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Nightmare (Album of the Day)
“We wanted to have a dark concept record, sort of like THE WALL or OPERATION: MINDCRIME,” said bassist Johnny Christ of Avenged Sevenfold's NIGHTMARE. “Then lyrically it took a different turn when Jimmy passed.” The 2009 death of drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan during the recording was a terrible blow to the Huntington Beach heavy metal band, but with Dream Theater percussionist Mike Portnoy filling in, the Warner Bros. set became a powerful and poignant tribute. “Welcome to the Family,” “Buried Alive,” “So Far Away” and the title track were instant hard rock classics, and the collection debuted at No.1 on the Billboard chart upon its release 10 years ago today. Vocally and instrumentally, A7X give NIGHTMARE everything they've got, and the gold-certified album is a must for any metal fan.
Yes, Indeed! (Album of the Day)
Like many early Atlantic albums, including his debut, Ray Charles' YES, INDEED! was a compilation of single sides. The 14 songs on the 1958 set span five years – from his second single for the label, “The Sun’s Gonna Shine Again,” to the then-recent title track – but have the consistent quality of Brother Ray in his prime. While the aforementioned songs are covers (as is a sensational version of “Lonely Avenue”), most of the material is original, and “Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'bout That River)” and “Talkin' 'bout You” are among the Charles-penned standouts. Though the arrangements give the iconic singer and his piano plenty of elbow room, there's also plenty of additional talent on these sessions, including saxophonist David Newman and vocal groups The Cookies and The Raelettes. Does this album capture the excitement of R&B as it was cross-pollinating rock 'n' roll? Why, YES, INDEED!
Ain't Love Grand (Album of the Day)
Released 35 years ago this month, AIN'T LOVE GRAND is as sarcastic a title as you're likely to find in the X discography - released just after singer-songwriters Exene and John Doe got divorced, the Elektra collection is filled with emotional turmoil. The set proved transitional in other ways, too, being the final album with original guitarist Billy Zoom until the group's 1998 reunion. And after four albums produced by Ray Manzarek, the quartet brought '80s metal specialist Michael Wagener behind the boards for these sessions. For all the changes, the songwriting remains as brilliant as ever, with highlights including “What's Wrong with Me,” “My Goodness” and minor hit “Burning House of Love” (which earned the group an appearance on TV's American Bandstand). Love may not conquer all, but AIN'T LOVE GRAND is another strong effort by one of L.A.'s greatest bands.
Seal (1994) (Album of the Day)
Born in England to Nigerian and Brazilian parents, Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel would find fame more simply as Seal. As his eponymous Sire debut was a hit, the soul singer risked a bit of confusion by titling his 1994 follow-up SEAL as well (it's sometimes called “SEAL II”), but that collection proved an even bigger smash. Benefiting from lush production by Trevor Horn, the album features 11 heartfelt songs written or co-written by Seal, including “Prayer For The Dying,” “Don't Cry” and “Kiss From A Rose,” a track released to modest success until its inclusion in the Batman Forever soundtrack, after which it topped the U.S. singles chart and won Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. With guest artists like Joni Mitchell and Jeff Beck helping frame Seal's superb vocals, this 1994 album stands as the singer's finest hour.
The Kick Inside (2018 Remaster) (Album of the Day)
Among the most precocious talents in British musical history, Kate Bush started writing songs at age 11 and was all of 13 when one of her demos reached the hands of Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, who recommended her to EMI. THE KICK INSIDE followed on the label in 1978, and it's a remarkably assured debut. All 13 songs were penned by Kate and cover a broad stylistic range from rockers (“James and the Cold Gun”) to sweeping ballads (“Wuthering Heights,” a U.K. No.1 hit) and the subject matter is just as diverse, encompassing literature, philosophy and sexuality among other topics. Bush's soprano vocals are both beautiful and eccentric, and producer Andrew Powell spotlights them with progressive rock-influenced arrangements that sound even sharper on the album's 2018 remaster. We'll give THE KICK INSIDE another spin now to wish Kate Bush a happy birthday.
