Friday, April 25, 2008
JOE FOSS collaboration
Okay, so interestingly enough...I said I needed to post more and something post-worthy actually happened. I have recently been speaking with my old friend Joe Foss and he is very interested in putting together a few new songs, an EP's worth of material. He asked if he could record them at my home studio and I was happy to oblige. We even talked about putting out Marshall Price and Joe Foss material on a small label of some sort. But its still early. But for now its certainly something I'm looking forward to, and Joe as well. He hasn't really had the time to put anything new together in a few years (has it been that long??). So anyway, there's some news for ya!
I NEED TO POST MORE...
I know that no one gives a crap about this page right now (including me) but I'm hoping eventually to spend a little more time and effort to develop it. Currently I'm much too busy recording songs for my upcoming Marshall Price album "Hear At Last." You see, its a play on words. Normally it would be spelled 'here' at last, but since we're talking about music, I spelled it 'hear.' If that's ANY indication of the kind of brilliance that will eventually be included on the album, I'd watch out Justin Timberlake!!!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Deal Or No Deal (A New Low)
This new "game show" Deal Or No Deal reveals just how far we've fallen in America. No more tough questions, no more test of the human mind, no more, well...thinking.
I can see the producers of the show presenting the idea to NBC, "Yea, most viewers are confused by the difficult questions of other game shows so we thought we'd just have a bunch of boxes on stage and contestants would just point and say 'I WANT BOX 4! THE ONE WITH A 4 ON IT!'" And then they can jump around the stage like nobody their age should ever do.
So yes, America has now reached the level of entertainment where an HOUR LONG show features people pointing at numbered boxes for money. Yep, that's it. And now I'm seeing ads for the return of American Gladiators. Hello progress!
Is this not the greatest time to be alive?
I can see the producers of the show presenting the idea to NBC, "Yea, most viewers are confused by the difficult questions of other game shows so we thought we'd just have a bunch of boxes on stage and contestants would just point and say 'I WANT BOX 4! THE ONE WITH A 4 ON IT!'" And then they can jump around the stage like nobody their age should ever do.
So yes, America has now reached the level of entertainment where an HOUR LONG show features people pointing at numbered boxes for money. Yep, that's it. And now I'm seeing ads for the return of American Gladiators. Hello progress!
Is this not the greatest time to be alive?
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The POWER of Our BRAINS (part 2)
Is the brain not powerful enough to cure disease? The brain is so large and so much of what it does is not understood by human beings. Our heart beats without us having to think of it. Our subconscious mind controls our heart beat and many other functions that we don't even realize are happening. When we get a cold, our body automatically deploys white blood cells to fight the infected cells. We don't consciously ask our body to fight off a cold, it just does. But what if we could tap into that part of the brain that notifies white blood cells to fight off infection? You cannot say it is totally out of the realm of possibility to say that we could simply send a message to infected cells that they are not welcome in our bodies. It is almost too simple, but the mind CAN BE a powerful thing. We already use our mind to make physical changes in our body. For example, if we get nervous in our mind, physical changes such as sweat, shaking, heart rate, etc. begin to show. The idea of "nervousness" is ALL in our minds. We made up the idea of nervous totally in our heads, yet it is manifesting itself in a physical way. Using the same logic, why couldn't we tell ourselves (convincingly) that we are disease/infection free? Our body would begin to adapt or conform to the messages being sent and infection would cease to exist. The only problem is, at the present time, our mind is not advanced enough to be able to consciously access the part of the brain which can send powerful enough messages to the rest of the body that could result in a physical change. I put "consciously" in bold italics because we KNOW that it is possible, we just can't control it. With the "nervous" example, a thought enters our head and physical changes result. So one can cause the other, it is proven. We just haven't figured out how to tap into that part of the brain and control it. Otherwise we would probably counteract the effects of nervousness and tell our body to stop sweating or shaking.
