September
65) Johnny Cash 'At Folsom Prison' (Jamie) 1968
This is awesome. Since it was recorded live at a prison
(hence the name!) it is notable different from a studio album, but I’m
fascinated by the way it truly feels as if you are listening in on a bit of
personal history. The subject matter is mostly ‘prison humour’, about the gallows
and so on, which I found a bit overload for an album but not enough to negate
how much I liked the album.
66) Blue Oyster Cult 'Agents of Fortune' (Danny) 1976
I was expecting metal;
wikipedia calls it 'hard rock'; I'd call it rock. However now I've got over it
not being what I expected; good, classic stuff. I don’t feel I have anything
more profound to say!
67) Alanis Morrissette ‘Jagged Little Pill’ (Steve, possibly also
mentioned by Jill) 1995
I think that I should have properly listened to the lyrics
if I'm going to have an opinion on this, but musically I love it. I always
forget that I know any songs beyond 'Ironic', but there are several classics on
here; and I love a bit of harmonica!
October
68) Queen 'A Night at the Opera' (Neil) 1975
Queen are amazing. This is so
good it could easily be a greatest hits album. End of.
69) Runrig 'Amazing Things' (Thomas H, Kirsty) 1993
My instant reaction to the
first song on the album was ‘it's a Scottish U2’. (No-one has told me to listen
to a U2 album, interestingly...) That was only the first two songs, and then it
changed, but I think my verdict is that although it was decent music to have on
while I did stuff, I wasn't particularly wowed. I am mildly afraid of offending
every Scottish person I know…
70) Iron Maiden 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' (Danny) 1988
This is very good. Obviously
late 80s/early 90s rock is where it's at (since I also loved Metallica!)
71) Beastie Boys
'Licensed to Ill'
(Ray) 1986
IMHO, this is awful. There are
a few half decent riffs and interesting bits in the middle of the album, but
they quickly get boring when combined only with something that's in the middle
of shouting and out of tune singing. I now sound like I am 90 years old but I
don't care. I gather that it’s famed for its new use of sampling techniques et
cetera at the time, which I guess made it novel and makes it interesting in a
‘development of rap’ kind of way, but it doesn’t make it interesting to listen
to!
72) Guster 'Ganging up on the Sun' 2006
I listened to this because an
article said that clever people listened to Guster... not! However, the
article saying clever people listen to Guster was the trigger that reminded
James that there are some excellent songs by them, so it indirectly led to a
listen. My verdict: it’s beautiful. However, I’m irritated by the fact that
‘The New Underground’ sounds extremely like something else, I think, and I
CANNOT WORK OUT WHAT. In fact, it all feels faintly familiar. Anyone who can
help will gain a chocolatey reward.
73) The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band' (Aidan’s
boss at Sakura) 1967.
So; prior to today, I've only ever listened to early
Beatles. And I rather like early Beatles. Obviously I know they got a bit
stranger later, and the whole Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds LSD thing
but...just how, um, out of their minds were they when they made this? There is
a line about a horse doing a waltz. Obviously. There are some classics though
(When I’m 64, and Help from my Friends). Also listened to Abbey Road (Jill) 1969, which I think I preferred. Also, a bit of research left me astonished; how did they have eight studio
albums in four years?
74) Letters to Cleo
'Wholesale Meats and Fish' (Chrissie K) 1995
This is very much a 'meh'. It's energetic and rocky but it
doesn't really have a grab factor for me. And now I'm listening to so many
albums, they kind of need to have a grab factor for me to enjoy them! It did grow on me as the album progressed, though.
