― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:10 (nineteen years ago) link
"Entertainment!" is a great album. And "Solid Gold" and "Songs of the Free" are real good ones. -- Not That Chuck (noemai...), December 16th, 2003.
Entertainment! sounds like the beginning of something, (1st alb) a kind of simple, brilliant template for a band: solid-state MGs revamped for maximum spike + Frankfurt school shouting, GO! (exercise: play "Damaged Goods" and "Green Onions" back to back)-- g.cannon (misterhungr...), September 26th, 2002.Entertainment! (Warner Bros., BSK 3446) LPSolid Gold (Warner Bros., BSK 3565) LP
After these, they fell off hard. But these are classics. Listen to the beginning of "Anthrax" if you wanna hear where just about every Albini-played guitar sound comes from (aside from the times when he rips off Metal Urbain, that is).
-- hstencil (hstenci...), December 9th, 2002.
I listened to Gang of Four's Entertainment! while watching a documentary about the a-bomb. There wasn't much synching going on, suprisingly enough. But then, I was also folding laundry. -- dave225 (adspac...), November 24th, 2003.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:12 (nineteen years ago) link
I'd be interested in seeing those predictions, though.
the 70s poll (albs and singles) predictions and things are posted here, i guess
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:15 (nineteen years ago) link
I'll start it up again.
― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― Lee F# (fsharp), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:21 (nineteen years ago) link
points: 7321st place votes: 0total votes: 22
STEVIE WONDER - INNERVISIONS
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004S363.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Innervisions
Stevie's third post-liberation album, and arguably the peak of his career.Dazzlingly diverse, from bubble-jazz to stately piano ballads to singalonggospel funk, but effortlessly commercial too (is that a Carpenters influenceI hear on "Golden Lady"?). Every track could be - and probably was - eitheran FM or AM radio staple. Lyrically, it's gently hippie and gently sociallyconscious, which only adds to its crossover appeal. Faultless, basically
Jeff Worrell
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:21 (nineteen years ago) link
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:36 (nineteen years ago) link
points: 7321st place votes: 4total votes: 18
THE ROLLING STONES - EXILE ON MAIN STREET
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000000W5L.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
If the Rolling Stones had only released Exile on MainStreet, they'd still have a good claim for "World'sGreatest Rock and Roll Band." A double album thatdeserves all 4 sides. Xgau says "Weary andcomplicated, barely afloat in its own drudgery, itrocks with extra power and concentration as a result,"in a remarkably lucid and entirely accurate remark. An album that sounds good at first listen andexponentially better on the 10th or the 100th. Absolutely amazing and essential.
Matt Sab
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:38 (nineteen years ago) link
points: 7461st place votes: 0total votes: 19
MARVIN GAYE - WHAT'S GOING ON?
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00007FOMP.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:47 (nineteen years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:47 (nineteen years ago) link
However, it sounds downright futuristic compared to that half-awful Marvin Gaye album. Oh well.
― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:49 (nineteen years ago) link
― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:52 (nineteen years ago) link
― Keith C (kcraw916), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:53 (nineteen years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:55 (nineteen years ago) link
I mean, yeah, I'd rather listen to retro synth-funk that than the snoozetastic "timeless" "What's Going On?"
well, yeah.
― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:56 (nineteen years ago) link
Teenage Fanclub "Grand Prix"/"Songs from Northern Britain"Scritti Politti "Cupid & Psyche 85"Comet Gain "Realistes"Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"Paul Weller "Paul Weller" -- Michael White (michaelwhite3...), December 13th, 2002.
(from the "albums that make you indescribably happy" thread)
Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"I don't think I ever put it on without playing from start to finish
-- webcrack (signon2...), December 17th, 2003.
Marvin Gaye might be the godfather of soul. Extremely pure and spiritual. Almost like someone singing a prayer. A tad annoying. Curtis Mayfield on the other hand is more funky, more urban, more dirty. I prefer his version of soul. And you? -- alex in mainhattan (alex6...), June 24th, 2004.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:58 (nineteen years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:58 (nineteen years ago) link
― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 14:59 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:00 (nineteen years ago) link
Innervisions has some fantastic tracks on it - personally, "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" is one of my favourite tracks ever. Another one I forgot to nominate for the poll.
There are quite a few I skip, though.
jaymc - my choices too, With living for the city chucked in.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:02 (nineteen years ago) link
bach obviously sounds like the third millenium! innervisions is just dull and annoys me. i don't remember any song on there. the production is totally not my cup of tea.
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:02 (nineteen years ago) link
points: 7581st place votes: 0total votes: 24
BUZZCOCKS - SINGLES GOING STEADY
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005MAGA.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:05 (nineteen years ago) link
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:06 (nineteen years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:08 (nineteen years ago) link
I like 'em lots. They should do a cover of Haddaway's "What Is Love?"What is laaaahhff?!
