Foreigner - Cat Stevens

Okay, so recently I've been on a Cat Stevens kick. I honestly don't know why, I'm not a fan outside of tracks here and there and the whole spiritual seeking aspect of some of his music. Now I don't plan on listening to anything Yusef before his pop music return, outside of A is for Allah (I'm not Muslim, and I  honestly wouldn't get anything out if it other than a curious listen). So when it came to picking a review I knew I had to do the album with one of the best A side long tracks ever. This album, number seven, was released on July 25th, 1973 and recorded the prior March. So I guess he was really moved by "black music" and because he was an outside attempting to make this music he called it Foreigner (but also because he was in tax exile). This album is also notable for having a number of musicians I am suprised to see on a record by this guy, Phil Upchurch, Bernard Purdie and Patti Austin.

1. Foreigner Suite: Sitting at 18:17 I've as of this review sat through this over 50 times, play counter in last.fm, and I'm still not tired of it. This is one of those tracks I don't see going anywhere and will probably stand the test if time, for me. He also pulls out all the stops on this thing, using an electric piano, fender rhodes, and an acoustic guitar. This song starts out pretty strong, and pulls you in. There's an epic feeling to the piano and vocals lead. This also has drums and bass but is followed by the first instrumental section which completely changes the tone from epic ballad to upbeat and happy. When he comes back on the song continues to be upbeat and happy and is pretty great. I am pretty sure a Rhodes is played here. I love the keyboard sounds on the track and I love how the song builds. While the vocals aren't amazing I think they fit really well, and damn this thing has so many transitions and little turns and sections 10/10. I love the little turns and the sort of swirling part. I kinda feel like its being played on a carousel. I love the sort of James Bond instrumental with the funky guitar and fucking solid drums and tight as fuck. I also love the woodwinds and horns. This section could pass as a Bond theme, honestly. I love the four on the floor and the wahs of the keys. After the instrumental section it comes to reality with a soulful section. There are some phenomenal backing vocals from Patti Austin, Barbara Massey and Tasha Thomas in the choir part. I love it so fucking much. The idea that love is a liberating force is something I can whole heart-ed-ly get behind. This is probably my second favorite part for the fact of how large and marching and epic it is. The song gets spacey and reverb before coming back with a sort march of sorts, or at least I feel I could march to it. I love this part too, and I love the drum fills I assume are played by Gerry Conway (his only performance on the record). The man must fight for freedom is possibly more epic than the last epic part, and I love the strings here. Back to that instrumental before a fade out with a great string arrangement. Really I honestly can't believe anyone could make something this great. The song goes to a bit of a call back to the beginning, except this time the piano (electric?) And vocals really feels very emotional. It sort of builds the dies down, then builds up. There is a momentum to this part and it gets me excited for what's next. This part is amazing and, I know I'm sucking his dick, it I honestly love this. Guess what it changes again, but this time is a refrain (recall) of the introduction. I love that, the intro feels so much more powerful after going through that journey and experiencing all that we just did. There is a gospel feeling to this part, and this song is just so liberating. I feel like how did America not adapt this as a national anthem or pervert it as the women being America. This feels like it could fit that bill, but yeah. Like I just wanna salute Yusef during that part of the song. With 4 minutes left I really wanna listen to this thing again :D seriously. The "will you" part kills me because it transitions into the famous "Viva La Vida" section. This works so much better here, to be honest, but this is my favorite part of the song and it has this gallop to the drums. Its like you got here, you made it. There is a bit of a refrain before going full on into the finale. It continues this way till the end with him yelling out things here and there and then becomes an instrumental to the fade. This song is gorgeous, and 10/10. I love it so, and lyrically I eat it up like honey. It's so fucking good. All the little nuances and touches that happens than make it not a straight loop for 18 minutes, kudos Mr. Stevens. Sadly, this wouldn't be continued for the rest of the album. 
2. The Hurt: Following the moster that is Foreigner Suite, we get this. I hear the soul influence here, but I don't dig it as much as the other track. I do like the atmosphere set by the electric piano on this track, but there is like a disconnect. Where the last track pulls you in I think this would have to be more along the lines of say, Win by David Bowie, in order for it to pull me in. Like I said this isn't that bad of a track, and the drums are pretty great on here, but there's just a disconnect for me.
3. How Many Times: I guess this is the Herbie Flowers track that he has to play on for the record. This isn't that bad of a track, but again the steam was kind of spent on the title track. This also, which I found out to be true, seems like a rewrite of sorts of The First Cut is the Deepest. I prefer the New Masters track over this, but it isn't too bad. The worst part is it isn't that memorable.
4. Later: The drums in the beginning remind me of a Paul Simon track, I can't quite think of. They also reminds me of, the more obvious, Shaft or funk sounds this was inspired by. I like the The girls, come back for a third time. And this is probably the most interesting track outside of title track. There is a sort of, he kind of nailed the urgency of the blacksplotation theme. I don't dig the transition as much, but it doesn't ruin the track for me. Now I don't think he nailed the magic of the blacksplotation theme, but he certainly did a great job of sonically copying it. Well it's more of a homage than a copy or stealing it. It is worth checking out. I do enjoy the string section though, it doesn't have the same impact as on the first track. I know I shouldn't compare, but it's still the same album.
5. 100 I Dream: this track features on guitar synthesizer and clavinet, plus the good old acoustic guitar from Cat. There is a bit of a country twang to this, and it has a bit of soul to it. There is something that I can't quite put my finger on for this track, but I do like it. I think this is a solid tune, but like I said this took a few listens to click exactly with me. Like this is the closest it comes to begin great. I really think the combination of this sound and the "black music" come together pretty well here.

Overall I have to give this album a 7/10. I like what he's going for here, it's just that it doesn't work that well outside of the title track for me. There are moments, but a lot of the rest of the record is just okay. There is a possibility of a review for Mona Bone Jakon, Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat, Catch Bull at Four and maybe Izitso. I am looking at the first one listed as the most likely candidate. If you wanna check this out, go ahead. For sure check out the first track though.

Freak Out! - The Mothers of Invention

Today marks the 50th anniversary of one of my favorite, and one of the most influential to me personally, release #1 by Zappa. This also happens to be the debut album by The Mothers of Invention, bestowed upon the unworthy Earth on June the 27th, 1966. Where to start, where to start.... Well, I don't really know? I think this is one of the greatest records ever made, and should be on the lists for guitarists to listen to, and for fans of music in general. In fact I'd go as far as the only reason for it to not be on a top 100+ list is only if you Rolling Suck, or you've never heard it prior to compiling it to the list. It also happens to be quite funny, and is not super serious (well at some parts). All and all its just a really a great rhythm & blues record. I can go on and on forever about the history but why do that. I wanted to note for this review that i will not be using the CD, because that's the most common version of the album (the '87 remix/'95 Rykodisk versions). I will be using the original vinyl mixes (Disc one of MOFO), and also my vinyl copy of the album. Why? Well, why not do the original version for the anniversary.

