294. ZZ Top

October 25, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

Episode 294 is ZZ TOP. There are tons of boogie-blues bands out there, but none finer than ZZ Top, who stand out with their tight, top-notch musicianship, wry lyrics and proclivity for funky grooves. While their 80s synth- and gated drum-laden songs and videos were their height of popularity, I prefer the Texas BBQ-drenched 70s classics we grew up on, like “Cheap Sunglasses.” I still chuckle that Frank Beard is the only member without a beard.

Favorite album: Tres Hombres

Favorite song: La Grange

Compared to expectations: same

224. Sam Roberts

August 5, 2019April 16, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(August 2019) Episode 224 is SAM ROBERTS (and his band). A restorative dose of sunny, roll-the-windows-down classic rock, with some power, a bit of jangle, and a hint of space rock. A quality import from Canada.

Favorite album: Chemical City

Favorite song: The Gate

Compared to expectations: same

Chemcity

153. Janis Joplin

January 19, 2019April 6, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2018) I have completed episode 153 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: JANIS JOPLIN. One of best voices of all-time. Many classic songs, although the albums, with the variety of backing bands, are uneven affairs.

Favorite album: Pearl

Favorite song: Me and Bobby McGee

Favorite song written by Janis Joplin: Move Over

Special sauce: Big Brother and the Holding Company

Compared to expectations: same

janis_joplin-pearl_(album_cover)

145. Creedence Clearwater Revival

January 19, 2019April 4, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(October 2017) I have completed episode 145 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (plus The Golliwogs). Who doesn’t love CCR? Comfort food in musical form. Amazingly, they put out six albums in 2 1/2 years (plus one a couple years later).

Favorite album: Cosmo’s Factory

Favorite song: Bad Moon Rising

Best jam: I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Best song to get you out of bed in the morning: Travelin’ Band

Best soul: Long as I Can See the Light

Special sauce: Doug Clifford

Compared to expectations: same

creedence_clearwater_revival_-_cosmo's_factory

143. Tom Petty

January 19, 2019April 4, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(October 2017) I have completed episode 143 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: the TOM PETTY (plus with the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch). Such seemingly effortless songwriting of catchy American rock songs. As a youth I didn’t buy his albums as the songs were ever-present on the radio. While I had expected his quality to taper off as the years went on, it did not; in fact some of the later albums are among his best

Favorite album: Full Moon Fever

Favorite song: I Won’t Back Down

Hidden gems: the two Mudcrutch albums

Compared to expectations: ↑

class

125. Moby Grape

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2017) I have completed episode 125 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: MOBY GRAPE. Their first album helped define the San Francisco Sound in the Summer of Love. They then journeyed through the modes of late 60s/early 70s rock — blues, country, folk, boogie — but unremarkably so IMO.

Favorite album: Moby Grape

Favorite song: Hey Grandma

Compared to expectations: ↓

118. Boston

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2017) I have completed episode 118 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: BOSTON. Simultaneously everything that people love about classic rock and everything that people hate about classic rock. A future historian of 20th century music couldn’t provide a better singular example of a Classic Rock Album than their debut LP.

Favorite album: Boston

Favorite song: Foreplay/Long Time

Worst album: everything else

Compared to expectations: same

114. Foreigner

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2017) I have completed episode 114 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: FOREIGNER. A higher concentration of rock lyric cliches per song than any other band. If you came of age in the late 70s or early 80s, their hits of are high nostalgic value. If not, and with the non-hits, don’t bother.

Favorite album: Foreigner

Favorite song: Hot Blooded

Worst album: Mr. Moonlight

Compared to expectations: same

104. The Pretty Things

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2017) I have completed episode 104 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: THE PRETTY THINGS. An underrated British Invasion-era band, they started out an R&B outfit a la the Yardbirds and Rolling Stones. Like those, they transitioned into psychedelic; S.F. Sorrow is one of the finest of that genre (and Parachute’s very good too). Much after that is rather pedestrian.

Favorite album: S.F. Sorrow

Favorite song: Walking Through My Dreams

Compared to expectations: same

Sf_sorrow_(gold_ltd_edition.jpg

99. Journey

January 13, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(October 2016) I have completed episode 99 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: JOURNEY. Roll the windows down and sing your lungs out! Peak Journey is such a fun Guilty Pleasure. But the rest is a complete waste of time (I listen so you don’t have to).