-- Anthony Miccio (anthonymicci...), March 23rd, 2003.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:11 (nineteen years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:13 (nineteen years ago) link
I think that Innervisions sounds great - though it's not Wonder's best, or even in the top three. But it's far from dull. And it doesn't really sound dated - in fact I'd say it sounds a lot less dated than most of the albums on this list. You can turn on the radio and hear lots of contemporary songs (e.g., Alicia Keys) that aren't too far removed from what Wonder was doing on Innervisions, and they are no more nostalgia-driven than something like Franz Ferdinand which sounds like Gang of Four, which is at least as dated as Innervisions.
― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:15 (nineteen years ago) link
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So classic it hurts. The Sex Pistols or the Saints may have been better bands (debatable), but within the realm of "punk" music there is no finer LP than Singles Going Steady. Who'd have thought that punk could be informed by pop/psychedelia/Krautrock and thrive? I love how "Orgasm Addict" and a few others throw in the occasional weird 7/8 time signature, just so they can hack through a tangled thicket of syllables and arrive at an unforgettable chorus just that much quicker. "Why Can't I Touch It?" could almost pass for a punk version of "Thank You For Talking To Me Africa". As for being a bad influence, maybe; but they were also a GOOD influence on Husker Du, which is alright by me. And Maher was indeed one hell of a drummer. I have a new favourite every time - last time it was "Boredom", next time "I Don't Mind." (Or make that "I Don't Mi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yind"!) -- Myonga Von Bontee (scottyfield...), August 10th, 2004.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:16 (nineteen years ago) link
points: 7581st place votes: 1total votes: 22
PiL - METAL BOX
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000007UDQ.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:28 (nineteen years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:29 (nineteen years ago) link
I was out eating dinner once a few years back, in a posh new restaurant with a DJ (before the place caught on and became impossibly crowded all the time), and he snuck this song into his set making me hear it as I hadn't for a while. I bought Innversions on CD not long after (not that I didn't already have it on vinyl and cassette). Actually, I don't think it's perfect, but the good material is very very good.
― RS_LaRue (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:29 (nineteen years ago) link
2nd edition is a prog album. poptones.
a best of the 70s list without yes, floyd, and zeppelin's just a bit autistic, don't you think?
― the ghost of 76, Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:32 (nineteen years ago) link
No. metal box is by no means prog. it is post-prog, come on.
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:33 (nineteen years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:35 (nineteen years ago) link
― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:38 (nineteen years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:40 (nineteen years ago) link
Not easy listening, though. But Levene is hardly wanking. He, even more so than Wobble, is the anchor of that band. Thus, the suckage following his departure...
-- Naive Teen Idol (matthewjweine...), January 8th, 2003.
It's proudly displayed (well, displayed) on my bookcase, but I swear it's been well over 10 years since I've played it. I do remember liking it, although isn't it meant to be boring and/or annoying in places? Also it plays at 45 rpm, doesn't it? I remember reading somewhere that it was funny/cool that it was designed so that you couldn't get the records out without scratching them, but of course you can just turn the package upside down and let them fall out (not at a great height, of course). -- Sean (saturns...), January 8th, 2003.
It's sort've become a post-punk Rosetta Stone of sorts (and I don't mean the lamentable goth band) that is required listening for anyone seeking information about the genre/era, but that doesn't mean it makes for the easiest nor most enjoyable listening experience. I'm glad I own it, I'm glad it exists, it's *INTERESTING* (in much the same way watching a disquieting snuff film or autopsy in interesting), but I'd be fibbing if I said I played it a lot or that it changed my life. I tend to prefer a bit more melodic cohesion in my post-punk, thank you very much, ala Gang of Four, early Killing Joke, Joy Division, et al.Still...."Poptones" and "Swanlake" are uproariously, gloriously ugly in the most intriguing way.
-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), January 8th, 2003.
Erm...I changed my mind!* Metal Box is actually quite brilliant. For some reason it clicked for me this time. Lydon sounds like Gollum. Levene sounds like he's scratching your eyes out. Wobble is implacable (I like that word today). The electronics are genuinely strange, alienating in that way that electronics were back then--you know, they sound like they're wheezing from some big gray mainframe that takes up half a room. The drums are just like, heavy, man. It's a big granite slab of sound rolling over you.
I think my problem was that I bought the album after reading the usual rhetoric about it, and then I didn't hear what I expected to hear based on that rhetoric. I still don't, really... but I like what I hear instead now.
* Well actually, I still think the suburbia-is-conformist stuff is cliched (suppose it wasn't at the time tho) and just wrong, Albatross is a dirge, and it really doesn't have much to do with dub. Even the bass isn't dubby--it's just fat and high in the mix. I only hear about one moment where he plays anything like a dub bassline (midway through Graveyard I think), most of the time it's more rock. And OK, they phase the drums every now and then. But dub is a process more than anything else, and they don't apply that process anywhere--there's no abrupt mixing in and out of instruments, no space in the music (the opposite--it's claustrophobic), no echoing....they're still playing songs, not deconstructing them. Not that it matters, but "avant-garde dub" is one of those phrases that gets thrown around a lot in relation to this album.
