#294 Stephen Stills - Manassas

I thought this album was pretty good for the most part but it left me feeling a little confused. It starts off really strong with the first couple songs, that feature some really good slide guitar work, and then the album transitions into a couple songs that are quite obviously old-school country, featuring some really good fiddle playing then it goes to some songs that are more folk with a little bit of blues. All the songs are pretty solid, I just haven't ever listened to an album that I can remember with different genres through-out the album.





"Jet Set"

Tomorrow's Album #1017 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

#950 Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

I was surprised at how much I liked this album. I thought there wasn't much of a chance due to the name and also the fact that the last time I listened to one of their albums it was just blah. This one wasso much better. It was catchy and a little bit odd, but not over the top odd so that it's ruined it was just the right enough odd to make it interesting to listen to, to draw you in.








"Fight Test"

"Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots"

Tomorrow's Album #294 Stephen Stills - Manassas

#428 X-Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescents

This is a better than average punk album, and is quite highly regarded by critics, and is listed as one of the greatest punk albums ever by many different lists and music magazines. The weird thing about the band, and I have seen this before with some of the albums, is for no apparent reason they only ever record the one album and did one full tour of England and then they broke.up.







"Identity"

Tomorrow's Album #950 Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

#98 The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)

For a 60's album, a style that I'm not super fond of, I thought it was pretty good. It wasn't way out there like a lot of 60's music is. It did have the elements and sound of a 60's album but was more restrained and enjoyable, and I really liked the distorted guitar through out the songs.









"I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)"

Tomorrow's Album #428 X-Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescents

#156 Leonard Cohen - Songs from a Room

I actually liked this album quite a bit more than other Cohen albums I have listened to. I feel like Cohen's voice is much smoother than the later albums I have listened to so far, and I didn't realize the song Bird on a Wire was his.










"Bird on a Wire"

Tomorrow's Album #98 The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)

#556 Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche 85

I really liked a song from this album way back when it came out. I'm sure I heard it on the radio when released, and I had forgot about it until now, so I was glad for the reminder. The song is great, the rest of the album is a pretty decent 80's album.










"Perfect Way"

Tomorrow's Album #156 Leonard Cohen - Songs from a Room

#870 Khaled - Kenza

The first, and hopefully last, album by this Algerian singer. Not for me.












Tomorrow's Album #556 Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche 85

#153 King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King

Not available on Apple Music












Tomorrow's Album #870 Khaled - Kenza

#788 Elastica - Elastica

I am familiar with one of the songs on this album,  as far as I can tell it is the only hit the band had, and this is the only album that the band released. Why does a band go through the struggles of trying to get a record contract, then release a debut album, which was pretty successful and then never record another? That's a great question. In this case after the release of this album the band was sued by a number of other bands for plagerism stating that a number of Elastica's songs sound too close to theirs. Ultimately the band went into the studio to record a second album but due to internal issues the band broke up.

The album was pretty good, and I can definitely see some comparisons to future bands that would form like Garbage, Hole and Evanescence.

"Connection" - this is a great song

Tomorrow's Album #153 King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King

#762 Frank Black - Teenager of the Year

There is a genre that I am going to call "College Radio". Every college/university has their own radio station manned by students that are taking communications or broadcasting classes. I have listened to stations like that in the past and they can be very interesting to listen to. No matter the genre or the programming for any specific block of time they are always playing the more obscure albums/songs/artists. Frank Black is definitely college radio material. Now thats not a bad thing. There is a lot of music that finds a home on these stations and can get a lot of air play. In fact one of my favorite albums of all time "Violent Femmes" is made for college radio.

As for this album, it's not going to become one of my all time favorites, but I did enjoy listening to it. The songs were kind of quirky, definitely obscure, none really designed for Top-40 radio, but thats ok. Many many artist make music for arts sake and don't care for a second about chart success.

"Freedom Rock"

Tomorrow's Album #788 Elastica - Elastica

#1051 Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

No Clean version available on Apple Music














Tomorrow's Album #762 Frank Black - Teenager of the Year

#804 The Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust

Pretty much sounds the same as the other couple Chemical Brothers albums I have listened to.












