Ramblings & Musings
 

So I am trying to get more active on MB & I figured a Member's Journal would probably do the trick. Now I am not quite as deep into music as the rest of you. But I am well on my way. Most of my knowledge extends to the classic rock & blues of the mid 60's to the early 80's. I also know a little of 90's alternative. But I am here to expand my horizons so feel free to help out. Also I don't really play an instrument ( I am learning bass but I wouldn't even consider my self a novice at this point) so I have a hard time picking out individual instrumentation usage in some songs/bands. So if I make a mistake, please correct me.

As for content of my Journal I am not quite sure what I will fill it with yet. But I will try to put a myriad of ideas most likely. I will tell you of some newer stuff that is unknown where I live. And I will try to drum up some obscure older stuff if I can. So here goes nothing!

I have decided to kick off my journal with a review of one of my favorite albums of all time that many of you may not know. This is also my first review ever.


My Rating: 9.5/10

I only give it 9.5 because I wish there were a couple more tracks.

Of the 11 tracks on this disc, 10 of them I listen to frequently. Paris Sunrise # 7 is a slow going instrumental. It is a good one, but I don't listen to instrumentals a whole lot. However, this song is on my Ipod list I play when I am sleeping.

There is a mix of upbeat rock, slow acoustic & even a wiessenborn only song. I love all these tracks. I have a hard time comparing this album to anything else I have ever heard. I would call them roots/bluesy rock. With real soulful vocals with a lot of conviction. I would recommend this album to anyone. The Innocent Criminals are amazing in their own right. This was a great collaboration. This was recorded after a Tour instead of vice versa and I think you can really tell by their chemistry on the record.

1. Fight Outta You - Acoustic Guitar driven. Great lyrics that pertain to the average person. 10/10

2. In The Colors - Slower song. Good lyrics. Just a fun slow song. 8/10

3. Fool For A Lonesome Train - Bluesy song, good harmonica and acoustic guitar. Great vocals. 10/10

4. Needed You Tonight - Slow and Fast song. This song is up and down quite a bit, but I don't think its overdone. Real personal vocal delivery I feel. 9/10

5. Having Wings - Mid Tempo fun song. 8/10

6. Say You Will - I love the vocal solo opening. Good Piano too. Very fun song. 9/10

7. Younger Than Today - Real slow soulful song. I love the line You'll never be younger than today" 9/10

8. Put It On Me - Real upbeat song. A lot of conviction in Ben's vocals on this one. Possibly my favorite track. 10/10

9. Heart Of Matters- Upbeat rootsy song. Good vocals. 8/10

10. Paris Sunrise # 7 - Instrumental. Slow tempo. Very relaxing. 7/10

11. Lifeline - Very slow tempo. This is Ben solo on the wiessenborn. 8/10

Definitely one of my favorites of all time. I own this album so if anyone is interested I could have a link up in a day or so.

Really looking forward to this journal because I know you love the blues. <3

And...you encouraged me to check out Ben Harper. Haven't checked this album out, but I did download White Lies for Dark Times and really loved "Fly One Time".

Cheers on starting a journal man!

Thanks! This album is less bluesy that White Lies for Dark Times. But I find his vocal delivery really bluesy.

My favorite track of White Lies is Number With No Name

Your write up on Lifeline was great. Like how you rated the album and then the songs individually. It gives people a good idea of where to start, if they want a specific point.

If the vocals are as soulful on this album as you say they are, then I'm sure to love it. On the DL now.

Thanks Glad you liked it.

Ya I have always enjoyed when people have rated the individual songs as well. With Ben the thing that really drew me in were his vocals. He is probably my favorite vocalist of the last decade.

So in the last couple of months I have spend every extra cent on CD's lol.

Here's what I've obtained lately.

Warren Zevon - S/T & Excitable Boy
ZZ Top - Fandango & Tres Hombres
Jackie Greene - Giving Up The Ghost
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - S/T, Damn The Torpedoes & Full Moon Fever
Little Feat - Dixie Chicken
The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street
Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune
Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales & In Between Dreams
Primus - Sailing The Seas Of Cheese
Coheed & Cambria - Year Of The Black Rainbow

Pretty big list for the last 2 months or so.

I'm not into a lot of that, but Sailing the Seas of Cheese is great. Hope you're enjoying it (and everything else).

