Lazy bloggers

Haven't had an update in a while so here goes, we've been listening to the albums and we are currently on schedule listening to Neil Young this week, which so far I have mixed feelings about.

I promise we'll have a proper blog about the last few weeks soon, after all we wouldn't want to miss out the rather special Otis Blue album would we? :)

The Zombies - In The Hub with George Lamb

I just happen to be working from home today and The Zombies are in The Hub with George Lamb on BBC 6Music (the best show on the best radio station in the UK, if not the world).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/georgelamb/

They have done a very stripped down version of Time of the Season which is kinda cool but loses something without the breathy accompaniment. They are now doing a version of She's Not There.

Apparently Paul Weller's favourite album is Odessey and Oracle and Fleet Foxes based their whole sound on The Zombies. Which is very interesting and makes me feel bad for not enjoying it when we listened a couple of weeks ago. But this adds more weight to the fact that we really need to track down the original album to forge a proper opinion.

Stephen and I are big fans of Fleet Foxes, and saw them at End of the Road festival this year, so it would be good to cross reference.

About our scoring

Ever wondered why we are scoring each of these abums?

When we reach the end of our listenathon we will be rewriting the Rolling Stone list to fit our beliefs of what should be top and what should be bottom. When we have done this we will set up a Spotify playlist which includes our favourite track from each of the albums, to make it easier for you to find out what you do and don't like.

We are also masterminding a few smaller Spotify-based listening projects for the coming few months, including, end of year lists and NME cool list-enathons. if you have any suggestions then just let us know :D

Thanks for reading!

Week 6 - Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies

Hello and welcome to week 6 of the Great Spotify Listenathon.

Last weeks' album was Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies which you can listen to online using spotify by following this link:

The Zombies – Odessey & Oracle 40th Anniversary Concert Live

In actual fact, the version available on Spotify is the 40th Anniversary Concert, which was problematic for us.

Both being big fans of 'Time of the Season' we were hoping for some lovely 60s tunes with a bit of a darker edge, they are called The Zombies after all.

Unfortunately, the album is a bit self-indulgent and irritating. I think that we should probably track down the original version as this live version left a big gaping hole where any emotional content might have been. It's a shame becasue songs like 'Time of the Season' and 'She's Not There' (However, She's not there is not on the original album) are really perfect pop songs, but it feels as though this album has just been plonked on Spotify to suit die hard fans who might have missed them live, for someone encountering the songs for the first time this really doesn't add to the experience.

When we track down the original we will let you know what we think, but here are our scores for this particular version.

Sam, 4 out of 10.
Stephen, 4 out of 10.

In other news, we both purchased our tickets for Glastonbury 2010 at the weekend and are growing quite excited (yes already) about the prospect of going for that 40th anniversary... the lineup is bound to be a blinder.

We have also just entered Week 8, which can only mean one thing, Otis Redding!!

Check out the Spotify link for a little more R.E.S.P.E.C.T, woop!

Otis Redding – Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul [Collector's Edition]

Week 5 - Graceland by Paul Simon

Hi again,

Yes we are still slightly behind with our reviews of classic albums ever since we went off to End of the Road festival. Yes it took a while to return back to our usual selves, by which time it was also time to get back to work and as such, the whole thing fell off the radar a little. Our sincere apologies.

Week 5 we were treated to an absolute classic album in Graceland by Paul Simon. This is actually one of my all time favourite albums because I remember it from when I was younger and think I revisited it a few times as I grew up.

As such I actually really enjoyed listening to it again and there were a few tracks that I didn't really remember, especially the opening track, The Boy in the Bubble which sounded much darker than I remembered.

I also really enjoyed Gumboots and the really great observational lyrics from Monsieur Simon.

Stephen enjoyed Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes and we both found that Call Me Al made us both particularly happy.

I think it just falls into that category of almost 100% perfect pop songs which include a really healthy dose of slightly dark or questionable lyrics and upbeat music. It's also impossible to listen to it without thinking of the video with Chevvy Chase, which is very funny.

The album in all brightened up a particularly rubbish day at work for me.

Sam 8/10
Stephen 7.5/10 (but only gave it so little because he liked Johnny Cash much better)

This week we are into week 6, that's Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies (Time of the Season? Bring it on!)

Week 4 - Aretha Franklin.,,

Welcome to the latest thrilling update of our musical odyssey :D Week 4, Miss Franklin.

I was quite looking forward to this album, as I obviously knew it had the rather excellent 'Respect', the first track on this album. As Sam is quite a soul fan already loving the big Staxx and Motown tunes, and some Northern Soul stuff, she was also looking forward to some belting soul tunes. We both love The Vandellas, Sam and Dave, Otis reading etc.

