Goodbye Everybody, I've Got to Go

      I've reached a point in my life where I need to kill the dreams of youth, move on with whatever time I have remaining, and dream some new dreams. My oldest dream was to be a writer. In reality, it was just a delusion because I never fully committed to the craft of writing. When I was in college and the whole world was ahead of me, I went into Education so I would have a "backup plan" to being a writer. By the time I flamed out as a teacher, I was in a doomed first marriage, and settled into a series of retail management jobs. In 2012, I had an epiphany. I had come into possession of a couple record collections, and began to muse over what would happen to my music collection when I die. That, of course, was the genesis of Sound Mind. I decided to start a blog in order to force myself to write every day, with the end goal being a published book. Thirteen years later, I'm no closer to writing a book than I am to being the new drummer in RUSH. 

     I never created the Sound Mind blog with the intention of monetization or promotion. It was supposed to be a means to an end. After all these years, the end is still not in sight. It's time to pull the plug on my self-delusional vanity project. Hell, as far as I know, I'm just talking to myself anyway. Occasionally, I've had the vibe that someone was actually reading these posts, but I have no evidence to that effect. I have no followers or commenters. If anyone out there has been reading Sound Mind you have my thanks. I'm guessing it's mostly bots, though. But, like I said, that wasn't the point. In recent years, Sound Mind has strayed quite a bit from its original mission. Much of what I publish now has nothing to do with my collection or what will happen to it. It's just Deep Dives and other low hanging content. What's the point. And honestly, no one cares what will happen to my collection. Either my kids will keep it, or my wife will sell it. It's all on Discogs at this point. I may even start selling it off before I die. Sometimes, I feel stupid for continuing to collect records like I'm still 10 years old, but it fills a hole in my life. 

     Anyhow, this final post is mostly closure for me. If there really is anyone out there that enjoys reading Sound Mind, I'm sorry, but it's time for me to shut it down. In the immortal words of Queen, "Goodbye everybody, I've got to go". Peace Out. 

     

     

     

2000 Deep Dive: The Songs

      Every song in my Top 25 for the year 2000 is from one of my Top 25 albums, except one. There is nothing from the Billboard charts. The handful of chart singles I might have considered were actually on albums from 1999, so I didn't count them. The Eels and Grandaddy had some songs that almost made the list. So, not a super exciting list, but it is what it is. Peace.

25. WATCHING ME FALL - THE CURE

     Who knew The Cure had 11 minute epics with amazing guitar-scapes. 

24. SECRETS OF THE SEA - WILCO AND BILLY BRAGG

     A beautiful song from an otherwise middling project.

23. L.A. - ELLIOTT SMITH

     This song is packed with Beatles goodness.

22. DARK CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE - MODEST MOUSE

     I love Isaac Brock's lyrics and unhinged delivery. 

21. NOTHING IS GOOD ENOUGH - AIMEE MANN

     The voice of an angel. An angel who got messed over by her record label.

20. DUSTING COATTAILS - EYESINWEASEL

     Prime hi-fi Tobin Sprout. 

19. BEAUTIFUL DAY - U2

     Don't let it get away.

18. HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO - THE HIVES

     Great song for blowing off some steam.

17. WORK IT OUT - THE GLANDS

     Fantastic piece of garage rock pastiche.

16. BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU - THE DANDY WARHOLS

     The Dandys channeling The Rolling Stones. 

15. TWO LIBRANS - THE FALL

     I don't know what a "Libran" is, but this song kicks ass. 

14. ELEVATION - U2

     I enjoy when U2 rock out.

13. HELLO OPERATOR - THE WHITE STRIPES

     "Hello operator. Can you give me number 9. Can I see you later? Will you give me back my dime?"

12. LETTER FROM AN OCCUPANT - THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

     Another great TNP track with Neko Case belting out the vocals. 

11. 3RD PLANET - MODEST MOUSE

     "Everything that keeps me together is falling apart".

10. MY FAVORITE HEADACHE - GEDDY LEE

     "I watch TV. What do you want from me?"

9. CALL THE LEGION IN TONIGHT - CENTRO-MATIC

     "Gavel drops! Chatter stops!"

8. CATCH THE SUN - Doves

     "I miss the way you lie".

7. WAITING - GREEN DAY

     The last great Green Day song.

6. WHERE'D YOU GO - J MASCIS + THE FOG

     This is classic J Mascis. Briefly considered it for #1.

5. MASS ROMANTIC - THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

     This may be the perfect indie rock song.

4. EVERYBODY'S STALKING - BADLY DRAWN BOY

     "Maybe all I need, you need to. Don't wait for me. I'll wait for you".

3. THIS IS A FIRE DOOR NEVER LEAVE OPEN - THE WEAKERTHANS

     "And the silence knows what your silence means".

2. OPTIMISTIC - RADIOHEAD

     "The best you can is good enough". (Unless you're Aimee Mann and Geffen Records). 

1. THE CEDAR ROOM - DOVES

     "I tried to sleep alone, but I couldn't do it". 

2000 Deep Dive: Part Five

     I can virtually guarantee no one else has this Top 5 for the year 2000. But I love all of these albums. I have lived with three of them for 20 plus years, and the other two are newer discoveries. 

5. DELTRON 3030 - DELTRON 3030 ( 4.5 STARS )

     I first fell in love with Del on "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz. I'm not a fan of hip hop, in general, but I do like rappers with a good flow and Del is the best I've heard. I tend to either like hip hop that has jazz samples or futuristic narratives. Deltron 3030 falls into the latter style. It's a concept album about the year 3030, where Deltron-Zero and The Automator fight against corrupt corporations. Very fun album. My favorite tracks are "Positive Contact" and "Virus". 

4. EYESINWEASEL - WRINKLED THOUGHTS ( 4.5 STARS )

     This is the only studio album by Tobin Sprout's side project, Eyesinweasel. Unlike Tobin Sprout's lo-fi solo albums, Wrinkled Thoughts is a full band banger. They also released a high energy live album called Live in the Middle East. In the end, this is still a showcase for Tobin Sprout's genius songwriting. Among the guitar rockers is "Slow Flanges" where Sprout continues to demonstrate that he possesses the most beautifully fragile and world weary voice. As further proof I submit "Hands and Covers". The rest of the album is high quality, GbV level rockers like, "Dusting Coattails", "Marriage Inc.", and "Jealous Mantles". Do yourself a favor.

3. CENTRO-MATIC - ALL THE FALSEST HEARTS CAN TRY ( 4.5 STARS )

     Another great album from Centro-matic, who features my favorite songwriter, Will Johnson. I love how this album starts with the fragile, one minute track "Cool That You Showed Us How" and flows into the banger "Blisters May Come". That's followed by my favorite song, "Call the Legion in Tonight". Other highlights include, "Huge in Every City" and "Most Everyone Will Find". I really miss these guys.

2. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - MASS ROMANTIC ( 5.0 STARS )

     Neko Case makes her triumphant return to the countdown with AC Newman and the rest of The New Pornographers. I hadn't heard this album until the dive and it blew my mind. The way it begins with a drumstick count in, then a chugging guitar riff, and then Neko belting out "Mass Romantic" had me completely hooked. This is a perfect indie rock album. The combination of Case and Newman is magic. I went to the record store to look for this. They didn't have it, but they had Electric Version and Twin Cinema, so I picked them up and they're fantastic as well. I'm kind of obsessed with TNP right now. 

1. DOVES - LOST SOULS ( 5.0 STARS )

     This should come as no surprise. I've posted multiple times about Lost Souls. This could be my album of the past 25 years. There have been so many great bands from Manchester, and Doves are one of the best. This album sounds like what I imagine Manchester to be. While I was doing some research on Lost Souls, I discovered that the members of Doves played on several tracks of Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of Bewilderbeast album. They also did gigs as his backing band. CRAZY! I don't know how I missed that when I was posting about Badly Drawn Boy. Virtually every song on this album is brilliant; but I'll call out "Here It Comes", "Sea Song", "Rise", "Catch the Sun", "The Man Who Told Everything", and "Cedar Room" as the standouts. I was first exposed to Doves by the music video for "Catch the Sun". Over the years, though, "Cedar Room" has become my favorite song on Lost Souls. I love the hand claps, and the chorus is glorious, yet devastating. I probably mentioned this before, but I would also recommend the B-sides and rarities compilation, Lost Sides. Lots of great stuff from this era that didn't make the album. Peace.

2000 Deep Dive: Part Four

      We have reached the Top 10 albums of 2000. Some of these won't be a surprise. One of them will be a huge surprise. My 6-10 has two new listens. I really like this Top 10, and I'm fairly confident no one else would agree with it. Here goes...

10. RADIOHEAD - KID A ( 4.0 STARS )

     Here's the huge surprise. I posted in the past about how I've bought Kid A twice, because I'm supposed to like it, and subsequently got rid of it twice. So, this dive gave me one more opportunity to connect with the album. And I did. It wasn't looking good after "Everything in Its Right Place" and the title track, but when the bass kicked in on "The National Anthem" my mind began to open. When I got to the brilliant track, "Optimistic" I was on board. It's one of the few guitar jams on Kid A. I would still have this ranked as, probably, my 5th favorite Radiohead album, but there's a chance I'll buy it for a third time. Third time's a charm.

9. BADLY DRAWN BOY - THE HOUR OF BEWILDERBEAST ( 4.0 STARS )

     Badly Drawn Boy is the moniker of Damon Gough. This album is a long time favorite of mine, that for some reason, I've never owned. It's a beautiful record. The track "Everybody's Stalking" is one of my all-time favorite songs. It's menacing and languid, with a great chorus. "Another Pearl" is a nice, Zombies adjacent, piece of Chamber Pop. There's even some lo-fi on the track, "Cause a Rockslide". My only complaint about The Hour of Bewilderbeast is it's over an hour long. There's too much to  focus on for that long, but it's still great. 

