Shadow Of The Hierophant - Steve Hackett (1975)
There are many things we must discuss in today's post:
1.) This is not my favorite Steve Hackett piece. That would be the beyond sublime instrumental "Horizons", which unfortunately appeared on a Genesis album, who have already been spoken for on this list.
2.) The logical second choice has to be this beast of a song from Steve's 1975 Solo debut Voyage Of The Acolyte, the first solo album ever released by a member of the greatest band ever. It features Mike Rutherford on bass, Phil Collins on drums and Mike Oldfield's sister Sally on lead vocals.......prog heaven, folks!
3.) Steve has had a bit of a rebirth recently, what with 2009's excellent Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth album and increased critical awareness of his prowess. His solo career has been paved with mouth watering options: CHECK THEM OUT.
4.) With this post, Steve Hackett has completed his destiny of becoming the last member of the "classic" Genesis lineup to make it into their own entry here on the 365. At this time I would like to acknowledge Chris Stewart, John Silver, John Mayhew and Ray Wilson. Sorry you guys didn't make the solo entry cut, but just be glad that you got to be associated with these Gods in the first place!
5.) Let's all listen and bask in my favorite guitar player's glow!!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 324: Whores
Whores - Bobby Conn (2001)
Do you want to hear a song that takes you through baroque pop, folk rock and soul all in under five minutes?
Do you mind if its about prostitution?
Bobby Conn will hold your hand through the debauchery , and you just might never let go. Chicago's weirdest son has made a career out of incorporating all the genres of seventies rock into a beautiful progressive soup. 2001's The Golden Age is his Hotel California, but just like The Eagles, there is much in this wacky fellow's catalog to enjoy.
And you'll never look at ladies of the night the same way again.
Well, maybe you will, but you'll hum this song while you look at them in the same old way!!
Do you want to hear a song that takes you through baroque pop, folk rock and soul all in under five minutes?
Do you mind if its about prostitution?
Bobby Conn will hold your hand through the debauchery , and you just might never let go. Chicago's weirdest son has made a career out of incorporating all the genres of seventies rock into a beautiful progressive soup. 2001's The Golden Age is his Hotel California, but just like The Eagles, there is much in this wacky fellow's catalog to enjoy.
And you'll never look at ladies of the night the same way again.
Well, maybe you will, but you'll hum this song while you look at them in the same old way!!
Monday, March 28, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 323: The Lighthouse's Tale
The Lighthouse's Tale - Nickel Creek (2000)
In keeping with the Bluegrass hues of yesterday, I present to you what brought it back to my attention, after a childhood of reverence for Bill Monroe and teenage years fascinated with Bela Fleck.During my latter day college career, The O Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack had whetted my appetite for traditional music again. So, it was with great joy that I purchased what appeared to be the debut disc of Nickel Creek. They had actually released two albums as kids, 1993's Little Cowpoke and 97's Here To There. Yet, this is the disc where they were no longer seen as child phenoms. This is where Chris Thile, Sarah Watkins and her brother Sean became the best band in Bluegrass.......
Produced by the former crown holder, Alison Krauss, this truly is a "passing of the torch" scenario. Every track is immaculate in its acoustic simplicity. Balanced between traditional covers and stunning originals, the clear highlight (besides a romp through the folk standard "The Fox") is today's track. Co-written by Thile, it's quite possibly the most beautiful song of the just started decade. Never overly sentimental, it tells its sad tale from the point-of-view of a stone and mortar building. That it creates such a stream of emotions, not just for the human components but for the Lighthouse itself showcases just how strong these young adults were as artists. They would continue this streak of brilliance for two more discs before departing company for solo diversions (Mr Thile's project will appear in just a few entries.).
It really wouldn't hurt to make them your music of choice for a week or two.
You'll feel greatly enriched by the endeavor!
The video of this song is spectacular, but it is also an edit. Here is the full album version in all its down home/technical prowess glory!
In keeping with the Bluegrass hues of yesterday, I present to you what brought it back to my attention, after a childhood of reverence for Bill Monroe and teenage years fascinated with Bela Fleck.During my latter day college career, The O Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack had whetted my appetite for traditional music again. So, it was with great joy that I purchased what appeared to be the debut disc of Nickel Creek. They had actually released two albums as kids, 1993's Little Cowpoke and 97's Here To There. Yet, this is the disc where they were no longer seen as child phenoms. This is where Chris Thile, Sarah Watkins and her brother Sean became the best band in Bluegrass.......
