Sunday, July 07, 2013

Albums By Artist

Click on the album title to see the review!


A

Acceptance - Phantoms (2005)
Clay Aiken - Measure Of A Man (2003)
Air - Talkie Walkie (2004)
America - Here & Now (2007)
Attractions, The: Mad About the Wrong Boy (1980)
Jon Auer - Songs From The Year Of Our Demise (2oo6)

B
The B-52's - Funplex (2008)
Bacon Brothers - Getting There (1999)
Barenaked Ladies - Everthing To Everyone (2003)
Beach Boys: Today! (1965)
Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (1966)
Beach Boys: Keeping the Summer Alive (1980)
Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs (2004)
Beatles - Please Please Me (1963)
Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)
Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Beatles - Beatles For Sale (1964)
Beatles - Help! (1965)
Beatles - Past Masters 1 (1990)
Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)
Beatles: Revolver (1966)
Beatles - Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Beatles - The Beatles (1968)
Beatles - Yellow Submarine (1969)
Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
Beatles - Let It Be (1970)
Beatles - Past Masters 2 (1990)
The Bens - The Bens EP (2004)
The Bird and the Bee: Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: The Songs of Daryl Hall and John Oates (2010)
Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk (2003)
Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business (2005)
blink-182 - blink-182 (2003)
David Bowie: Hunky Dory (1971)
David Bowie: Never Let Me Down (1987)
The Brady Bunch: It's a Sunshine Day: The Best of the Brady Bunch (1993)
Brandy - Afrodisiac (2004)
Broken Bells: Broken Bells (2010)
The Broken West - I Can't Go On, I'll Go On (2007)
The Broken West: Now Or Heaven (2008)
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth (2007)

C

Candy Butchers - Hang On Mike (2004)
Carbon Leaf - Indian Summer (2004)
The Cars - Heartbeat City (1983)
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988)
Chomsky - Let's Get To Second (2004)
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (2003)
The Click Five - Greetings From Imrie House (2005)
The Click Five - Modern Minds And Pastimes (2007)
Collective Soul - Youth (2004)
Shawn Colvin - Polaroids: A Greatest Hits Collection (2004)
Concretes, The - In Color (2006)
Costello, Elvis: Goodbye Cruel World (1984)
The Costello Show - King Of America (1986)
Counting Crows - Films About Ghosts, The Best Of... (2003)
Counting Crows - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings (2008)

D
Damone - Out Here All Night (2006)
Danger Mouse - The Grey Album (2004)
Dashboard Confessional - Dusk And Summer (2006)
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)
Delays - Faded Seaside Glamour (2004)
Gavin DeGraw - Chariot (2003)
Dill, Dave - Follow the Summer (2008)
Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way (2006)
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself (2004)
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart: self-titled (1976)
The Dukes of Statosphear: Chips from the Chocolate Fireball (1987)
Duran Duran: Liberty (1990)
Duran Duran - Astronaut (2004)
Dylan, Jakob - Seeing Things (2008)

E
Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers (2008)
Elbow: The Seldom-Seen Kid (2008)
Eminem - Encore (2004)
The Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic (2003)

F
Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree (2005)
Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will (2003)
Ben Folds - Super D EP (2004)
Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman (2005)
Ben Folds: Way To Normal (2008)
Fountains Of Wayne - Traffic And Weather (2007)
Sean Fournier: Oh My (2008)
Nelly Furtado: Loose (2006)

G

The Get-Up Kids - Guilt Show (2004)
Gill, Vince - These Days (2006)
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (2006)
Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
Guster - Keep It Together (2003)
Guster - Ganging Up On The Sun (2006)

H
Sammy Hagar - Marching To Mars (1997)
Albert Hammond Jr. - Yours To Keep (2007)
The Heads - No Talking Just Head (1996)
Hem - Eveningland (2004)
The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America (2006)
The Honeydogs - Everything, I Bet You (1996)
The Honeydogs - 10,000 Years (2003)
The Honeydogs - Amygdala (2006)
The Hopefuls: Now Playing at the One-Seat Theatre (2008)

I
Donnie Iris - 20th Century Masters (2001)

