Tag: experimental

51. Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2015) I have completed phase 51 of my “opus project.” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from start to finish. This episode: CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC BAND. It’s fast and bulbous.* As distinctive was his voice was (a blend of Howlin’ Wolf and Tom Waits), what I find most compelling is the orchestrated chaos of the music behind it. The high musicianship of the performers is made more remarkable by the abuse the musicians suffer from Don Van Vliet.

Favorite album: Trout Mask Replica

Favorite song: Kandy Korn

Favorite period: early, from Safe as Milk to Mirror Man

Worst period: those mid-1970s albums

Biggest surprise: the return to form of the last three albums

Compared to expectations: same

trout_mask_replica

49. Brian Eno

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2015) I have completed phase 49 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography.   This edition: BRIAN ENO.   This was a long one; more than 50 albums. (If I had included the hundreds of albums which he produced, it would have taken me a year.)   My favorite period is the mid-1970s, when he simultaneously put out eclectic glam-adelic rock albums and essentially invented ambient music. He continued (and continues) to innovate in many directions.

Favourite album (rock): Here Come the Warm Jets

Favourite album (ambient): Music for Airports

Favourite album (collaboration): Evening Star (with Robert Fripp)

Favourite song: Needles in the Camel’s Eye

Compared to expectations: ⇑

warmjetsvinyl

music_for_airports

26. Frank Zappa

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2014) I have completed phaze 26 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the entire discography of an artist from beginning to end. This episode: another great Italian, FRANK ZAPPA. This was a looooooong one, the longest I will do by a non-exclusively classical composer. 90+ albums, almost 6 months. But very engaging, funny, and illuminating. I learned a lot. Highly recommended.

Favorite album (Mothers era): We’re Only In It For The Money
Favorite album (solo): You Are What You Is

Favorite song: Peaches en Regalia

Favorite period: original Mothers of Invention (1966-69)

Low point: Thing Fish

On the menu: baby octopus, creamed corn, muffin rem-nants

What’s happening: Becky?

Special sauce: Muffin Utility Research Kitchen

Compared to expectations: same

Zappamoney2

10. Sonic Youth

~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(September 2013) Completed phase 10 of my “opus project,” wherein I listed to the entire discography of a band from start to finish. This episode: Sonic Youth.

Favorite album: Daydream Nation
Favorite song: Youth Against Fascism
Favorite period: 1987-92

Low point: NYC Ghosts and Flowers

Tunings: various

Radical adults lick: Godhead style

Special sauce: Lee Ranaldo

Compared to expectations: same

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7. The Velvet Underground

~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(July 2013) Completed phase 7 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to the entire discography of a band in sequence. This phase: the Velvet Underground

Favorite album: The Velvet Underground and Nico
Favorite Song: Sister Ray
Little gems: quiet songs like Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, and I’m Sticking With You

Special moment: when Nico pronounces ‘clown’ as ‘clonn’

Special sauce: Lou Reed

Compared to expectations: same

Velvet_Underground_and_Nico