Unorthodox Behaviour, Gary

I had no idea what I was getting into. And I'm realizing that's absolutely the best way to listen to an album. Had no idea I was walking into Ron Swanson's sexy jazz café of love. You know how there are those songs where it's like four minutes of instrumental, and you just want the lyrics to start, and it's so incredibly frustrating? I'm looking at you, "Magic Carpet Ride" and "Baba O'Riley." This album is the opposite. I never wanted it to end. The best part is how the songs really all just flowed together as one. I write this as all three of my kids are playing instruments at the playground, and I think they are appreciating it just as much as I did. Now I know exactly what to play next time I want to set the mood.

8 spicy nights out of 10

In Rainbows, Gary

If elevator music was good, it would be Radiohead. 

Crazy to say, this was my first experience with RH. In Rainbows is a fantastic album. Again, I know some may think me saying elevator music is a slight towards them. Completely the opposite. These songs mean something and nothing at all. They are so incredibly calm. Absolutely the perfect thing to listen to on a dreary day. And just enough of a rhythmic melody to keep the trance flowing. 

Looking forward to diving into different albums. And maybe I should rewatch Scott Pilgrim?

Tigers Blood, Gary

I have COVID, so forgive my shortness about this album.

I will say, it does seem fitting to get COVID on the week we review Waxahatchee. I've never turned off an album so many times in a week. I'm always intrigued about wanting to be better, being more open about my music choices, and broadening my horizons. This just wasn't that album for me.

I feel like she's doing stuff I heard 20/30 years ago, and they did it better. Sure, there are only so many different kinds of music. At some point it's all going to sound the same. This album was on the border of poo poo for me.

Don't take my advice though. I know nothing about what is good and what isn't. I do know that COVID+ Waxahatchee is what awaits me in hell.

Exit Survey: The Sweeties on Teenage Dream

See the rest of the exit surveys HERE.

(written by Nate)

1. Were you happy with the reviews that were published? How do you feel about your week as Record Club captain?

Look, I dont think there's any point in hiding the ball here. We made a pick intending to win the damn thing. Seeing such an avalanche of reviews must surely make all other competitors quake in terror.

2. How was the variety of opinions? A wide range, kinda samey, or somewhere in the middle?

Seems like the general concensus is that the smash hits hold up, so what makes it interesting is what people find in the margins. Love of "E.T." was a small but vocal contingent. Appropriate bafflement/respect for "Peacock." Lot of good to find there.

3. Were there any differing opinions that made you view the album in a different light?

I don't think an album this alabaster smooth invites dramatic reinterpretation, but it was fascinating to find all the different roads that lead to the same end.

4. Was there anything about this album or this artist that you wished that people would've written about more?

I think we pretty much covered it. I wish more people would have written about songs not on the album like Meghan did.

5. How do you feel about your album choice now that the week is over? A success? Any regrets?

Look upon our works.

6. Any other takeaways from the reviews? Or from this experience in general?

My cousins are going to be so pissed when Joe starts emailing them.

7. What is an improvement that Record Club can make that would enhance everyone's experience, either as a captain or as a listener/writer?

More cash prizes.

Teenage Dream, Gary

Katy, my lady. 

Man. What a rollercoaster of an album. It's like you combined someone's greatest hits with some attempts at a different vibe. Full disclosure: I 100 percent intended to give this the highest possible honor I could at the fourth song mark, and then fucking "Peacock" came on. 

I'll be honest. And I'll probably get shit for this. I think Katy Perry songs are amazing. They are so damn catchy. And for some reason I never seen to be disappointed. 

Back to FUCKING Peacock. Much like most RC albums, I listen with my kids. Today we were coming from the Children's Museum. And then "Peacock" comes on. I won't even give her the dignity of copy and pasting them in this, but let's just say my son thought it was the greatest song of all time. 

I cut it off after 20 seconds or so. All they wanted for the next 30 minutes was to listen to that song again. And then they would just say a word from it over, and over, and over. 

Dad of the year. Katy, my lady, I hate you. Enjoy your money. And I will continue to enjoy your hits.

Album of the Week: Teenage Dream

RECORD CLUB TEAM BATTLE ROYAL — WEEK #2 (OF 4).

I will be writing the same intro for each of the four weeks to make things as even and fair as possible.

