Month: June 2020

Rating: 8.5/10

Top Track: ‘I’m Glad’

When you talk to someone who’s really into vinyl and ask them why they prefer to listen to music through a turntable, there’s a good chance they’ll throw the term ‘warm sound’ into the conversation. Well, I’m here to jump on that bandwagon. My dad’s pressing of “Safe As Milk” was issued in 1970 and renamed “Dropout Boogie” for the UK “99” budget series. And boy, does this album have a warm sound. Blues just sounds better on vinyl. I’ve listened to this album a number of times on Spotify and it doesn’t hold a candle to this vinyl pressing. Under the stage name Captain Beefheart, frontman and musical genius Don Van Vliet kicks ass and inspires on his band’s debut album.

I had a tough time deciding what I thought was the top track on this album. There are so many great songs on both side of this album. A few honorable mentions would be ‘Sure ‘Nuff ‘n’ Yes I Do’, ‘Zig Zag Wanderer’, and ‘Abba Zabba’. I picked ‘I’m Glad’ because of it’s fantastic bass-line and classic melancholy, Blues-y feel. Not to mention the great guitar chord progressions and the soul in Don Van Vliet’s voice. Nobody will ever have a voice like that man again. For all of the upbeat and danceable tracks on this album, I’m Glad stands out by slowing down the whole momentum of the album and calms things down a bit; that’s probably why it’s one of Beefheart’s most popular songs, because of how different it was from all of his other works at the time. Oh, and it has the added element of horns too, I almost forgot! Beefheart really got it right with this track.

I mentioned in my first paragraph that Beefheart inspires with this album. Groups like The Black Keys, The White Stripes, and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers would not have made the music they’ve made or even formed if it weren’t for Captain Beefheart and more specifically, this album. Shoot, the Black Keys even covered one of the songs off this album, ‘Grown So Ugly’, on their album “Rubber Factory”. The reason Captain Beefheart and musicians like him don’t get the recognition they deserve is because he is a musician’s musician, if that makes sense. His sound may not mesh with the conventional music-listener’s ear, but to aspiring musicians who live, breathe, and sleep music put artists like Beefheart on incredibly high pedestals. Because he’s not conventional. He pushes the boundaries of music and what it could be. Beefheart served as one of the pioneers that made modern Blues Rock what it is today. No one had heard anything like Beefheart before Beefheart; that’s why I called him a genius.

I would be remiss if I didn’t address the fact that Don Van Vliet was on my dad’s Mount Rushmore of musical artists; the other’s being Frank Zappa, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan (all of which I plan to cover at sometime). Safe As Milk was probably one of his top 20, maybe even one of his top 10 favorite albums. HIs favorite album ever being “Trout Mask Replica” also by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. I wanted to save that one for later and start with Beefheart’s probably most well-known album. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get to “Trout Mask Replica” because there are a lot more albums I want to cover before I start double-dipping into artists.

I’m going to end this post on an honest note: if you’ve never heard anything by Beefheart before, this album may be a bit hard on the ears and a little difficult to listen to. Like I said, he’s not conventional. So, I’ll give you the advice of trying to go into this album open-minded and listen for the modern Blues themes that come through in each song. Keep in mind that our musical heroes also have musical heroes, and chances are that Captain Beefheart is one of them.

Rating: 8/10

Top Track: ‘Ballrooms Of Mars’

I know, I know. Why write about a T. Rex album this early into my blog if it’s not “Electric Warrior”? That’s a fair question. To be frank, I simply can’t find it. I’m sure it’s somewhere in my dad’s collection. However, I like to be different anyways which is why “The Slider” is my favorite T. Rex album despite “Electric Warrior” containing hits like ‘Bang a Gong (Get It On)’ and ‘Cosmic Dancer’. The reason being is that this is the first T. Rex album I heard in its entirety; make that the first glam rock album I heard in its entirety. I swear, when I was 11-12 years old, I knew every single lyric on this album. I was a weird kid.

Okay, top track time. While every song on this album is close to my heart, none of them hold a candle to ‘Ballrooms Of Mars’. ‘Metal Guru’ and ‘Telegram Sam’ come close though. BOM, as I’ll call it for short, is actually one of my favorite songs of all-time and is in my top 10 of favorite ballads. Yes, my top track for this album is a ballad, but I implore anyone to listen to it and try not to melt just a little bit. Not to mention, BOM is on the soundtrack of one of my favorite movies ever and the best Jack Black Movie ever, School of Rock (sorry Nacho Libre). The sorrowful feeling of the song just fills you up and you can hear the heartbreak that songwriter and lead guitarist Marc Bolan must’ve been feeling when he wrote it. BOM is a near-perfect blend of acoustic and electric guitar that can make anyone sway and swoon along with the ‘Rex.

Fun fact, Ringo Starr took the photographs that eventually became the cover and back of the album; and the photos were taken on John Lennon’s estate. What?! I just thought that was pretty cool. Props to Ringo because it’s a pretty legendary photo. The off-centered subject, the slight fuzziness, plus who wear great top hats like that anymore? The whole pic just screams early punk rock to me. I was also surprised to find out with some light research that Marc Bolan, the genius behind the whole operation and the one consistent band member, was only 5’5″. One look at the album cover and one could be convinced he was over 6 feet. Just another fun fact.

I want to quickly give props to my man Marc Bolan as well. All songs on this album along with almost every other song on every other T. Rex album were written and composed by him. He and his band have never really been considered truly “mainstream,” but talent and song-writing skills were recognized by the likes of The Beatles and Elton John. Tragically he passed away in a car accident in 1977 right before he turned 30. Seeing as he was the driving force behind the band, T. Rex was finished. Nearly 50 years later, his band was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. That is just ridiculous. A band this influential should have been inducted so much sooner and Marc Bolan should have been given the recognition he deserved, albeit posthumously.

