C.A.T.: Raw Power

Iggy and The Stooges – Raw Power (1973)

If there’s an album that’s more raw, in your face, and just flat out raunchy as The Stooges’ third album, Raw Power, I haven’t heard it. Or at least I haven’t heard that kind of uncontainably raw energy channeled into songs as good as these. This also happens to be the last album by the Stooges, it was made just as the band was starting to fall apart due to drug abuse and financial problems. However, Raw Power (which was produced by David Bowie) captures The Stooges in prime form on what is probably their best album.

Raw Power is certainly most notable for the unrelenting sonic assault of songs like “Search and Destroy” or the title track. However, the Stooges show that they have more than one side to their sound with the dark and ominous “Gimme Danger” and the bluesy “I Need Somebody”. Iggy Pop certainly holds nothing back with each song, he certainly puts every bit of energy he has into every vocal performance on this album. And this combined with with James Williamson’s earsplitting guitar work makes for explosive results. Williamson, who joined the band just prior to this album definitely is a much more talented musician than Ron Ashton who played guitar on the first two Stooges albums, but he’s still able to play with that signature raunch that the Stooges are known for. It’s no secret that The Stooges were one of the biggest precursors to the punk rock movement and this album is definitely a sign of things to come.

Favorits Tracks: “Gimme Danger”, “Raw Power”, “You’re Pretty Face Is Going To Hell”

C.A.T: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)

In honor of this week’s Rock Band DLC (“Zero”) I present you with The Smashing Pumpkin’s ambitious double-album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

Released in the depressing October of 1995, Mellon Collie is the follow-up to the band’s hit Siamese Dream. It quickly became a success, despite its $20+ price, and the best-selling double album of the decade at that point in time.

The scope of this release is rather daunting, Billy Corgan and company give us quite the audio assault. We have the explosive power of tracks like “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” and “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” juxtaposed with the elegance and beauty of tracks like “Tonight, Tonight” and “1979” (both of which became renowned for their music videos). They utilize everything from pianos to string orchestration to video games sound effects to “grunge-tuned” guitars and synthesizers.

The end result is 28 tracks that are all tired together around the concept of the cycle of life and death. While some criticize the lyrics, which I think work pretty well for Corgan, no one can deny the greatness of the music accompanying the words. The three-star Rolling Stone review said the album, “may even match The Wall in it sonic accomplishments.”

Mellon Collie is essential Nineties listening, and is among the best albums to come out of that wonderful decade.

Favorite Tracks: “Tonight, Tonight,” “1979”

C.A.T: After The Gold Rush

CAT: After The Gold Rush – Neil Young (1970)

“The Godfather of Grunge” Neil Young has been cracking out the tunes for 40 something years. From hard rock, to country, to rockabilly, to experimental synth music, Neil’s always played by his own rules and though he hasn’t always been consistent with great albums, he’s still racked up some great stuff. After the Gold Rush is the album I’m referring to today, so let’s take a look

Recorded mostly at Young’s home in California, Young took on a more subdued almost country sound for his third album. Inspired by a screenplay co-written by actor friend Dean Stockwell (Known for his roles in Quantum Leap and Blue Velvet) Neil originally had planned to do this album as the soundtrack to the film. Unfortunately the film never quite took off, but that didn’t stop Neil from finishing this album. So with some help from friends such as composer Jack Nitzsche, Nils Lofgren and Stephen Stills, Neil put together what is often considered one of his best albums.

With his distinct high pitched voice and competent guitar work, Neil presents us with a beautiful collection of bittersweet ballads with country themes. Songs like “Tell Me Why”, “Oh Lonesome Me” and “After the Gold Rush” have a genuine timeless beauty to them. Other songs like “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” show off the roots of grunge, while numbers like “Till the Morning Comes” and “Birds” are just light hearted and simplistic pop songs. Neil paints stories about everything from the environment to prejudice through these rootsy rock numbers, and keeps you thoroughly engaged for the whole ride. Though Let’s not ignore the heavier side to this album, most notably shown in the controversial rocker “Southern Man” that presents that other “Pissed Off” side of Neil we all know.

All in all I think one of the main reasons that After the Gold Rush is such a standout work for Neil is that this album feels like his most personal, at least that I can recall. One thing is for sure, it still leaves quite an impact.

Favorite Tracks: “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, “Tell Me Why”

C.A.T.: Forever Changes

Forever Changes – Love (1967)

Love’s third album, Forever Changes is simply one of those albums that blew my mind the first time I heard it. And with it’s dark yet beautiful sound, I find myself coming back to it time and time again.