We have split twelve people into four teams of three. Those teams picked an album each, and will be attempting to get as many people as they can to write reviews for the album they chose. They also paid money into a pot, and the team with the most reviews for their album wins the pot.

All twelve participants (plus me, your editor-in-chief Joe, as I am not on a team and will remain an impartial judge throughout) will have to write a review every week. So that's thirteen reviews each Friday at least. Hopefully not at most! You can write a review too! Reviewing albums is fun! Especially when three of your friends are holding a gun to your head and making you do it!

The team's were tasked with filling out some of the Sunday write-up as well. Their words are in (block) quotes below, but when the EiC adds something, it will be sans quotes.

Good luck out there, everybody. Let's have fun with it.

Record Club:

archives | supplemental

spotify playlist | youtube playlist

choose | writing

WEEK 270 — March 31-April 6, 2024

Teenage Dream

by Katy Perry

LISTEN:

Spotify | YouTube | Bandcamp | Apple

~~~~~~~~~~

The Sweeties

THE SWEETIES CONSISTS OF: Gary, Nate (captain), Sara

THE SWEETIES' REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS ALBUM:

G: Do you guys know what we are supposed to be doing? Are we supposed to, as one, come up with a single album? Or do we all just send in suggestions individually?

S: As a team we submit one album. We have to write reviews for all four albums. Then we try to get the most people to review our album so we can win. Do you have any album suggestions? I would definitely recommend something on the shorter side because I think it's a smaller hurdle for people to get over to review.

G: I was hoping you guys would have an idea. Haha. Music is not my forte. But thanks for clarifying! I had a feeling, but I hate just assuming.

N: Sara has it, she nailed it. My suggestion is this (assuming we haven't done this person yet, I'd have to check)—Teenage Dream by Katy Perry.

G: Omg. I love that idea.

S: Nate, I was gonna suggest a well loved pop album too! I think we are safe for that one, I checked the archive page and did a search. 0 "teenage dream" and 0 "Perry."

~~~~~~~~~~

ALBUM DETAILS

GENRE: Dance-pop, electropop, pop rock

RELEASED: August 24, 2010

LENGTH: 46:44

TRACKLIST:

1. Teenage Dream
   
2. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
   
3. California Gurls
4. Firework
5. Peacock
6. Circle the Drain
7. The One That Got Away
8. E.T.
9. Who Am I Living For?
10. Pearl
11. Hummingbird Heartbeat
12. Not like the Movies
    

LYRICS: Genius.com

~~~~~~~~~~

ARTIST DETAILS

PRONOUNS: she/her/hers

ABOUT: (G: "I think for the about the artist, we can probably just copy and paste her wiki, since everyone in RC definitely knows who she is.")

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is known for her influence on modern pop music and her camp style, being dubbed the "Queen of Camp" by Vogue and Rolling Stone. At sixteen, Perry released a gospel record titled Katy Hudson (2001) under Red Hill Records, which was commercially unsuccessful. She moved to Los Angeles at seventeen to venture into secular music, and later adopted the stage name "Katy Perry" from her mother's maiden name. She recorded an album while signed to Columbia Records, but was dropped before signing to Capitol Records.

DISCOGRAPHY: Teenage Dream is the third of six studio albums so far. The debut was 2001's Katy Hudson, which is a Christian music album. Seven years later, she made her secular debut with One of the Boys. The most recent album is 2020's Smile.

~~~~~~~~~~

ADDITIONAL INFO

READING SOME SHIT:

S: I don't read, this feels like a Nate thing

N: Here's a nice write-up of why the album kicks so much ass, from VH1 of all places? Remember VH1? It's where your mom went to watch Counting Crows videos! It had Pop-Up Video!

WATCHING SOME SHIT: S: There is a 2012 documentary for the creation of this album that is very good! or the Smurfs movie for those with kids (she plays Smurfette).

PREVIOUSLY ON RECORD CLUB:

G: Can you believe she's not even 40 yet? I feel like she's been around longer than I can even remember.

N: I should mention that Dr. Luke produced a bunch on this record, so people should do with that information what they will.

This is Joe. Neither of those things really apply to "Previously On," unless Gary wants me to look up the ages of every single RC alumni? I don't have an easy way of doing that. I guess looking up Dr. Luke's RC connections is easier, if that's what Nate is implying I should do, even though that means I have to visit Dr. Luke's Wikipedia page (yuck).

