Snake's Encore

Note: Interesting group this week. I am gonna campaign a little bit for some of my favorites that got left off as well as preach up the ones that are on here. So sorry for some of the missing takes on the sleepers, I don't have time right now.

In Snake's Collection

Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan:

We are moving backwards in time from his selections last week. This is truly the transitional album from the political folk singer, to the eclectic, visionary, rock songwriter that Dylan would become. The first side is an electrified slap in the face and the second rescinds back into his acoustic ways. His writing style starts to take shape as he becomes more abstract and introspective. Alot of his lyrics give a clue to the new direction he wants to take as well as serving as a guide for his fans to follow his feelings and ideas. "Maggie's Farm" is a metaphor for the folk music scene and how he isn't working for them no more. "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" is this crazy surreal experience that I don't have enough words to describe. "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" gives the most incite into his new approach with some of his most amazing lyrics if you can keep up. "So don't fear if you hear / A foreign sound to your ear / It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing." is a line from the song that is a guide to his listeners not to be afraid of his new musical direction. I said last week that "Tangled Up In Blue" is my favorite Dylan song, well "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" is second on that list and kinda has the same feel. Lovers parting ways long after their relationship has really ended. It has been said this is another metaphor for his departure from the Folk scene. Another truly amazing Dylan album.

British Steel - Judas Priest:

This is the birth of true heavy metal. The sound comes out much grittier and there is pretty much no noticeable blues or punk elements that still existed in most heavy metal/hard rock albums to date. To contradict what Red stated, my source indicates the album was recorded at Ringo Starr's home, Tittenhurst Park. We'd have to call Rob Halford for the right answer. Looking back, how did people not know he was gay? I guess leather wasn't such a give away then. Awesome album overall, very patriotic. With the help of Iron Maiden (who was their touring partner for many years), Priest ushered in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). "Grinder" and "United" are great live songs!

Boston - Boston:

Not a down moment through the entire album. It is pretty much their greatest hits right from the start. It was recorded in Tom Scholz basement studio with some trickery to make the record company think it was done in a proper studio in LA. Scholz sounds like a major control freak, which alot of good artists are. It is amazing to think they came out of the gate with all this great material. It usually leads to major sophomore woes, which is kind of the case with Boston as well. There really isn't a hidden gem here, they are all great and pretty well known.

Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel:

I found this on vinyl, otherwise I probably wouldn't have it. I don't listen to it alot, I really have to be in the mood for these two. The songs are well done and all, just usually a little slow for me. "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and "The Boxer" are amazing songs not on this album, but ones I would find time to listen to if available.

Who's the Boss?

I don't claim to be the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan, but I do enjoy plenty of his music. He is a great showman and a very hard working man. I don't know that I will ever own a specific album by him, I just have some random hits and one that Red gave me from an older CD collection we did. I love "Born To Run", that is probably a good representation of his stage presence. Maybe I should give "Born in the USA" a try with his insightful lyrics and deeper meanings.

Oh, That's Them?!

I think most people have had the same moment Red describes when talking about "Song 2" by Blur. It is in commercials and everywhere else so that everyone knows it, but has no idea what it is called or who sang it. A good way to make alot of money through royalties without having to be famous.

Where The Hell Are They? (There are 2 glaring snubs in this group)

Breakfast In America - Supertramp:

This is one of the most amazing albums I have ever heard. It is the band's top seller and I am royally pissed it wasn't in this book. Although, I listened to it this weekend to prepare (since I knew it was coming alphabetically) and I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that this jackass, who puts in every single thing Brian Eno has ever pissed on, would leave this one off. The cover is iconic (although I did trash it back in our album cover list, it is still cool). "Gone Hollywood" opens the album in good fashion and with "Lords Is It Mine" & "Child of Vision" are the hidden gems. My interpretation of the lyrics from most of the album, especially the title track, "Take The Long Way Home", "Gone Hollywood" and "Goodbye Stranger", seem to hint at the amazement of these Brits once they came to America and then kind of a scorning of the attitude out in Hollywood. "If we only had time for you." That seems to be the treatment they got by the author.

Bringing Down The Horse - The Wallflowers:

This was their breakout in 1996, and is a personal favorite of mine and Red. It was a huge success and proved in some rights that Jakob could live in the shadow of his father and that legacy. It is hard to pick gems when you listen to every song all the way through. I could see how someone would think this isn't a necessary album to hear before you die, but I think the majority would vote for its inclusion. If anything, it is a good time piece for the mid 90's. "One Headlight" kind of has that lost in life feeling that was pretty prevalent during those times.

Well, I Like Them (two overlooks that maybe only I will agree with)

Bridges To Babylon - The Rolling Stones:

This was the first actual Stones album that I bought (not a greatest hits). I had fallen in love with the lead single "Anybody Seen My Baby?". The album is amazing and showed me some different sides of the Stones that I didn't know existed. "Lowdown", "Already Over Me", "You Don't Have To Mean It", "Saint of Me" are all gems. It is amazing that all these years later, Mick & Keith were still putting out such quality. I would recommend it to anyone. Red should remember this album, we listened to it quite a bit.

Brave New World - Iron Maiden:

There are much better Maiden albums that will hopefully end up on this list. This one is probably a little self indulgent on my end, but I don't care. This marked a new era for Maiden as they expanded into a 6 piece band and welcomed back past members Bruce Dickenson & Adrian Smith. It became a resurgence in their stardom around the world and reminded people how great Maiden was. The songs are long (6 minutes or more) with lots of time changes, huge vocals from Dickinson, extended jams and amazing solos. Everything you always loved about other Maiden albums. They immediately followed this up with a live album "Rock In Rio" from the supporting tour.