Tag: rock

217. Lou Reed

~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(May 2019) Episode 217 of my “opus project” is LOU REED. The frontman (born 1942) of an influential and innovative 1960s band leaves the group to pursue a solo career. He records many albums over the decades; most are pop/rock oriented, a few are collaborations, and he dabbles in experimentalism. However, the solo output never reaches the magic he made with that 1960s group. Am I taking about Paul and the Beatles or Lou and the Velvet Underground? Even among the weak releases, it’s interesting to track his recordings with the windings of his personal and artistic life. At his best when it’s just his deadpan voice over a spare piano or guitar (nothing tops “Pale Blue Eyes” with the VU).

Favorite album: Transformer

Favorite song: Perfect Day

Best experimental work: Metal Machine Music (most will hate it but I love beautiful noise)

Best collaboration: Songs for Drella (with John Cale, a tribute to Andy Warhol)

Compared to expectations: ↓

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216. Mike Krol

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(May 2019) Episode 216 of my “opus project” is MIKE KROL. Garage rock that’s loud, distorted, frenetic, humorous. It’s like hemoglobin for me. If you like Ty Segall or Oh Sees, check this guy out. (This may be the first artist in the Project whose first recording came out in the current decade.)

Favorite album: Turkey

Favorite song: Little Drama

Compared to expectations: ↑

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214. The Chocolate Watchband

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(May 2019) Episode 214 of my “opus project” is THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND. A late 1960s Bay Area outfit that combined gritty garage rock and psychedelic sounds — shoot this directly into my veins! While they didn’t have a hit that endured in the popular consciousness, it’s good stuff. Like several groups of that period, some surviving members hit the revival circuit, and even, as septuagenarians, released an album this year (it’s not bad).

Favorite album: The Inner Mystique

Favorite song: Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love-In)

Compared to expectations: same

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213. Neutral Milk Hotel

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(May 2019) I have completed episode 213 of my “opus project.” This edition: NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL. This is the performing name of Jeff Mangum, the reclusive and enigmatic co-founder of the fantastic Elephant 6 collective. I characterize this music as lo-fuzz. Don’t try to comprehend the lyrics. There are Elephant 6 bands that I listen to more than NMH, but “Aeroplane” has grown on me over the years. I hope for more releases.

Favorite album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Favorite song: The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. One

Compared to expectations: same

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212. Foxygen

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(April 2019) I have completed episode 212 of my “opus project.” This edition: FOXYGEN. It’s exceedingly difficult to characterize their music, so here goes: Imagine Olivia Tremor Control reincarnated as a duo in Los Angeles as the love child of Ty Segall and Lou Reed, mixed with early Beck, mid-period Kinks, Satanic-era Stones, Oh Sees, late Beck, and a sprinkling of ELO and Zappa. That might be Foxygen, for now, because their next sound could be completely different. Fun fact: their latest album came out yesterday, setting the OP record for quickest incorporation of a new release.

Favorite album: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic

Favorite song: San Francisco

Compared to expectations: same

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210. fIREHOSE

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(April 2019) I have completed episode 210 of my “opus project.” This edition: fIREHOSE. I finished Minutemen, so I naturally started fIREHOSE next as it featured its two surviving members. This is what I should have been listening to in the 1980s instead of whatever I was listening to. Early fIREHOSE is much better than later fIREHOSE. Mike Watt is an incredible bass player.

Favorite album: If’n

Favorite song: Honey, Please

Compared to expectations: ↓

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205. Green Day

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(March 2019) I have completed episode 205 of my “opus project.” This edition: GREEN DAY. Based on their radio play, I had dismissed them as safe-space punk for the masses. But with this review, I was selling them far short. The rhythm section is *chef’s kiss* and the guitars are hooky and loud. Early on, the over-production was unsuited to the genre, but as they grew the songwriting caught up and broadened into power pop and guitar rock. Billy Joe’s affected vocals, once irritating and dominating, got better integrated. Green Day is a model for how a band matures and adds dynamism without letting go of their foundational tone.

Favorite album: Insomniac

Favorite song: American Idiot

Favorite power ballad: Redundant

Favorite rock opera: 21st Century Breakdown (better than American Idiot)

Special sauce: Tré Cool

Compared to expectations: ⇑

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203. Weezer

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(February 2019) I have completed episode 203 of my “opus project.” This edition: WEEZER. I just listened to 12 Weezer albums and the only songs I remember are Buddy Holly and the Sweater Song. The fun of their debut album – the right sound with the right attitude at the right moment – serves to accentuate the banality of the following releases, with the most sterile lyrics I’ve heard since I did Foreigner.

Favorite album: Weezer (the Blue Album)

Favorite song: Undone — The Sweater Song

Compared to expectations: ↓

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202. Love

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(February 2019) I have completed episode 202 of my “opus project.” This edition: LOVE. The distinctive style of this late 60s band is hard to label — “thespian hippy” is my best attempt. After their masterpiece, Forever Changes, their sound became more conventional for the era. Also noted (for the time) for the racial diversity of their lineup.

Favorite album: Forever Changes

Favorite song: Seven and Seven Is

Compared to expectations: same

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