audreysmusicaljourney - Tumblr blog

[audreysmusicaljourney]

The End of the Journey

Crazy to think this journey is over. I have never listened to music with as much determination and direction as I have this year. It was honestly kind of nice to have the weight of deciding what I would listen to taken off of my shoulders. I have never been ashamed of what I listen to, but there is a vulnerability when you reveal to people what albums you’re choosing to listen to in your free time. I’m glad I blogged to hold myself accountable; I am also glad I did it because it required me to really focus on the artist’s work within each album.

I’m a sucker for a shared experience. However, to me listening to music can be as rewarding when listening alone as it can be when listening with others. I started this journey with the expectation that I would be spending a lot of time at home alone while weathering this pandemic. Turns out, I was correct. However, even while listening alone, it was comforting to think that some artist created the sounds I was listening to, and that there has to be some other person in the world listening to the same album. One incredible thing that happened this year is that I met another person, in real life, who was also making the way through the List over this year. I hope he’s reached his goal or at least is still enjoying his journey. 

A few people asked me about my process with this so I should probably explain a few things. First of all, I started with Album #500 and worked my way down to Album #1. My goal was to work through 10 albums a week, which gave me two weeks to flex out for vacations or other responsibilities. Turns out I flexed out way more than that. I had 20 albums to get through as of Christmas Eve. However, by leaving the best for last, it did not seem too overwhelming this past week. I tried to get through each album in one sitting but that was not always the case. Sidenote: The one that took me the longest to get through was “Star Time” by James Brown. It was a long album at 4 hours and 45, and it took me over 4 days to get through it. Before listening to each album, I tried to read about it on Wikipedia. After listening to it, I read the write-up about it from the Rolling Stone List. Every album started with a 7/10 rating as a baseline. Where it moved from there was based solely on my personal preference. This truly was as immersive of an experience as I could make it. 

Here are the stats: 

1) I listened to 1 album through Amazon Digital Download, 1 album through Amazon Music Player, 2 albums on compact disc, 2 albums through Spotify and Youtube combined, 4 albums on Youtube, 69 albums on vinyl, and 421 albums through Spotify. I definitely got my money’s worth with my Spotify subscription for this year. (Without Spotify, getting through this List would have been nearly impossible to do without spending an insane amount of money.) #NotSponsored

2) I watched two video albums thanks to Beyoncé. I now have a Tidal account, but I’ll probably be canceling that soon. 

3) In total, I listened to a lot of minutes of music. I have no idea how long, and I cannot find that stat anywhere online. I’ll go back and update this once I have time to calculate the amount of time it took. 

And now for the most memorable moments:

Worst Moments: 

Runner-Up: The first moment I wondered what the heck I got myself into was when I realized I had to listen to almost 2.5 hours of ABBA. I got through it.  Following my stream of their “Definitive Collection,” I was sent an e-mail from Spotify regarding a gift from ABBA because I was one of their top fans. Spoiler: The gift was a new album from them, but because I am not actually one of their top fans, I have yet to open that gift. Sorry, ABBA!

The worst moment was when I realized I had to listen to over 4 hours of Merle Haggard. I still do not care for country music so the fact that I made it through that one should really earn me some kind of award.

Best Moments:

The third best moment on this journey was finding old songs from artists that were either sampled by or just outright ripped off by later artists. One of my favorites was discovering that “Picture Book” by the Kinks is “Warning” by Green Day. Another recent favorite was the discovery that “Pastime Paradise” by Stevie Wonder was pretty much ripped off by Coolio for his hit “Gangsta’s Paradise.” There were some others along the way, but you’ll have to go through my posts to find them.

The second best moment was having my preconceived notions about artists and their music smashed by actually listening to their music. The two artists this is most true for are Black Sabbath and Nine Inch Nails. I thought I would hate their music, but they each had an album that I loved. 

The best moment though was discovering new artists. I love the music of Richard and Linda Hoffman, Big Star, and De La Soul. They are three artists I had never heard of before this journey.  I had heard a little bit by the Kinks and Led Zeppelin before, but they blew my mind with how good they were as well. 

And Now For the Presentation of the AMJAs (Audrey’s Musical Journey Awards):

Best Overall Band: Steely Dan

Favorite Album Cover: Curtis Mayfield “Superfly”

Most Artistic Album Cover: The Velvet Underground “The Velvet Underground & Nico” 

Best Decade of Music: 70s

Second Best Decade of Music: 60s

Best Decade for Hip-Hop: ‘80s

Best Pre-90s Poet: Bob Dylan

Best Post-90s Poet: Kendrick Lamar

Genre of Music with the Biggest Influence on the Most Albums: Jazz 

Best Album I Already Loved (Based on My Rating and RS’s Rating): Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On”

Best Album I Never Heard of Before (Based on My Rating and RS’s Rating): De La Soul “Three Feet High and Rising”

This was a fun way to spend the year of 2021. I’m glad I did it as I was able to consume a lot of a music, most of which was new to me. I think the biggest takeaway is that there is a lot of incredible music out there. There is nothing to be lost by giving a new album a spin. Who knows? It may be the greatest album of which you have never heard. Or, it could be terrible. Either way, everything is worth a listen to at least once. 

For the year ahead, my goal is simply to read more books. I will not be blogging about it though because even I am not crazy enough to make myself write book reports for fun. Happy New Year, Everyone! 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #1: Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” (1971)

Here I am getting ready to listen to the #1 album on this List. I’m excited for it. I have listened to this album a handful of times, but I never thought “This is the greatest album of all-time” after listening to it. Maybe that will change today. Maybe not. 