1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy: Opening the album we get this, this rocker that just takes you there. With the help of Elliott's lead and the other Ray's tamborine, but it's the song in general. Something nice about this is it has something to say and it says it,  being pretty funny along the way (kinda). I think the lyrics are straight and the point I don't really think this could have opened better with what's present. Plus that solo, damn Winged Eel Fingerling.... 
2. I Ain't Go No Heart: An instant classic, I love this song so much. This is a bit less punchy, like it doesn't feel like a rock song with a punch as much as a rhythm and blues number. This has a timpani and feels very large, again we get some great playing and this song is so crafted, and sounds so great. I love the middle eight and it's so fucking large. I'm serious you could easily turn this into a big band television/orchestral piece. Also that ending......... he's a bumber every summer.
3. Who Are The Brain Police?: A complete change of tone. The first two tracks where upbeat, fast and exciting. Upbeat as in not downers sonically, this couldn't be any more opposite. This sounds as if you were on a bad acid trip and your senses were slowed down. There are moments, during the verses before the refrain, of the Umpalumpa song. The thing is, that came out 5 years after this. This also is pretty trippy, as mentioned, and I think (as much as it sounds like I'm sucking his dick) a really nice contrast from the first two. The sound isn't boring, and overall it sounds like a nice change of pace really. I can't every begin to tell you how much I love the freak out in this thing and it's such a fucking great song.
4. Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder: A doo-wop classic, sung by Ray Collins. This is a solid tune, and does a great job of replicating the sound and style. This isn't quite as silly sound ling as say, Oh in the Sky, but its a got some boy soprano from Roy. This tune also works and feels like its fit in a movie from the 50s very snugly. Great tune that really "is very greasy". The song progresses, though it's probably an inside joke, it contains one of my favorite lyrics about khakis. And the song becomes more silly after that but it's still done pretty straight for the style. Also fuck, Eugene that's some fucking fire piano playing.
5. Motherly Love: This is rather funny. I could be misreading this, but I feel like when you hear Motherly Love its like (and as the lyrics hint) love from a Mom. But the lyrics also hint at it being "love" from a Mother. Thus is a solid R&B number, and just rocks. This also has some funny little sounds here and there and some nice playing, as with the rest of the record. But it's solid bro.
6. How Could I Be Such a Fool: This is a song that's grown on me oh so much. It's sort of weird, where the others thus far rocked or were kind of shallow this song musically is sad. Like I feel like Zappa could be making a joke, but this song is so fucking good. Like if he wasn't a cynic I feel like this could be a great break up song. The arrangement..... Fucking Amazing, and it comes and goes so fast. I feel like it is like a relationship, grasp it and get what you can and give what you can to it while its still here. This might be one of best songs here to be honest. Also Carol Kaye plays 12 string guitar on this track.
7. Wowie Zowie: This is a fun little ditty that could very easily be a children's song. I feel like he was going for that too with some of the lyrics. But then, I mean it's bizarre.... I still love it. The xylophone makes it more playful but it still has the that great hook. 
8. You Didn't Try to Call Me: This is another huge song that is phenomenally put together. Pet Sounds is a masterpiece, fuck that noise everything here kills that fucking notion. This song is a great and I really don't have much to say other than this is hilarious, but sonically it's great.
9. Any Way the Wind Blows: Another break up song, another classic. This song is very memorable and has that fun Wowie Zowie feeling but is a bit more serious maybe. You know the whole gauntlet of what this album puts you thought, why can't all music be this compelling, fun, exciting, scary and interesting. Also there's a neat background to this story in the liner notes of the original Lp
10. I'm Not Satisfied: Is it wrong to find this track funny. While it isn't as mellow dramatic as the lyrics, well extreme, to ITIGKM this sonically sounds like a "depressed" teenager. Don't get me wrong, it's a great tune, it's just it fits so well with this shallow, one dimensional character. Like really, I can't help but laugh at this song. The music is so big and so large, as with all the other tracks.
11. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here: This title is a bit misleading. but it's such a weird song. Like really, it's got that kooky feeling to it but I also feel like it might be a love song. But then again, most love songs aren't really that deep, so maybe it's just the satire :) I love the music and the lyrics have me rolling on the floor and I can so fucking quote this. The call and response, in the Zappa's dead pan. Plus I caught that Caravan reference.
12. Trouble Every Day: One of the best blues song ever. Seriously; not only does the music have balls and kick ass, the message is equal to that of the music. Actually the lyrics might be more relevant today than back then, at the very least are still relevant today. This really is s song to aspire to pull off if your a musician who isn't just in it for quick doe, but rather the are, craft and power of music. Really, I'm serious, flawless.
13. Help, I'm A Rock: On the vinyl this and the following track were the two sections of one track, but for the sake of the way the thing is why not. This is a bizarre track, which I don't really know how to describe. I know the rhythm section is really doing a great job keeping the beat but the voices sound like they're freaking out. This also has some kind a funny stuff, but it feel a bit like an experiment. There is a section that changes but I believe it to be the In Memorium of Edgar Varese but yeah, hear it yourself, but I personally love it.
14. It Can't Happen Here: Another quotable tune, that is just all kind of wonderful. I love it and it makes sense that it follows what just happened. Also this is an all a capella tune. Well that's at least for most of it, there's this piece spliced in there..... it's fucking great. Feels sort of improvised. I also think parts of the next track, or parts of this track, are in the next track. But they mention Suzy.
15. The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet: "Suzy, Suzy Creamcheese. What's gotten into ya darling" what a way to end the record, that voice introduction then go straight into the Varése quote with the lion or whatever it's called. Love the drum beat in that beginning and this is the sound of chaos. I really think you need to hear it yourself, also it's nice to hear it not so reverby as on the Freak Out! cds. I love sounds and how stuff works and Zappa obviously know how to do dat shit. The thing picks up pace and starts to sound like white noise almost. As the song progresses it becomes complete chaos until it becomes a sort of reprise of It Can't Happen Here then going into a sort of Mr. Bungle/Were Only In It For The Money/Lumpy Gravy thing for the last four or so minutes. It's really something to hear, not only does it make me smile, but I love every second.

Overall I have to give this a 11/10. I didn't highlight anything because there are kind of all my favorite songs. Actually upon re-visitation I might like this more than Abbey Road. Even if you think his humor is stupid, his writing is to silly, or his music is to complex to swallow; I am under the belief there is still something here for you to find and take home. From the novelty to the political messages to the blues rockers and doo-wop tracks. From the avant-garde experiments and musique concrete compositions to the down right and instantly quotable song. No matter your taste, no matter your style, there will be something for you to take from this 1966 classic double album. And to be honest, these songs are so damn catchy I can't imagine you not coming away with something you sing. I mean I can't stress that enough. This is the perfect starting point to get into Frank's enormous body of work, and its also one of his best. Also if I didn't make it clear, check the lyrics out, it'll be worth it trust me.

LISTEN TO THIS RECORD, I couldn't fit it in the Albums to hear before you die with the amount of characters in the Blogger label section. 

Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson

This is the sophomore LP by soul legend, Mr Excitment himself, Jackie Wilson. I have a confession, I only ever heard of him because of the stupid Jackie Wilson Says track by Van Morrison. But hey, that caused me to look him up. Well that and the fact the Isley Brothers samples the "say you will" from Lonely Treadrops for Shout. But in the short number of months I've been a fan, I have listened to a huge chunk of his discography.I'd go as far as saying that I think he's phenomenal and really can make most anything great.

1. Lonely Teardrops: Opening we get a heavy fucking hitter. By that I mean a solid fucking track. I love this song and its so great to sing along with. Jackie's so fucking good here, he just transcends this track. While lyrically its somewhat shallow (or rather just not really realistic), he's just so good you don't notice. A doo-wop classic, a doo-wop masterpiece. 
2. Each Time (I Love You More): This is not as powerful as the opener, but none the less it's a solid doo-wop tune. With some great vintage 30's or 40's sound choir I could imagine in a Christmas song. Plus another great singing performance from Jackie. Also I'm kind of a sucker for that piano progression. While some I think are good, but more in the just because I'm a sucker for doo-wop, this is a solid and nice track. Like I can't think of any that have a chorus behind the singer that harken Christmas record (old school stuff as mentioned earlier).
3. That's Why (I Love You So): A much more lively song than the last. I really like this progression, it's got some nice horns and some pretty solid performance all around. And it's about two minutes long so it doesn't overstay it's welcome. While I love How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You by my hero Marvin Gaye, it's a bit long. This is great and sweet and simple and the perfect length.
4. In The Blue of the Evening: I had to laugh a bit, the second this started I was like this is very old school Sinatra feeling. Well I looked it up and it was originally by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with some vocals from Frank Sinatra back in August 1942. This is actually a really great tune and I want to check out the original afterwords. A great crooner tune and really nice vocal jazz number. A shame I don't see it more often when I listen to vocal jazz albums, there are some standards that I don't think are as good as this tune. Who knows, maybe it is and I just didn't look hard enough. I like this arrangement a lot. Also I should mention that organ and saxophone...... top notch. There are the songs I love to sing along to.
5. The Joke (Is Not on Me): The song has great performances from the baking vocals, and has a nice swing to it. Actually the structure reminds me of maybe a rewrite of Quarter to Three. The thing is this is a bit less "exciting", that don't mean it's bad or worse (though I perfer Quarter to Three). This has a great guitar solo in the tune and this album is surprising me with it's variety. Not just in the songs, but the styles and takes. 
6. Someone to Need Me (As I Need You): Classic doo-wop and you know it is more than welcome. I love the, dare I say (cuz I might be wrong in my phrasing or word), tremolo strings. I mean it's a doo-wop tune, and it's a really good one. I don't think I can say much more than that, other then fucking great arrangement. They really made this thing sound big.
7. You Better Know It: This is a pretty solid soul tune, while it sounds like any other Isley Brother/insert soul artist from this time period, I still enjoy this. It's fun up beat and harmless. It isn't cheesy like some other songs (Another Saturday Night - PS I love that song) it's just nice you know. This also kind of reminds me of Tutti Fruti. I still dig this tune though.
8. By the Light of the Silvery Moon: The horns here are muted, and it give this that vocal jazz feeling. Like the other kind or one of the other kind. I could see this song being in a musical and the chorus sounds really good with him. Like really they compliment him. There are times I listen to the chorus and I don't like it, Ray Conniff Singers *cough*, but they really work good here. This is a fun song, incas I didn't make that clear. Also that band that comes in and plays the tune behind him.... nice :) PLus I love that accordion thing at the ending.
9. Singing A Song: That intro made me feel lik this was taken from a musical. Actually I could see this being in a musical if I'm being honest. I you're not snapping along to this song.... I don't even know. It's pretty fast, but the little calls of the instruments and the whole thing. Pretty tasty. I think my favorite part is the chorus where the strings come in. Damn this things great. It's really well constructed and I just wanna listen to the strings.... damn.
10. Love Is All: See, how can you hate him? listen to the way he sings. This is very soothing and I feel like Ray Conniff would be infinitely better with mister Wilson.
11. We Have Love: I don't know why, I just love these numbers. I also think it's perfect not every song is like this, but these are the stand outs to me a bit. Like there is something in this type of soul where it touches my soul. This is also very well put together and just great.
12. Hush-A-Bye: This is kind of an appropriate closer to the album. It's soft and very smoothe and has a very old feeling to it. Like that Sintra feeling as mentioned earlier. This feels like it's the ending and I don't really know what more to say than that. It's good.

