Given my current disappointment with most new indie rock, perhaps now is a good time for me to return to filling in any gaps in my musical knowledge. I’ve been filling in my Beatles collection slowly but surely over the last year or two (speaking of, this site has album-by-album, track-by-track back story, and is really fascinating), and my wife and I have both been exploring as much stuff from the 50s, 60s, and 70s as we can. Lately I’ve really been enamored with the Byrds, who get short shrift when it comes to celebrating other musical icons of the era. There is a lot more to them than “Turn! Turn! Turn!” Along with Pink Floyd, they are probably the only group I can think of that suffered drastic lineup changes but kept bringing in brilliant songwriters for every go-around. Gram Parsons, David Crosby, and Roger McGuinn all had a hand in making classic albums, and it makes for a diverse and layered back catalog.
Meanwhile we’ve been delving into some lesser-known psychedelic acts from the era as well, such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Electric Prunes, and a handful of acts from the various Nuggets compilations. I haven’t found the one group or album that really nails me against the wall—most of the groups have inspired moments of absurdity, but just as often are merely silly. Elsewhere, I’ve been hoping to find more great Tropicalia records. I love Caetano Veloso and Os Mutantes (who re-formed this year and will be appearing the Flaming Lips at the Hollywood Bowl in July!) and what I’ve heard of Tom Zé. I’d like to get my hands on more Zé, as well as Gal Costa.
The other day I was at the bookstore and thumbed through 1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Usually I scoff at “list” books because they inevitably leave obvious things off and include utterly ridiculous items. And while this book doesn’t quite escape that—some of their inclusions from recent years already seem out of touch (Madonna’s Music? Really? I must hear it before I die?)—it does a good job of explaining the reasoning behind each choice. All 1,001 albums get a few paragraphs detailing what’s so wonderful about them, which is helpful, especially when it comes to groups I’d never heard of before. For instance I’ve now got Fred Neil on my radar; he was a folkie from the New York scene in the 60s, and is the man behind “Everybody’s Talkin’,” one of my favorite Harry Nilsson tracks.
As I didn’t have the $40 to drop on this brick of a book, I left the bookstore empty-handed. Lucky for me the totally addictive (and recently revamped) site Lists of Bests had the entire list posted. So I could scroll down the list and check off everything I’ve heard.
Checking off the list, it really hits home how much music is out there and how little I’ve heard. Of 1,001 albums, I’ve heard around 200 of them in full. My criteria for checking an album off was that I had to have actually heard the entire thing from beginning to end at least once in my life. You’d be surprised at how many albums that removes from the list! I feel like a caveman! For instance I think I’ve heard every song by the Doors at one time in my life or another (mostly in my college dorm, as it was apparently a prerequisite for many to get in), but I don’t think I’ve ever consciously sat down and understood that I was hearing Morrison Hotel from beginning to end. Same goes for anything by Jimi Hendrix, the Who, and even many Rolling Stones albums! If you remove all you’ve ever heard on the radio or emanating from your older brother’s bedroom, it really steals the rug out from under you.
Needless to say I’ve got a long way to go. I’m going to start with the Kinks, which is probably one of my most embarrassing blind spots as an indie snob. Shh…
I just looked (briefly) at that list, and while I agree that Madonna is a blaring error, I've got to say it is not the worst. I'm pretty sure Korn (spelled with a "K") has to take that title.
But your check off system is very interesting, I might have to do it myself sometime soon. A perfect activity for a boring saturday afternoon.
Posted by: jeremy | April 27, 2006 at 04:17 PM