The Roots Of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru by Various Artists
This was some pretty cool psychedelic Cumbia (if it wasn't obvious from the title). It's a genre where every album I hear is good, but it somehow doesn't make me wanna dig deeper or relisten to stuff. It sounds great when on, but when it's not on it's not necessarily the first thing I'd want to listen. Says more about me than the genre probably. Anyways this one was no different, very pleasant while on and in fact one of the best Cumbia albums I've heard, it might be the first thing I'll put on when/if I'm in the mood for Peruan psychedelic classics. The weird incorporation of Für Elise into one song made me stop browsing the net due to the surprisingly refreshing take on a classic number. I wasn't a biggest fan of that one, in fact it was one of my least favourite songs, but it was interesting. 8/10
(2)
A lot of good quality metal (some of it I've not heard), but Brass is too good to pass.
Boubacar Traoré - Mariama
Oidupaa Vladimir Oiun - Divine Music From A Jail
Rokia Traoré - Bowmboï
Soungalo Coulibaly - Dengo
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The Magnetic Fields - The Wayward Bus
Belle And Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
The Magnetic Fields - The Charm Of The Highway Strip
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
Beach House - Devotion
The Cardigans - First Band On The Moon _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
When an artist has a practically flawless album, there's a tendency that the rest of his discography gets overlooked. That's pretty much what 's going on (pun intended, sorry for this) between me and Marvin (not a fan of addressing an artist with his first name only, but Marvin has always seemed to me so accessible, so relatable, just a lovely figure). His performance is once again of the highest standard, his passion could move mountains. Also, the tracks flow so smoothly from one to the next, it feels more like one big song, nothing stands out neither in a positive nor in a negative manner. Still, I can't help thinking this is a distant second behind his masterpiece. Maybe I'm not a romantic guy after all, but hearing him sing about love is not even half as captivating as the powerful and universal statement of his magnum opus. I hate to say it, but I' ll stick with my original rating of 70/100.
3.
Mercury's chart
1. Nilsson Sings Newman - Harry Nilsson
2. 16 Lovers Lane - The Go-Betweens
3. Prowler In The Yard - Pig Destroyer
4. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight - Richard & Linda Thompson
5. Old Chestnut - Ned Collette
6. So Far - Bob Theil
7. Looks Like Rain - Mickey Newbury
8.There's Nothing Wrong With Love - Built To Spill
9.Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush (unlike the others, it's not gonna be a first listen, but I really feel like revisiting this at the moment)
10.Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder (see above)
After a couple of days of doing some stuff. Got a couple of hip hop albums finished from 1993. And got some work done that I will reveal on Early March on my diary post. But for this greatest hits, this was excellent. Now there will be a disclaimer that when I overhaul my year end for 1993, greatest hits will not be included. Feels like cheating. Though it does mean I can't include the Zapp and Roger greatest hits. But back to this. This does make me want to venture through Tom Petty's catalogue. Love the Americana folk that this has. And there are some heavy highlights throughout. I think the only thing I would complaint is that I want to see ow each album works on its own. I realized that the two from the 70's are only a half hour long. I could knock those out. But still a worthwhile collection of songs. Grade:90
(2)
kokkinos, Hounds Of Love
(3)
BEA's Top 100 Albums of 1993
(64) Meat Loaf-Back Out Of Hell II (would have to listen to the first Back Out Of Hell album)
(65) The Auteurs-New Wave
(67) Buffalo Tom-Big Red Letter Day
(70) Urge Overkill-Saturation
(71) Midnight Oil-Earth And Sun And Moon
(73) Donald Fagen-Kamakiriad
(76) The Posies-Frosting on the Beater
(79) Neil Young-Unplugged
(80) Ace Of Base-The Sign
(82) Cracker-Kerosene Hat
First of all, what is this proto deep-fried meme of an album cover? What a horrible design.
I actually haven't heard most of the late 70s CAN output that is not very well received either, but it seems that their final album is their lowest rated. And I can easily see why. It has that way overproduced 80s sound that is way too clean and reverby for a lot of people' taste. I personally don't find that much wrong with the production on most of this album, because I think that kind of sound can be unique to the era. (Although Jaki Liebzeit's drum sound certainly suffers.) A lot seem to complain about the return of original vocalist Malcolm Mooney on the album who fluctuates between barely on key to wildly off, but it's not that wild given the antics of both Mooney and Damo Suzuki.
So, what it really boils down to is the instrumental performances, which are middling at best. It's a toothless version of CAN. It has flashes of their old inventiveness on several tracks, and the obviously humourous nature of a few tracks alleviate some of the worst moments, but it's just too slow and lacking substance. Some of the textures that Holger Czukay provides are pleasant, but the rest of the band seems content to kind of noodle around freely with no real direction. Motorik this is not.
However, with all of that said. The dated production, bland instrumentation, and sometimes grating vocals come together to make something that is still uniquely strange that echoes early CAN. There are a few wisps still there. Good first album to listen to. Makes me want to hear the others on my list now.
Soft Machine- Land Of Cockayne
Camel- The Single Factor
Santana- Beyond Appearances
Supertramp- Free As A Bird
Joni Mitchell- Dog Eat Dog
John Martyn- Well Kept Secret
Alan Vega- Just A Million Dreams
Sly & The Family Stone- Ain't But The One Way
Blue Oyster Cult- Club Ninja
Neil Young- Landing On Water
After a couple of days of doing some stuff. Got a couple of hip hop albums finished from 1993. And got some work done that I will reveal on Early March on my diary post. But for this greatest hits, this was excellent. Now there will be a disclaimer that when I overhaul my year end for 1993, greatest hits will not be included. Feels like cheating. Though it does mean I can't include the Zapp and Roger greatest hits. But back to this. This does make me want to venture through Tom Petty's catalogue. Love the Americana folk that this has. And there are some heavy highlights throughout. I think the only thing I would complaint is that I want to see ow each album works on its own. I realized that the two from the 70's are only a half hour long. I could knock those out. But still a worthwhile collection of songs. Grade:90
For me personally this is on my overall. I think it really captures his work the best. I don't agree that studio albums are the only/best way to enjoy an artist. Give them a listen - not saying don't, but almost every time I hear a studio album I really just wish I had listened to this... or at least I'm not as satisfied. It's just a perfect near chronological release of his... wait for it... best work. hehe. I don't consider him to be "chasing" the most amazing holistic album experience and as such I don't feel like this or similar artists who are amazing, but to experience them the best way actually is their comps, not their studio albums.
Anyway, that's more me being on a soapbox than anything else. Probably just disregard... 🤣
RoundTheBendI miss the comfort in being sadProfile Ground Control
Confusion by Fela Kuti & Africa 70
Great jam. Historically/culturally significant for Nigeria and it's multi-culturalism. It didn't grab me as GOAT material, but totally a great jam.
2. The closing chapter - hard to not pick a Sly Stone album even if dunno if this one is any good: Sly & The Family Stone- Ain't But The One Way
3. BayState's Top 100 (6 left)
57. Shakara by Fela Kuti
58. Coffin For Head Of State by Fela Kuti
15. New Age Of Earth by Ashra
31. Apocalypse, Girl by Jenny Hval (never all the way)
34. Gossamer by Passion Pit
40. Alvvays by Alvvays
41. The Wayward Bus by The Magnetic Fields
49. Wildflower by The Avalanches
51. Shangri-Las - 65! by The Shangri-Las
54. Blowout Comb by Digable Planets
Let's Get Out Of This Country by Camera Obscura
I might have heard this one before, idk. Even if I did, I love it much more now. Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken is of course a standout single, an incredible tune which I've known for quite some time. The main melody and chorus are seriously addictive, every once in a while I find myself singing it even though I don't play the actual song too often. But the rest of this album is so brilliant! In fact there were several songs that I thought were even better than the opener. I did not expect every song to be excellent, but it has that jangly twee pop sound which I'm a huge sucker for (if done right), as well as the tasty accordion on The False Pretender which I'm also a sucker for. So me loving this should not be surprising. This feels like another Veronica Falls syndrome (or earlier in my life, The Smiths syndrome), I'd discovered their debut some time in 2019 and played it every night before sleep for what feels like a whole month. I can see myself doing the same with this gem. It's immediate, it's (bitter)sweet and I think it has replay value too. 9/10
(2)
I'm sticking with the same theme rather than choosing Blowout Comb. Alvvays are another jangle pop band dear to my heart, try the s/t debut.
