Radiohead In Rainbows

Radiohead has been in the news quite a bit recently because this album was released on their website with the option to pay whatever you wanted for it. Although they did not release a lot of information about what people paid for the album I guess they sold/gave away a lot of copies. What I thought was really amazing was that when they released it in stores it debuted at #1. One would think that would be a lesson the record industry that it is not about people sharing music and getting it for free, it is about people not putting out good records, or at least popular records. Are people downloading music they would have previously bought? For sure, and certainly some people (myself included) don’t buy physical CDs anymore so there is little motivation to go out to a store to buy a CD if you have already acquired a free copy of it. But I think there are things the record companies could do to offset this. For example how about a lifetime license, so say your ipod breaks and your hard drive crashes. Well if I bought something from iTunes how about making that available to me any time I want. That would also be cool when I am traveling. Or even better how about I can log into iTunes and listen to my music anywhere? And even better how about if you come out with a remastered version I could have paid an extra buck on the original album to rights to all future re-isssues? Anyhow just some thought about what the stupid record companies to do to encourage people to buy music instead of engaging in a futile war to try to discourage people from sharing.

I am not a big Radiohead fan (never heard a Radiohead album before). I will say I was pretty disappointed to see the packaging for the album when it was released. I thought it would have been really cool to just package it like it had been downloaded and ripped to CD. The album was pretty good, another one for me where I know it is good, but I am not that crazy about it. I probably will try to give it one more listen but I don’t expect it to make the regular rotation for me. 7.5 out of 11.8.

Daughtry Daughtry

Contrary to popular belief I am not a big reality TV fan. I will admit I was an early adapter, and have watched every episode of survivor, I also watched the first couple of season of The Apprentice, Rockstar: SuperNova, Beauty and the Geek, The Bachelor, America’s Next Top Model, the dating show that was on the island that I can’t remember the name of, a little bit of the Anna Nicole Smith show, Breaking Bonnaducie, the Surreal Life, Celebrity Fit Club, The Real World, and I am sure some others. I know that sounds like I am actually am an huge reality show fan, but I am not, and I have really cut back, now I just watch survivor and beauty and the geek and that is it. One show I never really watched was American Idol. I was always intrigued by the really bad performances but never had any interest in watching.
That is perhaps why I didn’t know what I was getting into when I started listening to Daughtry. It turns out he was some sort of American Idol finalist. Anyhow after the debacle of Glen Hansard and Marketta Irglova when I heard the first notes of this Daughtry album I got pretty worried. It is without a doubt the cheesiest collection of power ballads of the millennium. I really was starting to hate the album, and hate this whole project when suddenly I got hooked. Although I would not compare the music to Journey there is something about the absolute cheesiness combined with intense sincerity that I really started to enjoy. Even now as I type this I am beginning to think maybe I should listen to it again, although I know it totally sucks. Anyhow I will give the album 7.5 thumbs up (out of 12) way up!

Glen Hansard and Marketta Irglova The Swell Season

When you look at (or listen to) the top selling albums on Amazon.com you end up seeing or hearing some pretty bad music that is I guess is pretty popular. As evidenced by the today and tomorrow. If people actually read this blog I am sure I would get a lot of comments in the comments section telling me how beautiful the music of Glen Hansard and Marketta Irglova is. But those imaginary readers posting imaginary comments would in reality be totally wrong! The album sound like a poor imitation of a bad direct to DVD Disney sequel, like Cinderella III. If you read the somewhat interesting article in the New York Times yesterday about direct to DVD releases you would know that generally they are pretty bad. I actually don’t know if Cinderella III has music, I can only assume it does. I do know for a fact that Cinderella III does exist, in case you thought that was also imaginary (like you are). Anyhow I give this totally crappy album a 7.5 on a scale of 1-30.

Panda Bear Person Pitch, Cocteau Twins Blue Bell Knoll, Sheryl Crow the Globe Sessions

I am really slipping on the blogging thing but still listening up a storm! I promise more detailed blogging later this week. I guess the promise is to me as I am pretty sure nobody is reading this blog.