Here are the RC alumni for whom this dude has produced: Kelly Clarkson (who famously hated the guy), Miley Cyrus, Weezer, T-Pain, Cordae (though that last one is the only one on the list who worked with this dude after knowing he sexually assaulted Kesha). There are no Record Club albums in his production discography, as far as I can tell.

Some less icky connections I could come up with. Katy Perry states that the Beach Boys are a huge influence on her sound; both she and Brian Wilson have albums named Smile. Perry has also said that hearing "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette as a teen made her realize that there was good music out there that wasn't Christian music.

Katy Perry sang at President Joe Biden's inauguration, as did Bruce Springsteen and Lizard Person Demi Lovato. Fall Out Boy was relegated to the pre-inauguration We the People Concert.

She was in Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" video, as was RuPaul (and we also have Delta Work portraying Adele and Riley Knoxx portraying Beyoncé). Ciara is in the video. She is Future's ex-fiancé, and Russell Wilson's current wife. Russell Wilson was the losing quarterback in Super Bowl XLIX, the year that Katy Perry performed at halftime.

You already read about that on PoYB, though. Would it be too much of a stretch to connect Left Shark to Slipknot's Corey Taylor, who cameo'd in Sharknado 4? Probably, probably. It would probably be wiser to keep it simple: Missy Elliott performed with Perry during that halftime show. Lenny Kravitz isn't an RC alumnus, but his daughter has been on two RC albums, somehow—Midnights and Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer.

I am happy to report that there are no songs from RC alumni on the soundtracks to either The Smurfs or The Smurfs 2. I am sorry to report that the latter has multiple songwriting credits from Dr. Luke. I am happy to report that Katy Perry won a Kids' Choice Award at the 2012 ceremony, for Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie (as Smurfette). I am sorry to report that there are no funny RC connections from that ceremony, just your normal Taylor Swift bullshit (she won the "Big Help Award" that year). I guess if you really stretch it, you could say that The Smurfs and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 both lost the award for Favorite Movie, and that the latter was the subject of an RC album, Lumos. Had Alvin and the Chipmunks won last year's Christmas poll, we could've mentioned that these films lost the award to the instant-classic Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.

I don't know, is that enough? There is plenty else, but I promised myself I wouldn't go crazy during these Team Battle Royale weeks. Or should I try to see if there are any musicians in their 40s?!

JOE'S SUBJECTIVE RANKING OF EVERY ALBUM THAT GARY, NATE, AND/OR SARA HAVE EVER CHOSEN FOR RECORD CLUB OR HAD A HAND IN CHOOSING:

33. Thats What They All Say by Jack Harlow

32. Horizons by Surfaces
31. Power Chords by Mike Krol

30. Moving Up Living Down by Eric Hutchinson

29. Essentials by Erika de Casier

28. Oh No by OK Go

27. fine thread by long odds

26. Don't Be Cruel by Bobby Brown

25. In Real Life by IKE

24. Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

23. Purple by Baroness

22. Swords by Nick Lutsko

21. Honest by Future

20. Overthinking Everything by Footballhead

19. IGOR by Tyler, the Creator

18. Voices by Hall & Oates
17. RTJ4 by Run the Jewels

16. Shine a Light by Constantines
15. Gaslighter by the Chicks
14. Purple Haze by Cam'ron
13. Keep It Clean by Innanet James
12. Not Even Regret by Hidden Things
11. Loaded by the Velvet Underground

10. Come On Over by Shania Twain

9. plastic death by glass beach
8. Malign Hex by Meat Wave

7. I Am Easy to Find by the National

6. Wallsocket by underscores
5. Mclusky Do Dallas by Mclusky

4. 1000 gecs by 100 gecs
3. Radiant Dawn by Operators
2. Dookie by Green Day

1. The Loneliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen

~~~~~~~~~~

RC CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Every week from now on, we're giving a quick re-listen to the RC album we covered five years ago exactly. Check out the quick reevaluation every Friday morning, before the regular reviews. Reevaluation, reflection, something like that. We'll see.

WEEK 9: March 31-April 6, 2019

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

~~~~~~~~~~

Happy listening, RC family!
Have a great week!

Fore!, Gary

Every time I review an album, I learn something new. This week was no different. Earbuds. Earbuds turned this album completely around for me. 

