tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post6075542865220226911..comments2024-03-12T10:45:12.762-07:00Comments on moviesandsongs365: Old and new albums of the month: April 2017Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-86787190652063285742017-05-06T03:17:46.406-07:002017-05-06T03:17:46.406-07:00Eric @ TWS: Yes, what a coincidence! I can’t belie...Eric @ TWS: Yes, what a coincidence! I can’t believe took me so long to explore the Beatles. Rubber Soul is a great album. This week, I listened to the two earliest Beatles LPs from 1963 which have a few classic songs but are patchier as full lengths than what came later.<br />Glad you loved Damn. I’m probably in the minority on Kendrick Lamar’s latest, because it’s high on 2017 album charts at RateYourMusic, besteveralbums, and albumoftheyear. <br />The new Gorillaz album Humanz has some good but-not-great songs.<br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-11625095637894981262017-05-05T08:25:03.047-07:002017-05-05T08:25:03.047-07:00Wow, we have really been in sync on music lately. ...Wow, we have really been in sync on music lately. I've been listening to a ton of Beatles and Dylan this year. I'm with you on the Beatles -- their early stuff is important, but it simply does not hold up today. Everything from Rubber Soul on is mostly fantastic though.<br /><br />Too bad you didn't like the new Kendrick Lamar album. I love it, might be my favorite of the year so far. Just checked out the new Gorillaz yesterday. It's a bit all over the place, gonna take some more listens to fully digest I think.Eric @ TWSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-12595447233426822062017-05-02T01:10:24.257-07:002017-05-02T01:10:24.257-07:00@Vintage Spins: By today's standards, the earl...@Vintage Spins: By today's standards, the early Beatles lyrics are not sophisticated, but I see what you mean when compared to other bands from the period. <br /><br />No Reply is memorable, and reminds of Garbage's mid 90s single Vow, which re-uses the lyric "I nearly died". I quite like Don't Bother Me and have added to my post, thanks for sharing your picks. Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-15787309808585816192017-05-02T00:51:14.418-07:002017-05-02T00:51:14.418-07:00@thevoid99: I have listened to a few of the recent...@thevoid99: I have listened to a few of the recent albums. I hope to rank Depeche Mode’s discography at some point. The recent albums are a bit more patchy to me, than their 80s and early 90s peak. Playing the Angel (2005) was enjoyable at the time, but it’s not something I go back to.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-91289408172160017982017-05-01T16:04:18.244-07:002017-05-01T16:04:18.244-07:00Uh, have you heard the last few albums by Depeche ...Uh, have you heard the last few albums by Depeche Mode? They're actually really good. Past their prime is something that doesn't exist in their world. thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-34457276626631940032017-05-01T13:07:03.881-07:002017-05-01T13:07:03.881-07:00Thanks for responding, Chris.
The Beatles, in my ...Thanks for responding, Chris.<br /><br />The Beatles, in my opinion, were so melodically and harmonically inventive on those early albums and their lyrics were far more sophisticated than most of the Top 50 fare of that time period and much of what followed for that matter. (As for 'Beatles for Sale', not everything would be on my list of all-time faves, but, in particular I do love 'Every Little Thing' and 'No Reply.' My favourite track on 'With the Beatles' is probably George Harrison's 'Don't Bother Me.'<br /><br />My 'Down with guilty pleasures' remark wasn't well expressed. I'm in agreement with you and definitely am all for them. I should have said no one should feel guilty about enjoying any song from any genre if it speaks to them in some way. ;-)<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-29373443744172591042017-05-01T12:37:04.747-07:002017-05-01T12:37:04.747-07:00@Vintage Spins: Thanks for your comment. You and F...@Vintage Spins: Thanks for your comment. You and FurryBootsCityBoy have convinced me I should listen to the two 1963 Beatles albums :) I’ll keep in mind what you both said when I do.<br /><br />The age thing would be a fun topic for a blog post. Beatles For Sale (1964) album lyrics didn’t do much for me and felt a bit juvenile, but it’s not a MUST that lyrics have to be interesting for me to enjoy music. It depends. Take today for example, I was listening to The Doobie Brothers and their lyrics are on the verge of shallow. Melodies regardless of lyrics are enough sometimes. I'm all for guilty pleasures ;-)<br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-19899158028361526432017-05-01T10:37:38.091-07:002017-05-01T10:37:38.091-07:00I also have to disagree with your assessment of th...I also have to disagree with your assessment of the early Beatles' albums, Chris. Groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, introduced a whole generation to early R 'n' B and, perhaps more importantly, to the blues through their cover versions. Even back in the day, I never thought of the Beatles as teen idols. Teen idols were Frankie Avalon, Bobby Curtola, Bobby Rydell, and what seemed like another dozen Bobbys. The Beatles always took the music seriously, including their (not-slavishly rendered) cover versions of '50s rock 'n' roll classics and '60s girl group sounds.<br /><br />"I'm in my mid 30s, so I'm the wrong age for this type of music." Not sure what age has to do with the enjoyment of any genre of music. If it speaks to you personally, that's all that matters. Down with guilty pleasures, I say! ;-)<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-84826123926480326182017-05-01T04:01:52.454-07:002017-05-01T04:01:52.454-07:00@FurryBootsCityBoy: Thanks for your take on these....