Panda Bear I guess is part of the Animal Collective which I have now idea what that is. He is actually some dude named Noah Lennox who plays drums with this Animal Collective. I wonder if they are all named animals, I would assume so, but it would probable, ooh, see I just looked it up and it turns out only Panda Bear is named after an animal even though they all have fake names. That is pretty fucking experimental if you ask me! Anyhow I really like this album. It reminded of some of the crazy Beach Boys stuff from the pets sounds era. I give this album a 7.5 on a scale of 1-9.2.

The Cocteau Twins are another band that was really popular with tons of people I went to college with I think, but somehow I managed to never really hear them. As is becoming a minor trend here, the music I have always avoided turns out to be music I don’t really like. The album wasn’t all that bad, but I just can’t imagine the mood I would need to be in, or the activity I would be partaking in to want to put this album on. I give this album a 7.5 on a scale of 1-14.

What I know about Sheryl Crow is very limited, I know she dated Owen Wilson and Lance Armstrong, and that is about it I guess. This album was definitely not one of my faves, but it would qualify it as a pleasant surprise because I really didn’t expect to like it at all and I kind of enjoyed it. I really liked about half the songs on the album and the rest I didn’t care for. I could almost foresee there being a Sheryl Crow album I liked but I doubt there will be an opportunity for me to find out. I give this album 7.5 on a scale of 1-12.

Kate Nash: Made of Bricks

Today I am super tired. Played poker last night and got home at 1 and then woke up at 6.

Yesterday I listened to Kate Nash Made of Bricks. My sister read about this album in some hip magazine she reads. Apparently she is some sort of Myspace superstar, basically getting her start by posting her music to Myspace. The album was OK. There was something about the lyrics that didn’t work for me, like she was trying to be too clever or something. I give this album 7.5 on a scale of 1-14.

The Sounds: Dying to Say This to You

Getting old she is a bitch! Today I decided to try and go back to the gym after many months of not going. It really has been about 3 years since I went regularly. At some point I injured my Achilles tendon and I could not run anymore. Well running was really my favorite exercise and soon I just stopped exercising all together. I would try to start up every once in while and then my Achilles would hurt again, at that would be it. So anyhow I decided it was time to give a try again, so today I hit the treadmill. Well after five minutes of jogging slowly my foot started to hurt, after ten minutes my calves were aching, after 15 my heart was pounding. That is when I thought “Getting old she is a bitch” and she is.

I am not sure how this album ended up on my ipod. I am guessing it is my sisters because we are sharing itunes, but I saw it and said hmmm, maybe I will listen to that. It turns out I really like this album. The Sounds are a pop/new wave (not sure what new wave in aughts is, it isn’t new) band from Sweden. The music is reminiscent of the original new wave, but with a aughty feel that I really dug. I give this album a 7.5 on a scale of 1-10.

Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Well they have blocked out all blogging sites at work, which is going to seriously hamper my project. For now I will post from home, and I hope some time in the near future to have a workaround for this.

Hey is it just me or did anyone else notice that they have raised the price of Ferrera-Pan candies? I bought a box of Cherry Heads (formerly Cherry Clan's) the other day and I noticed it said right on the box 50 cents! If they are going to charge 50 cents they really need to make sure the candy is not all wet and sticky. I would think 50 cents would cover some sort of plastic seal to protect these delicious candies. Until that date I am going to boycott Boston Baked Beans and Johnny Appleseed's (or apple heads). I will still purchase Cherry Heads, Lemon Heads and Grape Heads (formerly Alexander the Grape) but I will do so under duress!

Yesterday's album was the Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). I have never really gotten into the Wu-Tang Clan, even though I know people think they are great. Recently though I have really enjoyed Ghostface Killah's last two albums (Big Doe Rehab and Fishcale) so I was eager to give Wu-Tang another try. Sadly I still just don't really dig Wu-Tang. Maybe the clan is overcrowded for my liking. I give the album a 7.5 on a scale of 1-11.5, but I do not expect to listen to it again.