I went from dark and gloomy to skipping around my neighborhood like I was living in Pleasantville. And I didn't even have to get sucked into a TV. 

Huey just tells it like it is. You go to work. You work hard all day. You get your paycheck at the end of the week. AND he even talks about the cost of living. This man was ahead of his time. 

But seriously though. I wish I was 35 during peak Huey. My love for the trumpet and saxophone would have been next level. 

Have I listened to "Hip to Be Square" at least fifteen times? Did it generate AI videos of Beverly Hills Cop in my head? Am I the complete opposite of hip? 

To all those questions, yes. 

And good for Huey for just straight-up stealing the vibe that Hall & Oates™ was putting out.

Yearlong Song Challenge, Day 38: Gary

Prompt: "The most recent song you heard that made you stop in your tracks"

Selected by Gary

"Blackbird"

The Beatles

The White Album, 1968

The clock read 9:03. I had just gotten through the stop sign. Gia was nestled in the back seat, fast asleep. My Android Auto was quiet as a mouse. The wind was blowing furiously through the cracks of my windows. I was only five minutes from dropping off Vincent to preschool. Little did I know my day would be forever changed in a few seconds.

Bucks County roads are long and winding. There are trees everywhere. At any moment you could come across an entire family of deer just walking in the middle of the road. It's something I'm still not used to. People love to jog in the street. Again, something I will never understand. But it has kept me a little more alert to making sure I'm always focused.

Gia never sleeps in the car rides back from taking Vincent to school. We have a routine. We get home, go for a walk, get back home, and then I work until Vincent is out of school. Daylight Savings really kicked her ass. In fact, it kicked all our asses. Everyone was exhausted this morning. No one slept. But we did get to spend the night together in a bed, all together.

My car slowly crept up the top of the hill. I'm not a fast driver. I've always driven like a bit of an old man. I've never gone passed ten miles an hour over the speed limit. Today was no different. And far in the distance I saw it. An animal was in my lane. But there was so much time to spare.

I didn't even really pay any mind. I knew by the time I was even somewhat close the bird would have flown away. The wind was blowing furiously. There was no way something wouldn't have spooked the crow by then. And then I started getting closer.

I noticed nothing else on the ground. Nothing was around the crow. It just kept looking around. I remember wondering if it was deep in thought. What was it doing? Why would it just stay in the middle of the road? Why are there no other crows around? There is always a pack together. And then I got even closer.

This is when the decision making starting to happen. Should I sway away? This crow was huge, probably the biggest I've ever seen. There was a turning lane right next to the crow, but surely it would fly away right before I got to it.  And then I got too close.

Did the crow have a family? Was it injured? I even starting singing "Blackbird" to myself. I thought maybe it would even fit under my car. I didn't know what to do. It would have to fly away. Right?  Right?

And then... I swayed at the last second. The crow never moved. It was unphased. I looked back in the rear-view mirror. I thought I would be focused on the crow, but instead I just stared at Gia's sleeping face. Oblivious to the world. Unphased. Unbothered by anything in the world around her.

In Real Life, Gary

I'll be completely honest. I thought this album would be totally fine. Good. Definitely good. But I didn't think I would find multiple songs that I'm singing along with. All this time I'm thinking "Into Philadelphia" was IKE cream of the crop. And here I am, taken aback.

(Another song I would absolutely recommend checking out from IKE is "We Like Sugar." Such a banger. OK, back to this album.)

Damn. Maybe it's because IKE has similar vibes to the greatest band in my mind, OK Go. Maybe it's because I know two people who were in the band. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for this style of music.

I'm hooked.

You can easily see why they opened for Bon Jovi. John Faye really put something special together here. It's kind of a shame they aren't still working together.

Susan Steen still plays all over Bucks County and Philly. Highly recommend you go check her out. Super talented.

It's funny how a "corny" song like "Into Philadelphia" can quickly become how a record gets reviewed, but I'm so glad this happened.

Special thanks to B.T. for being kicked out of the band, because otherwise I would never have kept coming back to IKE.

Album of the Week: In Real Life

This happened six and a half days ago, so it's old news, but hey—Record Club was represented well at Super Bowl LVIII. Post Malone sang "America the Beautiful," Reba McEntire sang the National Anthem, Taylor Swift shared a box with Jason Kelce, Beyoncé announced a new album, Janelle Monáe and Gwen Stefani and Bob Weir were all in attendance. This introduction will be helpful to refer to when RC finally covers Ice Spice.

