February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 29

Next up is Burning Spears’ Marcus Garvey, which is a reggae album from 1975. I can’t recall why I specifically picked this , but I recently watched and loved Steve McQueens Small Axe film / tv series, so was perhaps influenced to check out more of the songs / artists from that.

Apparently two different mixes of this, one that was released in Jamaica and one that was released internationally to be more palatable and commercial, which the band hated haha. I’m not sure which one I heard, whatever was available on Apple Music I guess, probably the wimpy international one!


It’s pretty funky and soulful stuff, perhaps a little more so than most of the reggae I’ve heard before. Explicitly political, as you might be able to assume from the name of the album, and lyrics speaking to slavery and colonialism. Enjoyed this a lot , certainly one that I’ll be returning to later.

 

I drove around last week to Right Now.... It's a perfect album, I love it so much.

Catching up:
The Kinks album was good, but nothing stuck out to me like the first time I heard "Waterloo Sunset"
Neu was good, don't see myself returning to it but it was a good listen
Scott Walker's Scott 4 was okay, I expected a bit more but it was not bad. I feel like maybe it'll click with more listens.
Eric B & Rakim's Follow the Leader rules, as expected. Incredible beats and Rakim is a top 10 MC

 

I thought for sure this was 16 tracks and then looked down and saw it was only 13. Most of the songs bleed into each other to me but I do think there's some good stuff throughout.

 

"The Freshman" is an all-time favorite song of mine, but I think I've only listened to the full album once. It really does feel incredibly long.

 

Yeah I've loved "The Freshmen" for years and never got around to the album. Wish I liked it more. I think maybe if I was in a better mood I might be into it but the last half especially drags.

 

And now I'm listening to Phoebe and Maggie doing "Iris" for the zillionth time. I love how Maggie's voice just shines when it's her and a guitar and nothing else in it. I feel like her debut would've been even better if it had less production on it. Still an incredible listen and I can't believe I let this one slip through (even though I've def heard the singles thanks to my local independent radio station here).

 

One of the things that makes it feel so long is that most of the songs aren’t all the good. Haha

 

Still two days behind, hopefully i can catch up a bit tomorrow.

 

NO WEAKNESSES

 

Alright @cshadows2887, where am I going next with Prince?

 

Remind me what you’ve heard?

 

This, Purple Rain, Sign, 1999, and the last couple he released while he was alive.

 

I need at least a 10 foot radius whenever I listen to this record.

 

If you want ambitious Prince, I’d go Parade next. I’d you want pop genius Prince I’d go s/t from the late 70s

 

Going with Slipknot - Iowa tomorrow.

 

unwound is good. seminal album for me.

 

@Craig Manning I did Parade today and it was predictably wonderful.

 

1982 (1999) - 1992 (Love Symbol Album) is the time period I would consider my favorite Prince music. I don't really like the stuff before 1982 as it feels a bit more sexually charged as a crutch without having the musical maturity. Admittedly I haven't dig really far in after Love Symbol, but that period feels like more great single songs than albums. But there's a lot I haven't explored there, so I can't say for certain.

 

How about both!

I was between this one and Dirty Mind for my list. Glad you enjoyed it!

 

Entering the Wu Tang today

 

I'm glad you picked it for me and glad I listened. I certainly feel like my musical knowledge is a little more complete now.

 

I think The Gold Experience is at least as good as Love Symbol and Diamonds and Pearls (and runs laps around Lovesexy), but your general impression isn't wrong. He never really hit the same level of greatness for a whole album (who does after like 13-14 records?) BUT there's a lot still worth hearing. In particular, One Nite Alone, 3121 and ArtOfficialAge really show him focused and trying things.

Certainly not about to discourage that! Haha. I have a sneaking suspicion "Sometimes It Snows in April" will really click with you.