The thing is, we're not taling about something as crazy as bending a spoon with your mind. I'm talking about things that are happening within ourselves. How are we not in control of, or at least aware of, things that are happening inside our own bodies?!? So my brain can tell my body to sweat or shake but it can't tell my cells NOT to bond with a disease? My brain needs to be there during these critical moments. A deadly disease is approaching my body and trying to trick my cells into bonding with it, leading to infection. But before that happens, my brain has a few questions for that disease. Or say I'm already infected, my brain can send a message loud and clear to my body that I am NO LONGER infected with the virus so all remaining cells that are infected please make your way to my large intestine and prepare to be pooped.
The thing is, we're not taling about something as crazy as bending a spoon with your mind. I'm talking about things that are happening within ourselves. How are we not in control of, or at least aware of, things that are happening inside our own bodies?!? So my brain can tell my body to sweat or shake but it can't tell my cells NOT to bond with a disease? My brain needs to be there during these critical moments. A deadly disease is approaching my body and trying to trick my cells into bonding with it, leading to infection. But before that happens, my brain has a few questions for that disease. Or say I'm already infected, my brain can send a message loud and clear to my body that I am NO LONGER infected with the virus so all remaining cells that are infected please make your way to my large intestine and prepare to be pooped.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Brain Power
The Power of Positive Thought
I should try more often not to operate in a depressed state of mind. I think this happens in part when the mind is free to roam, but also when your life has entered a point in which you feel unsatisfied, unfulfilled, etc. The combination of those two factors is no good. If overall, things in my life are going well, my uncluttered mind can roam about for hours without feeling any kind of stress or tension. Common coping mechanisms for a depressed state of mind include any number of distractions on any number of levels. Something as simple as watching TV or a movie can temporarily take one's mind out of their own reality and immerse it into another world where people look nice and problems are solved easily enough within the given 30 minute to an hour time slot. Another level of coping would be the intake of substances used in moderation to slightly modify one's perception and give them something else to focus on. Getting drunk or stoned is a great distraction. Our reality is transformed (albiet only temporarily) and we feel better. This is the very definition of a coping mechanism. So why can't we do this on a more permanent level with our own thoughts? Most of the time it doesn't work because our brain power is too weak to convince ourselves of whatever we're trying to say. Drugs are much more powerful and require much less effort or development on our part.
If you constantly told yourself everyday for several years that you were the greatest dancer to ever live could you somehow become a great dancer? Can physical change actually occur simply through the power of thought? That would make a strong case for all you spoon benders out there. Spoon bending is a bit "far out" to test our brain power, so perhaps we should start somewhere a little easier. Simply telling yourself that you are incredibly smart wouldn't somehow magically fill you full of information you didn't previously have, but after time, a physical change would take place. You tell yourself you are smart and begin living life as a smart person. What do smart people do? Read books, examine things...whatever. Actions begin with thoughts. You have to tell yourself to go put on a jacket before you can put it on, so why not the same idea with telling yourself how smart you are and then becoming it? The process may take longer and be more noticable than what seems like an impulse decision to grab a coat, but that doesn't make it any less possible or effective.
Any action MUST begin with a thought. Action can also be defined as change, whatever action is taken, surrounding molecules will be affected by it. So, only thoughts can create change. That seems simple, but I'm talking about change on a physical, tangible level. Positive thought begins with positive reinforcement (I think I'm smart). That soon becomes positive reaffirmation or confirmation (I know I'm smart) which soon leads to quite simply: The way it is (I AM Smart). At least the way we perceive it. "It" being the life experience. So now I shall set out to change my thoughts and create a new "custom reality" with only what I want to include, leaving out the rest. No more self-doubt or stress over things that are out of my control. No more paranoia about other people's opinions. In my new reality, MY opinion of myself takes control over all else. And my new opinion of myself happens to be pretty damn good.
