October's Album of the Month: Sukierae-Tweedy

Once again, I have decided to utilize the album of the month to highlight something new.  This time it is Tweedy's Sukierae. A double-album solo project by Wilco frontman, Jeff Tweedy.  With his son, Spencer, manning the drums & percussion, the album is released under the familial moniker of 'Tweedy'.  As the singer and primary songwriter/musical director of Wilco, Sukierae sounds, unsurprisingly, like a new Wilco album with, perhaps, a bit more focus on stripped down acoustic numbers (particularly on the second disc).  That being said, the album has some of the best tunes Tweedy has penned in years, especially the delightful "Low Key" which, I think, has already pretty much become my favorite song of 2014. The video is pretty awesome as well.

Key Tracks: "Low Key", "World Away", Diamond Light, Pt. 1", "I'll Sing it", "Fake Fur Coat"

U2's Songs of Innocence

There's been a lot of hubbub about the marketing gimmick used to launch this album, much of that has distracted from what the album is itself. This is by no means the band's finest work but that makes it no less interesting.  U2 albums are often cases where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts but, usually, at least a few of those parts rise to the top.  I'm not sure there are really any stand-out tracks here which might be why they decided to just release the album all at once.

In truth, this is an album they have tried to make before but I'm not referring to the abandoned Songs of Ascent from which most of these songs were ultimately culled.  In truth, this album's spiritual predecessor is, in fact, the band's sophomore effort October. Not only is there a sonic similarity in terms of the actual music but it revisits many of the themes of that album (and, to an extent, its predecessor Boy): youth on the cusp of adulthood, the 'Troubles', faith, and the loss of Bono's mother.
October itself is probably U2's weakest album; Bono famously lost his notebook containing his lyrics and had to start over from scratch.  As a result, that album has always felt somewhat undercooked and more than a little naive. It was an album made by a group that was little more than teenagers and perhaps its one redeeming charm is its naivete.

Even to the casual listener, Songs of Innocence is clearly about the band's genesis. The opening track "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" is not so much a straight up tribute or homage to the titular New York punk icon as it is about that first musical epiphany that anyone has, that first exposure to that artist that would, ultimately, change and influence their life.  A generation before, it was the Beatles. A generation later, it was Nirvana.  The effect, however, is always the same: pure joy.  That is what Bono & Co. attempted to capture here and, in their own U2 way (meaning lacking all subtlety), I think they accomplished that.

Another transformative event that would contribute of the evolution of Paul Hewson into Bono Vox, is the death of his mother (at the funeral of her father no less).  This has been addressed many times by Bono over the years: "I Will Follow", "Lemon", "MoFo" and, perhaps most directly, "Tomorrow" from the aforementioned October. However, in those songs, the experience was always obscured; Bono opted to insulate the experience in abstracts and universal ideas of mother and son.  Songs of Innocence  contains his most direct statement on the matter with "Iris (Hold Me Close)".

In fact, Songs of Innocence is perhaps Bono's most autobiographical set of lyrics.  "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland/Ireland have long been a subject of U2's music.  Their first attempt was, once again, on the flawed October. "I Threw A Brick Through a Window" features some of Bono's most cringe-worthy lyrics--- and that's saying a lot--- ("He was my Brother!) but it served as a sort of rough draft to the far more successful "Sunday Bloody Sunday".  It was a theme the band would revisit many times over the years, including the underrated "Please" from the underrated Pop. However, once again, it was always thematically abstract.  In "Raised By Wolves", perhaps the album's strongest track, Bono for the first time addresses the effect that a bombing in his own neighborhood had on his formative years and the sense of security he felt in his youth.  The lyrics are still a bit on the naive side, but the rage and trauma are still palpable in Bono's voice and Edge's guitar explosions.

Songs of Innocence may not be the band's best work.  In fact, I would categorize it among their weakest.  However, that doesn't mean it is bad by any means. It is the sound of a band looking to the past, to its origins, in order to, hopefully, find inspiration for the future. In any case, it's definitely worth the price I paid for it.  And, to paraphrase one of my favorite reviews, I give it 2 1/2 stars out of five: if you're a U2 fan, add a star; if you're not a U2 fan, subtract a star... and if you absolutely hate U2... why are you even worried about this?