J
Jay-Z: Reasonable Doubt (1995)
Jay-Z - The Black Album (2003)
Jimmy Eat World - Futures (2004)
Joel, Alexa Ray - Sketches EP (2006)
Joel, Billy: The Stranger (1977)
Joel, Billy - 52nd Street (1978)
Joel, Billy: Glass Houses (1980)
Joel, Billy: River of Dreams (1993)
John, Elton: Victim of Love (1979)
John, Elton: Leather Jackets (1986)
John, Elton - The Captain & The Kid (2006)
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Naturally (2005)

K
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob (2007)
Kaiser Chiefs: Off With Their Heads (2008)
Keane - Hopes And Fears (2004)
Kings Of Leon: Only By The Night (2008)
Kubla Kahn - Lowertown (2006)
Talib Kweli - The Beautiful Struggle (2003)

L

Ryan Lee - The Pride Before The Fall (2004)
Leroy Smokes - Love Hustle Theater (2006)
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (2006)
Lisa Loeb - The Way It Really Is (2004)
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart (2004)
Loveless - Gift To The World (2004)

M

Madonna: Like a Prayer (1989)
Madonna - American Life (2003)
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers (2005)
McCartney, Paul: Flowers In the Dirt (1989)
Mead, David - Tangerine (2006)
Melodious Owl - Transition EP (2005)
M.I.A. - Arular (2005)
Miller, Rhett: The Instigator (2002)
Miller, Rhett: The Believer (2006)
Miller, Rhett: Rhett Miller (2009)
Dannii Minogue - Neon Nights (2003)
The Monkees: The Monkees (1966)
The Monkees: More of the Monkees (1967)
The Monkees: Headquarters (1967)
The Monkees: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones Ltd. (1967)
The Monkees: The Birds, The Bees, and the Monkees (1968)
The Monkees: Head (1968)
The Monkees: Instant Replay (1969)
The Monkees: The Monkees Present (1969)
The Monkees: Changes (1970)
The Monkees: Then & Now...the Best of the Monkees (1986)
The Monkees: Pool It! (1987)
The Monkees: Justus (1996)
The Monkees: Good Times! (2016)
The Monkees: Christmas Party (2018)
Mandy Moore - Coverage (2003)
Mandy Moore - Wild Hope (2007)
Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement (2008)
Morningwood - Morningwood (2006)
Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormentors (2006)
Mos Def - The New Danger (2004)
Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory (2005)
Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me (2007)
Motion City Soundtrack: My Dinosaur Life (2010)
Mutual Admiration Society - Mutual Admiration Society (2004)
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (2008)

N
Nada Surf - Let Go (2003)
N*E*R*D - Fly Or Die (2004)
New Monkees - New Monkees (1987)
New Pornographers - Challengers (2007)

O

Olympic Hopefuls - The Fuses Refuse To Burn (2004)
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl (1989)
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
Outkast - Idlewild (2006)
Owl City: Ocean Eyes (2009)

P
Michael Penn - Mr.Hollywood Jr., 1947 (2005)
Pernice Brothers - Yours, Mine & Ours (2003)
Petty, Tom: The Last DJ (2002)
Liz Phair - Liz Phair (2003)
Phish: Billy Breathes (1996)
Glen Phillips - Winter Pays For Summer (2005)
Glen Phillips - Mr. Lemons (2006)
P.M.Dawn - Jesus Wept (1995)
P.O.S. - Audition (2006)
Prince: Purple Rain (1984)
Prince: Batman (1989)
Prince: New Power Soul (1998)
Prince: Musicology (2004)
Prince: 3121 (2006)
Prince: Lotusflow3r (2009)
Prince: MPLSound (2009)