8. ELLIOTT SMITH - FIGURE 8 ( 4.5 STARS )

     Maybe it's because I'm old, and not in on the ground floor with Elliott Smith, but from the two albums I've listened to he seems very inspired by George Harrison. Not that it's a bad thing. Figure 8 is a marvelous record. The production is spectacular. The songcraft is great; particularly "Son of Sam" and "L.A.". The latter is quite Beatles-esque. I'll have to get around to his 90's albums, since they are all rated higher than Figure 8 on RYM. 

7. THE FALL - THE UNUTTERABLE ( 4.5 STARS )

     I'm really starting to love Mark E. Smith. The Unutterable opens to "Ballroom Blitz" drums on the track "Cyber Insekt". "Two Librans" is a banger, with snarling guitars. The riff on "W.B." sounds like a slowed down "Peter Gunn". He even gets in on the garage rock revival on "Hot Runes". I can't even explain "Octo Realm / Ketamine Sun, but it's a brilliant composition. "Serum" has a distinct cyber-punk sound. My favorite track is the psycho-billy tune, "Hands Up Billy". I could see this being a 5 star album after a few more listens. MES is a legend. 

6. GEDDY LEE - MY FAVORITE HEADACHE ( 4.5 STARS )

     Speaking of legends...Geddy Lee. During RUSH's five year hiatus, Geddy decided to make a solo album. He enlisted his friend Ben Mink and Grunge drummer Matt Cameron to record the excellent My Favorite Headache. It opens with a blistering bass riffs on the title track. The most surprising thing about MFH is Geddy Lee's level of lyric writing. Neil Peart wrote virtually all the lyrics in RUSH since Fly By Night, so no one really knew what to expect from Ged on that front. He comes out of the gate with, "One man standing on the plains of Abraham watching a damaged sunrise. One man standing near the edge of a quiet breakdown". Wow. I also love the line "Just between the ice ages anyway". The other standout track for me is "Runaway Train", but there are no bad songs on this record. Maybe, one of these days, he'll make another one. I hope so. Peace.

2000 Deep Dive: Part Three

      I guess the common denominator with my 11-15 albums is great guitar playing. There's some garage revival, indie rock, and wily veterans. Let's just get to it.

15. THE CURE - BLOODFLOWERS ( 4.0 STARS )

     Apparently, I like The Cure, or at least The Cure albums that don't have the hits. The guitar sound on this record is amazing, I'd never heard of Perry Bamonte before this dive, but his tone is great. I was completely blown away by the 11 minute track, "Watching Me Fall". It's hard to believe this is the same band that wrote "Love Cats" or "Just Like Heaven". I would never have expected this level of rock bombastic from The Cure. Maybe I need to do a deep dive of their catalog if there's more material like this. I could see this going up from 4 Stars with more listens. I've also grown to appreciate how Robert Smith lets these songs breathe. He could easily be an egomaniac who overpowers everything, but he chooses to lay back and let the band shine quite a bit. 

14. THE HIVES - VENI VIDI VICIOUS ( 4.0 STARS )

     This album didn't really click with me in 2000, but during this dive it really hit. I didn't expect to have two albums by Swedish bands in my Top 25, but here we are. I love the energy on "Die, Alright". "Main Offender" is classic garage rock. Of course, there's the infectious hit, "Hate to Say I Told You So". That bass solo is killer. 

13. MODEST MOUSE - THE MOON AND ANTARCTICA ( 4.0 STARS )

     "3rd Planet" may be Isaac Brock's greatest piece of songwriting, and that's saying something. "Dark Center of the Universe" may be the second greatest. Two great songs about fucking people over. Even though Modest Mouse's guitar sound is a little derivative of Built to Spill, I still love it. Overall, I don't like this album as much as Good News For People Who Like Bad News, but it's still an essential listen. If for no other reason it has the delightfully bonkers "Wild Packs of Family Dogs". 

12. THE WEAKERTHANS - LEFT AND LEAVING ( 4.0 STARS )

     John K. Samson is one of my favorite songwriters and should be the Poet Laureate of Canada, or at least Winnipeg. Left and Leaving is a 4 Star album just on the strength of three of my favorite Weakerthans songs; "Aside", "Watermark", and "This is a Fire Door Never Leave Open". I've posted about this before, so I won't rehash it here. The only thing keeping this at 4 Stars is that the album kind of drags in the second half, though the lyrics are still great. 

11. THE WHITE STRIPES - De Stijl ( 4.0 STARS )

     I've posted about this one as well. Except, at that time they hadn't yet been elected to the Rock Hall. They are one of the most important bands of the 2000's and were key to the garage revival movement. However, there is plenty of love for the Blues and Jimmy Page on De Stijl, as well. I still kick myself for never going to see them in Detroit when I could have, back in the day. Please get back together Jack and Meg. Peace.

2000 Deep Dive: Part Two

      My 16-20 albums consist of four new listens and one that I'd only listened to a couple times. There are three female artists, an Elephant 6 band, and a band that I'd never heard of that sounds like they were part of the Elephant 6 Collective. One of these artists is going to appear again higher up the dive. 

20. THE GLANDS - THE GLANDS ( 4.0 STARS )

     I don't know how I completely missed a band from Athens, Georgia who sound like The Kinks, if The Kinks had been a lo-fi, Elephant 6 band. The album is mostly laid back and atmospheric, with the exception of the guitar heavy tracks, "Straight Down" and "Work It Out". The latter reminds me of the Columbus band, Times New Viking. This was a fun discovery.

19. NEKO CASE & HER BOYFRIENDS - FURNACE ROOM LULLABY ( 4.0 STARS )

     Neko Case, and the artist at #18 are my favorite female vocalists. They couldn't be more different, stylistically. Neko is a red-headed spitfire who can belt out a tune. However, on Furnace Room Lullaby, she is a Country crooner and I like it. Especially the song, "Twist the Knife". It accentuates her magnificent voice. It's beautiful, yet still powerful. Much different from her idiosyncratic delivery in her other band, The New Pornographers. I need to check out the rest of her catalog. 

18. AIMEE MANN - BACHELOR NO. 2 ( 4.0 STARS )

     Voices Carry. RUSH's "Time Stand Still" music video. What's not to love about Aimee Mann? Bachelor No. 2 is widely considered her best solo album. Musically, it's solid, but Aimee's vocals and lyrics are phenomenal. It features guest appearances by the likes of Juliana Hatfield, Grant Lee Phillips, Ric Menck, Benmont Tench, and her husband Michael Penn. The standout track is "Nothing is Good Enough", which was written about Geffen Records which eventually dropped her album because they didn't hear a hit single. Record Labels are dumb. 

17. THE APPLES IN STEREO - THE DISCOVERY OF A WORLD INSIDE THE MOONE ( 4.0 )

     The Apples in Stereo are the most conventional indie pop act to emerge from the Elephant 6 Collective. Robert Schneider's outfit is still pretty weird, though. More attention was paid to individual songwriting and production, while still maintaining the band's DIY charm. And the vocals are quite John Lennon inspired. Velocity of Sound is probably the best entry point for The Apples, but this wouldn't be bad either. 

16. SLEATOR-KINNEY - ALL HANDS ON THE BAD ONE ( 4.0 STARS )

     I'm not very familiar with Sleator-Kinney, or what the situation is with their vocals. I assume all three members sing, but I don't know who sings what or anything. The general vibe I get is they are a combination of Go-Go's era Belinda Carlisle, and Kate and Cindy from the B-52's. That's a pretty good vibe. The album opener, "The Ballad of a Ladyman" has some great hand clap action. "You're No Rock 'N' Roll Fun" is...well...fun. In the music video, Carrie Brownstein is playing the same style of Rickenbacker that I have, which earns her some bonus points. My favorite track is "Pompeii", which is heavily B-52's inspired. A friend of mine used to berate me for dismissing female bands. She had a valid point. If Robert Pollard did vocals on this album I'd have been all over it for the past 25 years. It would be easier if more female bands rocked out like Sleator-Kinney. Peace.

     

2000 Deep Dive: Part One

      Turns out, 2000 was more of a slog than I hoped it would be. It began with plenty of promise. I had a 5 star, new listen on the first day. There are 11 new listens all together in my Top 25. But, in the end, there are only two 5 Stars, six 4.5 Stars, 15 4 Stars, and two 3.5's. So, 2000 was a solid year, but not as loaded as it first appeared. Many albums I was looking forward to were quite disappointing. I almost bailed on the whole thing last week, but I was committed. I'm not sure if I want to continue doing these Deep Dives going forward. The discord group I'm in is either doing 1967 or 1979 next, so we'll see. 

25. GREEN DAY - WARNING ( 3.5 STARS )

     Truthfully, I wasn't expecting this to make the Top 25. I did buy it when it came out, and listened to it on the regular, but I'd kind of forgotten it over the years. Setting aside the last 20 horrible years of the band, Warning was the final salvo of Green Day's prime era. The title track, "Jackass", and "Deadbeat Holiday" are standout tracks, and "Waiting" is an all-timer. While it's no Dookie or Nimrod, it's really solid. 

24. U2 - ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND ( 3.5 STARS )

     At the time, I was down on U2. I wasn't a fan of their 90's over-indulgent nonsense. "Beautiful Day" seemed like a glorious reboot for the band. "Elevation" is a banger that presages their next album. "Stuck in a Moment" and "Walk On" are great singles. "Kite" is a fantastic album cut that features some nice guitar work from The Edge. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is mediocre, so I have it at  3.5 Stars. Over the years, I've been able to separate U2's 90's songs from their 90's marketing and can appreciate how great they were. But these singles still hold up quite well. 

23. THE HELLACOPTERS - HIGH VISIBILITY ( 4.0 STARS )

     In the Year 2000, The Hellacopters were not on my radar. They seem to have been lumped in with the early 2000's garage revival, but after listening to High Visibility they seem like the 70's classic rock revival I didn't know I needed 25 years ago. And they're from Sweden! This album rocks...hard. It's like Grand Funk or Foghat on steroids. The guitars are muscular and the riffs abound. It also has that 70's drum sound that I grew up on. I need to check out their back catalog. I don't know how I missed out on these guys. 

