Music Thread - reviews, live shows etc..

[TableTiger1]

I don't know about the rest of you but my days are filled with lots and lots of music. Thought maybe we needed a thread about all things music. Any great discs or live performances heard - reviews and such. I always like new music and I'm sure the tastes here are eclectic.

Here is what I bought the last week or two.

Led Zeppelin - Mothership
Amazingly I have never owned any Zeppelin before and I gotta say they rock something fierce. They played a lot of songs I didn't realize was them. Interesting that a decent amount of people think they bit a lot of other peoples guitar licks and stuff. Going to have to buy some of the other music and hear it for myself. Highly recommend to anyone that was in the dark like me.

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Moondance is one of my favorite LP's so kind of suprising I just picked this up. Wow is all I can say, the man is a genius. #3's guitar, bass intro thing is remarkable.

Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Just getting into this disc, not sure if it is quite up my folksy Dylan alley but we will see.

Journey - Greatest Hits
This was my girlfriends pick. It has some potential I think, although it is probably my least favorite so far in this list. They do have some catchy tunes but meh not really my style.

[Xaston]

If you like folksy Dylan you'd prolly like my brother's stuff. He just released an EP recently, I've been listening to it constantly.

[k3nt]

[NorthView]

[MTPaid]

[Felonius_Monk]

I love Astral Weeks; VM was one of my favourite artists aged about 17 but I've since realised that he did precisely one amazing album, and you've got it. He's an astonishing vocalist but most of his stuff 1970 onwards is just looking for a genre, I think. I really feel he'd be a better musician, given his oevre, if he was a nicer person. He's also spent too long (despite the fact I think he has a terrific blues voice, and love blues music) exploring US blues music. He simply has no musical feel for blues, although he'd have been an awesome front man for a band with a stronger musical influence (i.e. someone like Willie Dixon) in the 60s.

I've always liked blood on the tracks too. His later albums haven't really hit me. Dylan's big problem is that he can't sing, can't play guitar, can't blow a lick of harmonica, and so he's the best songwriter of his generation in the States but to be honest, too many of his albums lack impact unless you take the in context, which is difficult to do unless you were a teenager in the mid 60s or unless you're a whizz on history. I just can't hear the impact, personally, and this is coming from someone with a love of pop music history (I love blues and folk). I like Dylan but I can't help but feel that, in retrospect, he's a touch overrated.

Anyways, thanks for reminding me of one of my fave albums. I'm off to put "Madame George" on sit back and enjoy.

[TableTiger1]

My favorite Dylan album is his first self titled. As for him being a bad singer, guitarist and harmonica player - 2 of the 3 are right on. His guitar playing is by no means bad, some of his songs are even kinda difficult. Try on Don't think Twice it's Alright for an idea. Also he has to be considered top 3 greatest songwriters evah. I am actually a history major in school so the whole era around Dylan fascinates me.

k3nt - I am but a pup, the Zepellin thing is pretty atrocious I know. 2007 is the first year I buy an album of their's is pretty terrible. I will check out Pandora.

Okay so driving to school today and I remember many other discs I purchased in the same two week span.

Jay-Z - American Ganster
I think I am Jay-zzed out. I have owned every album of his for years - I consider him very talented but after Kingdom Come I was a bit dissapointed. I don't think I can get into American Gangster, but the Pharrell produced Blue Magic is disgusting.

John Mayer - Continuum
I liked John Mayers independent release Inside Wants Out. Since then he has been slowly becoming some amazing blues guitarist. Back then he was a decent Dave Matthews wannabe (which I liked) Now he is trying to become Eric Clapton or something. I think there are some good songs on this disc but it feels overproduced to me. His guitar playing is amazing but the voice is so bland that meh. At least Dylan had some emotion, Mayer voice sounds like boring elevator stuff.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Americana Deluxe
Another girlfriend pickup. Swing dancing is always fun and this disc has two great songs - You, Me and the bottle makes 3 and Go Daddy O. Probably will never really listen to it much but they are good fun.

Clipse - Exclusive Audio Footage
This was to be their first release but was shelved at the last minute. I am not positive but I believe it was completely produced by the Neptunes. Boy they sound young in this disc. Pusha-T (going by the name Terrar in this album) still is working his way to his full man voice. The pitch is a bit higher. The metaphors for drug dealing are here even on this old release. Good songs include Got Caught Dealin' and The Funeral. You can find this online, just Google.

Basement Jaxx - The Singles
Okay so I used to have two of their LP's but don't know where they went. Saw this import in the store and it had most of the hits from the other albums. Red Alert is just crazy. Where's you head at hits so hard. These boys make some banging beats.

[TableTiger1]

[NorthView]

Pass on all of those.

[Xaston]

[hard2tel]

[TableTiger1]

A new disc worthy of talking about plus an oldie that everyone should try and get in their collection.

Daft Punk - Alive 2007

Spent half the day driving around town looking for this new release. It is a concert they recorded in Paris sometime earlier this year. I don't really know why I didn't just phone around to find it but I finally got it in a Border's.

They had two copies, one the deluxe two-discer and the original. I splurged and got the deluxe ed. First words after my jaw returned to a normal state were amazing and bumping. Not many hip-hop beatmakers can get down like these two cats.

The first track makes you wish you woulda been right there front and center. The mix is done superb, both by Daft Punk and the folks who kept the crowd noise just right. It is more a mash-up disc of their 3 studio releases than anything else. Favorites so far are the touch-it/ technologic mix, da funk/daftendirekt, and of course around the world/harder better faster stronger.

Haven't got to the second disc - it includes an encore and a video recorded live for the around the world/harder better faster stronger.

James Booker - Live at Montreux The James Booker Session

Hands down the greatest of the New Orleans piano players. While Prof. Longhair and Dr. John are more well known, it is little booker who shines the brightest. He is the one who taught Harry Connick Jr. the tricks of the trade. A true prodigy, he studied classically before getting on the radio and then on to Europe where he recorded a few live shows. This disc is one of them. It was recorded in 1978 I believe.

As for musicality He has the best left hand I have ever heard recorded and not many people can be considered better with their right (probably Art Tatum but thats about it)

The gem of this album is the medley of Penny Lane/I Saw Here Standing There/One Hell of a Nerve. The first two songs are Beatles covers and they convey more soul than any Beatles recording I have heard. I don't say this about very many songs at all. Even Kanye West is quoted as saying his version of Harder Better Faster Stronger doesn't hold up to the original version by daft punk. James Booker is that good, he knows it too. The last song of the medley is a rousing rendition of one of his own.

While I personally think New Orleans Piano Wizard Live is his greatest recorded work, I think most people would be better served by getting this album first. It includes a backing band on some arrangements and gives a more full appreciation of the talent of James Booker.

James Booker said it best when he stated "I'm better than all of 'em." He was right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up0OAYD8 ... re=related

[TableTiger1]

Oh yeah I will crosspost Jossnaz's Jimi BB thing here as well. Has to do with a live performance that is ridiculously good. I haven't checked it out yet but I will soon.

forum/viewtopic.php?t=28628

[GreaterThanU]

[Xaston]