The opening title track begins with the recordings of what sounds like a greeting between a group of friends before a soulful saxophone starts playing just before Gaye starts singing. His voice may be the smoothest of any I have listened to on this journey. He does scat on this track, which I have never noticed before. The song closes out with the sounds of what seem like the continuation of the chatter between the individuals from the opening. “What’s Happening Brother” opens with a harmonized female vocal chorus. This has more of an R&B sound; Gaye’s vocals are soft yet still incredibly smooth. Gaye wails at a few points on  the track “Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky) over the steady strings of the double bass. I like the sound of this track, which transitions flawlessly into the next track “Save the Children.” This track is a spoken-narrative delivered by Gaye over the ascending arpeggio of the background vocalists. The multi-layered sound becomes even more complex as another vocalist (is it Gaye?) joins in. “God Is Love” has a nice upbeat sound with well-developed instrumentation. There is more soul to Gaye’s vocals on the track “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology).” It’s interesting how powerful of a statement Gaye can make through such controlled, beautiful vocals. There’s an awesome saxophone solo on this track, which gives it a jazz vibe. I love the ascending scale of the piano before the background vocalists join in. 

I love the flute solo that opens the track “Right On.” This track has an awesome groove created through the flute, the piano, the double bass, the drums, and Gaye’s vocals. There is a strong horn section backing Gaye on this track as he sings with a deeper tone and more conviction than I have heard from him on any of the preceding tracks. The groove really gets going by the end of this track. “Wholy Holy” is a slower song with a nice melody and a message I can get behind. Gaye’s message on this album is all about love through community, and he traces that virtue back to God on this track. “Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)” has a nice groove. Gaye delivers a lot of vocal improvisations over the steady beat of this track before singing his lyrics. There’s a foreshadowing of things to come in this track, but it is thinly veiled by frustration. You don’t get that vibe at all from the tone of Gaye’s vocals though. He somehow could deliver his message without compromising the tone of his voice. The brief reprise of the title track closes out the album perfectly. 

Rating: 10/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: Music has a lot of power. Gaye knew this and wisely utilized his talents to share his thoughts on the world as it existed when this album was released. This the first album I listened to on vinyl without being able to discern the breaks in some of the tracks. The sound of each track runs together so incredibly well that I got confused as to which track was which. This probably is the greatest album of all time. 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #2: The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds” (1966)

I have listened to this album a few times. I know it is good. It’s been a while since i have listened to it though.

The album begins with the upbeat track “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” There is a lot of youthful hopefulness on this track, both in the lyrics and in Wilson’s own vocals. The harmonies are insanely impressive on this track which also has a full instrumental sound. “You Still Believe In Me” has a slower, more melodic tone. There are a lot of unique sounds on this track: cue the bicycle bell! The vocals are insane on this track with Wilson running scales before closing out the track with impressive vocal harmonies. The track “That’s Not Me” features more of the pop rock sound you would expect from a band in the ‘60s. The drums add a lot to this track. “Don’t Cry (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” has some intricate sounds working together in what seems like a straightforward song. The strings add a lot to this track, but the real wonder is what Wilson does with his voice. There is a jazz vibe to the track “I’m Waiting for the Day.” It transitions multiple times from soft verses to a louder, more energetic chorus. The strings arrangements near the close of the track sound like something from a classic Hollywood film. “Let’s Go Away for Awhile” is a complex instrumental piece. I had no idea that a Coca-Cola bottle was used as a slide guitar on this track. That’s impressive. “Sloop John B” is the track that most sounds like a song by the Beach Boys. I did not know this was a cover. This track has the similarity of the tracks with respect to multi-layered instrumentation and vocal harmonies. However, I’m of the opinion that it disrupts the overall sound that Wilson was trying to achieve on this album. But what do I know?

“God Only Knows” is a beautiful track. This is the kind of song that is perfect for the Beach Boys. They harmonize like angels on this track. I like the sound that sounds like the clopping of the horse on this track; I also appreciate the harpsichord. I assume the horse clops are part of the reason for the title of this album. “I Know There’s an Answer” has some interesting instrumentation. The bass gives it a jazz vibe but I’d say it verges more on the edge of progressive rock than anything else. “Here Today” sounds like the kind of song that the Beatles should have written. I’m glad it is by the Beach Boys. The first time I ever saw a theremin was at a Lord Huron show in Chicago. I can hear it on the track “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times.” According to Wikipedia, this is “the first use of a theremin-like instrument on a rock record.” That’s a cool random fact to know. It also was performed by the man who invented it. That an even cooler random fact to know. The title track “Pet Sounds” has a nice groove that does make it sound like a James Bond theme song. I do not hear much of a surf rock vibe from it. “Caroline, No” is a nice romantic ballad to close out the album. The majority of the songs on this album are about love. This is no exception, but it’s about the sad aspect of lost love. It’s interesting that the track (and album) close out with the sound of dogs barking and trains passing. I may have to ruminate on that for a bit. 

Rating: 10/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: This is as good as they say it is. Wilson is probably a musical genius. I watched the film about the recording of this album, but I don’t remember much from it. I’ll have to revisit it. It’s insane how young some of these artists from the ‘60s and ‘70s were when they were making this albums. The Beach Boys revolutionized rock with this album. Good work, Dudes!

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #3: Joni Mitchell “Blue” (1971)

I have never heard of this album. That probably isn’t too big of a surprise as Joni Mitchell is an artist to whom I first listened as part of this journey.

