Once in a While

One Hundred Fortieth

Artist - Devo
Album - Are We Not Men?
Released - 1978
Label - Warner Bros.
Genre - Post-Punk, New Wave

Tracks:
Uncontrollable Urge
Praying Hands
Space Junk
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Too Much Paranoias
Gut Feeling
Come Back Jonee
Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')
Shrivel-Up

I have to admit, this album is such a fun album.  I vividly remember SXSW 2009, I was at Austin Music Hall seeing Datarock perform and Devo was next.  All the Devo-heads were out and about, wearing their Devo headgear and prepping for the show.  As a matter of fact, here is a photo:

Anyway, back to the album.  As of late, with all my ESPN watching, Uncontrollable Urge has been getting a lot of play, so in honor of all things wonderful in the world of sports, this pick deserves some playtime today.  Are We Not Men? is Devo's debut album.  A few talented artists of this time took interest in what Devo had to offer and I believe that is what made them the interesting group that they are.  

Enjoy!

It All Remains The Same

One Hundred Thirty-Ninth

Artist - Eagles
Album - Hotel California
Released - 1976
Label - Asylum
Genre - Soft Rock

Tracks:
Hotel California
New Kid In Town
Life In The Fast Lane
Wasted Time
Wasted Time (Reprise)
Victim of Love
Pretty Maids All In A Row
Try and Love Again
The Last Resort

The fifth studio album by the Eagles, Hotel California was the band's highest selling album.  I'm not entirely sure why a lot of people I know don't like them, but I love Hotel California, the song.  How can you not like that song.  I even think I tried to play that on guitar when I went through my guitar phase.  So I wonder if this album is based on a real hotel in California or if in that photo it is a hotel in California.  So many questions!!! 

Enjoy!

Becoming What You Are

One Hundred Thirty-Eighth pick:

Artist - Lou Reed
Album - Growing Up In Public
Released - 1980
Label - Arista
Genre - Rock

Tracks:
How Do You Speak to An Angel
My Old Man
Keep Away
Growing Up In Public
Standing on Ceremony
So Alone
Love is Here to Stay
The Power of Positive Drinking
Smiles
Think It Over
Teach the Gifted Children

The tenth album by smooth sailin' Lou Reed.  I always think his voice is so different from what you would expect him to sound like, but it's interesting to say the least.  I became a fan of Lou Reed late in life, but I am a HUGE FAN of The Velvet Underground and I have always admired his trek in the music industry.  After listening to this album, which was a first to me, The Power of Positive Drinking is a pretty comical song which the title should pretty much explain the contents of this song.

Enjoy!

It's Time to Get Away

One Hundred Thirty-Seventh

Artist - LCD Soundsystem
Album - Sound of Silver
Released - 2007
Label - The DFA
Genre - Dance-Punk

Tracks:
Get Innocuous!
Time to Get Away
North American Scum
Someone Great
All My Friends
Us v Them
Watch the Tapes
Sound of Silver
New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down

Where should I start with this record?!???  When I get so excited about displaying a record that basically reminds me of very happy time in my life, I just want to word vomit everything all at once.  But I will spare y'all with what experiences have led me to my happiness with this record.  I, without a doubt, think James Murphy is one talented guy and LCD Soundsystem was just an amazing group.  Dance-Punk at it's finest, each song on this track is simply amazing and I mean ALL OF THEM.  I can't just single one song out, because they are all just as good as the previous one (if you're playing them in order), but my favorite song on this record would have to be Someone Great.  It just so happens that two people I knew died in the past four days and it really made me reevaluate a lot about how I feel and how I do things.  No more wasting time on bs.  It's not like I did to begin with, but I had days where I would just feel sad.  Life is too short and listening to this album made me so happy.  

Enjoy!

Inside Out

One Hundred Thirty-Sixth

Artist - Pat Benatar
Album - Tropico
Released - 1984
Label - Chrysalis
Genre - Rock, Pop Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Diamond Field
We Belong
Painted Desert
Temporary Heroes
Love in the Ice Age
Side Two
Ohh Ohh Song
The Outlaw Blues
Suburban King
A Crazy World Like This
Takin' It Back

Curveballs

One Hundred Thirty-Fifth

Artist - Blind Faith
Album - Blind Faith
Released - 1969
Label - RSO Records
Genre - British Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Had to Cry Today
Can't Find My Way Home
Well All Right
Presence of the Lord
Side Two
Sea of Joy
Do What You Like

Such a great record by the English supergroup consisting of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech.  With songs like Had to Cry Today, how can you go wrong?  The ultimate blues rock and with talent like Eric Clapton, you know this record is bound to make it's way to the top of the charts...and it did.  Listening to this album really made me think of all the times I drive around in my car and listen to the classic rock station.  Every time one of these songs come on, I just blast the music because it's amazing (and I know I say this a lot) how much albums from the late 60's, early 70's still sound so great.  They don't make them like that now a days, but you will always have that one band that will try and they will succeed.  This album is definitely one to have in your collection, no doubt about it.

Enjoy!

Satisfying a Need, a Craving

My one hundred thirty-fourth pick:

Artist - Led Zeppelin
Album - II
Released - 1969
Label - Atlantic
Genre - Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Whole Lotta Love
What Is and What Should Never Be?
The Lemon Song
Thank You
Side Two
Heartbreaker
Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
Ramble On
Moby Dick
Bring It On Home

One of the BEST records in rock, HANDS DOWN.  Led Zeppelin's II is the bands second album and each song on this album is to die for.  This is the record that you want to listen to loud and on vinyl and I'm so glad I have it within my reach.  Lately, I've been on a Led Zeppelin high.  They are just such a great band and believe it or not, I can listen to each one of their records back to back to back.  Regardless of what I write about this band and this album, it will not do justice with how amazing their music is and their sound.  Something worth purchasing, picking up and playing on repeat.

Enjoy!