Record Club:

archives | supplemental

spotify playlist | youtube playlist

choose | writing

WEEK 264 — February 18-24, 2024

In Real Life

by IKE

LISTEN:

Spotify | YouTube | Bandcamp | Apple

~~~~~~~~~~

PICKED BY GARY

GARY'S COMMENTS: Gary hit me up one night to ask what I thought of the song "Into Philadelphia." He said that he used to work with a guy who used to be in this band (and whose wife was also in the band, and I assume also kicked out). This was seventeen years ago, says Gary, but he's followed the band ever since. Just the other day, I was sent a screenshot of an IKE Facebook post, which talked about opening for Bon Jovi at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Welcome back to Record Club, Gary.

~~~~~~~~~~

ALBUM DETAILS

GENRE: Power pop

RELEASED: 2005, no exact date known

LENGTH: 40:24

TRACKLIST:

1. In Real Life
   
2. Into Philadelphia
3. Just a Moment
4. I Knew You When
5. Beautiful Thing
6. Cinderella Spark
7. Red
8. Better Off Alone
9. All Along
10. Nothing's Gonna Come Between Us
    

LYRICS: Nothing on Genius; this one might be the lyrics to the title track, but I won't know until I listen to the album

~~~~~~~~~~

ARTIST DETAILS

PRONOUNS: I don't know

ABOUT: Musician John Faye formed the project in 1999 in Philadelphia. First called the John Faye Power Trip, they changed their name to IKE at some point prior to 2003. The lineup at that time, and for this album we're listening to this week, was Faye on guitar and vocals, Cliff Hillis on guitar, Joann Schmidt on bass, and Dave Anthony on drums. WMMR apparently played the song "Into Philadelphia" a bunch back in the day, and sources indicate that the major sports teams have at one point or another used the song as the entrance song for the teams at the beginning of the game (no specifics, but, like, I didn't see anything about the Eagles playing it at the Super Bowl last year, for example). IKE more or less broke up in 2008, per an email to fans. However, in 2010, John Faye restarted IKE with a completely new lineup, and released two more albums. No new music since 2011, but social media is apparently still active.

DISCOGRAPHY: In Real Life is their second LP. The first, Parallel Universe, was released in 2003. 2007's Where to Begin was the final album with the original lineup. The final two albums—Tie the Knot With All That You Got in 2010, and The Little People, Church and the Steeple in 2011—were made with the second iteration of IKE.

~~~~~~~~~~

ADDITIONAL INFO

READING SOME SHIT: You can read the entirety of John Faye's book if you have the time

WATCHING SOME SHIT: "Into Philadelphia" performed live in 2010

PREVIOUSLY ON RECORD CLUB: We had a Philly-centric Gary pick last year around this time too, with Hall & Oates (at least this time around we're not stung by the Eagles losing in the Super Bowl). Philly bands abound in Record Club. I'm not going to list them. Special shout out, though, to Little Big League, whose frontwoman Michelle Zauner might find some kinship with John Faye, based on the fact that they both wrote memoirs about growing up with music in the Philadelphia area while being half-Korean.

~~~~~~~~~~

RC CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Every week from now on, we're giving a quick re-listen to the RC album we covered five years ago exactly. Check out the quick reevaluation every Friday morning, before the regular reviews. Reevaluation, reflection, something like that. We'll see.

WEEK 3: February 17-23, 2019

Wanderer by Cat Power

~~~~~~~~~~

Happy listening, RC family!
Have a great week!

The A.S.S. Creative Writing Lab: Prompt #4

This is a weekly space for creative writing. Please check out the landing page if you're interested in what we've written already, or if you yourself are interested in writing creatively. Feel free to comment below (according to the request feedback level) with any comments or suggestions!

Prompt:

Author: Gary

Requested feedback: Harshest critic—give me your worst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Suspenders"

I've always thought suspenders were silly. Is it a fashion idea or is it a way for pants not to fall down? As an overweight youth I loathed them. I just assumed they were made because I had to buy pants that were way too big. And so I forever hated the idea. 

My entire vision of what suspenders are comes from the likes of Urkel and Larry King. And for some reason I picture the guy from The Honeymooners and Archie from All in the Family. It's tough to get more lame than that. 

