Middle Aged Dummies!! Artists #1's have been posted!! (1 Viewer)

[Pip's Invitation]

29
Album: Ryan Adams
Released: 2014
Artist: Ryan Adams

Just another song about lost love with a catchy little chorus.

VERY catchy.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#29 - Slade - Funk, Punk and Junk

Alas, no live version. No Oxford comma, either.

It's like a cross between Budgie and Sweet.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Clutch

Raging Weasel

In Walks Barbarella

Weaponized funk, indeed. This is definitely up my alley. It's what the Chili Peppers should sound like.

Frank Black

Mister CIA

The Last Stand Of Shazeb Andleeb

Really like the guitar work on this one.

 

[rockaction]

More chance to listen:

Chicago (Pip's Invitation) "Wishing You Were Here" - Really nice harmonies that repeat throughout the song and are the most important part of the song, actually. Peter Cetera sings at one point.
AC/DC (falguy) "Riff Raff" - I saw these guys live when my first girlfriend invited me to a show in high school. We went with the local jailbird and her sister as the escorts. I can remember him, standing in the designated arena hallways, signing along angrily and chanting. Ahhh, memories. This is certainly an AC/DC song without the sing-a-long nature of their other tracks so I don't have to worry about the cops beating him down this time.
Stevie Wonder (Uruk-Hai) "You Haven't Done Nothin'" - This is grand. Is this when he still had access to that synth that those guys built? I would assume so given its sound. Otherwise, this song is a doozy. A scathing political track with crazy funk and rock.

 

[MAC_32]

Green Day (MAC_32) "Brat" - "Mom and Dad don't look so hot these days" Finally we hit Green Day I know. I always liked the song -- it's great power pop -- but the subject matter was saddening.

For those new to Brat (not rock) this was track #2 off Insomniac, their follow up to Dookie. It is Green Day at their darkest and fastest. They may have been 'more punk' 3 years prior, but this is when they perfected their craft in the genre as their overall sound (harmonies, percussion, lyrics, etc) was 2,000 light years crisper than their Lookout! days.

I had a very hard time picking one sound out from this record as this is my favorite version of Green Day, but I thought it was important to prioritize variety for this exercise. I may have wanted to also include Bab's Uvala Who, Armatage Shanks, Stuart and the Ave, and Stuck With Me but I figured those that enjoy this minute and 43 seconds of violently fast and nasty pop punk can set aside eight and a half minutes to sample them as well.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Digging the AIC and Blur songs. Albarn sounds like Paul Weller on the latter.

 

[shuke]

Rift is an excellent album opener. It's kind of manic but never gets out of control. It was actually created from the original coda of The Curtain, Shuke's #31 song. In 2000, the original coda returned for most (but not all) performances of the song and those versions are called The Curtain With.

Lizards was my #31. Curtain With may or may not show up later.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#29 - Ray Charles - Your Cheatin' Heart Spotify

Ray was a big fan of country music. He was born in Albany, Ga, but moved to Greenville, Florida, when he was around six months old. He said Greenville was a small poor village. He listened to the radio all the time, and in the daytime country music was played on every dial. He said he loved it. On Saturday nights the Grand Ole Opry would come on, and he said his mom would let him stay up past nine to hear it. He said country music fascinated him. He loved the banjos, fiddles, steel guitars and lyrics. He said the lyrics were like having an every day conversation with someone. His mom died when he was around 14 or 15, and he moved to Jacksonville where her BFF lived. He moved in with her and her husband, and he joined a band that played country music called the Florida Hillbillys.

I just want to mention that while growing up in Greenville, Ray said he would hear jazz on the radio in the night time (unless it was Saturday night). People like Benny Goodman and Count Basie would be on the airwaves live from a hotel or nightclub. He said everybody in Greenville sang the blues, so he heard that in the neighborhood, and he heard gospel in church on Sundays and at revivals. All of that exposure would eventually mix together for him when he played music himself.

Your Cheatin' Heart. Ray decided in 1961 that he wanted to record an album of country and western songs. He was with the ABC label then, and he had a great run with Atlantic prior to that. He had established himself in the music industry at this point, and the President of ABC was concerned when he told him he wanted to do a country album, but he didn't say no. He told Ray that he was a "Rhythm and Blues" singer, and that he could lose a lot of his audience doing a country record. Ray told him that was true, but he could also gain an audience if he did it right. So Ray got the green light to do it.

