dusty fingertips

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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.

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I feel almost guilty to include a Petty solo album as the first representation of his work on this here blog, but damn is this a good album. And considering how many of the Heartbreakers and the Traveling Wilburys appear on this album, it might as well be considered a group effort.

Every song on here probably could have been a single. Petty gets back to his roots on this album, with pop, rock and country leanings all over every song on here. Widely popular and critically acclaimed, this is some of his best work.

Mike B.

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Talk about a dope album…

OK, sorry for that horrible pun. When Dre’s debut solo record came out in 1992, it was an instant classic. This album brought all of the best parts of everything he had ever done together in one complete work. Track for track, I don’t think it was possible for him to make a better record. Even the skits are classic (“The $20 Sack Pyramid,” anyone?).

But more importantly, people will remember this one for the not-so-clean break from Eazy and Jerry, the formation of Death Row, the introduction of Nate Dogg, the breakout of Snoop Doggy Dogg, and 3 huge hit songs: “Fuck Wit Dre Day, Let Me Ride, and Nothin’ But A ‘G’ Thang.” Monster.

Mike B.

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Any album that influences the Beatles has to be good, right? This album is more than good, though… a truly inspiring work from the ever-more-reclusive Brian Wilson, and a total departure from the good times sound for which the Beach Boys were known. Another in a long line of truly great albums that received a luke -warm reception, “Pet Sounds” took 30+ years to go platinum!

All you need to know about this album are these 3 things:

1. George Martin said that “Sgt. Peppers” would never have been made if not for “Pet Sounds.”

2. “God Only Knows” might be the greatest love song ever recorded.

3. Brian Wilson named the album after Phil Spector, and cites “Rubber Soul” as the catalyst for the creative process that was recording “Pet Sounds.”

Any album that cites 60’s era (read: prime) Phil Spector and the Beatles as influences is probably better that 99% of whatever you are listening to… and this album is just that. Amazing record.

Mike B.

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In reviewing my first 40 or so posts, I was shocked to find that I had not yet included this album in my ever-growing list of “Music you should already own.” Shocked!

This album was a major indicator that hip-hop was not just some regional fad, but was in fact a commercially viable and important genre of music. Perhaps most well known for the hugely popular hit single “Walk This Way,” the album kicked open the door for hip-hop artists all over the world. The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard Charts and sold several million copies. I still know all the words to every song.

Mike B.