469 - Public Image Ltd. - Metal Box

I have a new album that can be used as a form of torture against me. If you ever need an album to put on and think to yourself, "WTF!?" - this is it. One aspect that really grates on me is that I do hear things in most of the songs that I find intriguing. Like the Echo & the Bunnymen album the other day, what I enjoy most of all is the rhythm section. There are too many songs where it seems like most of the band wants to play "music" but the instrument leading the melody (usually guitar, sometimes keyboard) and lead singer are far too interested in being avant-garde. At no point am I entertained by John Lydon's vocals. Most of his delivery is a typical No Wave drone or his whiny, out of tune sneer.

I can see how certain elements of the songs on this album influenced and inspired others. However, the songs, as a whole, are painful for anyone that is put off by atonal, deconstructionist music (No Wave, noise music, industrial). This album is about putting together some extremes. The chest hitting bass and the shrill guitar battle for your attention. The rhythm section often lays down a great beat or groove that begs for some dancing, but the guitars and vocals squeal and lecture you for thinking such frivolity. "I am abstract noise art...that you can dance to...but you shouldn't!"

The exception to many of the above comments is the very last song on the set, "Radio 4." This is a song that could easily be mistaken for a lost Enya track. It's downright delightful. But what is the point of the song? Is it some reward for enduring the previous 55 minutes? Am I supposed to feel like a pansy for disliking all of the other "tough" songs and liking this "soft" song? Is it the band's way of saying they can make pretty music if they want to? *shrugs*

Metal Box has replaced Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness as my least favorite album in the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums list.

Songs I knew I liked: None

Songs I didn't know but now like: If you replace the vocals/lyrics entirely and cut the run time in half, I'd really like "Pop Tones."

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: All.

468 - Elton John - (eponymous)

I've been looking forward to hearing some of Elton's albums while going through the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums list. However, this isn't the album that will make me listen to anything other than his greatest hits collections. It's a good album that has a couple of gems and several songs that show Elton's capability with blues and honky-tonk. But I found myself mentally putting the music in the background after a third of the 11 tracks. Recognition of "Border Song" grabbed my attention again, but "The Greatest Discovery" and "The Cage" lost me immediately after that.

Songs I knew I liked: "Your Song" and "Border Song"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Take Me to the Pilot" and "The King Must Die"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: All of the other tracks.