He was a lyric man, so that was the first thing he looked for in choosing country songs to cover. He loved Hank Williams, and he would end up doing three of Hank's songs on Vol. 1 and 2 of his Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music albums. Both albums were released in 1962. On "Your Cheatin' Heart" which is on Vol.2, Ray changed the chords around and arranged it until it sounded like himself. He did this with all the songs. He took the hillbilly sound out, and gave it an infusion of soul, r&b, a bit of jazz and country, and it sounded magnificent, and he conveyed the words of the writers in a convincing and beautiful way. Ray said that blues and country were close in many ways, which I think is why Ray had such a strong feel for them, and why he expressed them so well while singing. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was a huge hit. Both volumes were. To this day it is one of the most successful and important albums in music history.

Willie Nelson said that Ray did more for country music than anyone else. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music brought Ray's audience to country music, and also brought the country music audience to Ray. There was a particular song on the album that catapulted country music worldwide (it is coming up later on the list), and Willie said that Ray's version of that song is when country music was heard by more people than ever. He also said, "He (Ray) kicked country music forward 50 years. Before him, a lot of people had probably never heard of songs by Don Gibson or Hank Williams." Anyway, I love Ray's version of Hank's "Your Cheatin' Heart."

His vocal on this is just perfect. It has every bit of the pathos of the Hank version but he makes it his own.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Rift is an excellent album opener. It's kind of manic but never gets out of control. It was actually created from the original coda of The Curtain, Shuke's #31 song. In 2000, the original coda returned for most (but not all) performances of the song and those versions are called The Curtain With.

Lizards was my #31. Curtain With may or may not show up later.

Right. They have a squillion songs and it's hard to keep track of them all.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Let It Die is devastating even if you don't know anything about Nirvana. It's my favorite from Echoes, Silence.

Really dig the Doves and Spoon tracks as well.

 

[shuke]

Phish

shuke

Rift Rift Phish · Rift · Song · 1993 open.spotify.com

This is a core Phish song to me, whatever that means. Another song that doesn't get jammed out, so what you hear on the studio version is pretty much what is played live.

Taking this opportunity to introduce the band's "fifth member", Chris Kuroda, affectionately known as CK5. Chris has been the lighting director since the late 80's and is one of the reasons Phish's live shows are so incredible.

It's often joked that Chris doesn't change the lights based on the music, but rather the band is playing to the lights. There are times I believe it.

Here is a live version of Rift from 2011. This was over 10 years ago and the light rig is so much more advanced, but here are some interesting segments. A lot of them are subtle you might not catch them unless you're looking.
2:50 - 3:05 including that flash at 2:59
4:20 - 5:10 Frenetic lighting to go with Trey's guitar, then the change at 4:28, then spotlights on those singing.
5:46 Climax

 

[MAC_32]

2 pre listen notes:

I would also rank Cadillac Ranch over Born to Run.

Let It Die is my Foos #1 - the build up to the pay off is chilling and it's a banger all the way through the final blood curdling scream. **** off, Courtney.

 

[shuke]

Modest Mouse

The Dreaded Marco

Dramamine - YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. www.youtube.com

Such an incredible song, one of my favorites by them. I'll probably love everything from here on out, so might not mention every song I like. Same will probably go for Spoon, Big Thief, Ryan Adams, The Decemberists, and Doves.

 

[shuke]

Chicago

Pip's Invitation

Wishing You Were Here Wishing You Were Here - 2002 Remaster Chicago · Chicago VII (Expanded & Remastered) · Song · 1974 open.spotify.com

I dig it. Very nostalgic.

 

[Tau837]

Here are all the #31's. Might be a few that didn't list 31.

I finally had a chance to listen to the #31 playlist.

Excluding my own song, I already knew that I flat out loved these songs (hard to believe these are #31!):

• AC/DC - For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
• Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Things (That) I Used To Do

On first listen to this playlist, these are the unfamiliar songs that I liked the most:

• Blur - There's No Other Way
• Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Magnolia Mountain
• Elliott Smith - Talking To Mary
• Big Thief - Shark Smile

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'm just getting to writing up the #30s. Loved that playlist. I was doing that stupid thing of cutting off my likes/adds to the playlist, (my top 10 of each round) but WTF would I not add a few great songs that stood out. Plus I figured as we go on with bands I know there will be fewer and fewer surprises and adds. Here's what got my attention the most from the 30s:

