(September 2014) I have completed phase 40 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography in order. This episode: MY BLOODY VALENTINE. Pure sonic elegance.
Favourite album: Loveless
Favourite song: Only Shallow
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2014) I have completed phase 39 of my “opus project,’ in which I listen to a band’s discography from beginning to end. This episode: JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (but not Jefferson Starship or Starship).
I love the 1960s, San Francisco, and psychedelic music. But despite trying, I have not been able to love 1960s San Francisco psychedelic music. I prefer the British variety. But JA still offers some good stuff.
Favorite album: Surrealistic Pillow
Favorite song: Third Week in the Chelsea
Favorite member: Jorma Kaukonen
Hidden gem: the eclectic mix on side two of “Bark” — including “Third Week in the Chelsea,” “Never Argue With a German If You’re Tired or European Song,” and “Thunk”
Special sauce: Jorma Kaukonen
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2014) I have completed phase 38 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: IGOR STRAVINSKY. I went into this as a casual fan, and came out a huge admirer. Almost every piece has something interesting or unexpected. Very rich.
Favorite ballet (and favorite work): The Rite of Spring
Favorite orchestral piece: 8 instrumental miniatures
Favorite concertante: Concerto for piano and wind instruments
Favorite choral piece: Mass
Favorite vocal piece: Pastorale
Favorite chamber piece: Three pieces for clarinet
Favorite piano piece: Concerto for two pianos
Compared to expectations: ↑
(September 2014) I have completed phase 37 of my “opus project” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography from start to finish. This episode: EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER. Most of this has not worn well over time, and the two 1990s reunion albums are thoroughly unlistenable. However, some earlier songs provide me nostalgic guilty pleasure.
Favourite album: Trilogy
Favourite song: Trilogy
Low points: Anything after Brain Salad Surgery (1973), but especially those 1990s albums
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2014) I have completed phase 36 of my “opus project” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: GENESIS. I admit this one was tedious. The early stuff is mostly impenetrable until the last two albums with Peter Gabriel. The middle stuff is mostly banal, the later stuff crap-tacular, and the last bits unlistenable. But there are some decent songs in there.
Favourite song: In the Cage
Favourite album: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Worst album: Calling All Stations (this was after even Phil Collins left the group).
Compared to expectations: ↓
(August 2014) I have completed phase 35 of my “opus project” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: PAUL SIMON (solo).
Favorite song: Still Crazy After All These Years
Favorite album: There Goes Rhymin’ Simon
Biggest surprise: the strength of his most recent two albums, Surprise (2006) and So Beautiful So What (2011), Very good
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2014) I have completed phase 34 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. This was the biggest I have done and will do in this project. Some 1150 pieces of music (I did not include items in the catalogue whose authorship is doubtful or falsely attributed to J.S. Bach). It took almost six months. I don’t know how many hours, but I see that the running time of the complete Bach CD box set is 175 hours.
Favorite big work: Mass in B minor
Favorite category of music: orchestral pieces (concertos)
Favorite concerto: Brandenberg #4
Favorite movement: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, II. Air (the most beautiful piece of music ever written)
Favorite chorale prelude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2014) I have completed phase 33 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s discography from beginning to end. This episode: BLUR.
Favourite album: Parklife
Favourite song: Coffee and TV
Special sauce: Graham Coxon
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2014) I have completed phase 32 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography in chronological order. This episode: OASIS.
Favourite album: Definitely Maybe
Favourite song: Keep the Dream Alive
Started strong with two excellent albums, finished strong with two good albums, with the weaker ones in between
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2014) I have completed phase 31 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography in chronological order. This episode: OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL with spin-off bands THE SUNSHINE FIX and CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.
Favorite album: Music from the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle
Favorite song: I Have Been Floated
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 