What Are You Listening To?

[KathyB]

Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer, Bach Trios. My choice for best album so far this year.

[Chris L]

I was the same, thinking of them as the pop years, but was listening to it a little while back and thought that there always seemed to be 'disposable' tracks on each album, that you wouldn't notice if they weren't there (or skipped over on the CD) but with Hard Day's Night, you'd be hard pushed to find two or three tracks to lose from it, I think. Even Ringo doesn't sound like a novelty!!

I've always thought of certain albums as "perfect albums," ones where every track was something you wanted to hear over and over again. A lot of albums only have one perfect side, usually the first, though now that "sides" no longer exist the whole album has to pull that weight. You're right that everything on A Hard Day's Night is strong. I still prefer the albums where they're pushing the edge of the envelope harder, but when you push the edge of the envelope, something inevitably tears.

[Gsavage14]

I was the same, thinking of them as the pop years, but was listening to it a little while back and thought that there always seemed to be 'disposable' tracks on each album, that you wouldn't notice if they weren't there (or skipped over on the CD) but with Hard Day's Night, you'd be hard pushed to find two or three tracks to lose from it, I think. Even Ringo doesn't sound like a novelty!!

I've always thought of certain albums as "perfect albums," ones where every track was something you wanted to hear over and over again. A lot of albums only have one perfect side, usually the first, though now that "sides" no longer exist the whole album has to pull that weight. You're right that everything on A Hard Day's Night is strong. I still prefer the albums where they're pushing the edge of the envelope harder, but when you push the edge of the envelope, something inevitably tears.

Agreed 🤗

[Leighton]

I've been listening a lot to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros albums.  Gloriously enjoyable and melodic

[KathyB]

The New Pornographers, Whiteout Conditions


I really wanna go home.   

[George]

A bit late to the Sgt Pepper's discussion here. Did anyone see the recent PBS special about the record, Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution? I loved its analysis of the themes and investigation of the ground-breaking studio innovations. But then again, I love stuff like that. I'm sure it can be found somewhere online.

[Chris L]

A bit late to the Sgt Pepper's discussion here. Did anyone see the recent PBS special about the record, Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution? I loved its analysis of the themes and investigation of the ground-breaking studio innovations. But then again, I love stuff like that. I'm sure it can be found somewhere online.

Not legally.

I had hoped it would be on the Roku PBS app, but like their website, it only has the trailer.

[Leighton]

I have been listening to John Grant and Skunk Anansie a lot this weekend; Grant's Queen of Denmark is probably one of my favourite albums, and I love Anansie's acoustic Greatest Hits live album.

Any other fans of these artists? 

[KathyB]

John Grant is great. He was originally one of The Czars, from Denver, Colorado. My favorite song is "GMF" from the Pale Green Ghosts album.

Thank you for letting me know about Skunk Anansie, who's now next on my "gotta find out more info on" list.

[Gordonb]

I have been listening to John Grant and Skunk Anansie a lot this weekend; Grant's Queen of Denmark is probably one of the my favourite albums, and I love Anansie's acoustic Greatest Hits live album.

Any other fans of these artists?  

I think the last "new" music I bought was when a friend told me that I might enjoy a new band called "Coldplay"; I did buy the cd but I am not sure that I have ever listened to it. I googled "Skunk Anansie" but somehow I get the feeling that they might not be my cup of tea.

I suppose I am a tad stuck in a rut musically;  I do buy new stuff by established artists and some new cast recordings, although a lot fewer than I used to and I do have the  Holy Trinity of "Hamilton" (meh), "Dear Evan Hansen" (less enthusiastic about it than @mamarose who "made" me get it), and "Natasha, Pierre etc" which on first hearing appealed somewhat.

[Leighton]

I like Skunk Anansie's acoustic greatest hits album more than their heavier, electronic stuff (though I do like that); I think the acoustic stuff is well worth listening to, even if you're not a fan of the heavier stuff they made their name with in the 90s.  Skin )the lead singer) is one of the most underrated British vocalists of the past three decades.

[Leighton]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acoustic-Skunk-Anansie-CD-DVD/dp/B00DW8CZ46/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1498409623&sr=1-9&keywords=skunk+anansie

This is the album I would recommend

[Bobster]

A bit late to the Sgt Pepper's discussion here. Did anyone see the recent PBS special about the record, Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution? I loved its analysis of the themes and investigation of the ground-breaking studio innovations. But then again, I love stuff like that. I'm sure it can be found somewhere online.

Not legally.

I had hoped it would be on the Roku PBS app, but like their website, it only has the trailer.

I watch it but it was SO edited with and included Pledge breaks, dammit.  I may have to buy the darn DVD to hear/watch what was missed. 

Sounds like the 50th Anniversary Remaster, which is on Apple Music too.

Although there always was a hidden track on the original, I recall... a loop of Paul (I think) saying something like "I never could see any other way..." - the hidden track being something else they invented! And ended up being taken to extremes by World Party, hiding a complete song about 17 minutes after the end of 'Bang!'

Wow, I don't recall ever hearing that hidden track! How long after "A Day in the Life" does it come up? It's possible that my record changer (remember those?!) always lifted the needle before it got there. (It always played "Her Majesty" at the end of Abbey Road, though.)

About 20 seconds or so...? And it's only about 10 seconds itself.

THIS IS MAJOR, Chris!!!  It was designed for much older record players so that the needle would just keep going and going and going...I got to hear it only on my sister The Beatles Fan's player because there was a way to make the needle just keep going.  I could never do it again until the CD came out.

[George]

I watch it but it was SO edited with and included Pledge breaks, dammit.  I may have to buy the darn DVD to hear/watch what was missed. 

I don't think there was anything edited out (at least here on our PBS stations), but there were long Pledge breaks during the broadcasts. I did record it on all three of our PBS stations (Chicago, Milwaukee, Indiana) hoping one of them would air it without the breaks. No luck.

[Gsavage14]

How have I only just discovered Gregory Porter??

Been listening to TAKE ME TO THE ALLEY pretty much non-stop for the last three days!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlwceBF-2T4&list=PLR8yxhuQ2AVCyDnlUtlBjl3KiqYIT2l_q