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(12/23/17 8:32pm)
In 1987, a relatively unknown alternative band from Boston began recording one of the most influential albums of the decade, Surfer Rosa. This band, the Pixies, were new to the scene, as they formed only a year previously in '86 and had just one album under their belt before 'Rosa. The album has been praised for its experimental drumming, conversational soundbites, and purposefully raw production and lyrics, with many notable bands and artists naming the album as influences on their work. Most notably, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain attributed Surfer Rosa as being one of the major influences on the making of Nirvana's grunge-defining, smash-hit record, Nevermind (1991). Oddly, the album was not a hit at the time of its release, as it failed to chart in the U.S. or U.K. However, over the years the Pixies have developed an extremely loyal fandom, so their impact on popular music has not gone unnoticed to these dedicated fans. I chose Surfer Rosa as an FRG because I feel the general public does not give the Pixies enough credit for their influence on music and on the molding of grunge. Let's get to some of the best tracks on the album!
"Bone Machine" is the first track on the album and lets the listener know what to expect from the album right off the back. The vocals alternate from being spoken to being sung and yelled. The drum and guitar work define much of this song, while almost cutting out completely for the chorus as the male and female leads sing simultaneously for a balanced chorus. It contributes to the overall structural uniqueness, and is tough to describe in words. If I had to choose one song to define the Pixies' sound, this would probably be it.
"Something Against You" is an entirely instrumental jam session, with the only singing being a couple screams. It features some of the more upbeat riffs on the whole album, and kind of goes all over the place while being 1:50 long. I'd call this song the beautiful mess of the album.
"Gigantic" was the lone single off of the album, only charting at #93 on the British singles chart. Compared to other songs on the album, its verses are quite slow with quiet and simple instrumentals. But it then explodes once the chorus hits. It goes from calm to heavy and back to calm over the course of the entire song. It is one of the most pleasurable, yet simple, songs to listen to on Surfer Rosa.
"Where Is My Mind?" is one of the Pixies' most popular songs, having over 121,000,000 plays on Spotify, three times more than any other song. For me, the production stands out on this track as the guitar sounds crystal clear, which contrasts some of the more muddled guitar sounds on other songs. This song features some light acoustic guitar in the intro, which then transitions to an electric riff that repeats for much of the song.
"Vamos (Surfer Rosa)" is another jam song, with fast drums repeating almost the whole 4:25. The male lead sings fast, seemingly random thoughts that really drive home the fast-paced nature of the song. It's another instance of organized chaos that raises the heart rate, mainly because of the lightning-fast drumming technique.
"Brick is Red" is a fitting album-ender that barely has any lyrics in only 2:02. It is calmer than some of the earlier songs, while still providing a thrilling cap to a great album.
Overall, Surfer Rosa needs to be listened as one piece of art, as the songs all compliment one another and contribute to the work as a whole. At a total length of only 34:00, the album is short and sweet, with a lot of different sounds and techniques packed into a relatively short album time. I've provided the album below via Spotify, so give it a listen!
"Estaba pensando sobreviviendo
Con mi sister en New Jersey"
(12/03/17 3:08am)
It's time for another edition of Forgotten Rock Gems (or FRG for the simpler folk)! This is only the second one I've done, so bear with me as I get accustomed to these articles. A few weeks back, I looked at Kiss' debut album, a theme that will carry on to the article that you are reading currently. "Dreamboat Annie" was Heart's debut album, featuring some of the band's biggest smash hits. At its core, Heart is comprised of sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, with Ann at the mic and Nancy jamming on lead guitar. Playing gigs in Canada, the group finally recorded "Dreamboat Annie" in Vancouver in the summer of 1975. Following the success of the album in Canada, the album was released in the US and charted at #7 of the Billboard Charts. Going off of this, I know it may not seem like this fantastic album was "forgotten" but I think it does not get the credit it deserves. It paved the way for female-voiced rock records in a male-dominated genre and male-controlled era. Anyway, let's get to some of the highlights of the album itself.
