1001 Albums (131-145): Calenture - Chelsea Girl

Note: A better group than last week, and actually better than I thought it might be. There were a few albums in there from classic rockers that I didn't immediately recognized the album title and there are a few new artists at the bottom of the list that sounded pretty good.

In Red’s Collection

Californication (1999) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

There’s not doubt this is the best album in this group. This is the emergence of John Frusciante as one of the best guitarists around and the elevation of Anthony Kiedis as a vocalist. The Peppers stay true to the punk-funk origins that their original fans fell in love with while growing musically as a group.

Red’s Shameless Plug

The Cars (1978) by The Cars

The Cars made New Wave legit with this album. I have to admit that “Just What I Needed” would make the list as one of my favorite tunes. I am not sure where, but I have always just really liked that tune. Add “Good Times Roll,” and “My Best Frind’s Girl” and you have yourself the start of one hell of an album.

No Doubt About It

Catch A Fire (1973) by Bob Marley and the Wailers

This is the debut for Bob and the Wailers and probably the most collaborative. I don’t know many of the tunes here other than “Stir It Up.” This also has an album jacket that looks like a Zippo that I am sure Snake would appreciate.

Celebrity Skin (1998) by Hole

The title track is as mainstream of rock song as your going to get from a female led band. It fit Courtney Love like a glove. Thanks Billy Corgan for helping write that one. The rest of the album takes a lot of shots at Hollywood and fellow musicians. “Awful” is a good tune also (allegedly about Bush’s Gavin Rosedale). It’s too bad Love is a trainwreck because when she’s focused she makes some pretty damn good music.

Cheap Thrills (1968) by Big Brother and the Holding Company

Only the 60s could have produced that band name. Janis Joplin blossomed at the front of this group and this album spawned the iconic “Piece of My Heart.” She left the band when the album was still at the top of the charts.

Chelsea Girl (1967) by Nico

Most people didn’t get this album when it came out as it was in tune with Andy Warhol art movement. Everyone jumped on the ship though to write tunes for the former Velvet Underground singer including Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, John Cale and a very young Jackson Browne (17 and dating Nico). Not many albums can boast a stable of writers that good.

The Best of the Rest

California (1988) by American Music Club

This could be the sleeper of this group. The American Music Club is the poor man’s R.E.M. On the flip side, they don’t seem to pretend to be so damn important as R.E.M. makes themselves out to be at times.

The Rest

Calenture (1987) by The Triffids

The Triffids are another 80s indie band from Australia that never quite made it big. The songs I listened to from this aren’t bad –not great – but not bad.

Call of the Valley (1967) by Shivkumar Sharma/Brijbushan Kabra/Hariprasad Chaurasia

“Longest name of artists ever.” This is Indian Music that caught the ear of a lot of artists in the 1960s. Probably be good on the shelf at Target or Shopko with all those peaceful music CDs.

Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) by Steely Dan

I think we’ve covered our feelings on Steely Dan. “Reeling in the Years” is probably one of my favorites from this group that I can’t otherwise stand.

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (1998) by Lucinda Williams

This a little more country of which I know little about. Maybe Snake knows more. It doesn’t sound bad. I kind of remember hearing the album title when it came out, but not much more.

Casanova (1996) by the Divine Comedy

This has the big sound that seems to be more prevalent from across the ocean. You know what I mean, horns, orchestras, drums and such. They also seem quirky that makes the music fun.

Cee-Lo Green…Is The Soul Machine (2004) by Cee-Lo Green

Green had some affiliation with Outkast, but left to go solo. While part of the “Dirty South” movement, Green has never garnered the albums sales of some of his peers. Pharrell and Timbaland both make contributions here.

Central Reservation (1999) by Beth Orton

I’ve been impressed with the songs I’ve listened to from this selection. She’s seems to mix slow and fast together. I might pick this up if I find it somewhere.

C’est Chic (1978) by Chic

This is 70s disco-dance music. It served that purpose well enough.