"Leave Home"

Tomorrow's Album #1051 - Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

#923 Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker

I did not realize that Ryan Adams was in a alt-country band before heading out on his own. That kind of explains my feelings about his "Gold" album that I reviewed a couple weeks ago, and why I didn't like it as much as I maybe should have. I just don't like country all that much, unless it is the old school country. Todays newer alt-rock or pop/country is not for me. Having said that I tried to have a more open mind about this album, and surprisingly I did think it was better than Gold. Another think that might explain the difference between them is many times a band or persons debut album is very good, but then their sophmore effort does not live up to the debut. One other thing I think is important to point out since this is the last Ryan Adams album, is he has been extremely prolific as a solo artist, essentially releasing one album a year since 2000.

"To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)

Tomorrow's Album #804 The Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust

#982 Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

I really really like this album. Have since it first came out. It is a great alt-rock album. The songs are upbeat and really catchy. Unfortunately the band, in my mind is a one hit wonder band. They have released other albums, of which I have listened to a couple, but the band has has only had a  tiny amount of success, but they have never attained the type of success that they achieved with the song "Take Me Out" from this album, which actually won the band a Grammy.






"Take Me Out"

Tomorrow's Album #923 Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker

#794 Jeff Buckley - Grace

This was actually a really great album. It was a little raw and unrefined but I think that is what gives it it's appeal. You can feel emotion in the songs. Unfortuneately it is the only album that Jeff ever recorded. After touring for over a year promoting the album, Jeff was ready to head back into the studio to record his follow-up. On some downtime he decided to go swimming in a river that he had swam in many times before. A friend was on shore and looked away. When he looked back Jeff had disappeared. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. Tragically Jeff's dad, Tim,  also died at a young age frm Heroin overdose.



"Hallelujah" - Probably the best cover of the song I have heard.

Tomorrow's Album #982 Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

#885 Death in Vegas - The Contino Sessions

Third electronica album in a row. By this time it's getting kinda boring. Need something else to shake it up a bit. It wasn't terrible just a bit boring and I'm getting tired of listening to the same style of music in a row.










"Aisha" - I thought it was maybe Iggy Pop doing the vocals on this one.

Tomorrow's Album #794 Jeff Buckley - Grace

#1050 Django Django - Django Django

Listed as another electronic band I probably wouldn't have considered them as such. They have electronic influence in their music but was more alt-rockish. It was an ok album, but if I had to choose between "electronic" bands I think I'd rather listen to yesterdays album by Roysopp.









"Default"

Tomorrow's Album #885 Death in Vegas - The Contino Sessions

#937 Royksopp - Melody AM

Not a fan of straight up electronic music. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't for me.












"Remind Me" - probably the best song on the album

Tomorrow's Album #1050 Django Django - Django Django

#367 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus

Another great album. I found myself really emjoying this on my drive into work today. It is just so cool, jamming, groovy. I found myself just relaxing and enjoying listening to the music and the message. Highly recommend it.










"Natural Mystic" - The opening to this song, how it ramps up, how it goes from soft to into the song is just great.

Tomorrow's Album #937 Royksopp - Melody AM

#61 Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde

Like other Bob Dylan albums so far, I have enjoyed, to a certain extent, the music and the song writing. This album is no different. It was pretty good. I found the short blast of harmonica at the opening of pretty much every song a little odd, but maybe that was common or popular at the time of this recording. Still didn't love his voice though.








"One of Us Must Know"

Tomorrow's Album #367 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus

#613 American Music Club - California

Not available on Apple Music.













Tomorrow's Album #61 Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde

#948 Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

The first Coldplay song that I ever heard was "Yellow" off of their Parachutes album, and I hated the song. It wasn't until this album came out and I loved it that I went back and re-listened to Parachutes that I came to appreciate it. This album, in my mind is a masterpiece and is one of my all time favourite albums. Every song on it is amazing. The music is probably my favorite part, including all of the piano work on the songs. Lyrically it is also really good. The weakest part, in my opinion, is actually Chris Martin's voice. His is a great singer, don't get me wrong, but there are times when it is a bit rough. But it is good enough that it doesn't distract from any part of the album and he actually becomes a better singer on later albums, although, unfortunately, that is when the overall quality of their albums starts to slip.
This is the best, most complete album that they have released.

