Tag: rock

155. The Jam

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2018) I have completed episode 155 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: THE JAM. It is my shame that I dismissed, even mocked, this band back in the day. But as I grew to avidly embrace the mod sounds of the early Who, early Kinks, Small Faces and the Creation, naturally I came to realize how f-ing awesome The Jam were. Oy!

Favorite album: All Mod Cons

Favorite song: In the City

Favorite cover: David Watts

Compared to expectations: same ↑↓

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153. Janis Joplin

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2018) I have completed episode 153 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: JANIS JOPLIN. One of best voices of all-time. Many classic songs, although the albums, with the variety of backing bands, are uneven affairs.

Favorite album: Pearl

Favorite song: Me and Bobby McGee

Favorite song written by Janis Joplin: Move Over

Special sauce: Big Brother and the Holding Company

Compared to expectations: same

janis_joplin-pearl_(album_cover)

151. Pixies

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2017) I have completed episode 151 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: the PIXIES. I don’t know what I was listening to in college instead of the Pixies, but whatever it was was less than the Pixies. Listening in retrospect, their influence can be heard in many places.

Favorite album: Doolittle

Favorite song: Debaser

Compared to expectations: same

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150. Pearl Jam

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2017) I have completed episode 150 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: PEARL JAM. Pearl Jam was never a big part of my 1990s although stuff from their first 2-3 albums was on the radio all the time.

Favorite album: Ten

Favorite song: Corduroy

Compared to expectations: ↓

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147. The Zombies

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(November 2017) I have completed episode 147 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE ZOMBIES. The flame burned briefly for this groovy mid-60s British outfit, but it shone like a supernova with Odessey and Oracle, the definite baroque pop album, a gem of psychedelic pop, and one of my favorite albums of all time. They reunited for some unremarkable albums in later decades.

Favorite album: Odessey and Oracle

Favorite song: Care of Cell 44

Compared to expectations: same

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146. Alan Parsons Project

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

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145. Creedence Clearwater Revival

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

creedence_clearwater_revival_-_cosmo's_factory

 

143. Tom Petty

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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: ↑

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140. The Eagles

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(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

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