Overall I have to give this album by Jackie Wilson an 8/10. This is great, really check it out. It goes by fast, and there is enough of a variety to keep you interested. Plus once you start to dig his vocals, he's really good bru. To be completely honest I'd have this entire album on my iPod because these are all songs I'll revisit outside of the album. Really there is more substance here than on most rock or metal albums I've been revisiting that I loved years ago, or ones that I've heard recently. To be honest I could see this being even higher rated in the future. Oh also hats of to mister Dick Jacobs for his great orchestration and direction. This whole thing is just so fun and great check it out.

American Beauty - Grateful Dead

This is possibly the best known album by The Grateful Dead. You know I got this thing on vinyl from my moms cousins husband. And honestly, I didn't care first time through. Now I'm older and more mature and have been craving the following artists/genres The Dead, 20th Century Classical, Free Jazz, Jazz, Bowie and a little hip hop/pop to add flavor so it doesn't get dull. I'm 100% serious when I say that so I may be going insane or I may just give this thing another shot. After all, it is a classic.

1. Box of Rain: This opens up this album, and you know it isn't that bad. The thing that turned me off was the harmony vocals before, but you know this is a pretty decent track. The more I hear this song the more I think that I enjoy it. Maybe it also has something to do with Eugene, but that's also a little irrelevant. It's a pretty song and it's relaxing.
2. Friend of the Devil: This is a pretty fun song. I always kind of liked the bass line in it. This is a fun song that I may want to write a song like. I mean this 
3. Sugar Magnolia: Now this song is a song that kind of gets on my nerves. I mean, it's not terrible, but there is a type of magic that is keeping me from hating this thing. Usually I can't stand bluegrass or country unless it's done a certain way or with a little flavor. This album is able to keep my interest and make me wanna review this. I think the drums on this a pretty cool sounding. Its also very happy and kind of "brainwashes" you into wanting to have fun too.
4. Operator: This song reminds me a little of Big Yellow Joint or the real version Alice's Restaurant. This is a fun song that I think may also grow on me with time. This is a pretty fun time and a jolly way to sit back drink a beer. Thought I don't drink, nor will I ever, this is something I imagine would go great with it.
5. Candyman: This is pretty much on the same boat as Operator with the whole beer things. This song is just relaxing, but I like the guitar fills in there. This album has a central focus. I think that this shows great maturation on the part of the band, why? Well they were willing to go from that psych sound on their debut to this folk/country feeling on Working Man's Dead and further expand it more with this album. I'm actually surprised that those 6 minutes were actually pretty fun.
6. Ripple: This is a very country sounding song. I mean even as the album progresses I am opening up to the songs more. This is pretty and relaxing I just want to kick back and write a bunch of these songs after hearing this song. 
7. Brokedown Place: There isn't really anything that crazy complex going on, other than these guys are really into the song. They are able to make boring songs have heart and honesty. The vocals here are pretty great, and they make me wanna listen to this thing again after listen to it once. This proves that simplicity isn't always a bad thing. I also like the honky tonk piano fill thing. It's pretty great.
8. Till The Morning Comes: Now this is a song that I think, after the last track doesn't really stand up. This album uses a lot of very similar sounding songs and they probably reuse a few chord progressions, but the songs are still pretty great. This song has a cool thing that reminds me a little of I Can't Explain's main riff. I also like the chiming sounds and what not at the end.
9. Attics of My Life: This is a more relaxed song. This actually reminds me of The Beach Boys. One of their songs that would be sunshine pop. A good example too would be Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles off 1966's Revolver. Now I always found an irony in the genre because it's always felt kind of dark even though it has "sunshine" in the title.  Just an underlining darkness in there. Though this doesn't necessarily do it for me, that may change over time.
10. Truckin: This closes this LP, and a pretty great ending too. Just keep on Trucking and keep calm. This whole album is relaxing and I think that this kind of wraps up the whole feeling of sit back and kick you shoes off to a T. It's also probably the song that has the more things going on. This is also just a great way to end the review and album

Overall I have to give this bluegrass/rock n roll classic a 7/10. The title fits, country is from America and if you think about it then you can know why it fits. Thought I may not think this is my favorite album by the group, this is still a pretty solid album. Now I may not always see the genius or the classicness of this, but one year has done maturation and let me enjoy this a little more, maybe in a year from now I'll like it even more. I am positive though, that I WILL be returning to this album if I plan on doing a country influenced album, song, ep whatever. I don't want to say this is genius or even a classic, but it's pretty great and a great place for inspiration.

Kill 'Em All - Metallica

This is the debut by the Big Four's most popular and successful band Metallica. Now my favorite, musically, is Metallica, but their personalities are pretty much shit. Well not all of them, more Lars than anyone else. But personal problems aside I will review their first album. This was released in 1983 and really is a prime example of a debut, I'll explain. Oh yeah I'm not gonna dwell so much on Mustaine's contributions to the LPs writing, except in track 2.

