February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 36

Yeah I did The Dreaming second and The Sensual World third

 

I honestly had zero clue Tygers of Pan Tang still existed to retweet stuff.

 

Going to need a little more time to fully delve into this one, I think, but there's a lot that intrigued me about it.

 

Didn't realize until I was listening that Miller played flute on "Colors of the Wind", super talented guy!

 

Depends what you’re after. My favourite album of hers is probably The Red Shoes, which is much more “conventional” than Hounds of Love - no conceptual pieces, just 12 really strong tracks.

The Dreaming is excellent, but is definitely a less immediate album, people were a bit confused about it when it was first released, but has gone on to be very influential. You can even hear her doing full screaming vocals on it ha.

The Sensual World, which was the follow up to Hounds of Love is also phenomenal, and has “This Woman’s Work” on it, which is possibly the best power ballad ever.

All three are fantastic, so you’d be making a good choice whichever one you go for.

 

The Loretta Lynn album I was supposed to listen to today, Van Lear Rose, isn't on Apple Music, which is quite a disappointment, as I was looking forward to this one particularly!

I've heard Coal Miner's Daughter from her, but nothing else - does anybody have another album recommendation for her as a replacement? Do @Craig Manning or @cshadows2887 know a good one maybe?

 

Continuing on with more hip hop I skipped out on when I was developing my musical tastes with Nas - Illmatic today

 

I’m not super well-versed in Loretta. Van Lear Rose is probably my favorite thing I’ve heard from her, and it’s very strange that an album that acclaimed isn’t on Apple Music.

Maybe just go grab one of the highest rated from All Music Guide?

 

I don't know her classic stuff at all outside singles. I'd second Craig, I usually trust AllMusic when I need a place to start.

 

I'm behind. I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen now. Definitely a way different start than I expected. I do not like this first song at all, haha

 

Felt about this one how I feel about a lot of U2 - incredible singles and a handful of tracks that didn't really grab me. "Wire" was the standout among the songs I hadn't heard before. There's some aggression on that one that I don't typically associate with U2, especially in that bass tone.

 

Couple more for me today. My 22 should have been Sepultura, but frankly I just don't have the interest so switched in a Mastodon album instead. Happy with my choice.

 

No Van Lear Rose for me today unfortunately, so might have to go old school and just download it at a later date. I instead listened to the mildly amusingly titled Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on your Mind), from 1967. There's a few Lynn originals that she wrote, or co-wrote, and a variety of other covers or country standards.

Real classic country music, some great steel guitar, little flourishes of piano, rhythmic bass keeping everyone in time and Lynn's excellent crystal clear Southern twang vocals, some lovely songs closer to ballads, and some more upbeat tracks.

It's short and sweet, with all tracks coming in at under three minutes, and about half are just two minutes, so the album just breezes by. Very lovely and charming, nothing exceptional or unusual here, but it's an excellently performed and sung set of songs.

I can see she has a new album coming out next month too, at the ripe old age of 88 - might be worth a listen!

 

blood mountain is one of my faves of the 00s

 

I'm Your Man is not for me

 

Sinéad O'Connor's Lion and the Cobra is really great

 

Squeezed in one more. Fuck yes, I was very into this.

 

Some real good stuff in there ^

 

Ok, it's finally going to be time for me to take a John Prine deep dive once this month is over.

 

Given your interests, Craig, it seems important that you've heard it now.

I was listening to "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" a LOT in the run-up to the election.

 

A lot of people need to listen to that song. Haha

 

Finally summarized how I felt about Hounds of Love.

 

Heading back to the 70s today for Carole King's Tapestry