Deep Purple – Deep Purple – 1969 Deep Purple’s eponymous album comes a year after their debut AND sophomore records. And from the very first few seconds you can tell it’s a different affair entirely. “Chasing Shadows” is a drummer’s showcase and Ian Paice is up to the challenge. The Continue Reading
Music Reviews
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – The Book of Taliesyn
Deep Purple – The Book of Taliesyn – 1968 The first thing you notice when you drop the needle on Deep Purple’s sophomore offering is the edge. This is a darker album, but not murkier. It’s edgier, cutting, trippier by virtue of frenzy. Mirroring the landscape that was being mined Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Shades of Deep Purple
Deep Purple – Shades of Deep Purple – 1968 The Guinness Book of Records has called them the “World’s Loudest Band”. I’m sure Deep Purple contribute to the pastiche that made up Spinal Tap 14 years after this record was released. But, in 1968, Deep Purple started to change the Continue Reading
Listening Post: Aerosmith – Honkin’ on Bobo
Aerosmith – Honkin’ On Bobo – 2004 Aerosmith goes back to its roots and becomes…The J. Geils Band?If you go wayyyy back into the Geils catalog you’ll discover that they were one of the best blues bar bands in the country. Also from Boston, their live record Full House is Continue Reading
Listening Post: Aerosmith – Just Push Play
Aerosmith – Just Push Play – 2001 Just Push Play is, without a doubt, the ugliest record that Aerosmith has ever recorded.Still following the formula, utilizing outsized orchestrations whether or not they are appropriate, the band just comes across as tired. And we are not the beneficiaries of anything good Continue Reading
Listening Post: Aerosmith – Nine Lives
Aerosmith – Nine Lives – 1997 So, it’s been more than a year since I was doing the Listening Post for the Toxic Twins from Boston. I actually listened to this record once, but it was playing in the background while I was out in the backyard playing with Zoe Continue Reading
Listening Post: Devo – Something For Everybody
Devo – Something for Everybody – 2010 The image clean, the icon reminiscent, the name familiar, it’s 20 years later and Devo has a new album. Should we care?I’m not sure, I want to like it, the way I dug Freedom of Choice and Q/A.For one thing, they’ve seemed to Continue Reading
Listening Post: Devo – Smooth Noodle Maps
Devo – Smooth Noodle Maps – 1990 Remember all that anonymous pseudo-dance synth music on the last Devo record? It’s ba-a-a-ck! Only more monotonous than before. At least this time we are only treated to a 30 minute blast. Half the time, the same amount of schnooze!I have to believe Continue Reading
Listening Post: Devo – Total Devo
Devo – Total Devo – 1988 Here’s the thing about this record. Besides the fact that who the fuck knew it even existed? It’s really boring. There’s no doubt that Devo know how to put notes together and create music or “songs”. And the first track, “Baby Doll” does contain Continue Reading
Listening Post: Devo – Shout
Devo- Shout – 1984 I’m not sure what to make of this. Everything I’ve read says it’s awful. And it’s the last Devo recording for a while. Also follows a tradition of self-production after someone else at the helm. But I kinda like the opening track, the title track. It Continue Reading