TYLER, THE CREATOR
IGOR
2019 – COLUMBIA
Produced By TYLER, THE CREATOR
1. Igor’s Theme
2. Earfquake
3. I Think
4. Exactly What You Run From You End Up Chasing
5. Running Out Of Time
6. New Magic Wand
7. A Boy Is A Gun
8. Puppet
9. What’s Good
10. Gone, Gone / Thank You
11. I Don’t Love You Anymore
12. Are We Still Friends?
Igor, the sixth album by Tyler, The Creator, saw its beginnings in 2017 when the song “Earfquake” was written for, and turned down, by Justin Beiber and Rihanna. The follow up to his breakthrough album Flower Boy, Igor saw Tyler break new ground and take new chances. The story revolves around the artist being in love with a man who is in a relationship with a woman. This is a hip hop album. But it’s actually more of a pop and R&B album. There’s more singing than rapping, there’s more synthesizers than anything else, and the ease with which he brings it all together makes for one of the best listening experiences from the year 2019. The improvement from Flower Boy to Igor is stunning…Tyler, The Creator shows that he is constantly learning and expanding as an artist. This album made him a bone fide star.
“Earfquake” is a natural and irresistible hit. “New Magic Wand” and “Gone, Gone / Thank You” are highlights as well. There are brief spoken word inserts by Jerrod Carmichael, meant to aid in the understanding of what our hero is feeling. There’s also vocal help from Kanye West, CeeLo Green, Pharrell Williams, Solange and Lil Uzi Vert. Tyler, The Creator is not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s not afraid to wear his musical interests on his sleeve. Igor was a huge success, winning a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2020 (even though it’s more soul than rap). And since that time, his next three albums have all gone to number one. This is an album that will grow on you, and it’s really quite excellent. I would say that this is a must hear, and it may well become a must have for you, as it has for me. Igor is pure excellence.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
DEVENDRA BANHART
SMOKEY ROLLS DOWN THUNDER CANYON
2007 – XL RECORDINGS
Produced By NOAH GEORGESON
1. Cristobal
2. So Long Old Bean
3. Samba Vexillographica
4. Seahorse
5. Bad Girl
6. Seaside
7. Shabop Shalom
8. Tonada Yanomaminista
9. Rosa
10. Saved
11. Lover
12. Carmensita
13. The Other Woman
14. Freely
15. I Remember
16. My Dearest Friend
Another edition of Devendra Banhart’s own personal world of freak folk. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is his sixth album, and marks the back side of his mini career peak that started with his previous record, Cripple Crow, and ends here. Banhart is a modern day hippie, and his songs reflect that perfectly. He’s so laid back that despite this album being written about a romantic breakup, it sounds lazy, stoned and blissful. The sound is good, but you will find that the most interesting part of this is the fairly massive booklet that comes with it (at least with this limited edition CD release), not surprising given that Banhart is also a visual artist. Musically, his alternating between English and Spanish works, depending on the song. But his spacey demeanor and stoney music doesn’t always fit the track, unfortunately.
The best song here, by far, is “Seahorse”. “Carmensita” (known for having Natalie Portman in the video) is good as well, but the rest is pretty hit or miss…”So Long Old Bean” is a completely annoying misfire, while “Lover” works just fine. His influences being Latin musicians is no surprise, as most of the tracks sound like they were written deep in South America. Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) is supposedly a guest on “Samba Vexillographica”, but if you can spot him, you have better ears than I do. Smokey Rolls is an uneven album disguised by some cool rhythms and an occasional rock freakout. Banhart’s songwriting is the culprit here…he just doesn’t seem to have that one great song in him, but bless his heart for trying. He’s made five albums since this one, each one having gone a bit more unnoticed than the last.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
JOHNNY CASH
AMERICAN V: A HUNDRED HIGHWAYS
2006 – AMERICAN
Produced By RICK RUBIN
1. Help Me
2. God’s Gonna Cut You Down
3. Like The 309
4. If You Could Read My Mind
5. Further On Up The Road
6. On The Evening Train
7. I Came To Believe
8. Love’s Been Good To Me
9. A Legend In My Time
10. Rose Of My Heart
11. Four Strong Winds
12. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
Well, Johnny Cash left us 22 years ago today. Hard to believe that one. American V is the second to last album in the series produced by Rick Rubin, and the first one after his death. The album was recorded in 2003, and it became his first number one in 37 years (that was At San Quentin). The American series is raw and honest, but it’s also a bit sad, as you could tell that Cash was squeezing out every last bit of performance that he had before the end. Rubin understood that, and let Cash be who he was. A Hundred Highways is not the strongest of the series…five volumes in, and the material was beginning to thin out a bit. But there are some great moments here, and the album is well worth hearing. The American series was a perfect way to cap an incredible career, with Cash going out doing what he always did best.