When an album picks a track like 'Respect" as the opener, you know you're going to want lots more of that shizzle.

But alas, t'was not to be. The album rarely manages to come close to the highs of 'Respect' and is a much more laid back and loungy affair than we'd anticipated.

You really have to marvel at her voice, it is so powerful and emotional with an incredible range. However, there are a few too many ballads and eventually, it becomes hard to distinguish one from another.

Our highlight (of course, other than aforementioned soul classic) is 'Save Me' which sounds like it might break in to 'Chain of Fools' which is another Aretha classic (which can be found on Lady Soul).

The scores for this album:

Stephen - 6? 6.5? Out of 10? Yes. Sadly. But better than Dusty.

Sam - 5. I'm sorry. I really am.

Week 4 (Slightly late) Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

Here's the link to last week's album! We listened and reviewed on Saturday but haven't managed to get it online yet.

TBC...

Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

We are now into Week 5 which is another one that we are really looking forward to...

Paul Simon – Graceland

We will have a review up before Sunday... promise!!

TTFN :D

Week 3 - Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison

Ok so this post is late boo hiss etc.. We went over to the west side (End of the Road festival and Bath to be precise) and had a lovely few days away, but we are back now!

Anyway, the album, we really were excited at the prospect of listening to this, as we both really love Johnny Cash and saw "Walk the line" a couple of years ago. Sam also had Live at San Quentin a few years ago which she really liked but alas it was on the lost format of minidisk and has been lost in the depths of time.

Thankfully the album didn't disappoint, there are a lot of lesser known tracks on the album, most of the songs are of a prison theme so don't expect a greatest hits set.

My highlight was definitely "Cocaine Blues" which I had no choice but to stamp my feet along to at work, cue some weird looks from co-workers (it's ok they think I'm odd anyway for not wearing shoes..)

Sam liked "I still miss someone" because she's like, totally soft. And also likes "Cocaine Blues" and "Jackson" was another highlight. Some of the dialogue between Johnny and the audience, and especially between Johnny and June Carter was really endearing an the prison wardens announcements paints a really great picture of what it must have been like to be there.

It's a shame that you don't get these kind of recordings anymore, even so-called 'concept albums' are still very much polished and pro-tooled. It makes such a change to listen to something so unashamedly rough.

So the scores on the george-doors? (He's a baby)

Stephen - 8 out of 10

Sam - 8.5 out of 10

So we really should have listened to the next album by now, but as we only got back on Wednesday and have been at work since (eugh) so will be listening this weekend and blogging like nobody's business to get back on track...

New blog soon stating this week's album ;)

Week 2 - Dusty in Memphis

It's so easy to forget to blog isn't it? I think that's why most people don't do it. It's like keeping a diary or something...

So anyways, we both listened to Dusty in Memphis this week, in fact, I think we both gave it a couple of listens.

The problem is that it does kind of pass you by a little bit because it's just so damned smooth, my main problem with it is that it just sounds so effortless for her. She has an amazing range but it seems to come so easily, which, for me slightly makes me feel like there's less emotion there.

I actually really love old soul songs from Stax and Motown etc, but this really didn't feel right for me. That said, Son of a Preacher Man is a classic hit for a reason, it is amazing.

Stephen feels much the same way, I know we've both listened to this at work but it hasn't really jumped out and made me think "God, I really need to listen to this later".

I think we both choose SOAPM (Son of a Preacher Man) as the best track (though Stephen also quite liked "the windmill one") and both give it an approximation of 6 out of 10 possibly more on a good day.

Incidentally In the Windmills of Your Mind actually really scares me for some reason. I think I heard it as a child and can't really listen to it now. No idea why...

Next week, At Folsom Prison by the late great Johnny Cash (woop!).

Week two..

Bank holiday has severely messed with my body clock! anyway we had Dusty in Memphis this week.

Will be posting full responses soon but my initial impressions are quite good, anyone else listened to it yet?

Wildcards!

We've both chosen our Wildcards now. That's three each.

The idea is that we keep these secret until such a time comes that one of us just can't face the album pick of the week.

I've actually been quite kind I think, but am dreading what Stephen might have picked for me.

So next week is Dusty In Memphis and I don't think either of us will be asking for wildcards just yet (U2 is a number of weeks away...)

On another note, thanks to Uncut magazine, I've discovered Os Mutantes this week, and they are exceptionally special. I have also been listening to J Tillman and Jeff Lewis (as always).

Stephen has been listening to Moondog, Frank Black and Os Mutantes, after I told him he had to.

It's Reading and Leeds this weekend and I shall be watching from the safety of the sofa.

