Change My Mind About ____ - Page 2

Oh, and my "desert island" Neil Young album would be Live Rust. It feels odd for me to recommend so many live albums, since I don't generally care for them that much, but this is another case where the concert setting builds to something organic and extraordinary: from the quietly bittersweet opener of "Sugar Mountain" to the guitar workout of "Cortez the Killer" to the sequence of "Like a Hurricane," "Hey, Hey, My, My," and "Tonight's the Night" that closes it out, it's the album that reminds me why, even at his worst (and he's made some frankly bad albums over the years), he's worth our time.

The one caveat is that the CD release trimmed the original guitar solo in "Cortez," which won't bother you at all if you've never heard the LP version. I opted for the DVD release, which has all of the original LP material, plus a couple of other songs.

Re: Waits. I just listened to "Crossroads" off The Black Rider. I'm sold.

ETA: Jesus Christ, this album is creepy as fuck. I prefer his bluesy sound more, but I haven't felt this unsettled by music in quite some time. Well done.

I know this is retarded, but I seriously lost alot of respect for Led Zeppelin when I found out half of the time they were singing about Hobbits and such. I mean I was really, really disappointed.

And holy fuck, Neil Young live, yes, yes, yes.

Okay, I take back the Weld recommendation. A better live introduction would probably be Live Rust, since it's not all bluster, but has some nice acoustic moments, too.

Oh, if you want dark Waits, definitely go with Bone Machine and the albums that directly followed (including The Black Rider).

YES. If you like that, get Beautiful Maladies. There are a few tracks from The Black Rider on there (specifically the title track and November), but overall it's just a really awesomely creepy collection of the more "experimental" tracks from Swordfishtrombones, Frank's Wild Years, Rain Dogs, Big Time, and Bone Machine. I'm particularly fond of the live version of "Strange Weather".

Others have already chimed in on Waits, but I have a couple of things to add.

What got me into Tom, bedsides my dad being a fan, was his funny (or sometimes funny/sad) songs.

Try "Step Right Up," "The Piano has Been Drinking (Not Me)," "Filipino Box Spring Hog"

If the voice is the hurdle, try starting way, way early in his career with something like the "Heart of Saturday Night" album. "New Coat of Paint" is a great first track. http://lala.com/zkY2

The live album/soundtrack to the film "Big Time"* is also a good sampler, though the sound quality/mastering job on the CD can make everything sound a bit thin.

*Will "Big Time" ever get a DVD release? It's a crime that it's not available.

I second that. Bone Machine is where I cut my teeth on Waits, and remains one of my fave records in my collection.

I'm definitely picking up Bone Machine. I wish I had a record player, because something tells me Waits sounds best on scratchy vinyl. Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

Now, convince me on Pearl Jam. I can't stand their singles. I'm not a big 90's grunge fan, either. Have at it!

I'm no expert on Pearl Jam, but I would suggest Vitalogy, if only because I love that record with all my heart.

The only thing of theirs that I like is their second album, 'Vs'. Every song on that album is pretty much perfect. Beyond that album, they really don't do anything for me. I give them a try every couple of years to see if I've missed anything...nope. I'll stick with Soundgarden or Alice in Chains if I want any grunge-era rock.

Oh hell, Zeppelin really only sang about Hobbits/LOTR on a few songs.

And even then... how can you not love it? Unless you're just opposed to all things Tolkien, it's lighthearted. It's not like they were heart-attack serious about it all.


Plus, "deep lyrical content" is never really what Zeppelin was about.

One Hobbit song is too many.

I don't want my rock gods singing about The Shire, is that too much to ask?

With very few exceptions, the Tolkien stuff is pretty much all confined to the first four Led Zep albums. Jump into 'Houses of the Holy' and 'Physical Graffiti' and you should be fine.

What usually kills most people on LZ is Robert Plant, though. You either like his style of singing or you hate it. I used to love it but now...man, he misses more notes than he hits. He developed more vocal control in the later albums, thank God.

I'm well versed in Zeppelin. I didn't know they were singing about Hobbits until much later.

Also, I'm fucking around.

John.


Bonham.


Rocks.

Ugh. I hate the word "grunge". Always will. The irony is Pearl Jam has always been the least "grunge" since even Ten (an album that I personally loved back in the day, but hardly ever listen to anymore).

From the fans that got into the band post-Vitalogy (generally considered their last true "grunge" album), their fave albums seem to be No Code (think of the direction that Led Zeppelin went in with III--but there's still the raw, jagged punk rockers to keep things moving along) and Yield (one of their most streamlined, straightforward albums; I like it, but not one that I go back to too often).

