Classic Albums and Home Improvements [5 CLASSIC ALBUMS]

A funny thing happened over the holidays.

I drove home from Fort Morgan on the night of Christmas. When I arrived at my front door, I pulled two sets of keys from my pocket—one from my car and one from my wife's. I had driven all that way with her keys, so she wouldn't be able to come back without them on Monday.

My plan had been to head west to enjoy the six feet of snow that Steamboat had received during and before Christmas. There was no way to get these keys to her, other than to go back.

I took this monkey wrench in the plan as the universe's way to redirect me, so I heeded it. and changed my plan.

There was about five days of work that needed to be done at the house, and some of it was immediately necessary with the baby moving from immobile to mobile. There was no time when the baby offered me dozens of uninterrupted time to knock out some projects.

So, I decided to stay home and take care of some beeswax, and surprise my wife when she arrived back in Fort Collins.

During the construction, I stepped back to my CD collection to listen to a few old favorites during the remodeling tasks. After I listened, I realized the playlist was worth sharing.

Here's what I played.

1
Steely Dan - A Decade of Steely Dan
Modern hipsters who like jam bands might want to pull out this gem during their next party. You can hear some ofhte genesis of jam in their on intricate, jazzy stretches of noodling.
Standounts - Bodhisatva, Kid Charlemagne
2
Ben Harper - The Will To Live
Ben screams and soothes, preaches and supplicates, coos and growls on this heartfelt search for meaning. Might as well call it a concept album, because it rises, climaxes and falls the way a great story does.
Standouts - Roses from My Friends, I Want to Be Ready
3
Janes Addiction XXX
Filthy. Furious. Ugly. Gritty. Raw. Beautiful. In 1987, Jane's Addiction was ahead of their time, helping to form what would become the grunge sound that didn't populate until the 90's. While Depeche Mode was lamenting in alto and baritone, Perry Farrell was rock's psychedelic mezzo soprano. This record is not safe for work and should never be listened to any other way.
Standouts - I Would For You, Whores, Jane Says, Rock and Roll
4
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Listening to this record reminded me that David Gilmore played fills. That means that much of the song goes by without his guitar, adding to the gravity of the notes that he does play. The slow opening of 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond' displays the timing of the great 70's and 80's art rock group. Gilmore has perfect timing. Not only does he play the perfect notes, but he plays them just when they should be played, no shorter and no longer.
It takes me back to 1975, when I was one year old and didn't know what a 'Pink' was, much less a 'Floyd', but I think I sensed that something musically special was going to happen, and I couldn't wait to hear the record.
This is a concept record and the band's 'tribute' to departed member Syd Barrett.
Standouts - a five part song - Shine On You Crazy Diamond
5
Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
Great first 6 songs. After that, it starts to sound like movie trailer music.
All of the other records that I chose are all time classics that every music fan should listen to. I realized that, while I have great love for Depeche Mode, I wouldn't rank them as timeless as the rest of my choices.

Categories: Articles