309 - Jane's Addiciton - Nothing's Shocking

Nothing's Shocking captures an "alternative" band that loves guitar acrobatics, funk rhythms, and manipulating the hell out of Perry Farrell's voice. There are songs about hookers, peeing in the shower, summer, and the existence of God. Often, the music (more than most bands, Perry's altered vocals mimic a musical instrument) comes at the listener in waves that swoop and crash.

The album is certainly not one note. There are rockers, ballads, jazzy interludes, and epic songs that softly build to a sonic climax. Nothing's Shocking manages to entertain, shock, protest, and inform without being disjointed.

Songs I knew I liked: "Ocean Size," "Had a Dad," "Ted, Just Admit It...," "Standing in the Shower...Thinking," "Summertime Rolls," "Mountain Song," and "Jane Says"

Songs I didn't know but now like: I've had and loved this album since it came out. No new discoveries this time.

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

307 - Roxy Music - Avalon

Number 308 is a 3-disc collection of music I have not finished listening to twice, so I'm going to jump ahead momentarily to get this one off my chest.



The last of the Roxy Music albums on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Album list! Avalon is all I really knew of the band before I started this project. I'm grateful to have had an opportunity to become familiar with the history of the band's sound leading up to this album. That new exposure allowed me to find new reasons why I don't like the band.

First off, this album was certainly the least painful of their albums for me. This is primarily due to the fact that I finally felt that Brian's vocals actually match up with the music that accompanies it. There is very little in common with the band that Brian Eno was in and what they had become when Avalon was rolled out. Although Roxy Music is cited as a strong influence on the New Romantics genre of the early 80's, the band had mellowed out and softened up so much, that they sound more like the bands they influenced than their old selves.

This is a synth-heavy album that lays a foundation for Brian's pop crooning and romantic style to preen like a peacock. There is no more tension between the band mixing genres and sounds; all of the music is to serve the balladeering.

Songs I knew I liked: "More Than This"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Take A Chance With Me"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: I would be thrilled if I never heard "Avalon" ever again. The rest of the tracks aren't bad, but hold no interest to me in any way, either.