This Week's Listen

Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog (1991)

If you walk up to an average person and ask them if they like Temple of the Dog, they may look at you like you're a total lunatic. To be completely honest, I myself was perplexed by the name when I first heard it. I couldn't imagine there being above average music on this lone album by a band that had such a brief run. But then I listened to the music, and after one listen to the album I was completely hooked. If my experience doesn't intrigue you, then maybe the story behind the album will. To start off, the band features an all-star cast (who at the time were really just getting started); Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) fills the lead vocal position, and boy does he do it well. His vocals on the album opener "Say Hello 2 Heaven" are quite inspiring, and I get chills every time. Future Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron sits in on the skins and does an excellent job of adding to the tone of each song. One could say that this recording is when the soon-to-be Pearl Jam was formed, for lead guitarist Mike McCready, rhythm-guitarist Stone Gossard, and bassist Jeff Ament comprise the remainder of the band's lineup. To me, the chemistry shared between these musicians is utterly fantastic. The album, which was released during the heart of the Grunge era, has that mild grungy tinge to it, but in my mind the final product is a heavily classic-rock-injected spectacle. The icing on the cake of this album is the hit single "Hunger Strike" (which most people have heard, but sadly never knew it was by this band); this song is really special because it features inspiring vocals from guest and friend of the band Eddie Vedder, who we all know went on with McCready, Gossard, and Ament to form Pearl jam and make their masterpiece, Ten, just a few months later. Vedder only landed in this song though because apparently Cornell had heard him rehearsing outside the studio and was quite moved by Vedder's unique, low-register style of singing. I think it was fate.

Do yourself a favor and GET THIS ALBUM!

Cornell's voice and emotions in this song are just too perfect. It's so good that it hurts:

I'M BACK!!!

To my faithful readers...

Now that I'm no longer in a semester of hell here at college, I think I'll have some more free time to work on this little blog of mine. I hope to dish out at least one album recommendation per week, with some other goodies sprinkled in between (keep an eye out for a Black History Month special tribute!).


Thanks for reading!

This Week's Listen

Fragile - Yes (1971)

This intriguing album is probably the most well-rounded album Yes ever produced, and it could easily be labeled one of the best progressive rock releases ever. The band uses a great blend of short and long tracks that really showcase the band's overall range. Shorter tracks like "Roundabout" and "Long Distance Runaround" are probably the most well-known samples from the album, but the long player on the album, "Heart of the Sunrise," truly makes this album shine. Jon Anderson's vocals could not be any better, and Bill Bruford's drumming is top-notch, as usual. Legendary bassist Chris Squire is also in top form, giving many listeners a reason to place this album somewhere at the top of a "best bass albums ever" list (see his track "The Fish"). Steve Howe displays his unique guitar-playing style throughout the album, but my favorite bit is his solo composition "Mood for a Day," which is an emotional acoustic piece that is nothing less than absolutely peaceful. Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman does his thing, which is usually beyond complete comprehension.

A very solid album, and also a great introduction to the prog rock genre for any newcomers. Highly recommended.

Great video that really shows how awesomely bizarre these guys were:

This Week's Listen

Land of the Midnight Sun - Al Di Meola (1976)

One of my most-played fusion albums, Al Di Meola's first solo album is certainly one to remember. All of the material is quite original, and this album shows his level of depth and variety in playing. Di Meola is joined by a superb cast of guest musicians, including Stanely Clarke, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, and an array of excellent drummers (Steve Gadd, Alphonse Mouzon, Lenny White). This album, along with his second "Elegant Gypsy," are absolute necessities from this Wizard's extensive discography.

This Week's Listen

Black Country - Black Country Communion (2010)


Just listened to this, and I have to say it is indeed quite awesome. The chemistry of this supergroup is simply great. Compared to other supergroups today, I'd say it stacks up to last year's Them Crooked Vultures, and absolutely annihilates Chickenfoot. So who's in the band and what do they play? This all-star lineup is one of the best I've seen, with Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) on bass and lead vocals, Joe Bonamassa (solo) on guitar and vocals, Jason Bonham (various sessions) on drums, and finally Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, solo) on keys. This extremely unique lineup cranks out a whopping 72 minutes of hard-edged blues-rock on this fantastic debut album. I'd say Joe truly shines the most here, producing dazzling solos that demonstrate his talent beyond his usual bluesy work. Hughes is also a highlight because not only is his bass-playing noticeably top-notch, but his voice is also in exceptional form, with possibly more energy and better tone in comparison to his '70s work. Bonham does his thing, which mainly consists of pounding those drums like a true veteran. His father would be proud. And finally, Derek's part in this band seems to have been drowned out by everyone else, but still, he definitely does not take away from the experience.

All in all, this is a very unique release, and anyone into classic '70s blues-rock will be sure to enjoy this. Highly recommended.

Today's Listen

Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado - Dave Matthews Band (2002)

This is one of many DMB live recordings, meaning it only scratches the surface of their massive catalog of music. However, it's a unique listen. It's a great set list, the band is in fine form, and they are joined by a few guests for certain songs, including The Lovely Ladies on backing vocals and Butch Taylor on keys. The set starts off with the epic "Don't Drink the Water," which in my opinion is one of the bands greatest achievements. Next up is sparkling version of "JTR," then the always fantastic "When the World Ends." Other highlights on disc 1 include "Bartender," "Everyday," and "If I Had It All." Disc 2 starts of with an awesome extended version of "Angel" which includes a heavy dose of The Lovely Ladies. I really think this song is now one of my favorite female-vocalist performances ever, which doesn't mean a whole lot since I don't listen to many female vocalists, but hey. The rest of disc 2 is great, featuring some of the bands best known songs like "Digging a Ditch," "Two Step," "Ants Marching," and one of my personal favorites, "Stay (Wasting Time)." Along with The Central Park Concert, this album is easily one of DMB's most essential live recordings, so go get it!

Today's Listen

Wood - Brian Bromberg (2002)

Brian Bromberg's rightly named album Wood features the bassist in stellar form playing his upright bass which happens to be a 300-year-old Matteo Guersam, crafted in Milan in the 18th century. Yes, it's an old instrument, but here it is obvious that it can still sound perfect when in the right hands. It's about 11 PM as I right this, and I must say it's the perfect hour to experience such an album. The album includes a few Bromberg originals as well as a bunch of covers, and all of them are fantastic. His solo bass take on the Beatles' "Come Together" is very interesting, as is his rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner." Anyone interested in bass and/or straight-ahead jazz is strongly encouraged to get this.