@FurryBootsCityBoy: Thanks for your take on these. Seems you have nostalgia for the Beatles. Maybe I’m unfairly dismissing the earliest of their albums which I haven’t listened to besides a few tracks. I’ll get to them eventually, so I can rank the Beatles discography. You’re right that the group didn’t have long to record so we shouldn’t be too harsh, and was normal for bands to put out cover songs in those days so you can’t knock them for that. It’s amazing how productive they were in that 6-7 year span. Happy we agree on the brilliance of Rubber Soul. Highway 61 almost got a 9, but a few of the songs underwhelmed me.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-78705664450972725972017-05-01T03:24:27.541-07:002017-05-01T03:24:27.541-07:00@thevoid99: I'm enjoying exploring the classic...@thevoid99: I'm enjoying exploring the classics. 1965 and onwards is my favorite Beatles music. The writing on the early stuff doesn’t appeal to me, except a catchy tune here and there. <br />The Gorillaz album is a mixed bag, certain tracks I liked, others I disliked. <br />Jesus and Mary Chain and Depeche Mode I feel are past their prime, I’d rather just go back and listen to their old material. <br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-23051762325221734002017-05-01T03:20:50.974-07:002017-05-01T03:20:50.974-07:00@Ruth: I’m ok thanks, had some recent back trouble...@Ruth: I’m ok thanks, had some recent back trouble though, going for a scan. <br />Glad you are enjoying Beauty & The Beast soundtrack, I gave it a try, but it wasn't for me.<br />Hey Jude and Imagine I love, the latter is a Lennon solo song. The former was a chart-topping non-album single. <br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-54737165726825479972017-05-01T02:05:29.176-07:002017-05-01T02:05:29.176-07:00Can't agree with some of your assessments of B...Can't agree with some of your assessments of Beatles albums, maybe because I was only 13/14 years old when I heard With The Beatles, Help and Beatles For Sale. <br />The former had some great cover versions, especially Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me" and Lennon's showstopping version of "Twist & Shout", emphasising the band's backing of Motown and other black musicians. And I think you have to put their mix of self-penned material and covers in the context of their incredibly speedy rise from being unknowns gigging almost constantly in clubs in Germany and the UK to a mega band being given only days to record their albums. <br /><br />But I'm with you 100% about Rubber Soul. For me, it's better than Sergeant Pepper or Revolver. <br /><br />And I'd have given "Highway 61" nine out of ten. :)FurryBootsCityBoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14823032991317503886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-12550705887454563662017-04-30T23:40:47.689-07:002017-04-30T23:40:47.689-07:00The pre-Rubber Soul era of the Beatles I do think ...The pre-<i>Rubber Soul</i> era of the Beatles I do think are great records but it does pale into what they would do later on. <i>Revolver</i> is my favorite album of theirs. I love <i>Computerwelt</i> by Kraftwerk while <i>Pet Sounds</i> and <i>Highway 61 Revisited</i> are among my all-time favorite albums. I have the new Gorillaz album but I haven't listened to that one as well as the new albums by the Jesus & Mary Chain, Depeche Mode, and Mastadon as I'm slowly in the process of rebuilding and upgrading my entire music library which I've managed to retain in my external hard drive.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-30570026998221311812017-04-30T18:15:41.093-07:002017-04-30T18:15:41.093-07:00Hi Chris, hope you're well! I've been obse...Hi Chris, hope you're well! I've been obsessed w/ the songs from the new Beauty & The Beast film, love all the new songs. My hubby is a big fan of The Beatles, but I honestly can't tell you which song is which, except maybe Imagine or Hey Jude, ahah.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06313168799746450979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-5987662652642837492017-04-30T09:30:01.770-07:002017-04-30T09:30:01.770-07:00@Alyson: Glad you enjoyed the post. I also put eff...@Alyson: Glad you enjoyed the post. I also put effort this month into the album top 10s (1965-2009) I linked to here, which was a massive thing to get right. Take a look, when you have the time.<br /><br />The evolution of the Beatles is interesting, and they have a varied back catalogue. If the band had continued the same course as teen idols all the way until the break-up, I doubt I would have been a fan. Luckily, as they matured, their music did too. <br /><br />And I Love has a vulnerability (and as you say gentleness) which is different to the other songs on A Hard Day’s Night, a great melody as well. <br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619249406686227577.post-43362056395819964842017-04-30T02:55:03.401-07:002017-04-30T02:55:03.401-07:00So much work has gone into this list Chris but muc...So much work has gone into this list Chris but much appreciated - Interesting to see those 6 Beatles albums lined up like that as really shows how they evolved over those years. Glad you mentioned And I Love Her from AHDN - watched the film again recently and appreciated for the first time just how groundbreaking it was in terms of style. Most of the songs were over-familiar to my now middle-aged ears but was a bit smitten with And I Love Her. A lovely little gentle interlude in an otherwise frantic movie.Alysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671033552961486737noreply@blogger.com