The B Dispatch, Vol. 3

Artist: The Bar-Kays
Album: ‘Soul Finger‘
Year: 1967

My inclusion of this band into my library is something we can definitely blame on the Russians. The title track haunted me until I got into college and downloaded it much to chagrin of everyone who got a ride with me the couple of months after I put it on a mix CD. The rest of their fare is just as funky but not necessarily as fun but they have some great musical chops (it helps they were mentored by Booker T. & The M.G.s) and they know how to exploit a good riff into something lasting.

Track of Distinction: “Don’t Do That” proves they could funk-ify a solid blues riff and make it work.

Artist: Barbra Streisand
Album: ‘The Essential Barbra Streisand‘
Year: 2002

I’m kind of sad that my generation really were the ones that made Streisand a punching bag for what “old music” was. There’s a reason she has had a long and successful career: she is more talented and versatile than most of the female artists that came out while I was growing up. Her standards still stand up today as well as her reach out into more adult contemporary in the 90s really carry well. This collection was a Master’s course in how to bring it on a legendary scale.

Track of Distinction: “Memory” from the Broadway musical Cats stands out because it is one of the few songs that allows her to both go high and low in dramatic fashion not just as a function of the song.

Artist: Barenaked Ladies
Albums: ‘Stunt‘ (1998), ‘Maroon‘ (2000), ‘Disc One: Their Greatest Hits‘ (selections) (2001), and ‘Everything to Everyone‘ (2003)

BNL is one of those bands that was right for its time and place. They were exotic for Americans (yes, Canada is exotic shut up) and “One Week” was the catchiest thing to come out of 1998. But, as I have lamtented many times on this blog, they are like other 90s bands that overstayed their welcome and are still, for whatever reason, hanging on and putting out albums. Feel free to blame The Big Bang Theory if you would like.

Track of Distinction: “Call and Answer,” easily their best ballad track, stands the test of time as the theme of working at relationships and love is enduring.

Artist: Baroness
Albums: ‘First and Second’ (2008), ‘Red Album‘ (2007), and ‘Blue Record‘ (2009)

While I enjoy metal, I have proven on this blog that my opinions don’t extend very much past my own personal tastes in the music. That said, I’m glad I came to Baroness when I did as these albums were truly great in that they didn’t get too swept up in things like over-orchestration, experimentation, and (God help me) singing. The fact that most of these songs were instrumentals really put it over the top for me because, if I’m not going to be able to understand what you’re singing anyway, you may as well omit it.

Track of Distinction: “Grad” from ‘Red Album’ is a nice slow burn and really shows off how talented these guys really are as musicians. They know more than the requisite four chords.

Artist: Barry Manilow
Album: ‘Ultimate Manilow‘
Year: 2002

Yep, Barry’s here with his trunk-full of a hits that, to be honest, all follow the same pop music format so closely that the more notable ones kind of blend together. But there’s 20 fucking songs on here and they were all hits at one time, so whatever. I guess only a musical mastermind could make songs about a noir murder at a nightclub, magically not fucking up a friendship after a relationship, and fucking up a relationship so badly that it makes a demon and a fish-man cry certified hits.

Track of Distinction: Manilow’s turn at playing Sinatra with “This One’s For You” is actually pretty decent.

2015 Holiday Album Special: Part 1

It looks like we made it through another year, folks! Good for us! Welcome back to the Holiday Album Special returning for its fourth (FOURTH!) year in a row. Oh, what wonderful, whimsical, merri…ful things to listen to this year. As always, I was on the lookout for good holiday collections throughout the year and …  well, I found some music. Yeah, let’s leave it at that. But there is good stuff, I assure you.

Like last year, I will be going the #2015HAS in catch-up format to save time and a little bit of my sanity. I have lined up 18 albums this year to be covered in six-album chunks over three posts (*counts on his fingers to make sure he did the math right*). Yeah, that’s right. So, without further adieu, let’s get this started!

