I give your hypothesis 3/4 Doobies

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Joe Jackson - Night and Day
 

Year: 1982
Genre: Pop
Format: Vinyl



The fifth album released by Jackson would be his most popular and commercially successful album. Two hit singles helped drive the album into the top ten on the pop charts for the first time in Jackson’s career, but it's the overall sum of the parts that has determined this album's legacy. Solid from end to end with a lot potential highlights for listeners. Most fans differ on which songs are their favorites off this one, but all agree this is a strong example of the artist overall.

The Night Side of the album sort of blends a World music sound with the Electronic sounds of 80’s pop music. This some of the most complex and compelling music in the genre and a step up for Jackson in terms of his songwriter status. Another World and Chinatown both, heavy atmospheres, melodic feel, then there is the quirky T.V Age including a wonderful chronological landmark lyric “There’s no need for movies, we’ve got HBO”. The next song Target keeps the energy high with a distinct Latin sound and the highest concentration of horns so far, the energy of the Night Side is outstanding and moves with excellent fluidity. With the signature opening rhythm the song captures the mood of the era brilliantly. Jackson’s lyrics fit the theme very well also as he shares the sights and sounds of a night out. It is arguably the biggest hit single of Jackson’s career

The Day Side opens with the second of the hit singles Breaking Us in Two. A light and elegant plea to stay, it was a staple of pop radio play throughout the decade. With a standout performance on piano and a signature vocal effort it holds up well. Cancer is next, and after the two singles, moves back towards the sounds of the albums opening tracks. It’s a bizarre approach in modern context but didn’t seem that out of place in 1982. It has a nice pulse and evolves into sort of an interesting song after all. The penultimate piece is the most dramatic song on the album and works on several levels. Excellent progression, powerful lyrics and message very bold subject matter for that or anytime. The obviously titled finale glides along with a building confidence and cadence. Ultimately it explodes into its ironic and lovely chorus.


Favorite Songs: Target, Steppin’ Out, Real Men, A Slow Song



This album holds up very well, Jackson was clearly a pop artist but this is one of his more artistic and thoughtful albums. The music is as crisp and exact as it has been at anytime and the hardcore and fringe fans as well as critics and contemporaries all point to this is a seminal album. Who am I to disagree; good form here.

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Just got the title...moar.

Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns
 

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Rural Alberta Advantage
Hometowns (2008)

The Lowdown: The debut album of the now-Toronto based Calgary natives scheduled to be released in the coming weeks on a major label prior released in 2008. Thirteen tracks that never exceeded 210 seconds, moving as quickly and fluidly as any debut album in the indie rock\pop genre I've heard in a while. Electronic and acoustic elements combine to create an authentic yet still familiar sound. Instantly likable and so far standing my personal test of time, quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of the last two years. Creative lyrics and friendly melodies give it all the elements of transcendent hipster pop bridging the gap between fans of rock, folk and punk music.

The Critics Response: "...the first half dozen songs throw down the gauntlet, and constitute the best sustained folk punk attack I've heard since the last Ezra Furman album."
Andy Whitman, Paste Magazine
"They are going to be a band that everyone can latch onto. All to often bloggers try to say they listened to a band before they were huge and if you want to say that about the RAA, you'd be wise to pick up Hometowns fast. Once it gets out and heard, Canadian indie rock fans might just have a new favorite band."
Herohill.com
"I cannot recommend this album enough. Check it out then go revise your “Best of ’08” list."
Tim Williams, Radio Exile

They might remind You Of: Neutral Milk Hotel, Ben Folds Five, The Smashing Pumpkins, Okervil River

Best Tracks So Far: Rush Apart, Don't Haunt this Place, The Deadroads, Drain the Blood, In the Summertime

The Final Word: While it's certainly not a flawless record and as with most debuts there is plenty of room for evolution and refinement it's an undeniably likable effort that has me anxiously awaiting a follow-up as well as the bands potential explosion onto the scene. A major critique of the album is that it draws too much from the NMH classic "In the Aeroplane over the sea" and while I won't dismiss this criticism it was nothing so blatant as to distract me and overall I find it a charming and much needed reprise of what is one of the best albums to have left us without a worthy follow-up in a long time.

If your appetite is piqued and you'd like some instant gratification then put down the orb Atlas and check out the intro thread with a few videos simply called "Rural Alberta Advantage"

Sounds really interesting, I'll check it out and get back to you.