Expensive Shit - Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70

This happens to be studio album number 12 by Fela Kuti, backed by his Afrika 70. This is among a string of albums during the 70's where, essentially, he could do not wrong. Yes there are ones I prefer, but this might be his best album. I've already reviewed Zombie and I plan to review some of his other albums from his discography, but I know how I feel about this (I've heard it a number of times) and cus its a quickie. I still have three more reviews to do before December so I can post this Chicago '78.

1. Expensive Shit: This opens the album, hahahaha its only two tracks. This track opens with clapping of what i think is like a castanet or something and a guitar setting up a grove. Then we get some tasty electric piano that propels the track forward, with drums keeping it sort of grounded. Bass comes in and the grove is set for a solo on the, I wanna say Rhodes. Tension builds until the horns come and and fucking take you there. The horns are truly something else, and the alto sax plays a solo building up this groove with the other horns backing it put. Damn is Fela good at setting up interesting music. The horns stop, and let the alto play a bit of the solo alone (with the groove still in place. Then we get a sort of call back to the head. I also wanna say the percussion on this track is out of this world. I hope I can build something a quarter as good as this. Its very dancable and very rhythmic. Once the vocals come in you get some pidgen where it talks about shit not smelling. This was inspired after he was arrested for drugs, you know just read the album covers sticker. Its a neat story. Once the vocals are over with the call and response the sort of refrain comes in and the instruments come to the for front again. The piano plays for the last three minutes or so and the groove still goes and is going strong. 
2. Water No Get Enemy: The horns start right out of the gate for this darker sounding track. Its more laid back and kinda makes you think. There is a sort of sadness in this track. It isn't as exciting as the title track. The vocals that sing with the horns almost make this sort of Ennio Morricone feeling. I like the solos and the groove here is also great. I really love the textures on this track. This is a solid track. Once Fela comes in it almost feels like he's mournful. I think this did what Mr Follow Follow did wrong. This might be a change of pace, but its still one if the best mellow songs his ever done. Its also one of the best songs his ever done. Its a shame the second side if Zombie want better. I really like the piano at the ending of this track and I don't really know how describe this except a nice ending and darker. He would continue with this type of track, before this album and after it too.

Overall I have to give this album a 8/10. The reason I would go as far as saying this could be his best is usually the records are split into side A track and side B track. This is the only one, in my recollection, that has a solid A and B track. I mean I could be stupid and recalling falsely or lacking something I remember. But from the top of my head this is the most consistent album of his. At least of the 20 or so I've heard. I think next will be either Teacher No Teach Nonsense and Beasts of No Nation.

The Sinking Of The Titanic - Gavin Bryars

This is the 1975 album by Gavin Bryars. It's very out of print, thanks for Spotify I was able to find it. Both pieces on this record happen to be his best know works , and they are for a reason. This also happens to be his debut album, one which I have to say is a pretty great one at that. Considering how Easter is today I decided to publish a review with some religious tones or themes in the album. Why not, I decide if I want to or not. So without further a due I give you the review for the album aforementioned in the title of this post.

