To help you pass some time and discover some new music, here are my music recommendations for some of my favourite Spotify Playlists, Podcasts, Music Documentaries, YouTube Music Channels and even a link to my vinyl collection that I invite you to look at and you can ask me any questions about.
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Please read and listen to Alain DuPuis’ pick Van Halen: Van Halen before reading and listening to our reviews below.
Quick Summary:
Review of Van Halen: Van Halen
Just like this album, we had way too much fun recording the podcast review for Van Halen’s self-titled debut album. Sonic member Alain DuPuis selected this California Rock/Metal album for February 2020 and we got to go back and listen to this classic. This album definitely highlights a lost art of selecting tracks to listen to in order to create a party/story for the listener. As we now live in an age of releasing singles and rarely listening to a full album in order from an artist, it is nice to go back and remember this lost art form.
We had a blast with this one and it is one of few that received a perfect score from us. Stop reading this and go listen to our podcast now and then get that album queued for your next gym session.
We invite you to hear our four differing opinions of this album and learn something with us. In this podcast you will learn the following about Van Halen’s debut album and much more:
Listen to our thoughts and see if this is worth going back to and let us know what your experience was with this album.
The Sonic Collective
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Scott Coates
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Scott Gregory
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Please read and listen to Scott Coates’ pick Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique before reading and listening to our reviews below.
Quick Summary:
Review of Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique (w/Bonus Rush: 2112 mini review)
Note: Due to the passing of the great Canadian Neil Peart from the band Rush, we decided to also listen to and do a mini review of the Rush 2112 album. It’s only 5 minutes long so be sure to listen at the end.
It was great that Scott Coates selected this adored Beastie Boys album. Paul’s Boutique is often talked about as one of the key albums in the history of rap. Considering the Beastie Boys were know for goofy white kid moronic rap (Sorry, but it was kinda true), to have their next album take such a leap in style and production was… well… amazing.
We invite you to hear our four differing opinions of this album and learn something with us. In this podcast you will learn the following about Paul’s Boutique and much more:
Listen to our thoughts and see if this is worth going back to and let us know what your experience was with this album.
The Sonic Collective
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2
Scott Coates
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Scott Gregory
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Celine Dion, the youngest of 14 children (Yikes!), and the best selling Canadian artist of all time at 200 million claimed album sales worldwide, released the Falling Into You album in 1996 about a year before the world was exposed to that Titanic song that shall not be named.
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Celine Dion, the youngest of 14 children (Yikes!), and the best selling Canadian artist of all time at 200 million claimed album sales worldwide, released the Falling Into You album in 1996 about a year before the world was exposed to that Titanic song that shall not be named.
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(Top image credit: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)
Darren Scott, December 2019
As we reached the 5th birthday of The Sonic Collective it was great to celebrate and reflect upon all the great music we had gone back to listen to. We have definitely discovered that the really great bands of the past do span the test of time and their songs sound great.
It is always difficult to make a selection as there are so many worthy bands, but I decided that it would be a downright travesty if we let Iggy Pop and the Stooges wait another second to be added to our show.
Listen to my selection reasoning above and please join us as we rediscover the Godfather of punk, Iggy Pop. Will this music still stand up 46 years later? Wow, 46 years!
Personally, I can’t wait to dive back in to Iggy Pop. If you want to join us on an amazing journey that involves drugs, sex, David Bowie’s friendship, and the definition of a cheaply run studio session, I know you won’t be disappointed.
I give you Raw Power by Iggy and The Stooges.
Celine Dion, the youngest of 14 children (Yikes!), and the best selling Canadian artist of all time at 200 million claimed album sales worldwide, released the Falling Into You album in 1996 about a year before the world was exposed to that Titanic song that shall not be named.
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Radiohead’s Kid A was ranked #67 on Rolling Stone’s top 500 albums of all time. While researching what album to pick Scott Coates settled on this one. None of our members had ever really listened to much Radiohead and none of us had listened to this particular album.
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If you don’t know who Frank Zappa is, it is definitely worth learning as he has contributed much to music, namely the alternative or psychedelic music scene. The Mothers of Invention was Frank Zappa’s first band and this album is considered very influential. Sonic Collective member Darren Scott thought he would introduce Zappa and his band to the group and we had no idea what we were in for.
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The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out
Darren Scott, July 2019
“I’m not sure what I am getting us in to.” – This thought keeps running through my head as I have now committed our Sonic Collective members to listen to this album featuring front man Frank Zappa.
Not too long ago I watched Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words on Netflix and I found the story very interesting. Frank Zappa was a classically trained composer who wanted to push musical boundaries. Zappa is a very interesting man.
I have to admit, even as a massive music fan, I found most of Frank Zappa’s music I heard a bit strange. Now that it is my turn to pick an album for the group I figured it was about time that I give this very influential musician his due.
Through a bit of research I decided to not actually pick a Frank Zappa album but rather go with one of his first bands, The Mothers of Invention. I feel there is so much to learn about this group, Frank Zappa and the movement he was a part of in the 1960s.
Though I don’t think this album will be for everyone and may not score well with the group, I invite you to listen along and make your own opinion. I respect that Frank Zappa was creating something new and pushed music forward. That’s more than I can say for all the bubblegum pop garbage we hear on the radio all day.
Bring an open mind(and maybe some cannabis) and enjoy this month’s pick, The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out.
The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out on Wikipedia