Hope Chest (10000 Maniacs) – Album Review

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The Front Cover Of The CD

The Front Cover Of The CD

Released in 1990, this CD gathers together the first two EPs that this delicious American band released. The first one was entitled “Human Conflict Number 5” (1982) whereas the second went by the name of “Secrets Of The I Ching” (1983).

“Human Conflict Number 5” features a studio drummer named Jim Foti, whilst “Secrets Of The I Ching” marks Jerry’s debut as the Maniacs drummer, and his contribution does not go unnoticed. Both EPs also featured founding member John Lombardo, who set to music two poems from the doomed World War I poet Wilfred Owen. He even takes the lead in one of these (“Anthem For Doomed Youth”, one of Owen’s most anthologized pieces, and one of the album’s highlights as well). Continue reading →

Before I Get Old – The Story Of The Who (Dave Marsh) – Book Review

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The Original Cover

The Original Cover

Published in 1983, this book covers the story of The Who from the very inception of the band to their farewell tour of 1982. It is a lengthy book (it has 546 pages), and many criticisms were leveled at it owing to that – it was claimed the story was not balanced, since the book has 36 chapters and only one deals with the post-Moon Who. The Kenny Jones albums barely get a paragraph each, whereas the “classic” Who records are covered from every angle to the point that the descriptions become too exhaustive (and even exhausting) for some people.
Continue reading →

21 Number Ones (Kenny Rogers) – Compilation Album

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The Artwork & The Packaging Are Excellent

The Artwork & The Packaging Are Excellent

Kenny Rogers is one of these country artists that have achieved immense success in the pop and adult charts. Although I am very fond of country sounds, I always postponed buying a compilation of his because the ones I had listened to had a preponderance of ballads, and just a slice of country numbers. Last year, however, I saw this generous compilation at one of the annual sales that CD Warehouse (one of the major record stores in Uruguay) holds at a price that made taking a chance a negligible matter.

“Generous” is the perfect word for this. Released in early 2006, it features all of Mr. Rogers’ chart topping cuts as well as a bonus track, and the CD clocks at almost 80:00. The booklet is also very informative, with liner notes penned by the man himself. Continue reading →

Country Music – General Introduction

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I listen to country music very enthusiastically. I never thought about the reason why until I sat down to write this general introduction announcing the category’s addition to MusicKO.

Many scholars explain that the very genesis of rock and roll can be traced back to two main musical movements. The blues are obviously one of them. The other is country music. That is, music that came from sectors that were discriminated either for racial considerations or owing to cultural aspects. Black music and white music. It dawns on me that every person who is attracted to rock music is going to delve upon them sooner or later. Continue reading →

All Mod Cons (The Jam) – Album Review

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The Front Cover

The Front Cover

This album marks the point when The Jam came of age. The year was 1979, and it was their third release – their first album (“In The City”) was very well-received whereas the second one (“This Is The Modern World”) was consistently panned. Both albums were released in 1977.

It includes what most people (count me in) deem as their greatest song: “Down In The Tube Station At Midnight”. Note that although “Tube Station” is the song most people associate with the band, it was not that wildly successful when the album was released. It was a top 20 hit, but it went nowhere near the top slots of the charts then. Continue reading →

Richard & Linda Thompson – The Island Record Years (Compilation Album)

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The CD Cover

The CD Cover

When Richard Thompson left Fairport Convention in 1971 he worked with his then wife Linda and released six albums of original compositions that met with commercial apathy. The first three were cut for Island, whereas the final three were released under the Chrysalis label. This compilation gathers together the most salient tracks from their first three records, as well as two songs from Richard’s first solo album (Henry The Human Fly, released in 1972 – a very whimsical record that sold abysmally).

It is often debated whether these three albums indeed represent the Thompson’s finest moments on record or not. I have not listened to the Chrysalis recordings so I can not say for sure, but what I have noticed is that whenever you watch a Richard Thompson documentary the songs that are always featured with wife Linda are the ones found on this compilation. Continue reading →

Queen’s Greatest Hits I & II (1995) – Compilation Album

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This 2 CD Set Was released By Hollywood Records In The Year 1995

This 2 CD Set Was released By Hollywood Records In The Year 1995

Queen made a music lover out of me. Here. I said it. At no point before did music matter so much to me as when I listened to this double set that I bought through eBay when I was just starting out down the musical lane.

I was a 90s teenager. I grew up with this music. This was a compilation I had to have. This is a compilation that every person who claims to feel even the slightest shred of emotion when he listens to music must own. Continue reading →

A Quick One (The Who) – Album Review

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Alan Aldridge Designed The Pop Cover For The Album

Alan Aldridge Designed The Pop Cover For The Album

This was The Who’s sophomore album. It was released in England in the year 1966. As their previous record, it was not released in the States immediately, and when it saw release later the same year it did so with a different name (“Happy Jack”) and (again) some differences in the track list. This time, though, Decca made a wise move: it replaced one of the weakest cuts (their cover of “Heatwave”) and added the little ditty about the hermit who “lived in the sand at the Isle of Man”. Happy Jack was their first top 40 hit in the States. Incidentally, it was also to become Jimi Hendrix’s favorite Who song. Continue reading →

Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits (1972) – Compilation Album

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This Is The Cover Of The LP. The CD Is The Same But Does Not List The Tracks.

This Is The Cover Of The LP. The CD Cover Is The Same Except That It Does Not List The Tracks On The Left.

Being a lyricist, I was always interested in Simon & Garfunkel. I intended to buy the two-disc “Essential” and when I failed to find it I went for this single-disc compilation. And you know, I think it was a good rush move if I ever made one.

This was the first Simon & Garfunkel compilation ever released. Columbia Records issued it in 1972, and the fact that it is still in print can be attributed to the inclusion of live versions and rare takes you can not find anywhere else. For instance, several live cuts come from a reunion concert that took place the year the album was released, whereas I understand that the version of “America” available here is a rarity. Continue reading →

Once More With Feeling (Placebo) – Compilation Album

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The CD Cover

The CD Cover

I became acquainted with Placebo quite recently. I caught “Follow The Cops Back Home” on the radio and I have to say that it sparked my interest in a vibrant way indeed. Last year (2008) I finally made up my mind and purchased this “Singles” collection. It covers the years 1996 – 2004, and a new song named “Twenty Years” is included for collectors.

Placebo is a band of its own. They have a distinctive image themselves (which I don’t like but I respect) and they come up with a sonic landscape where glam and punk structures are placed in the same plane without ever cancelling each other out. Continue reading →