1. The Sinking Of The Titanic: While I didn't enjoy this as much as the next track I can none the less say its impact on me. The theme in the song is fricken great. One thing i should point out is I've also heard the hour long version from the 90's or 2000's. There is a beauty to the swells in this track. It moves slowly, but has a feeling of, to be honest, death. Like I know that the title might help set up what's happening, but there is a feeling that this would be perfect at the sinking of the Titanic in Titanic. This almost sounds like a variation of Amazing Grace (at parts). Through it's 24 minute run time, it feels like it's..... I feel like it's like, I fell like this kind of is what it'd be like to know your going to die. This was inspired by the fact the band supposedly played until they sunk, they knew they wouldn't make it out. So it's like they are playing to the end.There is a moment in there where it sounds like they went under water, about 8 minutes in, but then the strings come back again. There is a muffled sort of ambiance surrounding the piece. Kind of like your underwater, or the adrenaline (like in movies) is "slowing time down". I don't think it's as good as the next piece, but it's still worth the listen.
2. Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet: This song is famous for it's title and story. A homeless man on the street said this and they recorded it and looped it. But his voice makes it so touching, and when the strings come it it sounds like something that I could see being in a Disney movie. It's a very pretty simple arrangement, but the feeling of the slowly moving orchestra makes it get louder and more intense. Not in the way that it's angry, but in the way that it's touching. when the acoustic guitar (played by my boy Derek Bailey) comes in the background it's great and adds to it even more. There are numerous versions, the original 25 minutes LP version (because of limitations), but it was in it's entirety 40 minutes. Then he made a 60 and 74 minutes version. For some reason, though I doubt I'd listen to it one an endless loop, it isn't that bad of a 25 minutes to spend on a song. It's very simplistic an pretty. Sometimes the prettiest stuff is the simplest. This this is slow it's definitely worth the listen.

Overall I have to give this album a 8/10. While I prefer the second track, I can't deny this album has had an influence on me. This thing is actually a pretty solid listen and it doesn't feel like the songs drag on much, or at all. The songs build and don't over stay their welcome. This isn't Einstein on the Beach. I actually prefer this to Ambient 3 (even though there were some interesting sounds on it). 

Welcome to My Nightmare - Alice Cooper

For numberous reasons outside of my control I wasn't able to complete this review in time for 10/31. But at least I got some extra time with it you know. Closing this very special 2015 October month themed Halloween extravaganza revenue I picked a very special album. The album I picked is this, the best Alice Cooper album. I think of it as a coda to a string of records I consider to be really really good, dating back to their 1969 debut. The end of the Golden Age if you will. Even though I lose interest in AC's output after this album, minus a few tracks here there and The Alice Cooper Show live record (Which puts a hole in my "Only the original bands material is good,  it sucks when he went solo" theory), I don't think anything post this is terrible. Its just not the golden age. So, as i just mentioned, this is when Vincent began releasing solo material under the name Alice Cooper. This is something he continues to do to this day, considering I think it's now been legally changed to it. This is also a concept album, I believe the "group's" first, and it takes place through the nightmare of a character who would later be a reoccurring character in the Cooper universe. Kinda like the continuing adventures of either the character or archetype taken from Tunnel of Love forward, by Bruce Springsteen. This part in particular takes place when he's a child, Steven. I almost forgot to mention that the lucky bastard had a television special promoting the album with Vincent Price as the narrator. Oh... plus Lou Reed's (most of it) joined to play on the record.