The Police - The Truth Hits Everybody another banger here from them. I'm glad they are in here, as they were on my shortlist for this for similar reasons I had to do Dino.
Genesis - One for the Vine This one was an adventure I rolled my eyes a bit at opening lyrics - oh ****, here we go for some campy prog crap I was hooked after about 45 secs - falsetto, shenanigans in the middle and all
The Decemberists - Midlist Author A band I am usually lukewarm here, but a surprising 60s-esque pop tune here. Loved it.
...and You will Know Us - Opera Obscura
Stevie Wonder - I Ain't Gonna Stand for It Another artist I have grown from appreciating to loving because of these drafts. I had considered doing Stevie as well, but it was too daunting knowing so many here love and know him 1000000x more than I would.
Phish - Wading in the Velvet Sea I tried your suggestions for shows, but Phish still hasn't clicked. This was a fantastic song that shows their skills but doesn't get too jam-bandy if that makes sense.
Clutch - Stone Cold GTFO with this.
Doves - Sky Starts Falling Another catchy song that erupts into that wall of guitar. Loved it.
Spoon - Knock Knock Knock WTF don't I listen to more Spoon?
Foo Fighters - Run Yet another I had thought of doing because I haven't gotten around to newer stuff yet. This one kicks.
Simon & Garfunkel - Somewhere They Can't Find Me Well this didn't take long. S&G it put in that camp of artists like Elton - just not my thing overall. This is one of the biggest surprises yet. I didn't know who it was and was surprised at the answer.
Tragically Hip - Springtime in Vienna This was the tune I initially guessed was Big Thief. I liked the first tune, but this was one of my favorites of the round.
deadmau5 - 4ware you are going to make my daughter hate me

 

[KarmaPolice]

I am so glad I waited for decisions on the #29s until I got home to the . There were 3-4 adds that I was initially a bit meh on in the car.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Plus I figured as we go on with bands I know there will be fewer and fewer surprises and adds.

That may not be true here. People seem to be ranking these things in very different ways.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I'm guessing we'll be doing this again, so I'm claiming my group off waivers now. I'll take The Pointer Sisters. I have yet to hear anything from them that is less than good.

 

[otb_lifer]

Slade - Funky/Punky/Junky

neet lil' screed on the whippersnappers that revolutionized the biz, to whatever degrees of success or complete and absolute tragedy that ensued.

lyric right off the top: "i don't care about the traitors in France" ... if that's the author tossing a contemptuous nod(dy) to the impresarios and Svengalis of the London punk movement, who were all so enamored with the Paris '68 situ spring uprising, then color me very impressed - that's a right tanning of them naughty bottoms.

 

[Ilov80s]

Wasn’t familiar with Dramamine by Modest Mouse. Maybe my favorite new to me song I’ve heard so far (though my listening is far from complete at this stage).

 

[plinko]

@plinko - Intelligence
What the hell happened at the 3:36 mark? I hope everyone in the group got out of the studio safely.

These guys like to smash it up, or they did anyway

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I should definitely listen to Spoon more than I do. I’ve always liked everything I’ve heard, including this countdown.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I wasn’t a big fan of the first two Tragically Hip songs but really liked “New Orleans is Sinking”. Love the groove and sinister sounding vocals.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

While I won’t comment on most on the classic rockers very often, since most know what they are, I will say it’s nice to have familiar classics mixed in with the new musical experiences.

The Kinks, Bruce, Ray, Stevie, Paul & Artie, Queen and Warren Zevon were all gifts to the world and have such amazing catalogues that two different people could have had two very different lists with little to no overlap.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Modest Mouse

The Dreaded Marco

Dramamine - YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. www.youtube.com

Such an incredible song, one of my favorites by them. I'll probably love everything from here on out, so might not mention every song I like. Same will probably go for Spoon, Big Thief, Ryan Adams, The Decemberists, and Doves.

It really is a great song. It may be my favorite drumming from Jeremiah Green, possibly only bested by one track coming later.

And I agree re: your 2nd point too. There are a few artists that I’m pretty sure I’ll like every song listed including those you’ve listed.

I put together 31 song playlists for 4 other artists in the 2-month run-up for this thread before choosing MM. Spoon was one of them. Granted, we’re only 3 songs in, but so far I have no duplicates on my list and all three that @Hov34 has chosen could’ve definitely made my top 31. They’re such a consistently great band.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

With both work and family issues hitting simultaneously, I haven’t really been able to listen to the playlists yet. Things should ease up this week so I’m hoping to start digging in today with the 31s.

 

[Doug B]

Stevie Wonder

Uruk-Hai

You Haven't Done Nothing - YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. www.youtube.com

One of the best political songs ever in American popular music. But little kid Doug B didn't care about all that -- it was the "Doodie wop!" song in the car.

And that clavinet!

And ... how I missed this for decades I don't know, but ... TIL the Jackson 5 sang backup on this track.

