Tag: garage rock

161. The Sonics

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2018) I have completed episode 161 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE SONICS. The Beatles, Stones, Who and Kinks of the mid-1960s deserve all the accolades they’re given, but none of them rocked harder than the Sonics. Out of Tacoma, WA, they were a definitive garage band, and their tonal aggression clearly influenced punk. After some 50 years, they were still spry enough to put out a kick-ass album (2015).

Favorite album: Here Are The Sonics

Favorite song: The Witch

Compared to expectations: same

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133. MC5

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2017) I have completed episode 133 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: MC5. Hard rockers out of Detroit (MC5 = Motor City Five, get it?) in the late 1960s, whose sound later became identified as proto-punk.

Favorite album: Back in the USA

Favorite song: Kick Out the Jams

Compared to expectations: same

mc5_-_kick_out_the_jams

129. The Ramones

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2017) I have completed episode 129 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE RAMONES. No band better represents the evolution of my musical tastes. In the 1980s, I considered their music as crude, unoriginal noise for simpletons. By the 2000s, I recognized them as f***ing genius.

Favorite album: The Ramones

Favorite song: Havana Affair

Special sauce: Dee Dee

Compared to expectations: same

Ramones_-_Ramones_cover.jpg

122. Ty Segall

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2017) I have completed episode 122 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: TY SEGALL. Frenetic, lo-fi, fuzzy garage rock. And one day you realize he is Syd Barrett reincarnate. So prolific — in10 years, nine albums and a couple dozen EPs and singles.

Favorite album: Manipulator

Favorite song: Thank God for Sinners

Compared to expectations: same

TySegallManipulator.jpg

62. The Stooges

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(October 2015) I have completed episode 62 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This episode: THE STOOGES. Amazing that I didn’t discover this music until about 5 years ago. Such great, ahem, raw power. This is what rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to sound like.

Favorite album: The Stooges

Favorite song: 1969

Not bad: the two “reunion” albums of recent years.

Compared to expectations: ↑

StoogesStooges.jpg

48. The White Stripes (with Raconteurs, Dead Weather and Jack White)

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2015) I have completed phase 48 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the full discography of an artist from beginning to end. This episode: the WHITE STRIPES, plus RACONTEURS, plus DEAD WEATHER, plus JACK WHITE solo. My sister told me that the first album, which I always thought too raw, was the best. Upon further listen, she may be right, but I’m still listing Elephant for its diversity. Ask me again next year, though, and I may be there.

Favorite album: Elephant
Favorite song: Blue Orchid
Least favorite: the Dead Weather albums

Compared to expectations: same

elephant,_the_white_stripes