410 - Wire - Pink Flag

In many ways, Wire embodies what I guess a typical person might expect "punk" to sound like. They sneer like Sex Pistols, bounce along seemingly happy songs like The Ramones, and often sound like the template for hardcore punk for the next 7 or so years. What I found interesting about the album because there are pre-punk influences that the band emulates on various tracks. On one, they're "punk Rolling Stones;" another they're "punk Velvet Underground;" the next track has them as "punk David Bowie/Mott;" or even "punk Troggs."

Songs I knew I liked: None

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Three Girl Rhumba," "Ex Lion Tamer," "It's So Obvious," "Pink Flag," "Fragile," "Mannequin," and "1 2 X U"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None

409 - Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard

If you are a classic rock fan that is curious about the blues, this is the album for you. This Clapton album does a fine job of polishing the blues to the point that it is nearly pop sounding. There is nothing gritty about this album. Songs of the type I've already heard several times from other blues legends are included here, but sound clear, contain more artistic flair and complication, and are performed at a relaxed pace that sounds more like a backyard gathering jam as opposed to a performance at a juke joint.

I feel two things towards this album: 1) relaxed from the smoothness of the production and song pacing and 2) boredom from that same smoothness. It is a good sounding album and I immediately can see how people would love to have that as a comfort album to play around the house on a whim. Unfortunately, I wasn't wowed to the album. After the third listen, I was still searching out solid opinions on the songs I liked.

Songs I knew I liked: "I Shot the Sheriff"

Songs I didn't know but now like: None stand out.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None.