1. Hit The Lights: Fade in drums guitar and bass. Then a drum roll and some more feeling of a build. Here comes the riff, what a beautifully distorted riff. Then a scream, and then lyrics. This song is such a statement. Think about it, a bands first impression is their first album/ep release track. Back in the day, and when you listen to a while album you start with track one. This gets you pumped for whats to come and I can't wait to see, though I already know. The playing here is tight, like a machine and to think Kirk has only been with them for a short time. They sound well tuned and ready to shred. The solo is fricken great and he kills it. 
2. The Four Horsemen: Slightly slowed down and an added verse an bridge this was originally Mechanix. After they kicked Dave they took the song and fleshed it out. They matured it from a car to the Apocalypse. This is a scary song and it think it fits the theme. I I we're to make a movie about the end I would try to get this song to make an appearance if possible. Maybe a clip of the solo or something, but a part. This is an epic and it really is a well put together song. Sings like this with different tempos and time signatures make Metallica stand above Slayer, Megadeth, and even Anthrax and on their first album. This solo is so epic I don't think I can begin to explain the influence it's had on me. This is truly one of y favorite solos ever, up there with Hell Bent For Leather and Buried Alive. There are others too but just to wanted to mention. This is a strong and aggressive song to. You wouldn't wanna mess with this band. Te second solos sicker, but that's not really needed to be said. It's shouldn't change any aspect of the song, just I like the second more.
3. Motorbreath: I wonder if the title is a nod to Motörhead or if its a coincidence? You know, as much as I live this album it has some weaker songs. By that I mean they are songs I don't listen to by themselves. The solo here is another great solo by Kirk, maybe a little abruptly cut, but still great. I'm glad this is on the album, but it's hard to live up to the last two tracks you know. The solo is really whats the best part of this track. And the post solo power chords at the end. That's interesting. 
4. Jump In The Fire: This is an epic riff that I wish I could replicate. Not the greatest on this album, but it still tops most other bands. The chorus is so damn catchy, if after 1 or 2 at most listens your not singing along your a tool. Either that or your a parent who doesn't get with fun music. The pre-solo things is neat and I like the solo in the song. The vamp for the solo is cool too. The second solo is awesome here too and it really could listen to this albums solos alone. If only they released this albums solos on an album like Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar.
5. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth: Cliff gets to shine too. This is an interesting choice I think to have here. It's obviously to show off the bassist and his skill. The only complaint is his mistake before the change. It also like how're tempo changes and its like Free form. It's nice to leave that metal world and take a second to hear a bass solo. And also the title fits the song to a t, in the best fucking way possible. I think it's cool the band comes in later but still damn, listen to them jam. Cliff your sorely missed. 
6. Whiplash: This song brings us back to a more non instrumental world. This song honestly does take you back and makes me want to head bang. What keeps me from doing it is fear of "whiplash". Fuck it! Seriously this is a great track and kicks ass. Play this for any Mötley Crüe fags in the 80's and they'll melt. No offense to glam metal, but this is Metallica and were here to "Kill You All!". Another killer solo from Kirk and it is kind of a credo song. This is kind of like their own Motherly Love because it talks about going to towns and doing stuff. It's neat, just a though. 
7. Phantom Lord: This is the song I've honestly heard the least on the album. I honesty couldn't remember this riff. I only heard it a few times. Part of the reason is because its a little underwhelming compared to the other tracks. But this most resembles a song of Show No Mercy. That album came out in December of that same year. The solo here is pretty cool sounding and reminds me of Hell Bent a little. The post solo vamp thing reminds me a little of Fade to Black. I wonder if they reused that for said track. The chorus is cool, but just not really Metallica.
8. No Remorse: This has that punk attitude. The solo in the beginning before the lyrics is a fricken great idea and damn, those only thing better is a solo at the start (ie Eternal Rest). This is another great riff and there isn't much to say here that hasn't been said earlier on the review. That crunch, Damn! I also like that swoosh sound. Each solo uses the same distortion but different enough to stick out. Those harmonies, damn! I also love the double time and the singing in the double time. Great end, reminds me of the intro to the album. 
9. Seek & Destroy: Possibly the best riff on the album, and probably most memorable. This thing honestly just could put fear down your spine. If I wast a Metallica fan I could very much see this being the theme song of the devil and his minions. This song is evil enough to be a Mercyful Fate song. That's saying a lot. Whiplash maybe the bands credo song, but this is Lucifer's credo song. The solo is an 10 in my book and really need I say more. This fricken song is a 10 in my book. This is a 10 in any logical persons book. The riff is from a guitar player stand point something to aspire to creating your own of. From my musical trained ear, I'm no expert yet, but the sequences and the whole way this song is and the harmonies and everything theory wise in this song rocks me socks off. I love the tones as the pitches and probably why I love parallel 5ths.
10. Metal Militia: This is more the tempo of Mexhanix. Talking about your army on your first release, that gutsy and kind of like, we are hereto take over. So close to 1984 people were probably scared shitless. The intensity that started this mother ends the mother on the same not and energy and just mid blowing fun. This has some of my favorite singing by James. Its not my only, but i think its perfect for this song as kind of like an evil hypnotist. Join in on the way of the future, the "metal militia" are here to win. Propaganda if I can think of anything else. One last great solo, kinda. The marching makes this a much more anxiety filled wait for me to do Ride The Lightning. I can't wait, seriously. 

Overall I have to give this album a 8.8/10. This is the debut album and its hard for a band to have it all together for their first album. This band somehow makes it sound like they've all been playing together for years. Thrash is Punk meets Metal or vice versa. This album embraces all the aspects of thrash and probably helped progress the popularity of the genre, so Fuck Master of Puppets, the frost two are way better. I don't think the vocals need much description other than they work as are sometimes awesome. He sounds like a screaming banshee going to attack you. The shredding on this LP is hard to both reconstruct and beat. But over all an extremely consistent record and solid. 

I'll highlight my picks tomorrow because this is on my iPod. 

Apostrophe (') - Frank Zappa

This is one of the first Frank Zappa albums I ever heard. At first I thought it was OK  but it grew on me. The thing about it is that I wasn't huge on it at first. It was kind of like, my now favorite album I've ever heard, Abbey Road. At first I didn't like all the songs on that album at first. But when I actually listened to it I liked it more. That's how a lot of albums are, and songs. I remember watching the Classic Albums movie about Over-Nite Sensation/Apostrophe (') one. I thought that it was one of the coolest documentary I'd ever seen. My friend Jason was sleeping over and I was watching that while he was busy doing something in the basement at my house. I couldn't not watch it, and be impressed. To this day, he still blows my mind with his compositions and skill. I pushed this back a while because I wanted to get a lot of info to make this accurate  I'm doing the review of the 2012 UMe Remaster.

1. Don't Eat The Yellow Snow: I love the beginning of this song. With the wind sounds and the guitar. I love the guitar's tone throughout this entire album. I love the drums and the song is catchy. This song is very bass driven. The "Watch Out Where The Huskies Go" can't not get stuck in your head.
2. Nanook Rubs It: This is where the Fur Trapper who is "Strictly Commercial" comes and steps on his favorite baby seal. With a "Lead filled Snowshoe". There is some parts where the vocals go back and forth in the speakers. This song is more "funky"? than the last one. This is an awesome example of Frank's story telling. I love how he does this for some of his songs. There is a part where, if you listen, you can hear him say "here fido" which is a reference to Dirty Love.
3. St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast: I was in awe of the percussion parts. I love how this songs intro is a sick percussion riff. This is the part right before my favorite part of the suite. the Rollo Interior is also awesome. "Hurt Me, hurt me" is something I reference a lot. Usually making fun of some of my friends. The drums in this song as so sick and I love the lead into the next track. 
4. Father O'Blivion: This is such a funky song. I love the way the guitar sounds and the "wah". You probably could do the "Funky Alphonzo" to this song. I couldn't get this song out of my head for the longest time. It's also a pretty fast track. The bass in here and the synthesizers. UGH!. And the Spanish march part or "Domonuss Vum Bizcum" (I know it's spelled wrong. But I tried phonetically) is fucking sick.
5. Cosmik Debris: For the longest time this, and Stink-Foot I didn't care for. I don't know why, but Stink-Foot grew on me. I was almost obsessed with this song. I love the violin in this song. Its sick. And I like the little motifs for the different parts. I think that's the right word. And I love this entire story. I would constantly reference this song, just about every chance I could. I would suggest listening to this song, and listening to this lyrics too. It's kind of a funny story about a drug dealer trying to sell Frank drugs and he says no and then pretty much outsmarts and tricks the drug dealer. "I had the sucker hypnotized".
6. Excentrifugal Forz: I didn't know what to think about this song. That was until I dissected it, so to say. Or maybe I should say I better listened to it. I also think this is a good way to start off side two. And it's kind of the prelude to Apostrophe. I like the part where it says "Pup Tentacle  and him re-reference in Cheepnis in the follow up Roxy & Elsewhere. This song kind of has a futuristic feeling to it. I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy, but that's how I feel.
7. Apostrophe ('): I could probably say that this is my least favorite track. I don't know why, but it's my least favorite. This is a jam between Frank, Jack Bruce and Jim Gordon. And I also guess Tony Duran does rhythm guitar on this song. This song is kind of cool, but It's probably my least favorite on the album. It is a pretty cool song though.
8. Uncle Remus: This was probably my first favorite song by Zappa. I love the piano in the song and I didn't even realize what it was about until I looked at the lyrics. It was written by Frank and George Duke. This song is actually pretty epic. This is probably the only real serious song on this album. Most of the songs on this are pretty humours and silly, but this song is kind of meaning ful. It brings up some of the topics that were brought up in Trouble Every Day off his June 1966 Freak Out! debut
9. Stink-Foot: I wasn't very huge on this song, until the 2012 UMe Remaster. I feel like I'm jumping on the band wagon, but this is a really cool song. This song was written after seeing a a foot deodorant commercial where the dog passes out from the guys feet. I don't really know if that would make you like this song or not. This song is super catchy though. The instruments only make it that much more catchy. I FUCKING love this! This is the songs where the term Conceptual Continuity is from. There are also other references in this song "Here Fido", "Imaginary Diseases", "Poodle Bites, Poodle Chews It". It's just a "sick" ending for an awesome album. Not to mention the solo in the song is also pretty sick too.

