Review of The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

Please read Scott Coates’s pick for The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Overall
4.6

Review of The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

It is unfortunate that The Black Crowes will unlikely ever reform. Personality and personnel issues were known to the band through the history of the group. Their second album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, really allowed them to write and record songs they wanted to be remembered for. After the monster success of their debut Shake Your Money Maker their label, Rick Rubin’s Def America, was very empowering by letting the band explore their sound instead of forcing them to stick to the catchy sound and covers featured on their debut. We loved this album, have a listen as to why and learn about this complex recording.
Here is a few things you’ll find out:
• What Allman Brothers member was hugely responsible for a part of their new sound
• Who is Jeff Cease and how his replacement contributed
• What other albums was this up against for air play
Listen up and please leave us a comment.
The Sonic Collective


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4.5 (.5 deducted for that poor Calgary concert)
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4.5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4.5

Review of Toots & The Maytals: Funky Kingston

Please read Darren Scott’s pick for Toots & The Maytals: Funky Kingston before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Overall
3.8

Review of Toots & The Maytals: Funky Kingston

As I (Darren) stumbled upon this classic reggae album in a time I needed some brightness, I took it as a sign. I was sure glad I did. This is a very fun and bright album from beginning to end. I have to say I was surprised that two of our members confessed they never really listened to reggae. We found out some funny facts and I think Scott Gregory revealed a bit too much. Ha ha. Listen along with us and we hope you took the time to listen to this fun album.
Find out not only factoids about the album, but also find out things like:
• The sample from a popular artist that Alain identified used Funky Kingston
• What two members identified themselves as not reggae fans but still enjoyed it
• Who makes the worst bong noise impression
Listen up and please leave us a comment.
The Sonic Collective


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 1
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2

Toots & the Maytals: Funky Kingston


Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston
Darren Scott
I was near Recordland in Calgary on a very cold–like -25C cold–day so I had to go in. I was just looking around at albums when I heard the Recordland staff play Time Tough by Toots & the Maytals. I was completely overwhelmed by the song as it was freaking perfect. It was a freezing day so a nice beach-inspiring reggae song like that made me feel great. But I’ve also had a tough few years career-wise, like many Calgarians, and this really hit home. It again made me feel great to realize that “The Struggle” is real and capitalized. Everyone has their own struggle and you can’t compare to others. Fortunately, music like this can understand you, speak to you, and inspire you to do something. I wanted to learn more about this album.
I bought this album as well as Black Uhuru’s Red album and The Congos The Heart of the Congos album. All three are considered to be some of the greatest reggae albums out there. Ok, I know you are screaming Bob Marley at me but you have to listen to the podcast in order to find out why I didn’t pick him.
Please join me on a month of discovering or rediscovering reggae.
Darren
Funky Kingston Album on Wikipedia

Toots & the Maytals Website – Interesting history on Jamaica here!

Review of Prince: Purple Rain

Please read Scott Gregory’s pick for Prince: Purple Rain before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Overall
5

Review of Prince: Purple Rain

Though we can easily quote member Scott Coates when he says “This is a masterpiece!”, we will. This truly is a masterpiece. We rarely do a 5 Star rating but we did on this one.
However, this review is great. Find out not only factoids about the album, but also find out things like:
• How awesome or not the movie was
• Who Darren made out with to this album
• Why dancing impaired to Herb Alpert came up
Listen up and please leave us a comment.
The Sonic Collective


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?:5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5

Review of Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward

Please read Alain DuPuis’ pick for Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Overall
2.9

Review of Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward

There is no denying the power and fans of electronic music and the impact of industrial music. However, where did this all start? Alain had previously pick Kraftwerk who were the Grandfathers of EDM and synth music so it seems fitting he picks a natural influenced band in Depeche Mode. This 4th album from 1982 had some big hits but did it stand the test of time? Did we think this was their best album? Listen up and let us know what you thought. Enjoy our last pick for 2017.
The Sonic Collective


Our Individual Review Scores
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 2
Would I recommend?:4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 2.5
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 3
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 4

Review of DJ Shadow: Entroducing

Please read Scott Coates pick for DJ Shadow:
Entroducing before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Worth the hype?
2.7

Review of DJ Shadow: Entroducing

Ok, first of all, this is a complex album. It is long and full of many experimental songs manufactured by DJ Shadow with basic equipment and lots and lots of samples. Though we didn’t rate it high as a group, there are definitely those who will love this album. It has some great historical value and there is no denying the talent of DJ Shadow. Listen to our reviews and find out what the good, bad and sometimes ugly was about this album.
The Sonic Collective


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?:4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype?: 3.5
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 2.75
Would I recommend?: 2
Influenced my tastes: 2
Worth the hype? 3
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype? 3
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 2
Would I recommend?: 2
Influenced my tastes: 2
Worth the hype? 2

Review of Tom Petty: Wildflowers

Please read Darren Scott’s pick for Tom Petty: Wildflowers/a> before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype? 5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4.5
Worth the hype? 4.5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?:4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?: 4

Tom Petty: Wildflowers


This is a really sad day. Tom Petty has passed away.
I’m actually a bit late getting my pick up as usually we have them ready on the first. I planned to update today and when I woke up I heard that Tom had a cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital. I since recorded my segment about his pick and now just found out he died shortly after. So sad.
I decided to pick Tom Petty’s Wildflowers album a few days ago after much thought. I’ve always loved Tom Petty and thought to myself that is was about time we picked one of his albums. I knew the hits from Wildflowers but for whatever reason I never actually owned this particular album.
Listen to why I picked this album on this sad day and please join us in celebrating an amazing musician and listen with us this month.
Darren Scott
Wildflowers on Wikipedia
Wildflowers on iTunes
Wildflowers on Spotify

Review of James Brown: Hell

Please read Darren Scott’s pick for James Brown: Hell before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Worth the hype?
3.5

Review of James Brown: Hell

James Brown finally got picked by us here at The Sonic Collective. It’s about time. I (Darren) was very excited to experience one of James Brown’s most successful albums, Hell. It is definitely funky spliced with a 70s vibe. We had lots of comments and questions about the album and we hope you like loud gong sounds. Have a listen to our reviews and then grab this album and have a listen. We’d love to hear your comments and what you thought about the album. Be sure to check out the classic interview in the YouTube video above. Enjoy Hell… ha ha ha…

Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4.5
Worth the hype? 3.5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype? 2
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?:3
Influenced my tastes: 3 (James Brown 5!)
Worth the hype?: 3
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype? 4

James Brown: Hell


I’m actually as surprised as you were that we have been a group that specializes in reviewing influential artists and albums, but this is our first review of a James Brown album. I thought for sure that in out live album selection round that his Live at the Apollo album would have been chosen, but alas, it was not.
I am very excited to really dive into the album. I invite you to listen to why I selected this particular album and to join me in rediscovering a classic from a legend*.
*A legend in his music. I actually detest that he was an abusive man and how he took advantage of others close to him.
Links:
Hell on Spotify
Rolling Stone Review