MY MUSIC LISTENING JOURNAL: DAY 343: SATURDAY JANUARY 26, 2019

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ALBUMS

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  • THE KINKS: SOAP OPERA:  1975: 2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Kinks had hit a low spot in this era- with Preservation Act 1, Preservation Act 2 and Soap Opera. The change in Ray Davies writing to more ‘theatrical’ which started with Everybody’s In Show Biz”- went on way too long. I can’t think of a major band who released so many turkeys in a row. I don’t know how they survived that period- 1973-76.

A black-and-white image of a still sea meeting the sky, with the horizon running through the centre. The sun's reflection is visible on the water.

  • U2: NO LINE ON THE HORIZON: 2009: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: When first released I was kind of disappointed in this U2 album but over time it has grown on me. A bad trend did begin with this album- a 5 year gap between How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and this one. In the last 15 years U2 has released 3 albums. Favorites- Magnificent, Moment Of Surrender, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight. The only single to hit the Top 40 in the US is Get On Your Boots #37- which is one of the worst U2 singles ever in my opinion but the single did go to #1 in Ireland.

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  • TIM BUCKLEY: HAPPY SAD: 1969: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: I am familiar with Buckley- dead before 30 of a drug overdose- absentee father of Jeff but I am not all that familiar with his work. This his third album- from what I have read is a departure from his first two albums- more jazz influenced and experimental. Only 6 songs in 45 minutes and a couple marathon 10 minute plus songs. The long songs don’t lose me- interesting stuff. My favorite song on first listen Buzzin’ Fly. Was produced by a couple members of The Lovin’ Spoonful.

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  • HARRY NILSSON; AERIAL BALLET: 1968: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: His first hit- written by Fred Neil- Everybody’s Talkin’- from Midnight Cowboy went to #6. A song he wrote One would become a hit for Three Dog Night. He could write about anything-one of the best songs on the album is about his desk. My Old Desk.

Nilsson-Harry-lp.png

  • HARRY NILSSON; HARRY: 1969: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The first Nilsson album to enter the charts- #120 on the album chart. I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City was a minor hit. In listening to the early Nilsson albums that came out in the late 60’s- he was not influenced by the music going on around him. The songs on this album cover many different styles. He wrote most of the album but did cover his heroes The Beatles- Mother Nature’s Son and three others including Mr. Bojangles and a Randy Newman song. Great voice.

5 responses to “MY MUSIC LISTENING JOURNAL: DAY 343: SATURDAY JANUARY 26, 2019”

  1. Another good list. I’ve been a very big U2 fan through the years, but that was the last chronological release of theirs i bought. Literally nothing at all grabbed me on it. Still love their 80s & 90s stuff but haven’t heard much of them in last decade that makes me stand up & cheer.

    • I think their problem is the constant reevaluation they seem to do of everything- too much thinking and not enough doing. 3 albums in the last 15 years. Pretty sad.

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