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Friday, October 2, 2009

Whatevs A Record a Day: The First 101

Posted by D Patrick Rodgers on Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 6:58 AM

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Back in June, I embarked on an attempt to listen to--and hopefully review, to some extent--365 records in as many days. I encountered a fair amount of criticism in regard to my approach and just how retentive I could be on such a rigorous sonic diet. All criticisms were duly noted, and I admit my experiment has its limitations. But now I'm at 101 records in 102 days, and I've learned a hell of a lot about listening to albums, describing albums and putting important albums into a larger cultural context. Still just a drop in the bucket. I will never listen to all of the noteworthy music in the world, but I've already come across some artists that have absolutely blown my brain right through my skull. I thought I'd share some of my favorites. I've been lucky enough to have friends, colleagues and various audiophiles point me in the direction of some really fascinating records--many of which I've already revisited a few times. Thus my pool of favorites has grown pretty sizable. But what follows is a list of the ones that have made it almost instantly into my "Top Rated" playlist and/or have inspired me to delve deeper into the given artist's catalog. No. 3: Japandroids' Post-Nothing No. 4: Dinosaur Jr.'s Farm No. 5: Jarvis Cocker's Further Complications No. 18: Townes Van Zandt's The Late Great Townes Van Zandt No. 20: Frank Black's s/t: A definite frontrunner. No. 25: Leonard Cohen's Death of a Ladies Man No. 30: The Libertines' Up the Bracket No. 34: Lee Hazlewood's Cowboy in Sweden: Possibly my favorite discovery yet. No. 36: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' Pig Lib No. 37: The Monks' Black Monk Time No. 41: Clinic's Winchester Cathedral No. 42: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Let Love In: Another frontrunner. No. 45: Portastatic's The Summer of the Shark No. 56: Junior Walker and the Allstars' Home Cookin' No. 58: The Police's Outlandos d'Amour: Duh. No. 60: Ghostface Killah's Fishscale No. 62: Group Bombino's Guitars From Agadez Volume 2: There's an interesting story behind this one. No. 67: James Carr's You Got My Mind Messed Up No. 71: Francoise Hardy's Comment Te Dire Adieu: Sexy French pop. No. 72: French Miami's s/t No. 74: Sunset Rubdown's Dragonslayer No. 76: Duncan Browne's s/t: A close second-favorite. No. 77: Nick Garrie's The Nightmare Of J.B. Stanislas: A close third. No. 78: George Harrison's Beware of ABKCO: A great collection of All Things Must Pass demos. No. 81: Ethiopiques Volume 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974 No. 82: Prince's Dirty Mind: Again, duh. No. 83: The Psychedelic Furs' Forever Now No. 91: The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow No. 96: The Animals' Animalism No. 97: The Cars' Panorama No. 101: Scott Walker's Scott 2 True, I'm not even one-third of the way along in my journey, but I've struck such a rhythm that waking up and selecting a record has already become second nature to me. I'm thinking that if it's still not a chore at 100 records, it's only going to get easier from here on out. I highly, highly recommend this experiment to anyone who has the means and the time, whether or not you opt to log your experiences in a public forum. If anyone has recommendations or inquiries, please leave them in the comments or send them along to prodgers[at]nashvillescene[dot]com with "365" in the subject line.

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Comments (14)

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You should check out Frank Black and the Catholics first couple of records (self titled and "Pistolero"). Bad ass.

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Posted by ryan on October 2, 2009 at 8:35 AM

The Ethiopiques Record might be my favorite of all time. Mulatu Astake is an undeniable badass!

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Posted by the Rat on October 2, 2009 at 9:06 AM

Good stuff.

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Posted by MR on October 2, 2009 at 10:21 AM

@the Rat
Have you heard the new album that Mulatu Astake did with the Heliocentrics? It's off the chain.

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Posted by Bawston Sean on October 2, 2009 at 10:28 AM

Yeah, Ethiopiques was completely awesome. Total spy jazz.
@Bawston: Loan that to me and I'll buy you a beer.

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Posted by d. patrick on October 2, 2009 at 10:56 AM

@d pat
I'll load up a flashdrive for ya. I gots some hot shit.

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Posted by Bawston Sean on October 2, 2009 at 11:01 AM

@d pat
I'll load up a flashdrive for ya. I gots some hot shit that keep you busy for months...

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Posted by Bawston Sean on October 2, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Ethiopiques is wonderful. And Dirty Mind was a late one for me too and is now my fave.
here's one: the soundtrack to "Married to the Mob."

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Posted by wh on October 2, 2009 at 12:02 PM

That Ethiopiques record is easily one of my faves of all time. It's been a go-to recommend as long as I've been a part of Grimey's. We have sold so many copies of that from playing it in the store. Any of the Mahmoud Ahmed comps in the series are also highly recommended. And that Heliocentrics collab is mos def the shit. Here are a few more albums to throw on the pile:
Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers (should be a 'duh' but I'm constantly amazed at how many people don't know this record)
Ray Barretto - Acid (maybe the best latin soul LP of all time)
Jack Wilson - Easterly Winds (one of the finest and least known LPs on the Blue Note label)
The Grifters - Crapping You Negative (one of the best indie rock records of the '90s or any era and if you're already hip to it have ya heard Those Bastard Soul's 'Debt & Departure'?)
David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name (another 'duh' if you know it but if ya don't, prepare for supreme musical bliss. one of the finest LPs from anyone in the '70 and a major influence on the freak folk movement)
just a few pretty random thoughts off the top of my head but these are records I think any true music lover should hear. thanks for the post. fun stuff.

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Posted by Doyle on October 2, 2009 at 2:14 PM

@Doyle: Aside from the Modern Lovers record, those are all new to me. I'm especially intrigued by the mention of Ray Barretto. Heard a little about him, high time I check it out. Expect me at your fine establishment soon.
And since we're on the topic of Grimey's, I'm wondering if you guys have anything by Duncan Browne or Nick Garrie. My buddy Brassell was in there recently and says he couldn't seem to find anything by Browne at least. Basically, anything that's of an Emitt Rhodes/McCartney/Nilsson/Badfinger ilk I will purchase. At the front end of my biweekly paycheck cycle, anyhow.

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Posted by d. patrick on October 2, 2009 at 2:26 PM

Pissed Jeans!!!

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Posted by Matt S. on October 2, 2009 at 2:30 PM

I've got one, its the new record by Liam Hayes and Plush entitled "bright penny" it just got released in england and japan. Ill bring a copy over this week. Its 70s bliss.

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Posted by mr. jimmy on October 2, 2009 at 3:15 PM

Oh man, Cowboy in Sweden is great.
Yeah, Pissed Jeans.

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Posted by Emily H. on October 2, 2009 at 4:03 PM

@Doyle Did guys order the new "D-Funk: Funk, Disco and Boogie Grooves from Germany 1972-2002" comp? It's hella tight.

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Posted by Bawston Sean on October 2, 2009 at 5:02 PM
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