When a CD collection as large as mine comes up in conversation, one silly question that almost everyone asks is, “do you listen to all of them?”
Well obviously not all at once.
I was asked the question recently, and I found myself wondering how do make sure each CD has a fair chance of making it into the CD player?
I decided to pick a handful of discs at random each week (or so), in an effort to make sure I get to some of the titles I may not otherwise pick up. And at the end of the week, I would post about what I have been listening to. Hence the title.
So here's what I'm listening to...
TYGERS OF PAN TANG-MYSTICAL
There was a time when I loved this style of music, the
melodic metal that was so common in the eighties, before Nirvana came along and
changed the rock world almost overnight. Like many other bands, Tygers Of Pan
Tang have attempted a comeback with a changed line up, and on 2001’s Mystical, Rob
Weir is the only remaining original member, making this more of a new band album
than a come back attempt.
The material is good, with moments that recall the band’s earlier
days (heyday did not seem like an apt description, as they never really
achieved mainstream success in America). Those who still listen to the New Wave
Of British Heavy Metal bands would probably enjoy this record, but I reached a
saturation point early in the last decade, and find I do not pull this genre
off the shelf all that much.
Bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of the band's name...
GRACE POTTER-LIVE IN SKOWHEGAN
Grace Potter's first two albums were masterpieces of
gospel-inflected blues-rock combining the loping rhythms of J.J. Cale, the
powerful vocals of a young Bonnie Raitt, and a stripped-down, uncluttered sound.
Their sound was more polished and leaned more towards rock
with the release of their third album, but this album still recalls the grit of
those earlier efforts. Potter belts out the songs with more power in her voice
than she has in the studio recently, and Scott Tournet's guitar has an edge
that seems missing on more recent works. While on record, Grace Potter and the
Nocturnals have moved on to a more hard rock-based sound, when they are on
stage, they don't suffer from overproduction and can be counted on for a classic
blues-rock sound when they are playing live.
And I still have that John Waite album in rotation...so here's another song from the album...
Never heard of the first band. Of course, as you might have guessed metal music is not my Thang. I like Grace Potter. I discovered her several years ago when she sang a duet with Kenny Chesney. And I still like John Waite.
ReplyDeleteAre those YOUR CDs in the picture? I meant to ask on the last post but was diverted.
Oh, and if you never came back to my last post, I replied to your comment. I think you have some misconceptions about my age...
Those are some of my CD's in the picture...they take up the whole room...the LP's are a wall in another room.
ReplyDeleteSome people pay for college educations for their children....I bought CD's...