Overall I have no choice but to give this album a 10/10. This is one of the first albums that got me into Frank. If I'd have never heard this album then I'd be so fucked. This album has played such a part in everything. The 2012 UMe Remaster is how the Vinyl sounds, minus the ''Farts'' in the songs as mentioned above. Another thing is that this album isn't really one to get boring. Some albums have "drags" this one doesn't really have any. And I obviously can't do this album any justice, so just listen to it, the Vinyl or 2012 UMe Remaster version (that's the one that's on iTunes & Spotify).

Rumours - Fleetwood Mac

Well I'm Mid Next Day review so I decided to do another quickie. This is an album that I picked, kind of as a filler while I finish up the review of that album. The reason it's a "filler" is because I already know what I'm gonna give it ahead of time. I could probably do the review off the top of my head. Yes, the album I chose was the one and only Rumors by the one and only Fleetwood Mac. Now I have two copies of this on vinyl. One from Mom and one from a Cousins Husband. This is an awesome album. I could go into the specifics of what was going on, but here's a quick summary. 2nd album with Stevie Nicks (If you don't think she's sexy on that album cover and back then you might as well be gay), and Lindsay Buckingham. They had already broken up, and

1. Second Hand News: I think that this is a good way to start off the album. I really like the bass line in the song. And the acoustic guitar in the song is pretty cool sounding. This whole album is pretty much based around relationships, but I don't really want to dive into that that much. But I won't want to get the Second Hand News about my relationship and how it might be going the wrong way.
2. Dreams: This song is sung by Stevie. This song is very dreamy. I could see someone falling in love to this song. Like in a movie. Where someone would daze off and think about the person they have feeling for. It's a pretty song. I'm not huge on this song, mainly cuz I feel like there is too much of a country vibe. But then again Wing's sometimes has a country vibe like this. That's beside the point. But this is a pretty song.
3. Never Going Back Again: This is Lindsay's. I love this song. This could possibly be in my top 3 for the album. It's kind of like his Blackbird. He plays "sole", McCartney played sole. They both had acoustic guitars. But instead of about Civil Rights stuff in the 60's it's about never going back to that relationship. I love the way it sounds. I would make sex to this song. It's kind of sexy. The strings in the song make it that much  more magical. And his voice is pretty cool. {9/10}
4. Don't Stop: This is kind of an uplifting song. Don't Stop Believing in yourself. I used to LOVE this song. But then when I heard the entire album it kind of changed a little. This is still a pretty good song, solid bass line, solid drums, sick piano, sick vocals, cool guitar. But I don't think it's as good as I once did. {8/10}
5. Go Your Own Way: You really can't go wrong with this song. It's about splitting up, but it's one of the heavier tracks on the album. It's also got this guitar distortion in it that I wish I could somehow replicate. Not the playing, just the sound. And I love the acoustic guitar in there too. If you listen for the bass too it's totally worth it. The bass is just as awesome as the acoustic guitar. The solos in this song is solid. If you don't like this band, you think they are too soft, you might like this song. Either that or the title track off the 1979 double album Tusk. {9/10}
6. Songbird: This is a pretty song. I like the piano/vocal/acoustic guitar. It is a pretty song. I think it's kind of a good follow up to Go Your Own Way and a good ending for side 1.
7. The Chain: This is one of my other favorite songs. I love this one. This is a heavier track. It kind of, to me, is like the baby version, in a way, of Tusk. This is the beginning of side 2. I love the fuck out this song. The vocals in this song kind of are tight. UGH! It's amazing. I would make sex to this song too. Though there is a country flava to it, I still love it. And I think there is an organ in this song. The organ sounds awesome. The distortion on this song, guitar wise, is even cooler than on Go Your Own Way. Then the bass line in the breakdown. The guitars.... ORGASM! This song is just..... UGH! {10/10}
8. You Make Loving Fun: This is a fun song. I'm not just saying that, it is. Though it's as "Happy and Fun" as it is I remember seeing the lyrics and they aren't as fun and happy as the song is. It's kind of like a "Don't go, I don't want to leave" because "You made being in love fun" and "I don't know what I can do without you". This is a pretty song. I think that it is an awesome song. I also like the funky guitar in the song. This song also kind of have a little funky vibe at parts. An awesome, awesome song {9/10}
9. I Don't Want To Know: This song is kind of  like Dreams. In the way that it's got a country vibe to it. The guitar in the beginning reminds me of Pete Townshend's song Let My Love Open The Door and The Who song Amazing Journey off 1969's Tommy. This is another good song. I don't care for it as much as some of the others, but I still do like this song.
10. Oh Daddy: This song starts out with a kind of Medieval style. There is like a flute in the beginning. This song is soft. It kind of reminds me a little of Rainbow's track Rainbow Eyes off 1978's Long Live Rock N Roll. I like this song a lot. It's really cool. The solo at the ending to the fade is pretty sick with the organ playing.
11. Gold Dust Woman: I know this songs about Stevie's love for Gold Dust, but I never really cared for this song. I don't know why, but I just am not huge on this song. I like the way the acoustic electric guitar sounds in this song. I mean this is a good ending for this album. But I don't love it. Actually as I'm going through this song, now actually thinking about it, it ain't that bad. With the sitar sounds. That's pretty cool. And how the song gets louder and bigger and then it eventually ends. This is a perfect, a Christie Perfect ending to the album.

Overall I have to give this 1977 classic a 8/10. It's actually kind of funny, I read somewhere it's praised, partially, for the three harmony vocals. That's what helped make Abbey Road so Goddamn! Amazing! And I referenced Never Going Back Again to Blackbird (a Beatles song, not on Abbey Road on 1968's Self titled). I might not be 100% on some of the stories of the songs, but it's more through my eye's, not the bands, so to say.

Aerosmith

This is the 1973 debut album by one of my top ten favorite bands, Aerosmith. I figured that, since I already kind of know what Music From Another Dimension! will most likely be getting, Why not do a quickie that will help explain the review of that one. Go back about 4 years to a boy, 13, who was obsessed with the video game Guitar Hero. He had gotten each, since the "80's Edition", on the day they came out. Now imagine anticipating this new "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" the first game in the series based off a band. I know my mom liked them, and I did kind of like them before I heard about the game. Well I anticipated that game. When I got it the day it came out I beat it in a day. I'm pretty sure it was in Expert too. Well anyway, I needed to get a copy of Train Kept A-Rollin for my iPod, and the Rockin' The Joint version wasn't doing it for me anymore. So I ordered the Get Your Wings cd off their website. Soon after that I got Rock in A Hard Place for the song Lighting Strikes. Well those albums are both awesome. Since then I have all but like 3 or 4 compliation Cd's and I think 3 of the Live Albums and 3 box sets. I have, now, all the studio albums (minus MFAD!). Well that was a lot. They were the first band I ever really go into. This was one of the last Cd's I got by them. I actually just the winter, got a vinyl copy of the 1975 reissue of the album. I like that version more then the CD. It has more of a "Blues" vibe to it. I'll explain that in the review though. I don't know if I mentioned this already, but these guys were my first real ''favorite'' band. This also was released the same day as Bruce Springsteen's debut on the same label. I have that on vinyl and cassette.