Boubacar Traoré - Mariama
Oidupaa Vladimir Oiun - Divine Music From A Jail
Rokia Traoré - Bowmboï
Soungalo Coulibaly - Dengo
--------------------------------------
The Magnetic Fields - The Wayward Bus
Belle And Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
The Magnetic Fields - The Charm Of The Highway Strip
Beach House - Devotion
The Cardigans - First Band On The Moon
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
This album is very unique. The beats and the music seem to never settle down like they are always floating a bit and ready to move on. The abstract bits are consistently really well done. The 2 rappers are very different yet they play off each other and the music beautifully. Love how the first song sets the mood so well, and I love track 2 as well. IDK I guess its a bit hard to write about it as its pretty abstract and I'm running short on stuff to compare it to. But I liked it. Very cool, Morther Moor and Billy Woods. 7.5/10.
Top 10 albums of 2020 per RYM that I have not heard.
1. Mestarin kynsi by Oranssi Pazuzu (#9)
2. Manger on McNichols by Boldy James & Sterling Toles (#23)
3. Little Dominiques Nosebleed by The Koreatown Oddity (#25)
4. Miles by Blu & Exile (#26)
5. Program Music III by Kashiwa Daisuke (#27)
6. 冀西南林路行 (Inside the Cable Temple) by 万能青年旅店 [Omnipotent Youth Society] (#28)
7. Toda história pela frente by Kaatayra (#31)
8. Melinoë by Akhlys (#33)
9. Hour of the Centaur by Hate Forest (#34)
10. Totschläger (A Saintslayer's Songbook) by Abigor (#35) _________________ -Ryan
Yes, a quicker turn around for this album. And I did enjoy it. But I wouldn't say it is an absolute favorite pop album for 93 or the 90's as a whole. It made me realized that the big hits, while good have this eh feeling where I'm wanting more. Hell I was feeling this was going to be the whole album, and was expecting to give this in the 60's range. But it was the deep cuts that actually made this more compelling. Not amazing, but pretty good. Also got to rep those few remixes on the album. Grade:70 but is closer to a 75.
P.S. You were fine Bend. And I will go through Tom Petty's stuff at some point.
(2)
Mercury, listen to Oranssi Pazuzu.
(3)
BEA's Top 100 Albums of 1993
(64) Meat Loaf-Back Out Of Hell II (would have to listen to the first Back Out Of Hell album)
(65) The Auteurs-New Wave
(67) Buffalo Tom-Big Red Letter Day
(70) Urge Overkill-Saturation
(71) Midnight Oil-Earth And Sun And Moon
(73) Donald Fagen-Kamakiriad
(76) The Posies-Frosting on the Beater
(79) Neil Young-Unplugged
(82) Cracker-Kerosene Hat
(83) Belly-Star
This is a totally fine album. Nothing more. Nothing less. It is fine. Sly is not quite as charismatic as in his prime. And the instrumentals range from serviceable to engaging, but nothing special. It also sounds a little dated by the standards of where funk was in 1982. This album could've been released anywhere from 1975 to 1980. Too bad it pretty much ended his career. It's not near that bad.
Luigii, listen to Belly.
Soft Machine- Land Of Cockayne
Camel- The Single Factor
Santana- Beyond Appearances
Supertramp- Free As A Bird
Joni Mitchell- Dog Eat Dog
John Martyn- Well Kept Secret
Alan Vega- Just A Million Dreams
Blue Oyster Cult- Club Ninja
Neil Young- Landing On Water
Grand Funk- What's Funk
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LedZep
Tha1ChiefRocka
RoundTheBend
Mercury
