Got some new records.
The Rolling Stones,
December's Children (And Everybody's) The Stones catalog was brutalized even more than the Beatles for the early years in America. and this album is a mix of various recordings from 1965. It's actually a really excellent record that shows what made the early Stones great. With two live recordings, "I'm Moving On" being a fiery and high energy performance. "Get Off of My Cloud" is included, a brilliant song with fantastic drums and a mad catchy chorus. "As Tears Go By" has always been a hated song of mine, but it works on the album along with some great tuneful songs like "I'm Free" and "Gotta Get Away". Side 1 is mostly covers and overall this is a pretty tight collection of songs. Early Stones where so raw and undefined. This album covers a fair bit of ground.
Prefab Sprout,
Two Wheels Good I listened to this album last month, guess I didn't post about it. DAMN GOOD RECORD. Wow, this is an absolutely fantastic album full of brilliant wonderful sounding sounds. Production is top notch and the style is great, it's not too 80's, not too British, not too Alternative, it's just it's own sound to me. "Appetite", "Horsin' Around" and "Desire As" are brilliant, the true masterpieces on this record are "When Love Breaks Down" and "Goodbye Lucille #1", both super powerful tracks. "Moving The River", "When The Angels" and "Hallelujah" also being highlights. In general this whole record is great and a nice addition to my collection, I love the sound of this one.
I just despise the band name and album name. Even the original name isn't good. Just awful titling all around.
Fugazi,
Repeater Imagine Barnes & Nobles having the best selection of records in any chain store ever, because they do. Did I expect to finally find Repeater there? Actually yes, because I also got the self titled EP there a few years ago. I posted about this album back when I first listened to it, but I've not given a second listen yet. This is just...brilliant. The album opens with so much fire and it keeps going. With powerful guitars, drums, grooving bass and of course the mighty vocals. "Styrofoam" is my favorite track on the album, the guitars are illegally good, like this whole thing. This is absolutely insane how good this record is, and I didn't realize it the first time. Every single track is great, it's just an overall monster of a record in all regards. It's the only Fugazi album I like every song on, Steady Diet Of Nothing and In On The Kill Taker lose me a bit at times, but this record is an altogether powerhouse and an unstoppable force of sheer raw power with tight and unique grooves. So good.
Repeater is just like Songs In The Key Of Life, an album that makes me do Bill Cosby faces because it's so spicy at certain times. Like, ooooooh ya. You feel it you know, both different appeals but that same thing. You feel the spice of the grooves and expression because it's so damn strong.
Minor Threat The green cover version which oddly enough is a full record in 45 RPM, I didn't expect that when I put the record down but quickly realized it sounded a little...too slow. I mean, what can you say about this record, it's just a burning spark of anger and divine energy that burns brilliant to the end. I have found I don't like Hardcore Punk as much as something like, The Misfits, but Minor Threat is certainly my favorite when it comes to this type of thing. Put it on for that satisfying blast of aggression and fury. You get that pure mania from this album that groups like Black Flag don't give me. This is mostly because of Ian MacKaye's vocals that are just...perfect. Songs like "Screaming At The Wall" have more muscle to them as well in terms of song craft. "Minor Threat" is iconic, especially because you can pretty well hear all the lyrics. This is great, but I feel like stores should only stock Complete Discography since full price is steep for this 17 minute record.
Revisited Sonic Youth's
Dirty the other night, which I hadn't listened to in a bit. I think the album has a lot of good songs but overall lacks a lot of what makes the band exciting. "Sugar Kane" is a masterwork and one the band's top 10 best songs and brightest moments, the perfect blend of great catchy song writing, a cool riff & vibe and the SY trademark of going crazy with noise and building back up. "Drunken Butterfly" is always a favorite and "Wish Fulfillment" is fantastic with the arpeggios and loud choruses. "100%" is cool but not all the way there for me, "Youth Against Fascism" kicks buttocks in the second half, "Swimsuit Issue" has a great intro but I actually don't like the way Kim sings most of these songs with very primal melodies like "Shoot". I do love "Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit" though which is so over the top vocally. "Purr" is the most basic song, with a rare guitar solo. It's...okay. Dirty is a good album but not essential by any means.