ALBUMS

• R.E.M.: MONSTER: 1994: 2 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: When this album first came out- upon the first few listens I remember liking it but that quickly wore off. They had slowly built up an audience over the years and when this album was released it debuted at #1 and the first single “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? was a hit #21 and the follow up Bang And Blame #19. Never saying a band shouldn’t change- they should -and this was a departure from the previous two albums in its loudness but to my ears that is what it is- loud a lot of distorted guitars.  The songs aren’t up to the usual R.E.M. standards- that Is the bottom line I think in the failure of this album to me. The following tour by the group was difficult with three of the four members having health issues- most critically being Bill Berry and his brain aneurysm.

• XTC: MUMMER: 1983: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: XTC continues in the pop mode- which is how I love my XTC. There were three singles- Great Fire, Wonderland and the brilliant Love On A Farm Boys Wages. Andy Partridge has said that up until Mummer- that XTC’s work was like black and white television, with Mummer it was the first full colour bright sky blue.

• LOU REED AND JOHN CALE: SONGS FOR DRELLA: 1990: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Velvet Underground alums Reed and Cale got together after Andy Warhol’s death for this song cycle about his life. I’ve always thought this an interesting album- the songs take it from Andy’s perspective, the 3rd person and from Reed and Cale’s view. If you are looking for a book by the way to bore you to tears- try The Warhol Diaries. At one point in my life when I started a book I finished it- After The Warhol Diaries I found that life was too short for such nonsense.

• MADONNA: MADONNA: 1983: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: I haven’t gotten into Madonna’s albums of late but I have her 80’s-early 90’s period albums. I love her singles her albums not so much. This was her best album I think. Actually the two Madonna albums I love are the two greatest hits albums. Seems like there won’t be a third one. Madonna the human being repulses me but I love her singles up until the early 90’s.

• THE BEATLES: YELLOW SUBMARINE: 1969: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:  I just listened to this album a few days ago- but since I am doing the run though of Beatles Please Please Me To Let It Be- I can’t skip it!

• THE BEATLES: ABBEY ROAD: 1969: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: John’s Come Together opens Abbey Road. I rank it as the 5th out of 12 as far as Beatles opening numbers go.

• THE BEATLES: LET IT BE: 1970: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The opening song on Let It Be- Two Of Us – I rank as  9th best Beatles opener out of 12. Almost through The Beatles catalog again- Past Masters II to go. It never takes very long to run though all these albums.