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!).