It’s an Easy Thing to Do

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.

The Funky 16 Corners (2001)

For the first time since my friends and I have been sharing music, we have a compilation album. Apparently Spencer showed this album to me 10 years ago, but I don’t remember that. But this isn’t your typical compilation. These guys weren’t even one-hit wonders. They were nobodys. These tunes are from the ’60s or ’70s. This album pays homage to forgotten American funk.

Resonate in Tones of Saving Grace

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.

Richard and Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)

I didn’t catch on until I looked this album up to start listening to it that Spencer had shared an album from the ’70s. When he emailed us this suggestion, I thought it was a modern duo, like The Civil Wars or The Weepies. I was wrong.

Gather Up the Lost and Sold

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.

This week is a little different. Instead of us sharing an album with one another, our wives are picking the albums. Unlike the week when we shared stuff our parents introduced us to, what I shared isn’t a band either my wife or I introduced to the other. And while it does have a little significance in our relationship, it’s mostly just a band we both love. Before I get to what my wife shared, Chris got his wife to participate:

Radiohead – The King of Limbs (2011)

Why am I not surprised Chris’ wife shared Radiohead? I’ve only met her a couple of times, and while I know couples don’t always have similar tastes in music, it seems like spouses have a big influence on one another’s tastes. My wife and I have a big overlap, and it’s getting bigger, but there’s still stuff that one of us likes that the other doesn’t exactly care for.

I’ve come to accept that bands like Radiohead are either loved or hated, and aren’t many people who feel something in between. I definitely think their older stuff is better than their newer. This album was a wonderful blend of textures and atmosphere, but I have a hard time calling a lot of this, in a broad sense, pop rock music. It’s definitely not traditional music. It feels more like a soundtrack than an album. Although what kind of movie would have a score like this, I’m not sure.

Like the Crunch of the Black Ice

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. This week one guy was in Disneyland. I don’t know what was going on with anyone else, but the result was only I shared music with anyone.

But Chris did send me an album via Spotify six weeks ago. Since I didn’t get around to that at the time, now’s a good time.

Swearin’ – Surfing Strange (2013)

I know almost nothing about these guys other than they’re indie punk rock and Chris thought I’d like them. I really have no idea of what to expect.