Free Williamsburg

Anyone can crank off the same batch of albums that everyone loved this year. Everyone puts together favorite albums of all time list. But what did I buy this year? Where is my cash being sucked to right now? Here’s the true revelation, my latest glories and sins telling you once and for all my actual taste. I surprised myself. I thought I never got greatest hits packages, and here are two. Three, if you count the Ike and Tina collection. Did I really buy all these records this year? I think so. Didn’t I buy Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted this year, and shouldn’t that be up near the top? Yes, but I forgot about that one until just now. I’ll not change my list at this late date. If you add up the years the records were released in, the average is 1983. What does that say about me? It’s not my birthday. Is that my cool music year? I hope not.

The Beatles
Rubber Soul
1965

The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles…

Frank Black
Teenager of the Year
1994

Head centered musical genius from the ex-Pixie (Pexie?). An overlooked album, brimming with ideas. What ever happened to Pong?

Van Morrison
His Band and Street Choir
1970

I saw the guy refuse the label of Christian in an interview recently. What a crank is our Van. What fun is this record.

Leonard Cohen
The Best Of
1975

Since I wrote this month’s review I’ve asked for LC’s I’m Your Man for Christmas. More like Cohenmas!

Talking Heads
Remain In Light
1980

Since I wrote this month’s review I’ve asked for world peace for Talking Headsmas. Where the hell is my World Peace?

Elvis Presley
As Recorded On Stage In Memphis
1974

There’s plenty of corn here, and a dab of later Presley dementia. “Those people with binoculars look like frogs.” is a memorable comment from the King. The still very much existing power of Presley live explains why people would put up with it and actually worship the guy.

Thee Headcoats
Headcoatitude
1993

Until they broke up recently, they were my favorite practicing Punk band. They understood that Punk was for the song, and Billy Childish cranks out funny, blues based wonders over and over.

Queen
Greatest Hits
1981

Tim Coffin (not his real name, zealots!) and I used to listen to the Flash Gordon soundtrack over and over. Here’s a band no one could ever emulate. They’re totally unique and here are all the hits you’ll ever need, except for “Princes of the Universe”.

Ike and Tina Turner
Too Hot To Hold
1975

Why is Ike reviled and Bing Crosby revered? Because Ike couldn’t sing? The Ike and Tina material is what put her in the hall of fame. It’s got the raw nerve, and the fiery singing. This collection, slapped together in Sweden, no doubt fills Ike’s coffers. Well it’s not like he’s the devil. He’s just a troubled guy who was horribly crappy to his woman and invented Rock & Roll.

Catatonia
Equally Blessed and Cursed
1999

She’s got a really cool gritty voice and the songs are just puggles. I’m pretending that’s a Welsh slang term for good.