1. Make It: This songs starts the album. This is probably one of the most solid intros to an album I've heard. When the lead guitar comes in with the vocals, UH! It sounds beautiful, the Joe's tone for some reason is just so crunchy. This is a true crunch for guitar. The little guitar fill right before the solo. And the solo the tones of the guitars are amazing. The vinyl only makes the tone sounds about 100 times more crunchy. But that's a little beside the point. What I'm trying to say is in the intro you can hear someone clicking something. Now when you listen to this song it kind of sounds like they did one take. Look at it like this, "Hey were broke. We got a deal for an album. But we don't got enough money to do a million recordings of these songs. So it's a one take jam. What gets mixed in is mixed in. Fuck It".
2. Somebody: This song more so than the last, the intro riff is playing to start the song off and you can heard a up strum on, I assume, Brad's guitar. There are also a couple of parts in this song where it kind of sounds like there are some ''mess ups''. Which are quintessential on a "true blues" album. If you want that blues feeling you need to just pump out the jam and make it work. I love the way Tyler sings along with the guitar solo in the song. It kind of reminds me of what he did in the solo for the title track off 1977's Draw the Line. That is probably my favorite Aerosmith album. I love the vocals at the end when they like ''double'' and the ending of the song where you can hear the feed back.
3. Dream On: I don't think you can hate this song. This is the only song that I don't think they could have done in 1 take. At one point I could play this entire song on guitar. I like how the "All these line's on my face are getting clearer" is a, most likely, cocaine reference. I never would have realized that if some on didn't point it out to me. The bass on this song is super cool. The drums in the background are hard to hear during the verses, but they're there. The piano in this song super sick that it's playing along with the guitar solo in the song. This song is such a super uplifting song. This was one of my favorite songs, and it helped me get interested in the band. The song kind of sounds like it's messed up a little at the very end.
4. One Way Street: The intro to this song is just pretty cool. If you listen I think you can hear a laugh. I'm not positive, but I think you can. This song is a very bluesy one. There is a harmonica solo in the song. There is also kind of commentary from Steven in this song. And that also adds to this being a ''true blues'' album. The guitar solo in this song, which I often forget about, is pretty damn solid. I love how in this song, along with most of this album, there are parts where it kind of sounds like Joey is beating the shit out of his drums. I like the like ''fade away'' then ''fade back in'', thought there isn't a volume change and the bass is pretty consistent with not stopping. That kind of reminds me again of Draw the Line. Not the part when it's just Steven and the drums, but like 3/4th of the way through. At the very end of this song, like probably at like 7:01.5 there is a little sound. I think that's someone who's about to talk.
5. Mama Kin: There is sax in this song. There is actually kind of like ''hidden'' in the beginning. The way it sounds there is that it kind of reminds me of when me and one of my friends recorded a song, and since we weren't really paying attention, part of the song was in the background of a later part of the song. You can also hear like a hand clap while the guitar and the vocals are alone. This song is so sick. This song is super energetic. I love how this is a bluesy song, and they kind of add an element of Sax. They also did that with I Ain't Got You off the 1978 Live! Bootleg album. That song was recorded live around like 1973 so I could see that probably being like then.I almost think this was the last song recorded and it was in a big room where they were like, "Here's how you play it, GO!" I feel like they had fun with this one. This is an awesome way to start out side 2.
6. Write Me A Letter: I like the way this song sounds. One thing is that it's better on the vinyl. I know I sound like I'm on the band wagon, but I'm telling the truth, from personal experience. I like the way that the guitar sounds right before the harmonica/guitar harmony. I don't know why, but I always forget about the like bridge of the song. That is probably the best part. Where it's like he's talking along with the guitar. I always forget, but it's funny because I love it each time I hear it.
7. Movin' Out: This song is the quintessential ''true blues'' song what I think of when I think of the like ''production'' of this album. This song has like a cough and just, I can't really even explain it how much I wish I could. This type of production is what is like ''BLUES''. I'm not putting other blues down, but when I think of hard rock/blues/blues rock this is the song I think of. This is one of my favorite songs in... ever. I wish they'd write more songs like this together now, Tyler/Perry. The new album has the first solo joint Tyler/Perry credit a studio album since Fever off 1993's Get A Grip. That 19 fucking years Holmes. Damn song writing partners. I know that an unaccredited studio guitarist played the Last Child solo, but that's different from the co-writing the song. {10/10}.
8. Walkin' the Dog: I think that this is my least favorite song. It's kind of funny a cover is my least favorite. The Rolling Stones did a cover of this song on either their debut or Rolling Stones 2 album. There a harmonica in the beginning, I think, that sounds like kind of jungle. This song is solid, but I don't really think it's my favorite song on the album. This is a song they didn't write and I think it's funny about how I'm talking about blues and this is a cover. I like the grunts Steven does and the kind of "do do do do dodo" harmonica sound during the ''solo''. I still like the guitar tone and the bass and drums on this song after the chorus, but it's kind of hard for me to say something negative really about this song.

Overall I have to give this album a 9/10. This is, in my opinion, a "true blues" album. 5 ''broke'' guys who only have enough money for one take of each song and we have to pay for this big open room. So there will be mistakes in there, but hey "Fuck It", it's good enough. That is what I'm getting from this album, and it is no doubt their bluesiest album, more so than the "Blues Cover Album" Honkin' On Bobo. Every song on this album, but 3, were written sole by Steven Tyler. That makes me question, what the hell happened since 1973. Well, beside the drugs and stuff. I'll explain better in the Music from Another Dimension! review. Movin' Out and Face 2 of my favorite song, along with some others, but those are like top 2. I also want to mention that I'm not putting other styles of blues down, but I just think that his is kind of like the nitty gritty sound blues should have. You know what I mean. Like classic blues at least.

Eat to the Beat - Blondie

This is the fourth album by New York, New Wave band Blondie. I've been crazy about this band now for about a week or two. My favorite song is Call Me. Though Parallel Lines is a sick album, I wanted to review the follow up, 1979's Eat to the Beat. These guys formed with Chris Stein and Debbie Harry in NY in 1974. There were various line up changes but the line up on this album is Clem Burke (drums), Debbie Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (guitar), Nigel Harrison (bass), Jimmy Destri (keys) and Frank Infante (guitar). Their last album, before the first breakup in 1982 was The Hunter and it has a song called For Your Eyes Only. It's not the movie version, though this is better then the shitty version they used for the movie.

1. Dreaming: This name of this song is titled Dreaming and that's the kind of vibe that I get from this song. I don't know why, but it kind of reminds me of like a New Waved Grease song. Like a song that would be in a more New Wave version of Grease.
2. Hardest Part: This song starts out with this type of funky feeling to it. There was a part in the lyrics that talk about a bomb. I think that's a reference to the song Atomic. The solo in this song is pretty cool sounding.
3. Union City Blue: This song starts out Ok. I'm not very interested in this particular song at the beginning of this song.
4. Shayla: This song starts out with an atmospheric feeling to it. I am not comparing it to, but it kind of reminds me of part of the song Pyramids off Frank Ocean's 2012 channel ORANGE. This is a soothing song. It has that surfy feeling to it, and it is a song that I could see being in Grease. I like the way the tone of this guitar sounds in the solo. It's kind of like a George Harrison solo when he used his Gretsch. But if it was more toned down and soft.
5. Eat to the Beat: I'm not surprised that this is the way the song is. It kind of reminds me a little of Eat the Rich off Aerosmith's 1993 Get A Grip. But more of in a "Energy Wise" and there's also a harmonica. Part of what I like about this band is the Guitar's and Bass riffs. This song has a pretty good one.
6. Accidents Never Happen: This kind of reminds me of Bryan Adams song Summer of '69 off his 1984 release Reckless. It was also his fourth album. I like that this song isn't boring. It's kind of more faster paced. Debby's singing on this is also kind of cool.
7. Die Young Stay Pretty: I like that this is a little shift in tone. This is more reggae styled. I like the way Debby's voice sounds when she does that Reggae voice. And the backing vocals sound cool too. I actually think that this song is kind of funny too. Bob Marley seems, at least to me, and I'm not being disrespectful in anyway. But he seemed to me, like on Jamming, he walked in the studio stoned and started Jamming. I think it's funny that the lyrics say though "Die Young" and then it says "Stay Pretty". I don't know, I find it humors.
8. Slow Motion: This song is ok. The first time through it I wasn't huge, but I do think that it's kind of  good break before the AMAZING Atomic. It kind of returns to the style of the other songs. But there is like a pre-chorus where it's set up and sound reminds me of Atomic.
9. Atomic: The first time I heard this I thought that it was bizarre, in the best way. Since then, I've been crazy about it. The song starts out kind of like a little harder then the others. Then the surfy riff comes in along with this like whammy sound. The tone of the guitar is probably, short of eargasmic, and probably even closer on the Vinyl version. Her vocals on this song only get better. I love that it's like this dreamy feeling from her vocals and then in the chorus it's even more dreamy and the dreamy feeling ends with an opposite sounding refrain "Atomic". In the breakdown it kind of reminds me of Heart of Glass but with a bass solo. 
10. Sound-A-Sleep: This is like a doowap lullaby. Not with the "doo doo wap wap", but with the arpeggios and keys. I think that someone, thought it doesn't say in the credits, is playing a triangle or something like that. It's kind of like a post A-Bom, so to say.
11. Victor: This has a heavier riff than Atomic and is kind more of a A-Bomb explosion. There are chants going along with the guitar. I'd have never expected this. This is like a march. I could see this being ''their'' post-Apocalypse song. This is a really sick song. After that melt down it goes into a shift of genre's for a couple seconds with the riff. Then it goes back. The one thing I wish was that that genre shift was a little longer. This is a cool song though.
12. Living in the Real World: This is a more upbeat song. I think that this is a good way to end an album. I think that this is a pretty good song. it's energetic energy. I think that her scream is pretty cool sounding. The song doesn't end abruptly, but it doesn't ends and doesn't fade.

