#205 Can - Tago Mago

Alright. So I have already reviewed one Can album and also a solo album by the founder of the band. I didn't like either of those and this is more of the same. Seven songs and 1 hour and 13 minutes long it is just a mess. Music and lyrics are all over the place. Don't waste your time.









"Oh Yeah"

A much better song called Oh Yeah, from one of the best movies ever:

Tomorrow's Album #74 The Monks - Black Monk Time

#1038 Wild Beasts - Two Dancers

An English alt-rock band they released their first album in 2008 and their last in 2016, announcing their break-up in 2017. The music on the album wasn't half bad but the guys voice is terribly annoying. The first song I though maybe it was just that one song and maybe kind of a joke, but oh no it's the same for every song. It's almost like he is trying to combine being an rock singer and an opera singer singer at the same time. Just terrible.







"The Fun Powder Plot"

Tomorrow's Album #205 Can - Tago Mago

#1064 Adele - 25

Back in 2008 I was flipping channels on TV and came across a video for "Chasing Pavement". I had no idea who Adele was at the time but I really liked the song. I still think it is her best song to date. I have listened to each of her albums as they have been released, and while I think Adele is super talented, and that she definitely has one of the best female voices by far, her music style just isn't something that I want to listen to on a frequent basis. This album for me didn't really stretch the boundaries of what she had done on her previous two albums, but that's o.k. There are some great songs on the album and it is well worth the listen.

 There is no denying that Adele is a superstar and in a world that is increasingly going away from album sales, she will continue to rule the music world with each album released.

"Hello"

Tomorrow's Album #1038 Wild Beasts - Two Dancers

#951 Johnny Cash - America IV: The Man Comes Around

Rick Rubin is a HUGE music producer. He has produce some of the biggest albums ever. If you want to check out the shear number, and the bands that he has produce here is a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rubin_production_discography . In 1994 with out a record contract, and pretty much at the end of Cash’s career, Rick Rubin's record label signed Johnny Cash to a contract to revive his career. What came of it would become known as the "American" recordings. The albums consist of a mixture of Johnny Cash originals and cover of other artists. The albums are American I - IV and V & VI released after Cash's death.

I really enjoyed this album. I had never listened to Johnny Cash before this, mostly because I just thought of him as a country artist, and I don't like country. It was so much more than that though. It had tons of emotion and was really griping. I ended up add all the American albums to my librar and I have enjoyed everything I have heard so far.

"Hurt"

Tomorrow's Album #1064 Adele - 25

#157 MC5 - Kick Out The Jams

A live album, which is not necessarily a bad thing, the sound quality is not very good, which is understandable for an album from 1969. Overall the album is pretty good. The biggest thing about the album is the title song, Kick Out the Jams, became a pretty big hit for the band, but even more so it has been covered by a lot of other bands. As far as I can tell it has been covered 24 times by artists from varying genres. Not to shabby.







"Kick Out the Jams" by Rage Against The Machine, cause I like it better than the original, and cause Tom Morello might be one of the best guitar players ever.

Tomorrow's Album #951 Johnny Cash - America IV: The Man Comes Around

#87 Loretta Lynn - Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

This was a great country album. What makes it great is the same thing that makes all the other country albums so far good, it is old school country. This is my parents and grand-parents country. It is simple, twangy country. I don't think there is a current country album on the list, even though it includes albums up to 2016, because they just don't compare to the old stuff.








"Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)

Tomorrow's Album #157 MC5 - Kick Out The Jams

#301 ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

There are a few ZZ Top songs that I like, including one on this album, La Grange. They bring their own brand of southern rock to each album. It's pretty solid but nothing amazing. What they do have that really sells them is their gimmick. Long Beards, fun rock songs and hot girls in their music videos.









"La Grange"

Tomorrow's Album #87 Loretta Lynn - Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)

#719 Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power

So this is the first time I haven't been able to listen to an album due to explicit language and it wasn't a rap album.












Tomorrow's Album #301 ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

#436 Holger Czukay - Movie

So I reviewed a band awhile ago called Can. They are in the genre of krautrock and I did not enjoy it. Holger is the founding member of the band and this is one of his solo albums. Guess what? I didn't like this album either.

 "Cool in the Pool"

Tomorrow's Album #719 Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power

#480 Bauhaus - Mask

Back in the day, before the internet, it wasn't as easy to get info on different bands, when new albums were coming out etc. I spent many an hour at record stores looking through racks of albums for something new from my favorite bands or something from a new band that caught my eye. I visited them at least once a week to check out the new releases. Then I'd visit my favorite store, The Attic, that sold 12" extended release albums, concert shirts and posters. I mention this because I know of Bauhaus because I listened to a band called love and Rockets. By visiting my favorite record stores always on the look out for something else to listen to I discovered Bauhaus.