I should try more often not to operate in a depressed state of mind. I think this happens in part when the mind is free to roam, but also when your life has entered a point in which you feel unsatisfied, unfulfilled, etc. The combination of those two factors is no good. If overall, things in my life are going well, my uncluttered mind can roam about for hours without feeling any kind of stress or tension. Common coping mechanisms for a depressed state of mind include any number of distractions on any number of levels. Something as simple as watching TV or a movie can temporarily take one's mind out of their own reality and immerse it into another world where people look nice and problems are solved easily enough within the given 30 minute to an hour time slot. Another level of coping would be the intake of substances used in moderation to slightly modify one's perception and give them something else to focus on. Getting drunk or stoned is a great distraction. Our reality is transformed (albiet only temporarily) and we feel better. This is the very definition of a coping mechanism. So why can't we do this on a more permanent level with our own thoughts? Most of the time it doesn't work because our brain power is too weak to convince ourselves of whatever we're trying to say. Drugs are much more powerful and require much less effort or development on our part.
If you constantly told yourself everyday for several years that you were the greatest dancer to ever live could you somehow become a great dancer? Can physical change actually occur simply through the power of thought? That would make a strong case for all you spoon benders out there. Spoon bending is a bit "far out" to test our brain power, so perhaps we should start somewhere a little easier. Simply telling yourself that you are incredibly smart wouldn't somehow magically fill you full of information you didn't previously have, but after time, a physical change would take place. You tell yourself you are smart and begin living life as a smart person. What do smart people do? Read books, examine things...whatever. Actions begin with thoughts. You have to tell yourself to go put on a jacket before you can put it on, so why not the same idea with telling yourself how smart you are and then becoming it? The process may take longer and be more noticable than what seems like an impulse decision to grab a coat, but that doesn't make it any less possible or effective.
Any action MUST begin with a thought. Action can also be defined as change, whatever action is taken, surrounding molecules will be affected by it. So, only thoughts can create change. That seems simple, but I'm talking about change on a physical, tangible level. Positive thought begins with positive reinforcement (I think I'm smart). That soon becomes positive reaffirmation or confirmation (I know I'm smart) which soon leads to quite simply: The way it is (I AM Smart). At least the way we perceive it. "It" being the life experience. So now I shall set out to change my thoughts and create a new "custom reality" with only what I want to include, leaving out the rest. No more self-doubt or stress over things that are out of my control. No more paranoia about other people's opinions. In my new reality, MY opinion of myself takes control over all else. And my new opinion of myself happens to be pretty damn good.
Monday, November 12, 2007
SYNCHING ALBUMS and MOVIES
I just recently watched The Wizard of Oz while listening to the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, check out this link for an overview. Basically the music from Dark Side of the Moon syncs up surprisingly well with the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz (not that creepy version made in 1920 or whatever). So being that I have lots of free time, I began digging through my CD and DVD collections to see what other films and albums might match up. The results were staggering...
1.) Slayer's Reign in Blood and the Disney classic Bambi.
2.) 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' and the opposite-of-hilarious The Flintstones from 1994.
*The exact moment the chorus to 50 Cent's hit "In Da Club" begins, Bam Bam pulls out his infamous club for the first time. (coincidently this is the exact moment in the film and album that I wanted to club myself in the head and lose consciousness.)
3.) Clay Aiken's Measure of a Man and Stanley Kubrick's classic The Shining.
*At the very moment Jack Nicholson sticks his head through the ax chopped door, Clay belts out, "If I was invisible, then I could just watch you in your room, if I was invisible, I'd make you mine tonight." Pretty haunting. The only problem is, in order to get to this part in the film you would need to have listened through Clay's album 2 and a half times. Yeah, I'd just take my word for it too.
4.) Bruce Springsteen's classic Born To Run and 2004's Soul Plane.
*At first glance, this classic album and shameful waste of film might not appear to have anything in common. But upon further inspection several shocking similarities can be found. Springsteen's lyric "The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive" coincides with a bunch of black people getting on a plane. And later in that same song, "I'll love you with all the madness in my soul." Madness in my soul?? I mean the movie is called Soul Plane, how much more evidence do you really need?? Still more? Well okay, the last track on Born To Run is called "Jungleland," though I'm not sure if this is relevant.
5.) David Hasselhoff's 1984 album Don't Hassel the Hoff and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Jingle All The Way.
*Thinking back on it these didn't sync up all that well. But the experience of these two mega-stars at their respective peaks simultaneously overloaded my senses and is forever burned in my memory. This is a deadly combination. Ears and eyes...BEWARE!!!
