When I was in high school, a neighbor gave me a bunch of old singles by artists like Elvis, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Small Faces. This Nightcrawlers single was in that collection. It still has the generic Kapp Records sleeve with an 88 cent price sticker. The record is in great condition, so I'm guessing it wasn't played much. Back in the '60's minor hits probably didn't have a long shelf life. It's a weird song about a "bad egg", but it's an early example of jangle pop. I did a little research, because I honestly don't know anything about this band. They formed in Daytona Beach, Florida. Apparently, "The Little Black Egg" was featured on the Nuggets compilation and has been covered by many artists, including The Cars and The Lemonheads. Who knew? Not Me. The flip side, "You're Running Wild", is a run of the mill mid-60's rock song.
I don't have much else to say about this single. I'm not sure why I've hung onto it all these years. I have no personal attachment to it. Maybe I should do another purge and focus on singles. I rarely ever play them. I guess I haven't done it before because record stores don't really want them either. The next RANDO should be more interesting. It's John K. Samson's Provincial. Peace.
Fifty years ago, I was a huge Styx fan. It started with the single for "Lorelei" and continued with the albums Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight. Somewhere in one of my moves, I lost those albums and haven't replaced them. Unfortunately, Styx hasn't aged well for me. I do still have this 7" of "Renegade", as well as the 7" of "Blue Collar Man". Why do I still have them? They're a link to the past, I suppose. And they jam..for Styx songs.
"Renegade" is mostly known today as an anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's played between the 3rd and 4th quarter during their home games to fire up the crowd. I don't know why they chose "Renegade", but they did. It was written by Tommy Shaw, as was the B-side "Sing For the Day". It was part of a long songwriting tradition of songs about "wanted men", such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Gimme Some Water". Of course, it opens with that ominous, spoken-word section about the hangman coming down from the gallows, then it kicks into a guitar jam. The solo is actually played by James Young. Even though "Sing For the Day" is also a Tommy Shaw song, it features Dennis DeYoung in the chorus and plenty of his over-the-top keyboard antics. A little Dennis DeYoung goes a long way. In fact, they had to cut over a minute of the song for the single version.
On Discogs, it shows a picture sleeve for this release, but I bought it back in the day and mine never had one. Not sure what's up with that. A few years ago, I vowed not to buy anymore 45's, unless they were in their picture sleeve. That vow lasted until a few months ago when I bought a big mystery box of singles for $10. None of them had sleeves. Some of them have been entered into my Discogs database, so they may end up in future RANDO posts. Speaking of future posts, the next RANDO has been selected and it's another 7", The Nightcrawlers "The Little Black Egg". Maybe this was a dumb idea. Peace.
Mastered @ The Mastering Lab by Doug Sax and Mike Reese
Even though I'm on the record as being less than positive toward Van Hagar, I was actually a big fan of peak Sammy Hagar. By peak, I mean Standing Hampton, Three Lock Box, and V.O.A. era Sammy. Through the Fire is a supergroup album, featuring Hagar and Journey guitar wizard Neal Schon, which came out right in the middle of that run of albums. I was quite excited about this release and picked it up on cassette. At the time, I remember hearing the tracks "Top of the Rock" and "Missing You" on the radio on solid rotation. I recently picked up a used copy of the LP, mostly because it was pressed on Quiex II vinyl. Quiex was a high quality vinyl that appeared black, but when held up to a light source was translucent and colored. My copy appears to be purple. Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between the purple and brown Quiex.
According to Wikipedia, the only single from this album was their cover of Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale". Not a good choice by Geffen. As a result of some of my deep dives, I've become a fan of Procol Harum and this cover is not good. Sammy's vocals are weak and not even Neal Schon can salvage it. Other than that, it's a solid record. I'd probably rate it a 3.5/5.
I grew up in the golden age of A.O.R (Album Oriented Rock) radio. Neal Schon was one of the guitar heroes of that era, along with Gary Richrath of R.E.O. Speedwagon, Gary Moffett of April Wine, Tom Scholz of Boston, and Rik Emmett of Triumph. These guitarists never got the recognition of Hendrix, Page, Clapton or Van Halen, but they were all fantastic players with unique styles. Schon shows off his versatility on Through the Fire, setting aside his signature Journey sound in favor of a more muscular hard rock sound. However, why bring in Neal Schon and have him not sound like Neal Schon? Speaking of A.O.R, the next RANDO will be my 7" single of "Renegade" by Styx. Peace.
So, I was going to come on here today to announce a new trajectory for Sound Mind, but then I saw the 2026 Rock Hall nominees had dropped. I'll get to the Sound Mind update at the end of this post, but here are my initial thoughts about the nominees. Let me begin by saying music is personal and no one ever agrees with these nominee lists. Once all the "no-brainers" were inducted this process has devolved into an exercise of agendas and gatekeeping. And I'm someone who loves the Rock Hall and what it represents. But it's clear the time has come to stop forcing mediocrity just to have an annual gala event. This list is preposterous. And truthfully, so is the fan vote. For what it's worth, here's my personal breakdown of the nominees.
OASIS
A polarizing bunch of wankers who don't care about the Rock Hall, but I love them and feel they should be in. At least in America, they were the face of Britpop.
BILLY IDOL
I would support him for a Video Music Hall of Fame, but not the Rock Hall.
INXS
While they have slightly more merit than Billy Idol, they aren't Rock Hall level.
IRON MAIDEN
I suppose they belong in, but in all honesty I haven't listened to them in 40 years. They do have a legacy that merits recognition.
JEFF BUCKLEY
I like Grace, and apparently the precedent has been set for artists with limited catalogs being inducted. However, Buckley has had no real impact or influence in rock music. Thumbs down.
JOY DIVISION / NEW ORDER
Stop already. Pick one or the other. Neither should be inducted.
THE BLACK CROWES
Is there a Hall of Fame for smoking weed? Their big hit was a cover BTW.
WU-TANG CLAN
Yes. They are better than most of the other Hip-Hop artists who have already been inducted.
PHIL COLLINS
Peter Gabriel is in as a solo artist, so I can support Phil getting in as well. It does seem like they're throwing a bone to someone who is in poor health, because they developed a conscience for a second.
EVERYONE ELSE
Are the members of the Rock Hall Foundation trying to kill me? PINK??????
The actual reason I'm posting today is to announce a new series for Sound Mind. It's called Randos. I'm going to use the Random Item feature in Discogs and reflect on whatever album or single is selected. My intention is to make it through my whole collection, but that would take several years. The first selection was Through the Fire by HSAS. I picked this up a few months ago and you may be surprised at my thoughts. I am kind of a sucker for supergroups. Peace.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
