Encore, Eminem

Encore, Eminem, 2004, 1:17

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Another big ol' Eminem album, all overloaded with dumb skits and heaping helpings of misogyny!  As I said before, despite the negatives (the skits, the megalomania, the unrelenting sameness of the verse-double chorus-verse structure of his songs, the simple beats), Eminem is such a madman on the mic that a lot can be overlooked.  Like, for example, "Mosh," a suitably angry but ultimately histrionic protest song against wars for oil that Eminem somehow also manages to make all about him.  "Puke" starts off with a too-accurate titular sound effect, and ends up sounding like someone trying to do a parody of an Eminem song.  Come to think of it, so does "Big Weenie."  But when he's on fire, or playing it straight, Eminem can hit hard, both lyrically and emotionally.  And hey, a guy who is willing to rap a chrous like "you make my peepee go doing doing doing" can't be all bad.  From the weird sounds he sometimes makes (prrp!) to the over-the-top goofball humor, there are signs that Em might not take himself so seriously after all, and that helps overlook his weak points, too.  Favorite tracks: "Evil Deeds," "Curtains Up," "Like Toy Soldiers," "Mockingbird."

i, Magnetic Fields

Continuing the alphabet of albums, I is for interaction! 

i, Magnetic Fields, 2004, :41

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Just as his magnum opus 69 Love Songs was mostly about an outsider's view of love — broken hearts, truck stops, unrequited pining — this set of songs arranged around the letter "i" (but also I, as in the self) is mostly about how the narrator of each song relates to other people. Whether he's pining after a lost love, anxious he isn't enough for his perfect boyfriend, identifies as a clown rejected by society ("I Looked All Over Town"), or lost in love ("I'm Tongue-Tied"), this "i" is really about "them." It's not a flaw, just an interesting observation. Even if the narrator is perpetually self-effacing, the fun charm of the Magnetic Fields' songwriting is engaging as hell. I mean, "I had a dream and you were in it / The blue of your eyes was infinite" Come on, that's a gem. "And, true, for you I'd move to Ecuador / But I don't really love you anymore." Only Stephen Merritt still writes 'em like that. I especially like it when he veers more toward the clean, pretty, lounge style here and not the distortion and synths he also loves. Favorite tracks: "I Don't Believe You," "If There's Such a Thing As Love," "It's Only Time."

We Shall All be Healed, Mountain Goats

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2004.

We Shall All be Healed, Mountain Goats, 2004, :44

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

I knew almost nothing about the Mountain Goats when I started this one up; I'd heard a couple of songs and enjoyed them.  Judging from this album, they're pretty clearly a one-man operation.  This is a song cycle loosely based around some friends of the singer who got strung out on heroin.  It's an enthralling, literate, unflinching, and dazzling set of songs.  Singer and mastermind John Darnielle sounds like Phil Ochs leading the Decembrists, Collin Meloy if he were writing true life stories rather than fantasies.  It's sad and sharp and uncompromising.  Favorite tracks: "Letter From Belgium," "The Young Thousands," "Against Pollution."

Thunder, Lightning, Strike, The Go! Team

Thunder, Lightning, Strike, The Go! Team, 2004, :40

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

You can hear the love of disco in every track of this album.  But a new generation of disco, alt-disco, indie-disco, with hiphop and playground chants (“We Just Won’t Be Defeated,” the exuberant clap-along “Huddle Formation”) and samples; “dancing like nobody’s watching” in music form.  Exuberant, happy, defiant, for the kids.  If it’s too weird, you’re too old.  This isn’t in my traditional wheelhouse and I love it.  It makes me happy.  This is the re-released version with the samples all made legal and stuff.   Favorite tracks: "Ladyflash," "Huddle Formation."

Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love, Jonathan Richman / The Slider, T. Rex

Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love, Jonathan Richman, 2004, :38

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

What do you get when you let Jonathan Richman do his own thing, unhindered, for decades? This album.  Twee, silly, heartfelt, maudlin, utterly indulgent through and through, same themes as ever.  Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.  Even a lesser Jonathan Richman song is honest, and fun, and life-loving.  There's a couple of French songs and couple of Italian songs on here, and, well, good for Jojo for trying new things.  There are a couple songs I might even save space for on a best of Richman: "Vincent Van Gogh," "My Baby Love Love Loves Me."

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The Slider, T. Rex, 1972, :44

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

I'm perfectly aware that people consider this a five-star classic, but it just doesn't move me.  Too much guitar noodling and heavy riffs for my taste.  At least it doesn't take itself too seriously.  Fun lyrics.  Favorite tracks: "The Slider," "Ballrooms of Mars," "Chariot Choogle."