Turn It Up To 11

The LP that started it all. My love of Wilco that is. I had their '95 debut in my collection (A.M.) but found it a bit lackluster. It was missing... something. This is the 1st great Wilco album IMHO. The melodies are strong, the arrangements layered and quite stunning. Love the studio work on this.

King Crimson's Larks' Tongues in Aspic. To call this album "prog rock" would be unfair. At its core, it's experimental, based on jams, eclectic and full of contradictions : dense/quiet, noisy/melodic. Five decades later, it remains fresh, in my book, unclassifiable. Arguably, KC's finest moment.

Not a huge Fleetwood Mac fan but there's a record I really enjoy. This sprawling, wild double album. Easily in my all-time top 50. Buckingham's tracks are especially fascinating: frantic, almost lo-fi, most likely cocaine-fueled. That's All for Everyone and Sisters of the Moon are highlights for me.

Glitter and Doom. Gave it a spin on my turntable today. Waits' 2009 live album. Good pressing. And really great live performance. True Tom devotees should love it.

I notice that people overuse the word "masterpiece". Masterpiece this. Masterpiece that. Definition? "A work done with extraordinary, masterly skill". Can't put that label on everything. But Miles Smiles IS a masterpiece. Davis' phrasing, the flawless performances. It's upbeat, bouncy, delicate, fun

A classic. If there's one Jarre LP music lovers need in their collection, it's this one. The quality of the compositions (the 6-part Oxygene suite) transcends the very 1970s-sounding synths. Evocative, hypnotic, soothing soundscapes for fans of Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Klaus Schulze.

Van Der Graaf Generator. Such a great, underrated band. Peter Hammill theatrical, almost operatic vocals stand out but there's also a dark vibe, a psychological intensity to their music. Pawn Hearts is a highlight for many but personally I believe Quiet Zone/Pleasure Dome is the band's masterpiece.

Some Girls. No doubt one of the Stones' best '70s LPs. IMHO, not quite at the level of Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street or Let It Bleed, but a really solid, fun record; stylistically varied (many tracks are disco-infused, gotta admit it) and full of great great hooks.

Oh yeah. Love Death Grips! This banner features a very small portion of records I have on vinyl in my collection.

I always had a consuming passion for music and wanted to write about it. I shared this with my dad at age 13. His answer was "Pff. Who'd want to read you?" It hurt. So I locked myself in my room, played this. It was a balm. For 20 years, I made a living writing abt music. Moral? Follow your dreams.

Jon Hassell was such a gifted, innovative trumpet player. Many highlights in his lengthy catalog: his remarkable work with Eno, late career gems such as Last Night the Moon… Vernal Equinox, his 1st official solo LP, remains a fine introduction. Still packs a punch 49 years after its initial release.

Gotta admit Angine de Poitrine's debut is what I've listened to the most since January. They're from my hometown and they have a pretty indescribable sound. Not quite post-punk. Nor pure math rock. Best way to experience their madness is with their live shows. Like their viral KEXP clip on YouTube.

Words are pretty useless when it comes to this one. Assembled in the studio like a puzzle (quite literally), this is nocturnal chill music with hypnotizing grooves. Shorter, Corea, Hancock, McLaughlin, Holland, Williams. Truly an all-star lineup with uncanny chemistry. Just a great piece of music.

One of the best jazz LPs I've heard in recent years. Actually, it's more of a hybrid: jazz, electronic and orchestral music. And it works beautifully. It should also be of interest to ambient music fans bc of its meditative nature. The 6th movement is gorgeous; most symphonic. Clean sound. Superb LP

Even though it's essentially an outtakes LP, I always had a soft spot for Big Fun. Sure, it's kind of a bumpy ride and it doesn't flow like a regular Miles album of the 60s or 70s but it's adventurous, there's great chemistry and it sure is… fun! Highlights : Great Expectations and Go Ahead John.