Formed in 1978 Bauhaus by Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins and David J the band  released 4 albums, including this one before breaking up in 1983. After the break up Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins formed Love and Rockets. Similar and yet different I like Love and Rockets much more, although Bauhaus does have a few songs that are pretty good.

"Hallow Hills"

Tomorrow's Album #436 Holger Czukay - Movies

#132 The United States of America - The United States of America

Officially classified in the "experimental rock" genre it's what I have called "hippy" music when I have listened to other albums that are similar. I haven't liked them and I don't like this one either. In fact it might one of the worst so far.










"The American Metaphysical Circus" definitely they were on drugs when they made this video OR you have to be on drugs when you watch it.

Tomorrow's Album #480 Bauhaus - Mask

#921 OutKast - Stankonia

I didn't listen to the album because, well, it is another rap album where every song has explicit lyrics. I do love the song Ms. Jackson though.










"Ms. Jackson"

Tomorrow's Album #132 The United States of America - The United States of America

#268 War - The World is a Ghetto

War is a funk band from California. This album was their biggest selling and actually was the best selling album of 1973. Personally I don't really have an opinion about it. It was good but not amazing. I did really like the album cover though.









"The Cisco Kid"

Tomorrow's Album #921 OutKast - Stankonia

#107 Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul

It seems like, back in the day, and by that I mean the 50's and 60's music artists released a crap ton of albums. Aretha released her first album in 1956, this album was released in 1968, and is her 14th album. That is more than one a year. In today's world you are lucky if your favorite artist releases a new album every two years. It is usually longer.

As for the album it was pretty good. It have 3 or 4 songs on it that have become very well known and, like the Temptations album I recently listened to, the best part of the album was that it had some really good harmonies.



"Chain of Fools"

Tomorrow's Album #268 War - The World is a Ghetto

#277 Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

This is not the Genesis that I am familiar with. This was much different than the pop hits of the 80's with Phil Collins as the lead singer. This is the band's fifth album with the original lineup and Peter Gabriel as lead singer. The album was kind of odd, and most definitely a concept album and a "medieval" sound to it. I didn't like it all that much.








"Firth of Fifth"

Tomorrow's Album #107 Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul

#129 The Pretty Things - S F Sorrow

So like The Who's Tommy this is another "rock opera". It tells the story of the main character Sebastian F. Sorrow from birth to old age. I didn't realize it was suppose to tell a story before listening to it but unlike Tommy now that I think about it made more sense. Aside from that, it is a pretty decent 60's rock album, even it is a little bit too hippy for my taste. Here is Wikipedia's synopsis of the story: 

"S.F. Sorrow opens with the birth of the story's protagonist at the turn of the 20th century. Sebastian F. Sorrow is born in a small nameless town to ordinary parents in a house called "Number Three." The town is supported by a factory of some sort, referred to as the "Misery Factory." ("S.F. Sorrow Is Born") Sorrow, an imaginative boy, has a relatively normal childhood until it ends abruptly when he needs to get a job. He goes to work with his father at the Misery Factory, from which many men have been laid off. This might make S.F. the object of hate in a sense that he might be a scab in the story, or perhaps the young boy who is taking some older man's job, and he comes into his sexual adolescence during this period ("Bracelets of Fingers"). Sorrow's life is not yet over, though. Joy still exists for him in the form of a pretty girl across the street. She says 'Good morning' to him every day, and he thinks about her constantly. This is the factor that keeps him going despite his childhood's abrupt ending. The two fall in love and become engaged, but their marriage plans are cut short when Sorrow is drafted ("She Says Good Morning").

Sorrow joins a light infantry ("Private Sorrow") and goes off to fight in a war, possibly World War I. Sorrow sinks into a daze, living out the entire war in a funk. Soon the sounds of gunfire and artillery become the rhythm to his life in a daydream. He survives the war and settles down in a land called "Amerik" (obviously referring to the country America, because the first words of the song "Balloon Burning" are "New York"). Sorrow's fiance travels by a balloon, the Windenberg (Hindenburg) to join him, but it bursts into flame at arrival ("Balloon Burning"), killing all aboard. Sorrow is left alone, his beloved fiance dead ("Death").

Sorrow drifts into a state of depression that leads him on an epic journey to the center of his subconscious. When wandering the streets, he encounters the mysterious Baron Saturday (a character intended to represent Baron Samedi, a deity in Haitian Voodoo religion). The black-cloaked Saturday invites Sorrow to take a journey and then, without waiting for a response, "borrows his eyes" and initiates a trip through the Underworld ("Baron Saturday").