22. THE DANDY WARHOLS - THIRTEEN TALES FROM URBAN BOHEMIA ( 4.0 STARS )

     For some reason, I have never owned this album. I picked up their previous release, The Dandy Warhols Come Down, and it was fantastic. And one of my favorite rock documentaries is Dig!, in which the Dandys play the foils to Brain Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcomb. It was a bad call on my part, because Thirteen Tales is really good. It's another album that makes me question why I hate The Velvet Underground, because their DNA is all over this, especially the track "Solid". Except, Thirteen Tales rocks considerably more than anything by The Velvets, yet is still hazy and druggy. The standout song is "Bohemian Like You", which was a minor hit at the time. The opening riff is very Stones-y. 

21. J. MASCIS + THE FOG - MORE LIGHT ( 4.0 STARS )

     More Light sounds like a Dinosaur Jr. album with Bob Pollard and Kevin Shields helping out. Sounds good to me. I love Pollard's backing vocals on the opening track, "Sameday". Mascis, once again, displays his lyric writing and guitar chops that made Dinosaur Jr. one of the great indie underground bands. The "hit" from More Light was "Where'd You Go", which features some amazing, woozy guitar pyrotechnics. Pollard returns on "All the Girls" and "I'm Not Fine", the latter of which is a bombastic tour de force. Good stuff. Peace.

Ozzy ( 1948-2025 )

      How was I to know yesterday, when I posted about Black Sabbath's Sabotage, that Ozzy was going to die that day. While my post didn't slag Ozzy personally, it did slag the genre he helped create. In light of this, I felt I should write a few lines about the Prince of Darkness. 

     Ozzy was one of the most unlikely frontmen. He wasn't a golden god like Robert Plant. He didn't have a conventionally magnificent voice. He was never emulated by other artists. But along with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, he created Heavy Metal. In many ways Black Sabbath are the Alpha and Omega of Heavy Metal. Those first few albums are great. Ozzy's first few solo albums are brilliant. I did check out after Shot in the Dark, and never watched an episode of his reality show, but he was an important figure in the development of my musical taste. Bizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are perfect albums. I listened to them non-stop. Randy Rhoads blew my mind. His death was also a gut punch. 

     I wasn't going to pile on with another Ozzy tribute, but since I shot my mouth off about Sabotage it felt right to recognize his importance to music. It's nice that he was able to perform in Black Sabbath one more time before he passed. I would imagine it gave him a sense of pride in his legacy, and some closure. Rest in peace Ozzy. You lived a hell of a life. Peace.

In the Year 2000...

      Here's a fun fact. The year 2000 is as far away from today as it was from 1975. What? How can that be possible? Science, I guess. The laws of Time and Space are a bitch. At any rate, I decided to mark this occasion by doing another Deep Dive for the year 2000. I considered 1965, but when I looked at the releases for 2000 I changed my mind. There were many excellent albums that year by artists ranging from grizzled veterans to new acts. I've compiled a listening list of around 100 albums. Some are personal favorites, some are critically-acclaimed, and many I've never heard. It has the potential for a fantastic Top 25.

     I never made Mt. Rushmores for the 2000's, so it's a clean slate at the top. I started listening a few days ago and already have two 5 Star albums; both are debuts. It's going to take me awhile to get through this list, so bring some patience for the ride. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to another debut, Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, and the magnificent track, "Everybody's Stalking". I predict this album and song will make my lists, but I'll keep an open mind. What usually happens during these dives is I listen to all the great albums first, then it's a slog to the finish. I was going to attempt to mix it up somewhat this time, but so far I've been listening to the albums I'm already familiar with. Dumb ass!

     In the meantime, I'm always reassessing Sound Mind. It seems to have turned into a blog for album dives and discographies, which wasn't my original intent. I would like to get back into examining my actual collection. I would also like to post on a more consistent basis, but I have quite a bit of shit going on in my life that gets in the way. There are other projects I'd like to work on, as well, but in the end, Sound Mind tends to be my default. It's my way of screaming into the Void. Peace. 

     This aired on my 35th birthday!

       

     

Black Sabbath: Sabotage ( 1975 )

      There have been a confluence of events that made me want to circle back and put a bow on my 1975 Deep Dive; particularly in regards to Black Sabbath. Of course, the band have been in the news because of their final show with Ozzy. I also belong to a Discord group that is currently doing a 1975 deep dive and the discussion of Sabotage has been very positive. Many have it as a 5 star album. I have it at 3 Stars, and after today I can't imagine I will ever listen to it again. Where's the disconnect? Coincidentally, a YouTuber I follow recently posted a video questioning whether he still liked Heavy Metal. Naturally, this got me thinking about my collection and personal history with the genre. Before I address that, I should share my feelings about the actual album.

     I did a little research into the history of Sabotage to see if there were any potential reasons why this would have been a "difficult" recording. Turns out, they were in the process of suing their former manager, and the recording process was marked by anger and constant legal interruptions. In fact, the final track is an eight minute epic entitled, "The Writ". Sabotage is certainly an angry album. For me, the bottom line is that apart from Ozzy's vocals, this doesn't sound like Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi and Bill Ward are two of my favorite musicians, but on this record they are completely generic. This was their sixth album, so maybe it was a natural progression of their sound. Whatever the case may be, I don't like the direction. The reason I say it "may" be a natural progression is I realized I've never listened to their albums directly before, or after, Sabotage. The only records I own are Paranoid, Master of Reality, and the two Dio albums. I guess that doesn't make me as much of a fan of Sabbath, or Heavy Metal, as I thought. 

     Looking back at my teenage self, I fancied myself a metal head. I had long, Robert Plant hair. I listened to a radio station that played thrash metal, like King Diamond and Metal Church. I was into all the Hair Metal bands. I even liked early Metallica. I was really into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but currently, I only own two Iron Maiden albums and one by Judas Priest. Around this time, I was buying mostly cassettes, which I don't have anymore. So, that leaves a big hole in my collection that I haven't felt compelled to fill. That's because around the late 80's my taste in music began to change. I didn't like the "newer" Metallica. I hated Guns 'N' Roses. Hair Metal was becoming a joke. I found myself revisiting bands like R.E.M. I got into groups like The Smithereens and The Pursuit of Happiness. Then, in 1991, Nirvana came along and killed the Hair bands. I've mostly been a fan of alternative and indie rock ever since. 

     I still love those early Sabbath albums, but I'm not really a metal head after all. I certainly have no interest in the current state of Heavy Metal. When I was a young musician, I was impressed by flashy guitarists who did nothing but shred, and drummers who played machine gun double bass kicks, but those days are long gone. And don't get me started on metal vocalists. They all sound angry and constipated. I wasted a lot of time gatekeeping, in my mind, what was metal and what was just hard rock. In the end, it's all just music and we like what we like. Some people like Sabotage, but I am not one of them. Peace.

R.I.P. OZZY

Wet Leg - Moisturizer ( 2025 )

      I've been waiting for the release of Wet Leg's second album with a combination of excitement and dread. Three years ago, when I first watched the video for "Chaise Longue", I became obsessed with Wet Leg. I fully realize that a 60 year old man isn't the demographic, or intended audience for this band, but I thought they were fascinating. They were quirky and confident, and the songs were fun. It seemed as though they single-handedly saved music from the post-pandemic malaise. So, why would I be dreading their new album, Moisturizer? Fear of being let down. Fear that Rian would become over confident, and over the top. When the video for the first single, "Catch These Fists", was released my fears seemed to be confirmed. Don't get me wrong, it's a great song. However, I wasn't a fan of her blonde dye job and foxy boxing outfit. I'm sure it's about empowerment, or something, but it put me on guard. She seemed to be leaning more into a "sex kitten" persona. I felt more like a voyeur than a fan. 

     Now that the record is out, and I've had some time with it, my misgivings were completely unfounded. It's even better than their debut. It's an infectious, high-energy statement with a full band sound. The touring band that Rian and Hester had put together has become their actual band with writing contributions. Every track is a banger. The musicianship and songwriting have taken a quantum leap. Hester Chambers even has two solo song credits, "Pond Song" and "Don't Speak", which she fronts. Both are excellent. "Don't Speak" is my second favorite song. It's classic indie rock with a great bass line. Rian does more actual singing on tracks like "Pokemon" and "11:21", and it's a nice development. The rhythm section is propulsive and the guitars are crunchy and fuzzy, just how I like them. This is most evident on my favorite song, "Pillow Talk". The opening track, "C.P.R." has a tremendous guitar riff while Rian is moaning "Is it love or suicide?" I could go on about every song and the lyrics, but I won't. However, I do love the line from "Catch These Fists"..."On my way to the club. Stupid is. Stupid does". My rating for Moisturizer...MAN DOWN! Peace.

     

1975 Deep Dive: Top 25 Songs

      Setting aside Captain and Tennille, and KC and the Sunshine Band, 1975 was a solid year for songs. It was difficult getting down to 25. I couldn't even include some singles that I had bought the 45, like "Lorelei", "Island Girl", and "Sara Smile". Other songs that didn't make the cut include, "Strange Magic", "Crazy on You", "Fame", "Miracles", "Take Me in Your Arms", "Sister Golden Hair", and "Hair of the Dog". Maybe I should have compiled a Top 40. I could start doing long distance dedications. 

25. IN MY TIME OF DYING - LED ZEPPELIN

     Not gonna lie. This is a great song, but it's on the list because of that Robert Plant part at the end.

24. IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP - AC/DC

     This is where the AC/DC template was created. Classic.

23. BAD SNEAKERS - STEELY DAN

     Michael McDonald's backing vocals are exquisite. Top tier yacht rock. 

22. FLY BY NIGHT - RUSH

     Geddy Lee hated singing this, but it's a fan favorite.

