The Rewind Button: Born to Run

The Rewind Button is a group blogging project that I’m participating in. We’re taking on Rolling Stone‘s Top 40 albums of all time and writing our own reviews of them. There will be a new album and review each Thursday (or there about).

Born to Run by Bruce SpringsteenI’m a week behind in contributing to this review project. Not keeping up with it makes me a little anxious. I hate getting behind.

Behind is how I feel about Springsteen (do we even need to say his first name anymore?). It appears that “real music” lovers place him in the hall of gods. I’ve never felt that way, and that’s because I never really listen to his albums.

I remember when Born in the U.S.A. came out and it was cool to love America again. “Dancing in the Dark,” “Glory Days,” and “I’m On Fire” were instant classics. After that album, though, I never looked into hearing more Springsteen songs.

Now I’m listening to Born to Run (Springsteen really likes the word “born.”). It’s bombastic, swelling, and energetic. It makes me want to pump my fist in the air. I can hear why people gravitate to Springsteen’s songs. For most of them, they make you feel alive. You can hear the fun Springsteen is having in playing the songs. He’s not just singing to entertain you. He’s doing it because he knows no other way to live.

My favorite songs on the album are the title track and “Thunder Road.” In fact, I’ve listened to “Thunder Road” the most off this album, because I love its melody.

But does Born to Run make me want to listen to other albums by Springsteen? No. Even with its energizing properties, I’m happy to listen to just it, and at that, just a couple of songs. And that’s plenty enough to satisfy me.

Please visit these other blogs participating in The Rewind Button project:

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The Rewind Button: Revolver

The Rewind Button is a group blogging project that I’m participating in. We’re taking on Rolling Stone‘s Top 40 albums of all time and writing our own reviews of them. There will be a new album and review each Thursday.

The Beatles RevolverThe Beatles’ Revolver album is like a middle child, in that it’s often overshadowed by its siblings immediately older and younger than it. I admit that I keep forgetting about the album. When reaching for some Beatles to listen to, I’m more apt to grab Rubber Soul (the older sibling) or Sgt. Pepper’s (the younger). Shame on me, because Revolver holds its own quite well.

This album should appeal more to me, because it features three tracks by George Harrison (my favorite Beatle), but I prefer Paul McCartney’s songs the best. “Here, There and Everywhere” is the perfect definition of a song that will melt me every time. The ohs and ahs and harmony and that little guitar run at 1:05 in the track make me want to close my eyes and forget every bad thing in the world. Then you have “Eleanor Rigby,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “For No One,” and “Got to Get You Into My Life.” McCartney was at the top of is craft on Revolver.

My biggest criticism–and it’s a subjective one–with Revolver is the actual cover. The line drawings and collage look amateurish, and perhaps that’s why I keep forgetting about this album. I’ve blocked the ugliness from my mind. I realize that we’re primarily reviewing the songs. However, “greatest albums” should include packaging. An album is a piece of art work (or they used to be). All elements should point to greatness.

Revolver is No. 3 on Rolling Stone‘s “Top 40 Albums of All-Time” list. It should definitely be higher than Pet Sounds, because of the variety of voice and styles it offers. But dammit, a picture of goats is preferable to line drawings. Remember that, kids. Animals trump humans.

Please visit these other blogs participating in The Rewind Button project:

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Posted in <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/category/music/" rel="category tag">music</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/category/musings/" rel="category tag">musings</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/category/rewind-button/" rel="category tag">Rewind Button</a> Tagged <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/1966/" rel="tag">1966</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/album/" rel="tag">album</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/art/" rel="tag">art</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/drawing/" rel="tag">drawing</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/george-harrison/" rel="tag">George Harrison</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/paul-mccartney/" rel="tag">Paul McCartney</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/revolver/" rel="tag">Revolver</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/rolling-stone/" rel="tag">Rolling Stone</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/the-beatles/" rel="tag">The Beatles</a> 2 Comments

The Rewind Button: Pet Sounds

The Rewind Button is a group blogging project that I’m participating in. We’re taking on Rolling Stone‘s Top 40 albums of all time and writing our own reviews of them. There will be a new album and review each Thursday.

Pet SoundsI know a bit about Pet Sounds‘ history, but not a lot. And for this edition of the Rewind Button, I decided to forgo any research about it and give it a pure listen. I wanted to hear the songs as someone would for the first time in 1966, without Internet access.

Okay, so if I picked up this album at my local record retailer in 1966, I’d probably be all like, “Whoa, the Beach Boys are trippin’, man!” I’d turn to my friend and say, “Harold, put down that Simon & Garfunkel album. This one has sound effects.” And Harold would cock his ear toward it–he can tell I’m serious, because I’m speaking in italics–and chime in with a “it’s groovy man. The Beatles better watch their back.”

Alas, it’s 2012 and we know how this story ends. The Beatles counter with Sgt. Pepper’s and Brian Wilson goes mad.

For its time, though, it was good (maybe great on certain days). However, it doesn’t hold up for me. For this review, I listened to Pet Sounds about 10 times over the last two days. I often found myself looking at the track list to see how many more songs were left before it ended. Several times I found the music flourishes frustrating and unnecessary.

“After listening to it twice in a row one day, I couldn’t help but notice that I was feeling annoyed and sad,” wrote Dave Lefebvre, another Rewind Button reviewer, on Musicqwest. “It’s funny how something so light sounding can make you want to slit your wrists.”

Lefebvre raises the point that the lyrics are to blame for the annoyance. It’s true, Wilson’s lyrics trend toward the unhappy side of life. And just like with Sgt. Pepper’s music/lyric dichotomy, I appreciate this element on Pet Sounds. I also appreciate the use of call backs on the album. The most predominant one is “I Know There’s an Answer” and “Hang On To Your Ego.” Another one is “You Still Believe In Me” and “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times.” While not as overt as “Answer”/”Ego”, there is the same melodic movement in both.

It’s as if Wilson wanted to write an opera, reusing music and lyrics throughout for an overall theme. I’m not an opera fan. I often find it tedious, melodramatic and too ornate. Maybe that’s why Pet Sounds doesn’t sit well with me.

In an attempt to one-up The Beatles, Wilson goes over the top. He tries to pull listeners over to his side of the world. However, I prefer a little restraint with my madness, a little balance to my world. Pet Sounds is too much for me. It overwhelms in its effort to prove its genius.

Please visit these other blogs participating in The Rewind Button project:

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Posted in <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/category/music/" rel="category tag">music</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/category/musings/" rel="category tag">musings</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/category/rewind-button/" rel="category tag">Rewind Button</a> Tagged <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/1966/" rel="tag">1966</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/album/" rel="tag">album</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/beach-boys/" rel="tag">Beach Boys</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/brian-wilson/" rel="tag">Brian Wilson</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/music/" rel="tag">music</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/pet-sounds/" rel="tag">Pet Sounds</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/rolling-stone/" rel="tag">Rolling Stone</a>, <a href="http://www.pimplomat.com/tag/the-beatles/" rel="tag">The Beatles</a> 1 Comment