"Cool" is just a vibe. It's something we can feel or is told to us by someone else. You're cool if you wear this. You're a dork if you wear that. Little did I know that suspenders are probably the coolest thing you could wear.

Take this kid for example. He's just trying to enjoy his time. He's probably eating some food and wondering when his next nap will be. Literally everything I dream of now, AND he looks cool doing it. Why? Suspenders. 

They are magical. They make the handsome into models. They are as sexy as it gets. And, yes, they still assist in holding up pants.

Now this dad bod has seen some stuff. But next time there is an event, you'll see me rocking them. Holding up my jeans. Looking as attractive as it gets. And hopefully, hopefully being as cool as this little guy.

Famoe's 16Bars Rap-Blog, Gary

What constitutes an album? Is more than one track considered an album? Somehow, even though this entire album was less than five minutes, I was tempted to skip to the next song.

Back to it being an album. Most longer songs are in that four-to-five-minute gap, and if I'm going to scourge my ears to music, I might as well listen to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf.

In all seriousness though, I wonder what Famoe was thinking or doing. Was he just hanging out in his basement one night, put together some lyrics, and called it an album? I can just imagine him thinking, "This is groundbreaking. No one has done this before. I'm going to be a legend."

The Christmas Album, Gary

What's your favorite Christmas movie? For the longest time I always thought mine was It's a Wonderful Life. It has it all. Love. Redemption. Family. There is even a battle of good and evil. Then Melissa introduced me to Love Actually. I had never seen it before. And it's been my go-to whenever December rolls around now.

What the hell does that have to do with Neil Diamond and, The Christmas Album? Well, in Love Actually, there is an aged singer who is selling out to make an extra buck. And he hates himself for it, but it's what everyone wants. He gets piss drunk and thinks it's garbage. That's what The Christmas Album was to me.

Sure, Neil Diamond is there singing. But mostly it's a bunch of background singers, absolutely incredible instrumental, and the occasional voice of someone who just sounds tired. Obviously, all the classics are here. And I'm sure some generation felt that this was a real banger, but it just wasn't doing it for me. I couldn't wait for it to end. And when I asked Melissa, "Is this seriously still going?" She told me to shut my wh*** mouth.

So, Merry Christmas, all. And especially you, Neil. Hopefully you're still getting those residual checks.

Christmas with the Chipmunks, Vol. 1, Gary

Me, I want a hula hoop!

Let's be honest. Either you absolutely hate or you absolutely love the Chipmunks Christmas album. I think both arguments would be valid. At some point, the high-pitched Chipmunks do get to be too much. Having said that though, the album is full on 10/10 nostalgia for me.

Poor Dave. He just wants to force these three talking chipmunks to sing so he can make lots of money.  And all they do is cause him grief. Well, let's be honest. Alvin is a pain in the ass. And nothing brings 35-year-old me more joy than hearing "Alvin!" and my kids thinking it's hilarious.

Every track on this is basically a home run. Not that it's good by any means in terms of actual music and "talent," but every song is a classic that you just can't help but sing along to. And outside of watching A Christmas Story, nothing else gets me more out of my grinchy self and into the holiday spirit.

Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)), Gary

Every week I learn something new in RC. This week I learned that the closer we get to Christmas, the worse a driver the average person becomes. And I'm not excluding myself. 

Enter jaimie branch. Thank everything holy that this was the music this week. THREE times on the way to take Vincent to school, and I almost got in an accident. I tell you the truth. THRICE. 

Is it a coincidence that Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die was playing? Was it the only thing from making me lose my mind when the balance of my life and my kids' lives were in the balance? Or maybe it was just the reason itself. 

But here I am writing a review, alive for now. And I have to appreciate ms. branch. Maybe her beats were a bit too much for my morning commute. It's possible that the intensity just put me right in the middle of a bad situation. But I'll still be enjoying every second of this ride.

Maps, Gary

The older I get the further I seem to be from mainstream media, and yet everything about Maps called to me.

It's important to note that Android Auto was recently updated. And if you've been living under a rock, my Monday morning drive to school is always the same. I force the kids to listen to the RC album of the week.

Maps starts playing, and I can't get it to stop. It's not that I care that Maps had some curses in it. But when we pulled in front of Vincent's preschool, a mega church, and the teacher opens his door to, "Weed lube, weed butter," I was hoping she didn't hear everything.