The opening track “All I Want” begins with a nice acoustic guitar sound Once Mitchell starts singing, it becomes clear that she is a dynamic artist with a lot of variation in her vocals. She can manipulate her voice as well as the instrumentation in minor ways to make different sounds. Mitchell croons over the piano on the track “My Old Man.” Mitchell is a definitely a romantic soul who finds significant value in her relationships. There’s a bit of a sadness to Mitchell’s vocal tone on this song although it serves mostly to bolster the value of her boyfriend. There’s a lot of sadness to the sound of “Little Green.” This makes sense given that it was written after Mitchell gave her daughter up for adoption. The track “Carey” has a more upbeat sound. I like the use of more instrumentation as well as background vocals on this track. Joni Mitchell has to be the queen of tribute songs, right? “Blue” is clearly written for someone; the critics just can’t seem to agree who. It has a nice sound as Mitchell sings over the piano. 

The narrative style of “California” reminds me of Bob Dylan. I feel like Mitchell is definitely the female version of Dylan. You can not only hear the regret on the track “This Flight Tonight,” you can feel it. I like when this track segues albeit briefly into more of a rock sound. The opening of “River” sounds like “Jingle Bells.” This makes sense as it is set in a Christmas timeframe. This track is regret veiled as escapism. Mitchell really was not afraid to lay it all out on a song. She hits a nice long note on this track. The opening of “A Case of You” sounds a lot like Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” I couldn’t find any reference of it being sampled by Chapman so I think she stole the guitar riff from this track. I like this song by Mitchell. It has a great sound. It is my favorite song on this album. The closing track “The Last Time I Saw Richard” has a pleasant sound as Mitchell sings over the piano. It changes abruptly from a tone of cynicism to optimism at the very end. I hope Mitchell was able to get her gorgeous wings and fly away. 

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: This is a pretty good album. Mitchell’s sound is definitely starting to grow on me. I imagine it was a big game-changer to have a female artist be so open and vulnerable on an album in the early ‘70s. Good for Mitchell for taking this step. It seems less risky in these days when Taylor Swift can openly write an album about her relationships and break-ups, but I don’t think this would be possible without this album by Mitchell.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #4: Stevie Wonder “Songs in the Key of Life” (1976)

I have never heard of this album. It must be good. Let’s find out.

The vocal harmonies on the beginning of the opening track are really setting a tone of excellence for this album. Wonder’s lead vocals are incredible. There is a maturity to his voice. There’s a lot of funk on the track “Have a Talk with God.” I like the unique sound of the instrumentation on “Village Ghetto Land.” There’s a lot of sorrow within Wonder’s vocals on that track. “Contusion” is a soulful instrumental track. I like the more upbeat sound of “Sir Duke.” I think I have heard this track before. The horn section compliments Wonder’s vocals well. I think I have heard “I Wish” before. It has an upbeat tone. This is definitely a song that was sampled by Will Smith for his song “Wild Wild West.” I like it. “Knocks Me Off My Feet” is a nice little ballad as Wonder singers over the piano with some background vocalists. "Pastime Paradise” is absolutely what was sampled by, scratch that, ripped off by Coolio for his track “Gangsta’s Paradise.” This is a fairly advanced sound for the late ‘60s as the synthesizer creates the sound for the stringed instruments on this track. “Summer Soft” is too slow for my preference. “Ordinary Pain” starts off slow, but I like when the tempo and softness of transitions to a funkier, faster sound with a female singing. I think it is a female. If it is Wonder, he really fooled me. 

“Isn’t She Lovely” is a classic track by Stevie Wonder. I had no idea it begins with the cries of a baby. Wonder’s voice has just the right balance of soul and conviction. I like the saxophone solo on this track. I barely recognize Wonder’s vocals on the track “Joy Inside My Tears.” It sounds to me like George Michael more than Stevie Wonder. “Black Man” has a strong funk sound to it. This actually may be my favorite kind of sound from Wonder. He’s great on this track. The second part of this track has an interesting use of the call-and-response technique. Wonder sings in three different languages on the track “Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing.” I do not recognize the first language, but I recognize the other two. I like the use of the harp on the track “If It’s Magic.” This shows that it does not take much, if anything, to make Wonder sound good. The track “As” sounds familiar, or at least the chorus does. I can’t quite place where or how I would have heard it before. The background vocalists are good, but Wonder is way better. I like the use of the Fender Rhodes piano on this track. Somebody contributes vocals that sound like they are from a New Orleans jazz artist to this track. The track “Another Star” has an epic sound. It verges on the edge of disco. There is also a lot of jazz on the track as evidenced by the flute. 

Rating: 8.5/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: This is a good album, but I expected a little for it being this high on the List. No doubt that Wonder is a talented musician. He redefined a lot of sounds, and inspired many artists. You can hear that in this album. 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #5: The Beatles “Abbey Road” (1969)

I know this album. Who doesn’t? I have listened to it a few times. 

The album begins with the awesome rock sound of “Come Together.” I like the build-up to the instrumental break. I can recognize Lennon as the lead singer of this song, but I don’t get a lot of the references in this track. “Something” is a nice song with a slower tempo and mellower sound. Harrison does well with the vocals as well as on the guitar solo of this track. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” has a vaudeville sound to it. I like the sound effects on this track. I always thought this was kind of a silly song, but I think there is more sincerity to it than I realized. “Oh! Darling” has a strong doo-wop sound. McCartney has a lot of soul on this track. I love the track “Octopus’s Garden.” I had no idea that Starr was singing lead vocals on this track. It’s a fun track with a lot of different sounds. The vocal harmonies are fairly impressive. It becomes a real romper of a track during the instrumental break. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” is the brooding rock track of the album. It’s definitely a blues rock song with a psychedelic flair. The instrumental solo of this track goes on for a long time before ending fairly abruptly. 

