The Album Review Club - Week #196 (page 1316) - Aja - Steely Dan

Happy Xmas all, a day late. After being not here the last two months despite my best intentions, and having gone down the rabbit hole of both work and the stupid politics thread, I am happy to say I am dramatically de-emphasizing both in 2025 (more details on the work de-emphasis later in the year). Actually I would have commented on E and B (record is a 7 at worst and more like an 8), and Queen a 5 (I love SHA the SONG, which is one of the key reasons News of the World is far, far and away my favourite Queen record) had I time, but as a deep disliker of Rod Stewart’s music, my contribution would have been unpleasant on EPTAS.

Anyhow, back in the saddle (again) and looking forward to returning to the thread!
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
Happy Xmas all, a day late. After being not here the last two months despite my best intentions, and having gone down the rabbit hole of both work and the stupid politics thread, I am happy to say I am dramatically de-emphasizing both in 2025 (more details on the work de-emphasis later in the year). Actually I would have commented on E and B (record is a 7 at worst and more like an 8), and Queen a 5 (I love SHA the SONG, which is one of the key reasons News of the World is far, far and away my favourite Queen record) had I time, but as a deep disliker of Rod Stewart’s music, my contribution would have been unpleasant on EPTAS.

Anyhow, back in the saddle (again) and looking forward to returning to the thread!
Click to expand...

It was beginning to look like all that banging your head against a Dax shaped wall was creating some form of thread Stockholm syndrome ;-)

Much better off here in the genteel and refined oasis of calm that is the album thread.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
After being not here the last two months despite my best intentions, and having gone down the rabbit hole of both work and the stupid politics thread, I am happy to say I am dramatically de-emphasizing both in 2025 (more details on the work de-emphasis later in the year).
Click to expand...

Your "Mental Health" (to quote a best album track of 2024 playlist favourite) will thank you later on, at a minimum on the former, probably on both. I fast forward my DVR on anything related to the former and have stayed clear off all of that here since 6 Nov, and I know I'm in a better place for it.

Welcome back, and I thought of you when my adult daughter told me of this incident over the Christmas holiday visit when discussing music:

www.distractify.com

“Horror Ambience” — Woman Asks for Chappell Roan to Play During MRI, Gets *This* Instead

"That would absolutely send me into a panic," someone commented.
www.distractify.com www.distractify.com
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Your "Mental Health" (to quote a best album track of 2024 playlist favourite) will thank you later on, at a minimum on the former, probably on both. I fast forward my DVR on anything related to the former and have stayed clear off all of that here since 6 Nov, and I know I'm in a better place for it.

Welcome back, and I thought of you when my adult daughter told me of this incident over the Christmas holiday visit when discussing music:

www.distractify.com

“Horror Ambience” — Woman Asks for Chappell Roan to Play During MRI, Gets *This* Instead

"That would absolutely send me into a panic," someone commented.
www.distractify.com www.distractify.com
Click to expand...
When I had an MRI for my neck I was not given a choice to listen to anything and had to listen to the machine which I tried to make into an industrial rhythm in my head, like Einstürzende Neubauten. I really didn't like the claustrophobia of the immobility cage so close to my face. Another one on my back was much better as I could at least see my legs and feet and the office light with my peripheral vision. But now if I have one again I'm going to ask for Chappell Roan -- and I will spell it!
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
When I had an MRI for my neck I was not given a choice to listen to anything and had to listen to the machine which I tried to make into an industrial rhythm in my head, like Einstürzende Neubauten. I really didn't like the claustrophobia of the immobility cage so close to my face. Another one on my back was much better as I could at least see my legs and feet and the office light with my peripheral vision. But now if I have one again I'm going to ask for Chappell Roan -- and I will spell it!
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I always doze off for mine. They think I'm a bit weird. I also match the noises to music. OMD's Architecture and Morality works very well. And then...sleep.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Your "Mental Health" (to quote a best album track of 2024 playlist favourite) will thank you later on, at a minimum on the former, probably on both. I fast forward my DVR on anything related to the former and have stayed clear off all of that here since 6 Nov, and I know I'm in a better place for it.

Welcome back, and I thought of you when my adult daughter told me of this incident over the Christmas holiday visit when discussing music:

www.distractify.com

“Horror Ambience” — Woman Asks for Chappell Roan to Play During MRI, Gets *This* Instead

"That would absolutely send me into a panic," someone commented.
www.distractify.com www.distractify.com
Click to expand...
Ha, told my kids this story at dinner (they’re both home from college for Xmas break) and they had both heard this already and thought it was hilarious!
 
(page) 1981, the year Jimmy Carter left the US Presidency and went on the 43 year journey to make him a Nobel Peace Prize winner among many other notable post-presidency achievements. I had the honor this past fall to visit the Carter Center and his presidential library in Atlanta. It was very enjoyable and moving visit to one whose first memory of a president was of Carter.