I'll start off by saying that the side 1 of the album is much stronger than the B-side, which is more of a testament as to how strong the first side is. The album kicks off with "Magic Man" which is a simple but banging track. The song and album start off with a single highlighted guitar note and basic drum beat, but it works ever-perfectly. Combine this with the chorus that brings along miniature guitar solos, and you'll find a chart-placing single, which is exactly what this song was (#9 on the Billboard Hot 100). An added bonus is the synthesizer that makes the album version of the song that much more bizarre, yet fulfilling. Next on the album is "Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)". While this jam is only 1:10 long, it is followed by the 5th and 10th tracks on the album, "Dreamboat Annie" and "Dreamboat Annie - Reprise". These songs are lyrically and musically cousins, but there are differences that make each deserving of its place on the album. The first version is a naked, entirely acoustic folk song that you could fall asleep to before the song is over. The second version builds off the first by adding bass, drums, and even some banjo to the mix. This version is a little longer than its predecessor, clocking in at 2:02. Finally, the "Reprise" is the song in its final, evolved stage, having a length of 3:50 and adding piano, strings, and bells. There is a classical music solo (that's what I'll call it) towards the end of the song that sets up a proper ending to a stellar album.
I decided to save the best song for last for this article. "Crazy on You" is far and away my favorite Heart song and one of my favorite rock songs in general. Its verses are sung and played softly, but the bridge and chorus kick the song into high gear with a memorable guitar riff (maybe it's the Guitar Hero 2 in me) and a fired-up Ann Wilson on the mic. This song also has a little country riff at the 4:15 mark that really helps the song transition towards the last screaming of the chorus before the song ends. This song remains one of Heart's most popular songs, as it captures the early sound of the band and was their debut single, which charted at #35 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cover Art for "Dreamboat Annie"[/caption]
Like I said in the Kiss article, this album, like most albums, is done the most justice when listening on vinyl. I did not touch on all of the tracks, but trust me (or don't), this album does not have a weak track. "White Lightning and Wine" is a rocking song that has a unique sound to it relative to the rest of the album. "Sing Child" has some nasty flute work by Ann Wilson that would bring tears of joy to Ron Burgundy's eyes. Every time I place the turntable needle on this record, I notice something new or a different song stands out for me. It is a fantastic record and deserves more props for being a debut album for the influential band that is Heart.
Thanks for reading another FRG, and if you have a suggestion for a record to write about, feel free to tweet me @jwmappes!
"My love is the evenin' breeze touchin' your skin
The gentle, sweet singin' of leaves in the wind"
(11/10/17 4:37pm)
Starting with this piece, I will be breaking down some of my personal favorite rock albums of the last 50 years that I think have fallen through the cracks of rock history. I won't be doing Abbey Road or Pet Sounds, although some of my chosen albums will be from notable artists. The main point I want to make is that all of these albums that I'll cover were very influential in the evolution of Rock 'n' Roll, whether they were received as such or not.
For my inaugural FRG (forgotten rock gem), I will break down the self-titled debut album by the band known more for their extreme makeup and stage presence than their music, KISS (1974). I have owned this album on vinyl for nearly half a year, but just got around to playing it several weeks ago. It blew my expectations out of the water. Never listening to much KISS besides their popular radio songs and Dr. Pepper commercials, I basically only knew them from their famous stage makeup and their serpentine tongues.
Anyway, let's get to the album itself. Kicking off the album and the band's career, "Strutter" is perhaps the best song on the album (although there is some heavy competition). This track is extremely pleasing to the ears, which is not an easy feat when still giving off a heavy sound. This song, as representative of the whole album, is guitar-based at its best moments, with a crazy guitar solo at the 1:45 mark, which leads back into memorable sing-along lyrics. Also, Paul Stanley provides fantastic vocals that fit the rhythmic guitar play in a perfect way. Just listen to the song (and the whole album while you're at it), I can only praise it so much.
The second song on the album, "Nothin' To Lose" provides a fantastic opening composition, with some much-appreciated cowbell and guitar work. However, the most memorable part of this song is mid-chorus (when everything cuts except for light drums and vocals, "Ya got, ya got, ya got nothin' to lose!", followed by a killer riff. The vocals sound chillingly John Lennon-screaming-esque, a sound I thought impossible to replicate until I heard "Nothin' to Lose."
