Best Classic Rock
Rock's first great double-album and home to many of Dylan's finest songs: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35; Visions of Johanna; I Want You; Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again; Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; Just Like a Woman; Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine), and the side-long epic Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first time I heard "Everybody must get stoned," from "Rainy Day Women # 12 & # 35," I was at Lardano's Pizzeria in Peoria, Illinois, while attending Bradley University, having a pizza (what else?). Later, as I aged, I came to see it as a great Bob Dylan song ("I was so much older then; I'm younger than that now"). Just so, the album on which this song was located, "Blonde on Blonde." Part of a great run of Dylan albums, reflecting dramatic changes in his art, among which were "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "Highway 61 Revisited" (perhaps one of the five best rock and roll albums ever made??). Some of the songs--"Rainy Day Women # 12 & # 35," "Pledging My Times," "Visions of Johanna," "One of Us Must Know," "I Want You," "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues again," "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat," "Just Like a Woman," "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I Go Mine," "Temporary like Achilles," "Absolutely Sweet Marie," "4th Time Around," "Obviously 5 Believers," and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." "Visions of Johanna" is an elegiac song, poignant, very different from "Rainy Day Women."
"After enjoying reviewing Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson VH1 Storytellers yesterday ****, thought it would be fun to review one of Bob Dylan's seminal records "Blonde on Blonde." But I usually listen to tracks off it randomly not the album as a whole, so this will be fun. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 -- The carnival rambunctiousness of everybody get stoned, as it's often known. Visions of Johanna -- One of Dylan's more underrated songs. Captures the wonderful, surreal spirit of this album. I just love the playfulness of Dylan's voice on this song. And "I want you, I want you, I want you, so bad" sounds like a trite line, but totally works. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again -- A song I don't listen to enough. Reminds me of one of my favorite Dylan songs "Ballad of a Thin Man." I don't mind him cheating on me, but I'd sure wish he'd take that off his head, you brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) -- A lot of long titles on this album. Absolutely Sweet Marie -- The playfulness and great melody is back. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands -- Dylan is good at the long, storytelling song. There is a reason Bob Dylan is my all time 2nd favorite music performer to Johnny Cash. So many great songs on this record in ranking order (4 stars plus): Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Just Like a Woman, Visions of Johanna, Absolutely Sweet Marie, I Want You, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again."
"This has to be in the top three although in saying that I also must add that Bob has at least 7 or 8 five star albums so add this to the very long list of master works."
""Everyone Must Get Stoned" brings it all back home!"
"It's amazing that listening to this album almost 50 years later and it's just as relevant today as it was back then."
"Great CD."
Bob's first foray into electric rock may had alienated his diehard folkie fans, but it changed popular music forever.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What can be said by Bob Dylan that has not been said before."
"I don't review music or movies as I find them to be a highly subjective subject and open to a vast array of opinion which may influence people in ways not meant to and I prefer to sway no one's opinion."
"I thought the stereo version sounds great and the mono version still blew me away."
"This album, in my opinion, did more for music than any album ever made...it just doesn't get the credit that it deserves."
"Good clean sound for mp3's."
"It's a very wonderful album."
"Early Dylan is Dylan at this best."
"It makes me chill out and helps me when I am down."
Bob's second album in one, easy-to-swallow gulp.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bob Dylan's second album was his first on which eleven of the thirteen individual songs were written exclusively by him."
"Precisely why I love Bob Dylan's music."
"I was able to snag an original copy of this baby for about $10, it came in amazing condition and was even in a protective plastic sleeve cover."
"Killer CD!"
"This is the young Dylan before later songs like "Not Dark Yet.""
"His best album of all times!!"
"I love sitting back and listening to this album."
"Sent it back once because it had 3 pretty big skips on the first track."
Best Rock Guitarists
No Track Information Available Media Type: CD Artist: PAGE,JIMMY & BLACK CROWES Title: LIVE AT THE GREEK Street Release Date: 07/04/2000. Domestic Genre: ROCK/POP. The Zep covers, which account for 14 of the 20 tracks, stay close to the original arrangements--you can sing along most of the way based on your knowledge of the Zep studio albums.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a monumental live show, Chris Robinson handles the vocals with a so much power and flair. If you love Zep,the Crowes, or just plain old live rock and roll, this is one CD you want to add to your musical arsenal."
"Simply wonderful."
"The Black Crowes blend so perfectly with Jimmy Page's guitar genius."
"Easily one of my favorite concerts of all time."
"First and foremost, this is the best recording of a live performance I've ever heard (I'm 65 and have heard a lot)."
"Awesome release!!!"
Best Progressive
Given total creative control by producer and friend Frank Zappa, Beefheart and his Magic Band rehearsed the material for this 1969 album for over a year, wedding minimalistic R&B, blues, and garage rock to free jazz and avant-garde experimentalism.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I expected weird, and that's what I got."
"One of my favorite albums in the history of rock music."
"What can be said of the music on 'Trout Mask Replica' that hasn't already been said: Music from another time or era?"
"Wonderful album!"
"However, if your imagination is robust enough to envision something beyond the ordinary, something truly unique, buy this album and listen to it right away."
Best Singer-Songwriters
Early in his ninth studio album, Warren Zevon sings of Elvis Presley : "He was an accident waiting to happen...
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I wish he could have gotten it together with his addictions but then on the other hand he might not have been able to tell these song stories with such life."
"This album is one of Zevon's better efforts."
"Warren Zevon has an unusual voice and writes great songs with lyrics you can relate to."