I highly recommend any of their albums from this decade. It seems like I'm in the minority sometimes (especially since none of my closest friends even care about Pearl Jam anymore or realize that they're still making music), but Pearl Jam's music during this decade has cemented them as one of the greats in my book. They've become a better, more mature band with each release. Binaural has some shining moments, and the addition of Matt Cameron on drums is an added bonus. There's some really unorthodox arrangements throughout the album. Listen with headphones to get the best aural experience. Riot Act is near the top of my list as a fave. The production is warm and welcoming, the melodies lush, and the artsy detours they take are rewarding. The self-titled album is more of a summation of every sound and era that Pearl Jam had tried up to that point. The rockers hit hard and the ballads are beautifully conceived. It takes all of their strengths as a band and puts it on display with the confidence and chops of a well-oiled veteran band. Their latest album Backspacer is their most optimistic and poppy album yet. But not in a cheesy way. I'm still digesting the album (it just came out a few days ago, after all) and getting to know it, but from front-to-back, it could be their most consistently enjoyable release.

Or just check out this very informative thread.

I love this thread. I grew up on Zeppelin, so it's kinda hard to fathom that there are folks that can't get into the band. Never really listen to the lyrics. It's all about the guitars and awesome arrangements when it comes to Zeppelin for me.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

As for Zep, the lyrics were never the point for me either. Jimmy Page was the point. That man is a god.

One more for you guys. Convince me on They Might Be Giants.

RE They Might Be Giants: Put on the album Flood. Listen to it all the way through. Rinse. Repeat.

Yeah, I'll admit that a lot of my disdain comes from the lyrics. Once they started going on about the Misty Mountains and such, I lost all interest. Moreover, coming from a skateboarding background, I was trained from an early age on that minimalist arrangements and simple chord progressions were the be-all-end-all (how very punk, no?). Hell, it's only been in the last couple of years that I really started to expand my horizons into more complex stuff. But, damn it, I'm trying...

I used to live in that land myself. Not sure how I expanded my horizons so much (psychedelics?), but I did.

I'm now far more enamored with complex arrangements and all that progressive stuff. Well, not "all that." I'm still supremely picky in regards to any music.

I'd ask Judas or one of the other prog-folks to sell me on Dream Theatre, but there's no hope for me there. None at all.

Alright...


somebody sell me on Animal Collective.

Can someone help me out with Aerosmith?

I like their early stuff from Toys in the Attic, but I could really give two shits about anything after 1975.

I have the impression they feel pretty much the same.

As do I. Can't help you there, man.

Toys is good though. I remember picking it up as a wee lad and, even then, thinking, "whoa, who are THESE talented guys? This is NOT the same group that made 'Love in an Elevator.'"

Jesus Christ, there are movie fans who don't know Rain Dogs up and down? It's one of the most cinematic albums ever.

And I guess it's all part of your iPod generation, but as Bruce McCulloch said, "Greatest hits albums are for housewives and little girls." But if you want a single song recommendation, look up "San Diego Serenade".

They're probably slightly more miss than hit with me, but if "My Girls" doesn't work for you (especially once the chorus kicks in at around 3:00), then they're probably not worth listening to further. Their newest album is probably the easiest to get into and, while I still think it's somewhat uneven, it's less so than the others I've heard.

Another way in might be Panda Bear's solo album, Person Pitch, which ditches a lot of the more eccentric AC tendencies, but keeps the melodicism and lush, trippy vibe.

"My Girls" is a GREAT startoff track, and I'm also kinda fond of "Summertime Clothes". If you end up liking MPP, then go for their Sung Tongs album.

No love for Rocks ('76)? That's quintessential Aerosmith. That and Get Your Wings are probably my faves.

I read this quote from Joe Perry yesterday which pretty much says it all about the band's steep and ongoing decline:

“I don’t mind using outside songwriters but I’d still like to see an Aerosmith where the core of the music comes from the guys in the band,” Perry said. (source: Rolling Stone)

Sad.

Listen to My Girls, Summertime Clothes and Brothersport from the latest album. Peacebone, Fireworks and For Reverend Green from Strawberry Jam. And check out Sung Tongs. This is not to say those songs will sell you, but they will give you a glimpse of what the band has been up to and I think those are tracks that have gotten people into the band, that wouldn't already have known about it before they got this huge boost of netpopularity.

I'm not particularly sure if there's any way to sell you on this particular band other than telling you "yeah, listen to those tracks a lot, the simplicity will turn out to be delightfully layered and the insane parts will make sense eventually". I know a lot of people whose first reaction to My Girls is "too repetitive" and only if they happen to listen it several times, do they get to that whole "I think its stuck in my head" part.

I don't think Animal Collective is as essential as current hype claims it to be, but its fairly rewarding, so I'd recommend giving them a chance, and then maybe another one, and, if not sold, perhaps when they release something else, another one including a new look at the songs you've already "passed" on.