Artist: Barenaked Ladies
Album: ‘Barenaked for the Holidays‘
Year: 2004

This album is a bit devious in the way it is set up in the early tracks. It almost wants to deprive the listener of the cheeky exuberance that is the quintessential key to BNL’s success until the flood gates open and it all comes spilling out in all of its glory. The best part: there’s the traditional holiday music we expect mixed in with some lighthearted Hannukah tunes and a couple of original tracks that work very well and highlights their ability to craft fine lyrics. Don’t turn your back on this one.

Track of Distinction: “Footprints” is a track written by Ed Robertson that is both seasonally appropriate while also being about something more than the holidays.

Artist: Barry Manilow
Album: ‘In the Swing of Christmas‘
Year: 2007

For a guy who, supposedly, writes the songs that make the whole world sing, this is a clear money-grab effort. Manilow, who counts three holiday albums to his credit, released this one only through Hallmark stores several years ago but he should have released it straight into an Afghan bunker before it was bombed to shit because that’s where it deserves to be. Trying to work some improv-jazz into holiday standards backfires so badly that it renders the album nearly unlistenable. Was it wrong for me to expect more?

Track of Distinction: “Count Your Blessings,” the Irving Berlin classic from White Christmas, was given appropriate and venerable treatment by Manilow who decided to play it straight for the first time on the album.

Artist: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Album: ‘Jingle All the Way‘
Year: 2008

Now, here is an artist and band who did better with their efforts to infuse some improv and fusion jazz notes into holiday standards. While some of them floundered a bit, they have the musical chops to bring it back around to make you understand the risks taken and that adds to the overall appreciation of the album, even if you don’t make this an annual must-listen holiday platter. I just wish Fleck’s banjo was more prominent throughout the album and not sprinkled in sparingly. WE WANT MORE BANJO!

Track of Distinction: “River,” an instrumental cover of the Joni Mitchell cult-classic is well done and also tried to incorporate melody hooks from other songs to flesh it out a bit.

Artist: Bing Crosby
Album: ‘The Voice of Christmas‘
Year: 1998

It is truly undeniable that Crosby’s lasting legacy is tied to the spirit of the holiday season. Just hearing his voice evokes images of roaring fireplaces, egg nog, the smell of evergreen, and feelings of warmth and family love. This collection is a wonderful reminder that the holidays are nothing without the sound of Crosby in our ears. Though he is great with the standards, he will truly be remembered for his (mostly) original works that made the season what it is.

Track of Distinction: In keeping with the trend of going with staying away from the standards, I chose Crosby’s “The First Snowfall” for the distinction as it encapsulates the feeling of the season with a mellow and charming track about seeing the first snow of the season.

Artist: Various Artists
Album: ‘Elton John’s Christmas Party‘
Year: 2005

Those who know me know I love Elton and pretty much everything he has to offer, but this collection of holiday tracks centered around his 1973 track, “Step Into Christmas” is an obvious moneygrab. This attempt to try and meld Christmas favorites with new pop artists tries too hard and falls a bit flat. It underwhelms at nearly every turn with tracks designed to bring generations together but, unfortunately, will not bridge the gap. A few of the tracks are nice and stand out but, as a collection, you’re better off finding something else.

Track of Distinction: The Flaming Lips donate “A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn’t So)” to the collection and it shines so brightly as a song that asks why we reserve all of our goodwill for the end of the year when we should focus on not being dicks the rest of the time.

Artist: Various Artists
Album: ‘A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 3‘
Year: 1997

When this album came out during my junior year of high school, I sought it out almost immediately. I didn’t know about its significance to the Special Olympics; I just knew I dug the Smashing Pumpkins “Christmastime” that was getting massive airplay on the radio. A good track that made me want to hear the rest. And while, on its surface, this album might be seen as a half-assed attempt at a collection of holiday music from well-meaning artists, there’s something more. Artists featured here seem to go out of their way to break their own molds and  make the songs they tackle their very own. While the collection as a whole might not appeal to a broad audience, it does resonate with me, and that’s all I really care about.

Track of Distinction: While Enya’s Welsh version of “Silent Night” is hauntingly beautiful, I have to tip my hat to Chris Cornell’s enchanting and not-too-drawn-out version of “Ave Maria” performed with the band Eleven.