"As is typical of his best work the songs on this CD run the gamut from sad to joyous, from sardonic to straightforward, from love song to in-your-face."
"you must listen to warren. he has entertained the thought of death like no other great musician. a great songwriter."
"If you've never listened to Zevon before, buy this one, it won't be the last one you buy."
"Good choice for a Warren Zevon CD."
"Maybe we don't have any Top 40 songs here, and you may not be able to play the lyrics in front of polite company - but its' well worth the price."
Best Blues Rock
No Track Information Available Media Type: CD Artist: PAGE,JIMMY & BLACK CROWES Title: LIVE AT THE GREEK Street Release Date: 07/04/2000. Domestic Genre: ROCK/POP. The Zep covers, which account for 14 of the 20 tracks, stay close to the original arrangements--you can sing along most of the way based on your knowledge of the Zep studio albums.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a monumental live show, Chris Robinson handles the vocals with a so much power and flair. If you love Zep,the Crowes, or just plain old live rock and roll, this is one CD you want to add to your musical arsenal."
"Simply wonderful."
"The Black Crowes blend so perfectly with Jimmy Page's guitar genius."
"Easily one of my favorite concerts of all time."
"First and foremost, this is the best recording of a live performance I've ever heard (I'm 65 and have heard a lot)."
"Awesome release!!!"
Best Funk Rock
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But, for me, there's a lot more here."
"After purchasing this work, I listened to his other albums, and as great as they are, this one is purely musicianship with the best guest artists featured."
"I only received one CD."
"Very interesting songs — glad I bought this CD."
""Yin Yang" from living bass legend, the incomparable and inimitable Victor Wooten offers more of that wholesome bass goodness, that we all love and listen in amazement at, combined with a couple of swing-and-miss-like-a-blindfolded-drunkard tracks. Some of the tracks on this double album, 'Hip Bop', 'Hormones in the Headphones', 'Imagine This", to name a few, are as good as anything Wooten has ever produced, being creative, tight, and well composed."
"Now that we've established how amazing Vic really is (which is that he's probably the best electric bass player on the planet right now), let's get into this album. Wooten has made one disc of instrumental music, and one disc of vocal music. The music itself is still quite good, but I like Wooten not because I like listening to him as accompaniment, but because he's an amazing player and he shines like the glory of the Lord when he's in the limelight."
"side note: "hip bop" contains some of the best bass playing since... well since victor did "me & my bass guitar." it also has great guitars from regi wooten, his relatively unknown bro. victor is the best ever and regi is one of the best ever in my mind (if only he got some recognition)."
Best Hard Rock & Metal
CULT - SONIC TEMPLE (RM) - CD.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"sweet soul sister was longer."
"I bought this CD for one song (Fire Women) and have enjoyed listening to the rest."
"I saw this whole album set in the early 90's at West Palm Beach Auditorium."
"Outstanding hard rock."
"One of the very best rock albums of all time...Unbelievable."
"All of the songs on here are fantastic, It is definitely a must have for your collection."
"Edgy, Raw and clean-clear power from the beginning to the end of this disc."
Best Oldies & Retro
20 of the teen idol's biggest chart hits for the Laurie & Columbia labels from 1958-68, both with & without his group the Belmonts.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"great oldies all the songs."
"I love my oldies and this one was a good one."
"this cd has all hits that i did"nt have on my other one."
"Doesn't have all his great songs, but has a pretty good chunk of his music."
"I loved Dion's cd and it was delivered quicker than I expected."
Best Jambands
An aptly named album if ever there was one, Not for Kids Only combines the talents of two legendary performers, the late Jerry Garcia, singer-guitarist of the Grateful Dead , and David Grisman, mandolinist and father of "dawg music," a melding of bluegrass, jazz, swing, Latin, and Jewish klezmer sounds. On this 1993 recording, the two devoted friends make seemingly effortless music, adapting traditional and old-time folk into a personalized sound so "homemade" (with jew's-harp and tambourine) as to inspire any child, young or old, to pick up whatever's at hand to play along.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Thinking of buying two for gifts........... Purchase during July when everyone else is at the beach - and get a steal of price.. on Amazon or ebay .... sometimes better prices on Amazon and better selection of sellers."
"This is now our favorite kids music album."
"Great for parents who know other less enjoyable kids songs by heart, but want to listen to something they enjoy."
"Unlike a lot of children's albums, this offers music that won't drive parents batty."
"Gift for neighbor kids."
"Everyone loves this album, such beautiful music."
"If you are tired of listening to Barney or the Wiggles, or any other obnoxious children's CD in the car with your kids, buy this CD."
"Got it for the Teddy Bears Picnic."
Best General
Arctic Monkeys release their fifth album, entitled AM .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love this band."
"This was actually my favorite album of 2013.. which consisted of some really great and lesser known artists coming out with some really great albums."
"You sometimes forget that such talent exists in music now-a-days and listening to the album reminds me that there are true artists out there still."
"I have always loved the Arctic Monkeys - just got this CD to have a tangible copy."
"This album is addictive."
"But with "AM", Arctic Monkeys have finally produced a sound that is unique to them, and after this record, I believe most criticisms of this band trying to "rip off" other artists will cease."
"Good verging on great, I still prefer other artists in this genre, but the 'Arctic Monkeys' have earned a place on my playlist."
"Kicking it off with Do I wanna know and then goung on to tracks like R U Mine and Arabella ,this album just delivers . Going on to some later tracks it slows down a bit , then catches up again when "why do you only call em when you're high' which I had to replay a couple of times before moving on to the next song ."