I love the upbeat attitude of the track “Here Comes the Sun.” There is a lot of instrumentation that works well on this track, but my favorite sound is the handclaps. It’s clear this was written by Harrison as the guitar is the main instrument. “Because” is another brooding track. It’s clear that Lennon was going through something while writing songs for this album. The stacking of vocal harmonies is quite effective on this track. I had no idea that the next eight songs are part of a medley. The opening song of the medley “You Never Give Me Your Money” starts slow with a piano before blossoming into more of a rock sound. “Sun King” features vocal harmonies similar to those of “Because.” However, the instrumentation is much lighter. I love the track “Mean Mr. Mustard.” It’s a short rock narrative, but I like the overall sound of it. The piano definitely gives it a vaudevillian sound. “Polythene Pam” sounds like something by the Beach Boys. The back-and-forth between the drums and the guitar creates a unique sound. I really like the sound of “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.” I would like to have heard this as a longer song. “Golden Slumbers” is an incredible lullaby. I did not know it was an adaptation of a poem. The vocals are everything on the track “Carry That Weight.” There is a lot of power in that track. The instrumentation pushes it over the top. This is another one that would been awesome to hear as a full track. The closing track “The End” concludes with what may be on the best lyrics from the Beatles. It’s quite an ending note. But it isn’t the true end because there is a hidden track: “Her Majesty.” I couldn’t quite hear where and how this was snipped from the medley, but it creates a nice, soft closing sound for the album.

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: Here’s the deal. I can tell Lennon and McCartney apart, but Harrison sounds a lot like both McCartney and Lennon. I had no idea that Starr even sang, but his songs were some of my favorites. I think he got the best songs to sing because he had the most lighthearted writing style and probably didn’t take himself as seriously as a lead singer. I could be wrong, but that’s the story I am going to stick with at this point.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #6: Nirvana “Nevermind” (1991)

I’m starting to feel better about this music I listened to before this Journey as I definitely know this album. I have listened to it quite a few times. 

The album begins with the opening guitar riff that defines the sound of Nirvana. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the quintessential rock song...at least for the ‘90s. To this day, I have no idea what Cobain is saying for 98% of this song, but I think that is how he wanted it to be. He’s actually a really good singer, even when he yells. “In Bloom” has a catchy sound just before Cobain starts singing. His dark vocals quickly change the tone of this track. The vocals flow in and out throughout this track. I like the guitar solo on it. “Come As You Are” is a good song. This may be the one on which I understand the highest percentage of Cobain’s lyrics, which is 10%. The instrumentation works well together to create a moodier version of jazz music. The drums on “Breed” are the best I have ever heard on this journey. Grohl kills it. This track has a softer sound but the tempo is sped way up. “Lithium” features a unique song structure. It has well-composed, quiet verses that segue into a frenetic chorus of screams. It’s a good example of an alternative rock song. “Polly” is an acoustic track that shows off Cobain’s vocal abilities as he sings over an acoustic guitar.

The beginning of “Territorial Pissings” sounds like something by the Offspring. Then it turns to pure chaos. “Drain You” has an awesome alternative rock sound. There are female background vocals on this track. Also, what sounds like monkey noises? Nevermind, according to Wikipedia, they are actually noises from “squeaky mouse and rubber duck toys.” How grunge is that?!?! “Lounge Act” has a fairly awesome sound. Cobain’s vocals are intense and move at a fast pace, but the drums and guitar keep up with him. The drums are insane again on the track “Stay Away.” There are some unique harmonies at the end of the track “On a Plain.” The track “Something in the Way” is a beautiful track with a slower sound. The cello adds a lot to the sound of this song. “Endless, Nameless” is the complete opposite of the preceding track. It is not a beautiful  track with a faster sound. The instrumentation and vocals are quite chaotic. I don’t want to minimize the musicianship of the members of Nirvana, but I feel like I could create a majority of the sounds on this track.

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: This is a really good album. I forgot how good some of the songs on it are, and there are some new ones that are back on my radar. I thought I owned it on vinyl, but I do not. I’ll have to change that in 2022.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #7: Fleetwood Mac “Rumours” (1977)

If there were an album on this List to which I was conceived, it is definitely this album. My parents love Fleetwood Mac. They have a concert poster from a show they saw in Germany as part of the Rumours tour in their basement. My sister’s middle name is Rhiannon. I have listened to this album a lot. 

The album begins with “Second Hand News,” which has a nice rock sound. This track has an upbeat sound, which contrasts with the lyrical mood. “Dreams” is a track that has very little instrumentation but it still has a nice melodic, soft rock sound. Nicks has pleasant lead vocals on this track. I cannot hear this song without thinking about the Dude skateboarding with his juice. I love the sound of “Never Going Back Again” with the plucking of the guitar strings. Buckingham kills it on this track. “Don’t Stop” has more of a power rock sound with pop vocals from Buckingham. It has a nice sentiment of optimism with the reassurance that “Yesterday’s gone.” There is a nice guitar solo on this track as well some pretty impressive vocal harmonies. How many incredible hits can one band have on an album? “Go Your Own Way” is another one. The vocal harmonies are second-to-none on this track. It has a nice groove created through the guitar and drums. I have never noticed the guitar solo before, which is crazy because it goes its own way for a while. “Songbird” is a beautiful ballad performed by Christine McVie. She kills it on this track over just the piano and acoustic guitar.

