(November 2015) I have completed episode 67 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography from start to finish. This episode: THE CLASH. I came late to The Clash, but I get it, although not to the extent of naming my child after Joe Strummer (I know three people who have). The also have one of the best album covers ever.
Favourite album: London Calling
Favourite song: Death or Glory
Most tedious album: Sandinista!
Compared to expectations: ↓
(November 2015) I have completed episode 66 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography in chronological order. This episode; BJÖRK, with a bit of SUGARCUBES. She’s always doing something interesting.
Favorite album: Vespertine
Favorite song: Earth Intruders
Favorite period: 2001-2007
Compared to expectations: same
(November 2015) I have completed episode 64 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography. This episode: OK GO. This band always reminds me of my second daughter, as their debut CD was in my car as I went back and forth to the hospital when she was born.
Favorite album: OK Go
Favorite song: What To Do
Compared to expectations: ↓
(October 2015) I have completed episode 63 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from start to finish. this episode: SWANS. If you prefer conventional song structure, then this artist may not be for you. But if you like beautiful noise, give Swans a try. The 1980s albums are severely experimental, the 1990s more accessible and song-oriented, and the 2010s richly sonic.
Favorite album: The Seer
Favorite song: The Sound
Favorite period: 2010-2014
Compared to expectations: same
(October 2015) I have completed episode 62 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This episode: THE STOOGES. Amazing that I didn’t discover this music until about 5 years ago. Such great, ahem, raw power. This is what rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to sound like.
Favorite album: The Stooges
Favorite song: 1969
Not bad: the two “reunion” albums of recent years.
Compared to expectations: ↑
I have completed episode 61 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN. It mystifies me why this wasn’t my favorite band in college, or wasn’t in regular rotation after that. Still time to rectify that oversight.
Favorite album: Telephone Free Landslide Victory
Favorite song (original): Take the Skinheads Bowling
Favorite song (cover): Interstellar Overdrive. Few covers ever top the original, but this is one. And the original was one of the best things Pink Floyd ever did.
Hidden gem: Tusk, a song-for-song remake of the Fleetwood Mac album. Whaaa? Bonus points for the mere concept. And not poorly done.
Fine return to eclectic form: New Roman Times (2004)
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2015) I have completed episode 60 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This episode: LIZ PHAIR. Three great albums in the 1990s, but she lost her way (an attempt into pop) on the three albums since.
Favorite album: Exile in Guyville
Favorite song: Only Son
Compared to expectation: same
(September 2015) I have competed phase 59 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: BLACK SABBATH. Their catalogue can be summarized by one of their album titles, Heaven and Hell. Heaven is the first four albums, Beautiful Heavy stuff that defined and inspired heavy metal music. Hell is all the post-Ozzy albums — just banal metal that comes off as Spinal Tap trying to imitate Black Sabbath. So this was a rather tedious episode. The last effort, “13,” a reunion effort, shows that while Tommy’s thunder chords (and Geezer’s bass) are the foundation of the band’s career arc, Ozzy’s voice is the special sauce that separates the enjoyable from the crap.
Favourite album: Paranoid
Favourite song: War Pigs
Other song I love: Planet Caravan
Best period: 1970-72
Worst period: 1980-1995 (non-Ozzy years)
Worst Album: Forbidden (1995)
Hidden gem: 13 (2013)
Special sauce: Tommy Iommi
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2015) I have completed episode 58 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: MATTHEW SWEET.
Favorite album: Girlfriend
Favorite song: Evangeline
Don’t bother: his first two albums from the 1980s
Better than expected: Sunshine Lies
Interesting: Under the Covers vol 1, with Susanna Hoffs. While the covers are unremarkable, the songs (all from the 1960s) are many of my special favorites
Compared to expectations: same
(August 2015) I have completed episode 57 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: ST. VINCENT. She’s always offering something interesting.
Favorite album: Actor
Favorite song: Birth in Reverse
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 