Ronson

Compared to expectations: ↑

man who sold the world.jpg

76. Nine Inch Nails

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2016) I have completed episode 76 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from start to finish. This episode: NINE INCH NAILS. Trent Reznor’s rage-laden tecnho/industrial sound wears thin fast. But The Downward Spiral still blows my mind every time.

Favorite album: The Downward Spiral

Favorite song: I Do Not Want This

Compared to expectations: same

the_downward_spiral

75. Audioslave

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2016) I have completed episode 75 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: AUDIOSLAVE. If you like Soundgarden or Rage Against the Machine, you’ll probably like Audioslave, but less than you like Soundgarden or Rage Against the Machine.

Favorite album: Audioslave

Favorite song: Show Me How to Live

Compared to expectations: ↓

74. Queen

January 7, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2018) I have completed episode 74 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography from start to finish. This episode: QUEEN. As a fan, I’ve always been puzzled by the critical scorn. After this run-through, I see their point. Lots of empty calories. However, few bands can offer a Greatest Hits collection that is a more fun, sing-with-the-windows-down glamfest than Queen. I love Brian May’s innovative work (in the 1970s), and Freddie’s voice of course. Just don’t bother with anything from the 1980s or later.

Favourite album: Night at the Opera

Favourite song: Bohemian Rhapsody

Favourite heavily-layered mini-opera that is not Bohemian Rhapsody: The March of the Black Queen (from Queen II)

Favourite Period: 1973-75

Worst Album: Flash Gordon (soundtrack)

Worst Album that is not a soundtrack: anything after The Game (1979)

Special sauce: Brian May

Compared to expectations: ↓

queen_a_night_at_the_opera

73. Pulp

January 7, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2016) I have completed episode 73 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This episode: PULP. Fine glam Britpop. Common People is one of my all-time favorite songs.

Favourite album: Different Class

Favourite song: Common People

Compared to expectations: ↓

72. The Doors

January 7, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2016) I have completed episode 72 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s discography from start to finish. This episode: THE DOORS. This band is special, and unique; no one has sounded like them before or since. Amazingly, they released the six albums with Jim Morrison in 4.25 years, and all of them are good. And, yes, my Jim Morrison mancrush remains strong.

Favorite album: The Doors
Favorite song: L.A. Woman
Song that should be on every Greatest Hits collection but isn’t: Peace Frog

Special sauce: Robbie Krieger

Compared to expectations: same

71. The Beastie Boys

January 7, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2015) I have completed episode 71 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This episode: THE BEASTIE BOYS. Their worst, yet most popular, song — (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) — turned me off to them for a decade. But I came around to love their creativity, ingenuity, attitude and diversity: rap, rock, funk, hip hop, punk … even country, reggae and mellow. And the sampling, oh my.