Q

R
R.E.M. - In Time: The Best Of 1988 - 2003 (2003)
R.E.M. - Around The Sun (2004)
REO Speedwagon - R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971)
REO Speedwagon - R.E.O. / T.W.O. (1972)
REO Speedwagon - Ridin' The Storm Out (1973)
REO Speedwagon - Lost In a Dream (1974)
REO Speedwagon - This Time We Mean It (1975)
REO Speedwagon - R.E.O. (1976)
REO Speedwagon - Live - You Get What You Play For (1977)
REO Speedwagon - Nine Lives (1979)
REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity (1980)
REO Speedwagon - Good Trouble (1982)
REO Speedwagon - Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)
REO Speedwagon - Life As We Know It (1987)
REO Speedwagon - The Hits (1988)
REO Speedwagon - Building the Bridge (1996)
REO Speedwagon - Find Your Own Way Home (2007)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Refrigerated Love - We're Actually Serious, Really (1999)
Refrigerated Love - No Expiration Date (2008)
Refrigerated Love - Inmortality (2011)
Refrigerated Love - Prodigal Sunshine (2019) 
Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight (2007)
Robbers On High Street - The Fatalist And Friends EP (2006)
Rock Kills Kid - Are You Nervous? (2006)
Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (1971)
Rolling Stones: Dirty Work (1986)
Rooney - Calling The World (2007)
Roots, The - Game Theory (2006)
The Rosenbergs - Department Store Girl (2004)

S
Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah (2006)
Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops (2006)
Seldon Plan, The: Lost and Found and Lost (2009)
Paul Simon - Hearts And Bones (1984)
Paul Simon: Songs from the Capeman (1997)
Paul Simon - Surprise (2006)
Sloan - Action Pact (2004)
Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It (2007)
Sloan - Parallel Play (2008)
Soul Asylum - Silver Lining (2006)
Britney Spears - In The Zone (2003)
Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run (1975)
Bruce Springsteen: Human Touch (1992)
Bruce Springsteen: Working on a Dream (2009)
Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby (2004)
The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth (2006)
Ruben Studdard - Soulful (2003)
Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha (2008)
Matthew Sweet - Living Things (2004)
Matthew Sweet: Sunshine Lies (2008)

T

Talking Heads - Talking Heads '77 (1977)
Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978)
Talking Heads - Fear Of Music (1979)
Talking Heads - Remain In Light (1980)
Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues (1983)
Talking Heads - Little Creatues (1985)
Talking Heads - True Stories (1986)
Talking Heads - Naked (1988)
James Taylor: Sweet Baby James (1970)
James Taylor: Walking Man (1974)
Teenage Fanclub - Man-Made (2005)
They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants (1986)
They Might Be Giants - Indestructible Object EP (2004)
Teddy Thompson - Separate Ways (2006)
The Thrills - So Much For The City (2003)
The Thrills - Let's Bottle Bohemia (2004)
Justin Timberlake - Justified (2002)
Tinted Windows: Tinted Windows (2009)

U
U2: Rattle and Hum (1989)
U2: Pop (1999)
U2: No Line On the Horizon (2009)

V

Valente, Bria: Elixer (2009)
Van Halen - Van Halen 3 (1998)
Van Halen - The Best Of Both Worlds (2004)
Vicious Vicious - Don't Look So Surprised (2005)

W
Wallflowers - Rebel, Sweetheart (2005)
Weezer - Make Believe (2005)
Weezer: Raditude (2009)
The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
Wilco - Summerteeth (1999)
Wilco: Wilco (the album) (2009)
Williams, Robbie - Intensive Care (2005)
Williams, Robbie - Rudebox (2006)
Brian Wilson - Imagination (1998)
Dan Wilson: Free Life (2007)
Wreckers, The - Stand Still, Look Pretty (2006)

X
XTC - White Music (1977)
XTC: Go 2 (1978)
XTC: Drums and Wires (1979)
XTC: Black Sea (1980)
XTC: English Settlement (1982)
XTC: Mummer (1983)
XTC: Big Express (1984)
XTC: Skylarking (1986)
XTC: Oranges and Lemons (1989)
XTC: Nonsuch (1992)
XTC: Transistor Blast (1999)
XTC: Apple Venus, Vol. 1 (1999)
XTC: Wasp Star (2000)

Y

Yamin, Elliott - Elliott Yamin (2007)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": In 3-D (1984)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Dare To Be Stupid (1985)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Polka Party (1986)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Even Worse (1988)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": UHF (1989)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Off the Deep End (1992)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Alapalooza (1993)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Bad Hair Day (1996)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Running With Scissors (1999)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Poodle Hat (2004)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Straight Outta Lynwood (2006)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Internet Leaks EP (2009)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Alpocalypse (2011)
Yankovic, "Weird Al": Mandatory Fun (2014)