1.) Slayer's Reign in Blood and the Disney classic Bambi.
*Most shocking audio/video sync: Bambi's mother is killed right when the lines "Spilling the pure virgin blood, satan's slaughter, ceremonial death" are sung. Coincidence??? I think not.
2.) 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' and the opposite-of-hilarious The Flintstones from 1994.
*The exact moment the chorus to 50 Cent's hit "In Da Club" begins, Bam Bam pulls out his infamous club for the first time. (coincidently this is the exact moment in the film and album that I wanted to club myself in the head and lose consciousness.)
3.) Clay Aiken's Measure of a Man and Stanley Kubrick's classic The Shining.
*At the very moment Jack Nicholson sticks his head through the ax chopped door, Clay belts out, "If I was invisible, then I could just watch you in your room, if I was invisible, I'd make you mine tonight." Pretty haunting. The only problem is, in order to get to this part in the film you would need to have listened through Clay's album 2 and a half times. Yeah, I'd just take my word for it too.
4.) Bruce Springsteen's classic Born To Run and 2004's Soul Plane.
*At first glance, this classic album and shameful waste of film might not appear to have anything in common. But upon further inspection several shocking similarities can be found. Springsteen's lyric "The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive" coincides with a bunch of black people getting on a plane. And later in that same song, "I'll love you with all the madness in my soul." Madness in my soul?? I mean the movie is called Soul Plane, how much more evidence do you really need?? Still more? Well okay, the last track on Born To Run is called "Jungleland," though I'm not sure if this is relevant.
5.) David Hasselhoff's 1984 album Don't Hassel the Hoff and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Jingle All The Way.
*Thinking back on it these didn't sync up all that well. But the experience of these two mega-stars at their respective peaks simultaneously overloaded my senses and is forever burned in my memory. This is a deadly combination. Ears and eyes...BEWARE!!!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
ALBUMS to HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE
Some of my personal favorites:
Spirit - "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" (1968) This is a super underrated underground pop/rock/psychedelic album credited as being an early influence on the soon-to-be popular Glam genre of the early 70s. Spirit as a band is very underrated in their contributions to pop/rock music. I can't say enough about how much I love this album and the production sound used is just wonderful. It is rocking and soothing at the same time.
DIG DEEPER: Check out "Morning Will Come" for a beautiful verse melody and harmonies along with some sweet guitar work from Randy California.
T. Rex - "Electric Warrior" (1971) The number 1 Glam album of all time. "Groovy" is actually a good word to describe it. Very simple rock music but presented in such a unique way, it just makes me smile and reminds me of how simple yet effective music should be. Tony Visconti produced this masterpiece (and would later go on to perfect his glam-era production sound on early albums by David Bowie...which were Bowie's best as far as I'm concerned.)
DIG DEEPER: I assume you've already heard "Bang a Gong" so check out "Mambo Sun" for some groovy goodness.
Billy Joel - "Glass Houses" (1980) From the 3rd greatest songwriter of all time behind Lennon and McCartney, this has the perfect blend of guitar-based rockers and piano oriented pop songs. Any one of the songs on this album could have been (and might well have been) hit singles, yet this accessibility takes nothing away from Billy's masterful songwriting craft.
DIG DEEPER: "I Don't Want To Be Alone Anymore" is a great example of Billy's story-telling pop song mastery.
Steve Perry - "Street Talk" (1984) The very pleasant solo debut album from the former frontman of Journey. The band thought Steve needed them to crank out the hits, but this album proves them terribly wrong, sorry guys! "Oh, Serrie" and "Foolish Heart" alone make this a classic, but there are some very strong album cuts on here and it is a great snapshot of the early 80s.
DIG DEEPER: If you've already heard the 2 songs listed above check out "I Believe" for a great example of a feel good 80s pop song. What happened to these days???