“The Chain” is a classic rock track that captures the tensions between the band members. It begins with a folk-country sound that segues into a pulsing rock sound. It’s crazy how on-point their vocal harmonies are on this track. It’s as if they were all destined to be in a band together. Christine McVie has a harder vocal tone on the track “You Make Loving Fun,” which works well with the overall rock sound. John McVie was silly to think this was written about a dog.  “I Don’t Want to Know” is the most pop sounding song on this track. It has a jaunty beat that is catchy. Nicks almost sounds like a ‘60s singer on this track. “Oh Daddy” is the moodiest track on this album. It does have airiness to it, but McVie’s vocals are somewhat haunting. The organ adds a lot to this track. As do the castanets, which are played by Daddy himself, Mick Fleetwood. Mick Fleetwood was silly to think this was written about him. The closing track “Gold Dust Woman” features Nicks back on lead vocals. I am a sucker for most Fleetwood Mac songs fronted by Nicks. There are a lot of unique sounding instruments on this track. I have never heard of a dobro before, but I can hear it. I can also hear some crazy sound effects. This is an interesting choice for a closing track.

Rating: 9.5/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: It’s interesting to listen to this album after understanding more about the backstory of its production. The group was a mess as they were all struggling with relationships in their lives. Somehow, they were able to put all those emotions aside to produce an incredible album that stands the test of time. I’m still thinking about how impressive their vocal harmonies were on most of these tracks.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #8: Prince and the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984)

It’s a good thing this album is so high on the List because I’d probably lose my only two followers with this confession. I have never listened to this album. I have never seen the motion picture. 

The album begins with what may be the greatest opening track ever “Let’s Go Crazy.” I love this track, which definitely sets the tone for the album. Maybe even for life. It is an upbeat dance track rooted in rock. The electric guitar is insane on this track. The closing guitar riff is an epic one. I have never heard “Take Me With U” before. It has a strong pop sound; Prince’s vocals are incredibly soft and earnest as he duets with Apollonia. I like the string arrangements on this track. There is something incredibly ‘80s about the instrumental break; other than that, this song would be perfect and would still hold up by today’s standards. “The Beautiful Ones” has a unique sound; I’m not crazy about it. Prince sings in a falsetto voice for most of the track, but punctuates the song with somewhat random spoken vocals. It’s slow, melodic, and moody and culminates with Prince screaming his vocals. “Computer Blue” sounds familiar, but I don’t think I have ever heard it before. I think it is because it initially sounds similar to “Little Red Corvette.” There is some incredibly impressive rock instrumentation on this track, in particular the electric guitar. The instrumentation of “Darling Nikki” hops along, reminiscent of something by the Beatles. The lyrical content is definitely not reminiscent of something by the Beatles. I’ve heard a lot worse and more disturbing from Prince on this journey. I do like the vocal chorus at the end of this track.

“When Doves Cry” begins with a recognizable guitar riff. The drum machine and synthesizer create a sound worth dancing to on this track. Prince’s wails on this track sound just like those of Michael Jackson. There are a lot of sounds that work well together on this track. I have heard “I Would Die 4 U” before. I could be wrong, but I think there are a lot of lyrics that reference Jesus on this track. It has a slower tempo and has a lot of repetitive vocals. “Baby I’m a Star” is an electronic rock dance anthem. It has a catchy beat. The closing title track is definitely a mood. Prince delivers his most emotional vocals of any on this track. The backing choir gives the song a gospel vibe, but it is a rock song with an R&B fusion. It ends with a bit of an orchestral sound. It is a power ballad with a lot going on, but the crowd loves it. 

Rating: 8.5/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: I get it. Prince is good. Really good. He is incredible on the guitar, and could write some fairly complex songs instrumentationwise. He was not afraid to push the envelope. Fortune favors the bold, and he was one of the boldest. 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #9: Bob Dylan “Blood on the Tracks” (1975)

I have heard of this album, but I have never listened to it. I own a copy of it on vinyl, which I assume was part of the record collection I bought from my friend’s dad.

The album begins with “Tangled Up in Blue,” which has a nice folk rock sound. Dylan’s vocals have more emotion to them than I expected as he narrates about different time periods in a relationship. The harmonica solo at the end of this track may be the best one I have heard from any artist on this List.”Simple Twist of Fate” has more of a stripped-down sound as Dylan sings over the acoustic guitar with sparse appearances from the harmonica. I’m not quite sure what I think about the track “You’re a Big Girl Now.” The guitar has an interesting tone, and Dylan’s vocals are not bad, but something about the overall sound seems a little off in my opinion. I like the more upbeat sound of the track “Idiot Wind.” The organ gives it an elevated sound. There is also a lot of passion in Dylan’s vocals on this track. “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” is definitely an acoustic ballad that captures the pains of heartbreak. It closes with a nice harmonica solo. 

“Meet Me in the Morning” is an acoustic blues song. Dylan slays the vocals on this track. There is a nice break featuring the guitars on this track as well. There is an awesome harmonica solo that begins the track “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.” The organ lends itself well to the narrative form of this track. Dylan is usually good for on epically long song on his albums, and this is it. “If You See Her, Say Hello” has a nice, acoustic folk sound. I love the track “Shelter from the Storm.” It’s definitely about seeking refuge from the world through love. I don’t think I have ever heard “Buckets of Rain” before. It closes the album out with a stripped-down sound as Dylan sings over just an acoustic guitar and a bass guitar.

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: I had dipped my toes into the music of Bob Dylan before this journey, but it has been a true pleasure to listen to his full albums. Anyone who things he was just a poet, has not listened to this album. His vocals are good and his musicianship is also good. He’s not just a one-trick-pony who can write good lyrics; he can do it all. 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #10: Lauryn Hill “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” (1998)

I remember when this album was released. However, I have never listened to it in my life. I know one song from it. Time to change that. 