Overall this gets a 7.4/10. This band has a type of a New Wavy/Punky/Surfy/Grease feeling I get from it. I think that, thought there are parts that aren't amazing, this is a decent album. Side 2 defiantly kicks the shit out of side 1. Oh one last thing, if you don't like the man from mars... well then, you're dead to me. Can't wait to check out the other albums.

Surrealistic Pillow - Jefferson Airplane

This is the sophmore album by psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. I love this album cover. I think it's cooler in person seeing it on vinyl. Obviously the beautiful Grace Slicks is on the cover. I think that this is a good. And from what I've already heard, this is a good album. I haven't heard the whole thing, but what I have, I think is pretty solid.

1. She Has Funny Cars: I am kind of wondering if this song title was conceived from a "trip". This is a slow song. Not like slow slow, more like a trippy song. It actually reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel 1966 album Sound of Silence. The fact seems more trying with just about everything going on in the song. Minus the psych vibe.
2. Somebody to Love: This is probably, most likely, their best known song. I really like this song and think that it's pretty catchy. I like the way it sounds on vinyl than on that damn Forrest Gump soundtrack. I don't know how old this is, there isn't a bar code on the cover, but it's probably at least 30 years old. It sounds damn good. I think that the solo sounds really sick and a lot better with the vinyl crackles.
3. My Best Friend: This seems like any old 60's "summer of love" love song. I don't think this is that special. Like Herman and The Hermits or Simon & Garfunkel. I do like like Simon & Garfunkel though. I don't get anything special from this song.
4. Today: The beginning of this song reminds me of the beginning of the 1971 song Bargin off the classic Who's Next album by one of my favorites The Who. But the it goes into more of a harmony voice. One of the vocalist really sounds like Paul Simon. Idk. It's got a mellow folky feeling to it.
5. Comin' Back To Me: This is the longest song on the album and has an intro that could be somewhat compared to Stairway. The fact that there is an acoustic guitar arpeggios and a recorder. That the beginning of that sing. The one thing is that It also reminds me of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album. This is a mellow song that I think you have to be in the mood for.
6. 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds: This is what I needed to keep my interest. The album was kind of putting me to sleep before this. This has more of an up beat feeling that the last sing in side 1. This is a good way to start side 2. It has a psychedelic feeling I've been dying to hear from this bitch. I think if you like psychedelic music you'll like this song.
7. D.C.B.A. - 25: The bass in the beginning brought my hopes up, but then the song came in. I don't know why but I don't care for this that much.
8. How Do You Feel: This beginning reminded me if The Stones for some reason. It only lasted so long. But now that's over and I can't pay much attention.
9. Embryonic Journey: This could be a Simon & Garfunkel cover almost. I do like that it's instrumental. A good break from everyone's voice. I only like Grace's voice.
10. White Rabbit: The last song was a good interlude to this song. I like how it's kind of a break and then it comes back to this song. I love this song. This is a good song. I like how there are Alice in Wonderland references. I really think this sounds cool and so does the singer.
11. Plastic Fantastic Lover: this song is ok but. Here is the thing. Damn, Grace please sing lead. Please... PLEASE!

Overall I have to give this a 6.4/10. It's got it's moments, some more quiet than others. I did not expect this much quietness to it. I think that it was ok, but wished for more moments like Somebody to Love or White Rabbit. If I was younger and more close minded musically then I'd be in love with these songs. I'm not even that old. But thats how I feel now. Even the beautiful Grace couldn't make me love this album.

Elliott Smith

This is the sophomore solo effort by singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. I found out about this guy by google searching albums that came out on July 21st. One other album was Appetite For Destruction, and though I think it's a good album, I like this one more. I actually think that this is a really good, solid album. But I listened to it and, well, I'll explain more in the review. I've been pumped to do this thing since I first started doing reviews, and I have planned on doing this one on my birthday.

1. Needle in the Hay: This is a depressing song, and along with the others, have Elliott playing acoustic guitar and singing. This is a dark song, and it is kind of pretty to. This song is a good song, and honestly remember able, at least for me, chorus.
2. Christian Brothers: This song kind of makes me think that the name fits it. Like the music that goes along to the album. This song has a country flavor that kind of makes me think of Simon & Garfunkel.
3. Clementine: This song could actually be a song that was composed by Paul Simon. Like maybe be on his Paul Simon Songbook from 1965. The album that was released after the first "break up" of Simon & Garfunkel duo. It was released after their 1964 debut Wednesday, 4 A.M..
4. Southern Belle: This song kind of reminds me of a song on 1966's Sound of Silence. That is also one of my favorite albums of all time. I really dig the vocals on this song and how it has an aggression the rest of the songs don't really have. The best part is the ending with the vocals where he sings loud and almost enraged, in his whisper quite vocals. 
5. Single File: This is also another songs where it is kind of reminds me of the 1966 Sound of Silence album.
6. Coming Up Rose: This sounds like other people are playing on the song. I think that it might have accordion in it. The guitar solo in it is also really cool sounding. This song sounds like there is an entire band playing. This song has a type of, after thinking about it, a Grateful Dead vibe kind of. Like one of their softer songs.
7. Satellite: I think that this is a pretty sounding song. I don't think that there is much for me to say beyond that 
8. Alphabet Town: I think that there is a harmonica in this song.
9. St. Ides Heaven: This songs sounds like it feature a full band.
10. Good To Go: This is also a pretty song. It sounds like this is a heartfelt feeling, if that makes sense.'
11. The White Lady Loves You More: I don't know exactly how to explain this song. This is a songs that sounds like, at least to me, a weird chord progression. I don't know, I might be crazy. 
12. The Biggest Lie: I think that this is a good way to end the album. Also a good song.

Over All I have to give this a 9/10. This thing is like a more depressing, solo album of a guy whole sounds like the Simon & Garfunkel duo. It's a shame that he died, I wish that he didn't. I almost feel bad for how dark sounding this is, not evil, but dark. This thing has textures and isn't just one recording. He made it sounds very pretty. I couldn't think of it at first, but it kind of has this folky Grateful Dead vibe going on in it too.

1999 - Prince

Hey, are you ready to party like its was 1999. Cuz I sure know I'm ready to give this album a try. I got this on vinyl from my moms cousins husband. So I decided to give it a listen. This is the fifth studio album by Prince and it was released in October, 1982. This is also the first album to have the name The Revolution on it. I am aware that this is one of the "greatest albums of all time". So when I am listening to this I have to put that little fact into consideration. This is the first Prince album I have listened to in it's entirety. I also listened to this on vinyl for the review, One Side at a time. I didn't listen to the whole thing front to back on the vinyl. I didn't realize this at first but Mike G mentions Purple Rain on the song Forrest Green off the new Odd Future album The OF Tapes Vol. 2. And yes I did listen to this album 3 times on vinyl and one time on digital. But also a bunch of the songs alone multiple more times.

