Kong's journey through the musical canon (and some other stuff)

[kongs_speech]

#030: The Adverts - Cast of Thousands



1. Cast of Thousands - 4/5
2. The Adverts - 2.7/3
3. My Place - 2.7/3
4. Male Assault - 1.6/2
5. Television's Over - 2.7/3
6. Fate of Criminals - 2.4/3
7. Love Songs - 1.6/2
8. I Surrender - 2.4/3
9. I Looked at the Sun - 3.6/4
10. I Will Walk You Home - 3.2/4

[26.9/32]

Avg: 4.2
Score: 4/5

Reason for inclusion: I gave Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts a 4.5/5.

Review: While it's not a masterwork like their first record, Cast of Thousands is a very strong collection of songs. The album finds them going in a very different direction, sounding more new wave than punk at times. I feel that the LP lacks the 5-star classic tracks that made Crossing the Red Sea so special, but the experiment was definitely a success. It's really a shame that they couldn't continue on and keep evolving their sound.

Will I hear more from this artist? Sadly, they only have these two albums.

[kongs_speech]

#031: Aerosmith - Pump



1. Young Lust - 1.6/4
2. F.I.N.E. - 1.6/4
3. Going Down/Love in an Elevator - 4.2/6
4. Monkey on My Back - 1.6/4
5. Water Song/Janie's Got a Gun - 3/6
6. Dulcimer Stomp/The Other Side - 3/5
7. My Girl - 1.2/3
8. Don't Get Mad, Get Even - 1.5/5
9. Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man - 2/5
10. What It Takes - 2/5

[21.7/47]

Avg: 2.31
Score: 2/5

Reason for inclusion: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Review: Okay, maybe I'm a cranky old fart, but that doesn't change the fact that this wildly overrated record is major crapola. Witless, charmless cock rock that's hardly superior to the likes of Nickelback, whom it no doubt influenced. Though I've never liked "Janie's Got a Gun," I wasn't expecting Pump to be anywhere near this bad. If the whole thing was as endearingly goofy as "Love in an Elevator," it might have had a chance. Sadly, that is the lone highlight. Everything else is totally forgettable, and we've even got a shitty ballad to finish the LP off. I like early Aerosmith. Their self-titled album is miles ahead of this. They certainly devolved over the years. I'm baffled that this was ever chosen for the prestigious 1001 Albums book. They've always had some questionable inclusions (and omissions), but really, this tripe?

Will I hear more from this artist? Rocks and Toys in the Attic are up next, and are hopefully better.

[kongs_speech]

#032: Aerosmith - Rocks



1. Back in the Saddle - 4/5
2. Last Child - 2.7/3
3. Rats in the Cellar - 3.2/4
4. Combination - 2.8/4
5. Sick as a Dog - 2.8/4
6. Nobody's Fault - 3.2/4
7. Get the Lead Out - 2.8/4
8. Lick and a Promise - 2.1/3
9. Home Tonight - 2.4/3

[26/34]

Avg: 3.82
Score: 3.5/5

Reason for inclusion: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and Rolling Stone's Top 500 Albums

Review: Now that's more like it! After the dreadful Pump yesterday, I was not looking forward to this album at all, so it came as a pleasant surprise. It's pretty damn good in places, and the whole thing is more solid than even the best track on Pump. They were trying to sound a lot like Zeppelin, which is unoriginal but much better than trying to sound like shitty '80s rock. I don't feel that it's a classic, but I enjoyed it and would listen again.

Will I hear more from this artist? Toys in the Attic is up next.