The traditional “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” is the best track here. There are a pair of original songs, including “Like The 309”, the last song he wrote and the second to last he recorded. The most recognizable song is Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind”, but he also takes on the likes of Hank Williams (“On The Evening Train”) and Bruce Springsteen (“Further On Up The Road”). Larry Gatlin wrote “Help Me”, and performed the song at the funerals of both Cash and June Carter-Cash. Sure, Johnny’s voice sounds like it’s been to hell and back, but why would you want these last albums to sound any other way? His ability to embrace songs old and new, and from multiple genres and make the songs sound like his own was a true gift. The entire American series is highly recommended. He was a true star. Always will be.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
JOHNNY CASH
AMERICAN V: A HUNDRED HIGHWAYS
2006 – AMERICAN
Produced By RICK RUBIN
1. Help Me
2. God’s Gonna Cut You Down
3. Like The 309
4. If You Could Read My Mind
5. Further On Up The Road
6. On The Evening Train
7. I Came To Believe
8. Love’s Been Good To Me
9. A Legend In My Time
10. Rose Of My Heart
11. Four Strong Winds
12. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
Well, Johnny Cash left us 22 years ago today. Hard to believe that one. American V is the second to last album in the series produced by Rick Rubin, and the first one after his death. The album was recorded in 2003, and it became his first number one in 37 years (that was At San Quentin). The American series is raw and honest, but it’s also a bit sad, as you could tell that Cash was squeezing out every last bit of performance that he had before the end. Rubin understood that, and let Cash be who he was. A Hundred Highways is not the strongest of the series…five volumes in, and the material was beginning to thin out a bit. But there are some great moments here, and the album is well worth hearing. The American series was a perfect way to cap an incredible career, with Cash going out doing what he always did best.
The traditional “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” is the best track here. There are a pair of original songs, including “Like The 309”, the last song he wrote and the second to last he recorded. The most recognizable song is Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind”, but he also takes on the likes of Hank Williams (“On The Evening Train”) and Bruce Springsteen (“Further On Up The Road”). Larry Gatlin wrote “Help Me”, and performed the song at the funerals of both Cash and June Carter-Cash. Sure, Johnny’s voice sounds like it’s been to hell and back, but why would you want these last albums to sound any other way? His ability to embrace songs old and new, and from multiple genres and make the songs sound like his own was a true gift. The entire American series is highly recommended. He was a true star. Always will be.
It was the American series that got me back into Johnny Cash after years of visiting his old albums and not expecting anything contemporary from him these albums were a revelation. Loved many of them, liked them all.
You're right, not his strongest Rubin produced album but, Johnny Cash could have probably sung the phone book and made you weep. One of the true great voices of the last 70 years. True and honest. An all time great
It was the American series that got me back into Johnny Cash after years of visiting his old albums and not expecting anything contemporary from him these albums were a revelation. Loved many of them, liked them all.
You're right, not his strongest Rubin produced album but, Johnny Cash could have probably sung the phone book and made you weep. One of the true great voices of the last 70 years. True and honest. An all time great
Thanks! I think it's important to emphasize that Rubin saw in Cash an ability to make any song come to life in his hands, and that he allowed Cash to be himself during the recordings. Cash had spent so many years with his performances buried in bad orchestrations and groups of backup singers. And Cash saw that Rubin had the ability to bring out his raw vision of those songs, and allow him to be Johnny Cash at the end of it all. A really magical series, and happy that Cash got to do this before he died. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
SELASEE
AFRICAN GATE
2010 – BLACK EYE WATCHING
No Production Credit
1. African Gate
2. Let Me Be
3. Searching
4. One Day
5. Music In My Head
6. Pray For Me
7. Not The Way
8. Maawu
9. Settle Down
10. Saidaway
Selasee Atiase was born and raised in Ghana, then moved to the United States in 1999. He settled in my home state of Colorado, where he continues to play regularly and record sporadically. His debut album from 2005, Run, is mostly known for having its title track included in the popular video game FIFA 2006. It also won 1st prize in the International Songwriting Competition. And that was it for Selasee on the big stage. African Gate is his second album, but after taking five years to record and release it, whatever little momentum he may have had was gone. Reggae acts based in America tend to not sell a lot of records, and African Gate died a silent and unknown death. He settled in Boulder, Colorado and formed his band, Selasee And The Fafa Family, with whom he released a third album in 2014.
