Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back


I’ve recently been listening to concerts and tracks (Unfuck the World – amazing video) from the newly formed super-group Prophets of Rage and been enjoying them a good deal. Pumped for their album coming out in September 15, 2017. I also re-watched an episode of Dave Grohl’s Sonic Highways where Public Enemy frontman Chuck D is interviewed and it got me to thinking about Public Enemy. I realized I’d never listened to one of their albums in full. Well it’s time.

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back was released in June 1988 by Def Jam Recordings and was the band’s second studio album. It quickly went on to be named by many to be the best album of the year and has continued to grow in significance since then. The lyrics are poignant and it represents a snapshot of America in the late eighties. Strap in for a rap journey that’s regarded as one of the greatest of the genre…
Links:
Album on iTunes
Album on Amazon
Wikipedia Information on the album.

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

Review of Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual

Please read Scott Gregory’s pick for Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

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

Review of Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual

Apparently, not only do girls want to have fun, but they can influence a decade. With close to 60 million albums sold and 16 million of this album alone, there is no denying the influence of Cyndi Lauper. We all had strong feelings about this pop album from 1983 and as we still hear songs today like Time After Time we let you know how this album stood up over time. Sorry it’s a bit long this month but we had lots to say. Enjoy the review of She’s So Unusual.


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 4
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 3.75
Would I recommend?:3.75
Influenced my tastes: 2.5
Worth the hype?: 3.75
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2.5
Worth the hype? 4
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 1.5
Worth the hype? 3

Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual


Hey there everybody, Scott G from the Sonic Collective here to introduce our pick for May, 2017. Recently we’ve gone through a number of bands with not only a unique sound, but signature style offstage. They left their stamp on pop culture and helped chart a generation. Read this article and then please listen to my audio above to hear why I selected this album.
This month I really wanted to feature a female artist and continue the unintentional theme of musicians that came onto the scene and threw everything in the air. Tore up the charts and pop culture at the same time.
Everyone will remember Cyndi Lauper for exploding onto the scene in 1984 with the Album She’s So Unusual. Even if the title doesn’t ring a bell, songs like Time after Time, She Bop, and the impossible to get out of your head “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” will certainly be familiar.
Like everyone else, I’ve ran into Cyndi’s songs on the radio, but I’ve never actually sat down and listened to one of her full albums. This first album spent 77 weeks on the Billboard 200, is certified six times platinum, and Slant Magazine ranks it #22 on the Best Albums of the 80s. My sister also thinks she’s pretty cool.
So, join us at the Sonic Collective this month in enjoying Cyndi Lauper’s debut album She’s so Unusual, and tune in at the end of the month to see if your thoughts are the same as ours. See you then.
Hear our review of this album here.
Links:
Album on Wikipedia
Cyndi’s site
Album on iTunes

Review of Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II

Please read Alain DuPuis’ pick for Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
5

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II

Some may find our reviews obvious and wonder why we do them. Well, it is albums like this that can make it more clear. Our intention isn’t to go back in time and be a music critic, it is rather to go back and listen to a great influential album and see how it stands the test of time. We also want to remind music lovers to take the time to listen to albums in their entirety.
Led Zeppelin II is well worth the time. Listen to our review in this post and join us in celebrating a band that shifted the way rock and roll was perceived. It started with the Blues but this English band took it somewhere new.


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?:5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype?: 5
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 3.5
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5

Review of Neil Young: After the Gold Rush

Please read Scott Coates’s pick for Neil Young: After the Gold Rush before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4

Neil Young: After the Gold Rush

There is one thing that none of us doubted, and that was Neil Young’s massive influence in the world of music. Well wasn’t it strange that none of us had really given Neil his due respect? After all, the members of The Sonic Collective are all Canadian. Maybe it was the fact that he was most influential in the 70s when most of us were toddlers or not born yet, or that he was known more for folk music, which isn’t the usual pick of the group. Or, maybe, it was his high-pitched squeaky voice? Well, we listened for a month, and the results were quite shocking. Maybe not as shocking as Darren revealing he’s a secret fan of a modern pop female vocalist that will make you giggle. Scott’s pick and insights are worth listening to. Enjoy our review!


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?:4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?: 4
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2.5
Worth the hype? 4
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2
Worth the hype?3
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 1.5
Worth the hype? 4

Review of The Clash: The Clash

Please read Darren Scott’s pick for The Clash: The Clash before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4.1

The Clash: The Clash

Though many people will automatically relate to being a Clash fan, I also imagine like us, they probably have not listened to their first album from beginning to end in a long time, if ever. It was a fun ride to rediscover one of the albums that is considered to be one of the greatest punk albums of all time. It is definitely worth a listen but before you jump in, have a listen to our review to learn about this album as well as hear our ramblings aboout what we thought was great and not so great. Enjoy, we did, except Alain… sheesh Alain. Ha ha ha…


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?: 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype?4
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 2.5
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 3.5
Worth the hype? 3

The Clash: The Clash


 
Listen above to hear why I decided to pick The Clash’s debut album. I am really excited to give this influential album the dedicated listening time it deserves. Though not the inventors of punk The Clash took the FU attitude of the music and escalated it and pushed it into a new era of U.K. punk. Enjoy listening and be sure to come back at the beginning of next month to hear our reviews.
Darren Scott
Resources
The Clash (Album) Wikipedia
The Clash Official Site
A Brief History of Punk

Listen to our review of this pick here!

 
 

Review of The Who: Live at Leeds

Please read Scott Gregory’s pick for The Who: Live at Leeds before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4

The Who: Live at Leeds

To end our round of live albums Scott Gregory picked The Who:Live at Leeds. Though we did indeed rate this album highly we have to say that we had some negative comments. Have a listen to find out what Darren and Alain struggled with some parts and why Scott Gregory loves him some rock opera.


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

The Who: Live at Leeds


 
Ladies and Gentleman, this month’s pick is Live at Leeds, by the Who.
Recorded in 1970, it’s the band’s first live album, featuring the entire original lineup of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Arguably one of the best live bands in the world, I know I really love them, I’m comfortable Live at Leeds will hold its own against the already amazing live albums we’ve already covered.
For the review we’ll be using the 2001 deluxe edition, which is the first one that included the entire concert set list. They tweaked the order a bit to put the whole Tommy rock opera together, but on a first listen it doesn’t cause any major problems and it’s well worth it to get the entire concert.
Listen to our review of this album here
Links
Album link on iTunes
Album link on Amazon
Album Wikipedia page
Other Albums Considered This Month
Boogie Down Productions – Live Hardcore Worldwide
U2 – Under a Blood Red Sky