100 Essays on 100 Albums: A Journey Through Music and Life

NumberNineDream · 08-25-2009, 09:24 PM

Just finished hearing your version of The improved Kid A album, I must say that is a perfect album, held all together from the beginning till the end. I always dive into this blank trance listening to Kid A or Amnesiac, to wake up not remembering what I was listening to in the first place.
With this version, I get into this state of trance, but the music is always there, getting better and better.
All I say is ... problem solved.

Btw great work on the Bob Dylan review, that first paragraph gave me the chills.

Rickenbacker · 08-26-2009, 08:18 PM

I think you made a serious mistake with your improved Kid A album. Where is Life in a Glass House? For me, it's the stand out track from Amnesiac. The horns are better even than in the National Anthem. Awesome jazz bit with a (surprisingly) good vocal from Thom. Do people really not give that song credit? It's fantastic!

NumberNineDream · 08-27-2009, 08:29 PM

^ great track ... but you can't put two ending tracks.

music_phantom13 · 09-01-2009, 01:49 PM

I'm sorry to see The Ramones, Blondie, Pixies, and The Beta Band cut from the list. But, adding Wolf Parade, Primal Scream, Boards of Canada, A Tribe Called Quest, The Avalanches, and replacing Kind of Blue with Bitches Brew more than makes up for it. Wishing you major encouragement, especially since the ones I most want to see are between 71 and 81.

jacklovezhimself · 09-02-2009, 03:47 PM

If this was the only thing on music banter I'd still be a member.

Zer0 · 09-04-2009, 03:49 PM

This thread is such an excellent read. You give an incredible insight into legendary albums in a way which i've rarely seen before. Keep up the good work

jacklovezhimself · 09-04-2009, 05:30 PM

It's been a while since the last review, don't let me down!

Schizotypic · 11-15-2009, 08:31 PM

I miss Davey Moore and also his/her reviews. Come back to MB you son of a bitch!

Davey Moore · 01-05-2010, 06:50 AM

And once again, I appear out of the mist.

'Trans-Europe Express' by Kraftwerk (1977)

Recently, I re-watched the movie 'Blade Runner' and I forgot how astounding that movie really is. It does justice to the sly biblical themes that it presents, like the concept of the prodigal son, but what was really interesting was the questions it posed. When machines become so advanced that they're able to replicate humans in almost every way, what's the difference?

Today the world is dominated by machines. Machines control our money, they get us to and from most places, they allow us to farm en masse, they allow us to talk to each other from long distances, and generally unite and keep the world running. But a question must be raised, without the use of tools, what are we? Humanity got to where it is because of our usage of tools. So who's in control, who really has the power?

power: possession of control, authority, or influence over others

Looking at that, can we honestly claim that it is us who has the power over the machines, because if we were so powerful, why do we depend on them? A brain is no use if there is no limbs or other body parts. I think it's more of an equal relationship. At least until we build sentient machines. Then, we have reason to worry.

Kraftwerk seem to embrace a machine sensibility. They call themselves showroom dummies, and the cover of the album really supports that. They're trying to say that, in the end, if you look at science and evolution, we're just complex machines. The best computer ever made is still the human brain. And again, it raises the question, just what is the difference between man and machine?

Trans-Europe Express invokes the feeling of travel, the album being named after what is now a defunct rail system in Europe, that stretched between countries. That is a prime theme in the work of this band, the sense of traveling, going places, perhaps leaving somewhere forever and trying to find a new place to call home. And while many accuse Kraftwerk of trying to be like machines a bit too much, there is a pulsing humanity lurking beneath the surface of this album, with songs like 'Hall of Mirrors', where they say 'Even the greatest stars, despise themselves in the looking glass.'

The album is composed as if the classical way of composition and music making never went out of style. I say that is pretty spot-on. All classical music needed was an electronic revamp. And Kraftwerk provided that. Even if you don't like techno, listen to this album at least, for it is the magnum opus of a highly important band in the development of 20th century music.

Life is timeless, and so is this album.

Rickenbacker · 01-05-2010, 09:06 AM

Loved the closing line.