The Thermals The Body, The Blood, The Machine

I took today off work in order to stretch out the long weekend. My only planned activity for today was to visit the local dojo and speak to the sensei about the offerings of adult classes. At first, I could not find the dojo at all, and then when I looked it up on the web and went to the address I discovered the dojo had been closed. I can only assume this is the result of a challenge from another local dojo to a competition in which the loser must close it doors forever. If anybody knows which dojo defeated my local dojo (Bubishi karate dojo) please let me know as I would like to join up!

Yesterday’s album was The Thermals The Body, The Blood, The Machine. I got the album from my friend Teresa who is really up on all this sup pop indie rock business. This album is just about exactly what I expected. That is to say it is undeniably good, but somehow something I do not really connect with at all. Listening to the album was relatively enjoyable but I do not expect to listen to it again. That said I hope Teresa keeps giving me music because I am sure at some point I will really get into one of these albums. I give the album a 7.5 on a scale of 1-12.

Lupe Fiasco The Cool

Not much else happened yesterday, I had make your own Sundays, I played some Civilization IV, I used my new drill bits to drill into concrete and I waited around for kickoff.

I did listen to Lupe Fiasco The Cool. Not a bad album at all. Lupe Fiasco is another artist who has a few albums and who I have never heard. I always thought he would be a little more “hard core” but he actually is more like tribe called quest or something like that. Perhaps it is only this album I do not know. Anyhow, I thought it was pretty good. I give it a 7.5 on a scale of 1-11.

Cat Power Jukebox

Well I missed a day of blogging so I will do entries today. Yesterday was the NFL championship games. My Patriots continued their magical run to a 19-0 season by defeating the depleted Chargers, and in the NFC the New York Giants continued a magical run of their own, winning their third road playoff game and 10^th (I think) playoff game in a row. It was an exciting day of football, especially the second game that the Giants won on an overtime field goal after missing two field goals in regulation. My prediction for the superbowl…Patriots 34-Giants 27. One teams magic has to end, I and just do not see the Pats losing this year.

Speaking of Magic, Saturday’s album was Cat Power Jukebox. Somehow, I have never heard of this Cat Power although I guess she has a bunch of albums, including another cover album (like Jukebox). I have to see I really liked this album. Although it is all covers, you would know it because each is such an original re-imagining of the song that it feels very fresh if not unrecognizable. Anyhow, this album is highly recommended, I listened to it 3 times on Saturday and look forward to hearing it again. I give it a 7.5 on a scale of 1-9.

Drive By-Truckers Brighter Than Creation’s Dark

It is Saturday and I am sick and I don’t really feel blogging.

Yesterday I listened to Drive By-Truckers Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. I chose this album on the recommendation of Rolling Stone magazine who compared Drive-By Truckers to Leonard Skynard. I am not convinced the comparison is appropriate. On some tracks I could hear hints of Skynard but all too often I heard hints “new country”. It was worth a listen I guess, but I will not give it another. I give Brighter Than Creation’s Dark a 7.5 on my scale of 1-20.

Kinky Friedman Sold American

Did I mention that we had a lice infestation a couple of weeks ago? I was playing with my daughter when she found a dead bug in our bed. We looked it up on the internet and couldn’t figure out what it was. Two days later my wife found a live version of the same bug crawling in my daughter’s eyebrow! She jumped in the car and drove straight to the lice lady. The lice lady is a professional nit picker right in Brooklyn. Anyhow after about 2 hours of picking nits and live lice bugs from my daughter’s hair and my wife’s hair my wife had to come home and put everything we own in bags and covered with sheets. Lucky for me I am bald so I was unaffected. We washed everything we could but have been living in a hazmat facility for the past two weeks. Well this weekend we can take everything out of bags and get back to normal.

