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Born on a Pirate Ship (Album of the Day)
Released on this day in 1996, BORN ON A PIRATE SHIP was the third album from Toronto alternative rockers Barenaked Ladies. After keyboardist Andy Creeggan jumped ship, the band was down to a four-piece for the Reprise collection, but BNL again delivers the goods. Principle songwriters Steven Page and Ed Robertson have come up with a set of songs that are as thoughtful as they are funny, with such highlights as “When I Fall,” “Shoe Box” and “The Old Apartment” (which would become the group's first Billboard Hot 100 single in the U.S.) Not that the guys can't get silly; “Spider in My Room” is gleeful madness, and the instrumentation includes saws, cowbells and a Fisher-Price xylophone. Well-produced (by the band and Michael Phillip Wojewoda), BORN ON A PIRATE SHIP reached #12 in Canada, setting the stage for even greater success to come.
Marquee Moon (Album of the Day)
On this day in 1975, Patti Smith and Television began a 7-week residency at CBGB, helping turn the New York City club into a punk mecca. Yet when it came time for the latter band to cut their debut album it was hardly fast and furious; frontman Tom Verlaine had meticulously mapped out MARQUEE MOON, and the group was so well-rehearsed that most songs were recorded in one or two takes. Guitarists Verlaine and Richard Lloyd bring a spirit of exploration that’s akin to the best jazz improvisation, even if the songs themselves - from opener “See No Evil” to “Prove It,” “Friction” and the near 10-minute title track - aren't far from garage rock. Acclaimed as one of the greatest alternative rock albums of all time, MARQUEE MOON was a major influence on bands from U2 to the Strokes, and will still send any guitar fan into orbit.
The B-52's (Album of the Day)
When the B-52's self-titled album landed, there was nothing quite like their quirky blend of new wave and '60s kitsch. That 1979 debut, cut with producer (and Island Records founder) Chris Blackwell at his studio in The Bahamas, features such energetic originals as “Planet Claire” and that crustacean classic, “Rock Lobster,” which became the band's first hit single. The Athens, GA quintet - Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson and Keith Strickland – knew how to throw a party, and this platinum-selling album remains as catchy as it is campy. The band went on to even greater success in the ensuing years, but they were never better than on THE B-52'S, which has just been reissued on vinyl to help you dance this mess around.
Vauxhall And I (Album of the Day)
Since its original release 25 years ago, VAUXHALL AND I has often featured in “Best Album” lists the world over. Morrissey's fourth solo set signaled an acceptance of ageing amidst the tyranny of time, casting off the shackles of the past with a will to embrace the future. With noted producer Steve Lillywhite on board and new songwriting partners Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer, Morrissey crafted an album of brilliant, melodic and languid songs, exquisite arrangements and mellifluous vocals. The Sire collection features a cast of vivid characters (“Spring-Heeled Jim,” “Billy Budd”) drawn in razor-sharp lyrics, and in the riff-driven “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get,” it spawned a U.K. Top 10 hit. The album itself topped the British chart and made the Top 20 in the U.S., making VAUXHALL AND I a commercial triumph as well as an artistic one.
Break the Cycle (Album of the Day)
If the title to Staind's Elektra Records debut DYSFUNCTION laid bare some troubled family backgrounds, the follow-up, BREAK THE CYCLE, was just as clearly about catharsis. While frontman Aaron Lewis lashes out in anger at the way problems pass from one generation to the next, he's still struggling to overcome self-doubt and find a better life. It's a challenge that resonated with millions of fans; powered by singles “It's Been Awhile,” “Outside,” “Fade,” “For You” and “Epiphany,” the collection went quintuple platinum to become 2001's top-selling rock album. The alternative metal band's breakthrough release, BREAK THE CYCLE is both ferocious and compassionate, connecting with listeners on an intensely personal level.
First Take (Album of the Day)
Soul music's heyday was near an end, jazz was creeping into the mainstream and singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell had just launched their careers when Roberta Flack issued her 1969 debut. All of those influences can be heard on FIRST TAKE; opener “Compared To What” shows she can belt 'em out like Aretha, and though none of the eight selections are self-penned, choices like Leonard Cohen's “Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye” reflect her taste for intimate, confessional material. But the jazz influence may be the strongest, with noted producer Joel Dorn at the helm and master instrumentalists like bassist Ron Carter in the band. And it was jazz buff Clint Eastwood who turned the collection's “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” into a hit by putting it in his film Play Misty For Me. Roberta Flack just celebrated a birthday, and we'll salute her singular talents as a vocalist and pianist with the superb FIRST TAKE.
Dizzy Up the Girl (Album of the Day)
By 1998, Buffalo, NY trio Goo Goo Dolls had already made a “Name” for themselves as alternative rockers to watch. Then they came up with a little song called “Iris” for the City Of Angels soundtrack and found themselves on top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart for a record 18 weeks. That Grammy-nominated track was featured on the band's sixth studio album, DIZZY UP THE GIRL, but it wasn't the only hit there; the set's 13 originals also include the successful singles “Slide,” “Black Balloon,” “Broadway” and “Dizzy.” Produced by Rob Cavallo, the polished, hook-filled collection demonstrated that strong melodies and tough rock textures were not incompatible, and DIZZY UP THE GIRL went triple platinum to become Goo Goo Dolls' breakthrough album.
The Spinners (Album of the Day)
The Spinners had cut several records for Motown but the Detroit vocal group didn't really hit its stride until signing with Atlantic Records; the quintet's eponymous 1973 debut for the label was nothing less than a masterpiece. Recorded with producer Thom Bell, the album epitomized the “Philly soul” sound that would dominate airwaves for much of the decade - a seamless blend of passionate vocals and nimble orchestration. With recent arrival Philippé Wynne leading the way, the harmonizing is impeccable throughout this set, which topped the Billboard R&B chart. Among the classics included here are “Ghetto Child,” "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," “I'll Be Around” and “Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" - the latter two became Top 10 singles. As there are several great love songs on THE SPINNERS, we'll give the album another spin for Valentine's Day!
Talkie Walkie (Album of the Day)
Air's third album, TALKIE WALKIE, was a strong return to form for the French electronica duo. The 2004 collection, helmed by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, retains the ambition of the previous 10,000 HZ LEGEND with a scope ranging from intimate acoustic instrumentation to rich string arrangements, but it's a much more accessible record. Members Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel keep the singing and playing down to earth, and their songs – highlighted by “Cherry Blossom Girl,” “Surfing on a Rocket” and “Alone in Kyoto” - are melodic and utterly addictive. That final track appeared in Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation, and Rolling Stone's review of this fine set astutely termed it “elegantly moody soundtrack music for imaginary films.” A Top 10 album across Europe, TALKIE WALKIE is as cohesive as it is atmospheric, and sure to grow on you with each listen.
Todd (Album of the Day)
Todd Rundgren's fifth longplayer, TODD, took the experimental approach of A WIZARD, A TRUE STAR one step further. A double album – the performer's second – the collection is still peppered with the radio-friendly pop-rock (“A Dream Goes on Forever”) that made Rundgren a true star, but the self-produced 1974 set revels in taking musical left turns. Novelties (“An Elpee's Worth of Tunes”), hard rock (“Heavy Metal Kids”) and even a Gilbert & Sullivan cover (“Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song”) are all fair game here. There's plenty of virtuoso instrumental work, and the glee with which our hero explores the sonic possibilities of the synthesizer is contagious. Released 45 years ago this month, TODD is both challenging and exhilarating, and that's probably why it remains such a favorite among fans.