Timeless Albums: Radiohead - The Bends

Where this idea came from: I went to Nashville a few years back and was hanging out with a producer friend of mine, Donnie Boutwell. He was talking about a certain album and said that it was timeless. It could have been made 30 years ago or last week and you would not know the difference. That piqued my interest and since then I’ve discovered several more, so maybe this will become a series.

THE BENDS by RADIOHEAD

Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of Radiohead, unlike some of my friends. The more experimental stuff that they’ve done is really just over the top for me.

The Bends, however, is genius. The songs are strung together very well, the melodies are both invigorating and haunting, but most of all, it’s accessible for most any listener. For nearly every year that I’ve owned the record I’ve found a new song that I like.

To me, the real test of a great song is whether it can stand up on its own away from production and all the other toys. These songs, if you have the skill required to play them, sound just as good on an acoustic guitar as they do on the album.

So, if you have a chance, go give it a listen because it sounds just as good today as it did when it was recorded in 1995.

For My Own Benefit

So, I just encouraged some people to come check out the old blog here and I was afraid that the last post might scare them away. So, please scroll down and look at some of the other music discussed below. You’ll find everything from Al Green to Gavin DeGraw. I’ve got Rants about David Cook and Knock Off Album Artwork. You’ll find that I’m really into European Indie Rock (especially Irish) and that I’m completely sold on The Frames. So if from time to time I reference my boyhood days of lip-synching to CCM greatness, please don’t hold it against me.

Jr. High Flashback

So, my good friend Ryan did me a solid today be hooking me up with a gently used copy of an old favorite album from our days together in junior high: The Ride by 4 Him

WARNING: If you are not a fan of Contemporary Christian Music circa 1994, this is not for you.

If you’re not familiar with the greatness of this album or group, they would be filed along with the likes of Michael W. Smith or Steven Curtis Chapman, but with a Motown influence.

I pretty much burned this cassette tape up by listening to it so much. 1 went to two concerts, had a couple of videos, and special ordered every album of theirs that I couldn’t find in my local Baptist Book Store.

So, I’m listening to it now and I realize that there’s not a whole lot of musical integrity behind it, but it still holds a special place in my heart and I’m sure that “Love Finds You” is probably still one of my alltime favorite songs.

Here are a couple of excerpts from reviews on Amazon.com

“I had never at the time heard so pure of lyrics with such a good produced contemporary sound.” - Josh (1999)

“We were impressed…greatly impressed.” - Karenina (2001)

“Anyone who has ever said that Christian music isn’t very good apparently has not listened to 4Him.” - Customer (1999)

All Reviewers (all 7 of them) gave 5 stars.

Sophomore Slump?

After much waiting, I finally picked up Gavin DeGraw’s self-titled, second album. Maybe I should have trusted the first single, “In Love with a Girl,” to be an honest indicator of what I was in for, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Now, I’m not saying that the album is bad, by any means. Still, when you’re debut album is impressive and the bonus disc of all the same songs re-recorded acoustic blows my mind then I have to wait 5 years… 5 YEARS!… for a follow up, you gotta bring it.

Here’s a random rating system for the moment, I give it a 3 stars minus. That’s like a C-, but with stars.

I sort Gavin and Jason Mraz into the same kind of category. Big difference, even though Jason’s newer stuff isn’t as great as his early stuff 1) he keeps on putting out material between releases 2) he carries some artistic integrity to what he does.

Thank You… iTunes

So, my very first post was a list of the great music I discovered thanks to Starbucks. Now, for the greatest I’ve been introduced to via iTunes. I love to click through the section of albums that “people also purchased.” Always find some interesting stuff.

Augustana - I love these guys. Hope that I can see them in September with Maroon 5 and Counting Crows

Bell X1 - Apparently this is the remains of a band that Damien Rice was once in.

Ben Taylor - Son of James Taylor (and you can tell)

The Frames - For my money, it just doesn’t get any better than The Frames right now.

Heath Brandon - This guy is cool. Very chill, laid back music.

Mickey Harte - I can’t find any of his original work, but there is an awesome cover of Running to Stand Still by U2 that he recorded. A must have

Priscilla Ahn - I don’t even remember how I stumbled across her, but I’m glad I did.

Rob Blackledge - Like Priscilla, I just stumbled across him. Says he toured with Matt Wertz. Can’t argue with that.

Even Better than the Real Thing - These are albums of covers from an Irish radio station featuring Bell X1, The Frames, Mickey Harte, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and others.

The Wreckers - I knew of the Wreckers, but picked up a lot of their stuff from iTunes. I hear they’ve disbanded. Sad.

Amazing Song

Ok, you need to go here and download the track Fitzacarraldo by the Frames. It is an unbelievable song complete with a violin jam that would make Caitlin Evanson blush. Yeah, that may not sound so cool, but it really is, just check it out.

One of the Greatest Albums Ever Made

The Cost by The Frames

Nothing to say, just listen to it.

Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

Ok, so this album is growing on me. I didn’t expect it from the first listen, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

Before hearing the album, I read a couple of reviews and expected that I would prefer the Sunday Mornings portion. (If you are not aware, this is set up like a double album, but with only enough tracks for 1 CD. Saturday Nights is more rockin, Sunday Mornings is more laid back). So, I’ve always loved stuff like August and Everything After which is fairly laid back.

But again, to my surprise, it’s the stuff on the Saturday Nights portion that really connects with me. I love “Los Angeles” and “Hanging Tree” might be my favorite song at the moment. So check it out.

Mraz

I got the new Jason Mraz today.

I would rant about the fact that his website advertised the fact that the only way to get the We Steal Things -EP was pre-order, but that iTunes sold me the whole album, all 3 EPs, and a couple of bonus tracks for $20.

Glad I didn’t pre-order. Stupid S&H.

So, I’m still listening to it and I’ll give it a review in a few days. In the meantime, anyone want to buy Gavin DeGraw for me?

Guilty Pleasure

So I picked up the latest Good Charlotte record this weekend and listened to it a couple of times yesterday.

I have to admit that they are one of my guilty pleasures. Certainly we will never see any major songwriting awards for these guys, nor will there be documentaries 20 years from now about their innovative musicianship. I don’t care, though, it’s good, catchy, pop-punk music. It rocks. (And their previous album did receive a good amount of critical praise.)

So that’s one of my many musical guilty pleasures. What are yours?