[kongs_speech]

#033: Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic



1. Toys in the Attic - 2.1/3
2. Uncle Salty - 3.2/4
3. Adam's Apple - 4/5
4. Walk This Way - 4/4
5. Big Ten Inch Record - 1.6/2
6. Sweet Emotion - 5/5
7. No More No More - 4/5
8. Round and Round - 4/5
9. You See Me Crying - 4.5/5

[31.4/38]

Avg: 4.13
Score: 4/5

Reason for inclusion: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and Rolling Stone's Top 500 Albums

Review: Toys in the Attic is the polar opposite of Pump, while still being in the hard rock genre. The songs here are tight, lean, and rockin'. It doesn't sound like proto-Nickelback at all. The unsubtle innuendo throughout the album's lyrics is actually funny, as on the juvenile blues parody "Big Ten Inch Record." The LP closes with a lovely ballad, nothing like that "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" crap. And, of course, we have two of classic rock's greatest hits, "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion."

Will I hear more from this artist? I might check out more 70s albums, but nothing past that. I like and own Aerosmith. Wouldn't mind scoring a vinyl copy of this one either.

[Armoreska]

Pump rocks. I guess you don't like Def Leppard.

[kongs_speech]

Pump rocks. I guess you don't like Def Leppard.

That's correct, although I haven't heard one of their albums. There are two on the list for this project.

[kongs_speech]

#034: The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen



1. If I Were Going - 2.4/3
2. Gentlemen - 3.6/4
3. Be Sweet - 3.6/4
4. Debonair - 4/4
5. When We Two Parted - 5.4/6
6. Fountain and Fairfax - 3.2/4
7. What Jail is Like - 3.6/4
8. My Curse - 4.2/6
9. Now You Know - 3.6/4
10. I Keep Coming Back - 4.5/5
11. Brother Woodrow (inst.) - 4.8/6

[42.9/50]

Avg: 4.29
Score: 4/5

Reason for inclusion: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Review: This alt-rock classic impressed me more than I was expecting. With the exception of "My Curse," which is fine but feels out of place with its female guest vocals, it's a great listen from start to finish. I was previously familiar with the title track and "Debonair," but those are far from the only gems. Greg Dulli is a great vocalist and a pretty talented songwriter as well.

Will I hear more from this artist? Yes, I will complete their discography eventually. I have previously heard three of their other albums, with Black Love being the best of those.

[kongs_speech]

#035: AFI - Sing the Sorrow



1. Miseria Cantare - The Beginning - 1.8/3
2. The Leaving Song Pt. II - 3.2/4
3. Bleed Black - 3.2/4
4. Silver and Cold - 3.6/4
5. Dancing Through Sunday - 1.8/2
6. Girl's Not Grey - 3/3
7. Death of Seasons - 3.6/4
8. The Great Disappointment - 4/5
9. Paper Airplanes (Makeshift Wings) - 3.6/4
10. This Celluloid Dream - 4/4
11. The Leaving Song - 2.4/3
12. ... But Home is Nowhere - 3.6/4

[37.8/44]

Avg: 4.3
Score: 4/5

Reason for inclusion: I bought the CD last year and had not given it a full listen.

Review: Post-hardcore is a genre that I seem to really love, so I'm trying to explore it further. I picked up this CD for $5 at FYE because I loved "Girl's Not Grey." It's a great example of the genre, with one kick-ass song after another. The vocals are excellent for the genre, and there are many hooks to enjoy. I certainly got my money's worth.

Will I hear more from this artist? Yes, probably everything at some point. I've added Answer That and Stay Fashionable to this project, because I loved that album in high school and have not heard it in at least a decade.

[kongs_speech]

#036: AFI - Answer That and Stay Fashionable



1. Two of a Kind - 1.6/2
2. Half-Empty Bottle - 1.6/2
3. Yurf Rendenmein - 1.8/2
4. I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won't Let Me Get One) - 0.8/1
5. Brownie Bottom Sundae - 1.6/2
6. The Checkered Demon - 1.8/2
7. Cereal Wars - 0.8/1
8. The Mother in Me - 1.6/2
9. Rizzo in the Box - 1.6/2
10. Kung-Fu Devil - 1.6/2
11. Your Name Here - 1.6/2
12. Ny-Quil - 1.6/2
13. Don't Make Me Ill - 2.7/3
14. Open Your Eyes - 0.8/1
15. High School Football Hero - 2/2
[23.5/28]
Avg: 4.2
Score: 4/5

Reason for inclusion: I loved the album in high school and had never rated it or heard it in many years.

