190n120: 30 Years of Music with Adam Johnson...Episode Twenty-Five: "Those who cannot learn from the past are condemned to repeat it"

104. Six Organs of Admittance - Ascent (2012)

Not my favorite SOOA album, but my first. I'm new to the game, I'll admit; but what I lack in experience I make up for in enthusiasm.

Ben Chasney leads a full band through a rollicking good time, like a space shuttle drilling through the Earth. Inspiring as ever.



Recommended Listening: Waswasa, Close To the Sky, One Thousand Birds, Even If You Knew


103. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (1996)

After the Birthday Party hung up their capes, Nick Cave went about mining American gothic for inspiration, and did a mighty fine job of it, too. Victoria's favorite son delivered his strongest offering in Murder Ballads, though. Cormac McCarthy would blush at some of these soliloquies, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Also, his ensemble reading of "Death Is Not the End" is inspired in its crass casting (albeit totally void of irony). Shane McGowan's staying power may just exceed Wolverine.

Recommended Listening: Song of Joy, Stagger Lee, The Curse of Millhaven, O'Malley's Bar

102. Neu - Neu! (1971)

My first taste of the fermented beats of krautrock. The landscapes these cantankerous studio wizards created go on for miles. And Michael Rother taught me very explicity that less is more. Thanks.






Recommended Listening: Hallogallo, Im Gluck, Negativland



101. Harvey Milk - Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men (2007)

Harvey Milk's second best album will make you want to kill your family and then yourself. Heavier than a metric ton, Creston Spiers must have had his Les Paul certified as a deadly weapon in order to make this record.





Recommended Listening: Pinocchio's Example, Plastic Eggs, My Broken Heart Will Never Mend, One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong



100. Morphine - Cure For Pain (1993)

If Mark Sandman were still alive he would still be dead.

This album is more or less dedicated to addiction, of one stripe or another, and it sounds like nothing but desire, sometimes deep and dark, sometimes straight with no chaser. I'm just glad this band existed at all.



Recommended Listening: Buena, All Wrong, Candy, In Spite of Me, Thursday, Cure For Pain