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?