Jimmy was a big fan of the Allman Brothers band. This is one of my favourite documentaries on how music, campaigning, and the presidency interacted back in the day.

www.imdb.com

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (2020) ⭐ 7.6 | Documentary, History, Music

1h 35m
www.imdb.com www.imdb.com

RIP to a great and underestimated American, global human rights advocate, and servant for the greater good.

1735564078303.png
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
(page) 1981, the year Jimmy Carter left the US Presidency and went on the 43 year journey to make him a Nobel Peace Prize winner among many other notable post-presidency achievements. I had the honor this past fall to visit the Carter Center and his presidential library in Atlanta. It was very enjoyable and moving visit to one whose first memory of a president was of Carter.

Jimmy was a big fan of the Allman Brothers band. This is one of my favourite documentaries on how music, campaigning, and the presidency interacted back in the day.

www.imdb.com

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (2020) ⭐ 7.6 | Documentary, History, Music

1h 35m
www.imdb.com www.imdb.com

RIP to a great and underestimated American, global human rights advocate, and servant for the greater good.

View attachment 141591
Click to expand...
RIP Jimmy Carter, a thoroughly decent man.
 
Rob, you had a wee list of years we hadn't had yet, do you still have this to hand?

As it resumes with me in January, I am deciding between a couple, might help sway me. One would likely go down well here, based on some recent things seen, and is also part of colin larkin's list that I earmarked for bluehammer. The other new to most I believe, probably ticks a year. On the back of the last few somewhat similar albums, would probably be a welcome change, but then, maybe the break itself kind of does that.
 
Coatigan said:
Rob, you had a wee list of years we hadn't had yet, do you still have this to hand?

As it resumes with me in January, I am deciding between a couple, might help sway me. One would likely go down well here, based on some recent things seen, and is also part of colin larkin's list that I earmarked for bluehammer. The other new to most I believe, probably ticks a year. On the back of the last few somewhat similar albums, would probably be a welcome change, but then, maybe the break itself kind of does that.
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I have not once nominated a record on the Larkin/Rolling Stone top 1,100 but I plan to change that with my next nomination finally and in future too probably. The thread’s been going on a long while! Pick what you like best :)
 
Coatigan said:
Rob, you had a wee list of years we hadn't had yet, do you still have this to hand?

As it resumes with me in January, I am deciding between a couple, might help sway me. One would likely go down well here, based on some recent things seen, and is also part of colin larkin's list that I earmarked for bluehammer. The other new to most I believe, probably ticks a year. On the back of the last few somewhat similar albums, would probably be a welcome change, but then, maybe the break itself kind of does that.
Click to expand...
Years missing:-

  • Everything before 1964 (bar the classical nom)
  • 1965
  • 1967
  • 1988
  • 2005
  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2011
  • 2018
  • 2022
  • 2025 :)
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Happy new year pop pickers and hope 2025 is fabuloso and rocktastic.

For those of you with a wee soft spot for Big Country I found this footage on YT which you might enjoy if you fancy a bit of a party and a wee dram of malt in memory of Stuart Adamson.
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Big Country's first single was "Harvest Home", recorded and released in 1982, as in page 1982 here.

Uncanny, and Happy New Year everyone! Keep looking for those numbers. ;-)
 
SInce we're still on break, I'd be remiss if not linking the video to the song that I listen to on this day each and every year.

Recorded in Sweden in December 1982, this was released in Jan 1983 and was the first song I remember from this Irish rock band I began to follow in high school. Sorry, but you can't deny this song, opening piano, vocals, guitar, or bass line, and I love the lyrics, written about the Polish Solidarity movement at the time.

Nothing changes... on New Year's Day

 
Whilst we are still on a break from the albums, it would be remiss of me not to comment on the sad news that DJ Johnnie Walker has died.

Naturally, I missed his first stint at Radio One, but 38 years ago this month, he returned to the station to host the flagship Saturday afternoon show, The Stereo Sequence. Johnnie presented the show until the middle of 1988, at which point Roger Scott took over, presenting until his untimely death in October 1989.

Roger effortlessly took over where Johnnie had left off; both DJs presenting with enthusiasm, a great deal of musical knowledge, sharing with their audience their latest musical discoveries.

"Do you not listen to music the radio?" I'm sometimes asked. "No," I say, "because after Johnnie Walker and Roger Scott, everything else pales into insignificance."

I like to think that our little thread is the text-based equivalent of The Stereo Sequence - a small group of friends passionately sharing their musical loves with friendly company.

RIP Johnnie, and thanks for The Lonesome Jubilee plus a whole host of musical memories that will last a lifetime.
 
Just fishing this thread out from the back pages for easier access later on when we resume.
 
I hope everybody had a good Christmas break and is ready to get their teeth stuck into some new album nominations.

Kicking off 2025 is @Coatigan. Whenever you are ready with the clues, sir.
 
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