African Gate is ultimately an unremarkable mixture of African and reggae songs. He lists as his main influences Bob Marley and Nat King Cole, which should give you an idea of the path his music goes down. There’s nothing special on this record, but there’s also nothing bad on it. Selasee seems to have known he wasn’t going to get further than this, and he seems content with it. He’s worked as an opening act for several big name reggae acts, and he continues to play local shows in the Rocky Mountain region that have earned him a reputation as a fine showman. And finally, after an eleven year gap, he and his band are finally releasing a fourth album, due this fall. Selasee is good, and African Gate is not so bad. But in the end, if you’ve never heard him, you’re really not missing a lot. Average and mostly forgettable.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
ALABAMA
GREATEST HITS VOL. III
1994 – RCA NASHVILLE
VARIOUS PRODUCERS
1. Give Me One More Shot
2. We Can’t Love Like This Anymore
3. Tennessee River
4. When We Make Love
5. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)
6. There’s No Way
7. Face To Face
8. Jukebox In My Mind
9. Forever’s As Far As I’ll Go
10. I’m In A Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)
11. Angels Among Us
If you have released an album titled Greatest Hits Vol. III, it’s a pretty safe bet you’ve had a pretty great career. And yes…Alabama has been one of the most successful bands in the history of not only country music, but in all of American music. Their long run of success had slowed, but continued into the nineties, prompting the release of this album. And like pretty much everything else they touched, it was a huge success. Were they reaching back for minor hits and B-sides? They were not. The first two tracks were previously unreleased, but after that, eight of the nine had reached number one on the charts. The one that didn’t reach the top was “Angels Among Us”, a popular Christmas song from the previous year with a vocal remix. This band may have well called themselves Guaranteed Success…that’s what they were for so many years.
These songs were recorded between 1980 (“Tennessee River”) and 1994 (the two new tracks). Perhaps the best known hit here is “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas”, from their 1984 album Roll On. Alabama was built on great harmonies and songwriting, which is all in play here. Even the two new songs became top ten hits for the band. But the wheels were slowing down for them, as newer and shinier country artists took their place on the charts. Alabama still soldiers on to this date, even without guitarist Jeff Cook, who passed away in 2017. Seriously, though. Greatest Hits Vol. III? How could you not check these guys out? They’ve had more than forty number one hits, and a dozen top ten albums. Greatest Hits Vol. III is more than relevant. Alabama is maybe the greatest country band ever. This deserves at least a listen.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
It was the American series that got me back into Johnny Cash after years of visiting his old albums and not expecting anything contemporary from him these albums were a revelation. Loved many of them, liked them all.
You're right, not his strongest Rubin produced album but, Johnny Cash could have probably sung the phone book and made you weep. One of the true great voices of the last 70 years. True and honest. An all time great
Thanks! I think it's important to emphasize that Rubin saw in Cash an ability to make any song come to life in his hands, and that he allowed Cash to be himself during the recordings. Cash had spent so many years with his performances buried in bad orchestrations and groups of backup singers. And Cash saw that Rubin had the ability to bring out his raw vision of those songs, and allow him to be Johnny Cash at the end of it all. A really magical series, and happy that Cash got to do this before he died.