Going for the One. The end of the '70s is not my fav Yes period. Still, they made some decent stuff. Like this LP. Wasn't a huge fan of the title track at 1st but it has grown on me. Other great moments: the driving Paralells and especially the epic Awaken. That alone is worth the price of admission

Interviewed Cohen 20+ yrs ago. One of the highlights of my music journalism journey. Bright, funny, charming. Always loved his lyrics and his voice. From his clear-voiced folk beginnings to the husky, raspy voice of his later yrs. This LP sounds very late-80's but there are many tunes I love on it.

In the mid '90s, my brother dropped Kiss and started listening to stuff like The Beatles… and Violent Femmes. Personally, I found it more tolerable to hear Blister in the Sun in loop than Strutter. The first Femmes LP remains gorgeous, influential for countless bands. A real left-field '80s classic.

Yes' debut is quite enjoyable. Of course, in hindsight, it's not a landmark LP like Fragile or Close to the Edge but it's impressive. Yeah, the musicianship is not all quite there yet. Yeah, it's a bit all over the place. But it shows a raw, promising talent. And there's a surprising Beatles cover.

Well, you seem to have quite a bit of musical knowledge, that's for sure.

Last week, I listened to a few PFurs LPs (including their fine 2020 release, Made of Rain). Their first album, Forever Now and Mirror Moves are all solid, but I believe this is their best work. Bowiesque post-punk that's raw, nervy. And 3 standout tracks : Dumb Waiters, She's Mine, Pretty in Pink.

I've talked about every single Talk Talk LP (plus Mark Hollis' solo album). So what's left? This compilation. Didn't have it in my collection. Got it yesterday for a few bucks. Great introduction to this great band. Only minor quibble : it doesn't feature songs from the excellent Laughing Stock LP.

Us. I wouldn't say it's one of my fav Gabriel projects... but it has its moments. I remember being a bit disappointed when I first heard it when it was released in 1992 : Steam and Kiss that Frog sounding quite generic to my ears. Still, Washing of the Water remains one of my all-time fav PG tunes.

Added a few Willie LPs to my collection this weekend. I was surprised to discover that most Gen Zers I know have no idea who the man is. First heard the name bc of my mother who loved his 1980s stuff. Stardust is a covers-only LP with remarkable performances and folk, jazz elements. Quite a stunner.

Ambient 4. I know people who love this one and others who don't. I really like it. Is it my fav ambient Eno work? Probably not my pick to unwind or help me fall asleep. What's striking is the density of Mr. E's incredibly dark, brooding atmospheres on this. Quite a unique item in his catalog.

There's a sense of exploration on Nefertiti that's galvanizing. Great chemistry. Deep grooves. No Davis compositions but many by Wayne Shorter. Hancock and Williams shine. Like someone once said : "this is the acoustic calm before the jazz-rock storm of Bitches Brew." One of my fav Saturday LPs.

For the Roses is kind of Joni Mitchell's Time Fades Away. It's a studio LP (not a live one) but when people talk about her 1970s stuff, very few mention it. They should. It's delightful. Released between Blue and Court and Spark, it's rich, eclectic and infused with wit and warmth. Top-drawer Joni.

Newly rediscovered gem. And apparently Mingus' fav LP he ever recorded. For those who want to hear a convincing jazz and classical music fusion, this is highly recommended. Richly orchestrated, evocative, powerful, quite beautiful. One of my fav Mingus projects. A great "weekend album".

The 1st Richard and Linda Thompson LP is a thing of beauty. The kind of record that gets under your skin. And stays there. It's not a happy one but underneath the pain and desperation, there's a glimmer of hope, "bright lights" at the end of the tunnel. Gut-wrenching and cathartic in equal measure.

Huge fan of classical music. Especially of the German label Deutsche Grammophon (yes, the yellow one). I own a few hundreds of DG releases on vinyl (a few dozens on CDs). Some of my fav composers : Debussy, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Mahler, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Satie, Richter. Who are your favs?