-- Ben Williams (benwilliam...), January 9th, 2003.
They should've replaced Lydon with Mrs. Miller: -- hstencil (hstenci...), January 9th, 2003.Great blog. As for me, what Matos said. Either you feel this music in your bones or you don't. Metal Box says everything is NOT going to be alright. It's mocking, too, as if depression or fear were below it, and it makes me feel detached, grooving, fuck everything. The complete antipathy is also highly moral, which sets it apart from the nihilist pigfuck/no wave/goth it inspired. Like Sandinista!, it's more punk than most punk. -- Pete Scholtes (pscholte...), January 11th, 2003.
no-one's topped Beefheart at his own game -- except maybe PiL, and then only once (metal box).-- Tad (llamasfu...), January 20th, 2003.
I heart John Lydon. -- Mary (maj23...), January 8th, 2003.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:45 (nineteen years ago) link
it's official!
― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:47 (nineteen years ago) link
― egon krenz (slaytrack), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:50 (nineteen years ago) link
points: 7751st place votes: 1total votes: 25
BLONDIE - PARALLEL LINES
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005MNP8.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:50 (nineteen years ago) link
autistic? what?
― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:54 (nineteen years ago) link
KRAFTWERK - THE MAN MACHINE: Their perfect album. Seemless. Flawless. Not long enough.
THE STOOGES - FUN HOUSE: Amazingly precise in its onslaught.
THE SEX PISTOLS - NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE'S THE SEX PISTOLS: Dan stated above that he gets the feeling that its the ultimate "you had to be there" album. I agree. Its sounds dated to me today, but I doubt if I'd be "into" music like I am now without it.
GANG OF FOUR - ENTERTAINMENT: I never understood the "Punk-Funk" moniker, cuz I didn't hear the "funk". But it did make the dancers dance harder, and the non-dancers shake their legs with more abandon.
BUZZCOCKS - SINGLES GOING STEADY: Many of my ideas about pop music stems from this album. SONGS!
PiL - METAL BOX: Timeless. By that I mean that when I first heard it, it sounded from another time. It still does, but I'm not sure if its the future or the past, or something else.
― peepee (peepee), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 15:56 (nineteen years ago) link
― p.j. (Henry), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 16:23 (nineteen years ago) link
Classic with reservations - the last two tracks are weak (Gonna Love You Too + Just Go Away)and it lacks the absolute highs of the two previous albums and Eat to The Beat. My favorites are 11.59, Pretty Baby and Sunday Girl. There's nothing as good as X Offender, In The Flesh, Rip Her To Shreds, Out In The Streets, Fan Club, Scenery,I'm Always Touched By Your Presence, Dreaming, Union City Blue, or Atomic on there.
-- Dr. C (Daveatcrossdee...), December 2nd, 2002.
reading Please Kill Me, i found it so funny the way that blondie were viewed as the runt of the cbgb's litter, and television used to beat up on them and steal their bassists and stuff, but in the end, it was blondie that had the most long lasting success and widespread appeal. new yorkers are stupid. mwah hah hah. -- kate (masonicboo...), December 2nd, 2002.their best record by miles. still holds up pretty damn well to these ears. would be perfect but for the final track ('just go away') but 11 out of 12's a decent strike rate by any measure. -- angelo (discusdude7...), December 2nd, 2002.
"i know a girl from a lonely street/cool as ice cream and still as sweet" is the most perfect opening couplets to a pop song ever.the only thing that bugs me about parallel lines are those ugly green mesh and canvas boots that she's lacing up on the back cover.
debbie, debbie, debbie... it's so unlike you to pick unflattering footwear.
-- Fritz Wollner (fritzwollner5...), December 2nd, 2002.
I listened to this for the first time in, gosh, about 20 years when the remastered CD came out. It sounded way different than I remembered, because all the deadpan chick-fronted guitar-pop bands since Blondie - from the Primitives to Slumber Party - have really spun off from just one aspect of their sound. I was conditioned to hear Parallel Lines that way, but everything was more varied and modulated. Deborah Harry's singing was so demonstrative, it's like she's in a Broadway revue. Each song is a different little character portrait. The drumming was a lot less metronomic than my ears have become accustomed to. -- Curt (curtisgoul...), December 2nd, 2002.
slumber party are HARDLY a "chick fronted guitar-pop band" thank you very kindly. grrrrrrr.one of the things that i always loved most about blondie was their genre-slut style-hopping. blondie albums were like mini-musicals, really. i believe that was quite deliberate.
-- kate (masonicboo...), December 2nd, 2002.
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 16:26 (nineteen years ago) link
― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 16:31 (nineteen years ago) link