1. 1999: This is the first song that I liked by Prince. This is a fun song, and a good way to start off an album. This song is very catchy, and it is kind of hard to not like. Though they talk about nuclear warfare in the song, which you would never guess by the way it sounds. But they also talk about partying like it's 1999, because "2000 zero zero, Party over lose, outta time". The six minutes go by fast, the more you listen to it the better it becomes more of a classic song.
2. Little Red Corvette: I realized that I knew this song at the chorus. This is a pretty "interesting song". Like I wanted to listen to this song. It kind of builds up to the chorus. I don't know if that's the right way to say that, but I do know that I don't if that's the right term. But that song is really cool. I like how it is a singable song. Like the chorus gets stuck in your head 
3. Delirious: This song sounds a little bit like Little Red Corvette, but not so "build". It's kind of like a dance song. I could see this being in Footloose. This sounds like a songs that my parents would listen to when I was like really little. Probably like when I was 4 or 5, so around 1999-2000
4. Let's Pretend We're Married: He says the fuck word pretty, like serious sounding, but for sex. This is a bizarre song to be made by, what I though Prince was capable of. I have a new found respect for him after listening to this album a couple times and listening to 1980's Dirty Mind and 1981's Controversy a couple of times to.
5. D.M.S.R.:  I don't care much for this song really. I don't think that it's that good. It's one of my less favorite tracks. D.M.S.R. stands for (Dance Music Sex Romance). I don't really think that this is that good though. I don't find the sounds that appealing from this song. This song is at 8:44 and I kind of wish that it wasn't so long.

Now this is the 2nd vinyl on the album, or you can say it's sides 3 & 4. I think that it's funny how 11 songs can take up two vinyl records. Well whatever here we go

1. Automatic: I do like this song, but it is kind of repetitive at parts. But for the most part, this is an ok song. I don't like this song as much as some of the others, but I don't hate this song. The biggest problem though it that it's 9 minutes long. That's a long song for so much repetition.
2. Something in the Water (Does Not Compute): This song has this robotic sound that is kind of funny. The nice thing about this song is that it's the length of a normal song. I like the screech. I think it's actually kind of sick that he can go so high.
3. Free: This is, possibly, the best song on this thing. This is a very pretty song, and it is kind of a ballad. This song is actually like one, it's not one where it's pretty and it's like sex sex sex. I really like the piano in the song and I honestly think it's a swell song. I like the singing and I also like the whole vibe from the song. {8/10}
4. Lady Cab Driver: This is surprisingly one of my favorites on this album. This is 8 minutes long and it's pretty good. This song has a funky thing going for it. This song could be kind of Disco, in a way. By that I mean I could see people dancing to the song. I think that the synths in the song help give it that feeling. And the last like 4 minutes is him talking while there is a girl moaning in the background, while the music is still going. Well not the entire 4 minutes, but that's what I assume is happening in the song, they are having sex, there is a big instrumental break. And the two songs flow.
5. All the Critics Love U in New York: There are parts on this song where it reminds me of, what I picture in my head, aandrogynymen playing songs. Kind of like the song Fashion is Danger by Flight of the Conchords I want to say this song has a "faggy" feel to it. Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favorite songs on the album. He also says Masterbate in this song. I had to do a double take in my head when I heard him say that on the vinyl.
6. International Lover: This song has a country vibe that I got in the beginning of it. I don't think I could say that this is a country song, but in the beginning that's the vibe I got. I really like that this is the ending of the album. This is also a really good song. This is also more of a ballad on the album. This is sweet song and I love it. I could see someone making love to it.

Over all I have to say that this, Prince's 1982 album titled 1999, deserves a 8.5/10. I did this review over an long period of time. I started the review April 6th, and just listened to side one. The one thing about this is that this is a long album, it's 70:33 minutes, Sign o' the Times, which is also another double album by Prince, is 79:58. I feel like I have to say that I love the crap out of Dirty Mind. That is definitely my favorite Prince album. Like that's going on the Hall of Fame vinyls shelf in my house whenever I end up buying it. Part of the reason for that is just because it gives me this Beatles vibe to it. I'll explain it better in a review I'll do for it after I get the vinyl copy. One last thing too, there are points in this album were it kind of drags, and part of that reason is because of repetition. But if you can look past that, the songs are pretty good.

No Secrets - Carly Simon

I'm been completely and utterly obsessed with Carly Simon. I've tried to listen to all of her 70's album, and plan on listening to her 80's and 90's and 2000's stuff to. This is her third album and this has one of the sexiest album covers I've ever seen, in my opinion. She is fricken beautiful, not so much today, but this picture is one of my favorite album covers of ever. Nobody Does It Better is my cousin's favorite Bond theme. And after hearing it a couple times and seeing The Spy Who Loved Me, with the beautiful Barbra Bach, who is the wife of Ringo since 1980, I've been obsessed with Carly's discography.

1. The Right Thing To Do: This song starts out as an easy listening song. I could see this being played in a bar scene in a movie. I could actually see this being a Bond theme. This song is a pretty song that also kind of reminds me of Linda's vocals and the music to Get On The Right Thing off Wings 1973 sophomore effort Red Rose Speedway. This song came out first though.
2. The Carter Family: This song reminds me of Red Rose Speedway but without Paul's vocals. Kind of like a cover off that album. It's actually bizarre how similar theses albums stylistically sound and resemble each other.
3. You're So Vain: The song starts out with this bass riff thing. It surprised me when I first heard it, and I thought that it was a different song. Its kind of creepy sounding. But then the song starts up. This song is a really cool sounding. It's a country song, but it has this Bad Ass feeling to it. It's supposedly about one of three people. I don't know exactly if that's true, but I love the idea about it. And during the chorus if you listen you can hear an uncredited Mick Jagger backing vocals. The lyrics in the song reference a solar eclipse. That's insane to me. Most country artist would reference like a beer or a breakup, nothing really special. She referenced a fricken' Solar Eclipse and where it occurred at. The more I hear this song the better it gets.
4. His Friends Are More Than Fond Of Robin: This song is a pretty song. It is more soft and pretty sounding than You're So Vain. There is this synthesizer sound that sounds really sweet. I don't really know how to explain it more than just it's a pretty sounding song.
5. We Have No Secrets: This song starts out, and kind of reminds me of, T Swift. The guitar part. This is more of an upbeat song, but it's kind of eerie to me. Especially since it is upbeat and its about sharing secrets in a relationship, and that she didn't want to know all of them. I think that's a neat angle to look at. I don't know anyone else who has a song about sharing secrets, and kind of regretting knowing some of them.
6. Embrace Me, You Child: I think that this song is a pretty beginning. It kind of reminds me a little of the beginning of Uncle Albert off 1971's Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney. Just the beginning though. I think that the chorus to this song is really cool to. I think that the strings help make this song sound calm. The line "The Devil Doesn't Get To You" in the chorus is sick, I love the way it does that. This song lyrics are pretty to. This song has a type of epic feeling. But the level of epic isn't achieved as much as it could have been
7. Waited So Long: This is a honky tonk vibe to it. It kind of reminds me a little of Honky Tonk Woman. I think that the way her vocals sound in the chorus is pretty cool. I guess it says that James Taylor did backing vocals for this song. And supposedly James Taylor is one of the three in the You're So Vain song could be about.
8. It Was So Easy: This is a sweet and cute little ditty. I could see a little kid walking in the park or something like that happening in a movie to this song. Like a possible reflection about her childhood. I think its a cute song, and I like it for that.
9. Night Owl: Funny enough, you know how I've made some Red Rose Speedway comparisons, well Paul and Linda actually did backing vocals for this track. James Taylor made another appearance to this album. He wrote this song. This is a cool song. I think that James did a good job on this. You can tell Paul and Linda in there. This is a gospel type of song. This song reminds me a little of Roadrunner by Bo Diddley. Just the way the chorus is and the song is. I don't not like the song for that, but I think that it's a good song. Not amazing though.
10. When You Close Your Eyes: This song is a good way to wrap up the album. I think that this is the best way to end an album like this. I think that this is one of my favorite songs on the album. I don't think that it's an AMAZING ending though. I wish there was a tiny bit more excitement going on here. This is a pretty song though.

Overall I have to give this album a 7/10. I like this thing. This is the 2nd time I've heard this in full. And I think it's better the second time through. This is a solid listen, and a decent album. I don't think that you have to necessarily like country to like some songs on this album. I think it's funny that I've made a few Wings comparisons. Another funny fact is that this album has Klaus Voormann on bass for all but 3 tracks on the album. Klaus helped out John, George, and Ringo, among other artists. He even did the artwork to The Beatles Anthology's and 1966 album Revolver's album cover. I am still going to buy this album on vinyl though. Maybe over time this will grow on me more.