217. Lou Reed

May 27, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(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: ↓

216. Mike Krol

May 21, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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: ↑

mikekrol_turkey_900

215. Franz Schubert

May 16, 2019April 16, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

schubert

214. The Chocolate Watchband

May 13, 2019April 16, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

213. Neutral Milk Hotel

May 4, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2019) I have completed episode 213 of my “opus project.” This edition: NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL. This is the performing name of Jeff Mangum, the reclusive and enigmatic co-founder of the fantastic Elephant 6 collective. I characterize this music as lo-fuzz. Don’t try to comprehend the lyrics. There are Elephant 6 bands that I listen to more than NMH, but “Aeroplane” has grown on me over the years. I hope for more releases.

Favorite album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Favorite song: The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. One

Compared to expectations: same

212. Foxygen

April 30, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

foxygen

211. Buddy Holly

April 16, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

buddy holly.jpg

210. fIREHOSE

April 9, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2019) I have completed episode 210 of my “opus project.” This edition: fIREHOSE. I finished Minutemen, so I naturally started fIREHOSE next as it featured its two surviving members. This is what I should have been listening to in the 1980s instead of whatever I was listening to. Early fIREHOSE is much better than later fIREHOSE. Mike Watt is an incredible bass player.

Favorite album: If’n

Favorite song: Honey, Please

Compared to expectations: ↓

Ifn_Firehose_Album_cover

209. Laurie Anderson

April 8, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2019) I have completed episode 209 of my “opus project.” This edition: LAURIE ANDERSON. When I was younger, Laurie Anderson’s music was too weird for my taste. Now, my taste requires a weirdness in music such as Laurie Anderson’s. It would be more fully appreciated in performance, with her visual element too. I love the idiosyncrasies in her words. Her voice is classic American Standard, with a subtle midwestern twang.

Favorite album: Big Science

Favorite song: O Superman

Better than expected: the spoken word albums

Compared to expectations: same

LaurieAnderson_BigScience

208. Minutemen

March 30, 2019April 12, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2019) I have completed episode 208 of my “opus project.” This edition: MINUTEMEN. I did not follow them in real time, but listening in retrospect, their influence is clearly recognizable, especially in funk-punk. Notable is their sense of adventurism. I particularly like the echoes of Captain Beefheart. It’s apt that Minutemen’s early songs clocked in at about one minute each, although I don’t think that’s where their name comes from.