Produced by the former crown holder, Alison Krauss, this truly is a "passing of the torch" scenario. Every track is immaculate in its acoustic simplicity. Balanced between traditional covers and stunning originals, the clear highlight (besides a romp through the folk standard "The Fox") is today's track. Co-written by Thile, it's quite possibly the most beautiful song of the just started decade. Never overly sentimental, it tells its sad tale from the point-of-view of a stone and mortar building. That it creates such a stream of emotions, not just for the human components but for the Lighthouse itself showcases just how strong these young adults were as artists. They would continue this streak of brilliance for two more discs before departing company for solo diversions (Mr Thile's project will appear in just a few entries.).
It really wouldn't hurt to make them your music of choice for a week or two.
You'll feel greatly enriched by the endeavor!
The video of this song is spectacular, but it is also an edit. Here is the full album version in all its down home/technical prowess glory!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 322:Tortured, Tangled Hearts
Tortured, Tangled Hearts - Dixie Chicks (2002)
Let's forget all we knew was to come in the Dixie Chicks' lives just a few months after the August 2002 release of their greatest work Home. Without the politics, pain, scapegoating and ultimate redemption through music and film, we are left with an album that blew minds when it was released. The Chicks always stood out in the cookie-cutter modern Nashville world, from their early releases up to their multi-platinum smashes once Natalie Maines became their lead singer.
Home was different though. It was acoustic, playful and full of artistic purity.
It was Bluegrass.
Forced to pick a favorite off of this landmark I have decided to go with one of the two songs co-written with legend Marty Stuart. Maybe it's the fiddle and banjo interplay that starts it off.
Maybe it's the infectious melody, sung to perfection by the Chick's effervescent harmonies. I can't really tell you.
It's just great.
And after all is said and done, it's what The Dixie Chicks will be remembered for.
George W. Bush probably taps his toe to this when no one is looking.
And Toby Keith wishes he had written it.
Let's forget all we knew was to come in the Dixie Chicks' lives just a few months after the August 2002 release of their greatest work Home. Without the politics, pain, scapegoating and ultimate redemption through music and film, we are left with an album that blew minds when it was released. The Chicks always stood out in the cookie-cutter modern Nashville world, from their early releases up to their multi-platinum smashes once Natalie Maines became their lead singer.
Home was different though. It was acoustic, playful and full of artistic purity.
It was Bluegrass.
Forced to pick a favorite off of this landmark I have decided to go with one of the two songs co-written with legend Marty Stuart. Maybe it's the fiddle and banjo interplay that starts it off.
Maybe it's the infectious melody, sung to perfection by the Chick's effervescent harmonies. I can't really tell you.
It's just great.
And after all is said and done, it's what The Dixie Chicks will be remembered for.
George W. Bush probably taps his toe to this when no one is looking.
And Toby Keith wishes he had written it.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 321: The Golden Age
The Golden Age - Beck (2002)
As a teen in the mid-90's, you had no choice but to be mesmerized by the man they call Beck Hansen. As we have progressed in our lives, we have heard more and more of the music that influenced this genius of the Alternative Nation, but it still doesn't take away from his Paul's Boutique meets Trout Mask Replica sample-rama he presented to us in those years. Mellow Gold, Odelay, Mutations, Midnight Vultures........these albums captured our collective imagination, while also providing us with ample reasons to pull out our parents massive headphones to let that wonderful noise cascade through our bodies.
Who knew he had a Nick Drake streak?
Slightly hinted at on 1998's highly underrated Mutations, Sea Change comes off like a lost gem from the Skip Spence/Syd Barret utter sadness folk genre. Beck had just come out of a long term relationship and the tunes he penned were like a slacker's Blood On The Tracks, which I am pretty sure is how Rolling Stone described it in their glowing review. Leading it all off is today's track, which introduces us to introspective Beck, who is quite different from ADD/kitchen sink Beck.
This is a man whose pain is something we have all felt at some point in our lives.
We've just never felt it so pretty.
Beck continues to trail blaze, what with Guero, The Information, Modern Guilt and his Record Club cover projects. He hasn't made another album like Sea Change, but he doesn't need to. That period of his life is over but it's always there, on your chosen format, when you need its soothing tone to whisper in your ear that everybody hurts, even buzz bin magnates.