Key Tracks: "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)", "Iris (Hold Me Close)", "Volcano", "Raised By Wolves", "Cedarwood Road"

April's Album of the Month: Teeth Dreams- The Hold Steady

I going to change things up for this months album of the month and plug my favorite new album, Teeth Dreams, by the Hold Steady.  This is an example of the band doing what they do best, combining early-Springsteen-style narrative with 90's alt rock guitars.  The aforementioned happen to be two of my favorite things so I'm currently in love with this album. The addition of a second guitar player has added to the bands crunch and, on a few tracks, the guitar playing borders on hair-metal extravagance.

Key Tracks: "Let's Get On With The Business", "Big Cigs", "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You", "Almost Everything"

January's Album of the Month: Wrecking Ball- Bruce Springsteen

  

In anticipation of Bruce's new album, High Hopes, being released next week; I thought I'd take a look back at his last album, Wrecking Ball.  Of all of the Boss's albums released in what has turned out to be, perhaps, his most productive decade, this is probably his most ambitious.

He looks forward by looking back; he takes the traditional folk instrumentation and arrangements that he experimented with earlier in the decade on We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions and fuses it with 21st century sounds and technology.  The result is something that is simultaneously unique and familiar.

Key Tracks: "Wrecking Ball", "Death to My Hometown", "Land of Hope and Dreams", "Shackled and Drawn"

My favorite Music of 2013

Some people say music isn't geeky and, to them, I say "HAVE YOU MET ME?" So, here are my top 10 lists for 2013. Keep in mind that this is by no means an impartial list, these just happen to be the albums that I got the most enjoyment from in 2013. Honestly, nothing really blew me away this year. At the end of the day, I'm a rock fan and rock didn't have a very good year.

Top 10 Albums

10. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk


In all honestly, this maybe isn't quite in my top 10 but, considering the fact that I normally loathe EDM music and I actually found this album enjoyable (with the second best tune I heard all year, no less), it earned its place here. Although, I have to point out that Daft Punk did set out to make this album as much NOT like an EDM album as possible, which might be why I like it. Key Tracks: "Get Lucky", "Lose Yourself to Dance", "Instant Crush" "Touch"


9. Mechanical Bull - Kings of Leon

I don't know why everybody wants to hate on Kings of Leon so
 much.  Soulful vocals, nifty guitar parts, lyrics that aren't terrible; they may not be the future and/or saviors of Rock music but they're a solid unit.  Key Tracks: "Supersoaker", "Temple", "Wait for Me",
"Coming Back Again"






8. New - Paul McCartney

Sir Paul's best music in about a decade. Even at 70, he's able to make an album of music that sounds this fresh (not to mention rock as hard as he did on last year's "Cut Me Some Slack" with the Nirvana guys). Key Tracks: "Save Us", "Alligator", "On My Way to Work", "New"

7. Lightning Bolt - Pearl Jam

This is probably the band's strongest album since No Code.
Granted it doesn't reach the raw power and immediacy of their early work, it's still nice to hear guitars played loudly sometimes and "Future Days" might be their finest ballad since "Wishlist". Key Tracks: "Mind Your Manners", "Lightning Bolt", "Future Days"

6. Amok - Atoms for Peace

I have the same relation to this album as I have had with pretty much every Radiohead album since Kid A.  That is, I don't care for it at first but, the more I listen to it, the more I dig it.
Key Tracks: "Before Your Very Eyes", "Ingenue", "Judge, Jury, Executioner"






5. Wolf's Law - Joy Formidable

Shoegaze guitars, a sweet female vocal, catchy tunes--- these guys would have been HUGE in 1995.
Key Tracks: "This Ladder Is Ours", "The Maw Maw Song", "The Turnaround"






4. The 20/20 Experience (1 and 2)- Justin Timberlake

I'm lumping both albums together because they really are part of a larger whole; part one is the stronger of the two but part two has the best song ("Take Back The Night"). JT continues to grow as an artist, making some of his most sophisticated music yet.  What he may lack as a lyricist he makes up for with knack for writing killer hooks. . Key Tracks: "Take Back The Night", "Mirrors", "Let the Groove Get In", "Pusher Love Girl", "Tunnel Vision"


3. Reflector - The Arcade Fire

While I find their artsier aspirations a bit pretentious if not obnoxious at times, they still managed to make the best rock album I heard all year. And, while I feel their pretentiousness sometimes gets in the way of their ability to just get in a room and play, it is  also why they were able to make the only rock album that was the least bit inventive. Key Tracks: "Normal Person", "Reflektor", "Joan of Arc"