These lyrics are fantastic though. It's the first time I've went back and listened to an entire album again while reading along. I won't get into all the hits, but pork belly, Joe Burrow, slaps, and my personal favorite, "Flying carpets out this motherfucker."

Once again, another album that makes me appreciate rap. And I can understand why Maps was so loved, not to be confused with "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Exit Survey: Gary on Loaded

See the rest of the exit surveys HERE.

 

1. Were you happy with the reviews that were published? How do you feel about your week as Record Club captain?

 

Happy? I'm OVERJOYED. I simultaneously picked an album that triggered literally everyone that listened, and yet somehow was also amazing.

 

2. How was the variety of opinions? A wide range, kinda samey, or somewhere in the middle?

I think everyone has the same vibes. Loaded hit home in every way possible. It triggered all the memories; good and the bad.

3. Were there any differing opinions that made you view the album in a different light?

Even Melissa, who was absolutely the least fan of the album, could understand how people would love it. So I feel like everyone was on board with its greatness.

4. Was there anything about this album or this artist that you wished that people would've written about more?

I only read Joe's reviews on the week that I'm the captain (sorry buddy). But they are always epic in nature. And as someone who doesn't enjoy reading, it's the worst. However, everyone hit home exactly how I expected. And my favorite thing about RC is getting to dive into everyone's life, even people I don't know.

5. How do you feel about your album choice now that the week is over? A success? Any regrets?

No ragrets. Not even a letter.

6. Any other takeaways from the reviews? Or from this experience in general?

I'm glad I stopped getting high all those years ago, because I'm pretty sure I would be 24/7 listening to VU and lighting up.

7. What is an improvement that Record Club can make that would enhance everyone's experience, either as a captain or as a listener/writer?

 

You don't change perfect.

Loaded, Gary

I had no idea the Rolling Stones and the Beatles had a music baby together. Congrats! It's a rock band!

Loaded is everything you want out of a '70s rock album. It's got the low tones, almost grunge vibe, and insanely fantastic beats. My guess is they are a super popular band. And rightfully so. I'm sure you can say they were an incredibly influential band to all the rock that came after.

But not too much about the band itself. Let's talk Loaded! (2015 remaster at that.) I'll be honest. It put my kids to sleep. That's how you know it's good. Somehow peaceful and "hard" at the same time. Most tracks are like the others. It's not a bad thing. It's almost like a story being told, and we're all along for the ride.

Just like other reviews; if I don't talk about my kids, the Eagles, music, or video games, what am I even doing? Just when I thought I had never listened to VU before, "I'm Sticking with You" comes on. (Sidenote: Not in the original Loaded album)

If you're a mid-to-late-'80s kid, there is no doubt you watched the classic movie, Juno. I freaking loved this ridiculous movie. Coming of age. Michael Cera. Elliot Page. Tearjerker. Obviously, my cup of tea.

Just goes to show you to never say never.

Album of the Week: Loaded

As always, an open invitation for anyone reading this to send in the End of Year Best Of lists. Puke on Your Birthday will publish it. Doesn't even have to have anything to do with Record Club or music. You have thoughts about 2023? A list or a ranking? Send 'em over. (Though I will be satisfied if you just fill out the end-of-year survey too, if you'd be so kind.)

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WEEK 252 — November 26-December 2, 2023

Loaded

by the Velvet Underground

LISTEN:

Spotify | YouTube | Bandcamp | Apple

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PICKED BY GARY

GARY'S COMMENTS: "This album will either cure what's ailing you or make it a whole lot worse.

I had never heard of the Velvet Underground until Melissa and I watched an episode of Loki. Loki, by the way, is the absolute best Marvel show/movie there is, and you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking it out.

I won't spoil anything about the show, but the song 'Oh! Sweet Nuthin'' is played during the peak of the series. And when I tell you it was the most beautiful mix of cinematography and music that I've ever experienced. This was the band that's been missing from my life for the past 35 years."

