292. Chuck Berry

October 21, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

Episode 292 is CHUCK BERRY. Of the Founders of Rock ‘n Roll, he is the most important. He cemented the guitar as its primary idiom, not only for the intro and the solo, but as an essential lyrical element on par with voice (see: “School Days”). Plus, his antics and teen-focused, innuendo-filled lyrics set the form and attitude of rock. Like his fellow Founders, his early hits are the essential stuff, and the subsequent albums are largely redundant, unless you really love old-timey rock ‘n roll. But to his credit, he never departed from his commitment to it (as in, he never had a disco phase).

Favorite album: Chuck Berry Is On Top

Favorite song: Johnny B. Goode

Compared to expectations: same

291. Dream Syndicate

October 16, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

Episode 291 of the “opus project” is DREAM SYNDICATE. I did this episode because they are identified with the Paisley Underground and emerged from my college town, and on the strength of the Lou Reed-flavored initial EP. But the mid-80s albums sound little better than a strained-voice, strum-beat bar band. The reformed band’s recent three albums are OK.

Favorite album: The Days of Wine and Roses

Favorite song: Apropos for Nothing

Compared to expectations: ↓

288. The Three O’Clock

October 5, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(October 2020) Episode 288 is THE THREE O’CLOCK. I’m surprised I never got into deeper the Paisley Underground (beyond The Bangles), but The Three O’Clock is a good place to start. The first 3½ albums are quality Brit-philic power pop, but the last two are synth pop abominations. Quercio’s voice can get a bit too twee.

Favorite album: Sixteen Tambourines

Favorite song: Jet Fighter

Compared to expectations: same

283. The Soft Machine

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2020) Episode 283 is THE SOFT MACHINE. Not well known, but quite influential as one of the first prog -rock and jazz-rock bands. This UK outfit started out as a 60s psychedelic band, and their debut album is my favorite. “Third” is one of the definitive prog albums, but they didn’t linger long in that genre, moving on to jazz fusion. There are many spinoffs, but I only did the albums under The Soft Machine name.

Favourite album: The Soft Machine

Best album/magnum opus: Third

Favourite song: Why Are We Sleeping?

Compared to expectations: ↓

281. Patti Smith

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2020) Episode 281 is PATTI SMITH. I don’t get it. I know people love her as the poet laureate of punk rock. But I find her music to be pedestrian and her singing voice affectation to be off-putting.

Favorite album: Horses

Favorite song: Radio Ethiopia

Compared to expectations: ↓

280. Os Mutantes

August 31, 2020September 5, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(August 2020) Episode 280 is OS MUTANTES. What do you get when you combine psychedelic rock, weirdness and Brazilian rhythms? Pure awesomeness. Added bonus: they used their music to subvert the Brazilian military dictatorship. I’ve known them for a couple decades, but this review confirms them as one of my favorite bands of the 1960s. Amidst lineup changes, they did a couple of prog albums (not bad) in the 1970s and a couple reunion recordings (just ok) in recent years.

Favorite album: Os Mutantes

Favorite song: A Minha Menina

Compared to expectations: ↑

276. The Jesus and Mary Chain

August 9, 2020September 5, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(August 2020) Episode 276 is THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN. Another band whose influence was greater than their sales, their biggest mark is planting the seed of Shoegazing with the fuzzy noise of their stunning debut album. But they chose not to stay and till that ground, instead meandering through many alt forms from the late 80s through 90s.

Favorite album: Psychocandy

Favorite song: Degenerate

Compared to expectations: same

Psychocandy

274. The Jesus Lizard

July 17, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2020) Episode 274 is THE JESUS LIZARD. Delivering bass-heavy noise and growls unburdened by conventional form. It’s like eating a mixture of pop rocks and nails.

Favorite album: Liar

Favorite song: Gladiator

Compared to expectations: ↓

Jesuslizardliar

273. The Dollyrots

July 5, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2020) Episode 273 of the “opus project” is THE DOLLYROTS. Peppy, energetic pop-punk with plenty of hooks and a bubblegum attitude. Wife-and-husband team. I recommend the first two not-yet-overproduced albums.

Favorite album: Because I’m Awesome

Favorite song: Because I’m Awesome

Best cover: Brand New Key

Compared to expectations: same

Because_I'm_Awesome

268. Sly and the Family Stone

June 16, 2020July 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(June 2020) Episode 268 is SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE. Look up “ground-breaking” in the dictionary and there’s a photo of this band. The music synthesized trends of the late 60s — soul, rock, psychedelic and the San Francisco Sound — into a rocket of sound, with timely social commentary, reinforced by their composition as first fully integrated rock group. But Sly’s most lasting musical contribution may be as one of the Founders of Funk. As with anything, best when funky.