2.  Yeezus - Kanye West

Yes, Kayne is an egotistical ass.  Yes, the fact that he's married to Kim Kardassian makes him even more obnoxious.  And, yes, that video for "Bound 2" was egotistical, obnoxious, and annoying. But, you know what, this album rocked harder than anything else this year. It's not the masterpiece that My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was but, after a triumph like that, sometimes the best thing to do is to strip down and go in a different direction. Key Tracks: "Black Skinhead", "Blood On The Leaves", "I am a God", "New Slaves", "Bound 2"

1. Because the Internet - Childish Gambino

I loved the first Chidlish Gambino album; what Donald Glover may have lacked in subtlety and lyrical maturity, he made up for in sheer enthusiasm, energy, and wit.  It was a breath of fresh air that I felt mainstream Hip-hop was sorely in need of.  On Because the Internet, Glover improves on his flaws and maintains his strengths while further exploring new musical territories.  Key Tracks: "3005", "Telegraph Ave", "Shadows", "Life: The Biggest Troll", "Earth: The Oldest Computer (The Last Night)"

Top 10 tunes:

10. "I'm Talking About You"- The Beatles

Technically, this is 50 years old but this is the first time the Beatles have every released this song commercially and it rocks!

9. "Dope"- Lady Gaga

8. "3005"- Childish Gambino

7. "Holy Grail"- Jay Z and Justin Timberlake

Unfortunately, Magna Carta Holy Grail didn't live up to the promise of its opening track.

6. "Black Skinhead"- Kanye West

Attention Mr. West: the 300 were Greek not Roman....

5. "Take Back The Night"- Justin Timberlake

4. "Normal Person"- The Arcade Fire

This is exactly the kind of song I wish Arcade Fire would do more of...

3.  "Sacrilege" - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Easily the best thing they've done since "Maps".

2. "Get Lucky"- Daft Punk

Noel Gallagher said it best recently when he stated that this is one of those songs that's so good that it just feels like it has always been around.

1. "Teenage Dream" (Live)- The Horrible Crowes

Brian Fallon & Co. turn Katie Perry's teen pop into a long lost Springsteen tune.... best thing I heard all year.

So, that's all for the NEW music I liked this year but what did I REALLY enjoy more than any of my other musical purchases this year?

The Beatles - Live at the BBC and On Air (Live at the BBC vol 2)

As I've already mentioned here on this very blog, The Beatles BBC collection was a pleasant reminder of what a great little Rock and Roll band the Beatles could be once you boiled them down to their basic elements.

But,even more than the fab four, was this

Viva Hysteria! Live at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino- Def Leppard (CD/DVD combo)

Full disclosure: I am an old school Def Leppard fan and they were the first band I ever saw live.
No, it is not cool to like Def Leppard. I realize that. I am ok with this. I am enlightened. People often attribute the band's success to the studio wizardry of Mutt Lange but, what they often forget, is how awesome these guys are live; after all, they would have to be in order to create a reasonable facsimile of their studio creations.  This was recorded as part of their residency at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino where they played their classic album Hysteria in its entirety.  And it's actually the best they've ever sounded live: the road worn hits hit harder and with more energy than their studio counterparts and the songs from Hysteria's 'Side Two' ("Don't Shoot Shotgun", "Run Riot"), often overlooked by most fans, are brought to life with more power than the band managed to capture in the studio 25 years ago.

But, for old school fans like myself, the real treat is a bonus disc that contains the show's opening act: Ded Flatbird.  In order to break up the monotony of playing the same thing every night, the band created an alter ego as 'the world's best Def Leppard cover band' and used it as an opportunity to perform long forgotten gems like the 1980 b-side "Good Morning Freedom"; they even performed 'Side One' to their woefully underrated 1981 album High N' Dry in its entirety. After years as a 'nostalgia act' who are forced to play the same greatest hits set-lists year tour after tour, you can tell the guys are really having fun pulling out some of their old favorites and hits that never were.

Key Tracks: "Women", "Rocket", "Don't Shoot Shotgun", "Run Riot", "Excitable", "Good Morning Freedom", "Rock Brigade", "Wasted", "Let It Go", "Mirror Mirror (Take a Look Into My Eyes)", "Bringin' On The Heartbreak".

So, what does it say about me that my favorite musical releases of the year were archival recordings of a band from 50 years ago and a live compilation from a band that hasn't been relevant in 20? I may be getting to old for this shit.