21. BEAUTIFUL LOSER - BOB SEGER

     Beautiful song, beautiful chorus, beautiful.

20. NO MORE, NO MORE - AEROSMITH

     "Blood stains the ivories of my daddy's baby grand. I ain't seen the daylight since I started this band"

19. ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY - IAN HUNTER

     What a vocal delivery. "I'm a-hummin' and a-strummin" all over God's world".

18. ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE - KISS

     This is an amazing live track. I dare you not to sing along to the chorus. 

17. GOOD LOVIN' GONE BAD - BAD COMPANY

     One of the all-time great guitar riffs. R.I.P. Mick Ralphs.

16. MAN ON THE SILVER MOUNTAIN - RAINBOW

     Dio and Blackmore. Enough said. 

15. SLOW RIDE - FOGHAT

     Fool For the City probably should have made my album list. LOVE this song!

14. BORN TO RUN - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

     "Someday girl, I don't know when, we're gonna get to that place where we really want to go and we'll walk in the sun".

13. CORTEZ THE KILLER - NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE

     "He came dancing across the water with his galleons and guns". 

12. EVIL WOMAN - ELO

     Jeff Lynne is a genius songwriter. Never gets the credit he deserves. 

11. LONGING FOR FIRE - SCORPIONS

     This was the most exciting discovery of the deep dive. Who knew...Scorpions in 1975. 

10. SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT - ELTON JOHN

     Greatest piano ballad ever. 

9. HARRY'S HOUSE / CENTERPIECE - JONI MITCHELL

     Magnificent combination of storytelling and composition. 

8. VENUS AND MARS / ROCK SHOW - PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS

     Only McCartney could have written the transition between these songs. Seamlessly magical. 

7. BLUE LETTER - FLEETWOOD MAC

     I know they have a lot of hits, but how is this not the biggest? 

6. YOUNG AMERICANS - DAVID BOWIE

     I'm not a big fan of the album, but this song is fantastic. 

5. WISH YOU WERE HERE - PINK FLOYD

     My favorite Pink Floyd song. Gilmour is a legend.

4. BLACK FRIDAY - STEELY DAN

     Probably my favorite Donald Fagen lyrics. 

3. KASHMIR - LED ZEPPELIN

     Most other years this would be #1. It's the best Zeppelin song on their best album. 

2. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - QUEEN

     The most improbably brilliant rock composition ever. It blew my 11 year old mind. 

1. THUNDER ROAD - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

     What else can I say about this song? It's literally perfect. Peace.

1975 Deep Dive: Part Five

      So, you've probably figured out the Top 5. There are two new albums on my 1975 Mt. Rushmore. The biggest fall was Queen's Night at the Opera, which dropped to 3.5 Stars and didn't make the list. There were so many records in 1975 that were full of weird, McCartney-esque, tin pan alley songs. Night at the Opera was one of those. Certainly, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is still one of my favorite songs, but most of the rest of the album is pastiche. An even more egregious example is 10CC's album, The Original Soundtrack. "I'm Not in Love" is a fantastic song, but the rest of the record is unlistenable schmaltz. And I'll never understand Sparks. Well, enough complaining about the crap. Here's the Top 5.

5. PINK FLOYD - Wish You Were Here ( 5 Stars )

     This is still one of my favorite albums, but I had to drop it to #5 for 1975. The title track will be near the top of my song list, but other albums are just more loaded and have more variety. This Top 5 is literally all legends. 

4. JONI MITCHELL - The Hissing of Summer Lawns ( 5 Stars )

     Why did I spend the vast majority of my life dismissing Joni Mitchell out of hand? Maybe I considered her too folk adjacent or too Dylan adjacent. Well, once again, I was a dumb ass. Joni Mitchell is a national treasure...for Canada. Her compositions and vocal style are entirely unique. Who else in 1975 would have written a song like "Jungle Line" with its mesmerizing Burundi drumming. There are few artists who possess her skills as a storyteller, and she makes it seem effortless. Evidence, the track "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow". Her breezy, tossed off delivery belies the depth of her lyrics. My favorite song is "Harry's House". It's quite acerbic and jazzy. I really need to start making up for lost time. 

3. NEIL YOUNG - Zuma ( 5 Stars )

     This was a first-time listen, and one of the few old Neil Young albums I don't own. Nobody seems to talk about this one and I don't get it. It presages 90's and 2000's lo-fi. The opener, "Don't Cry No Tears", sounds like a lost Guided by Voices song. "Danger Bird" could be a Jason Molina track. Zuma is right in my wheelhouse of fuzzed out, raggedy-ass indie rock. On "Pardon My Heart". Neil out CSN's Crosby, Stills and Nash. "Lookin' For a Love" is jangle pop perfection. The vocals on "Barstool Blues" sound like mid-period Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. "Stupid Girl" is a great example of why I love Neil's Crazy Horse albums the best. The guitar tone and drumming are exquisite. And "Cortez the Killer" is such an intense, slow burn that builds an almost unbearable tension that isn't released until four minutes into the song. The lyrics are as biting as those on his song "Ohio". I could see this eventually being my top album of 1975. Where was this all of my life?

2. LED ZEPPELIN - Physical Graffiti ( 5 Stars )

     This is my favorite Zeppelin album. I love double albums. Jimmy Page's riff on "Custard Pie" is one of the all-time greats. Bonham's drumming on "The Rover" is so dynamic. Robert Plant is in peak form throughout. And John Paul Jones is a bad, bad man. I can understand people who think this should have been a single album, because the first seven songs are perfect. But I love the later tracks as well. However, the song that rules Physical Graffiti is "Kashmir". It's their greatest. It's cinematic. While this album, as a whole, isn't as immediate as Zuma or the one at #1, it's a monumental release. 

1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND - Born to Run ( 5 Stars )

     This is unquestionably the best album in the genre of Heartland Rock. "Thunder Road" is arguably the best song written by an American artist. Springsteen was able to tap into the zeitgeist of small town life in 70's America. It's kind of surprising critics didn't look down their noses at Springsteen's odes to the little guy who always get fucked over by the system, but never gives up on hope or love. The other appeal of Born to Run is, obviously, the theme of escape. "It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap. We gotta get out while we're young. Cuz tramps like us, baby we were born to run." It's universal. Then there's Clarence fucking Clemons. He was the heart and soul of the E Street Band. I crap on The Boss sometimes. Especially his 80's stuff, but his 70's albums are all phenomenal. Peace.

1975 Deep Dive: Part Four

     My 6-10 albums are, quite possibly, the most bizarre combination of artists ever on one of these deep dives. There's a stunning first listen, a jazz-rock classic with a repeat artist, a live album, a band from Down Under, and an old blues band that changed personnel to become a pop juggernaut. You will never guess the #10 album in a million years. 

10. SCORPIONS - In Trance ( 4.5 Stars )

     This is the stunning first listen. Sure, I liked Scorpions for a hot minute in the 80's. Who didn't? The first Scorpions record I bought was Blackout and I still love the title track. Of course, I had Love at First Sting. But over the years I outgrew Scorpions and got rid of those albums and never gave them any more thought. Apparently, they were formed back in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Klaus Meine became the singer in 1970 and their first album was in 1972. In Trance is their third album. Who knew? Much to my amazement, this record is great and way better than any of their 80's albums. I have no recollection of In Trance being reassessed in the 80's after the band became hugely popular. It's an album that seems ahead of its time in 1975. On the surface, it's quite similar to Love at First Sting, but it doesn't have that 80's hair metal vibe. It's just a rock solid hard rock record. I was particularly blown away by the tracks "Top of the Bill" and "Longing For Fire". The latter is a two and a half minute masterclass in songcraft. I'm gonna have to track this down and also reacquire Blackout. What a pleasant surprise!

9. KISS - Alive ( 4.5 Stars )

     "You wanted the best and you got it." Thus begins one of the great "live" albums of the 70's. Then, KISS kicks into a blistering version of "Deuce", followed by the power riffage of "Strutter". Alive was assembled from shows in Detroit ( obviously ), Cleveland, New Jersey, and Iowa, with some "post production" to fix some live issues. As evidenced by their 1975 studio album, Hotter Than Hell, KISS translated much better live than in the studio. That's not meant to be a knock. Many bands in the 70's were better live; Cheap Trick, J. Geils Band, Pat Travers Band, and Peter Frampton to name a few. Alive also features personal favorite "Cold Gin" and the iconic live version of "Rock and Roll All Nite". It could be argued that the only KISS records anyone needs are the first two live albums. Rick Nielsen's parents might disagree. Surrender!

8. AC/DC - TNT ( 4.5 Stars )

     I'm not going to get in the weeds of what version of this record is correct or when it was released. It's a straight-up pub rock masterpiece. While I have mostly moved on from AC/DC and find them annoyingly overplayed on the radio, there's no denying their early albums are pretty great. TNT comes out firing with "It's a Long Way To the Top", which is a classic track. The combination of Bon Scott's beer soaked vocals and Angus Young's riffs is singular. 

7. FLEETWOOD MAC - S/T ( 4.5 Stars )

     Perhaps, the most significant lineup change in a band was Lindsay Buckingham joining veteran blues band Fleetwood Mac and insisting he was a package deal with girlfriend Stevie Nicks. The rest is history. While I'm not a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, there's no denying their album run of the self-titled record, Rumors, and Tusk is amazing. My favorite track is the exquisite pop deep cut "Blue Letter", but this album is one great song after another. Buckingham, Nicks, and Christine McVie are all in top form as songwriters and vocalists. Commercially, the two standout tracks are Stevie Nicks' "Rhiannon" and "Landslide". For me, the key ingredient is Lindsay Buckingham's guitar playing and his gift for song craft. 

6. THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA - Visions of the Emerald Beyond ( 5 Stars )

     After a couple years of listening to YouTuber Andy Edwards bang on about The Mahavishnu Orchestra, I decided to check out their 1975 album for this dive. Holy shit! This record is spectacular. Edwards is always on about former Miles Davis guitarist JohnMcLaughlin, jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, and drummer Narada Michael Walden, and now I know why. Walden's drumming is insane. He's on a par with Tony Williams. I've never had an interest in Jean-Luc Ponty before, but now I see where Kansas got the idea for a prog violinist. And John McLaughlin is on fire. Exhibit A is the track "Lila's Dance". There's a bit of weird vocal stuff on here, but it doesn't distract from the musicianship. I'm gonna have to deep dive this band too. Peace.

1975 Deep Dive: Part Three

     Here are some fun facts about my 11-15 albums. Four out of five artists are Brits. Two of them share a December 30th birthday with yours truly. Three of these albums were first time listens. When I broke the Top 25 into groups of five it was weird that this section was full of legends. So is the Top 5, but the 6-10 group is mostly C-Tier groups who just happened to put out excellent albums in 1975. Might as well start with the biggest legend. 

15. PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS - Venus and Mars ( 4.0 Stars )

     This is, arguably, Paul's second best post-Beatles album, behind Band on the Run. It's probably the most consistent. I love the title track, "Venus and Mars / Rock Show". The rest of the album is very solid, with the exception of the obligatory goofy McCartney song, "You Gave Me the Answer". "Listen to What the Man Said" was the big hit, but there are other great songs like "Letting Go", "Spirits of Ancient Egypt", and "Medicine Jar". The tour for Venus and Mars resulted in the brilliant live album Wings Over America. That was peak McCartney. 

14. CHRIS SQUIRE - Fish Out of Water ( 4.5 Stars )

     If there were any doubt about Chris Squire's importance to the sound of YES, it was erased by Fish Out of Water. This sounds pretty much like a great YES album. Bill Bruford is on board in the drummer's seat and the vastly underrated Patrick Moraz is on bass and synths. The compositions here are beautiful and virtuoso. This is the best prog album of 1975. Squire's transition from backing harmonies to lead vocals is seamless. I don't know why I had never listened to this record before. Squire is one of my favorite bassists and it was sad when he died before YES were inducted into the Rock Hall. I could see if I spent more time with Fish Out of Water and found a copy on LP that it could become a 5 star album. Listening to it again while I type this is already making me second guess my rating. There may not be an individual song that makes my Top 25, but "Lucky Seven" and "Hold Out Your Hand" are fantastic. 

13. PATTI SMITH - Horses ( 4.5 Stars )

     I have never really listened to Patti Smith before, despite Michael Stipe being a super fan, and U2 doing a great cover of "Dancing Barefoot". I didn't expect Horses to make my Top 25. I almost stopped listening after the first couple tracks. When the third track, "Birdland" came on I started to see the influences on Stipe. When I heard the next song, "Free Money", I realized I was a dickhead. Then came "Kimberly". I saw the light of  Patti Smith. What a great album. And we are birthday buddies. I will have to do a dive of her albums right after Joni Mitchell. 

12. ELO - Face the Music ( 4.5 Stars )

     Of course, my other birthday buddy is Jeff Lynne of the Electric Light Orchestra. I've always considered ELO a continuation of The Beatles. And Jeff Lynne eventually worked with George Harrison to great success. The George Harrison  guitar sound is all over Face the Music, especially on the instrumental opener "Fire on High", and the second track "Waterfall". "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic" are ELO classics. Even the deep cuts, like "Nightrider" are nuggets of pop genius. I really regret not going to see ELO last year when they came to the States for the last time. They are easily a Top 50 band for me, and Face the Music is probably their most consistent record. 

11. ELTON JOHN - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy ( 4.5 Stars )

     I don't know if Elton had any input over the lyrics on Captain Fantastic, but it seems to be Bernie Taupin's autobiography of him and Reg. The opening title track is magnificent. Hell, the whole record is magnificent. Side One ends with one of my favorite Elton John songs, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and when you flip the record over it's the fabulous rocker, "Gotta Get a Meal Ticket". In 1975, Elton John was the most important recording artist in my life. As I've grown older, Elton has receded to the back of my mind, but when I do these dives a little part of 1975 me is alive again. I could have ranked this record as high as #7, and most likely should have. It's funny that my babysitter would always bring over 1975's Elton John dud, Rock of the Westies, instead of Captain Fantastic, But it did have the hit single "Island Girl", so that's probably why. I was just a kid and thought it was all great. It sucks to lose your childlike wonder. Peace. 

1975 Deep Dive: Part Two

      I suppose the most interesting thing about albums 16-20 is that there are two records that feature Ian's. I hadn't intended that, but sometimes things just work out that way. Apart from that, there are no similarities between these artists whatsoever. There's a prog band, an eccentric genius, some studio perfectionists, an American rock band that I generally dislike, and one of my favorite singers. Let the countdown continue.

20. JETHRO TULL - Minstrel in the Gallery ( 4.0 Stars )

     The first Ian has been revealed. Yes, rock flautist Ian Anderson's band Jethro Tull comes in at #20. Jethro Tull are mostly a singles band for me. I inherited many of their albums a couple years ago and only kept Aqualung. This album was not among them. I enjoyed Minstrel quite a bit during this dive, despite the lack of "hits". Guitarist Martin Barre really stands out on this release. Anderson's vocals are powerful and he stands unchallenged as rock's master of the flute. I really didn't expect this to make the list, but it turned out to be a pleasant listen. I don't think I could ever make it through a whole Jethro Tull deep dive, though. 

19. IAN HUNTER - S/T ( 4.0 Stars )

     And the second Ian has now been revealed. Ian Hunter is my fifth favorite vocalist. He's a singular storyteller and his style is brashly over the top. One thing I've noticed during this dive is that many studio versions of classic songs pale in comparison to the live versions. "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" is one of those. It's still a fantastic track, but I prefer it live. This record also features Mick Ronson on guitar, who steals the show on the track, "The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin' But the Truth". When I listen to Ian Hunter, I feel like I'm listening to someone who's living their best life...no apologies. 

18. AEROSMITH - Toys in the Attic ( 4.0 Stars )

     I don't really like Aerosmith, but I'm not a monster. Toys in the Attic is a certified classic album. If I was being objective, it's probably a 4.5 or 5 star record. When I was in college, we played the hell out of this, but it doesn't hold quite the same charm for 2025 me. I've heard "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion" a million times too many. Some of the deep cuts, like "Uncle Salty", "Adam's Apple" and "No More, No More", still hold up quite nicely. And who doesn't love the ham handed double entendre of "Big Ten Inch Record". Too bad Aerosmith had that career revival in the late 80's and early 90's. That shit sucked. Oops, I guess I am a monster. 

17. FRANK ZAPPA - One Size Fits All ( 4.0 Stars )

     Somehow, Zappa keeps making it on my lists even though I'm not a huge fan. One Size Fits All is just that. It's a fairly normal record by Zappa standards. It features the opening track, "Inca Roads", which may be his most impressive composition in a vast catalog. Frank's guitar playing on this album is incendiary, particularly on a song like "Po-Jama People". I've enjoyed these Zappa albums in the context of yearly deep dives, but I don't think I could make it through all his albums in one go. 

16. STEELY DAN - Katy Lied ( 4.0 Stars )

     I love Steely Dan. They're such an unusual "band". Fagen and Becker had a singular musical vision and hired the hottest session players, Wrecking Crew style, to bring that vision to life. Seriously, the playing credits on Katy Lied are incredible. Jeff Porcaro and David Paich of Toto, Michael McDonald on backing vocals, Chuck Rainey on bass, Phil Woods on sax, and Larry Carlton and Ric Derringer on guitar, just to name a few. The album features all-timers like, "Black Friday", "Bad Sneakers", and "Doctor Wu". I would probably have it rated higher, but it does tail off quite a bit on Side Two. Still, it's pretty, pretty good. Peace.

1975 Deep Dive: Part One

     Somehow, I managed to compile a decent Top 25 album list for 1975. It was one of those years that had a wealth of great songs and a treasure trove of weird, unlistenable records. I'm looking at you Sparks, 10CC, and Split Enz. It was a mixed bag from artists I usually like. Some of the disappointments were The Kinks, Black Sabbath, and Bowie. On the bright side, I had some 4 Star albums that missed the cut; Jefferson Starship's Red Octopus, Styx Equinox, Foghat's Fool For the City, Doobie Brothers' Stampede, Miles Davis' Agharta, Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, and Steve Hillage. I even have an interesting bookend situation at #1 and #25. There are also 11 first time listens in my Top 25. And half of my Mt. Rushmore changed. My 21-25 is an interesting mix of artists. Here we go. 

25. MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND- Nightingales and Bombers ( 4.0 Stars )

     I know very little about this band besides they recorded an exceptional cover of Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light". Turns out, they previously covered Springsteen on this album. Turns out, "Spirits in the Night" is also the best song on this album. I had assumed that Manfred Mann was the singer, but it turns out Mick Rogers handles the vocals and plays one mean guitar. He is the most surprising discovery of this dive. Mann's organ and synth playing aren't bad either. I should probably listen to their 1976 release, The Roaring Silence, since I actually own it. It's weird that Mick Rogers was replaced by two guys on that album. He did rejoin in 1983, however. 

24. THE NEW TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME - Believe It ( 4.0 Stars )

     While this album is probably classified as jazz, it's more of a jazz-rock record. For one, Tony Williams' drumming style here is even more dynamic, and rock influenced. Secondly, Believe It features Allan Holdsworth on guitar. And it's produced by Bruce Botnick. The opening track, "Snake Oil", is quite King Crimson adjacent. These are two musicians playing at the top of their game. Do yourself a favor. 

23. BOB SEGER - Beautiful Loser ( 4.0 Stars )

     This is the album Seger was touring when he recorded Live Bullet, and there's no arguing that songs like the title track, "Katmandu", "Travelin' Man", and "Nutbush City Limits" sound much better live. Nonetheless, this is a fantastic album. I might be biased as a native Michigander, but I like it. Beautiful Loser and Live Bullet are all the Bob Seger anyone needs, though. 