1. Welcome to My Nightmare: Opening the album is a number that kicks ass. It starts off with a hitting of the cymbals and an acoustic guitar chord. Then comes in the vocals, with a quite more dreamy feeling song. The bass here sounds really neat, and I'd almost not think this is a Cooper song. Until we get the more rocking section. But it's a bit too much going on for it to be "rock". There are very interesting textures in this song, horns, what sound like a clavichord and I almost feel like Brian Eno produced this (Here Come The Warm Jets). This is a very good show starter, and it is very theatrical. If you were as intrested as I am, you could listen a number of times and still not pick up on all the sounds in that track.
2. Devil's Food: This title reminds me of In the Wake of Posiden, specifically the tracks Cat Food and The Devil's Triangle. This is much more straightforward than the last track. I mean there are still there like weird changes in production styles that are going on within song, but I dig the vocals. And is that an interlude with Vincent Price. It is.... The bass in that section is awesome, the rhythm has this military feeling to it. It's funny, half of this song is like a voice over with the song pushed way back. He's giving us a history lesson on the Black Widow, but.... You gotta give it to Price, he makes it very intresting. The song begins to come back in
3. The Black Widow: This is a sinister track that makes me think of Holy Diver. This chorus is very memorable and I love the guitar here. The chorus is so hypnotic I feel like if you listen enough, or are high, you'd be tripping balls. This could easily be a tripping balls song in a movie. Or a going to hell song. I also love the like variation on the theme that could be played in an overture. That is not something I'd expected (I've heard this before but the first time). This over all is a solid rock song, that isn't something I'd quite consider to be a rocker.
4. Some Folks: This is a cabaret number that harkens to the vaudeville days. I might be wrong on that vaudeville thing, but still. This song is very can cany. This has a very Alice Cooper feeling to the song. It actually reminds me, after the intro, a hint of Man With The Golden Gun. That chorus is very catchy, poppy, but not shitty. I kinda wish I could sing along, and the post "baby baby" section, that fucking piano. And that guitar and the tempo....... Great. This song goes from sick to cutsey (well as cutesy Vincent can get) to weird to all over the place. And that BASS..... YES! GUITAR SOLO.... YES! It's like spit fire, only down side is didn't last longer, thought the ending is very tasteful.
5. Only Women Bleed: I never once thought this was about menstruation, whats the point? I mean... I guess seeing the groups humor with songs like I Love The Dead and Dead Babies, monthly bodily cleansing from Mother Nature isn't that crazy of a topic (its much more natural at least..... Well kinda, I mean child neglect isn't something I'd consider natural nor necrophilia but some may disagree). I always thought of it as more of a woman bleeding, or maybe a tongue and cheek anti-woman track... I don't know,  does it really matter? I don't think he's actually having intercourse with corpses, so cool off. The thing is you could also look at it as only women truly struggle, I mean there are a lot more for them to put up with and society expects certain things of them. Now maybe not so much now, but women still feel pressures to look a certain way. And they are expected to live a certain way, and that's kinda what this song is about. I mean it's about abuse (or a bad relationship), but women are still kind of expected to get married, back then they certainly were. It's very sad if you actually think about it, like I get that gut feeling that hits me right there. This song musically really is a masterpiece. Lyrically this song is great at painting a picture of this terrible occurrences that happen. It only really hits you when you take the time to realize it.
6. Department of Youth: This has a very Foreigner feeling (with the organ) in the beginning, but also this song reminds me a hint of Elected. I do get a laugh out of that weird accent, but this song has him singing as he would for the rest of his career you know that almost impish sound he does. As poppy this song is, there is something that makes it a little off that I can't quite say it's pop. Form the placements of synths (or organs or whatever keyboard instruments pop up). This also has some very nice and,  great to me, backing vocals and harmonies.
7. Cold Ethyl: This his a rocker that would sound that crazy on a maybe a Stones record. Maybe not so much them as a like generic rock band from the 70's or 80's. The solos are nice, but they are more generic here. And while its generic rock here, I still like the humor of the song. I think that's the best part, and the front to back changes of style you know.
8. Years Ago: Here we get their take on a Fixing A Hole. Rather than using it to be psychedelic there is a circus meets evil meets Halloween feeling to this song. I feel like this could open a horror movies, maybe a low budget or cheep 70's or 80's one, but none the less. For that reason also there is a spot in my heart for this. I think this is where the story starts. It's the first mention of Steven, it might not be the first in the story, but I also don't care enough to look into it. I'd rather enjoy the music and lyrics but not as a story.
9. Steven: Tyler? Perry?  Which one? This starts out with a quotation of a classical piano piece that I can't quite pin down, but I will add later. This is a neat enough song, but I don't dig the fact the whole beginning relies so heavily on that quotation. I do dig the later part. Like if there did this song exactly the same, without the quotation, maybe I'd LOVE it but I can't say I love it because of that you know. Don't get me wrong this has great guitar, gorgeous strings and is expertly arranged. Bob Ezrin my hat is taped off to you. And that ending................ Oh it kills me that the beginning reminds me so much of that one thing. I'd give the song a 10.
10. The Awakening: This has this electric piano, and piano in the beginning I love how the accompany each other. They really do each other justice, and the whole lucid (right, that's the right word) of that beginning..... it's nice. This song almost borders on psychedelic. I love the almost classical electric guitar part that that reminds me a bit of Brian May. The worst part about this song is it fades out. Also that it's a bit rushed, this could totally be much longer to let the parts flesh themselves out.
11. Escape: Closing the LP we get a glam rock track. This is another simple song, but it works. There isn't any expert arrangement here, but it's like a very satisfying closer to this album. It's like, what I feel like, "Eff Yeah, We made a killer record!". This is very solid.