Review: Oh man, this takes me back to my punk days. This particular brand of short, bratty, Descendents-style punk is irresistible to me. This record may not have a whole lot of substance, but who cares? It's loud, it's fast, and it kicks ass. "High School Football Hero" would be perfectly at home on Milo Goes to College. It's hard to believe that this AFI eventually became the Sing the Sorrow AFI. Bands rarely change their sound that radically.

Will I hear more from this artist? Yeah, I've decided to add most of their discography to this project. I'm skipping the three after Decemberunderground, because I heard they really sold out and went poppy. Those aren't a priority.

[kongs_speech]

#037: AFI - The Art of Drowning



1. The Lost Souls - 2.7/3
2. The Nephilim - 2.7/3
3. Ever and a Day - 2.4/3
4. Sacrifice Theory - 1.8/2
5. Of Greetings and Goodbyes - 3/3
6. Smile - 2/2
7. A Story at Three - 3.2/4
8. The Days of the Phoenix - 2.4/3
9. Catch a Hot One - 2.7/3
10. Wester - 2.4/3
11. 6 to 8 - 3.6/4
12. The Despair Factor - 3.2/4
13. Morningstar - 3/3

[35.1/40]

Avg: 4.39
Score: 4/5

Reason for inclusion: I gave Sing the Sorrow and Answer That and Stay Fashionable 4/5s.

Review: Far more mature, lyrically and sonically, than AFI's debut, this record still has a definite hardcore edge to it. It's great from start to finish. They're so fun here, before they moved into the really dark post-hardcore phase of their career.

Will I hear more from this artist? Yes, I'm working through most of their discography.

[kongs_speech]

#038: AFI - Black Sails in the Sunset



1. Strength Through Wounding - 1.6/2
2. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda - 1.8/2
3. Exsanguination - 3/3
4. Malleus Maleficarum - 3.6/4
5. Narrative of Soul Against Soul - 1.8/2
6. Clove Smoke Catharsis - 5/5
07. The Prayer Position - 2.7/3
8. No Poetic Device - 2/2
9. The Last Kiss - 3/3
10. Weathered Tome - 2/2
11. At a Glance - 4/4
12. God Called in Sick Today - 3/3

[33.5/35]

Avg: 4.79
Score: 5/5

Reason for inclusion: Exploring the AFI discography.

Review: Wow. I gave my first three AFI albums each a 4/5, so I clearly liked them a lot, but I didn't know they had this in them. This album is essentially flawless. Absolutely killer, intense gothic punk rock that shreds. If you enjoy heavy music, it's essential. Hands down, one of the best punk records I've ever heard.

Will I hear more from this artist? Yep.

[kongs_speech]

#039: AFI - Decemberunderground



1. Prelude 12/21 - 1.4/2
2. Kill Caustic - 2.1/3
3. Miss Murder - 2.4/3
4. Summer Shudder - 2.4/3
5. The Interview - 2.8/4
6. Love Like Winter - 2.1/3
7. Affliction - 4/5
8. The Missing Frame - 4/5
9. Kiss and Control - 3.2/4
10. The Killing Lights - 3.2/4
11. 37mm - 3.2/4
12. Endlessly, She Said - 3.2/4

[34/44]

Avg: 3.86
Score: 3.5/5

Reason for inclusion: Exploring the AFI discography.

Review: This is probably the point where the band "sold out." The album isn't bad by any means, but it is much poppier than anything preceding it. Most of the songs are great, but not as great as much of their earlier work. I don't think I'm going to hear the albums after this one. It's a good enough stopping point.

Will I hear more from this artist? Yes, I have two of their earlier works left.