Ta ra xx

Week 1 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

So this morning me and Stephen both listened to our first album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.

http://open.spotify.com/album/2DTpFSz6eCQR1l5jOHeWtu

Figuring that it probably wasn't top form to choose to play our red cards so early on in the game (plus we actually haven't chosen our wildcards yet) we decided to bite the bullet and listen to the first album, even though, had it been further up the list we probably would have copped out...

I actually bought the album a long time ago on the recommendation of Uncut magazine and didn't like it but decided to give it a second go.

Stephen listened at work while knee deep in code and I was also at work. I listened first so was a few tracks ahead of Stephen and could warn him of what was approaching.

It's probably worth stating at this point that, honestly, genuinely, neither of us embarked upon this determined to hate everything. It was done purely our of a desire to listen to new things that would help round our musical education (or something).

So it is with a heavy heart that I have to sadly report that be both thought this was really horrible, almost without exception, from start to finish.

It didn't exactly help that the version we listened had four bonus tracks, including a second and (even more saccharine? no, it couldn't possibly be) version of Candle in the Wind. Which I actually couldn't make it through.

Stephen battled through and by the end of the album it really was more like an endurance test than anything else.

That said there were moments when it was almost nice, Stephen quite likes Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, which sadly didn't appear until six tracks into the second disk.

I personally quite liked Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll) purely because there was a bit in it which sounded like The Beach Boys. However Jamaica Jerk Off and Candle in the Wind far outstrip any good feelings that these songs could conjure up.

Stephen: Sub par 4/10

Sam: My ears are full of cheese 5/10

(Honestly, I wanted to like it, really I did!)

Now we need to get choosing our wildcards in preparation for next week :)

Our list!

So here's the list we will be using, we will be working from the bottom upwards, the numbers relate to where the album was originally placed in the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest albums of all time list which you can find here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time

2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
6. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
8. London Calling, The Clash
11. The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley
12. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
13. Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground
15. Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
17. Nevermind, Nirvana
18. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
19. Astral Weeks, Van Morrison
20. Thriller, Michael Jackson
21. The Great Twenty-Eight, Chuck Berry
23. Innervisions, Stevie Wonder
24. Live at the Apollo (1963), James Brown
25. Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
26. The Joshua Tree, U2
27. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1, Robert Johnson
28. Who's Next, The Who
30. Blue, Joni Mitchell
33. Ramones, Ramones
34. Music From Big Pink, The Band
35. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, David Bowie
36. Tapestry, Carole King
38. The Anthology, 1947 - 1972, Muddy Waters
40. Forever Changes, Love
41. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols
42. The Doors, The Doors
44. Horses, Patti Smith
46. Legend, Bob Marley and the Wailers
47. A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
48. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Public Enemy
49. At Fillmore East, The Allman Brothers Band
50. Here's Little Richard, Little Richard
51. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
53. The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings, 1952 - 1959, Ray Charles
60. Greatest Hits, Sly and the Family Stone
61. Appetite for Destruction, Guns n' Roses
64. Phil Spector, Back to Mono (1958 - 1969), Various Artists
67. The Stranger, Billy Joel
69. Superfly, Curtis Mayfield
71. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
72. Purple Rain, Prince
74. Otis Blue, Otis Redding
80. Odessey and Oracle, The Zombies
81. Graceland, Paul Simon
83. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Aretha Franklin
88. At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash
89. Dusty in Memphis, Dusty Springfield
91.Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John

So I guess we start with the rules, no?

And the objective of the game too.

Stephen decided the other day that it would be an interesting challenge to download a list of the greatest albums of all time, and to try and listen to as many as possible using Spotify.

Stephen told Sam this and Sam thought it would be fun to make it into an interesting game :D

So here are the rules.

We have downloaded the list of the top 200 Greatest Albums of all time from Rolling Stone which can easily be found online, here.

Using this list we first removed any bands and artists that featured more than once, leaving only their top scoring album.

We then went through the list and removed any album that wasn't available on Spotify until we had a list of 50 albums.

So here's the deal, we are both going to listen to one of these albums every week and to write down our thoughts about it, giving a score out of ten and (if possible) choosing our favourite track.

We will also provide Spotify links so that if you want to join us, you can :D

We also both get three red cards. These are for any albums on the list that we really (really) can't bring ourselves to listen to, for one reason or another. We will endeavor to explain why we found the prospect of listening to the album so truly terrible.

There is a catch, however. For ever red card that one of us plays, we will be given a wildcard by the other.

Each of us will choose three wildcards taken from the albums remaining on the list of 200. This is of course, as long as they aren't another duplicate, and only if they are available on Spotify.

These wildcards will be written down and hidden in separate locations in our flat so that neither of us know what they are but so that we can also prove that we weren't lying!

Next post, the list.