 

[Doug B]

I'm guessing we'll be doing this again, so I'm claiming my group off waivers now. I'll take The Pointer Sisters.

There's a tenuous connection between Pip's #29 and The Pointer Sisters. Was wondering if you might have gone down a little bit of a Chicago rabbit hole and stumbled upon the Sisters. Not that you couldn't nominate them in their own right.

 

[Doug B]

he Tragically Hip

Northern Voice

New Orleans is Sinking New Orleans Is Sinking The Tragically Hip · Up To Here · Song · 1989 open.spotify.com

I know a lot of New Orleans-related songs, but not this one.

Seeing the title, I just assumed it was an immediate post-Katrina tribute, but no -- it came out 16 years earlier. Now I'm intrigued. Cueing it up when I next get into the car.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

he Tragically Hip

Northern Voice

New Orleans is Sinking New Orleans Is Sinking The Tragically Hip · Up To Here · Song · 1989 open.spotify.com

I know a lot of New Orleans-related songs, but not this one.

Seeing the title, I just assumed it was an immediate post-Katrina tribute, but no -- it came out 16 years earlier. Now I'm intrigued. Cueing it up when I next get into the car.

I love this song. I had it on my Where in the World Dummies playlist.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Ghost of a Chance

Ghost of a Chance is what I would refer to as an "Alex" song, as Lifeson's work on this tune is prominent, including a fairly restrained but really nice solo at just before the 4:00 minute mark. It has a nice tempo to it, Geddy's not shrieking, which seems to be a theme so far in these Rush choices. A lot of people debate whether this is a love song, as Rush is pretty well-known for their lack of love songs. The overall theme is "I believe there's a Ghost of a Chance we can find someone to love, and make it last". An interesting question is does the song takes an optimistic or pessimistic view on finding someone in life, and making that relationship last? Neil says there's just a ghost of chance. So I guess if you do find that person, work hard to make it last.

Lyrics aside though, this tune is pretty easy to listen to, it's a rocker but with some nuance. Good call @higgins, glad to see it.

 

[simey]

I liked everything on #29 list yesterday. A few new to me favorites are:

Brat - Fun punk.
Under the Westway - I like the piano and dreaminess in this.
Funk, Punk & Junk - Heyall Yeah
Blues Run The Game - I've never heard this by S&G. Is says Studio Outtake. I wonder why they never put this cover on a proper album. It's good.
You Haven't Done Nuthin' - I don't recall this Stevie song. As soon as that clavinet started I knew it was him. It sounds like a funky protest song. It's great.
The Last Stand of Shazeb Andleeb - I like everything by him and his alter egos so far.
No Name #3 - I've never heard this one or the album it is on. I like it.
A Beautiful Noise - Their voices (Alicia and Brandi) go together well on this song.
Wild - Good stuff.
Eu Vou Torcer - Sounds like smooth Bossa Nova.
Let It Die - I like the slow build through the song.
Fear the Voices - Good rock song. I like when he goes falsetto in the chorus.
In Walks Barabella - My favorite by them so far.
Spices - They seem to be a spicy mix of this and that.

The chorus in Todd's "Hideaway" reminds me of a 70s song, but not so much the music, it is his voice. That's a good thing in my world.
I thought maybe ....And You Know Us was simmering down a bit on "Intelligence," but they couldn't help themselves near the end with a brief blast of madness.
Bauhaus reveals a little more in this one. I like the acoustic guitar. The tone of the music pairs well with the lyrics, which may be about growing up in a factory town, working there, and wishing for something better (to be the cream). That's what I got from it.

A few known favorites

Honeybee
Alone
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Cadillac
Brainwashed
Wishing You Were Here
Candle in the Wind
I like the percussion in Walking in Your Footsteps.
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect
Riff Raff

 

[kupcho1]

Given the discussion to date, I'm curious to how many of the artists we're covering you've seen in concert at least once.
For me the number is 8. In no particular order:
* Rush
* AC/DC
* Spoon
* Ray Charles
* Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
* The Hold Steady
* The Decemberists
* The Police

 

[Raging weasel]

Not many
AC/DC
Rush
Clutch
Alice In Chains
Heart
Tragically Hip
Will be seeing Dino Jr open for Clutch in July

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Given the discussion to date, I'm curious to how many of the artists we're covering you've seen in concert at least once.
For me the number is 8. In no particular order:
* Rush
* AC/DC
* Spoon
* Ray Charles
* Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
* The Hold Steady
* The Decemberists
* The Police

for me:

• Sting (who played a lot of Police songs)
• Bruce and the E Street Band
• Alice in Chains
• Rush
• Phish
• Steely Dan
• Paul Simon
• Dinosaur Jr. (although I believe he was billed as J. Maiscas)

 

[landrys hat]

7 live, I think
Doves
Spoon
Phish
Decemberists
Modest Mouse
Brandi Carlile
Ryan Adams

 

[Ilov80s]

Not many. As much as I love music, once I outgrew the mosh pit/outlet for pent up aggression stage, I found myself much less interested in going to shows. I also don’t love crowded, dark places and dealing with lines, parking, etc.

