THE LOBBY: ALBUMS OF THE WEEK
April 3rd 2007 13:20
So this whole albums of the week schtick is about as regular as John Goodman’s bowel movements, but I guess y’all are used to that by now. I have a whole sackful of reasons and excuses but I don't wanna bore ya. Read the following, vote, and wait.
This week’s albums are:
1) for the money…
Richard Hell & The Voidoids:
Blank Generation
(1977; Sire/Warner )
Blank Generation is the kind of nervous, arty punk that may be the non-movement’s true legacy. Taking Captain Beefheart’s spastic elasticity and reimagining it for the streets of New York, this is confronting more for its chaotic jazzy jitters and poetic nihilism than the expected wall of sound. It’s real catchy, groovy, ‘n’ idiosyncratic too, with Mr Hell slurring and spitting with more bitterness than rage. File next to Patti Smith and Talking Heads in your punk rock satchel.
2) for the show…
Outkast:
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
(2003; Arista)
My forays into hip-hop are brief but generally rewarding. This double album, splitting the talents of Andre 3000 and Big Boi onto individual discs, may be my favourite of all time. But I certainly ain’t no expert. Out of the two CDs, I prefer Dre’s jazzy, George-Clinton-via-Prince, nymphomaniacal soul-love weirdness. But Boi’s old school brittle 808 beats, gangsta shit, and pimpin’ smoothies are just as boundary-smashing to my lily white lobes. Collectively Outkast could conquer the universe.
3) to get ready…
Alice Cooper:
Killer
(1971; Warner Bros)
I recently scored three Alice Cooper albums for ten buckeroos. The only one I’ve gotten around to listening to yet, Killer comes after their breakthrough Love It To Death (both released in 1971) and is apparently part of Mr Cooper’s golden age of awesomeness. It’s a dandy carnival of cartoonish theatricality with some tough-ass hard rock and spooky Halloween creepers, dumb and smart in equal proportions, ‘60s garage orchestrated into proto-metal magnitudes, and a whole heap-a-fun.
Now go, cat, go!
***
IMAGES
Blank Generation*
utkast-speakerboxx-lovebelow.jpg" target="_blank">Speakerboxxx/The Love Below*
Killer*
(album covers used under fair dealing)
*images on this page were taken from the following Wikipedia pages:
Blank Generation
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Killer
This week’s albums are:
1) for the money…
Blank Generation (1977)
(1977; Sire/Warner )
Blank Generation is the kind of nervous, arty punk that may be the non-movement’s true legacy. Taking Captain Beefheart’s spastic elasticity and reimagining it for the streets of New York, this is confronting more for its chaotic jazzy jitters and poetic nihilism than the expected wall of sound. It’s real catchy, groovy, ‘n’ idiosyncratic too, with Mr Hell slurring and spitting with more bitterness than rage. File next to Patti Smith and Talking Heads in your punk rock satchel.
2) for the show…
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
(2003; Arista)
My forays into hip-hop are brief but generally rewarding. This double album, splitting the talents of Andre 3000 and Big Boi onto individual discs, may be my favourite of all time. But I certainly ain’t no expert. Out of the two CDs, I prefer Dre’s jazzy, George-Clinton-via-Prince, nymphomaniacal soul-love weirdness. But Boi’s old school brittle 808 beats, gangsta shit, and pimpin’ smoothies are just as boundary-smashing to my lily white lobes. Collectively Outkast could conquer the universe.
3) to get ready…
Killer (1971)
Killer
(1971; Warner Bros)
I recently scored three Alice Cooper albums for ten buckeroos. The only one I’ve gotten around to listening to yet, Killer comes after their breakthrough Love It To Death (both released in 1971) and is apparently part of Mr Cooper’s golden age of awesomeness. It’s a dandy carnival of cartoonish theatricality with some tough-ass hard rock and spooky Halloween creepers, dumb and smart in equal proportions, ‘60s garage orchestrated into proto-metal magnitudes, and a whole heap-a-fun.
Now go, cat, go!
***
IMAGES
Blank Generation*
utkast-speakerboxx-lovebelow.jpg" target="_blank">Speakerboxxx/The Love Below*
Killer*
(album covers used under fair dealing)
*images on this page were taken from the following Wikipedia pages:
Blank Generation
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Killer
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Comment by Anonymous
Doi. I went to a hardcore festival on Sunday, not realising until five bands in what I'd done. Oops. I guess we must remember that just because a band screams and jumps around with it's little hand behind it's shoulder blades doesn't make a band a person. Gadzooks!
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
I've got a soft spot for hardcore, but it can get a bit samey. I do prefer when its mixed up with something else, like country or psych, ala early Meat Puppets, the Dead Kennedys, or Husker Du.
An entire hardcore festival would be a bit of a drag.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Things've been a li'l bit crazy here at the Earache Hotel, with the internet on the fritz and all.
Things is gonna be quiet round here for a while til I sort it out.
Richard Hell & the Voidoids is last week's winner. A review of Blank Generation and the Residents' Third Reich & Roll are comin', but don't hold yr breath.
Comment by Anonymous
We need the updates as regoolah as passable?
I know you mentioned Mr Lang, but serious, will you keep writing yer reviews on the offline, so that when you get back into gear you have a veritable SLEW of fresh reviews? You must build to the sky Herr Hellvis, or at least the ceiling of hell. Vis medicatrix naturae!
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
By Mr Lang, do you mean the grade seven primary school teacher who used to throw chairs at people?
I'll have a veritable slew of fresh material when I get back into gear, mostly stuff from Tusnami that I may or may not expand upon.
Thanks for your continued patience and support in this time of no-time.