Huey Lewis and the News - "Sports" (1983) The definitive album of the 80s. I was raised on this cassette (which is a reason why I've grown up to be such an exceptional young man). It amazes me that lots of music folks look back on the 80s as a low point for music. I would say then perhaps they have not heard this album, but anyone living has no doubt wanted a "New Drug" or at least asked themselves the question "If This Is It?" Please let me know...what you think of it.
DIG DEEPER: "Heart And Soul" which has a great chorus and is so much cooler than the lame piano song of the same name.
Queen - "A Night At The Opera" (1975) Probably the most interesting, diverse and unique band of all time. And this was their masterpiece. You couldn't even make this album today. No one would release it. Hell, you wouldn't even have a band like this today. The musical influences on this disc are all over the map. Dixieland jazz, show tunes, rock, pre-punk, standards, opera, piano pop, and all-out insanity. Imagine playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" for an A&R rep telling them you plan on releasing it as the album's first single. They would think you were out of your mind. Such is the brilliance of this album. Also note, if I could play/sound like any guitarist it would be Brian May, he is number 1 in my book (which I'm sure he cares about).
DIG DEEPER: "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon" is so delightfully odd. It's under 2 minutes, but in that limited space it manages to squeeze in everything great about this band. Queen invented and quickly mastered the art of studio recording.
The Edgar Winter Group - "They Only Come Out At Night" (1972) A classic rock gem indeed. I was blown away when I first heard this album, I thought it was a greatest hits collection. Edgar has got to be in the top 5 albino musicians of all time. A few songs you're probably already familiar with are "Free Ride" and the instrumental "Frankenstein" but the rest of the album tracks on here make you wonder why this album has not received more recognition. Great stuff. Buy it now!
DIG DEEPER: A toss up between the opener, "Hangin Around" and "We All Had A Real Good Time" These are both genuine classic 1970's rock songs and probably only got buried because the singles were so incredibly strong in their own right.
The Beatles - "Revolver/White Album/Let It Be" (1966-69) It's hard to pick just one album. To me Revolver has the most consistently strong songs from each member. From start to finish, its a classic. The White album is great cuz its got so much stuff on it. Songs that might not have made the cut had it not been a double album often tell you a lot more about the band. Lots of great stuff here and lots to dig through. I like Let It Be for its imperfections. Great songs during a turbulent time and some slop throughout the album make it a great snapshot of the band at that time.
DIG DEEPER: What can you say? This is undoubtedly the greatest band of all time. But if I had to pick a favorite album cut from each of the 3 aforementioned albums it would go as follows. From Revolver I love "Taxman" One of George's strongest Beatle songs and gets the CD off to a rocking start. pay attention to the kickass (even by today's standards) guitar tone and Paul's insane bass skills (could he be the greatest bass player of all time?) From The White Album I love "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey" Lennon delivers these vocals with such power, clearly a huge influence for Kurt Cobain's gravel-throat delivery. From Let It Be "Dig A Pony" features fabulous guitar work and goes from rocking to soothing faster than you can say "No band will ever be as good as The Beatles."
Deep Purple - "Machine Head" (1972) I was raised on this album and it is truly timeless. The remastered 30th anniversary edition is a must for anyone with ears. The Roger Glover remixing really brings out the finer details of this masterpiece. When you listen closely (but still very loud) I love how you can hear the sound of the room they recorded in.
DIG DEEPER: If you so desire, skip through the over-played radio hits like "Smoke On The Water" and hear the band at their rocking best with gems like "Lazy" and "Maybe I'm a Leo." Great vocal styling from Ian Gillian, and the most underrated drummer in all of rock music, Ian Paice.
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic/Rocks/Draw the Line. (1975-77) Tough to pick a favorite. But the mid-seventies was the peak for Aerosmith. Check "Toys" for familiar radio hits "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion." But definately check "Rocks" for an all-out kick ass rock album. Great songs and great sound all the way through. "Draw the Line" started to show the effects of the band's heavy drug use and didn't do well commercially but I think there are great songs on this album. Not any radio "hits" necesarily but some really great blues-based rock and Joe Perry working the slide guitar like nobody's business.
