The Clash – Give’em Enough Rope

12Nov11

It surprises me how often this album gets overlooked, even by some Clash fans.  Sure it’s more overproduced than their debut album and the song writing isn’t as consistent as say London Calling, but it was really foreshadowing what would be coming next.

The pure 1977 punk sound, ex. Sex Pistols, debut Clash album, was already evolving by the end of that year. The Sex Pistols were pretty much finished by ’78 and bands like the Talking Heads and Devo were taking punk music and molding it into something else.   The Clash was doing the same thing and one sees it happening on Give’em Enough Rope.

Songs like “Safe European Home”, “Tommy Gun” and “English Civil War” still has that raw energy of their debut album, but the songwriting has definitely matured.  And a song like “Stay Free” shows how Mick Jones was coming into his own with his songwriting style that would show up on London Calling.

I have always seen Give’em Enough Rope as the stepping stone that marked the The Clash from being only a punk band to a killer rock and roll band with their punk attitude still anchoring their sound and songwriting.

Fun factoid: While Give’em Enough Rope was the second Clash album, it was the first Clash album released in the U.S.

Stay Free – The Clash

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Tags: albums, music, The Clash

Amanda’s Journey into Country Music

27Sep11

My love for country music has been slowly growing over the years. I grew up listening to Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and more Americana music like Doc Watson, but never did any listening beyond that. In high school I started listening to Hank Williams. My parents had this album, Johnny Cash: Music That Matters to Him, and I remember liking the Hank Williams song featured on the CD. So I started listening to more Hank.  His songs were simple yet heartfelt and then there was that voice.

Hank Williams – Honky Tonk Blues

It was that same Johnny Cash compilation that also led me to Marty Robbins. I must have mentioned to my Dad that I liked the song “Big Iron” on the CD.  For my birthday I received Marty Robbins’ Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.  This album blew me away. While Hank Williams’ voice was definitely more twangy, Marty Robbins’ voice was mellifluous. I didn’t know a country singer could sound like this.  Again the songs were simple, yet they always told a story and Robbins’ sang them with passion. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is now one of my all-time favorite albums. It makes me nostalgic for a time and place that I’ve only seen in books and movies. And I guess that is why I like it so much. It takes me away.

Marty Robbins – In the Valley

And now we began my discovery of the badass women of country music  It started with Emmylou Harris this past spring.  I don’t know how I stumbled upon her music, but I did and I’m grateful for it.  She’s great and I wish I could sing like her.

Emmylou Harris – Amarillo

Next up is Dolly Parton, who I’ve only started listening to within these past couple of months.  I’ll admit, I kind of wrote her off at first, blame her now (cartoonish) appearance or whatever.  But, boy was I wrong to ignore her! Her music is fantastic and at times funny.  I’ve mostly been listening to her earlier albums: Hello, I’m Dolly (1967); Just Because I’m a Woman (1968); The Fairest of Them All (1969).  I imagine I’ll keep going through her discography and I’m looking forward to it.

Dolly Parton – I’ll Oilwells Love You

And closing out this post is Loretta Lynn.  Like Dolly, I’ve only been listening to Loretta very recently. And I think I just stumbled upon her after listening to so much Dolly Parton and then seeing Loretta Lynn’s name everywhere.  I imagine that Loretta Lynn’s personal history is the most famous of the three women I’ve mentioned. Especially with the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter.  And from what I’ve read it also seems that she has been the most controversial with songs like “The Pill” talking about birth control. And after listening to Loretta, she sounds like one tough cookie. I absolutely love her songs and sass. I think more singer/songwriters, especially women, should aspire to have some sass and fight in their music.

Loretta Lynn – Fist City (I love the fact that she sings this entire song with a big smile).

And that brings us up to date with my new love affair with country music. I’m sure I’ll continue to discover other artists, but I’m also just content exploring the discography of the artists I’m listening to now.

That’s all for now folks!

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Tags: country, country music, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Marty Robbins, music

Vacation Music Memories

13Aug11

This post is inspired by AV Club’s recent AVQ&A.  Basically, the questions is this, “What music made for the soundtrack to your guys’ family vacation?”

Going on long driving trips has always been a staple in my family.  Growing up in Southern California, there would be car trips to San Francisco, the Mojave Desert and Sequoia National Park.  Even when we traveled outside of California, one could also count on a fair amount of driving to be done.

Before I was old enough to really form my own music taste and before I had a cassette player (old school ya’ll) or even a CD player, I was subjected to whatever CDs my parents had rotating in the car.  It was a wide variety and interestingly enough it has helped shaped my music taste today.  In fact, many of the albums that they played in the car when I was younger, I listen to now. So without further ado, here are the albums that blasted from our mini-van on our family vacations:

1. Doc Watson – Doc Watson on Stage (with Merle Watson)

A favorite of my Dad, and a must for our car trips, Doc Watson’s finger-picking and renditions of old Americana songs were ingrained into my brain at a very early age.  Looking back, his music provided the perfect soundtrack for driving around California.

2. João Gilberto – O Mito

This next one, is also because of my Dad. He use to travel to Brazil a lot for business and would bring back CDs.  Growing up, the music of Jobim, Gilberto and Stan Getz filled the house and car.  This album in particular, was always packed for any car trip.

3. Patsy Cline – 12 Greatest Hits

I don’t know which parent was responsible for this one, but it was always in the car.  I have a fond memory of listening to this at night while driving to the Grand Canyon. Patsy Cline is now one of my favorite singers and I’m so glad my parents had this in the car.

4. Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits / The River

I couldn’t pick one Springsteen album, because I remember both being played fairly often. My mom is a big Springsteen fan, so naturally his music could be heard from our car. And because of this, I am now Springsteen fan too. Thanks Mom!

5. Various Artists – Paris After Dark

I especially remember this one because me and my brothers would pretend to sing a-long in French.  It seems like an odd album to play on a trip, but I can’t imagine my childhood without it.  Neither of my parents speak French and I don’t either, but I’ve always wanted to learn in hopes that one day I could actually understand these wonderful songs.

 

 

 

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Diane, it’s 4 a.m.

09Jun11

It’s not too often that the musical score of a television show stands out to me.  Of course, they are memorable theme songs, but what about a television show where the music is almost as important as the visuals?

I’ve been watching Twin Peaks these past few days and I cannot get over the amazing score.  And it’s not just the Twin Peaks theme, it’s the various themes and scores that help set the atmosphere or signal a character.

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Tags: Angelo Badalamenti, David Lynch, Twin Peaks

Odessey & Oracle (1968)

08May11

The ultimate album for the summer? Perhaps.  For some reason, whenever the temperature outside starts getting into the 80s I feel the need to listen to this album.  Of course, there are a lot of albums from the 60s that make for great listening during the June and July months.  Odessey & Oracle is definitely one of my favorites.

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Tags: music, Odessey & Oracle, The Zombies