The trippish quest begins by taking flight into the air, where Sorrow is driven by a whip-cracking Baron Saturday. Sorrow thinks he is flying toward the moon, which would have been lovely as he always had a fascination with it, but instead he sees that it is instead his own face. The Baron pushes him through the mouth of the face and then down the throat, where they find a set of oak doors. Saturday throws them open and prompts S.F. Sorrow inside, where he finds a room full of mirrors ("The Journey"). Each mirror shows a memory from his childhood, which Baron Saturday suggests that he studies well. After the hall of mirrors comes a long winding staircase which brings him to two opaque mirrors that show him the horrible truths and revelations from his life ("I See You").

Sorrow is destroyed by his journey; it leads him to understand that no one can be trusted any longer, and that society will only do away with you when you become old and serve it no longer ("Trust"). He is driven into a dark mental seclusion where he suffers from eternal loneliness. Much like The Wall, S.F. Sorrow is the tale of a man who has endured hardships which he uses to build into a mental wall that cuts him off from the rest of the waking world, and leaves them without light ("Old Man Going"). At the end of the album he identifies himself as "the loneliest person in the world" ("Loneliest Person")

"Ballon Burning"

Tomorrow's Album #277 Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

#453 The Slits - Cut

This album was so different, so original. The singing, while not really that good, was just so unique. The music was probably the best part of the album, and all of it put together was, well, really good. I really enjoyed listening to the whole thing. Would I ever listen to it again? no probably not, but I'm glad that I did once.









"Instant Hit"

"Newtown"

"I Heard it Through The Grapevine"

Tomorrow's Album #129 The Pretty Things - S F Sorrow

#1044 John Grant - Queen of Denmark

Who the Heck is John Grant? Well he is the former singer for the band The Czars, whom I have never heard of. In 2010 he started his solo career and released this album to critical acclaim. The album was very weird. The lyrics were so strange but I found my self getting sucked into them as the album progressed, trying to figure out what was going on with this guy while he was writing it. It is the album of someone dealing with some definite internal demons. Even the cover is disturbing.






"Marz" - The oddest song on the album

"Where Dreams Go To Die"

Tomorrow's Album #453 The Slits - Cut

#171 The Temptations - Cloud Nine

This was a great album. I've never listened to a Temptations album before, but have heard their huge hits "My Girl" and "Ain't To Proud To Beg". The album was awesome in the fact that not only did these guys have great individual voices, but they had amazing harmonies. Just really entertaining.









"Cloud Nine"

Tomorrow's Album #1044 John Grant - Queen of Denmark

#661 The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

I've given The Stone Roses a listen in the past. I really like 80's alternative bands and they fit the genre. I remember not really liking them the first time around and so I only ever gave them the one shot. This time their were a bit better than what I remembered them. It has been called one of the greatest British albums ever. I'm not sure I'd say that but definitely worth listening to. They are another band by the way that only released two albums and then disbanded.






"I Wanna Be Adored"

Tomorrow's Album #171 The Temptations - Cloud Nine

#473 The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys are an 80's English rock band. They only ever released 2 albums, with this being their second and last. It wasn't great but it wasn't terrible either. Really just kind of quirky with some strange lyrics at times.










"Old Pervert"

Tomorrow's Album #661 The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

#4 Frank Sinatra - Songs For Swingin' Lovers

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love these big band albums. I love the horns, smooth stand up bass, the snare drum and the string arrangements. Just so much fun to listen to.











"Making Whoopee"

Tomorrow's Album #473 The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight

#989 NERD - Fly or Die

No-one Ever Really Dies or N.E.R.D is Pharrell Williams' original band. You know the guy that did this song:

Well him and another guy created N.E.R.D, a funk/rock band, back in 2000 and have released a few albums. Musically it is pretty good, Pharrell can definitely sing, but at times the lyrics are pretty bad.

"She Wants to Move"

Tomorrow's Album #4 Frank Sinatra - Songs For Swingin Lovers

#709 Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Another instrumental electronic album that just seems to blend together. I have no idea if it is good or not. They all sound the same.