DIG DEEPER: From Toys in the Attic, check out "Big Ten Inch Record" Awesome. Rocks is full of high quality rockers like "Sick As A Dog" and "Lick and a Promise" this is probably their most consistent album from start to finish. From Draw the Line I would pick "I Wanna Know Why" but I love every song like it was my own child.
Bracket - Requiem (2005) Hey, this one is actually from the 2000s. This band is so great. I have been following their limited output for years now (which hasn't been hard considering their last studio release was in 2000). This is really their strongest album. Lots of songs and lots of variety. It is themed and a kind of concept album (every track is titled Warren's Song Part [something] dedicated to a childhood friend of the band) in the vein of Green Day's "American Idiot", but unlike Green Day, this isn't just a few singles and a bunch of filler. This has great, kickass rock songs and a unique presentation all the way through. And isn't that what an album is SUPPOSED to have? Please support this severely underrated band and buy this album immediately!
DIG DEEPER: "Warren's song pt. 22" has such a powerful chorus. Once I heard this song, I had to hear more. I have not yet become the least bit tired of this album.
Spirit - "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" (1968) This is a super underrated underground pop/rock/psychedelic album credited as being an early influence on the soon-to-be popular Glam genre of the early 70s. Spirit as a band is very underrated in their contributions to pop/rock music. I can't say enough about how much I love this album and the production sound used is just wonderful. It is rocking and soothing at the same time.
DIG DEEPER: Check out "Morning Will Come" for a beautiful verse melody and harmonies along with some sweet guitar work from Randy California.
T. Rex - "Electric Warrior" (1971) The number 1 Glam album of all time. "Groovy" is actually a good word to describe it. Very simple rock music but presented in such a unique way, it just makes me smile and reminds me of how simple yet effective music should be. Tony Visconti produced this masterpiece (and would later go on to perfect his glam-era production sound on early albums by David Bowie...which were Bowie's best as far as I'm concerned.)
DIG DEEPER: I assume you've already heard "Bang a Gong" so check out "Mambo Sun" for some groovy goodness.
Billy Joel - "Glass Houses" (1980) From the 3rd greatest songwriter of all time behind Lennon and McCartney, this has the perfect blend of guitar-based rockers and piano oriented pop songs. Any one of the songs on this album could have been (and might well have been) hit singles, yet this accessibility takes nothing away from Billy's masterful songwriting craft.
DIG DEEPER: "I Don't Want To Be Alone Anymore" is a great example of Billy's story-telling pop song mastery.
Steve Perry - "Street Talk" (1984) The very pleasant solo debut album from the former frontman of Journey. The band thought Steve needed them to crank out the hits, but this album proves them terribly wrong, sorry guys! "Oh, Serrie" and "Foolish Heart" alone make this a classic, but there are some very strong album cuts on here and it is a great snapshot of the early 80s.
DIG DEEPER: If you've already heard the 2 songs listed above check out "I Believe" for a great example of a feel good 80s pop song. What happened to these days???
Huey Lewis and the News - "Sports" (1983) The definitive album of the 80s. I was raised on this cassette (which is a reason why I've grown up to be such an exceptional young man). It amazes me that lots of music folks look back on the 80s as a low point for music. I would say then perhaps they have not heard this album, but anyone living has no doubt wanted a "New Drug" or at least asked themselves the question "If This Is It?" Please let me know...what you think of it.
DIG DEEPER: "Heart And Soul" which has a great chorus and is so much cooler than the lame piano song of the same name.
Queen - "A Night At The Opera" (1975) Probably the most interesting, diverse and unique band of all time. And this was their masterpiece. You couldn't even make this album today. No one would release it. Hell, you wouldn't even have a band like this today. The musical influences on this disc are all over the map. Dixieland jazz, show tunes, rock, pre-punk, standards, opera, piano pop, and all-out insanity. Imagine playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" for an A&R rep telling them you plan on releasing it as the album's first single. They would think you were out of your mind. Such is the brilliance of this album. Also note, if I could play/sound like any guitarist it would be Brian May, he is number 1 in my book (which I'm sure he cares about).