 

[Zegras11]

Didn't think it would be many, but I've seen 8.
The Police
The Kinks
Todd Rungren
Steely Dan
Green Day
Chicago
Simon and Garfunkel
Elton John

 

[simey]

Elton
Bruce
The Kinks
The Police
Heart
AC/DC
Genesis
Chicago
Ryan Adams
Green Day
Brandi

Most of these I saw in the 80s. I've seen Elton in multiple decades. The last three I saw in the last 10 years.

 

[Doug B]

I also don’t love crowded, dark places and dealing with lines, parking, etc.

I don't mind the better end of the "cheap seats" in an arena -- in some ways important to middle-age folks, it's better than being on the floor. But totally with you on the lines & parking.

When teleportation is perfected, one important use will be to whisk people from their homes right to their concert seats. And then back again!

 

[KarmaPolice]

Not many. As much as I love music, once I outgrew the mosh pit/outlet for pent up aggression stage, I found myself much less interested in going to shows. I also don’t love crowded, dark places and dealing with lines, parking, etc.

I think my list is 1 - We randomly saw Modest Mouse last year.

I go to a few shows a year, but it's mostly my wife's thing. I enjoy it and all, but mostly it's because it's our "thing" and our night out. If not for her, I'd probably be happy going to the occasional cheap show if somebody interesting rolls into a 2hr radius.

A big reason I don't enjoy it is the same reason I don't see many movies anymore - people can't seem to STFO, get off their phone, and enjoy something for a couple hours. The Sylvie in Madison is a great little newer venue that had had some bigger names, but all the shows are the same - me trying to enjoy a show through dozens of people holding up their phones and/or talking the whole time. Not worth it for me when tickets and fees start approaching $100+.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Given the discussion to date, I'm curious to how many of the artists we're covering you've seen in concert at least once.

15

The Police
Modest Mouse (x 6)
The Decemberists (x 4)
The Kinks (my first concert)
Rush
Ryan Adams
Frank Black (x 5)
Dinosaur Jr.
AC/DC
The Hold Steady (x 3)
Damon Albarn
Doves (x 3)
Spoon (x 7)
Bruce Springsteen
Bauhaus (x 2)

My biggest regret: I bought a ticket for what was Elliott Smith's last live show, at the University of Utah Ballroom in '03, but a conflict came up and I didn't go. Thought I'd catch him the next time he was in town.

 

[Galileo]

I've seen 2 - The Kinks (my first concert) and Elton John.

 

[falguy]

I wasn’t a big fan of the first two Tragically Hip songs but really liked “New Orleans is Sinking”. Love the groove and sinister sounding vocals.

As a Canadian I could probably be deported for saying this but I'm not a big Hip fan. I like maybe 6-8 of their songs. I generally dig the music but his voice turns me off more often than not. New Orleans is Sinking is one that I like. A lot. In fact, it's my favorite from them. I'm a bit surprised it's this far down (Binky: Up) his list. There are a few others I love as well which, I expect will appear at some point. And, hopefully a few new ones that I had never heard that tickle my fancy.

 

[Ilov80s]

The one jumping out to me is Green Day. Saw them on the tour right after Dookie. I was in 6th grade. That was an amazing show. They were great and the crowd was wild. I will see Big Thief next time they are around but it looks like Indy or Wisconsin are my closest non-festival options right now.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

The Kinks (my first concert)

That wouldn't happen to have been at the Seattle Center Arena on 4/23/83, would it?

 

[falguy]

As for who I've seen live. Just 2. . Two very similar artists.
AC/DC
Elton John

Had a busy weekend so already falling behind in the playlists. Need to get through at least the 30s and half the 29s today.

 

[Galileo]

The Kinks (my first concert)

That wouldn't happen to have been at the Seattle Center Arena on 4/23/83, would it?

Sorry, no. Sept. 5th 1985 @ Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Cleveland area)

 

[Galileo]

I've seen 2 - The Kinks (my first concert) and Elton John.

I'll add there are 19 on the list I never heard of before this thread