What are you listening to?

[Daniel S.]

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - 1st album

Let It Bleed - The Rolling Stones

[Aegir]

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,4663.0.html

[Daniel S.]

The most recent post on that thread was almost 3 months ago. I couldn't even find it and it ain't that long.

Let's start fresh for the new year.

[donald]

OK.  Listening to Dion...Bronx and Blue.   A very, very, fine album.  If it is possible, Dion's vocals are better than ever and there is an ownership of these blues phrasings that is just so natural it's uncanny.

highly recommended ****

[phirnis]

Anthony Burr/Charles Curtis - Alvin Lucier

Machinefabriek - Dauw

Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson

Miles Davis - Big Fun

[Sheriff John Stone]

"Cold Irons Bound" from Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs. Damn, he can still rock! How about a live album of the recent "Neverending Tour"?

[TdHabib]

A few CDs I got for Christmas I thought I'd share:

A pretty terrific Richard Manuel solo live CD called Whispering Pines. He always reminded me a little bit of Dennis and I love this voice--even in it's smoky form on this 1985 concert.

Oasis' semi-new album. Grand.

U2's Zooropa. Pretty good even though I like their rocking side more than the European sound on this release. "Stay (Faraway So Close!)" rules.

The Ramones It's Alive!. Fitting since it's a New Years Eve show. Love it, Joey was the best!

[lance]

All the songs i have from 1967. I'm about halfway through.

[8o8o]

A pretty terrific Richard Manuel solo live CD called Whispering Pines. He always reminded me a little bit of Dennis and I love this voice--even in it's smoky form on this 1985 concert.

I have this one too, I even think it's the only officially released Richard Manuel CD. Great stuff.

U2's Zooropa. Pretty good even though I like their rocking side more than the European sound on this release. "Stay (Faraway So Close!)" rules.

This one and "Achtung Baby" are my two favourite U2 albums, their last two records bore me to death really. Agree about "Stay (Faraway So Close)", "The Wanderer" with Johnny Cash is also neat.

[lance]

Zooropa was their last good album...I say, though I haven't heard their last two, actually. Pop was so terrible I couldn't buy another one.

[the captain]

Eels' Electro-Shock Blues

[smile-holland]

Eels' Electro-Shock Blues

How coincidental! I did as well a few weeks back.

[the captain]

It's probably among my 25-50 favorite albums ever.

[smile-holland]

I always like Beautiful Freak a lot, liked the experimentation with the use of instruments and samples on some of the tracks. Which was the reason that I got hold of it's follow-up as well when it as released. Had to grow on me though. Still melancholy at times, but in a much more depressing way.

But give it a few turns, and once you've passed the first 3 tracks and still like it, you're a fan for life.

[the captain]

Beautiful Freak is actually probably my second-least favorite Eels album. I love Electro-Shock, Blinking Lights and Daisies. I like Souljacker. Then Beautiful Freak and Shootenanny. (The live stuff and rarities and MC Honky and Levity soundtrack under M.O. Everett I don't really count.)

But it's all really just one big album anyway. You really feel that when watching/listening to him live, or seeing the "Town Hall" stuff, for example. One big album.

Have you got/heard his two solo albums, pre-Eels? Despite a few cool things, they largely suck. It's surprising how bad they are, considering how well they were reviewed and how cool his early arrangements can be. Astounding. But those lyrics! They make a Beach Boys fan shudder.

[SG7]

Played Made in the USA and Jeffery Foskett's Cool and Gone album.

[smile-holland]

Beautiful Freak is actually probably my second-least favorite Eels album. I love Electro-Shock, Blinking Lights and Daisies. I like Souljacker. Then Beautiful Freak and Shootenanny. (The live stuff and rarities and MC Honky and Levity soundtrack under M.O. Everett I don't really count.)

But it's all really just one big album anyway. You really feel that when watching/listening to him live, or seeing the "Town Hall" stuff, for example. One big album.

Have you got/heard his two solo albums, pre-Eels? Despite a few cool things, they largely suck. It's surprising how bad they are, considering how well they were reviewed and how cool his early arrangements can be. Astounding. But those lyrics! They make a Beach Boys fan shudder.

I bought BF when I was in my alternative music-phase (mid-late 90ies). As I said, what got me was the sometimes weird instrumentation. I especially like the more melancholy tracks on that album. The title track, My Beloved Monster (gotta love that base-line, made me wonder at the time if there was a BW-connection), Manchild. For me it was the reason to buy E's follow-up as well. Did I know the guy had gone through some rough times? A world of difference, still somehow it feels like Electro Shock Blues continues where BF ends. When you listen to the closing track on BF, "Manchild", you still here an optimistic E, but that hope turns into desperation and total sadness when you hear the opening lines of "Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor". Weird.
Took a while to get used to ESB, could be the reason I didn't buy Daisies Of The Galaxy (although I've heard that one is much more optimistic, maybe I should get that one). Less accesible at first, but I appreciate it a lot more now.

Don't know his pree-Eels work, so can't comment on that.

[Rocker]

Elvis Presley - Hillcrest Blues  (boot)

and

Jerry Lee Lewis - Sings the country music hall of fame vol.1&2

[pixletwin]

Forever Nightshade Mary - Latin Playboys (aka Los Lobos) 

[Rocker]

This one really kicks ass !

[dogear]

THE MOVE - Anthology 1966-1972 (4 CD Boxed Set) - great!!

[Amy B.]

I've been listening to Queen lately for the first time in years. "You Take My Breath Away" has to be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Freddie Mercury was an underrated songwriter, maybe because his abilities as a singer and performer overshadowed his other talents.

[the captain]

He was an amazing songwriter, Amy. Absolutely. And you know what else? A brilliant arranger, too, although by the '80s (according to his own interviews of the time) he got a little bit of latter-day Wilson in him, preferring to drop things that didn't happen quickly. I think the use of technology (which simplified things) coupled with his already enormous success (which made them unnecessary anyway) had a lot to do with that, though.

And me, I'm NOT listening to the Heartless Bastards up coming album because I can't find the blasted disc. Where did it go...?

[Amy B.]

Are Youtube videos allowed on this section? Well, anyway:

This is a beautiful live rendition of You Take My Breath Away-- his vocal is probably better than on the recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJW0-XqlIQ4&feature=PlayList&p=586C851D566628DF&playnext=1&index=1

And then of course the recorded version has the gorgeous harmonies, all Freddie, I believe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zSzlT5zBXs&feature=related

[the captain]

That's awesome, I've never seen this song live

For all the 80s era Queen video out there, I'd sure love to see some 70s stuff officially released. The clips from circa 75 on the Night at the Opera Classic Albums dvd are wonderful.