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ALBUM DETAILS

GENRE: Pop rock, psychedelic pop

RELEASED: November 15, 1970

LENGTH: 40:35

TRACKLIST:

1. Who Loves the Sun
   
2. Sweet Jane
3. Rock & Roll
4. Cool It Down
5. New Age
6. Head Held High
7. Lonesome Cowboy Bill
8. I Found a Reason
9. Train Round the Bend
10. Oh! Sweet Nuthin'
    

BONUS TRACKS: The usual caveats when it comes to those Spotify and Apple links—they include extra songs (demos, bonus tracks), and there's nothing I can do about it, apparently. There is also some discrepancy regarding which "version" of "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll" is the "correct" one. You have no choice but to listen to the "full"/"long" versions on streaming services. I encourage you to find the original ones if you want, though.

LYRICS: Genius.com

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ARTIST DETAILS

PRONOUNS: Reed, Yule, and Morrison all he/him/his pronouns. Tucker is she/her/hers, but she only appears here in credit only (she was on maternity leave).

ABOUT: The Velvet Underground. Jeez. I will not be able to tidily sum up this band in this blurb. Formed in 1964 New York, the band consisted originally of Lou Reed (guitar, vocals), Sterling Morrison (guitar, backing vocals), John Cale (bass, viola), and Maureen "Moe" Tucker (drums, and technically didn't join till 1965). They were originally known for integrating rock 'n' roll and avant-garde, though that balance shifted back and forth throughout the band's lifespan, and "known" was basically never "commercially known," at least not until after Velvet Underground disbanded. Andy Warhol was their original manager, taking them on the Exploding Plastic Inevitable tour. Their first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (with German vocalist Nico), is their most famous (with the pop-art cover with the banana on it), though all of their albums are in present day considered influential. The last two of their four albums features Doug Yule (multi-instrumentalist), who replaced John Cale. Morrison passed away in 1995, and Reed passed away in 2013 (ten years and one month ago). Per Wikipedia: "Their provocative subject matter, musical experiments, and nihilistic attitude was also instrumental in the development of punk rock, new wave and several other genres."

DISCOGRAPHY: Four albums with the lineup that was known as "the Velvet Underground" (most critics ignore 1973's Squeeze, which only featured Doug Yule—PoYB is not "most critics"). The aforementioned The Velvet Underground & Nico was released in 1967. White Light/White Heat in 1968. The self-titled in 1969. Loaded is the fourth and final with the classic lineup, released in 1970. There's also a compilation album called VU from 1985 that featured most of the songs from the vaults.

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ADDITIONAL INFO

READING SOME SHIT: A reprinting of a 1973 interaction between Lou Reed and Lester Bangs

WATCHING SOME SHIT: a 1993 concert with a few Loaded songs

PREVIOUSLY ON RECORD CLUB: If this was "previously on Puke on Your Birthday" we'd have a lot to talk about. This is RC-exclusive though. I could, however, mention that The Velvet Underground & Nico tribute album that I wrote about a couple years ago, since there are four RC alumni on that tracklist—Fontaines D.C., Andrew Bird, Kurt Vile, and Matt Berninger of the National.

Otherwise, it's a little tough to "make connections" from the Velvet Underground to other artists, since VU's influence is so wide and so prevalent in so many rock 'n' roll bands. You can get specific, if you want. Were the Killers influenced by Velvet Underground? Probably, and you can hear it in the Killers song that features Lou Reed. But in many ways, connections aren't going to be as explicit as that.

So enjoy one of the only truly original rock bands in music history.

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Happy listening, RC family!
Have a great week!

Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Gary

The week started off like any other. I drive Vincent to school in the morning, and the three of us listen to the RC album of the week. Only this time I realized what an acid trip of an album it was going to be, so I decided to finish it later that day. Why? Why? Why?

Cut to 8:00. I've been actually waiting all day for the Eagles to come on. I've been taking CBD gummies for my back for about a week. They have some THC in them, the highest amount they can sell without a card. Tonight I decided to take an entire gummy, and it was a HUGE MISTAKE. By halftime, I was high AF. I couldn't even finish the game. I had to go to bed.

Of course, this is when the rest of Yoko Ono's album just came from within. Why not? Why not? Why not?

Why not? Because you're a 35-year-old man who hasn't smoked pot for fifteen years. And before you knew it I was hearing the lyrics clearer than ever before. Sure, I was watching the Eagles in bed, and there wasn't any music actually playing, but Yoko still had the last laugh.

I'm safely out of my "trip" now, and now I know better to trust some California company. But I have an appreciation for Yoko just flying high 24/7.