After a six month hiatus and a lazy summer, the Heavy Rotation column is back. Let's roll . . .
In our weekly series, Heavy Rotation, I will write about the five records I have been spinning regularly over the last week. There is not an expiration date. The records included can be from any time period at all. All entries are eligible to appear for multiple weeks. In fact, repetition is likely due to the fact that while I listen to a fair amount of music, it's not as much as I'd like to make time for. Also, as some of you may know, we have a vinyl only policy around our house, so as expected, all entries on the list are being listened to via turntable.
Ladies and germs, presenting the Sept. 7th installment Heavy Rotation:
Kill Rock Stars | 2010
Seven years after the untimely death of Elliott Smith his complete catalogue was reissued on vinyl along with this primer designed to court a new generation of fans. The collection is an interesting melange of obvious pop gems, bedroom folk recordings and a handful of deep tracks. In essence, it is precisely what it claims to be, a great introduction to a terrific pop songwriter, not a "greatest hits" collection. For those looking to dip a toe in the waters of Mr. Smith, this LP is a great place to begin.
Universal Republic | 2011
At this point, you have probably heard the My Head Is An Animal's lead-off single, "Little Talks" at least once even if you're just soaking it up through osmosis via the teenagers in your neighborhood. I knew, as soon as I laid ears on it, it was the sort of thing my teen/tween daughters would love to bits. So, this LP has rested comfortably on our turntable far more than any other this summer. With lots of records selected by youngsters, the repetition might get old. It hasn't happened with this one yet.
Warner Bros. | 1986
After recently spending a rainy afternoon watching an episode of VH1's Classic Album's on this record, I gave it my first full listen in several years. Graceland is one of those remarkable records that sounds as vibrant and urgent today as it did to my high school self the first time I heard it twenty five years ago. Simon has made other great records, most notably the Simon & Garfunkel records and his other "African" records have moments of beauty, but this is album is so vastly better than anything else he touched, that it's almost difficult to believe. Once you learn the story of the way the record was made - by recording jam sessions with African musicians and then bringing them back to the States to turn the sessions into songs - your jaw drops even further to the floor. It's brilliant.
Sire Records | 1989
There is a maxim that goes something to the effect of "you'll always have a special love for the music that you loved when you were sixteen". Depeche Mode is an object lesson in the truth of that adage. This record spun through during our family dinner the other night and even though certain songs were far too drippy with syrupy, soap opera narrative - I'm looking at you "Blasphemous Rumours" - this double LP still makes me happy. Perhaps the most alluring thing about the recording is that a live record by a synth band seems to be such a contradiction in terms. Yet, DM are at the height of their live power here and in the midst of touring some of their very best material. It's a biased love, but that's part of the attraction.
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