We get together to discuss Scott G’s pick for March 2021, Need You Now by Lady A. We went in with high hopes and there was certainly a strong reaction. Also, as we close out our round of country albums we stop to reflect on what we’ve learned about the genre. Thanks for listening. For full show notes and access to many more artists please visit The Sonic Collective on your favourite podcast platform and on our website at thesoniccollective.com
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For February 2021, member Alain Dupuis chose this album, not only because it had a major impact on the shape of country music in the 1980s, but because it seemed like a good pick for us to better explore evolution of the genre through the decades. Listen along and enjoy.
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For February 2021, member Scott Coates picked this legendary and transformational album from Willie Nelson. This is his first album after leaving his former record label, RCA, who Willie felt was over controlling and over producing his previous albums. At 39 years old Willie stated that the freedom his new label Atlantic Records gave him to create this Shotgun Willie album, allowed him to clear his throat, and create the album he wanted. Listen along and enjoy.
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Our first pick of our country music round of four influential country music artists started with member Darren Scott. He chose one of America’s greatest songwriters, Dolly Parton and her Jolene album.
Please go back to our last episode to listen to why Darren chose this album and then dive into this review and find out what we liked, and did not like about this classic album.
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For our last pick of our double-album round, Sonic Collective member Scott Gregory picked this ambient, synth-pop, adored album, M83’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. Listen to this full review as we chat about how we enjoyed our pick for November 2020, which marks the 6th anniversary of our podcast. Have a listen to how the album impacted us and what our impressions were.
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Please read Alain DuPuis’s pick, Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Welcome to the Pleasuredome, before reading and listening to our reviews below.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Welcome to the Pleasuredome
For our 3rd selection in this round of influential double-albums, Sonic Collective member Alain Dupuis reached back to 1984 and this first Frankie Goes to Hollywood album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome. This albums contains the 6th and 20th best selling singles in the U.K., for Relax and Two Tribes. But how did this stand up as a whole album? Can we all finally relax? Well, this review didn’t go as we thought. Listen along and see why we struggled with this 80s classic. Hint: It’s the cover songs and the bi-polar sound of this album.
Perhaps the producer was over zealous, perhaps the band wasn’t in control, perhaps this lives just perfectly in 1984 and should stay there. What do you think?
Overall opinion: 2.6
Would we recommend?: 2.3
Influenced our tastes: 2.5
Our Individual Review Scores
Alain Dupuis
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 2.5
Influenced my tastes: 1
Scott Gregory
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 5
Scott Coates
Overall opinion: 2
Would I recommend?: 1
Influenced my tastes: 1
Darren Scott
Overall opinion: 2.5
Would I recommend?: 2.5
Influenced my tastes: 3
Please read Scott Coates’s pick, The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland, before reading and listening to our reviews below.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
The group collectively agreed that this was an album we really enjoyed. Between Jimi Hendrix’s incredible guitar skills, the songwriting, and the production value, this one didn’t feel like a chore to get through. Quite the opposite, in fact. Is anyone surprised? This album sits at the precipice of bluesy, proto-hard rock, which makes for a really interesting musical journey. As our recommend score indicates, this isn’t an album to miss, so you should give this one a listen and let us know what you thought.
Overall opinion: 4.9
Would we recommend?: 4.8
Influenced our tastes: 3.4
Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Gregory
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 3.5
Alain Dupuis
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Scott Coates
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Darren Scott
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Please read Darren Scott’s pick for Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde before reading and listening to our reviews below.
Review of Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde
The group weren’t big fans of this album. We couldn’t get into Dylan’s vocals and the harmonica was a little too shrill for our likings. While there were some moments of greatness to be savored, we felt like this album left us wanting more from such an incredibly hyped and appreciated artist. We all felt music fans should listen to at least one Dylan album in their life, and now that’s done.
Overall Scores
Overall opinion: 2.3
Would we recommend?: 1.9
Influenced our tastes: 1.6
Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Gregory
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 2
Influenced my tastes: 2
Alain DuPuis
Overall opinion: 1
Would I recommend?: 1
Influenced my tastes: 1.5
Scott Coates
Overall opinion: 1
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 1
Darren Scott
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 2
Lauryn Hill is an amazing vocalist. She can sing. She can rap. She can do it all. This album really set the tome of what was to come for hip hop. WE know now just how powerful hip hop and rap is now, but back when this was released in the late 90s some though hip hop might just be a phase, or just more droning type pop music.
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For a change in pace, we decided that the 4 Sonic Collective members should select albums from a randomly selected genre for everyones next pick. Hip Hop was chosen and for the second pick of this round member Scott Coates chose A Tribe Called Quest: People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.
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