22. NEIL YOUNG - Tonight's the Night ( 4.0 Stars )

     If you want to understand me, there are two Neil Young albums in this Top 25 and this is the lowest ranked, and there are no records by Stephen Stills, Crosby and Nash, The Eagles, or Dylan. That about sums up my taste in music. Technically this was recorded before 1975, but it was released that year. There's just enough random Crazy Horse contribution here to make this album better than most crap in 1975, but not enough to be better than Zuma. The track, "Albuquerque" comes pretty close. 

21. RUSH - Fly By Night ( 4.0 Stars )

     What would a Sound Mind Deep Dive be without a RUSH album. There were two in 1975, but one of them was Caress of Steel. Fly By Night marks the recording debut of Neil Peart as the drummer, and equally important, the lyricist. He comes right out of the gate with "Anthem"; a straight up rocker with literate lyrics. The title track is an autobiographical song about his move to the UK to make it in music, only to end up back in Canada. Lucky for all of us that he did and auditioned for RUSH. Fly By Night also features the fan favorite, and live staple, "By-Tor and the Snow Dog"; a prog epic inspired by two actual dogs. Of course, there has to be a Lord of the Rings song (Rivendell). The album closes out with "In the End", which starts out as a beautiful, acoustic number, then Alex kicks in with the power chords. This was the beginning of a 40 year musical journey that touched a lot of people's lives. Thanks Geddy and Alex. Rest in Peace Neil. You guys were the best. Peace. 

     

1975: Kill Me Now

      I really thought this 1975 dive was going to be a blast. This is the year my compulsion for buying records began. The radio was full of great songs. But other than a handful of 5 star albums, 1975 is a wasteland of albums ranging from alright to God awful. I'm actually on the verge of abandoning this dive. I'm about two-thirds of the way through my listening list, and as of now, Styx will be in my Top 25. I've resorted to grading these albums on a 1975 curve. 

     Even artists I really like put out sub standard records in 1975. There were two, count 'em, two horrible albums by The Kinks that I couldn't even bring myself to rate. RUSH put out two albums, one good, one horrible. Same with Elton John. I listened to Sabotage by Black Sabbath for the first time and didn't care for it. The solo albums by Steve Howe and Steve Hackett were fine, but disappointing. I forced myself to listen to a technically fine, but boring as hell album by The Grateful Dead. I was even going to attempt listening to Tom Waits, until I read some reviews of his 1975 album and changed my mind. I'm down to mostly jazz and obscure prog, so I'm not holding out much hope for miracles. I still have KC and the Sunshine Band on my list and I'm terrified I might give it 5 Stars out of desperation. Peace.

1975: Early Impressions

      In the early days of Sound Mind, I was quite forthcoming with my disdain for Bob Dylan. Since then, I have tried to have an open mind about Zimmerman. When one of the You Tubers from Tastes Like Music began a video series documenting his attempt to "get" Dylan, I tried to play along. I couldn't do it. On all of these Deep Dives I've been doing, I've listened to whatever Dylan albums came out those years. None of them have made the cut. But surely, 1975's Blood on the Tracks would make my Top 25. It's the critics consensus Number 1 album that year. Many consider it his best. What am I missing?

     Dylan released two albums in 1975, Blood on the Tracks, and The Basement Tapes with The Band. I gave both of them 3.5 Stars. Truthfully, even though I'm not a huge fan of The Band, I felt the Basements Tapes was slightly more interesting and varied. I'd never listen to either of them again, however. I'm only 22 albums  into my 1975 listening and I've already got Joni Mitchell, two Neil Young's, Patti Smith, Springsteen, Elton John, and McCartney all light years ahead of Dylan. How is Dylan so revered when Joni Mitchell exists in the World. She is 10 times the storyteller and her vocal delivery is fascinating. Her voice is mesmerizing and her compositions are exquisite. After I get through this 1975 dive, I'm going to dive into Joni's catalog. 

     Of course, I jinxed myself again regarding my 1975 Mt. Rushmore. There are already at least two albums that are going to move up to my top four, and one of my Mt. Rushmore's probably won't even make my Top 25 after a reassessment. I still have about 80 more albums to get through, so it may be a while before that is revealed. I'm going to attempt to squeeze some other posts in here, but I want to get through these 1975 albums as soon as possible. After the big hitters, it promises to be an eclectic Top 25. Peace.

Settling In

      We moved into our new house two weeks ago and I have my records and gear mostly set up. I just got back from my second trip to Used Kids Records. I picked up a 2023 reissue of Miles Davis' Sorcerer, which is numbered and on green vinyl, and a used copy of Jerry Goldsmith's Planet of the Apes soundtrack. On my first visit, I picked up the last two Connections records I needed to complete the Columbus band's discography in my collection, and a used copy of Golden Earring's Moontan. In addition, I got a copy of the remastered Revolver album for Father's day from my daughter. So, I'm already off to a solid start collecting in a new city. There are plenty of record stores to explore, but Used Kids has the reputation of being the best. Spoonful will probably be my next stop. Now that I'm getting settled in, I should be posting on a regular basis again shortly. The next big project will be a 1975 Deep Dive. I'm working on my listening list and will begin digging in later today. I don't expect my Mt. Rushmore to change, but I'll keep an open mind. I also need to decide if I'll be considering live albums. I generally don't like to, but there are some good ones in 1975. Stay tuned. Peace.

The Purge

      No, this isn't a post about the movie franchise. It's the conclusion of the process of downsizing my music collection before we move to Columbus. The journey was difficult, emotional, and cathartic. In the end, I kept more CDs than I had originally intended, but still sent about 550 on to new homes. That, combined with about 150 albums, meant I got rid of about a third of my physical music collection. I still have 1200 records and 300 CDs to move, which is still daunting. At first, I was going to just take cash for my stuff, but, in the moment ,I elected to take part cash, and part trade. So, I did add a few items into my collection. Those items are:

1. PINK FLOYD AT POMPEII

     This is the new remastering of Pink Floyd's iconic performance in the ruins of an ancient amphitheater. This is the first legit album release of this performance and I'm going to spin it after I finish this post. Of course, I've seen the movie and the songs are fantastic. I'm also going to circle back and get that Nick Mason live album. It has a great version of the Syd Barrett era track, "Lucifer Sam". 

2. OASIS - DEFINITELY, MAYBE

     I had been putting off picking this up, but with trade credit I finally pulled the trigger. One of the all-time great debut albums. 

3. KING CRIMSON - RED

     I posted about this in my 1974 series. Tremendous album.

4. DINOSAUR JR - EAR BLEEDING COUNTRY

     I didn't purge this CD, but ended up getting the 2xLP set anyway. I love this comp and it's pressed on black and white splatter vinyl. 

5. ELF POWER - WHEN THE RED KING COMES

     Elf Power are a band from the Elephant 6 collective, which also included Neutral Milk Hotel and Olivia Tremor Control, among others. This reissue also came with a bonus 7". 

6. RIK EMMETT - DIAMONDS

     Rik Emmett was the guitarist and co-vocalist of the Canadian band Triumph. I took a flyer on this album. It's a best of comp from the early part of Rik's solo career, which I'm not familiar with at all. I guess the time to take a flyer is when you have credit. It should be good, though.

7. PROCOL HARUM - S/T

     I've been looking for a copy of this for a while. Coincidentally, the Record Den had a pile of records that someone else had just brought in and this was on top of the stack. It was meant to be. 

     I put back a few things that I will probably go back for before we move; Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark, The Beatles - Revolver remaster, and the aforementioned Nick Mason. I may have down-sized, but I'm still a collector. Peace.

Jill Sobule R.I.P.

      Last week, I meant to publish a post on The Fixx because my wife and I went to see them at the Kent Stage recently. It was a great show and the opening act was Jill Sobule doing a solo, acoustic set. My wife wasn't familiar with her and I was only vaguely aware that she had a song in the 90's, "I Kissed a Girl". It turns out, she was a delightful performer and was promoting a musical, "Fuck 7th Grade". It's a biographical telling of her queer journey. The songs were hilarious, yet touching. Her performance was almost childlike, but her playing was quite skilled. 

     So, it came as a shock just days later when The Fixx posted online that Jill had passed away suddenly. Apparently, she died in a house fire. Tributes came pouring in from artists she had worked with and more still who were dear friends. Among them Jane Weidlen of The Go-Gos and Joan Osborne. I had no idea how many people she touched in the music industry or the number of artists she collaborated with. I'm not going to pretend I was a big fan and her music really isn't in my wheelhouse, but she was an engaging performer who meant a lot to many people. I'm glad I was able to see her in her element, making people smile for a few minutes in a shitty world. Peace.

     Just a quick note on The Fixx. I have never seen anyone command the stage like Cy Curnin. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. His voice is still singular. His lyrics are even more biting than they were 40 years ago. His movements were mesmerizing. And a shout out to guitarist, Jamie West-Oram. I love his signature guitar sound that features staccato notes, strumming muted strings, and shimmering arpeggios. The highlight was "Stand or Fall" and "Deeper and Deeper" back to back. Amazing show! 

2025 Rock Hall Inductees

      I am pleasantly shocked by the 2025 inductee class. Four of the five artists I voted for ( The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Bad Company, and Chubby Checker ) actually got in. Sorry Oasis. It also seems that the fan vote didn't hold enough sway to secure an induction for Phish, which comes as a huge relief. The puzzling results of the fan vote also failed to keep The White Stripes out. Sometimes, I'm a huge fan of gatekeepers. 

     Rounding out the 2025 class are Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, and Outkast. I'm not surprised that these artists will be inducted and I'm happy for their fans. However, I could make a really tight E.P. of all their songs that I know. That's slightly hyperbolic, but I do know enough to know they aren't my thing. I can't begrudge Joe Cocker for achieving world wide fame from histrionic Beatles covers. And I love "Hey Ya" as much as the next guy, but I have failed to penetrate the rest of Outkast's catalog. And who could possibly be against girls wanting to have fun. My lack of fandom is probably a personal failure on my part. 