Yesterday’s album was Sold American by Kinky Friedman. Kinky Friedman, if you don’t know him, is the greatest Jewish Country Singer of all time. His most famous song is probably “They ain’t making Jews like Jesus anymore”. Also he ran for governor of Texas and his campaign slogan was “Kinky Friedman: Why the hell not?”. Sold American was pretty good I would say. My favorite tracks were “We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To You”, “Ride 'Em Jewboy” and “High On Jesus”. He straddles the line between parody and honest to goodness good country music pretty well. On a scale of 1-11.5 I give the album a 7.5.

Chicago II

One of the reasons I started this project, or thought of this project is that recently “someone” “gave” me 29 Chicago albums. It may be a surprise to hear there are 29 Chicago albums, I was certainly surprised, but I think there are probably like 5 or 6 greatest hits albums. Anyhow it occurred to me that I have never actually heard a Chicago album. I actually was not sure I could even name a Chicago song but then soon after I “received” the albums I saw an episode of Freaks and Geeks that mentioned that “25 Or 6 To 4” was a Chicago song. I will say I have seen plenty of Chicago albums. I must have seen Chicago V thousands of times in thrift stores and yard sales. It is kind of sad that 20 years from now there will be no music to buy at these places. I think CDs were already a real step backwards for the yard sale/thrift store/used record store experience. Granted a used CD plays much better than many used albums, but they really do remove the artwork from the equation more (especially since you can read the spines so easily). The used music buying experience to me was always about much more than the music. It was really insight into peoples lives, and into the past. I KNOW Chicago was super popular because of how many used copies of Chicago V I have seen, along with Leo Sayer, Chuck Mangione, Def Leppard (you need to scroll down a little on this link) and Journey (more scrolling but worth the trip!). I also know that a lot of people stopped listening to these albums and wanted to get rid of them. Whether I ever listened to a Leo Sayer album or not is beside the point.

Which brings me to Chicago II. Have you ever taken and hit of acid, and right after you have taken, even before the drugs start to kick in, you start to regret it? You regret taking it because you can already tell you are going to have a miserable trip, and there is no way to stop it until it is done. When the horns “Movin' In” track 1 on Chicago II started playing, that is exactly the way I felt. When the vocals kicked in, the singer started explaining why he was singing the song (something Chicago seems to do a lot of) I began to question this whole project. But unlike acid the whole thing was over in about an hour and I have yet to have any flashback. On a scale of 1-6 I give this album a II, unless you are a HUGE fans of rock and roll horns, then I think maybe a V.

Amy Winehouse Back to Black

Well I was kind of putting off starting this thing until, like Hillary Clinton, I found my “voice”, but then I was driving to my bridge night (and by bridge night I mean the one night every month and half that I play bridge) I just thought what the heck. I connected the old ipod to car stereo (and by stereo I mean one working speaker in front, one intermittent speaker in front, and two working speakers in the back) and loaded up Amy Winehouse Back to Black. Although I have heard a lot about Amy Winehouse, I somehow had never managed to hear her music. I was later told that apparently she is a favorite of many spin instructors, if not spin instructees, but due to my poor attendance at the gym recently, and the fact that even when I went to gym every day I never took spin class I guess I never had the chance before to hear the music.
So what did I think of Amy Winehouse you ask? Ehhh. It was OK I guess. For me it was a little too Motown retro with a modern twist. I am not sure what jus the right amount of Motown retro with a modern twist is, but I know that this is not it. On a scale of 1-14 I rate this album a 7.5.

More Rules

No compilations (except Rap Mixtapes)

The Rules

1. Listen to Album every day that I have never heard before
2. The album can include songs I know but can not have ever listened to the complete album
3. No greatest hits albums
4. No repeating artist within a calendar year
5. Write some kind of report on every album

That's it pretty simple. If you have an album you think I should listen to send it to me! (email me or add comments to get my address)