Artist or Band: The Band
Album: Greatest Hits
Why (or how) did I get this: I remember in my youth watching the Sunday morning program hosted Charles Kuralt that did a feature on The Band. At the time, the group looked strange and the music was beyond me. But broken images from that stuck with me. Years later, I had a free CD to pick with the now defunct BMG music service. I picked The Band with that in mind and knowing that I liked a couple of their more well-known tunes.
Songs Included: When I Paint My Masterpiece; Stage Fright
Why is that: I think whenever I mix a CD (or back in the day with tapes; I miss those days). I use two main criteria. The first – songs I like – is a no-brainer. The second – it fits or serves a purpose in progression of the album I am trying to make - is trickier. When we started this, I knew I wanted to start with "When I Paint My Masterpeice." Musically, it's a powerhouse. Lyrically, it rich with images and references. From Snake's response, it did the trick of perking his ears immediately and making him receptive to the rest of the album. "Stage Fright" is another great scene setter with an underlying theme of hope and overcoming of fear.
Others that just missed the cut: I didn't chose "The Weight," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and "Up On Cripple Creek," because I was 10o% sure Snake already knew these songs. They're still great and, if by chance you don't know them, take time to look them up. This album had 18 tracks, most of which are solid to really good to great. Check out the cover of "I Shall Be Released." It's powerful. Also very good are "Tears of Rage," "Ophelia" and "Acadian Driftwood."
The bad: "Ain't Got No Home" is the only real miss on this album.
The verdict: One of my favorite albums from this list. It's a sound from a different time that still sounds relevant and fresh today.
Artist or Band: Tom Petty
Album: Highway Companion
Why (or how) did I get this: This album fell literally into my lap. My sister somehow ended up with two copies and gave me this for free. I never turn away free music. Otherwise, I highly doubt I would have bought this.
Songs included: Flirting With Time; Square One
Why is that: "Square One" jumped out at me right away when I first listened to it. My instincts always are to include songs like that when I am asked about albums and such. I did consider dropping it though because I thought it wasn't fitting my vision for the CD. "Flirting With Time," on the other hand, grew on me as it popped up on my MP3 player. I'll grant that none of these tunes are much different than what we've heard from Tom Petty before.
Other's that just missed the cut: "Damaged By Love," started out as my runner-up for favorite tune from this album, but slowly started to slip down the list. They lyrics get repetitive, but you expect that from pop songs. "Down South," has grown on me and has some of that southern or backwoods charm of Petty.
The bad: The middle of this album hits a terrible funk. The tracks "Turn This Car Around," "Big Weekend," and "Night Driver," all take the underlying theme of a car trip a bit too far and are annoying in other ways.
The verdict: Those that like Tom Petty will probably enjoy this album. It won't stand out as his best, but it won't totally offend either.
Artist or Band: James Blunt
Album: Back to Bedlam
Why (or how) did I get this: I don't recall wanting this album, which leads me to believe this must have been a featured album at BMG that I didn't get declined in time and I decided to give it a try. It's mellow and that served a purpose when I was being attacked on a semi-regular basis.
Song included: Wisemen
Why is that: Most of these tunes get pretty slow and I knew Snake would never make it through those if they weren't also excellent tunes. Nothing on this album is excellent, so I went with this song because it had a decent hook and some interesting lyrics.
Other's that just missed the cut: "You're Beautiful" got heavy radio rotation and I am sure Snake has heard it. I didn't won't to include a single that well-heard. "Goodbye My Lover," is kind of guilty pleasure in that I know it's kind of cheesy, but sometimes I feel kind of cheesy.
The bad: I don't know if anything on here is really bad. Everything sort of falls in the middle. Everything towards the end gets kind of silly, plus he's a ballad singer that's obsessed with letting people know that he does drugs.
The verdict: Again, I don't think I ever actively sought this album. I give it a C.
3 comments:
How dare you not do things like me??? hahah i would have been shocked if you followed my piece meal format.
I like your ideas on this and now feel way to predictable that I feel into your trap so easily. But I am pretty accepting of music and as I continue to grow older my reach continues to expand to try to hear something different.
This is kinda weird because I didnt see your post yesterday and on the way to work this morning I thought I would shuffle through your CD since I have been talking about mine alot. "Flirting with Time" came on and I thought that if I were asked to describe it I would say "it is another great continuation of that song Tom Petty makes". I thought that was a good snide critic line.
It's hard not to turn into snarky music critique when talking about Tom Petty for some reason. I guess his shortcomings have been so thoroughly discussed and displayed that it's hard not to notice.
I wouldn't say you're predictable. You're predictable to me, just because I've known you for 20 some years and we've gone around about this music or that a few thousand times. But my guess, I'd be surprised here or there about things you like.
I find I am less accepting of music as I grow older. But I am weird.
Man, you're wearing me out with all these responses today. That I did not predict when I fired up the computer this morning.
Petty is an easy target, I admit. I would think James BLUNT's name is an obvious enough reference for drug use. It is like the kid that has you tell you over and over how cool he is, it is more pathetic then anything. I prefer the musicians that tried to hide their drug use being ashamed of it but loveing the creative powers they receive
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