DIG DEEPER: "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon" is so delightfully odd. It's under 2 minutes, but in that limited space it manages to squeeze in everything great about this band. Queen invented and quickly mastered the art of studio recording.
The Edgar Winter Group - "They Only Come Out At Night" (1972) A classic rock gem indeed. I was blown away when I first heard this album, I thought it was a greatest hits collection. Edgar has got to be in the top 5 albino musicians of all time. A few songs you're probably already familiar with are "Free Ride" and the instrumental "Frankenstein" but the rest of the album tracks on here make you wonder why this album has not received more recognition. Great stuff. Buy it now!
DIG DEEPER: A toss up between the opener, "Hangin Around" and "We All Had A Real Good Time" These are both genuine classic 1970's rock songs and probably only got buried because the singles were so incredibly strong in their own right.
The Beatles - "Revolver/White Album/Let It Be" (1966-69) It's hard to pick just one album. To me Revolver has the most consistently strong songs from each member. From start to finish, its a classic. The White album is great cuz its got so much stuff on it. Songs that might not have made the cut had it not been a double album often tell you a lot more about the band. Lots of great stuff here and lots to dig through. I like Let It Be for its imperfections. Great songs during a turbulent time and some slop throughout the album make it a great snapshot of the band at that time.
DIG DEEPER: What can you say? This is undoubtedly the greatest band of all time. But if I had to pick a favorite album cut from each of the 3 aforementioned albums it would go as follows. From Revolver I love "Taxman" One of George's strongest Beatle songs and gets the CD off to a rocking start. pay attention to the kickass (even by today's standards) guitar tone and Paul's insane bass skills (could he be the greatest bass player of all time?) From The White Album I love "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey" Lennon delivers these vocals with such power, clearly a huge influence for Kurt Cobain's gravel-throat delivery. From Let It Be "Dig A Pony" features fabulous guitar work and goes from rocking to soothing faster than you can say "No band will ever be as good as The Beatles."
Deep Purple - "Machine Head" (1972) I was raised on this album and it is truly timeless. The remastered 30th anniversary edition is a must for anyone with ears. The Roger Glover remixing really brings out the finer details of this masterpiece. When you listen closely (but still very loud) I love how you can hear the sound of the room they recorded in.
DIG DEEPER: If you so desire, skip through the over-played radio hits like "Smoke On The Water" and hear the band at their rocking best with gems like "Lazy" and "Maybe I'm a Leo." Great vocal styling from Ian Gillian, and the most underrated drummer in all of rock music, Ian Paice.
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic/Rocks/Draw the Line. (1975-77) Tough to pick a favorite. But the mid-seventies was the peak for Aerosmith. Check "Toys" for familiar radio hits "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion." But definately check "Rocks" for an all-out kick ass rock album. Great songs and great sound all the way through. "Draw the Line" started to show the effects of the band's heavy drug use and didn't do well commercially but I think there are great songs on this album. Not any radio "hits" necesarily but some really great blues-based rock and Joe Perry working the slide guitar like nobody's business.
DIG DEEPER: From Toys in the Attic, check out "Big Ten Inch Record" Awesome. Rocks is full of high quality rockers like "Sick As A Dog" and "Lick and a Promise" this is probably their most consistent album from start to finish. From Draw the Line I would pick "I Wanna Know Why" but I love every song like it was my own child.
Bracket - Requiem (2005) Hey, this one is actually from the 2000s. This band is so great. I have been following their limited output for years now (which hasn't been hard considering their last studio release was in 2000). This is really their strongest album. Lots of songs and lots of variety. It is themed and a kind of concept album (every track is titled Warren's Song Part [something] dedicated to a childhood friend of the band) in the vein of Green Day's "American Idiot", but unlike Green Day, this isn't just a few singles and a bunch of filler. This has great, kickass rock songs and a unique presentation all the way through. And isn't that what an album is SUPPOSED to have? Please support this severely underrated band and buy this album immediately!
DIG DEEPER: "Warren's song pt. 22" has such a powerful chorus. Once I heard this song, I had to hear more. I have not yet become the least bit tired of this album.
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