Category: Uncategorized

50. Paul McCartney

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(April 2015) I have completed phase 50 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from beginning to end. This episode: PAUL McCARTNEY.* What’s there to say about arguably the top songwriter of the last 50 years? He is so prolific (440+ songs) that he has recorded more forgettable songs than most artists ever record in their lifetimes, and yet it would take half a dozen CDs to package his “best of.” Sure, he tends toward the sappy and sentimental, but don’t dismiss the wide variety of his work: pop, rock, electronic, classical, jazz, experimental. Paul is at his best when it is just him, his guitar and his melody, as in Here Today and Calico Skies (not to mention Yesterday and Blackbird).

Favourite album: Band on the Run

Favourite song: Maybe I’m Amazed

Worst song (hit): Freedom

Worst song (non hit): Temporary Secretary

More interesting than expected: his electronic /experimental albums (as the Firemen)

Not so interesting: his classical music compositions

Favorite period: the late (1997-2013: from Flaming Pie to New). While the early 1970s has most of the hits, the recent albums are more consistently strong.

Compared to expectations: same

paul_mccartney_&_wings-band_on_the_run_album_cover

49. Brian Eno

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(March 2015) I have completed phase 49 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography.   This edition: BRIAN ENO.   This was a long one; more than 50 albums. (If I had included the hundreds of albums which he produced, it would have taken me a year.)   My favorite period is the mid-1970s, when he simultaneously put out eclectic glam-adelic rock albums and essentially invented ambient music. He continued (and continues) to innovate in many directions.

Favourite album (rock): Here Come the Warm Jets

Favourite album (ambient): Music for Airports

Favourite album (collaboration): Evening Star (with Robert Fripp)

Favourite song: Needles in the Camel’s Eye

Compared to expectations: ⇑

warmjetsvinyl

music_for_airports

48. The White Stripes (with Raconteurs, Dead Weather and Jack White)

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(February 2015) I have completed phase 48 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the full discography of an artist from beginning to end. This episode: the WHITE STRIPES, plus RACONTEURS, plus DEAD WEATHER, plus JACK WHITE solo. My sister told me that the first album, which I always thought too raw, was the best. Upon further listen, she may be right, but I’m still listing Elephant for its diversity. Ask me again next year, though, and I may be there.

Favorite album: Elephant
Favorite song: Blue Orchid
Least favorite: the Dead Weather albums

Compared to expectations: same

elephant,_the_white_stripes

47. George Harrison

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(January 2015) I have completed phase 47 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from start to finish. This episode: GEORGE HARRISON (solo). I say that All Things Must Pass (1970) is the best solo album by any ex-Beatle — a flowering of songwriting that finally got on vinyl after the group split up. That said, his overall solo work shows that his songwriting was not of the caliber of John and Paul. A pleasure, in any case.

Favourite album: All Things Must Pass

Specially recommended album: Brainwashed (released posthumously, 2002)

Hidden gem: Wonderwall Music

Favourite song: Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)

Most overrated song: My Sweet Lord

Most underrated song: Wah-Wah

Compared to expectations: same

All_Things_Must_Pass_1970_cover.jpg

46. Rush

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(January 2015) I have completed phase 46 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography from start to finish. This episode: RUSH. Remember that sense of wonder and magic you got as a youth reading A Wrinkle in Time or Voyage of the Dawn Treader? And how, when you re-read those books as an adult, you not only fail to recapture that feeling, but it also erases it from your memory? It’s been like that with Rush. When I was younger, I marveled at the wizardry (both lyrical and musicianship) of this band. Pure headphone music. And while I still enjoy many of their “classic period” songs, the enjoyment is devoid of that original mystery. And it says something that my favorite song is an uncharacteristic power-chord metal piece. Lastly, there’s the unsurprising revelation that most everything that came after Moving Pictures is crap. I can say I’ve listened to those 11 later albums now, and I never need to again.

Favorite album: 2112

Favorite song: Working Man

Favorite instrumental: La Villa Strangiato

Lowest point (among many): Power Windows

Special sauce:

Compared to expectations: ⇓

rush_2112

45. John Lennon

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(January 2015) I have completed phase 45 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode; JOHN LENNON (solo).

Favourite song: Jealous Guy
Favourite album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (could there ever be a better transfer of raw emotion to a recording device?)
Low points: the late 60s experimental recordings with Yoko Ono

Compared to expectations: same

jlpobcover

 

43. King Crimson (and Robert Fripp)

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(December 2014) I have completed phase 43 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to an artist’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: KING CRIMSON, as well as several ROBERT FRIPP solo and collaboration albums. This was hard to compare, as King Crimson went through four distinct phases, which I categorize as early psych/orchestral/jazz (69-71), middle prog (73-74), late new wave/beat (81-84) and later whatever (95-03). And then there’s Frippertronics…. Some of the music I love — first album, Great Deceiver, Discipline, Fripp/Eno — and much that I think I should embrace, but after repeated listenings, I don’t.

Favorite KC album: Discipline

Favorite KC song: 21st Century Schitzoid Man

Low point: Lizard

Favorite Fripp solo/joint album: (no pussyfooting)

Special sauce: Adrian Belew

Compared to expectations: same

discipline_-_original_vinyl_cover

frippenopussyfooting

42. Stevie Ray Vaughan

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(November 2014) I have completed phase 42 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from beginning to end. This episode: STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN. One of the best guitarists ever. Taken too early.

Favorite album: Couldn’t Stand the Weather
Favorite song: Rude Mood
Special distinction: one of the few (only?) musicians who has respectably pulled off a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song (Voodoo Chile, Little Wing)

Compared to expectations: same

 

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41. Steely Dan

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(October 2014) I have completed phase 41 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: STEELY DAN. I don’t think I would take up their jazz rock if I discovered it today, as I have grown to dislike all things fusion (food, music, thermonuclear). But they were in heavy rotation in my teens, and I still enjoy many of the songs. Donald Fagan’s wry voice and lyrics make it work, provide an essential counterpoint to the jazzy atmosphere. Otherwise, it would sound like Al Jarreau, which would be unlistenable.

Favorite album: Pretzel Logic
Favorite song: Any Major Dude Would Tell You
Favorite guitar solo: Kid Charlemagne (by Larry Carlton)

Compared to expectations: ↓

Pretzel_Logic_album.jpg