I'm kind of a Coheed fan, but I didn't really like Year of the Black Rainbow too much. I feel like they've been going downhill for the past couple of releases.

Ya I love Primus. Theyre awesome. As for Coheed my favorite album is In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3

Quick update, I have started a RYM account. Its not complete yet but I will keep updating it. The Link's in my Sig if your interested.

Thanks!

This is also in this weeks trading post - 8/10/10

I got this from The Abominable Homan in this weeks trading post:

First off let me say this was a venture out of the norm for me. Usually I can't stay interested long enough to listen to instrumentals. I do not know why.
However, I did listen to this whole album start to finish and I actually did pay attention to it all. Pleasantly so. I think this could be the album that gets me into instrumental stuff. I find it is easier to write with instrumental music playing. And I am trying to write a book so this really helps me.

Anyway enough rambling. I really enjoyed this album. I am still new to this kind of music, but these guys sound pretty damn talented to me.
I would recommend this to people who like instrumental music, jazz music or experimental music. I would also say this is a good place to start if you are trying to get into this kind of music.

To finish up here, this is going to stay in my Itunes and I will probably put it on my playlist I play when I am going to sleep. It is quite relaxing. Also I am going to start an Instrumental/Study/Writing playlist and this is going on it.

So Thanks The Abominable Homan!

Jaga Jazzist are brilliant .. I had the pleasure of going to a concert with them back in late april. Most of the songs they played were from this album. Great stuff! If you like them, you should take a look at the rest of their discography as well. :)

I will definitely be doing that. This one aside, which one you recommend next?

By the way, if you want some music to write to, I would highly recommend checking out Bohren and Der Club of Gore, specifically the album Black Earth. They also happen to be both instrumental and jazz, so that just helps you further explore. They have a very minimal and somewhat ambient sound so it's easy to read or write while their music is playing.

Haven't heard them all, but I can definetly recommend "A Living Room Hush" from 2001 :)

That's the only other Jaga Jazzist album I've heard, but I would definitely second that recommendation.

That sounds awesome. I will check that out. Thanks!

I will be getting this one too. Much appreciated.

My cousin showed me some newer bands that he feels are pretty good compared to the rest of our days of radio friendly cookie cutter bands.
So I am going to post their names and see what you MB'ers think of them.

Here it goes:

Vampire Weekend
The Avett Brothers
Eels
Gaslight Anthem
Black Lips
The Good Life <-- This one might not be that newer, not sure though.
Dr. Dog

Anyone know any of them?

Checked out Vampire Weekend's S/T a little bit ago. Not too shabby thus far. Will definitely check it out some more later. I love their use of Violin
The Good Life by the way is the side project of the Singer for Cursive. Which coincidentally I listened to today and quite enjoy.

Fun fact of the day!

My girlfriend just met John Mayer at her work. I have yet to meet anyone famous lol.
She also met the Backstreet Boys at her work, and told them there was no way she wanted an autograph lol. That's my girl!

....that is all.

I am going to start an in depth Warren Zevon thread starting with his S/T album Because his 69' Wanted Dead or Alive is really hard to find.
Ill have that thread started up soon.

Here is a vid of the most Famous song off that album.

Poor, Poor Pitiful Me [Live]

Warren started out as Lyme of Lyme & Cybelle fame in 1966.

I rather like that song too. I will be sure to mention that in the first post in that thread thank you! I looked them up and it seems they only released a few singles unless I am mistaken. I will probably post that vid in the thread too.

Much appreciated :thumb:

The new thread's up! It's in Editor's pick. And there is a link in my Sig.

Enjoy :thumb:

James sent me this and I am having a listen as I write this:

The Immortal - Mississippi John Hurt
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_46b3F1Stmk...%29%5B1%5D.jpg

Its melodious, beautiful & still bad ass blues. Gotta love it. :thumb:
I will probably put up a review later on.

Just found out about this new collaboration today! Damn I'm excited.
The albums is already due out 10/5! and they recorded in 3 days.

Fistful of Mercy | Official Site Ben Harper & Dhani Harrison? Hell Ya! :thumb:

The thread seems a little dead lately doesn't it? Maybe because school is starting up....

Anyway I figured I'd post a couple of tunes I have been enjoying...


Enjoy :thumb: