Released: September, 1977 Label: Epic Genre: Rock, hard rock, power pop Producer: Tom Werman
This is pretty classic rock-pop and it’s all pretty good. Hardly offensive (and if there’s a problem, that’s it) but it’s big-haired, blue-jeaned, eye-lined fun and it’s all completely polished and totally clean. If it reminds me of anything so far it’s KISS or Deff Leppard except they do it bigger and glammer, but sillier too – more of a glint in the eye. I’m sure the purists would kill me, but I would have liked some more cheese here because this is all a bit middling.
Top tracks: “Downed” (where Australia gets a mention <3) and the hit “I Want You to Want Me”.
Released: May, 1976 Label: Capitol Genre: Rock, psychedelic rock Producer: Steve Miller
So here we are in Perth. Of course I’m writing this months later catching up on the list, but I first listened to Fly Like an Eagle when we first got back to Perth, and have come back a couple of times since. I think this is best when they spin more off into psychedelia (at times not unlike My Morning Jacket ) and otherwise this is fairly classic rock but it’s good rock, and the space noises help..
Top tracks: Well, the hits “Take the Money and Run” and “Rock ‘n Me”, and also “Fly Like an Eagle”, and then “Wild Mountain Honey” with it’s sweet, dreamy, modern feel.
Released: October, 1973 Label: Asylum Genre: Rock Producer: Jackson Browne
OK so here we are: 50 albums down – 1 per week makes for 50 weeks, so at about 75 weeks since I started I don’t think it’s tracking that badly. But whatever, just getting through it isn’t really the point I guess. For Everyman is pretty great – a good light and shade. Vocally Browne is really solid, and lyrically I think there’s a lot to like and lot to unpick. It surprised me to hear The Eagles’ “Take it Easy” on here, which Browne himself wrote. It surprised me more to learn that Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Don Henley, David Crosby and Elton John (as Rockaday Johnnie) all appeared.
There’s a nifty cross-fade between tracks 1 and 2 and then 9 and the final track. I love effects like this, and it reminds me of the effect on Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs between “Halflight I” and “Halflight II (No Celebration)” – so good.
Released: 30 October, 1970 Label: DJM (UK), Uni (US) Genre: Rock, country rock, Americana, rock and roll Producer: Gus Dudgeon
This was a huge surprise to me: after years of listening to (and loving) Elton Johns’ various greatest hits, I remained a fan at a distance. I never knew that much about his career or back catalogue; he’s a legend, for sure, but beyond that I didn’t know much. The sheer American-ness of this record is what hit you most – a concept album through and through. It’s interesting to listen to and maybe I’ll leave it at that.
This week: First week of 2014 and we all have to get used to not writing 2013 on our pages of notes at work. Lots of crossed out dates.
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Released: April 1974
Label: Island Genre: Rock Producer: Richard Thompson, John Wood
What an odd little surprise this was. Essentially a English folk-rock album, at 37 minutes long this skips along fairly unpretentiously. These are good songs and you can’t fault Richard Thompson’s skills on the guitar which are masterful. But listen more closely and there’s a beautiful sense of foreboding on this album – even the happier songs are not as they seem, and you get the feeling that there’s something horrible hiding in the shadows.
Like some of my favourites from Arcade Fire and Lana Del Rey, this background dread really sings to me so I liked this album the more that I listened to it, and I predict it being a bit of a go-to when friends come over.
It’s a little bit The Carpenters and a little bit John Carpenter. And is there a better song/album title than “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight”, or better album cover art?
Top tracks: The title track is pure gold, and for murkiness “The Cavalry Cross” and “Down Where The Drunkards Roll” (great title).
This week: That’s 30 done. Granted there were a few weeks off here and there, and I’ll have this week off before America, but I think I’m doing pretty good. I’ve stayed pretty much on track and am still so glad I’m doing it.
So in America I’ll be listening to LL Cool J, Fugees, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Bruce Springsteen.
Give It Up (Bonnie Raitt album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Released: September 1972 Label: Warner Bros. Genre: Rock Producer: Michael Cuscuna
There’s something fitting about listening to this album as we drive around WA – from Esperance up to Kalgoorlie, and then back down to Norseman and across to South Australia – what with its country and folk rock sound playing as we pass red dirt, gnarled trees and sun-bleached and scorched earth. I enjoyed this album as much as I thought I would. It’s good country and rock music with obvious jazz and blues elements, and a lot better than just your average run of the mill radio C&W.
In my mind the best part of this is Bonnie Raitt’s voice itself, so full and rounded, and sounding just as rock as country – like she could step straight in and cover for Chrissy Amphlett or Chrissie Hynde. Raitt has a gorgeous voice that centres this music and gives it a real kick. Not a brilliant album for me, but really good music that is made great because of that voice. And perfect for this drive…
And I suppose this was always going to happen… Another album that I don’t like, which makes it 2 in a row (but you can’t like everything).
Again, of course, objectively I can tell this is good music, but I just don’t like it. If I was being brutally honest I’d say I find this album boring, or maybe I just didn’t see the point, and I guess I just didn’t connect with it. It’s certainly fine background music and I’d be pleased to have it on in the background at a bar on a Sunday afternoon, but that’s about as far as I’ll go singing it’s praises.
Top track: N/A – maybe a bit harsh, but I can’t pick anything out.
This week: It was Christmas this week so Merry Christmas! We had a terrific Christmas Day in Melbourne with friends and then enjoyed the Boxing Day cricket test, before heading over to Perth the morning after where we picked up our camper van Whitey for our epic road trip. Margaret River was beautiful as ever, though it’s stinking hot, and Sam and Leah’s wedding was gorgeous. So a big Congratulations to them. Margaret River to Albany (which is better than I remember from so many years ago) and now in Esperance for New Years Eve. And that, I guess, was 2012!!
Next: a small detour… 2012 in review and a couple of albums that have been on high rotation this year.
thehifielective 