The intro on this album is fairly subtle. The opening track “Lost Ones” definitely is more hip hop than anything else, at least for its first half. Hill can drop rhymes! It transitions to more of an R&B sound before Hill hops back in to drop some more rhymes. “Ex-Factor” is not a song I have ever heard before. It definitely has a neo soul vibe. Hill can sing just as well as she can rap. The guitar on the track “To Zion” has a Spanish sound, which makes sense as it is Carlos Santana playing it. He’s a big hitter showing up on this album. The song is otherwise a nice mix of hip hop and R&B. I love the track “Doo Wop (That Thing).” It’s also a nice mix of hip hop and R&B. Hill kills it on both the rhymes and the sung vocals on this track. 

“Superstar” does feature a soothing interpolation of “Light My Fire” by the Doors. There is a lot of soul from Hill on this track. The harp gives this track a much lighter, dreamlike sound. I like when Hill breaks it down with a rap. “Final Hour” is a hip hop track infused with jazz instrumentation. The harp is back for the neo soul track “When It Hurts So Bad.” Mary J. Blige makes a nice guest appearance on the track “I Used to Love Him.” This sounds like a fusion of pop and R&B. 

Hill’s vocals are insanely impressive on the track “Forgive Them Father.” This track definitely has the cadence of a reggae jam. There are a lot of biblical references on this album, and this song is no exception. There is a lot of funk on the track “Every Ghetto, Every City.” I really like the sound of this track. I especially love the handclaps. It took me a minute to place D’Angelo on the track “Nothing Even Matters.” This is quite the powerhouse of a duo. The track has an incredibly smooth and soulful sound.

I was wrong. I know two songs from this album. “Everything Is Everything” is a nice track. It has a harder-hitting hip hop beat. It gets a bit repetitive lyrically.  The title track has a slower, mellower vibe. The organ creates a nice variation of sound under Hill’s steady vocals. Of course there are some hidden tracks on this album. I love Hill’s cover of the song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” She gives this track a little more swagger and a lot of soul. The closing track to this album is the soulful jam “Tell Him.” Hill shows off her vocal strengths on this track, singing over layers of background vocals. 

Rating: 9.5/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: I was skeptical about how this album could rank so high on this List. However, I get it. What is most intriguing about Hill’s style is that the instrumentation backing her hip hop tracks is original produced instrumentation; she does not sample anything. She did a lot on this album, and it shows. It’s one worth spinning again and again.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #11: The Beatles “Revolver” (1966)

This is the first album by the Beatles that I ever purchased on vinyl. I know this album. I have listened to it many times.

The album begins with the track “Taxman.” I can definitely relate to this song as I hate paying taxes. It has a nice rock sound anchored by the guitars. “Eleanor Rigby” is a great track. The string arrangements are impressive on this track. I did not realize that none of the Beatles played on this track until just now. That is crazy! This is actually a fairly depressing song when you listen to the lyrics. “I’m Only Sleeping” has a dreamlike sound with beautiful vocal harmonies. There are some unique effects used on the instrumentation as well as on the vocals of this track. “Love You To” has a world music sound as Harrison shows his talents on the sitar. It definitely sounds like something from India. The tempo unexpectedly changes at the end of this track. “Here, There, and Everywhere” is a ballad that sounds like the Beach Boys. “Yellow Submarine” is a fun track with a lot of sound effects. I didn’t realize that Starr sings lead vocals on this track; he does well with it! I like when Lennon echoes back Starr’s vocals with some kind of vocal effect. The track “She Said She Said” features a nice rock sound. I can hear how this sound influenced Oasis. 

“Good Day Sunshine” is an upbeat track dominated by the piano. It sounds like a ragtime piano during the solo on this track. The vocal harmonies are nice on this track as well. “And Your Bird Can Sing” is definitely a pop rock song. The guitars get after it on this track. The track “For No One” has a nice, melodic sound. I like the French horn solo on this track; that is an instrument I have not heard much of on this journey. “Doctor Robert” has more of a rock sound with the bass guitar dominating the sound of this track. There is a nice organ break on this track. There are some awesome guitar riffs on the track “I Want to Tell You.” The track “Got to Get You Into My Life” has the most soulful sound of any track on this album. The horns add a lot to the sound of this track. The intensity of this track builds to a guitar solo and more energetic vocals. The closing track “Tomorrow Never Knows” is quite frenetic, with the instruments playing at their own tempos. You can hear the influence from Indian music on this track, but the Beatles make the sound all their own. This is definitely a psychedelic rock song.

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: You can hear the growth in sound by the Beatles on this album. They definitely experimented with some of the vocal and instrumental effects on this album. They also still showed their talents at playing stripped-down songs with minimal instrumentation.  It is most interesting to see how George Harrison continued to dive deeper into the non-Western musical sound. The Beatles are pretty amazing artists, some may even call them fabulous.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #12: Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1982)

I know this album. I love it.

The album begins with the synthesized sound of “Wanna Be Startin’ Something.” The lyrics are a little silly on this track, which sounds comparable to the sound of his “Off the Wall” album. It definitely has some funk to it, which is evident during the instrumental break that also features some choral chants. “Baby Be Mine” has more of a soulful sound to it. I could pass on this track, but I do have to acknowledge the strength of Jackson’s vocals on it. He was an incredible singer. I have always found the track “The Girl Is Mine” to be a weird song. I never could imagine Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney fighting over the same woman. Despite all of this, it has a nice sound. But that is to be expected from two men who are more lovers than fighters. “Thriller” is the opus of this album. It has a lot of unique sound effects, but the strength of this song comes from the steady bassline and Jackson. This is definitely a disco-funk track. The horn section adds a lot to the sound of this track. So do the howls of the wolf. This is really a silly song when you stop to listen and analyze it. It was genius to have Vincent Price narrate the ending of this track.

“Beat It” is not a silly song; it is incredible. It has a really fast tempo rooted in rock. I had no idea that Eddie Van Halen performed the guitar solo on this track. “Billie Jean” is a good track as well. I would call it a dance-pop track. The beat is catchy as heck, but Jackson’s vocals are pure pop. The guitar riff on this track is just as iconic as Jackson’s screams over the guitar riff. The strings arrangement complements the sound of the instrumentation on this track. “Human Nature” is a track with a much softer sound from both Jackson and the instrumentation. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is probably my favorite track on this album. It has such a catchy beat and also features stronger vocals from Jackson. I think the background vocals remind me of the Jackson 5 so that could be part of it as well. I like the call-and-response portion of this track as well. I am a sucker for those. The closing track “That Lady In My Life” is definitely the weakest track on this album. Can’t win ‘em all.

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: I own this album on a picture vinyl, but it skips terribly so I opted to listen to it on Spotify. I need to buy a legit vinyl version of this album as Jackson does incredibly well on it. He starts his transition from the Prince of Disco to the King of Pop with this album. I’m grateful he made that transition as there is only so much disco-funk that one person can handle.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #13: Aretha Franklin “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” (1967)

I have heard of this album before. It was one of the records in my record-of-the-month club. I have not yet listened to it though.

The album begins with the awesome guitar riff of “Respect.” Franklin’s vocals are incredible on this track. I never realized how young she sounds on this track though. “Drown in My Own Tears” has a slightly slower sound as Franklin sings over the piano. The sound builds-up over the progression of the track. The title track has a nice blues sound. Franklin wails on this track over the bass guitar. A lot more instrumentation joins in, culminating with a horn section punctuating Franklin’s vocals. “Soul Serenade” is an aptly titled track. The horn section acts as a backing chorus to Franklin’s booming vocals. “Don’t Let Me Lose this Dream” has more of a slower, R&B sound. “Baby, Baby, Baby” is a ballad on which Franklin sings over the piano and bass. The sounds builds on this track as more instrumentation and background vocalists join in. Franklin hits some incredibly high notes near the end of this track. She could sing!

Franklin’s vocals have a lot of soul on the track “Dr. Feelgood.” She wails on this track. There is more of a lighthearted tone to Franklin’s vocals on the track “Good Times.” There seems to be joy in her voice. The sound slows way down on the soulful ballad “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.” There is something special about the sound of this track. “Save Me” is a more upbeat track featuring rock instrumentation and pop vocals from Franklin. I like the sound of this track. The album concludes with Franklin’s cover of Sam Cooke’s song “A Change is Gonna Come.” She kills it on this song. I’d imagine that the peak for any songwriter was finding out that Aretha Franklin would cover one of his or her songs because it was sure to become a hit.

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: Franklin was a true talent. She paved the way for so many artists, including both men and women. You can definitely hear how she influenced Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and Adele through the songs of this album. She was the original Queen. 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #14: The Rolling Stones “Exile on Main Street” (1972)

I have heard of this album, but I have never listened to it before. I’m excited to listen to it.

The opening track “Rocks Off” has a strong blues sound with a little bit of jazz infused. The piano creates a steady sound on this track, which is amplified by the drums and guitars and punctuated by a horn section. It’s a little tough to hear Jagger’s vocals at times on this track, especially during the break. “Rip This Joint” is a fast-paced rockabilly track. Jagger sounds good on it as he maintains a rock vocal tone. The brass section kills it on this track. The cover of “Shake Your Hips” sounds like a ‘50s blues rock song. “Casino Boogie” is a blues song with swagger. There is an awesome saxophone solo on this track. I did not recognize “Tumbling Dice” by its title, but I do recognize it by its sound. This is a groovy jam. It’s a blues track built on a foundation of rock. The background vocals add a lot to this track, giving it a gospel vibe. 

I have never heard “Sweet Virginia” before. It has a slower sound with a country vibe. The good country though, not the bad kind. I like the saxophone solo on this track. “Torn and Frayed” sounds like something by Neil Young. It has a country gospel vibe to it. The track “Sweet Black Angel” features a stripped-down acoustic sound. The percussion has a unique sound to it. “Loving Cup” has more of a rock sound. I like the faster tempo, which is anchored by the piano. 

“Happy” has an upbeat rock sound. Richards does a good job with providing the lead vocals on this track. The horns add a lot to this track. “Turd on the Run” is a blues track with a fast-tempo. Something about it reminds me of Little Richard. “Ventilator Blues” is a slower blues song. This could easily be the theme song for the past two years as it meanders along. The track “I Just Want to See His Face” has a strong gospel sound to it. The quality of sound on this track makes it seem as if it was recorded live in some outdoor temple. “Let It Loose” is a blues ballad. It sounds like something by some other band I can’t quite place. The sound builds on this track, culminating in a nice mix of instrumentation and vocals. 

“All Down the Line” is a nice return to the rock sound of the Rolling Stones. The instrumentation all works well together on this track. You can really hear the slide guitar on the track “Stop Breaking Down.” You can also hear the harmonica. Jagger sounds really cool on this track. The track “Shine a Light” is a nice tribute to a former bandmate. Jagger’s vocals have a softer tone, which lends itself well to this song, especially when he fronts the backing chorus. There is a lot of soul on the closing track “Soul Survivor.” I like the piano solo near the end before the drums, and guitar come pulsing back in. 

