The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Friday August 7, 2015
We wrap up a week of our newest feature, #AlbumTracks, by unearthing some overlooked stuff (as we are often wont to do).
I Love You Baby – The Troggs
from the 1981 LP Black Bottom
The Troggs are known for one thing: iconic '60s hit "Wild Thing" (and even Hendrix popularized that more than they did). It surprised me to find out that they made albums into the '80s. 1981's Black Bottom is a filled with fun, garage-y throwbacks. Hypnotic, percussive "I Love You Baby" is so retro that sounds like it was recorded 1967.
Livin' for You – Boston
from the 1994 LP Walk On
Livin' for You – Boston
from the 1994 LP Walk On
Boston is a classic rock band that never really thrilled me. They always came of as one-dimensional and sterile. I wonder if I'd like them more if I didn't hear the same three songs by them on classic rock radio for the last 30 years. I try to listen to them with fresh ears, and when I do they sound better than I remember, especially their classic self-titled first album.
Their 1993 album Walk On, which came out right after Nirvana exposed the bombast of hair metal and arena rock, was largely ignored. The production is dated but the songs are melodic and the layered guitar work is typically good for the band.
"Livin' For You" is the re-write of their '80s hit "Amanda" that nobody asked for. Okay, that was mean, I actually like both these songs. Even if they are lame ballads.
Under Control – The Strokes
from the 2003 LP Room on Fire
Their 1993 album Walk On, which came out right after Nirvana exposed the bombast of hair metal and arena rock, was largely ignored. The production is dated but the songs are melodic and the layered guitar work is typically good for the band.
"Livin' For You" is the re-write of their '80s hit "Amanda" that nobody asked for. Okay, that was mean, I actually like both these songs. Even if they are lame ballads.
Under Control – The Strokes
from the 2003 LP Room on Fire
The Strokes suffered the same fate of most other bands from the so-called garage rock revival of the early '00s: their second album sounded like a re-tread of their first. Bands can sound the same for an album or two as long as the material still sounds fresh, and most of Room on Fire was workmanlike. Furthermore, trends don't last as long as they usually do, so by the time they released it (a "mere" two years after their acclaimed debut Is This It?) the fad they ushered in was already dying down.
The laid back '60s pop vibe of "Under Control" is a perfect example of the album: the songwriting is fine, it's sort of engaging, but it doesn't scream "you should listen to me again." Like the songs that surround it, it never seems to take off.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
The laid back '60s pop vibe of "Under Control" is a perfect example of the album: the songwriting is fine, it's sort of engaging, but it doesn't scream "you should listen to me again." Like the songs that surround it, it never seems to take off.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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