(November 2017) I have completed episode 146 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (plus Alan Parsons solo). Few have embraced the concept album as avidly as these guys. Some of the techno-rock instrumental tracks are of interest, but the rest has no contemporary value. I listen so you don’t have to.
Favorite album: The Turn of a Friendly Card
Favorite song: Breakdown
Compared to expectations: same
(October 2017) I have completed episode 145 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (plus The Golliwogs). Who doesn’t love CCR? Comfort food in musical form. Amazingly, they put out six albums in 2 1/2 years (plus one a couple years later).
Favorite album: Cosmo’s Factory
Favorite song: Bad Moon Rising
Best jam: I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Best song to get you out of bed in the morning: Travelin’ Band
Best soul: Long as I Can See the Light
Special sauce: Doug Clifford
Compared to expectations: same
(October 2017) I have completed episode 143 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: the TOM PETTY (plus with the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch). Such seemingly effortless songwriting of catchy American rock songs. As a youth I didn’t buy his albums as the songs were ever-present on the radio. While I had expected his quality to taper off as the years went on, it did not; in fact some of the later albums are among his best
Favorite album: Full Moon Fever
Favorite song: I Won’t Back Down
Hidden gems: the two Mudcrutch albums
Compared to expectations: ↑
class
(October 2017) I have completed episode 140 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: the EAGLES. When I did my review of Fleetwood Mac, I could understand how they became Gods of 70s Soft Rock. With this retrospective, I do not get why the Eagles attained the same status. It’s an interesting case study in how to make millions out of mediocrity.
Favorite album: Hotel California
Favorite song: Hotel California
Favorite member: Joe Walsh
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2017) I have completed episode 139 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE GITS. Great punk aesthetic.
Favorite album: Frenching the Bully
Favorite song: Absynthe
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2017) I have completed episode 136 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE GRATEFUL DEAD. I attended five Dead shows in the mid-1980s. As for the recordings, I prefer the studio work, especially the early psychedelic and folky material; I’m not a jam band guy. This effort included the 22 contemporary studio and live albums, and a dozen retrospective live, bootleg, box and Dick’s Picks recordings. Yes, there is plenty more, but I got what I needed. Once you’ve heard ‘Playing in the Band’ for the 8th time, you know it’s time to move on.
Favorite album: American Beauty
Favorite song: China Cat Sunflower
Favorite period: 1969-71
Worst studio album: Go to Heaven
Worst live album: Dylan and the Dead (saw them together; it was bad)
Special sauce: Robert Hunter
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2017) I have completed episode 135 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: REAL ESTATE. Jangly, hazy dream rock. h/t to Tim Ryan for the suggestion.
Favorite album: Real Estate
Favorite song: Beach Comber
Compared to expectations: ↓
(August 2017) I have completed episode 134 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: GLASS HARP. This power trio out of Youngstown, Ohio (!), put out three psychedelically-flavored, progressively-oriented, Christian-themed albums in the early 1970s, plus assorted later reunions. Fans of jam music will like the live recordings; guitarist Phil Keaggy has Hendrix-esque flair.
Favorite album: Glass Harp
Favorite song: Changes
Compared to expectations: same
(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
(July 2017) I have completed episode 132 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: HOLE. That first album is a remarkable work of beautiful noise. For those who may not recall, this was the band fronted by Courtney Love.
Favorite album: Pretty on the Inside
Favorite song: Celebrity Skin
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 