Overall I have to give this album a 8.9/10. This album is easily the best "solo" Vincent Furnier album, and is in the top 5 Alice Cooper albums. This is a bit baffling, how come he never made anything this good after this. Seriously, think about it. I mean this album this is kind of a masterpiece. It's very well arranged, I don't know about the theme (but the music makes up for it so much). The reason this album is so great is most every song has a distinct sound of it's own. And yet it still works and is cohesive of an album. Now I don't really care to look into the story because it seems to not really happen until like the B-Side..... I don't know. And Even though I bolded some over others.... just check this thing out.... it's really really really good. Don't ask about Welcome 2 My Nightmare.... I don't like to think about that.

T.N.T. - AC/DC

So, I need to be honest. I used to love this band. Maybe not like as much as I love other bands but I much as I could in 8th Grade, I even bought and thought Black Ice was cool. Though I did buy every Aerosmith CD in 8th grade..... Ok I really loved this bands hits. That's very accurate, and to not bore you anymore I'll leave it at that. Now as I've gotten older, and my tastes have expanded, I can revisit this and be more objective (mostly because I feel Nostalgia isn't all that good when you can't look past it). They recently added all the albums to Spotify, thought I prefer to listen to the Australian versions, and I need to be real right now. Now before this revisiting there was a point where I hated this band, I hated how everything wast the same. But the good thing is that this revisiting has helped me, so...... This is the sophomore album by Australian Hard Rock band AC/DC. Now I hope I don't need to get into details about theses guys, but they have been around since 1973, the formed in Australia but are actually Scottish. This album was only released exclusively in Australia. These guys have a history of their 70's albums being different in Australia, then elsewhere. These include artwork, track listing, song edits and so on, some even have different release year (ie. High Voltage 1975 Australia, 1976 everywhere else, or even better yet Dirty Deeds 1976 Australia, 1977 UK, 1981 US).

1. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll): This song is a good song, and honestly I really can't hate this song, there isn't anything to hate. It's not the rock epic or story I feel it wants to be (for me at least), but it's solid and a great intro to the album. Also it's one of two track that has Bagpipes and I don't want to fucking slaughter the player of the pipes. It's a fun track and I mean it pays homage to their homeland. And I also like, I'm part Scottish, so I'm glad someone finally figured out how to do 
2. Rock 'n' Roll Singer: This song is basically the same structure as the better High Voltage. Its a really dumb song, but it's kinda good in a sense. It's good in that it's whole hearted and you can tell. I mean really some of the worst bad movies are enjoyable because they have a human heart and the care for them. If you can tell the person tried and just didn't succeed it's endearing. The albums full of tracks that aren't exactly like that but you can tell they cared. And even thought the structure here is kinda dumb I still dig this track. It's kinda more of a shut my brain off and get into the rebellious rockin' spirit this best holds it's grips on me the nice thing. The nice thing about this track, as with most you can play in your head. I hadn't heard it in like a few years and I still played it in my head.
3. The Jack: The highlight of the track is the chorus. And I do like how the song is about well.... hopefully you'll get it from the lyrics. I mean this song isn't that different room certain tracks, but I still think it's good. And while the chorus is very similar to to what drove me nuts on Darkness, I can let this slide.... somewhat.
4. Live Wire: This song isn't that diverse from a Rock N Roll Singer but you know, with a chorus similar to Long Way to the Top. And a solo break, like sole guitar, that reminds me of an intro to a, fuck I"m drawing a blank. The solo here is pretty solid.
5. T.N.T.: One of the fucking stupidest songs I know. I'm not even gonna use proper grammar that's how dumb it is. It's making me dumber. If I could have anything to say to the group for this song I'd say this, "Mr. Scott and company, what you've just played is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent chant were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought or even enjoyable. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
6. Rocker: This is one of four track's I didn't remember before the review. And the second it played I remembered it. And it's really just a standard rocker. Its very reminiscent of Long Tall Sally. This is probably the best example of how I feel about this album. It's good, memorable, but not all that bad for you. And probably essential for all beginning rock and roll stars.
7. Can I Sit Next to You Girl: A rerecorded version of the first single the released the gear prior. The single featured their original singer, and was the only release to feature him. I dig the little , dun da dun dun dun dun things. It reminds me of a Thin Lizzy's track that's gonna drive me crazy until I remember it. I feel like it might be Black Rose or S&M. This has a cool solo, but the whole build up after the refrain I'm not feeling like at all. Also I looked up the track it is Rosin Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend. One of my favorite songs ever. It's pretty solid thought, but I'm curious about the 74 single.
8. High Voltage: This is kinda of another dumb song, but here its not that dumb. As mentioned earlier you can hear the care. Its still got a kick ass chorus, and is still a solid song. 
9. School Days: A Berry cover, you know the restaurant owner who recorded the audio of the women's bathroom to hear their shit and farts. I bring it up because its kinda funny, and also because I've used that word a lot so I it only naturally connected to my logical thinking. Anyway....... This sounds more like a blues track off the debut to me. It really honestly isn't anything that's that special. Hell this is probably the worst track here, just because it's boring. At least the track that shall not be named doesn't put you to sleep. And people genuinely seem to like that song a lot. Thought based off the original... it ain't no Brown Eyed Handsome Man or 

Overall I have to give this album a 7.5/10. So it goes, for not complete shit, this isn't half bad. It's fun to listen to, engaging, higher energy and they're into it. It doesn't sound like they keep reusing the exact same formula to write an album, for this one. Though, in reality, this is kinda were they became AC/DC. I really can't complain about most of these songs. Their solid enough to where they are what they are and confident enough to not mess with. Also I revisited the Aussie Let There Be Rock, High Voltage and Dirty Deeds and honestly, they ain't half bad, some even great albums. But after that they only go down hill. Fuck Powerage and anything following, thought it isn't really that bad for you. This is fun to listen to, and really disappointing Shit In Shack is theirs and one of the best selling records of all time. NOTE: I will review their other Aussie version of their albums, and prossibly their third most famous album.

Toys In The Attic - Aerosmith

This is my first Aerosmith review. This is their third album released this month in 1975. This is like Aerosmith's classic album. When I was in 8th grade they were my favorite band. I bought all their CDs, I still need all their live albums, minus Live! Bootleg, a few compliations, and the boxsets, minus Pandora's Box. These guys lost their position as my favorite after I gave into The Beatles. Now this is one of my favorite albums and I suggest anyone to listen to it. But it's not going into the "Albums To Hear Before You Die" because it is a commonly known album. I guess theses guys used a 16-track tape recorder for this album. I do think that this is well... Here

