Tag: rock

91. The Yardbirds

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2016) I have completed episode 91 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: THE YARDBIRDS. Known best as the launching pad for Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, they also had several hits (you would recognize more than you think). They helped build the bridge from R&B to psychadelic, but their constant lineup changes limited their ability to establish a signature sound.

Favourite album: Yardbirds (Roger the Engineer)
Favourite song: Heart Full of Soul

Compared to expectations:  same

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90. Neil Young

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2016) I have completed episode 90 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: NEIL YOUNG. Always a huge fan, this review deepened my appreciation. Restlessly prolific (36 studio albums in 46 years), he has ranged from noise rock, folk, country, rockabilly, blues and synth pop. The one constant is that he always pursued what he wanted, not afraid to stick it to the record companies, big corporations and politicians. While there are plenty of forgettable releases, I find him at his best when he is quiet and intimate (Sugar Mountain, Comes a Time, Silver and Gold) or loud and gritty (Cinnamon Girl, Rust Never Sleeps, Greendale).

Favorite album: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Favorite song: Down By the River

Favorite period: 1969-75

Worst period: 1980-88

Worst album: Trans

Goes best with: Crazy Horse

Compared to expectations: ↑

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85. The Cars

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2016) I have completed episode 85 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE CARS. I rediscovered that their first couple of albums are so fun and hook-filled; almost all the songs on the first recording were radio hits. Their outputs fades as they move into the 1980s and the synths and echo drums take over.

Favorite album: The Cars

Favorite song: Just What I Needed

Worst album: Door to Door

Return to form: their 2011 reunion album Move Like This

Compared to expectations:  same

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84. Cream

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2016) I have completed episode 84 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This edition: CREAM. The first supergroup refined blues rock and set the stage for hard rock and jam bands. And Eric Clapton.

Favourite album: Disraeli Gears

Favourite song: White Room

Special sauce: Jack Bruce

Compared to expectations: ↑

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83. The Bangles

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2016) I have completed episode 83 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This edition: THE BANGLES. Don’t laugh.   Strip away the 80s veneer, you find some catchy songs inspired by their power pop and garage band idols. (The silly Walk Like an Egyptian is an exception not the rule.)

Favorite album: All Over the Place

Favorite song: Hero Takes a Fall

Compared to expectations:  same

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82. The Byrds

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2016) I have completed episode 82 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This edition: THE BYRDS. Very influential, first in the development of folk rock and jangle rock (want proof? listen to Revolver), and later in country rock (and on into the California Sound of the 1970s). Amazingly, they put out 12 albums in 8 years.

Favorite album: Mr. Tambourine Man

Favorite song: I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better

Worst Album (and title): Byrdmaniax

Compared to expectations:  same

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