I can’t recommend this album enough. If you like any kind of rock, this album should be a must-listen. There is nothing like Marc Bolan’s voice and the way he plays his Les Paul. Damn, this is such a fun album.

Rating: 9/10

Top Track: ‘Purple Haze’

Are you experienced? I am. With Jimi Hendrix’s first studio album that is. Widely considered the best electric guitar player to ever pick up the instrument, Hendrix emerged onto the Psychedelic Rock scene and blew absolutely everyone away. As a black left-handed guitar player who created sounds with a guitar that no one had ever heard before, Hendrix almost literally blew up overnight. The turning point in his career that many claim brought him to the forefront of 60’s Rock n’ Roll was his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in the summer of 1967 where he famously set his guitar on fire, broke it, and threw the pieces into the crowd after his set.

I felt obligated to choose ‘Purple Haze’ as my top track. Not only is it the best track on the album, it’s probably his best song; or best original song if you prefer ‘All Along the Watchtower’ off of “Electric Ladyland” which as written by Bob Dylan. Purple Haze was written about certain strains of cannabis known for their high THC content and recognizable by the purple-ish color of their leaves. Anyone who has heard this song even once will be able to recognize it within the first few bars of Jimi’s indistinguishable chord progression. And anyone who has heard this song more than a few times has probably mimed some sweet air guitar along with the legend. The song is also infamously a song with one of the most misheard lines in all of music. For anyone wondering it’s “…’scuse me while I kiss the sky,” not “this guy.”

For as long as I can remember, Jimi Hendrix has been one of my favorite musicians. everything from his charisma to his afro, it was hard not to idolize the guy; oh, and he was wicked good at playing the guitar. I remember my dad showing me videos of Jimi just shredding away at his Stratocaster and making it look so effortless and smooth. And when my dad showed me Jimi playing the guitar with his teeth, I was in awe; I mean, the man was biting his guitar and it still sounded awesome! That’s the thing with Hendrix, his music is only a fraction of who he is. His stage presence and performances truly showcased just how talented he was. Not to mention, he lived in 1960’s America and had to deal with some harsh scrutiny and backlash just because of his skin color, I’m sure. But his talent, his showmanship, and his music cut through all of that.

My favorite of all his performances has to be his rendition of the national anthem at Woodstock. I knew nothing of the context surrounding his performance when I first heard him revolutionize the anthem, I was only around 8 years old. But now the context holds so much more weight. To have the balls, as a black man with segregation still in effect in the country, to get up on stage in front of thousands of people and put his own spin on an anthem of a country that has oppressed people of color for centuries is absolutely amazing. That is why he will always be the best electric guitar player to have ever lived.

This album was not only responsible for bringing Jimi Hendrix to the forefront, but also for mixing major elements of Blues with Psychedelic Rock. Jimi Hendrix showed people what Rock n’ Roll could be along with what could be done with just a Fender Stratocaster and some teeth. Also, I’m pretty sure he was the first person to play a guitar behind his head, just sayin’.

I wanted to finish this post off with something special and a little proof that I am actually listening to real vinyl. So, I will transcribe what is written on the back of this album that is currently sitting in front of me:

“Be forewarned. Used to be an Experience meant making you a bit older. This one makes you wider. With the assistance of Mitch Mitchell (on drums) and Noel Redding (on guitar), Jimi Hendrix breaks the world into interesting fragments. Then reassembles it. You hear with new ears, after being Experienced. Those who’ve only seen him perform know only a part of This Experience. They rave about a young man who plays a guitar in more positions than anybody before him. Now, this debut album will put the heads of Hendrix’ listeners into some novel positions. Be forewarned.”

Rating: 9.5/10

Top Track: ‘God Only Knows’

Well, June is here and summer is just around the corner. Time for some Beach Boys. I wanted to start with the crème de la crème in terms of Beach Boys albums because with everything going on right now, I feel like only the best from some of the best is what we need right now. Whenever I listen to this album it only lifts my spirits and has me singing along to every single lyric of every single song. Brian Wilson’s absolute genius and songwriting capabilities really shine throughout the entirety of this album. This album saw The Beach Boys move on from their Surf Rock days and evolve into a group that could put out some truly inspired music.

Is there any surprise in my choosing of ‘God Only Knows’ as my top track? Almost tirelessly overplayed at weddings and in romantic movies like Love Actually, this song has to rank as one of the best love of all-time. The song is instantly recognizable with the keyboard and french horn harmonizing into a cheerful symphony; then comes the sleigh bells ringing away with that memorable bass line following close behind along with the percussive sound of a horse galloping (a sound also used in ‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’). A total of 23 musicians were used in the 20 takes of ‘God Only Knows’, but only 16 made the final cut. I was very close to choosing ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, but ‘God Only Knows’ has always been a little closer to my heart. It’s no wonder why the group decided to have both songs start each side of the album respectively.

This album was one of the first I ever heard. My dad played The Beach Boys on a nearly endless loop while I was growing up along with The Beatles. ‘Sloop John B’ was one of my first favorite songs and one of the first songs I learned all the lyrics to; the first being ‘Little Surfer Girl’. Maybe it’s because the sounds of The Beach Boys gives me that nostalgic feeling is the reason I hold them in such high regard. It wasn’t until I was a little older when I realized that Brian Wilson was the mind that drove the group forward forever earning my respect and making him one of my personal heroes. Wilson is also one of the best rock songwriters of all-time in my opinion; up there with the likes of John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young.

This album is definitely in my personal top 25 and I consider it an essential listen to anyone who considers themselves a fan music. The way this album changed music and the amount of artists it inspired is absolutely astounding. The Beach Boys will forever be one of my favorite music groups and I think one of the best to ever do it.