Albums recommandés

Broken Boy Soldiers- The Raconteurs

Alternative rock.

Aha! Pearl

Albums recommandés

Born- China Black

Pop-ish kind of neo soul. 

Now, wikipedia tags the only album from the duo "pop-reggae." Y...es... There may be a strong reggae style in "Where" but the other tracks confine the influence to one or two instruments recalling the most recognisable reggae sound and not much beyond that. And hey, reggae was a major thing of the late 20th century so really, what kind of good soul music isn't a little influenced by it ?! The lyrical content, the atmosphere of the album stick to soul and the music is so pack(ag)ed that it's closer to 90s quality pop. So don't expect any rhythmic, wise, weed-smoking philosophy. It's definitely, and just, urban music. Think Charles & Eddie in a more loaded, less original and diversified form. But it's good music. "Searching," "Born," "Stars" and "Almost see you" are the best way to start.

Folk and roots rock

 

Experimental soul and rock

Hard rock

Blues rock

Psyche rock

 

Albums recommandés

Cosmo's Factory (40th Anniversary Bonus Tracks)- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Typical American rock with its typical country influences.

Had this album been shorter I would have called it a pearl. A few tracks are unnecessary; they don't add anything to the work. In fact, they would have been perfectly well on an album of their own, just a less remarkable one. Strictly musically speaking, they've got nothing lacking but they don't fit easily with the superior quality of "Up around the bend," "Run through the jungle," "Lookin' out my back door," "Long as I can see the light" and "Travelin' band (alternate take)."
Hold on a minute, now that I think of it, Cosmo's Factory is really almost-a-pearl. Really!

Albums recommandés

Cheap Thrills (Re-release Bonus Tracks)- Big Brother & the Holding Company

Psychedelic and blues rock.

Now, obviously, this one benefits heavily from its 3 cover songs ("Summertime," "Piece of my heart" and "Ball and chain") and Janis Joplin's incredible capacity to put her energy in just about everything she did. She really knew how to render covers! Otherwise, the first few notes of "Combination of the two" and its Whoa, whoa, ahh, have got to convince you to listen to the rest. "I need a man to love," "Turtle blues" and "Magic of love (live)" are other great songs. But "Piece of my heart" remains the best pearl in the lot.    Pearl

Albums recommandés

Chocolate Milk- Charles & Eddie

Neo soul; that is, it's a definitely personal interpretation of soul.

Now, Charles & Eddie had the capacity to put their own imprint on their music! You cannot not love this type of music cos'...everybody loves good soul. That being said, the album is still too long to achieve the level of the duo's best. At least 6 songs are unnecessary. Nevertheless, there's more than enough on the truly good side to satisfy the criteria of any album: "24-7-365" (a cover of John  Farnham), "Keep on smilin'," "Piece of mind," "Jealousy" (a cover of Queen), "Sunshine & happiness" and "Your love."

Albums recommandés

The Bravest Man In The Universe- Bobby Womack

Weird...The kind of music that does much more than music, you know...

You get what I mean when you know that this was co-produced by Damon Albarn. So, mix a Gorillaz-type of experimentation with weird soul/r'n'b, some African influences in the lyrics and you get the feeling of listening to actual black-veteran soul, and I'm not talking about music anymore...Basically, the cover says it all...
Though, I would add, not all musical experimentations sit well with Womack's vocals and intent...
4 very great tracks in "If there wasn't something there," "The bravest man in the universe," "Love is gonna lift you up," and "Nothin' can save ya." And what a voice!

Albums recommandés

Aerosmith- Aerosmith

Drawing heavily on blues and country, but definitely rock.

First album of a great band! You can feel the early, and at times unsophisticated, efforts and it's refreshing! A true pearl that's become a classic of the band lies among great tunes: "Dream on".
8 tracks worth a try. 

Albums recommandés

Goat Head Soup- The Rolling Stones

Rock.

This is the kind of album that finds you singing along to most songs without remembering their name or even noticing it. But once you listen carefully, you realize how good some of them are. Now, "Coming down again" is a beautiful, though unremarkable, ballad and "Silver train" offers not much more than a good old fuzzy rock. In "Can you hear the music", the raw, disharmonious and annoying vocals and what sounds like Native American or traditional Asian instruments (perhaps a pan flute...?) construct a voodoo-ish, very melancholic, almost powerful, Old South atmosphere. And, as usual with the Stones, even the worst songs are pure musical pieces. Nothing's wrong with "100 years ago" and "Winter" except they pale in comparison with the proper good "Dancing with mr. d.;" the bluesy and much underrated "Hide your love;" the catchy "Doo doo doo doo doo," the easy "Star star" and, obviously, "Angie." On the whole and without much effort, it ends up a pretty melancholic work of uneven quality. Still, after several listenings, "Angie" will become one of the least interesting songs, which proves that Goat Head Soup should have been a pearl ; some of its parts just shine brighter than others.

Black And Blue- The Rolling Stones

Should I even...?

Well, it's only rock...but the really good kind! The instrumental one, the kind that, if you were to remove all lyrics, would still get you going.
For the blues of "Melody" and "Fool to cry" alone, you should love this album! "Hand of fate," "Hot stuff," "Crazy mama," and their cover of "Cherry oh baby" are next in line.  Pearl