SANTANA
GREATEST HITS
1974-COLUMBIA
VARIOUS PRODUCERS
1. Evil Ways
2. Jingo
3. Hope You're Feeling Better
4. Samba Pa Ti
5. Persuasion
6. Black Magic Woman
7. Oye Como Va
8. Everything's Coming Our Way
9. Se A Cabo
10. Everybody's Everything
Released after the 5th Santana album, this best of features songs from their most successful period. It's a good enough collection (although having "Black Magic Woman" end this abrubtly without "Gypsy Queen" is a huge disappointment), but it could have been more thorough and getting a later package would probably be better. But it's still loaded with great music, and this stuff never gets old. Santana is an important band in the history of rock, and this represents their most important years. Get the original albums if you can, but this is a nice place to start.
Carlos is still at it, using a variety of celebrity guest vocalists...but that guitar is still as fine as it ever was. One of the best guitarists in any age.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
SARAH MCLACHLAN
SURFACING
1997-ARISTA
Produced By PIERRE MARCHAND
1. Building A Mystery
2. I Love You
3. Sweet Surrender
4. Adia
5. Do What You Have To Do
6. Witness
7. Angel
8. Black & White
9. Full Of Grace
10. Last Dance
There is no doubt that Sarah McLachlan is one talented woman. She has also released two very fine albums in her career, Solace and Fumbling Towards Ecstacy. Surfacing starts of nicely, with the excellent "Building A Mystery", but catches fire on what may be her greatest track, "Sweet Surrender", an outright beautiful song. But unfortunately, the nap starts after that. McLachlan goes into complete snooze mode, and the rest of Surfacing sounds more like an Enya album than anything else. There are a few nice moments, but the bottom is hit on the please-adopt-a-pet dirge, "Angel".
This is a very pleasant sounding album, but a very safe one. McLachlan is off lyrically, and with only a couple of exceptions, very snoozy. But it's still worthwhile for "Sweet Surrender", a great song that deserves a better album around it.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
ARCADE FIRE
FUNERAL
2004-MERGE
Produced By ARCADE FIRE
1. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
2. Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
3. Une Anne Sans Lumiere
4. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
5. Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
6. Crown Of Love
7. Wake Up
8. Haiti
9. Rebellion (Lies)
10. In The Backseat
The debut album from Arcade Fire was a true oddity...and a great one. This Canadian band makes a funeral seem more like a party...it's very emotional, yet there's a sense of joy within the tension. The band plays many non-traditional instruments for a rock setting, and they give the songs a feel that is unique. The band is fronted by the now husband and wife team of Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, and also features various strings, horns, and odd percussion. It's hard to explain what this music actually is without using the word different...something all bands should aspire to.
This album grows on you with each listen. It's a true classic, the first in a long run of successes for them. Arcade Fire, who have released three albums since, should be on everyone's radar. They are a breath of fresh air, and deserve to be heard and appreciated. And no better place to start than at the beginning.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
THE WALKABOUTS
SCAVENGER
1991-SUB POP
Produced By GARY SMITH
1. Dead Man Rise
2. Stir The Ashes
3. The Night Watch
4. Hang Man
5. Where The Deep Water Goes
6. Blown Away
7. Nothing Is Stranger
8. Let's Burn Down The Cornfield
9. River Blood
10. Train To Mercy
The Walkabouts are a great American band that you've probably never heard of. In 1991, Scavenger (and their subsequent albums) were buried by their Sub Pop labelmates Nirvana, and grunge rendered their music unheard. Which is a shame. The Walkabouts never made a bad album, and their music set the tone for bands like Uncle Tupelo and Whiskeytown. Their sound was kind of like Neil Young and Crazy Horse recording a Velvet Underground record. They were simply really, really good.
The highlight of Scavenger is "Train To Mercy", a long, mesmerizing track. "Let's Burn Down The Cornfield" is close, and every track is great. Carla Torgerson is a great singer, and this band deserves a lot more recognition than they ever had. You can't go wrong with any album from The Walkabouts, but Scavenger is a great place to start.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
THE BEATLES
WITH THE BEATLES
1963-PARLOPHONE
Produced By GEORGE MARTIN
1. It Won't Be Long
2. All I've Got To Do
3. All My Loving
4. Don't Bother Me
5. Little Child
6. Till There Was You
7. Please Mister Postman
8. Roll Over Beethoven
9. Hold Me Tight
10. You Really Got A Hold On Me
11. I Wanna Be Your Man
12. Devil In Her Heart
13. Not A Second Time
14. Money
The Beatles' second album has one mighty flaw...too many cover songs. Six of them, to be exact. While The Beatles were adept at their early covers, it was not their strong suit...their songwriting was what made them great. The originals here, "All My Loving", "It Won't Be Long", "Little Child", "I Wanna Be Your Man", clearly outshine them trying to do justice to Motown and Chuck Berry. But, in the history of rock, this is still an important document, and a major part of the band's development into what they were quickly becoming. Even though it's far from their best work, it's still a classic.
