(October 2013) I have completed phase 12 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to the discography of a band in series. This episode: Van Halen (just the original David Lee Roth albums).
Favorite album: Van Halen II
Favorite song: Mean Street
Refuse to listen to: Jump
Special sauce: Eddie Van Halen
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2013) I have completed phase 11 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to a band’s entire discography start to finish. This episode: Jimi Hendrix. (Note: includes the three original albums plus 15 posthumous studio and live releases.)
Favorite album: Are You Experienced?
Favorite song: Are You Experienced?
Low point: none that I could find
Compared to expectations: ↑
(August 2013) Completed phase 8 of my “opus project,” wherein I listed to a band’s entire catalogue in chronological order. This episode: Fountains of Wayne.
Favorite album: Fountains of Wayne
Favorite song: Barbara H
Low point: Sky Full of Holes.
Best line: “lead us not into Penn Station”
Little Red light: not blinking
Special sauce: Adam Schlesinger
Compared to expectations: same
I have completed phase 3 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to the entire discography of an artist from start to finish: The Rolling Stones (this was a long one).
Favourite period: the big four albums (BB, LiB, SF, EoMS), plus a special affinity for their psychedelic songs
Favourite album: Beggars Banquet (68)
Favourite song: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?
Lowest points: Black and Blue (76), Undercover (83)
Discovered gems: Between the Buttons (67), A Bigger Bang (05)
Special sauce: Keith Richards
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2013) Completed chapter 2 of my “Opus Project,” where I listen to a band’s entire discography from beginning to end. This chapter: The Who. Best album: no clear winner, maybe The Who Sell Out; many of their best songs were singles. My favorite is the early mod period.
Favourite album: The Who Sell Out
Favourite song: Pictures of Lily
Special sauce: John Entwistle
Compared to expectations: same
(Feb 2013) Just finished listening to the Led Zeppelin oevre in series. While many songs have reached their saturation point with me, I tried to listen as if I were hearing them for the first time in the 1970s. Still freakin’ awesome.
Favourite album: Houses of the Holy
Favourite song: Kashmir
Special sauce: Jimmy Page
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 