     If the induction ceremony were being held in Cleveland, I would definitely go to see The White Stripes and Soundgarden. But it's in L.A., so I shan't be attending. 

     I'm very heartened that The White Stripes got in given their poor showing in the fan voting. But they are a critics band and Jack White is an industry icon, so I was hopeful. Fingers crossed that Jack and Meg reunite for the ceremony. 

     Soundgarden are also well-deserving, but sadly Chris Cornell didn't live long enough to enjoy the recognition. It will be interesting to see if anyone is chosen to fill his shoes for the ceremony, like Geddy Lee did for Chris Squier when YES were inducted. 

     I like Bad Company, but their induction is throwing a bone to dudes who stopped listening to new music 50 years ago that want to be the arbiters of what is and isn't "Rock". However, they do have some great songs and Paul Rodgers was at his peak with Bad Company. 

     And I'm still amazed that Chubby Checker wasn't already in the Rock Hall. 

     In closing, I'd like to quote the great Jack White, "You can't be a pimp AND a prostitute". Peace. 

     

Record Store Day 2025: Leftovers

      Thought I'd toss off a quick post about my trip to the Record Den today to check out the RSD leftovers. I almost picked up the Joni Mitchell live set, but was tipped off by my guy that he had heard the recording had too much crowd noise, so I passed on it. I'll just pick up a copy of Court and Spark and some L.A. Express albums from the used bin another day.

     I did buy two more records and, oddly enough, they are the two best sounding records I got this year. They were also both mastered by Jim Webber, who I'm not familiar with, but they sound amazing. I picked up their last copy of the David Bowie live 2003 show and the Hindu Love Gods. I wasn't really familiar with the Hindu Love Gods, except that it was Warren Zevon and members of R.E.M. What a fantastic record. I was a little concerned when I opened it and the record was filthy. I gave it a quick brush and put it on and it was a dynamic listen. Their cover of "Raspberry Beret" was electric. It had a tinge of a raved up "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me". They also did a solid cover of "Battleship Chains", which had been covered four years prior by the Georgia Satellites. It also has several blues covers, and to their credit, it doesn't sound like an R.E.M. album fronted by Warren Zevon. It's quite muscular with virtually no jangle. 

     The great thing about the Bowie show, besides how it sounds, is the song curation. There are no old Bowie hits. It opens with "New Killer Star" and a fantastic cover of The Modern Lovers "Pablo Picasso". Side two opens with an inspired performance of "Looking For Water". I mainly bought this out of FOMO. It was the last one they had and couldn't pass on it. Glad I didn't. I've been kind of leery about some of these recent Bowie releases, but this one is spectacular. Now, if they'd just reissue the first Tin Machine album I'd be all set. Also, a quick tip of the hat to long-time Bowie bassist, Gail Ann Dorsey. She drives this set and doesn't get the due she deserves. I hope Black Friday is half as good as RSD this year. Peace.

Record Store Day 2025

      What a fantastic Record Store Day! Huge line at the Record Den. I was on a tight budget and picked up all seven releases that were must haves. There were so many great releases this year, I could easily have picked up another 20-30 titles if I had unlimited funds. I will probably circle back in the next couple weeks and pick up a few more. I'm definitely interested in the live Joni Mitchell, because it's from the Court and Spark tour and features Tom Scott and the L.A. Express. I also need to hit the used bin for a bunch of Tom Scott records. He's one of my favorite sax players, but I don't have anything by him. He was interviewed by Rick Beato recently and provided some insight into his time working with Joni Mitchell. There were also many jazz releases I would like to pick up, like Freddie Hubbard, Mulligan and Monk, and Bill Evans. Here's a breakdown of what I did get. Peace.

1. MJ Lenderman 

     This is a live recording with his band The Wind. It's a two record set on stunning translucent teal vinyl. 

2. The Verlaines - Some Disenchanted Evening

     As you know, The Verlaines are my favorite Flying Nun band, and this is a reissue of their 1990 album on mossy green vinyl.

3. Geddy Lee

     This is a 12" single of the lost demos from his 2000 solo album, My Favorite Headache. 

4. Gorky's Zygotic Minci - Barafundle

     This is the first U.S. LP release of their 1997 album on "Jungle" vinyl. Not sure what they mean by jungle vinyl, but it's cool. 

5. The Grays - Ro Sham Bo

     This album almost made my Top 25 of 1994. It's a 2 LP reissue with bonus tracks. The album title always reminds me of Eric Cartman. IYKYK. 

6. Harvey Danger - King James Version

     This is a first time on vinyl, 2 LP release on "Deep Sea Blue" vinyl that looks very similar to the MJ Lenderman teal. Comes with four bonus tracks.

7. Neil Finn

     This is another first time on vinyl release of Neil Finn's 1999 Sessions at West 54th. I'm very excited for this one. I have the Ben Folds Five LP in this series and it's outstanding. This covers songs from his solo career, as well as Split Enz and Crowded House. 

Free, Free, Set Them Free

     This is a follow up post to my recent entry about downsizing my collection. Despite what I said about wishing I hadn't got rid of my Chavez CD compilation, I am in the middle of a purge. We are closing on a new house, in a new city next week, and officially moving in a couple months. I'm going to miss some things about Cleveland; like the Rock Hall, the Record Den, and my favorite  restaurant Pier W. But I'm sure Columbus has record stores and restaurants and gin. 

     I mentioned before that I rarely listen to CDs anymore because I don't have an adequate device to play them. After some soul searching, I finally wrapped my head around letting go of around 80% of my CD collection. I'm also purging another 125 records that are either duplicates, or things I'm realistically never going to listen to. All told, I'm getting rid of about 900 items. I have to admit, once I got on a roll it was kind of cathartic. I entered a flow state removing things from my Discogs database. It even motivated me to put all of my Funko pop figures up for sale. Other than about 200 CDs, I'm focusing on records and my books. I can't bring myself to purge my books which are mostly; music related, Kafka, Proust, philosophy, Marxist literature, and fantasy novels. It's possible that most of my DVDs will be set free as well. 

     Having said all of this, I still have over a thousand records to box up, move, and display somewhere in our new, down-sized house. I intend to collect more records. I have a huge Record Store Day list for this year. I'm still waiting to get my copies of the new Doves and HENGE albums. I plan on visiting all the record stores in Columbus when we get settled in. Record collecting and cataloging my collection brings me joy, but I have to shift my mindset from quantity to quality. Give me strength. Peace.

     

1995 Deep Dive: Top 25 Songs

      Since I had 80 songs on my preliminary list, I had to narrow it down by setting a limit of one song per band. So, technically this isn't really my Top 25, but it's an amazing collection of songs. I would like to shout out some songs that weren't on albums from my Top 25 and that missed this list: "Stars" by Hum, "Geek Stink Breath" and "Brain Stew" by Green Day, "Waydown" by Catherine Wheel, "Hey Man Nice Shot" by Filter, "Boy Racer" by Morrissey, and "Black Steel" by Tricky. Sorry in advance for already revealing my Top 3 during the week. Peace.

25. CONNECTION - ELASTICA

     I love this song and its homage to Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba". I was also surprised how good this whole album is. It almost made the list.

24. LAUGH TRACK - CHAVEZ

     This was a great rediscovery. Love the combination of lo-fi and walls of guitar. 

23. WAKE UP BOO! - THE BOO RADLEYS

     If you like the idea of George Michael doing Northern Soul this track is for you. Super fun.

22. MY FRIENDS - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

     I slept on this album when it was released, mostly because I'm not a Dave Navarro fan. However, this song is stunning and Navarro's playing is great. 

21. JEALOUSY - NATALIE MERCHANT

     This song is exquisite. Natalie Merchant is the Carole King of the 90's.

20. ZERO - THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

     "Save your prayers for when you're really gonna need 'em". 

19. SICK OF MYSELF - MATTHEW SWEET

     Textbook definition of power pop.

18. LUMP - PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

     "She totally confused all the passing piranhas". 

17. TOM COURTNEY - YO LA TENGO

     I'm not a huge fan of the band, but this song is fun. It makes multiple references to the Beatles' movie HELP! 

16. WHEN YOU DISCOVER - BUFFALO TOM

     The lyrics are delightfully vicious.

15. KENNEL DISTRICT - PAVEMENT

     The textbook definition of Slacker Rock. The intro is quite Guided by Voices-esque.

14. BURGER CHRIST - DEAD HOT WORKSHOP

     This was the biggest challenge for sticking to one song per band. I also love "River Otis". However, the lyrics are tremendous on this track. "And on the screen of my TV something's telling me, don't ever come clean". 

13. HARNESSED IN SLUMS - ARCHERS OF LOAF

     "You let me down for the second time straight".

12. SPLAT - BAILTER SPACE

     Love these guys. Probably my second favorite Flying Nun band. 

11. RAINMAKER - SPARKLEHORSE

     The most conventional 90's rocker on this album. 

10. NAME - GOO GOO DOLLS

     "Grew up way too fast. Now there's nothing to believe and reruns all become our history. A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio and I won't tell no one your name".

9. ROUTE - SON VOLT

     "Standing in the neutral zone livin' on sleep deprivation".

8. CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA - OASIS

     "Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball".

7. OH, GEORGE - FOO FIGHTERS

     The chord progressions are sublime. So is the George Harrison style guitar solo.

6. BOX FULL OF LETTERS - WILCO

     "I wish I had a lot of answers, cuz that's the way it should be. For all these questions bein' directed at me".

5. ABANDONED HOSPITAL SHIP - THE FLAMING LIPS

     Come for the fragile beauty, stay for Ronald Jones' guitar pyrotechnics.

4. GAME OF PRICKS - GUIDED BY VOICES

     "I never asked for the truth, but you owe that to me". This was my gateway to obsession.