I could write a lot about every song on the album, but I will just write briefly on the other notable songs. "Firehouse","Cold Gin", and "Let Me Know" provide even more memorable guitar riffs and soothing lead vocals, while "Deuce" is one of the band's most popular songs ever, as it is has been used as a concert opener for decades. The most unique song on the album, for obvious reasons, is "Love Them from Kiss". It does not feature vocals of any kind, so it is entirely instrument-based. This is not a bad thing at all, as I think it is musically one of the strongest songs of the album. Finally, Kiss ends with "Black Diamond", a song which features the only acoustic guitar on the album and soft vocals in a beautiful opening sequence. The song then goes off the deep end as it quickly goes heavy as we expect in a KISS song. At the 2:50 mark, the song delivers maybe the best guitar solo of the album, and then transitions to long, distorted, drawn-out notes that progressively get heavier in sound to end the group's debut album. It is a fitting end to an album that I think further evolved hard rock and glam rock, although it is tough to classify this album in a certain genre (you'll know what I mean). One of the many amazing facts about this album is that band members have said it only took anywhere from two to three weeks to record in its entirety, which is barely any time at all relative to the music recording industry. So, in conclusion, do yourself a favor: Lock yourself in your room, listen to Kiss in its entirety, preferably on vinyl, as I find any music sounds best on vinyl, and be awed by songs that have slipped through the cracks of rock history. You will not regret it!
If anyone has any suggestions on albums you think are an FRG, feel free to email me at jmappes@iu,edu or tweet me @jwmappes. Enjoy the album!
Out on the street for a living
Picture's only begun
Got you under their thumb
Hit it!
(10/29/17 5:46pm)
On July 25th, I knocked something major off of my bucket list: Seeing a Beatle live in concert. Paul McCartney stopped by in Chicago as a part of his One on One world tour. I bought my ticket for the concerts months ahead of the concert, just in case, it sold out quickly. It was the best $80 I've ever spent. Even though Chicago is not exactly close to Bloomington, I made the commitment without hesitation knowing I was going to see a living music legend.
Paul was, as expected, an amazing performer. He connected with the audience and brought laughter between songs, and damn-near didn't take a single break throughout the 30+ song setlist. It was such a great atmosphere, especially when everyone in the venue sang along to some of Paul's biggest hits. To recap, it is my favorite concert (and I've seen Kanye live) to date and possibly ever. Because of Paul's age, I did not know how many more chances I would get to see a Beatle live in concert. I started thinking like this in the aftermath of all the musician deaths that have occurred the last few years, from David Bowie to Chris Cornell. Speaking of Cornell, I, unfortunately, did not attend his last concert in Indianapolis this past summer before his death. I am a big Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Audioslave fan, all of which feature Cornell on lead vocals. I thought to myself He's only like 50 years old, I can see him in a few years. Another recent example is Tom Petty. He came to Indianapolis over the summer and I contemplated going but decided I would go the next time he came to Indy; that next time will never happen because Tom died a few weeks ago. Not seeing some of my favorite artists is one of my biggest regrets, one that I'll live with forever as a music fan.
Anyway, I just wanted to say one thing: Go to Concerts! You never know which concert could be an artist's last, especially if the concert is geographically close to you. People die every day and, sometimes, your favorite musicians die. In my opinion, concerts are one of the best ways to spend money (along with food). Do yourself a major favor and see your favorite artists in concert while you still have the chance. Also, your life may get uber busy in future years, so there's another reason to see concerts now when you have a lick of free time. Even if a concert is more expensive than you'd like, it is well worth it if even the tiniest part of you wants to see a certain artist live. Look up some concerts and incorporate them into your calendar; you'll thank yourself down the road.
(10/22/17 8:22pm)
I will admit, seeing the new action-thriller Blade Runner: 2049 without seeing the 1982 original Blade Runner first may have been a mistake. Nonetheless, I found the Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford led film to be thought-provoking and visually stunning, although I was confused at times. As a direct sequel set decades after the events of the first Blade Runner film, 2049 builds off of many plot points from the original and makes mentions of events that already transpired. Having not seen the original, I missed out on a lot of these references as I was not familiar with the universe from the first film.