Bump City (Album of the Day)
Following debut album EAST BAY GREASE, Oakland funk favorites Tower of Power signed with Warner Bros. to issue BUMP CITY in 1972. With the departure of former frontman Rufus Miller, singer Rick Stevens steps into the spotlight; he's the one listeners hear on the set’s “You’re Still a Young Man” and “Down to the Nightclub,” both co-written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka (members of the band's justly famous horn section). Those singles reached #29 and #66 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively, and the collection as a whole proved to be the band’s debut on the Billboard 200, hitting #85. Even greater success was down the road for Tower of Power, but the assured BUMP CITY is where the group really found its groove.
The Great Escape (Album of the Day)
With PARKLIFE, Blur became the toast of the U.K. rock scene, but if they were feeling pressured for a follow-up, 1995's THE GREAT ESCAPE doesn't sound like it. The album's “The Universal” “Stereotypes” and “Charmless Man” all soared up the English singles chart, and its “Country House” became the quartet's first U.K. No.1 (famously beating out Oasis' “Roll With It” for the top slot). But a closer look at Damon Albarn's lyrics reveal that, behind the inventive and highly melodic music, the album is preoccupied with loneliness and the grind of daily life - a contrast that helps make the collection one of Blur's most satisfying works. THE GREAT ESCAPE drew wide acclaim from the English music press upon its release 25 years ago today, and it remains one of the crowning glories of Britpop.
The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim (Album of the Day)
Released five years ago, THE STORY OF SONNY BOY SLIM further cemented Gary Clark Jr.'s reputation as one of the best blues guitarists around. The bus depicted on the cover of the Austin-born phenom's second Warner Bros. album is appropriate; among the busiest touring performers, the singer-songwriter has shared stages with Eric Clapton, the Dave Matthews Band and the Rolling Stones. More importantly, Clark has absorbed a wide variety of influences in his travels, and these 13 tracks incorporate rock, soul and hip-hop touches on such highlights as “Grinder,” “Can't Sleep” and “Shake.” The axework is exemplary without ever becoming showy, and insightful lyrics and confident vocals (including some wonderful falsetto) add to the appeal. A Billboard Blues Album chart-topper, THE STORY OF SONNY BOY SLIM suggests that Clark's story is just beginning.
Maroon (20th Anniversary Edition) (Album of the Day)
The follow-up to Barenaked Ladies' smash STUNT, MAROON is another winner from the Canadian alternative-rock hitmakers. Produced by Don Was, the 2000 Reprise collection features the buoyant melodies and infernally catchy arrangements for which the quintet is known, but with a slightly more mature outlook. “The Humour of the Situation” (to cite the title of a song BNL recorded in the nude) can still be heard in these Steven Page/Ed Robertson originals, but so can more serious themes – which didn't stop tracks like “Pinch Me,” “Too Little Too Late” and “Falling for the First Time” from sailing up the singles charts. A digital 20th Anniversary Edition of MAROON has just been released, and the million-selling set sounds better than ever.
The Menace (Album of the Day)
Elastica's self-titled debut emerged at the peak of the Brit-pop era, but follow-up THE MENACE took five years to reach shops. If the delay was detrimental commercially, it allowed the band time to broaden its sound – while opening salvo “Mad Dog God Dam” packs the hook-filled punch of their earlier album, a good chunk of the Atlantic set focuses on moodier synth-centric songs (“Miami Nice”). Departed singer-guitarist Donna Matthews can be heard on two tracks, and the collection also includes a couple of cool guest appearances: Mark E. Smith of The Fall (adding post-punk cred to “How He Wrote Elastica Man”) and, under a pseudonym, Damon Albarn of Blur (on a cover of New Wave fave “Da Da Da”). More diverse and demanding than the group's first, THE MENACE rewards repeated listening and we'll give it another spin now to wish frontwoman Justine Frischmann a happy birthday.