NINE INCH NAILS
THE FRAGILE
1999 – NOTHING / INTERSCOPE
Produced By TRENT REZNOR & ALAN MOULDER
1. Somewhat Damaged
2. The Day The World Went Away
3. The Frail
4. The Wretched
5. We’re In This Together
6. The Fragile
7. Just Like You Imagined
8. Even Deeper
9. Pilgrimage
10. No, You Don’t
11. La Mer
12. The Great Below
1. The Way Out Is Through
2. Into The Void
3. Where Is Everybody?
4. The Mark Has Been Made
5. Please
6. Starfuckers, Inc.
7. Complication
8. I’m Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally
9. The Big Come Down
10. Underneath It All
11. Ripe (With Decay)
Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails peaked pretty early on. Their first four albums are easily their best, with the second, The Downward Spiral, being at the top. The follow up to that album was 1999’s The Fragile. It’s a very personal record, with themes about Reznor’s depression and heavy drug use. It’s also a very long album…two discs that clock in at just under an hour and 45 minutes. So, you’d best be sitting down. It’s been compared (somewhat unfairly) to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and it does have its issues. But it’s also a powerful record that overcomes its own shortcomings, like the length of it all and Reznor’s problems coming up with lyrics for the album. The album received some poor reviews early on, but it has gained favor over the years. Despite its length, it’s the third best selling Nine Inch Nails album.
There are several high points here. “We’re In This Together”, “Into The Void” and “The Day The World Went Away” are very strong. “La Mer” and “Somewhat Damaged” are also standouts. Instrumentally, this might be their best effort, with several tracks not having vocals. The album is less industrial sounding, with more atmospheres than on previous releases. Reznor dips into elements of progressive rock, modern classical, and electronica, with satisfying results. Unfortunately, to took six years before this was followed up. While With Teeth sold well, it was released into a different musical world, and marked the beginning of Nine Inch Nails no longer being on top of the world. The Fragile isn’t regarded as highly as The Downward Spiral or Pretty Hate Machine…but perhaps it should be. A fine and somewhat underrated record.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
NINE INCH NAILS
THE FRAGILE
1999 – NOTHING / INTERSCOPE
Produced By TRENT REZNOR & ALAN MOULDER
1. Somewhat Damaged
2. The Day The World Went Away
3. The Frail
4. The Wretched
5. We’re In This Together
6. The Fragile
7. Just Like You Imagined
8. Even Deeper
9. Pilgrimage
10. No, You Don’t
11. La Mer
12. The Great Below
1. The Way Out Is Through
2. Into The Void
3. Where Is Everybody?
4. The Mark Has Been Made
5. Please
6. Starfuckers, Inc.
7. Complication
8. I’m Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally
9. The Big Come Down
10. Underneath It All
11. Ripe (With Decay)
Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails peaked pretty early on. Their first four albums are easily their best, with the second, The Downward Spiral, being at the top. The follow up to that album was 1999’s The Fragile. It’s a very personal record, with themes about Reznor’s depression and heavy drug use. It’s also a very long album…two discs that clock in at just under an hour and 45 minutes. So, you’d best be sitting down. It’s been compared (somewhat unfairly) to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and it does have its issues. But it’s also a powerful record that overcomes its own shortcomings, like the length of it all and Reznor’s problems coming up with lyrics for the album. The album received some poor reviews early on, but it has gained favor over the years. Despite its length, it’s the third best selling Nine Inch Nails album.
There are several high points here. “We’re In This Together”, “Into The Void” and “The Day The World Went Away” are very strong. “La Mer” and “Somewhat Damaged” are also standouts. Instrumentally, this might be their best effort, with several tracks not having vocals. The album is less industrial sounding, with more atmospheres than on previous releases. Reznor dips into elements of progressive rock, modern classical, and electronica, with satisfying results. Unfortunately, to took six years before this was followed up. While With Teeth sold well, it was released into a different musical world, and marked the beginning of Nine Inch Nails no longer being on top of the world. The Fragile isn’t regarded as highly as The Downward Spiral or Pretty Hate Machine…but perhaps it should be. A fine and somewhat underrated record.
The Fragile is in my top three favourite NIN album with, not surprisingly, Downward Spiral & Pretty Hate Machine but I can fluctuate between all three as to which which is my #1 almost on a daily basis.
You mention, Without Teeth. I also think that this is a really good album.
Trent Reznor of course went on to compose a significant number of TV and film scores. My favourite would have to be the main title for Fear The Walking Dead. Great composition. Also the English language version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Romanelli
