I Heard the Old Man Stamping His Feet

Some of my friends and I share music with one another to listen to at work. We’re supposed to review/rate whatever’s shared with us, but that doesn’t always happen.

Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hot (1996)

These guys have been on my list of things to share for a very long time. Now felt like a good time. You may have heard their biggest hit (which is on this album), Hell.

The ’90s were a good time for bands with brass sections, but nobody really saw this coming. They have a very distinct feel. Some bands it’s hard to put a name on their sound, but here it’s easy: vaudeville jazz. The band we’ve had in this music game so far that is close to similar is The Ditty Bops. But you can take bands like Barenaked Ladies, Dog on Fleas, Nickel Creek, Norah Jones and Quintette du Hot Club de Jazz and blend them up to get a similar feel.

For Every Useless Reason I Know There’s a Reason Not to Care

For almost two years, some of my friends and I have been sharing music. We’re supposed to review/rate what gets shared with us, and share those reviews with the group, but that doesn’t always happen.

Guns ‘n’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction (1987)

I used to be a big G’N’R fan, but have kind of drifted away from them for years. I never before realized that the first six songs are (more or less) all about violent life in the big city and the last six are all about love (kinda).

We’ve Wandered Many Weary Foot Since Auld Lang Syne

For more than a year, some of my friends and I have been sharing music. We’re supposed to review/rate what gets shared with us, and share those reviews with the group, but that doesn’t always happen.

The December People – A Classic Rock Christmas (2015)

Going with the Frankincense tune from last week, Spencer shared a whole album of prog/Christmas tune mash-ups.

I was Looking for a Piece that Fit

For more than a year, some of my friends and former coworkers have been sharing music. The idea is that we’re supposed to review/rate what’s shared with us, then share those reviews with the group, but that doesn’t always happen.

This week, my former co-worker Tim suggested we all share something from the past couple of years that we haven’t listened to. Ok. Sure. This is a little different. My band mate Spencer went through bands that he used to listen to, but hasn’t really kept up on to find something. I thought about doing the same thing, except it seemed overwhelming. So I just went through bands that I’ve already shared with the group looking for side projects.

One that I really wanted to share was Andrew Stockdale’s solo album he released while Wolfmother was on hiatus. But he writes all their stuff anyway, and, as it turned out, they recorded it while they were still together. Really it’s just a Wolfmother album with a different name, so I guess that’s not going with the spirit of this week’s “theme.” Not that we always have to have a theme. But, it’s not on Spotify anymore anyway.

Before I get into what I did find, let me get into what everyone else shared.

Bette Midler – It’s the Girls (2014)

Tim’s whole idea behind suggesting we share something we haven’t heard that’s been recorded and released in the past couple of years was so it will help us stretch our selections and have a dose of what is being recorded “today.” Yet he shares an album from a woman who’s been recording for the past 50 years. Not only that, it’s a cover album of songs that inspired her to start singing in the first place. So an old woman singing old songs is supposed to have a dose of what’s being recorded today?

Grass Stains were Just a Sign of the Times

For almost a year now, some of my friends and I have been sharing an album with one another, partly for exposure to new music and partly to give us something to listen to while we work, etc. We’re supposed to review it, rate it, and share those reviews/ratings with one another as well, but that doesn’t always happen.

Neil Diamond – Stones (1971)

The only songs I had heard off this album, prior to this week, were I Am I Said and Crunchy Granola Suite. Part of it is, I’m only a greatest hits listener. And I don’t even like all of his hits. I’m sure there are some great songs that aren’t included as “hits,” but I haven’t really ever been impressed enough to listen to his whole catalogue and find those hidden gems.

Surrounded with the Sound of Laughter

Some of my co-workers and I have been sharing some of our favorite music, rating them, reviewing them and sharing those reviews with one another. I thought I’d share my thoughts on their suggestions (and their thoughts on mine) with you here.

I thought about sharing something Christmas-y, but there’s only one whole Christmas album I really love, so I’ll share that soon. I’m not a total Christmas Curmudgeon, but in the meantime I’m just going share whatever I want.

Anyway, here’s how I rate things. If I give something one star, it means I don’t think it qualifies as music. Five stars mean I wish I wrote the thing. Most music for me is a three.

Barenaked Ladies – Barenaked for the Holidays (2004)

This is one of the few winter holiday albums I have in my iTunes. It’s probably my second favorite. Another one of those albums I probably don’t have to listen to in order to review, but I will. Mostly because I really need stuff to listen to while I work.

And They were Singing Out a Lovely Song under the Pale Moonlight

Some of my co-workers and I started sharing some of our favorite music. We’ve been doing it for a while, but now we’re actually reviewing them and sharing those reviews with one another.

A note on how I rate things. One star means I don’t think it qualifies as music. Five stars mean I wish I wrote the thing. Most music for me is a three.

Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue (1977)

Only one album was shared with me this week, and I think it was kind of lazy choice.

If you go back 14 weeks, you’ll see I suggested my coworkers listen to ELO’s Time. Tim said I beat him to the punch; he was going to recommend this album. Last week he started repeating artists he had previously suggested, and now he’s repeating artists other coworkers (namely, me) have recommended. I can’t blame him though, ELO is a great band. I can blame him for still not reviewing Time, though.

This is one of those albums I don’t actually have to listen to before I write up a review, but I did. And I listened to it on vinyl.