Love’s lead singer and songwriter, Arthur Lee shows an impressive prowess throughout the album, and his strange lyrics are endlessly fascinating. Lee, who died just two years ago, broke this version of the band up after Forever Changes, and this album stands as a testiment to Lee’s unique songwriting talent, and to Love as a whole. Also, even though Lee gets most of the credit, guitarist Bryan Maclean did write “Alone Again Or” and “Old Man”, two of the album’s best songs, so let’s give credit where credit’s due.

Besides the songs of Arthur Lee, what really makes this album special is its distinctive sound. Love’s folk-rock style is brilliantly complemented by some very eerie sounding string arrangements throughout the album and what I would consider mariachi-style horns. Also, what I find unique is Love’s intricate use of acoustic guitars being used in a way that we’re more accustomed to hearing on electric guitars. And by that I mean that most of the songs are pretty uptempo, and yet there are only two songs that feature any electric guitar. Basically I cannot recommend this album enough, it’s one of the few albums I would consider an absolute masterpiece.

Favorite Tracks: Alone Again Or, The Daily Planet, You Set The Scene

C.A.T: Escape

So even though I agree with John that Nancy and Colin should write more, it’s actually been the longest since I wrote one of these. So I guess I’ll give it a shot.

Journey – Escape (1981)

Journey is one of those bands that has a series of pretty good songs spread out in a large library of pretty bad songs. So I thought for the first in what will probably be my on-going series of Journey reviews, I would start with the album that first attracted me to the band, “Escape.” I say album, but really what enticed me was the hit song, “Don’t Stop Believing,” which I’m sure everyone’s heard. I mean, it was on Family Guy.

Escape was the seventh studio album from the band, and at the time its most successful and best reviewed. It was noted for Steve Perry’s lively singing and the band’s more rock-oriented song. Escape is everything you would guess Journey in the 1980’s would sound like, extremely keyboard and guitar heavy.

Opening with the aforementioned “Don’t Stop Believing,” what follows never quite gets that good, but, surprisingly, is enjoyable enough. There’s a certain electricity that flows through the album that kind of makes it fun to listen to. The song “Open Arms” was used in Heavy Metal, which South Park recently made culturally relevant again.

So is “Escape” worth picking up? Probably not. I mean, if you like what you’ve heard of Journey, it’s worth a shot, I guess. It does not exceed expectations and is extremely Eighties, but it is enjoyable enough in its own right. And sometimes that’s enough.

Favorite Track: “Don’t Stop Believing”

C.A.T: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?

(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis (1995)

I wasn’t sure if anybody was gonna do one of these today, so I took some initiative and cooked one up real quick. With Oasis’ seventh studio album due out this year (Aiming for a release in September), I can’t help but get back into an Oasis kick in preparation. So for this week I thought I’d take a look back at one of the best albums from those mean boys from Manchester.

Now I remember growing up during Oasis’ glory days. I wasn’t a fan of Oasis until 2005 but I can still recall all those hits from back in the day like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” that over time have defined the “Brit Pop” genre of the 90s. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, This being Oasis second album, was a smash hit critically and commercially when it was released in 1995 and I can see why. Filled with track after track of Heavy British Rock/Pop, Oasis showed us that they not only had a knack for rocking but also for writing catchy numbers. We definitely got a taste of this on their first album “Definitely Maybe” but here it was taken to another level. “(What’s the Story)” is one of those albums where you can take just about any track and release it as a single. Liam does his memorable Lennonesque singing, Noel brings the sweet licks, drummer Alan White shows off some competent drum work, and the other two guys are okay I guess. All in all this is a staple of the 90s and always gets me pumped.

Favorite Tracks: “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, “She’s Electric”, “Wonderwall”

P.S. For anyone who’s interested, Oasis will be playing at The Wamu Theater come round August 26th with opening act Ryan Adams. Tickets go on sale April 4th… I know I’ll be there.

C.A.T: Dookie

I decided to go all the way back to the distant future of 1994 with an album very dear to my heart, Dookie by Green Day. As “lame” as they’ve become lately (which I disagree but won’t get into that), this album will forever be a classic.

Some say Green Day did to grunge what grunge did to hair metal. Coming out with a not nescisarrily new sound, but a quality produced version of what their ancestors had done before them. With only 3 insturments, they managed to mix and re-mix until they got a great full sound. Using simple, yet effective harmonies, it strengthens Billy Joe Armstrongs voice to a new level then heard on previous releases, and makes Mike Dirnt a starting member of my back-up all star band.

Not only was it a musically sound album, but lyrically it dealt with an array of different issues. Key subject matter included anxiety and panic attacks, boredom, sexual orientation, and past loves. Although some of the songs still have the fun, imature attitude, Billy Joe’s lyrical skills can be described as “serious”.

Well all in all you won’t find a better pop punk album, so if you don’t have it, get it.