1. Toys in the Attic: This song has this like arpeggio riff in there. The vocals of Tyler and Perry are super close on this track. They almost sound like someone singing. The chorus to the song has that arpeggio thing that is in the intro. All the instrumentation in the song is clear and audible. You can pick out each instrument. This song is such a good tone setter for this album. I love the, what I assume, picked bass "thump, thump, thump, thump". The way it sounds is awesome. And I also love that the song fades on this track.
2. Uncle Salty: This song is about sex abuse. Uncle Salty sexually abused this girl so then that led to a life of prostitution for her. I love how this song is so mellow. The guitar in this song is also very cool sounding. Don't quote me, but I think that Joe used a 12 string guitar on this song. This is a very clear song too. This whole album is clear. There song ends with the two channels alternating and repeating the chorus to the fade. The bass in this song is also really cool sounding. I love the guitars distortion on this song.
3. Adam's Apple: This song is Ok. I'm not obsessed with this song. I think that this song is really catchy, but it just hasn't hit me like all the other songs on this album. This song is all about Adam and Eve. There are horns on this song, which I think is kind of cool, but like I said I'm not huge on this track.
4. Walk this Way: This bitch is like 3:41 minutes of sickness. This song has a very distinct riff, along with the rest of the songs on this album. But the thing about this is that they out did themselves with this song. I love that the album was called Toys in the Attic and not Walk this Way. If it did it would have ruined the surprise of this song. The drum beat comes in and a measure late the guitar comes in. The blues feel to this song still appeals to me. For the most part blues bugs the crap out of me, but some Aerosmith doesn't. Especially their '70s stuff. The solo in this song is super cool and easy to remember. This is the classic Aerosmith that everyone should know. I know that this is a song everyone knows, but there are more good songs like this one.
5. Big Ten Inch Record: The legend in this song is "Suck on my Big Ten Inch, Record". And Steven says that he said "sept on my big ten inch record". I didn't even realize that it sounded like suck until I read that. So I'm on your side Steven. Realistically this was a filler. It's not a bad filler, but I don't think that it has ever been my favorite song on this album. This song does have this 50's honky tonk dance feel to it. I don't know if that was the correct term to use, but that's what I think. This is defiantly a song that I could see people dancing to. It is also a cover.
6. Sweet Emotion: This song has a super well known bass intro to the song. I remember being obsessed with this song. I love the bass part of the song. It is like the build up to the song. The way they sing the long held out "Sweet Emotion" in the beginning of the song gives me chills. The crunch of the guitar makes me crazy. I honestly think that this is their best written song on this album. It's not my favorite, one of them, but I think it's their best. The one thing that I am not a crazy about, but it also might have ruined the song, is that it is hard to hear the drums and bass when it does the little bridge between each verse. The verse before the solo has triangle in it. And it sounds really good. How cool is that. The solo on this song has tons of wah-wah on it. That makes it sound really cool and I love the way it sounds. And it has the solo to the fade
7. No More No More: This is a nice peaceful song to be a bridge between the awesome Sweet Emotion and the scary Round And Round. This sounds like it could be a song at a wedding. In a way, if you think about it for a little bit. This is probably one of the prettiest and upbeat songs on the album. There is a lot more piano in this song than some others. This song actually kind of reminds me a little of the 1977 title track off Draw the Line.
8. Round And Round: This is easily the heaviest song on the album and the way the vocals are distorted could almost be scary. The way they say round and round and round give you a feel of going around in a circle. The solo also continues the feel of that idea. Jack Douglas did a good job at giving it that feeling. This song also seems like more compressed in a way. It is one of the scarcest Aerosmith songs that I have ever heard. But if you think about it Brad had a way of writing some of the more dark sounding Aerosmith songs. This song is still fading up until the next song starts.
9. You See Me Crying: This is the ballad on the album. Like Seasons of Wither, Home Tonight, and Mia. This is more like Mia in the fact that it is more piano based. This is a pretty positive song, but it is also more sad. The chrous on this song is actually pretty sad. It bugs me that they don't have the personal who did the string on the album. The strings are very pretty on this song and it would be nice to see who did them. This is a good feel of a classic ballad by this band. I love this song and this whole entire album.

This is overall a kick ass album. This is a fucking 9/10. I love this thing and I know you will to. A ton of Aerosmith classics are on this album. I love this thing, there is a lot of good song writing on this. I definatly agree that this is a classic album, and that it is also an album that helped shape rock n roll. One thing that does piss me off though is that they didn't credit the people who played horns. But besides that I think that you should check this out if you haven't already. Trust me, it's worth it.