"Xtal"

Tomorrow's Album #989 NERD - Fly or Die

#133 The Who - Tommy

Knowing that Tommy is a "Rock Opera" and that it tells a story through the songs I listened to it with that in mind. Even though it is suppose to I still don't really know the "plot". As much as I could get out of it is that at the beginning a boy, Tommy, is born and the songs kind of tell about his life. according to Wikipedia this is what it is about:

"British Army Captain Walker goes missing during an expedition and is believed dead ("Overture"). His widow, Mrs. Walker, gives birth to their son, Tommy ("It's a Boy"). Years later, Captain Walker returns home and discovers that his wife has found a new lover. The Captain murders this man in an altercation as Tommy watches. Tommy's mother convinces him that he did not see or hear the incident and must never tell anyone about it; as a result, he becomes deaf, dumb, and blind to the outside world ("1921"). Tommy now relies on his sense of touch and imagination, developing a fascinating inner psyche ("Amazing Journey/Sparks").A quack claims his wife can cure Tommy ("The Hawker"), while Tommy's parents are increasingly frustrated that he will never find religion in the midst of his isolation ("Christmas"). They begin to neglect him, leaving him to be tortured by his sadistic "Cousin Kevin" and molested by his uncle Ernie ("Fiddle About"). The Hawker's drug addicted wife, "The Acid Queen", gives Tommy a dose of LSD, causing a hallucinogenic experience that is expressed musically ("Underture").As Tommy grows older, he discovers that he can feel vibrations sufficiently well to become an expert pinball player ("Pinball Wizard"). His parents take him to a respected doctor ("There's a Doctor"), who determines that the boy's disabilities are psychosomatic rather than physical. Tommy is told by the Doctor to "Go to the Mirror!", and his parents notice he can stare at his reflection. After seeing Tommy spend extended periods staring at a mirror in the house, his mother smashes it out of frustration ("Smash the Mirror"). This removes Tommy's mental block, and he recovers his senses, realizing he can become a powerful leader ("Sensation"). He starts a religious movement ("I'm Free"), which generates fervor among its adherents ("Sally Simpson") and expands into a holiday camp ("Welcome" / "Tommy's Holiday Camp"). However, Tommy's followers ultimately reject his teachings and leave the camp ("We're Not Gonna Take It"). Tommy retreats inward again ("See Me, Feel Me") with his "continuing statement of wonder at that which encompasses him". 

o.k if you say so.

"Pinball Wizard"

Tomorrow's Album #709 Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#791 Garbage - Garbage

Heaven knows Garbage achieved some huge success with this album. It sold a couple million copies and earned the band a couple Grammy Awards for the hit song "Stupid Girl". All of that aside, I really just don't like the band. I can't pick out a reason not to like them, I just Haven’t since I first heard them on the radio when this album was released. I'm sure, for many, it is a great alt-rock album, one of their favorites. It just doesn't connect with me.





"Stupid Girl"

Tomorrow's Album #133 The Who - Tommy

#622 KD Lang - Shadowland

For a girl born and raised in Edmonton Alberta, K.D. Lang has had a lot of success as a country singer. She has been nominated for a number of Grammy awards and has won 4 times. Surprisingly enough, however, she has charted much better in countries other than Canada, and has had very little success in the USA. It is just so dang hard for Canadian artists to make it big there. Her most successful song, and really the only one I've ever heard, Constant Craving, is actually on the album released after this one. Overall it was a pretty good traditional country album. She definitely has a great voice.



"I'm Down to my Last Cigarette"

Tomorrow's Album #791 Garbage - Garbage

#252 Lou Reed - Transformer

I reviewed an album by The Velvet Underground a bit ago, which is Lou Reed's band before going solo. I didn't much like it and I don't really like this album either. The Songs are just kind of weird and he really isn't that good of a singer. The one bright spot of the album is it does have "Walk on the Wild Side" another song that I would consider to be iconic.








"Walk on the Wild Side"

Tomorrow's Album #622 KD Lang - Shadowland

#886 Eminem - The Slim Shady LP

Love him or hate him there is no arguing the effect that Eminem has had on the rap world. After bursting on the scene in 1997, he has pretty much dominated everything that he has done. He has had 10 #1 albums, numerous hit singles, 15 Grammy awards and even an Oscar for best original song from his movie "8 Mile". He always speaks him mind and holds nothing back. For this reason many find his music distasteful and offensive. You know what, I know he doesn't care what anyone thinks.






Tomorrow's Album #252 Lou Reed - Transformer

#849 Primal Scream - Vanishing Point

I actually kind of liked this album. I ended up listening to it twice and at first I wasn't digging it but by the second time through I was really enjoying it. The album reminds me of some of the 80's British alternative bands that have always been one of my favorite types of music. The album was also interesting in that they included a few instrumentals which can sometimes be songs that you skip, these ones were pretty good.







"Kowalski"

Tomorrow's Album #886 Eminem - The Slim Shady LP

#390 The Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music From the Penguin Cafe

Even if I don't like an album I do enjoy when a band has some sort of theme or gimmick to them. Even if it is as simple as a theme to their album covers, which incorporate penguins and penguin heads on human bodies.

The album was a mess however. The songs were all over the place and I had a really hard time figuring out what the heck was even going on.






"Milk"

Tomorrow's Album #849 Primal Scream - Vanishing Point