3. THE BENDS - RADIOHEAD

     I'm committed to learning this song on guitar. "Where do we go from here? The words are coming out all weird. Where are you now when I need you?"

2. UNDERGROUND - BEN FOLDS FIVE

     I may be insane, but this might be the "21st Century Schizoid Man" of the 90's. Musical genius. "Well there's got to be something else. Let me tell you something else". 

1. SPARKY'S DREAM - TEENAGE FANCLUB

     I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is my favorite song of all time.

1995 Deep Dive: Part Five

      On one hand, my 1995 Top 5 is an anti-climax. My 1995 Mt.Rushmore remains unchanged and number 5 is probably obvious at this point. On the other hand, the Top 4 albums in this dive are Top 20 all time. As I mentioned before, they are 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. So, once more for the record...

5. Oasis - ( What's the Story ) Morning Glory? ( 5 Stars )

     Oasis are a polarizing band. Their recent Rock Hall nominations and upcoming reunion tour have only served to exacerbate the divide. But it takes an entrenched hater to deny Morning Glory is a near perfect album. Every track is a stadium sing-along. I don't need to list them all. How does a band follow-up one of the most successful debut albums ever, with songs like "Supersonic" and "Live Forever"? They write "Champagne Supernova", "Wonderwall", and "Don't Look Back in Anger". No sophomore slump for the Fighting Gallaghers. There's also no denying Noel Gallagher is a gifted songwriter. If you don't believe me, check out his High Flying Birds albums. 

4. Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix ( 5 Stars )

     My all time favorite song is "Sparky's Dream". It is power pop perfection. Not far behind are tracks like, "About You", "Discolite", and "Don't Look Back". Teenage Fanclub had three singer-songwriters. I tend to like the Gerard Love songs best. Unfortunately, he's no longer in the band. They had a tremendous run of albums from Bandwagonesque in 1991, to Songs of Northern Britain in 1997, but for me, Grand Prix is  nearly flawless. 

3. Son Volt - Trace ( 5 Stars )

     What haven't I already said about Trace? I named one of my dogs after it, Jay Farrar is one of my favorite singers, it's my favorite alt-country record, etc. Any other year it's probably Number One. 

2. Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot ( 5 Stars )

     Eerily, I'm writing this on March 6th, which is the 15th anniversary of Mark Linkous committing suicide. I didn't realize until I saw a Facebook post about it in my feed. No album in my collection moves me more than Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, with its fragile beauty and makeshift soundscapes. Only a tormented soul could have penned this collection of Southern Gothic tales that are more like literature than songs. This is Mark Linkous at his most raw and vulnerable. I get goosebumps every listen. 

1. Radiohead - The Bends ( 5 Stars )

     The greatest guitar album of all time. One could argue it's the last great guitar album. I had to amend my Mt. Rushmore of guitarists to Alex Lifeson, Tony Iommi, Pete Townshend, and Johnny Greenwood. The difficulty of this post is I've already written quite a bit about these records because I cherish them. The Bends is a masterpiece. The title track is my third favorite song of 1995. Speaking of which, I will publish a Top 25 Songs list, but probably not until Sunday. I haven't had time to cut down my list of 80 songs yet. I decided it would be a lazy, dick move to just post a list of 80 songs. Wish me luck. You already know the Top 3. Peace.

     

1995 Deep Dive: Part Four

     I love this Top Ten. Let's get right to albums 6-10. 

10. Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five ( 4.5 Stars )

     Ben Folds is in my Top 5 pianists, and I consider Ben Folds Five the Bill Evans Trio of rock. If you're not familiar, the band's name is ironic as there are only three members; Ben Folds, Robert Sledge on bass, and Darren Jessee on drums. Their genius level songwriting is fully formed on this debut. "Underground" is a masterpiece and my second favorite song of 1995. I will put a video at the end of this post. It's too hard to explain its brilliance. The musicianship is insane. Sledge does things with the bass that I didn't know were possible. Folds clever lyrics, musical references, and singular playing style are jaw dropping. Other highlights include "Jackson Cannery", "Philosophy", "Sports & Wine", and "Best Imitation of Myself". And the closer, "Boxing", is epic. 

9. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters ( 4.5 Stars )

     Despite everything that's happened over the past 30 years, the Foo Fighters debut (essentially a Dave Grohl solo album) is fantastic. Grohl emerged from the ashes of Nirvana with an album that has, possibly, the greatest 1-2-3 punch on a debut album; "This Is a Call", "I'll Stick Around", and "Big Me". Throw in "Alone + Easy Target" and it's four. And we still haven't even gotten to my favorite track, "Oh, George". It's apparently an homage to George Harrison, because he plays a solo in that guitar style. Even the cover of the album is perfect. Sadly, I've only seen them live once after they became a bloated arena act. It was a drunken sausage fest, and they played a ten minute version of "Monkey Wrench", and NOTHING from this album. WTF Grohl. 

8. The Flaming Lips - Clouds Taste Metallic ( 4.5 Stars )

     This is the second, and final, album with my favorite lineup of The Flaming Lips; Wayne Coyne, Ronald Jones on guitar, Michael Ivins on bass, and Steven Drozd on drums. While Clouds is just a notch below their other album, Transmissions From the Satellite Heart, it's still spectacular. The opener, "Abandoned Hospital Ship", is a Top 5 Lips track for me and features a blistering solo by Ronald Jones. Steven Drozd's bombastic drumming is all over Clouds. Even on toned down songs like "Placebo Headwound". Every track on Clouds is great, except for one turd in the punchbowl, "Brainville". The other highlight is "Lightning Strikes the Postman". It's a beautiful, fuzzed out mess with the closing line, "And it's hard to read the writing through the flames". "When You Smile" and "Kim's Watermelon Gun" ain't bad either. 

7. Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes ( 4.5 Stars )

     "The club is open". You're probably tired of me going on about these guys, but I can't help it. Alien Lanes is a treasure trove of lo-fi nuggets. "Game of Pricks" was my entry point to GbV. There are so many classics; "Watch Me Jumpstart", "My Valuable Hunting Knife", "Motor Away", "The Closer You Are", "Blimps Go 90", "My Son Cool", "Striped White Jets" and that's just the Robert Pollard tunes. There are also the Tobin Sprout gems "A Good Flying Bird" and "Little Whirl". I had to give it 4.5 Stars because it's just a notch below Bee Thousand and Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, which are both 5 Stars. 

6. Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo ( 5 Stars )

     Don't laugh at me. The Goo Goo Dolls run of A Boy Named Goo, Dizzy Up the Girl, and Gutterflower is flawless. Except, I'm not a fan of "Iris". Every song on A Boy Named Goo is a dinger, with the possible exception of "Slave Girl". I even love the Robby Takac songs. This album contains their breakthrough hits, "Naked" and "Name". They are clearly the highlights of the album, "Name" being my favorite. The lyrics really hit. "All the dreams you never thought you'd lose got tossed along the way". Peace.

1995 Deep Dive: Part Three

      Albums 11-15 feature a couple more under the radar selections, then it's all heavy hitters and Sound Mind favorites the rest of the way. For the record, my Mt. Rushmore didn't change much. 

15. Bailter Space - Wammo ( 4.5 Stars )

     Wammo was released on both Flying Nun and Matador. I first discovered these guys from a Matador comp that featured the song "Splat". This track not only got me hooked on Bailter Space, but also sent me down the Flying Nun rabbit hole. Wammo leads off with the fuzzed out jangle of "Untied" and the aforementioned "Splat". "Colours" locks in on an exquisite, psychedelic grove and rides it out. The guitar and drum interplay on "Retro" predates "There, There" by Radiohead. Bottom line, this is a Top 5 guitar album of all time. Honestly, it should be higher, but 1995 is loaded. 

14. Pavement - Wowee Zowee ( 4.5 Stars )

     Hey look, another Matador record. I published an entire series of posts on Pavement's albums, so I've talked about Wowee Zowee before. I still maintain my assessment that this album is an exercise in co-opting, and improving upon the sounds of other bands. The opening track, "We Dance" out-Bowies David Bowie. However, there are tracks like the fantastic "Rattled By the Rush" that are quintessential Pavement. The highlight, for me, is "Kennel District". I didn't go back and look at my old post on Wowee Zowee, but if you're interested it's in here somewhere. 

13. The Boo Radleys - Wake Up! ( 4.5 Stars )

     This is a tremendous album by a band that is virtually unknown in the States. The single, "Wake Up Boo!", is an up-tempo, sunshine pop, Northern Soul extravaganza. They have a fun video for the track "It's Lulu" where Lulu is "reading books from school" and it's a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, from which the band's name is derived. If you love great vocals, guitars, and horns this album is right in your wheelhouse. 

12. Wilco - A.M. ( 4.5 Stars )

     Wilco's debut album, A.M., is the favorite Wilco album of Uncle Tupelo fans and the least favorite of Wilco fans. So, it's my favorite. That's not to say it's Uncle Tupelo 2.0, but it retains some of that musical DNA. "Box Full of Letters" is a perfect pop composition. I also like to imagine it would be Franz Kafka's favorite song. "I just can't find the time to write my mind the way I want it to read". "Passenger Side" is a poignant, yet hilarious track about a guy whose license is suspended and has to bum rides off the only sober person he knows. A.M. has the perfect amount of Jeff Tweedy looking back... and looking forward to make this a great record. 

11. Blur - The Great Escape ( 4.5 Stars )

     I've mentioned this before, but The Kinks, XTC, and Blur are the preeminent bands at writing songs that capture every day British life. At least that's my perception from America. It seems to ring true. Love it or hate it, Blur have a unique, art school style of song construction. Damon Albarn has a keen eye and a singular talk-singing approach. The Great Escape isn't as immediate as Parklife or 1997's self-titled album, but it rewards repeat listens. There's a lot to take in at one go. At the time, going up against What's the Story by Oasis, The Great Escape was probably quite a challenge for the record buying public. And Graham Coxon is a sneaky great guitarist. Peace.