(January 2015) I have completed phase 45 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode; JOHN LENNON (solo).
Favourite song: Jealous Guy
Favourite album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (could there ever be a better transfer of raw emotion to a recording device?)
Low points: the late 60s experimental recordings with Yoko Ono
Compared to expectations: same
(December 2014) I have completed phase 44 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s entire discography from start to finish. This episode: THE APPLES IN STEREO.
Favorite song: Strawberryfire
Favorite album: The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone
Low point: Travellers in Space and Time (too synth pop)
Compared to expectations: same
(December 2014) I have completed phase 43 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to an artist’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: KING CRIMSON, as well as several ROBERT FRIPP solo and collaboration albums. This was hard to compare, as King Crimson went through four distinct phases, which I categorize as early psych/orchestral/jazz (69-71), middle prog (73-74), late new wave/beat (81-84) and later whatever (95-03). And then there’s Frippertronics…. Some of the music I love — first album, Great Deceiver, Discipline, Fripp/Eno — and much that I think I should embrace, but after repeated listenings, I don’t.
Favorite KC album: Discipline
Favorite KC song: 21st Century Schitzoid Man
Low point: Lizard
Favorite Fripp solo/joint album: (no pussyfooting)
Special sauce: Adrian Belew
Compared to expectations: same
(November 2014) I have completed phase 42 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from beginning to end. This episode: STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN. One of the best guitarists ever. Taken too early.
Favorite album: Couldn’t Stand the Weather
Favorite song: Rude Mood
Special distinction: one of the few (only?) musicians who has respectably pulled off a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song (Voodoo Chile, Little Wing)
Compared to expectations: same
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(October 2014) I have completed phase 41 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: STEELY DAN. I don’t think I would take up their jazz rock if I discovered it today, as I have grown to dislike all things fusion (food, music, thermonuclear). But they were in heavy rotation in my teens, and I still enjoy many of the songs. Donald Fagan’s wry voice and lyrics make it work, provide an essential counterpoint to the jazzy atmosphere. Otherwise, it would sound like Al Jarreau, which would be unlistenable.
Favorite album: Pretzel Logic
Favorite song: Any Major Dude Would Tell You
Favorite guitar solo: Kid Charlemagne (by Larry Carlton)
Compared to expectations: ↓
(September 2014) I have completed phase 40 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography in order. This episode: MY BLOODY VALENTINE. Pure sonic elegance.
Favourite album: Loveless
Favourite song: Only Shallow
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2014) I have completed phase 39 of my “opus project,’ in which I listen to a band’s discography from beginning to end. This episode: JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (but not Jefferson Starship or Starship).
I love the 1960s, San Francisco, and psychedelic music. But despite trying, I have not been able to love 1960s San Francisco psychedelic music. I prefer the British variety. But JA still offers some good stuff.
Favorite album: Surrealistic Pillow
Favorite song: Third Week in the Chelsea
Favorite member: Jorma Kaukonen
Hidden gem: the eclectic mix on side two of “Bark” — including “Third Week in the Chelsea,” “Never Argue With a German If You’re Tired or European Song,” and “Thunk”
Special sauce: Jorma Kaukonen
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2014) I have completed phase 37 of my “opus project” in which I listen to a band’s entire discography from start to finish. This episode: EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER. Most of this has not worn well over time, and the two 1990s reunion albums are thoroughly unlistenable. However, some earlier songs provide me nostalgic guilty pleasure.
Favourite album: Trilogy
Favourite song: Trilogy
Low points: Anything after Brain Salad Surgery (1973), but especially those 1990s albums
Compared to expectations: same
(September 2014) I have completed phase 36 of my “opus project” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: GENESIS. I admit this one was tedious. The early stuff is mostly impenetrable until the last two albums with Peter Gabriel. The middle stuff is mostly banal, the later stuff crap-tacular, and the last bits unlistenable. But there are some decent songs in there.
Favourite song: In the Cage
Favourite album: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Worst album: Calling All Stations (this was after even Phil Collins left the group).
Compared to expectations: ↓
(August 2014) I have completed phase 35 of my “opus project” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography from beginning to end. This episode: PAUL SIMON (solo).
Favorite song: Still Crazy After All These Years
Favorite album: There Goes Rhymin’ Simon
Biggest surprise: the strength of his most recent two albums, Surprise (2006) and So Beautiful So What (2011), Very good
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 