Z
Zwan - Mary, Star Of The Sea (2003)

Various Artists
Ghostbusters II (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1989)
Say Anything (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1989)

Saturday, July 06, 2013

Songs By Artist

Click the song name to read the review:

The Carpenters - I Need To Be In Love

The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love

Fountains Of Wayne - Troubled Times
Robbie Fulks - Fountains Of Wayne Hotline

Justin Guarini & Kelly Clarkson - Timeless

Hanson - Penny & Me

Wycleaf Jean - Industry
Jellyfish - I Wanna Stay Home
Billy Joel - Summer, Highland Falls
Elton John - Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)

John Mayer - Home Life

Tom Petty - Walls (Circus)

Queensryche - Silent Lucidity

Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes
Robbers On High Street - The Price & Style

The Shins - Gone For Good
Simon & Garfunkel - A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or, How I Was Robert McNamera'd Into Submission)
The Smashing Pumpkins - Ava Adore

James Taylor - Baby Boom Baby


"Weird Al" Yankovic - Headline News
"Weird Al" Yankovic - You're Pitiful

Friday, July 05, 2013

Miscellany

(Quite) A Few Words on "Best Of" Compilations

Refrigerated Love: A History
Refrigerated Love: The Complete Discography
A biography and list of works by the fictional(?) band.

'83 Going On '87
A detailing of some problems I had with the music in the film 13 Going On 30.

Dreams So Real
My dream line up for a rock group.

Exaggerated Reports
Thoughts on the supposed death of the album.

Shufflin' On Down
Fun with the Shuffle Songs feature on my iPod.

Da na na na na na
A list of birthday songs.

In-Rap-Curacies
Tackling inaccurate pop culture references in rap lyrics.

An Open Letter Regarding Hidden Bonus Tracks

Justifying My Love
Thoughts about the futility expressing the emotions music can create.

In Defense Of Matt Pond PA
A response to a hateful Pitchfork review.

A Requiem For 2007

Born To Run
Thoughts on the 2008 U.S. presidential election

5 Years: A Brief But Indulgent History
3 Minutes, 49 Seconds celebrates an anniversary

Hot Action Cop: An Interview
The blog's first interview

Radio, Radio: A Scientific Study of Cities 97
An in-depth look at a local station

Monkees Wrap-Up

So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n Roll Critic? A Ten-Part Instructional Essay
Lesson 1: Language In Our Lungs
Lesson 2: Artists Only
Lesson 3: Birth of the Cool
Lesson 4: Viva Hate
Lesson 5: I'm Looking Through You
Midterm
Lesson 6: History Never Repeats
Lesson 7: Three the Hard Way
Lesson 8: Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word
Final Grades

Supposed Former Pop Music Junkie
A rumination on the debilitating effects of pop music fandom

Chuck Klosterman: Idea Stealer

The premise behind Klosterman's Beatles reviews is eerily familiar...

No More Songs About California

No More No More Songs About
An abandoned feature

A Decade of Compilations
The 2000s in song

Remake Second Take
A look at how the 2010 We Are The World remake could have been handled differently

An Open Letter to "Weird Al" Yankovic
Thoughts after listening to the man's entire catalog

In XTC
Ruminations on pseudonyms and library record sales

Time May Change Me
Thoughts on how technology has revolutionized my music consumption in purchasing, listening, and judging

And in the End...
A farewell (of sorts) to the blog being any sort of regular ongoing concern, wrapped in musings on the nature and purpose of music criticism

I Bring to You My Songs
Thoughts on seeing Billy Joel in concert.

33 and Life
My reaction to a study that claims people stop paying attention to popular music at age 33.

I'm Gonna Take Back Some Things I Said About You
An examination of the ineffability of opinions about albums and artists, and the way they change over time

Through the Cracks in the Past
A tribute to David Bowie

4 the Tears in Your Eyes
A tribute to Prince

Sometimes I Miss You So Much
A tribute to Prince Be from P.M. Dawn

The opening and closing statements about my epic dive into the recorded history of the biggest bad to ever come out of Champaign / Urbana

A tribute to a dear music-loving friend




A tribute to Adam Schlesinger

A tribute to Eddie Van Halen