Music Reivew: Three Quick Reviews
I went on a music buying binge in the past week, swapping a little excess cash for something I enjoy much more: music. I got other, older stuff besides these (Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, I know, I know, I should have owned it already, and Radiohead's The Bends, because I wasn't musically aware when it came out in 1995). On to the reviews!
Icky Thump by The White Stripes is a good solid album. I've never been a fan of the Stripes really. a friend passed along Get Behind Me Satan, but other than "Blue Orchid," it never really did much for me. I heard the title track and saw some positive reviews for this album, so I decided to pick it up. Not every track is a winner, but the aforementioned title track, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" and "Effect and Cause" are fantastic. "Conquest" is a fun track, and I agree with Jess' assessment over at Apropos of Something when he said it is"like one of those bizarre pieces of music that Quentin Tarantino digs up to stick in his movies."
Next up is Memory Almost Full by Paul McCartney. I was skeptical of this, despite the initial reviews, but after seeing that iTunes commercial for the 12th time, I decided to chance it and buy the 65 year old's album (not based on the look of that commercial, though. Paul looks pretty silly there, but he manages to make playing a mandolin while dancing down a pastel street look as cool as it could be, and that's an accomplishment in itself). I was pleasantly surprised. The whole album isn't a winner, but it sounds pretty Wings-like, and that's good news for me. The lyrics are very personal, meaning that he certainly wasn't phoning it in. I especially like that the whole album has a pretty consistent sound while still varying a good deal. "Ever Present Past," "Mr. Bellamy," "Vintage Clothes," and "Nod Your Head" are standouts for me, and McCartney makes a good case that he may be the coolest 65 year old ever.
Last but not least, Bruce Springsteen & The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin. If you liked the Seeger Sessions album, this is a great live album. It is Sessions heavy material-wise, though there are new versions of "Atlantic City" and "Blinded by the Light" that sound almost like they could be Dylan's takes of those Boss classics. This is not a straight-up folk album, as it has a very "big band" sound at times, with the horns getting a lot of play. A joy to listen to, if you liked the previous Seeger Sessions releases. I got it from iTunes, but there's a CD version, and one that comes packed with the DVD.
Icky Thump by The White Stripes is a good solid album. I've never been a fan of the Stripes really. a friend passed along Get Behind Me Satan, but other than "Blue Orchid," it never really did much for me. I heard the title track and saw some positive reviews for this album, so I decided to pick it up. Not every track is a winner, but the aforementioned title track, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" and "Effect and Cause" are fantastic. "Conquest" is a fun track, and I agree with Jess' assessment over at Apropos of Something when he said it is"like one of those bizarre pieces of music that Quentin Tarantino digs up to stick in his movies."
Next up is Memory Almost Full by Paul McCartney. I was skeptical of this, despite the initial reviews, but after seeing that iTunes commercial for the 12th time, I decided to chance it and buy the 65 year old's album (not based on the look of that commercial, though. Paul looks pretty silly there, but he manages to make playing a mandolin while dancing down a pastel street look as cool as it could be, and that's an accomplishment in itself). I was pleasantly surprised. The whole album isn't a winner, but it sounds pretty Wings-like, and that's good news for me. The lyrics are very personal, meaning that he certainly wasn't phoning it in. I especially like that the whole album has a pretty consistent sound while still varying a good deal. "Ever Present Past," "Mr. Bellamy," "Vintage Clothes," and "Nod Your Head" are standouts for me, and McCartney makes a good case that he may be the coolest 65 year old ever.
Last but not least, Bruce Springsteen & The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin. If you liked the Seeger Sessions album, this is a great live album. It is Sessions heavy material-wise, though there are new versions of "Atlantic City" and "Blinded by the Light" that sound almost like they could be Dylan's takes of those Boss classics. This is not a straight-up folk album, as it has a very "big band" sound at times, with the horns getting a lot of play. A joy to listen to, if you liked the previous Seeger Sessions releases. I got it from iTunes, but there's a CD version, and one that comes packed with the DVD.
Labels: Music
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