#488 – Hüsker Dü, ‘New Day Rising’

Released: January 1985
Label: SST
Genre: Post-hardcore, alternative rock, hardcore punk
Producer: Hüsker Dü, Spot

I hadn’t been looking forward to this album thinking that it’d be too hardcore for me, but I’m having a shit time at work lately and listening to something with some more anger in it on my walk in to work has been cathartic. In any case, this wasn’t that hardcore. Maybe it was hardcore at the time but this reminded me a lot of the pop-punk that I listened to in high school, like Australia’s Grinspoon or (a lot on some tracks) like Sweden’s Millencolin. Some tracks are roaring, and some are just good rock songs. Nothing that really touched me, but it’s mighty good punk.

Funnily enough, this list got some legs in my life this week. I was able to chat at length one afternoon this week with colleagues about The Stone Roses who are touring Australia right now (I tried to get tickets), KISS are touring too so I can see what the fuss is now (I’ve revisited that album a lot this week), and I picked out BB King being played in the background in a bar on Saturday night. Class.

Top track: All good. Like I say, I appreciated the anger in here this week. “Celebrated Summer” is great drama.

This week: Just gotta hold on. Work’s hard at the moment, and I need to try and remember everything that I learnt from last year’s meltdown… don’t take work home, it’s just work, exercise, fill your free-time with other stuff, and plan for the future. Change is close. Oh, and calm the fuck down. And we’re starting to think seriously about going to the US for my 30th… this might be the last chance for a while…

#499 – B.B. King, ‘Live in Cook County Jail’

Live in Cook County Jail (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: 1971
Label: MCA
Genre: Blues, soul
Producer: Bill Szymczyk

I’ve never really taken the opportunity to listen to any proper blues or soul music, aside from the pseudo-soul resurgence of the last few years with the likes of Amy Winehouse and so many others, so this was nice to do and was another welcome surprise.

The musical genius on the guitar of this man is impossible to fault. Every song on this album is like liquid silk to listen to – so easy and simple and fluid and smooth. I barely noticed me having started the album that it was over, though that said, it is pretty short.

In case it’s not obvious from the title, this was recorded in a prison in Chicago and you can hear the various cheers and jeers that erupt when B.B. speaks to the ladies or the gents. It’s also pretty funny hearing B.B. in “Worry Worry”, referring to smacking the woman in your life “upside her face” and various other dated and less than PC things. It’s a lot of fun to listen to. But this is blues, and it’s sad and mournful at times (even the joyous tracks), and it grabs you in the guts somewhere, and the guitar playing is just fantastic.

I feel like I’ve been fortunate with this album too. Not that I expect to hate a lot of the albums in this list (they are the “greatest” of all time), but again this was an awesome introduction to soul and blues, and now I’m just looking forward to the next album…

Top track: “Worry, Worry” is terrific. It’s a semi-spoken word, long song where B.B. speaks to the crowd and elicits their responses. Brilliant. The other little diamond is the introductions where the County Sheriff and prison Director are introduced. You can imagine the prisoners response….

This week: Nothing much to report. I’ve finally started the photography course that I’ve been intending to start since I moved to Melbourne over 4 years ago, so that’s something. Really it’s all pre-Christmas drinks and catch-ups, and looking forward to the Nullabor trip Andy and I will take over New Years. Work is fine. I need to get to the gym more.

Moving right along…