Random Music Talk CXXXI: Interference Finally Gets Its Revenge on Cobbler

[LemonMelon]

RIP to one of the most impactful guitarists on me personally. No Tom Verlaine, no Edge.

[cobl04]

Remember when Edge was good at the guitar?

[gvox]

Lil Yachty

Let’s Start Here

(Thanks Questlove)

[HeartlandGirl]

Speaking of guitar, I've been listening to the album Mexican Moon by Concrete Blonde (1993). And besides Johnette's voice, which is incredible, I can't get over how much excellent guitar is in these songs. And I miss that for a lot of modern stuff that's out there.

[lazarus]

Originally Posted by gvox

Lil Yachty

Let’s Start Here

(Thanks Questlove)

Apparently I need to check this album out, been seeing high praise from many corners.

[trevgreg]

Originally Posted by cobl04

My thoughts on the incredible Elton John show can be found here.

Couldn't contain it to a few dozen words. Never in a million years would I have assumed Elton John would join my upper echelon list, which is so small (U2, OutKast, Radiohead, Springsteen, LCD Soundsystem).

Thanks for sharing that! I enjoyed reading your thoughts. Agreed wholeheartedly with the second half of Rocket Man too.

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by cobl04

My thoughts on the incredible Elton John show can be found here.

Couldn't contain it to a few dozen words. Never in a million years would I have assumed Elton John would join my upper echelon list, which is so small (U2, OutKast, Radiohead, Springsteen, LCD Soundsystem).

Awesome, thanks for sharing. Definitely envious of the show.

[gvox]

Originally Posted by lazarus

Apparently I need to check this album out, been seeing high praise from many corners.

Wouldn’t normally be high on my radar but this is front to back a must listen. Duly impressed.

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by trevgreg

Thanks for sharing that! I enjoyed reading your thoughts. Agreed wholeheartedly with the second half of Rocket Man too.

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

Awesome, thanks for sharing. Definitely envious of the show.

Thanks for reading and replying

Which album of his should I listen to first?

[LemonMelon]

Originally Posted by cobl04

Which album of his should I listen to first?

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the big one.

Then for me there's a tier below that with Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across the Water, Honky Chateau, and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. I really like his self titled too.

Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player and Caribou are from his classic era but I find them fairly inconsistent and not as essential as the albums listed above. I've heard Songs From the West Coast as well because I loved This Train Don't Stop There Anymore as a kid; it's a tasteful, enjoyable late career effort.

Finally, at some point I randomly heard Victim of Love, his sad attempt at cashing in on disco two years too late. Horrible album. That goes in the lowest tier. The 8 minute Johnny B. Goode cover might be compelling for some.

[cobl04]

Thanks, will check that out! I've been going down a rabbit hole of live clips lately, kind of hard to believe he doesn't have more respect for his live shows. He was an absolute freak.

What do you think of Cold Heart? I've not heard that record you speak of, but I really, really like Cold Heart, and I don't think it falls into the shitty cash-in category at all.

[DeVaul]

Originally Posted by cobl04

What do you think of Cold Heart? I've not heard that record you speak of, but I really, really like Cold Heart, and I don't think it falls into the shitty cash-in category at all.

On these post-pandemic legs, he has dropped Indian Sunset and All The Girls Love Alice in favor of playing Cold Heart so I’m not a fan of that medley (hell, play the actual songs it’s comprised of).

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by cobl04

Thanks for reading and replying

Which album of his should I listen to first?

Tumbleweed Connection is my favorite by a wide margin and I would argue one of the most underappreciated albums ever. Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player is not very ambitious but is full of really great pop songs.

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by LemonMelon

Finally, at some point I randomly heard Victim of Love, his sad attempt at cashing in on disco two years too late. Horrible album. That goes in the lowest tier. The 8 minute Johnny B. Goode cover might be compelling for some.

That late-70s through mid-80s period was definitely in the wilderness but nonetheless there are some very interested cuts sprinkled through those albums, like on A Single Man and The Fox.

[lazarus]

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

Tumbleweed Connection is my favorite by a wide margin and I would argue one of the most underappreciated albums ever. Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player is not very ambitious but is full of really great pop songs.

Tumbleweed is also my favorite, but you can't go wrong with ElMel's Brick Road rec, either. Also in the amazing 70s run we shouldn't overlook Rock of the Westies, which doesn't have any of the big hits but is really solid.

[DeVaul]

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

That late-70s through mid-80s period was definitely in the wilderness but nonetheless there are some very interested cuts sprinkled through those albums, like on A Single Man and The Fox.

Too Low For Zero, too

[LemonMelon]

I was team Tumbleweed for a long time but eventually GYBR won me over. They're both fantastic records and his best overall.

I listened to Honky Chateau this morning because of this discussion and had a good time. Forgot how much I enjoyed Salvation.

[phanan]

Yes, include Too Low For Zero to represent the 80’s. He was inconsistent at that point but that album holds up well.

Captain Fantastic is my personal fave. That whole classic period is quite amazing. And if you condense Blue Moves to a single album you’ve got a decent one there too.

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by DeVaul

Too Low For Zero, too

Yeah I'd see that as his return to a clear sense of purpose, if that makes sense. I'm Still Standing and Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues are all-timers. I will forever associate that second one with my grandmother because it was always on the soft-rock radio station she had on while cooking. That and Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins.

[gvox]

Originally Posted by cobl04

My thoughts on the incredible Elton John show can be found here.



Couldn't contain it to a few dozen words. Never in a million years would I have assumed Elton John would join my upper echelon list, which is so small (U2, OutKast, Radiohead, Springsteen, LCD Soundsystem).

Finally got to read this.. really really glad you got to see this absolute legend live. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

I grew up with my parents playing his 70s stuff constantly.. always loved the songs of course but never saw him live. Then a couple years ago - I guess this would be the start of the Farewell tour - my brother’s mom came all the way from PEI for the concert, had 2 tickets..and he didn’t really care to go. So I went as her date.. and am I ever glad I did. There wasn’t a bad moment that night.. and she had the time of her life with me too as she doesn’t really get out that much to events and I was a dancing singing jumping lunatic song after song.

Massive respect for his performance and definitely someone every music fan should see live at least once.