After leaving the theater, awestruck and silenced, I stood there, trying to decipher what I had just watched on screen. Was Harrison Ford a replicant? Why is Wallace Corporation unable to produce reproducing replicants when the technology was around for the events of the first film? What happened during the worldwide blackout? So many questions! But the film did its job I suppose; I walked out of the theater contemplating the depressing future depicted in the film. Stellar scenery and special effects really leave a mental, realistic impression in viewers' minds. Suddenly, this year is turning into one of the best action-movie years ever (in my opinion), with Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Baby Driver coming to theaters earlier in 2017, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed also.
I have been researching some Bladerunner: 2049 reviews to see how it holds up to the original critically. It turns out that, in fact, it does hold up with the original and die-hard fans as well as casual fans are satisfied with the latest installment. I will say that I am biased somewhat because I enjoy a good sci-fi flick. If you don't like epic sci-fi films, there's a good chance you will lose interest in this film 20 minutes in. The film comprises of a post-apocalyptic, technology-infused, sex-centered culture which affects how the characters develop over the course of the film. Like I said before, if you enjoy epic scenery and mindbending sci-fi, you will love Bladerunner: 2049. Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, and Harrison Ford deliver performances for the ages as they give life to characters that will live on in the Bladerunner fanbase forever. Do yourself a favor: Buy a ticket and see the movie and join in on the awe-inspiring confusion. Just be wary of replicants' newfound ability to lie.
My rating: 8.9/10
IMDB average user rating: 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% fresh
This movie was a...
(10/15/17 9:46pm)
Oh geez, man. What a season. I will lead off this article by saying that there is not a wrong way to rank season 3 episodes. That’s what makes Rick and Morty so great; people enjoy different aspects of the show. Just take a moment to appreciate the fact that the much-anticipated season did not disappoint. In fact, I think that’s the only wrong opinion on the season. If you didn’t like the season, you are definitely the Jerry of your friend group.
Anyway, let’s get to the good stuff, my season 3 episodic rankings:
10) E06 – Rest and Ricklaxation
Coming in last in my rankings, “Rest and Ricklaxation” left me wanting more after the initial viewing. Sure, it was an interesting concept for an episode where Rick and Morty battle the toxic versions of themselves, but it just lacked substance that other episodes in this season had. This was my least favorite episode of the season, and maybe of the whole series. For me, it lacked the humor of other episodes and the writers did not go deep in what I thought could have been a really solid premise.
Best moment: We get a classic Justin Roiland song in “Terryfold” which plays in the spaceship, and again at the end of the episode. If you want to hear it, here’s a link: https://open.spotify.com/album/4JKaecqkR2ERMQxlxM4B1D
9) E05 – The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy
Oh, Jerry. A Jerry-centered episode can’t be better than 9 on any list. I’m kidding, of course. But compared to some of the episodes later on this list, this episode is 9th for a reason. It does move Jerry’s character arc forward and shows he has grown up, but this episode was just lacking something. I was excited when it was announced that there would be a Rick and Jerry episode (by Rick himself in the opening teaser). I thought Jerry plotting to kill Rick was a concept that could really work. I was satisfied with this episode, as it was full of humor and a cool concept of an immortality field.
Best moment: Jerry, talking to a heavily sedated Rick: “That’s what I thought, bitch. You little punk ass.”
8) E10 – The Rickchurian Mortydate
This was a fine way to end a great season. For me, it just did not live up to the season finales of both seasons 1 and 2. That being said, it was a very entertaining episode where Rick and Morty battle with the fictional President for 22 minutes, with there not being enough room in the multiverses for both Rick and the President’s egos. The chaos and destruction of their battles is a delight to watch.
Best moment: The return of Mr. Poopybutthole! And he has a family!
7) E03 – Pickle Rick
I know. Too low on my rankings, right? While delivering the #1 quotable of the season (the title of the episode), I thought this episode was great. One complaint: I got bored with Rick battling rats in the sewer as a pickle, which sounds impossible to get bored of, I know, but it just did not feel like a Rick and Morty episode. However, I loved the way the A and B plots worked together by the end, with the pickle concept intertwining great with the Smith family therapy session.
Best moment: The fact that Rick turned himself into a pickle just to avoid therapy is hilarious in-of itself.