08-25-2009, 09:24 PM	#61 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	Just finished hearing your version of The improved Kid A album, I must say that is a perfect album, held all together from the beginning till the end. I always dive into this blank trance listening to Kid A or Amnesiac, to wake up not remembering what I was listening to in the first place. With this version, I get into this state of trance, but the music is always there, getting better and better. All I say is ... problem solved. Btw great work on the Bob Dylan review, that first paragraph gave me the chills. __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge

08-26-2009, 08:18 PM	#62 (permalink)
Rickenbacker / Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Conn Posts: 1,338	I think you made a serious mistake with your improved Kid A album. Where is Life in a Glass House? For me, it's the stand out track from Amnesiac. The horns are better even than in the National Anthem. Awesome jazz bit with a (surprisingly) good vocal from Thom. Do people really not give that song credit? It's fantastic! __________________ last.fm rym Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed

08-27-2009, 08:29 PM	#63 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	^ great track ... but you can't put two ending tracks. __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge

09-02-2009, 03:47 PM	#65 (permalink)
jacklovezhimself five years Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,248	If this was the only thing on music banter I'd still be a member. __________________

09-04-2009, 03:49 PM	#66 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	This thread is such an excellent read. You give an incredible insight into legendary albums in a way which i've rarely seen before. Keep up the good work __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound

09-01-2009, 01:49 PM	#64 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	I'm sorry to see The Ramones, Blondie, Pixies, and The Beta Band cut from the list. But, adding Wolf Parade, Primal Scream, Boards of Canada, A Tribe Called Quest, The Avalanches, and replacing Kind of Blue with Bitches Brew more than makes up for it. Wishing you major encouragement, especially since the ones I most want to see are between 71 and 81.

09-04-2009, 05:30 PM	#67 (permalink)
jacklovezhimself five years Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,248	It's been a while since the last review, don't let me down! __________________

11-15-2009, 08:31 PM	#68 (permalink)
Schizotypic Souls of Sound Sailors Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mojave Posts: 759	I miss Davey Moore and also his/her reviews. Come back to MB you son of a bitch!

01-05-2010, 06:50 AM	#69 (permalink)
Davey Moore The Great Disappearer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: URI Campus and Coventry, both in RI Posts: 462	And once again, I appear out of the mist. 'Trans-Europe Express' by Kraftwerk (1977) Recently, I re-watched the movie 'Blade Runner' and I forgot how astounding that movie really is. It does justice to the sly biblical themes that it presents, like the concept of the prodigal son, but what was really interesting was the questions it posed. When machines become so advanced that they're able to replicate humans in almost every way, what's the difference? Today the world is dominated by machines. Machines control our money, they get us to and from most places, they allow us to farm en masse, they allow us to talk to each other from long distances, and generally unite and keep the world running. But a question must be raised, without the use of tools, what are we? Humanity got to where it is because of our usage of tools. So who's in control, who really has the power? power: possession of control, authority, or influence over others Looking at that, can we honestly claim that it is us who has the power over the machines, because if we were so powerful, why do we depend on them? A brain is no use if there is no limbs or other body parts. I think it's more of an equal relationship. At least until we build sentient machines. Then, we have reason to worry. Kraftwerk seem to embrace a machine sensibility. They call themselves showroom dummies, and the cover of the album really supports that. They're trying to say that, in the end, if you look at science and evolution, we're just complex machines. The best computer ever made is still the human brain. And again, it raises the question, just what is the difference between man and machine? Trans-Europe Express invokes the feeling of travel, the album being named after what is now a defunct rail system in Europe, that stretched between countries. That is a prime theme in the work of this band, the sense of traveling, going places, perhaps leaving somewhere forever and trying to find a new place to call home. And while many accuse Kraftwerk of trying to be like machines a bit too much, there is a pulsing humanity lurking beneath the surface of this album, with songs like 'Hall of Mirrors', where they say 'Even the greatest stars, despise themselves in the looking glass.' The album is composed as if the classical way of composition and music making never went out of style. I say that is pretty spot-on. All classical music needed was an electronic revamp. And Kraftwerk provided that. Even if you don't like techno, listen to this album at least, for it is the magnum opus of a highly important band in the development of 20th century music. Life is timeless, and so is this album. __________________ The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.

01-05-2010, 09:06 AM	#70 (permalink)
Rickenbacker / Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Conn Posts: 1,338	Loved the closing line. __________________ last.fm rym Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed