Category: good tunes

Music you should already own #42

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Ok, there you go Prince fans. It is his finest work. It is a solid album. It is a soundtrack to a mediocre film. Is it any coincidence that, although it is his sixth album, it is both the first one credited to him and The Revolution, and it is his finest work? I think not.
The band offered some layers of sound that previously weren’t there, plain and simple. In Prince’s defense, though, it is still primarily a Prince album. I just think that adding the band into the mix when writing and recording allowed him to try some new things and ultimately these experimentations are what led to such an awesome record. He and the band seamlessly intertwine R&B, rock, pop, electro, soul, funk and dance music into nine great songs.
One of the most popular soundtracks ever, this album fetched Prince two Grammys and an Oscar. “When Doves Cry” is still a hot track. Overall, a great album from a great musician.
Mike B.

Music you should already own #41

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Sure, it’s easy to tell you that you need to buy this album. It’s Aretha Franklin’s best work (and just look at the list of musicians that helped record it!). It has both “Chain of Fools” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” on it. But more importantly, it cemented her at the top of the food chain for female soul singers. Has she ever been usurped from this position of power in the forty plus years since? I think not.
Mike B.

Music you should already own #40

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There is a reason that this is still the most successful Pearl Jam album. Very simply, it is their best album. Not only does it capture a moment in rock history perfectly, but the album still sounds fresh even today. I firmly believe that if it were released tomorrow, it would still sell millions of copies. Lots of sing along stuff, ballads, angst, heavy guitars, et cetera… this album just makes you feel happy or sad or angry or reflective or all of the above; there is a song on here for everyone.
Mike B.

music you should already own #39

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Don’t get me wrong. I love me some Beatles. But, let’s face it, Paul wrote the pop stuff, and John wrote the weird and serious stuff. When they broke up, you just had to know that Paul was going to continue to make great pop songs. But, for all I can tell, John could have just given it all up and disappeared to the mountains or something, never to be heard from again. (When he finally got sober, he actually did kind of disappear, for 5 years, and made no music. He said it was some of the happiest times of his life.)
But thank god that he didn’t just disappear immediately after the Beatles broke up, because we never would have had this amazing album. Controversial and daring, soaring and simple, John bares his soul for the world to see in ways he couldn’t quite bring himself to as a Beatle. I really can’t say enough good things about this record. If there is any doubt, listen to these three songs:
“God”
“Mother”
“Working Class Hero”
Mike B.