Rating: 9/10

How I Listened: Vinyl

Takeaway: The Rolling Stones are really good with the blues genre. I did not know about the whole “tax exile” thing until I read about this album. Bummer that musicians were taxed so high. Some time away from England did them good though as they created this album while in exile. 

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #15: Public Enemy “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” (1988)

I have never heard of this album. I’m sure I’ll love it though based solely upon the other Public Enemy album that I listened to on this journey.

The opening track “Countdown to Armageddon” serves its purpose to set the tone of the album as well as to hype up the listener. I think I have heard the track “Bring the Noise” before. Chuck D and Flava Flav work so well together as they alternate rhymes over some nice samples from soul tracks. “Don’t Believe the Hype” has a catchy beat. Chuck D’s rhymes are smooth heck; Flava Flav does his job as the hype man on this track. “Cold Lampin’ with Flavor” is a track on which Flava Flav takes the lead mic. He does well as the lead emcee. I should be able to place some of the samples on this track, but I absolutely cannot. “Terminator X to the Edge of Panic” starts with what sounds like some glitches, but quickly transitions to an awesome beat over which Chuck D and Flava Flav drop rhymes. “Mind Terrorist” is a nice little interlude featuring samples of Public Enemy’s own tracks. Chuck D drops some hard-hitting rhymes on “Louder Than a Bomb.” He is incredibly talented. I like the record scratches on this track. More of that, please!  The track “Caught, Can We Get a Witness?” features some tongue-in-cheek commentary on the issue of sampling. Not surprising that Public Enemy is in favor of the practice. 

“Show ‘Em Whatcha Got” has a jazz sound with the saxophone. The vocals are repetitive yet effective on this short track. “She Watch Channel Zero?!” features a sample of a heavy metal track that I do not recognize. This sounds like something by Limp Bizkit in the ‘90s. Also, I think this is the first track on this List to feature an interrobang. “Night of the Living Baseheads” features an insane amount of samples. I cannot place many, but I think there is a jazz track that is definitely sampled on this. I like the piano on the track “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.” It gives the track a haunting tone. I recognize the sample from James Brown on the track “Rebel Without a Pause.” This is also a clever song title. “Prophets of Rage” has a good sound as Chuck D commands the track with his somewhat aggressive lead vocals. The closing track “Party for Your Right to Fight” appears to be Public Enemy’s interpolation of the famous track by the Beastie Boys. I like it. There’s a lot of power within the vocals from both Chuck D and Flava Flav on this track. I can pick out the sampled vocals from Malcolm X on this track, which give further strenght to this being a protest song.

Rating: 8/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: This is a nice album. Public Enemy has a great sound with solid beats underlying Chuck D and Flava Flav. I need to go back and listen to more of the lyrics on this album as I have no doubt that I missed a lot of them.

[audreysmusicaljourney]

Album #16: The Clash “London Calling” (1979)

I have heard of this album I do not think I have ever listened to it though.

The album begins with the title track, which has a nice, smooth rock sound. It is definitely a post-punk track. I really like the electric guitar solo on it. The track “Brand New Cadillac” has more of a surf rock sound to it. I had no idea this was a cover, but I like their version of it. The track “Jimmy Jazz” has a unique sound to it. It’s a little reggae, a little rock, a little country, and a little jazz. There is a really nice saxophone solo on this track. “Hateful” has a more upbeat, faster tempo. This sounds the most like the punk sound I associate with the Clash, but it is still different. “Rudie Can’t Fail” is a duet performed in the reggae style of music. I would call this a ska song. “Spanish Bombs” has more of an upbeat sound; it is definitely a pop rock song. There are some pleasant guitar riffs on this track. There is a lot of big instrumentation on the track “The Right Profile.” Instrumentally, it sounds like something from the Sgt. Pepper album from the Beatles. The vocals are all the Clash though. Strummer is such a distinct vocalist. There is an unexpected softness to the track “Lost in the Supermarket.” This is definitely a pop track. “Clampdown” is a nice rock sound with a lot of punk techniques. I like the harmonized vocals as well as the bongo drums on this track. “The Guns of Brixton” is another reggae song. The Clash do well with this style of sound. Strummer is not the lead singer on this track. 

“Wrong ’Em Boyo” is a fun track. There are a lot of different sounds that contribute to this track. The organ gives it a garage rock sound, but it is lighter than garage rock. It may be better to call it a jazz rock song. There is an awesome rock sound on the opening instrumentation of “Death or Glory.” It sounds like a punk version of the Billy Joel track “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The track “Koka Kola” has a faster tempo, but the vocals are pop vocals. “The Card Cheat” has some awesome instrumentation that gives it a soulful sound. The track “Lover’s Rock” has a doo-wop sound to it. I like the piano on this track. “Four Horseman” features the surf rock sound. The drums are impressive on this track. There is a lot of energy on the track “I’m Not Down.” Something about the sound of this track reminds me of Modest Mouse. The track “Revolution Rock” is a return to the reggae sound. The closing track “Train in Vain” is the only song I recognize from this album. It is a great track! I have never heard the harmonica in it before, but it definitely is there. 

Rating: 8.5/10

How I Listened: Spotify

Takeaway: I had no idea that the Clash had any of these sounds in them. They are able to move throughout the different genres of music nearly flawlessly. This is a really good album. Definitely one worth buying on vinyl.