Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)

Today's album of the day was inspired by the opening lyrics to In the Garage by Weezer.

I've got a Dungeon Master's Guide
I've got a 12-sided die

I spent a good part of my Saturday at Chimaeracon a gaming convention where people get together play board/miniature/role playing games for an entire weekend.

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But enough about that...  Weezer in many ways was the perfect bridge band between high school and college.  I slowly transitioned fro listening to a lot of Metal/Grunge to exploring Punk/Post Punk and contemporary college rock between ages 15 to 22.  Weezer is the perfect gateway band for said projection.  

The songs on this album are perfectly crafted for anyone age 15 to mid 20's.  There's an unapologetic awkwardness to every song that helps you figure out heartbreak and growing out of adolescent interests be it - Dungeons and Dragons or KISS.  

The other thing I love about this album is the heavy hand that producer Ric Ocasek (the Cars) had on the sound of the album.  The band would later go on to grow and develop another sound, but his oversight undoubtedly helped shape the sound that everyone recognizes as "the Blue Album".

Stand out tracks:

• Weezer – My Name Is Jonas
• Weezer – No One Else
• Weezer – Buddy Holly
• Weezer – Undone -- The Sweater Song
• Weezer – Surf Wax America
• Weezer – Say It Ain't So
• Weezer – In The Garage
• Weezer – Holiday
• Weezer – Only In Dreams

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Artists: Weezer
Album: Weezer (Blue Album)
Producer: Ric Ocasek
Label: DGC
Recorded: Electric Lady Studios

The Strokes - Comedown Machine

I think one of the most overlooked albums of 2013 albums was the Strokes COMEDOWN MACHINE.   A meticulously recorded and over produced record that will likely garner praise as the years roll by.

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There's a chance that the album may get lost in the shuffle because 2013 had a lot of incredible records by new artists.  The Strokes in some ways were a band with tremendous promise that sorta squandered their opportunity to be something bigger.

Every time I hear this record, I can't help but think that this would have been an incredible album to have heard live.  The band recorded and released the album rather quietly... and unlike other albums - they didn't really have an extended hiatus between efforts.

The internet sorta had a song drop on their lap called "One Way Trigger" and it didn't sound anything like the Strokes.   This was refreshing for me... but in all the commotion I think everyone forgot to acknowledge it was good.  It almost felt like the discussion steered too much in the direction that it was "different".   I mean, of all the bands in the world, isn't it the Strokes that we kinda want to sound different?

I think this album really would have found a place had the band toured in support of it.   While I haven't actively gone out of my way to see the Strokes live since they first formed, I will definitely go out of my way to see them the next time they tour in hopes of hearing a number of these songs live.

Standout Tracks:

• The Strokes – Tap Out
  
• The Strokes – One Way Trigger
  
• The Strokes – Welcome To Japan
  
• The Strokes – 80's Comedown Machine
  
• The Strokes – Slow Animals
  
• The Strokes – Chances
  
• The Strokes – Happy Ending
  
• The Strokes – Call It Fate, Call It Karma
  

Artists: The Strokes
Album: Comedown Machine
Producer: Gus Oberg
Label: RCA
Recorded: Electric Lady Studios, One Way Studios

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Dilemma of the day - should I plunk down 60 bucks and watch the Royal Rumble because I have a faint interest in watching Wrestlemania 30 in April...   or pocket 60 bucks and hate watch the Grammys.

I'm leaning towards the latter one because everyone will be tweeting the awards ceremonies and I always have an interest in what wins the album of the year.

Sorta torn on who I want album of the year to go to...  Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City - was my favorite album of 2012.  But because of the strange calendar year that the Grammy operates in, I always find it odd that they are recognizing something that was released in 2012 for 2014.

I believe that the logical pick for Album of Year is Daft Punk's - Random Access Memories.  It was arguably the first "must listen to" album of 2013 and it ended up having the song that co-ruled the summer last year - Get Lucky.  

There's a small part of me that wants to see it win for successfully aping the Michael Jackson -Thriller font...

In all serious though - I beg that you take 6 minutes out of your day, hole yourself into a dark fucking room and listen to the song Motherboard.  It will do your soul a world of good...

Stand out tracks:

• Daft Punk – Give Life Back to Music
• Daft Punk – Giorgio by Moroder
• Daft Punk – Within
• Daft Punk – Instant Crush
• Daft Punk – Lose Yourself to Dance
• Daft Punk – Get Lucky
• Daft Punk – Motherboard
• Daft Punk – Doin' it Right
• Daft Punk – Contact

Artist: Daft Punk
Album: Random Access Memories
Producer: Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Label: Columbia
Recorded: Gang Recording Studio, Electric Lady Studios, Henson Recording Studios, Capitol Studios, Conway Recording Studios