Beck toured with The Flaming Lips as his backing band for this record, and their cover stands leaps and bounds above most because it is lived in. they knew this song like the back of their hands. Wayne Coyne's cracked voice has never sounded better.
As a teen in the mid-90's, you had no choice but to be mesmerized by the man they call Beck Hansen. As we have progressed in our lives, we have heard more and more of the music that influenced this genius of the Alternative Nation, but it still doesn't take away from his Paul's Boutique meets Trout Mask Replica sample-rama he presented to us in those years. Mellow Gold, Odelay, Mutations, Midnight Vultures........these albums captured our collective imagination, while also providing us with ample reasons to pull out our parents massive headphones to let that wonderful noise cascade through our bodies.
Who knew he had a Nick Drake streak?
Slightly hinted at on 1998's highly underrated Mutations, Sea Change comes off like a lost gem from the Skip Spence/Syd Barret utter sadness folk genre. Beck had just come out of a long term relationship and the tunes he penned were like a slacker's Blood On The Tracks, which I am pretty sure is how Rolling Stone described it in their glowing review. Leading it all off is today's track, which introduces us to introspective Beck, who is quite different from ADD/kitchen sink Beck.
This is a man whose pain is something we have all felt at some point in our lives.
We've just never felt it so pretty.
Beck continues to trail blaze, what with Guero, The Information, Modern Guilt and his Record Club cover projects. He hasn't made another album like Sea Change, but he doesn't need to. That period of his life is over but it's always there, on your chosen format, when you need its soothing tone to whisper in your ear that everybody hurts, even buzz bin magnates.
Beck toured with The Flaming Lips as his backing band for this record, and their cover stands leaps and bounds above most because it is lived in. they knew this song like the back of their hands. Wayne Coyne's cracked voice has never sounded better.
Friday, March 25, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 320: Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus - Focus (1971)
Want an example of strangeness in chart history? Today's track, a heavy Dutch Prog-spazz fest complete with yodeling, actually charted higher in the US(#9) then it did in the UK(#20)!
Beloved as a cover song by metal bands, this is hardly representative of what Focus could do. Their early recordings, before guitarist Jan Akkerman left the group, are some of the most out there "popular" music you will ever find. Pick up a few tracks at the old mp3 store and see if they are your cup of tea, then dive headlong into the insanity and skill that Focus encompass in almost every track they've ever recorded.
Two for the price of one, true believers: The album track and the slightly faster single version as well!!! Who loves ya?
Want an example of strangeness in chart history? Today's track, a heavy Dutch Prog-spazz fest complete with yodeling, actually charted higher in the US(#9) then it did in the UK(#20)!
Beloved as a cover song by metal bands, this is hardly representative of what Focus could do. Their early recordings, before guitarist Jan Akkerman left the group, are some of the most out there "popular" music you will ever find. Pick up a few tracks at the old mp3 store and see if they are your cup of tea, then dive headlong into the insanity and skill that Focus encompass in almost every track they've ever recorded.
Two for the price of one, true believers: The album track and the slightly faster single version as well!!! Who loves ya?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 319: The Waters Of Lethe
The Waters Of Lethe - Tony Banks (1979)
Lethe was one of the five rivers of the underworld in classical Greek mythology. Drinking from its waters resulted in forgetting everything you previously knew in your life.
Tony Banks was the heart and soul of Genesis and one of the finest keyboard players the rock world has ever experienced. He also is a solo artist whose works are to often overlooked.
After drinking the waters of today's track, a keyboard/analogue synth masterclass, I assure you that not only will you never forget Mr. Banks' talent, but you will also want to pick up his 1979 solo classic A Curious Feeling, digitally remastered for the kids in 2009.
Drink deep, good friends.
Lethe was one of the five rivers of the underworld in classical Greek mythology. Drinking from its waters resulted in forgetting everything you previously knew in your life.
Tony Banks was the heart and soul of Genesis and one of the finest keyboard players the rock world has ever experienced. He also is a solo artist whose works are to often overlooked.
After drinking the waters of today's track, a keyboard/analogue synth masterclass, I assure you that not only will you never forget Mr. Banks' talent, but you will also want to pick up his 1979 solo classic A Curious Feeling, digitally remastered for the kids in 2009.
Drink deep, good friends.
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