Included here as well are George Harrison's first contribution ("Don't Bother Me"), and a classic album cover. Within a year, they would eclipse everything they did on With The Beatles...no easy feat. Still, a must for any Beatles fan. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
THE STRAWBS
FROM THE WITCHWOOD
1971-A&M
Produced By TONY VISCONTI
1. A Glimpse Of Heaven
2. Witchwood
3. Thirty Days
4. Flight
5. The Hangman And The Papist
6. Sheep
7. Cannondale
8. The Shepherd's Song
9. In Amongst The Roses
10. I'll Carry On Beside You
Bonus Track
11. Keep The Devil Outside
Welcome to the 70's, folks! The Strawbs began in the 60's as a folk group called The Strawberry Hill Boys, but shortened it to The Strawbs as they moved more toward rock. An early member (not on this album) was Sandy Denny, before she joined up with Fairport Convention. The band is led by Dave Cousins, whose voice sounds like a cross between Dylan and Ian Anderson. Not the greatest sound, but it works. The album also features their superstar keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who was rehearsing with Yes while recording this album.
There are a lot of very old, medieval sounds on this record, but there is also quite a bit of modern sounds as well. Sometimes the lush harmonies seem a bit overdone, but get past them and you'll find a nice set of songs graced with sitar, dulcimer, and a lot of other non-traditional rock instruments. And when it does rock, it's a pleasant surprise.
The Strawbs had a long career, and recorded 9 albums during the 70's. From The Witchwood is the best of them, and definitely worth a listen.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
SIMPLE MINDS
STREET FIGHTING YEARS
1989-VIRGIN
Produced By STEPHAN LIPSON & TREVOR HORN
1. Street Fighting Years
2. Soul Crying Out
3. Wall Of Love
4. This Is Your Land
5. Take A Step Back
6. Kick It In
7. Let It All Come Down
8. Mandela Day
9. Belfast Child
10. Biko
11. When Spirits Rise
Simple Minds is best remembered for their contribution to The Breakfast Club ("(Don't You) Forget About Me"), but they have actually had a long, fruitful career as more than just a New Wave synth band. These guys were serious, political, and at times, they could rock. Sometimes they were a bit too serious, but hey...if you have the vehicle, let your voice shine through. Street Fighting Years is a solid collection of songs...a darker album than most people remember them for. The songs are well written, including a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Biko". Even Lou Reed lends a vocal on "This Is Your Land". A forgotten, but very good album from an overlooked and long running band.
Jim Kerr (Chrissie Hynde's first husband and the bands vocalist) still has Simple Minds together 39 years after they formed as Johnny & The Self Abusers. They really have come a long way.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
a-ha
SCOUNDREL DAYS
1986-WARNER BROTHERS
Produced By ALAN TARNEY, MAGS & PAL WAAKTAAR
1. Scoundrel Days
2. The Swing Of Things
3. I've Been Losing You
4. October
5. Manhattan Skyline
6. Cry Wolf
7. We're Looking For The Whales
8. The Weight Of The Wind
9. Maybe, Maybe
10. Soft Rains Of April
a-ha is best remembered in America for their one hit, the MTV monster "Take On Me". But this was not quite a one hit wonder band. a-ha has always been big everywhere in the world except for America. Scoundrel Days is the follow up to their big breakthrough album, Hunting High And Low. It cemented their status as a flash in the pan in America, but everywhere else, the hits kept coming. This album is a bit more subdued than Hunting, but it still shows off the great vocal range of Morton Harket, and the songs are very good. Nothing will stick in your head for too long, but nothing will offend you, either. An unremarkable, but very solid effort from Norway's best.
a-ha broke up after their 2010 world tour, but are back at it again, almost 35 years after their debut.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
I largely agree with your comments about a-ha but I would propose Madrugada as Norway's best band. If you don't know them they're worth checking out.
I am not familiar with them. I will check it out. Thanks!!!!! _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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Romanelli
dihansse