6) E04 – Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender
This is about the point in my rankings where the order gets incredibly difficult. Vindicators 3 is a play on all of the current trends in super hero movies like the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. Rick and Morty are called to action by the Vindicators to battle Worldender, but end up battling a black-out drunk Rick in a Saw-style episode where Rick’s sociopathic nature puts the Vindicators through a series of fatal tests. I loved the character designs in this episode, especially Million Ants and Noob Noob (This guy gets it). This episode was more reminiscent of seasons 1 and 2 as it is just an enjoyable ride to go along for.
Best moment: The big reveal that drunk Rick cares so much about a certain character, which is lead-on to be Morty, but turns out to be Noob Noob, whom Rick just met. Morty’s reaction is hilarious.
5) E02 – Rickmancing the Stone
Following up the masterpiece that is “The Rickshank Redemption” (more on that later) is not an easy accomplishment, but Rick and Morty did not disappoint. This episode was set in a Mad Max-esque universe, so it was quite visually appealing. It is a classic Rick and Morty episode in the fact that they just go on an adventure for the sake of adventure, or Rick just wanted to steal a prized jewel, whatever you prefer. This premise provides relief for Morty and Summer, who are coping with their parents’ pending divorce, which makes the Morty gladiator cage scenes that much funnier and revealing of Morty’s feelings on the divorce.
Best moment: Morty’s injected muscle arm takes him on a revenge spree that finds and strangles a slavemaster who wronged the former arm owner’s family. As revenge normally is, this is a joy to watch.
4) E08 – Morty’s Mind Blowers
While seasons 1 and 2 produced fan favorites with both “Interdimensional Cable” episodes, the writers decided to change things up with a compilation episode for season 3. Basically, Rick has absolute control over what he and members of the Smith family remember as memories. The episode plays many of these short memories, which leaves the audience with some hilarious revelations about things that happened in the past. Since they don’t remember these memories, the characters are seeing them for the first time as well, so their reactions are interesting.
Best moment: When Morty asks Rick for the ability to hear animals, Rick delivers with a special device but it is more than Morty asks for when he runs into trouble with neighborhood squirrels.
3) E09 – The ABCs of Beth
This season of Rick and Morty was great because we got an in-depth look at every member of the Smith family at some point during the season. This time, it was Beth’s time to shine. Rick reveals to Beth that he created a magical world for her as a girl to play in, which Beth is mad about because she thinks Rick just stowed her away by herself. In reality, Beth was a sociopathic child who asked Rick to build her all types of evil things for a little girl to have. This episode offered new insight on their relationship, and proved that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Best moment: Beth refuses to apologize to Tommy, a boy she trapped in the imaginary world that has been stuck for 30 years, even though she clearly wronged him. Total Rick move.
2) E01 – The Rickshank Redemption
The episode that brought Rick and Morty back on the map! After nearly two years since season 2, the creators released this surprise episode on April Fool’s day. Rick escapes the space prison that he got himself in at the end of season 2, and destroys the galactic federation while he does it. It is top shelf Rick and Morty, with all the humor and Sci-fi you could ask for. Rick reveals to Morty his intentions on kicking Jerry out of the family because Jerry crossed him in the season 2 finale.
Best moment: The highlight of the episode is, no surprise, when Rick rants about Szechuan sauce to Morty and reveals that is his character arc, whether it takes 9 more seasons. Mcdonald’s is bringing this sauce back this winter, all because of Rick and Morty’s crazy fandom.
E07 – The Ricklantis Mixup
What. An. Episode – er, I think film would be more accurate. While this episode barely deals with our C137 versions of Rick and Morty, we instead are shown different short stories in the citadel, a city with only Rick and Mortys. This episode tackles short stories of social injustice, political corruption, and crooked cops, all of which are wrapped up cleanly by the end of the episode. There has never been an episode like this, and there probably will never be another one. Not having the main characters of the show in an episode, and delivering an all-time great, is a testament to how strong the writing is for Rick and Morty.
Best moment: Simple Rick’s wafers was one of the season’s highlights, and reminiscent of interdimensional cable, as the viewer is not expecting the scene to be a commercial for a cookie that gets its flavor from sucking the happiness out of a tied-down Rick. That is just one of the many great moments of the episode.