Content tagged ''
Discovery (Album of the Day)
Though French house heroes Daft Punk were hailed for their first album, they decided to take a slightly different direction on follow-up DISCOVERY. The collection's accessible song structures reflect the joy the duo felt discovering music in their late-1970s youth, and as member Thomas Bangalter put it, “HOMEWORK ... was a way to say to the rock kids, like, 'Electronic music is cool.' DISCOVERY was the opposite, of saying to the electronic kids, 'Rock is cool, you know?'” Working with noted producers Todd Edwards and Romanthony, Daft Punk deliver such propulsive tracks as “Digital Love,” “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” and the irresistible “One More Time.” The 2001 collection also marked the debut of the group's distinctive mechanical personae, and since the robots have recently retired, we'll celebrate 20 years of this club classic with an enhanced DISCOVERY playlist.
Yessongs (Album of the Day)
Yes was firing on all cylinders in the fall of 1972. The prog-rock pioneers’ fifth studio album, CLOSE TO THE EDGE, was a smash success as audiences around the world packed arenas to see the legendary group perform. The band captured the magic of that tour on its first live album, YESSONGS. The classic lineup of vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and drummer Alan White (with previous percussionist Bill Bruford on a couple of the earlier cuts) is at the peak of its powers on epic versions of such favorites as “Roundabout,” “Siberian Khatru” and “Yours Is No Disgrace.” Released in 1973, the triple-LP sold over a million copies (and blew minds with Roger Dean’s iconic artwork), and we'll give YESSONGS another spin now to wish Steve Howe a happy birthday.
The Papercut Chronicles (Album of the Day)
Geneva, New York's high school physical education program may not have produced too many champion athletes, but in Gym Class Heroes, it gave us one of the most exciting alternative rap groups in recent memory. After some of their independent recordings caught the ear of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, he signed the band to his label for THE PAPERCUT CHRONICLES. The 2005 collection is as conversant with indie-punk or the classic rock of Pink Floyd and Supertramp as it is with hip-hop, and Travis McCoy's assured vocals get strong instrumental support on such tracks as “Taxi Driver,” “Faces in the Hall” and “Cupid's Chokehold” (which has become very popular on TikTok of late). Gym Class Heroes revisited THE PAPERCUT CHRONICLES with a sequel six years later, but don't sleep on the original!
Room Service (Album of the Day)
Sweden's most successful musical export since ABBA, Roxette ushered in the new millennium with ROOM SERVICE. The seventh studio album from Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson turns 20 this month but its pop-rock ear candy still tastes sweet on a dozen originals including “Real Sugar,” “The Centre of the Heart” and “Milk and Toast and Honey.” Called by Allmusic “a case study in songcraft and pop smarts,” the collection is well balanced between ballads and uptempo tracks, with Fredriksson's alternately driving and alluring vocals particularly outstanding. Because Roxette's U.S. label went bust a month before its scheduled release, the album wasn't issued in America but thanks to digital services you can – and should – treat yourself to ROOM SERVICE.
Feats Don't Fail Me Now (Album of the Day)
Arriving on the heels of Little Feat's most famous album, FEATS DON'T FAIL ME NOW may not be recognized as the roots-rock gem it is. The 1974 Warner Bros. collection is the work of a band whose years on the road have paid off in both instrumental mastery (check out the guitar and keyboard solos on “The Fan”) and chemistry. Highlighted by such irresistible tracks as “Rock & Roll Doctor,” “Oh Atlanta” and “Skin it Back,” the sextet's savory mix of Southern rock, funk and New Orleans jazz is sweetened by guest appearances from Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt and the Tower of Power horn section. Little Feat's founding father, singer-songwriter-guitarist Lowell George, was born on this day in 1945, and in his honor we'll cue up FEATS DON'T FAIL ME NOW.
Faith (Album of the Day)
From the fog-shrouded photo of Bolton Priory on its cover, The Cure's third album oozes with gloomy atmosphere. Still years away from the pop-flavored hits that would make the band world famous, FAITH shows frontman Robert Smith, bassist Simon Gallup, and drummer Lol Tolhurst squarely – and very effectively - in goth mode. Titles like “The Funeral Party,” “The Drowning Man” and “All Cats Are Grey” reflect a mood of despair that dominates the Elektra collection, which was released 40 years ago today. The spectral majesty of FAITH continues to cast a spell over listeners - even those who don't paint their fingernails black.
El Camino (Album of the Day)
The breakthrough success of The Black Keys' BROTHERS prompted an intense tour - one that taught the duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney a lesson for follow-up EL CAMINO. “It's easier for our songs to come across well live if they are fast,” noted Carney. “So we were just trying to make a guitar rock album that was more upbeat than anything we've ever recorded.” Cut at Auerbach's Nashville studio with Danger Mouse co-producing (and co-writing the 11 originals), the 2011 Nonesuch collection plays like a string of vintage singles built for car radios. Highlights include “Gold on the Ceiling,” “Little Black Submarines” and double Grammy winner “Lonely Boy” (the set as a whole won for Best Rock Album). We'll rev up the 2x platinum EL CAMINO now to wish Pat Carney a happy birthday.
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me (Album of the Day)
Chaka Khan's tenure in Rufus left little doubt among funk fans that she was a talent to watch, and such solo releases as the Warner Bros. collection WHAT CHA' GONNA DO FOR ME were further cause for celebration. Arif Mardin's production fits the performer like a glove as does the material, from a propulsive take on The Beatles' “We Can Work It Out” to the R&B No.1 hit title track to jazz standard “And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia),” which features instrumental work by Herbie Hancock and Dizzy Gillespie. Released 40 years ago, the Gold-certified WHAT CHA' GONNA DO FOR ME still does wonders for anyone who loves sophisticated '80s soul.
L.A. Woman (Album of the Day)
By 1971, years of touring and battling controversy had left The Doors bloodied but unbowed, and by shaking things up a bit for their sixth studio set, the Los Angeles band came up with one of their most distinctive collections. L.A. WOMAN was cut at The Doors' workshop rather than at Sunset Sound, with former engineer Bruce Botnick stepping up to co-produce, and was for the most part recorded live. The band turned to the power of the blues for such songs as “Been Down So Long,” “Crawling King Snake” and the title track, though singles “Love Her Madly” and “Riders On The Storm” are equally compelling. The last album from the original quartet, the Top 10 L.A. WOMAN was released 50 years ago today, and shows the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in peak form.
Fleetwood Mac Live (Super Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
When Fleetwood Mac released its first live album in December 1980, it captured the legendary band’s most iconic lineup on stage demonstrating the full scope of their collective, creative powers. Recorded mostly during the world tour for TUSK, the double album’s exhilarating performances include massive hits like “Dreams,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Rhiannon” and “Don’t Stop.” A new 3-CD/2-LP Super Deluxe edition of FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE features a remastered version of the original release on both 180-gram vinyl and CD, plus more than an hour of unreleased music drawn from concerts between 1977 and 1982, and a bonus 7-inch single with previously unreleased demos.