Oh, yeah, Water Curses is also pretty good.

Seconded. 'Rocks' and 'Toys in the Attic' are really the only 2 Aerosmith albums that you need, PERIOD. Indeed, I'd put 'Rocks' as one of the top hard rock albums of all time.

Joey, we'll talk Dream Theater sometime.

It goes without saying that Toys in the Attic is a powerhouse. My only gripe with it is that the singles overshadow the rest of the album. Never cared for 'Uncle Salty' or 'Round and Round'. 'Big Ten Inch Record', either (even though it's a cover). But the other tunes are so strong I can overlook them easily. 'You See Me Crying' is worth the purchase alone.

You should check . One of the best advices around here.

Nick Cave? Don't get me wrong I love him to eternity I´m just curious about your answer.

People who can't enjoy at least one track off of Dig, Lazarus! Dig! are probably Pod People, and that's not even counting the rest of the stuff in his vast catalog. Also, his work with The Birthday Party, especially the Junkyard album.

Ok, snagged the latest Animal Collective album.

While it's definitely hit and miss to me right now, "My Girls" and "Daily Routine" are fucking awesome. I like the rest of the album ok, but these two are really great, and are now in heavy rotation by me.

I get a sort of Battles meets Flaming Lips vibe, to make one of those shitty ______ meets ______ analogies.


SUCCESS!

Same here since a friend showed his The Good Son way too early to me.

Flaming Lips & Magnetic Fields...

With Flaming Lips, it depends on if you want fuzzed-out guitar weirdness or post-modern Beach Boys melancholy pop. There are probably others better-equipped to answer to the early, guitar-oriented stuff. As for the heavily-orchestrated pop, if you try the Soft Bulletin and don't like it, you probably won't like anything they've done since (which isn't saying all that much, since Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is an almost-as-good variation on The Soft Bulletin, At War With the Mystics is utter horseshit, and the new one is too new for me to have developed an opinion on it).

With Magnetic Fields, the obvious answer is 69 Love Songs, but that's a big investment of time and money. For a user's guide to it, check this thread.

Dunno about that - it was a single off one of his most popular albums. I can easily see someone enjoying that one for being funky and hilariously profane, even if they don't like his usual style.

I'd be tempted to recommend the Abbatoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus set as a Nick Cave starter. It's probably his most polished and accessible record, and the songs are varied and strong. My own intro to Cave was No More Shall We Part, which in retrospect was jumping in at the deep end - one of his best I think, but not the easiest to like.

As noted above the Flaming Lips have dramatically reinvented themselves several times over the years so there's no one record you can point to to define their sound. If you feel like some melodic lush pop I'd recommend Yoshimi, though I feel like the first couple of tracks on Soft Bulletin might make a bigger impression. If you like the idea of off-kilter rock songs drenched in feedback and creative guitar noise I'd recommend Priest Driven Ambulance. If you like the idea of atmospheric exploratory psychedelic rock then try out Embryonic.

The Flaming Lips are tough, because over the years they've really gone all over the place, yet somehow always sound like The Flaming Lips.

For a smattering of what they're capable of (individual track wise), try these:

-Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Pt 1 & 2)
-The W.A.N.D.
-Slow Nerve Action
-Turn It On
-The Gash
-Race for the Prize
-Do You Realize
-The entire Embryonic album (it just flows better as one piece, but if you're only going to go with one, maybe See The Leaves or The Ego's Last Stand)

I'd also add this early gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLNB36l8J94

WOW! I'm sold, now, where should I start?

Start with the early stuff and work your way forward then.

I'd go in this order:
Transmissions from the Satellite Heart (1993)
Clouds Taste Metallic (1995)
Zaireeka (1997)
The Soft Bulletin (1999)
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
At War with the Mystics (2006)
Embryonic (2009)


Then I'd go backwards with:
Hear It Is (1986)
Oh My Gawd!!! (1987)
Telepathic Surgery (1989)
In a Priest Driven Ambulance (1990)
Hit to Death in the Future Head (1992)

Those are a lot more "rough."

If you liked Five Stop Mother Superior Rain check out Priest Driven Ambulance, the album it's taken from. It's rough and kind of shambolic, but brilliantly so. Their first honestly great album, towering above everything they released before and after for quite some time in my opinion.

The first three albums are pretty much terrible and for die hards only - get to them last if you even bother sitting through them at all. I don't think Hit To Death or Transmissions are much good either, but the last one in particular has a lot of fans. If you want to work your way forward I'd suggest making Clouds Taste Metallic the next stop.

Thanks! Both of you.

Glad I could help

I need some advice about Bill Callahan. I just listened some of his stuff and seems like the prefect blend between rock, lo fi and quiet music.