(July 2019) Episode 221 of my “opus project” is THE STANDELLS. You may know this mid-1960s garage band from the song “Dirty Water” (you might think they’re from Boston, but they’re not; they’re from LA). Sometimes called the “punk band of the 1960s” (for a clue, listen to “Riot on the Sunset Strip”) due to influences claimed by the Ramones and Sex Pistols. Good stuff.
Favorite album: Dirty Water
Favorite song: Riot on the Sunset Strip
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2019) Episode 220 of my “opus project” is JOHN CALE. For being the most avant-garde member of the Velvet Underground, his solo recordings are surprisingly conventional in the pop/rock vein. His early stuff sounds like a blend of Brian Eno, Lou Reed and Roxy Music, but his style and mood varies over five decades (not to mention his output as a producer and soundtrack composer). I find his collaborations (with Terry Riley, Eno, Reed, Bob Neuwirth) among his strongest recordings.
Favorite album: Paris 1919
Favorite song: Paris 1919
Favorite collaboration: Wrong Way Up (with Brian Eno)
Compared to expectations: ↓
(June 2019) Episode 219 of my “opus project” is PATSY CLINE. I dislike country music in most of its forms, but I am fond of some of the early-era artists when the genre was closer to its roots. Cline has such a lovely, clear voice, and the songs are earnest, melodic and unavoidably enjoyable.
Favorite album: Showcase
Favorite song: Crazy
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2019) Episode 218 of my “opus project” is JAMES BROWN. The Godfather of Soul, the Father of Funk, the Supreme Showman — all this is true. But if you groove out to James Brown — and I recommend that you do — find a greatest hits album and avoid the regular releases. There is a LOT of filler among and within albums: recycled, regurgitated, rerecorded material, even whole albums without any discernible JB content other than his name on the cover. This was another looooong one (63 albums). As with anything, best when funky.
Favorite album: There It Is
Favorite song: Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
Worst album (tie): The Original Disco Man, The Merry Christmas Album
Favorite period: 1969-73 (most funky)
Special sauce: Bootsy and Catfish Collins
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2019) Episode 217 of my “opus project” is LOU REED. The frontman (born 1942) of an influential and innovative 1960s band leaves the group to pursue a solo career. He records many albums over the decades; most are pop/rock oriented, a few are collaborations, and he dabbles in experimentalism. However, the solo output never reaches the magic he made with that 1960s group. Am I taking about Paul and the Beatles or Lou and the Velvet Underground? Even among the weak releases, it’s interesting to track his recordings with the windings of his personal and artistic life. At his best when it’s just his deadpan voice over a spare piano or guitar (nothing tops “Pale Blue Eyes” with the VU).
Favorite album: Transformer
Favorite song: Perfect Day
Best experimental work: Metal Machine Music (most will hate it but I love beautiful noise)
Best collaboration: Songs for Drella (with John Cale, a tribute to Andy Warhol)
Compared to expectations: ↓
(May 2019) Episode 216 of my “opus project” is MIKE KROL. Garage rock that’s loud, distorted, frenetic, humorous. It’s like hemoglobin for me. If you like Ty Segall or Oh Sees, check this guy out. (This may be the first artist in the Project whose first recording came out in the current decade.)
Favorite album: Turkey
Favorite song: Little Drama
Compared to expectations: ↑
(May 2019) Episode 215 of my “opus project” is FRANZ SCHUBERT. Arguably the most productive composer ever — more than 1,000 works even though he died at age 31 (this was a loooooong episode). The majority of these are secular songs (lieder), the genre for which he is probably the most famous, although they are not my cup of tea. Bridging the Classical and Romantic eras, he composed in pretty much every genre; I enjoyed his chamber music the most. But despite his genius and continued inclusion in contemporary repertoires, it is curious that few of his works endure in the public consciousness, with the obvious exception of Ave Maria and maybe the fish song.
Favorite piece: Symphony No. 9 (Great C major)
Favorite string quartet: No. 13, Rosamunde
Favorite quintet: Quintet in A major
Favorite large chamber piece: Wind Nonet “Franz Schuberts Begräbniß-Feyer”
Echoes of Beethoven’s 7th, 2nd movement: Eight Variations on an original theme in A♭ major for piano duet
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2019) Episode 214 of my “opus project” is THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND. A late 1960s Bay Area outfit that combined gritty garage rock and psychedelic sounds — shoot this directly into my veins! While they didn’t have a hit that endured in the popular consciousness, it’s good stuff. Like several groups of that period, some surviving members hit the revival circuit, and even, as septuagenarians, released an album this year (it’s not bad).
Favorite album: The Inner Mystique
Favorite song: Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love-In)
Compared to expectations: same
(April 2019) I have completed episode 212 of my “opus project.” This edition: FOXYGEN. It’s exceedingly difficult to characterize their music, so here goes: Imagine Olivia Tremor Control reincarnated as a duo in Los Angeles as the love child of Ty Segall and Lou Reed, mixed with early Beck, mid-period Kinks, Satanic-era Stones, Oh Sees, late Beck, and a sprinkling of ELO and Zappa. That might be Foxygen, for now, because their next sound could be completely different. Fun fact: their latest album came out yesterday, setting the OP record for quickest incorporation of a new release.
Favorite album: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
Favorite song: San Francisco
Compared to expectations: same
(April 2019) I have completed episode 211 of my “opus project.” This edition: BUDDY HOLLY. Just classic. Influence immeasurable. How different would music be if there had been no Buddy Holly?
Favorite album: Buddy Holly
Favorite song: Everyday
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 