"In My Place"

"The Scientist"

"Clocks"

"God Put a Smile Upon Your Face"

Tomorrow's Album #613 American Music Club - California

#907 Common - Like Water for Chocolate

No clean version available













Tomorrow's Album #948 Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

#706 Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque

This album actually reminded me a lot of yesterdays album by Pavement. Similar alt-rock style and about the same quality of music, maybe a bit better. I did like the album and would say it is worth a listen.














"December"

Tomorrow's Album #907 Common - Like Water for Chocolate

#744 Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted

The band's debut album, I think that I liked it a little more than I did their second album, which is the one that has pretty much their only real hit song. This one has a bit more of a raw and naive sound to it, which I think is a lot more common on a debut album. I think that band's will finally get a record contract and have this idea that they are going to release the best album that the world had ever heard, so they are beyond motivated and through everything into it. Now this was not the best album the world has ever heard but it was pretty good.







"Summer Babe"

Tomorrow's Album #706 Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque

#518 Echo & The Bunnymen - Porcupine

I have been looking forward to listening to this album for a long time now. Ever since I listened to the album Ocean Rain and realized that these guys made some really good 80's music. I refrained from listening to any other albums on my own because I wanted to be surprised, or let down, when they randomly came up again. Well I was not disappointed. Almost as good as, and released an album prior to Ocean Rain, you can tell the band was working hard to hone their sound and craft great albums. Once again it is a really good 80's synth/new wave album. With only one more album to listen to, their debut Crocodile, it will give me a better idea of where they started and how they got to Ocean Rain.

The band has actually released a number of albums and has a new one coming out this fall. I'm not sure if I'll try and experience their new stuff or just stick to their 80s albums.

" The Back of Love"

Tomorrow's Album #744 Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted

#374 Fela Kuti & The Afrika 70 - Zombie

Just wasn't feeling it.













"Zombie"

Tomorrow's Album #518 Echo & The Bunnymen - Porcupine

#344 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

This is one of those iconic albums that I have talked about in the past. The whole thing is just so well crafted. Even though the album is only 5 songs, you can tell that a lot of thought went in to the writing and recording of the album. There are very subtle additions to the song that when you listen closely connect the songs together as a whole. That is very  hard to do and while many bands try to do it, most fail.







"Wish You Were Here"

Tomorrow's Album #374 Fela Kuti & The Afrika 70 - Zombie

#310 George Jones - The Grand Tour

This album was great. I mean really, really good. the song writting, the music, the vocals, all just really well done. It was short and sweet, nothing over the top just straight forward country, and I don't like country. One of the best I've listened to so far.








"The Grand Tour"

"Pass Me By"

Tomorrow's Album #344 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

#920 MJ Cole - Sincere

Not available on Apple Music













Tomorrow's Album #310 George Jones - The Grand Tour

#768 Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

I really liked this album. I have never listened to the band before but they are definitely my style. Musically the album was great, just the right amount of heavy thrown in. Vocally and lyrically they were really good too. The only thing that I thought was a little weird was during some of the songs I could recognize that they were in english but then some words I had a really hard time understanding. At first I thought maybe they were in a different language. Now I have discovered that the band is from Wales and it could be that they were singing some of the song in Welsh or it could be the accent at that time made it hard to distiguish what the word was. Either way it was a great album!



"She is Suffering"

Bonus time - I just discovered that they originally wrote and recorded one of my favorite songs:

"If You Tolerate This, Then Your Children Will Be Next" - David Usher

Tomorrow's Album #920 MJ Cole - Sincere

#43 Jacques Brel - Olympia 64

I'm going to be honest. I didn't even try to listen to this album. I started to, but two songs in and I was done. I just couldn't bring myself to listen to a 15 song, 49 minute long long album of someone singing to me in french.










"Amsterdam"

Tomorrow's Album #768 Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible