Mostly Sophisticated Summer Music Mix 2014

This is a list of the cds I have in my 100 disc changer.  It is not a top 100 list, but it is all good music that I recommend.  Usually, I have posted this list every 6 months or so, such that normally this would have been posted in the beginning of June.  However, I haven’t been able to listen to cds much lately because on humid days, which are frequent, the amplifier’s “Protect” function shuts down the amplifier, supposedly to prevent damage.

Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (discs 1 and 2)

Porcupine Tree – In Absentia (discs 1 and 2)

Porcupine Tree – Lightbulb Sun

Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet

Porcupine Tree – Coma Divine

Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused to Sing

Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning (disc 1 and 2)

Flower Kings – Space Revolver

Flower Kings – Stardust We Are (disc 1 and 2)

Flower Kings – Retropolis

Flower Kings – Back in the World of Adventures

Flower Kings – The Rainmaker

Dream Theater – Dream Theater

Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events

Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos

Dream Theater – Score (disc 1)

Dream Theater – Master of Puppets

Jordan Rudess – Notes on a Dream

An Evening With Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci

James LaBrie’s Mullmuzzler – Keep It to Yourself

Led Zeppelin – In Through the Out Door

Mix cd of Tony MacAlpine and Led Zeppelin

Wes Montgomery – Full House

Wes Montgomery – Fusion

Fates Warning – Chasing Time

Ozzy Osbourne – Tribute

Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon

Alice In Chains – Dirt

The Mighty Mighty BossTones – Devil’s Night Out

Megadeth – Youthanasia

Megadeth – United Abominations

Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction

Ayreon – The Human Equation (disc 2)

Ayreon – Into the Electric Castle (disc 2)

John Coltrane – First Meditations

John Coltrane – Impressions

John Coltrane – Live at Birdland

Poison – Poison’s Greatest Hits 1986 – 1996

Symphony X – Twilight in Olympus

Symphony X – The Odyssey

Stryper – Seven

Extreme – II Pornograffitti

Extreme – III Sides to Every Story

The John Scofield Band – Up All Night

John Scofield – Pick Hits Live

The Who – Who’s Better Who’s Best: This is the very best of the Who

Amazing Journey – Disc 1

Metallica – Kill ‘Em All

Metallica – Ride the Lightning

Metallica – black album

Steve Morse – Coast to Coast

Dixie Dregs – Industry Standard

Dixie Dregs – What If

Dixie Dregs – Free Fall

Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland – Like Minds

Pat Metheny - Secret Story

Pat Metheny Trio – 99 00

Rollins Band – End of Silence

Stanley Clarke – School Days

King Crimson – The Power to Believe

Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Abbey Road EP

Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Uplift Mofo Party Plan

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Freaky Styley

Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble – Greatest Hits

Soulive – Doin’ Something

Pantera – Far Beyond Driven

Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power

Phish – A Picture of Nectar

Steve Vai – Sex & Religion

Gil Evans Play Jimi Hendrix

The Mahavishnu Orchestra – Birds of Fire

King’s X – Gretchen Goes to Nebraska

Radiohead – OK Computer

B.B. King – 20^th Century Masters

Joe Satriani – The Extremist

Bozzio, Levin, Stevens – Black Light Syndrone

Roy Hargrove – The Vibe

Herbie Hancock – Empyrean Isles

Green Day – Dookie

Niacin – Niacin

Testament – The Ritual

Transatlantic – smpte

Fear Factory – Transgression

Platypus – When Pus Comes to Shove

James LaBrie – Winter Rose

Death – Individual Thought Patterns

The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd

Pearl Jam – Yield

Deep Purple – Machine Head

Joe Pass – Virtuoso 2

Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today

Queensyrche – Here in the Now Frontier

Tool – Aenima

Bill Frisell – Live

Black Label Society – Kings of Damnation Era

Savatage – The Wake of Magellan

***** Mother’s Milk by the Red Hot Chili Peppers – Arguably Their Underground Breakthrough

About the time that Mother’s Milk came out, folks where starting to notice the Chili Peppers, if for no other reason than their album covers, and their legendary antics.  This album predates me a bit, as I was not a fan of them going back this far.  I hadn’t even heard of the Red Hot Chili Peppers when Mother’s Milk was released.  However, I felt the call to purchase it after soon after I was completely blown away by Blood Sugar Sex Magik all the way back in 1991.

Had it not been for the antics of the Chili Peppers antics, I still regard it unlikely that they would have made it big without it.  Just as it was the naked baby on the cover of the Nirvana’s Nevermind album that was a strong reason Nirvana was catapulted to stardom, so to was just having the word, “Sex,” in the Blood Sugar Sex Magik album title, the nudity on The Abbey Road EP, and the picture on the cover of Mother’s Milk album the reason for this album’s catching on.

So enough talk, what about the music?  Let me tell you this, if Mother’s Milk doesn’t deliver to you some of the best rock music you have ever heard, I think you need to get your hearing checked, or maybe even your soul, because Mother’s Milk is full of funky soul music.

If you don’t have the money for this one, then I would strongly recommend “What Hits? (1992)” or “The Best of the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s (2005).  However, I wouldn’t think of either of these albums as a substitute for getting the early Chili Peppers stuff that predates 1991.  Early in their career the Chili Peppers could do no wrong in my opinion.  Thus, while the greatest hits packages are good, they are no substitute for the early Red Hot Chili Peppers albums.

**** The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984) - There Is Something About This Album, Something Amazing

This album was made in 1984.  By 1984, I think some of us thought we had heard all the newer sounding rock music that would be made.  When I think of what folks where listening to in 1984, the Van Halen album 1984 comes to mind.  That was a tremendous album, but by 1984 there was an incredible crust of amazing music that the Red Hot Chili Peppers had to crack through in order to make it big.  The band that broke the crust turned out to be Nirvana, with their album Nevermind.  That album gave a chance of success to albums like the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and if you liked that album, maybe you thought about checking out this one.
The Chili Peppers put out a lot of great music before their breakthrough album, but it was just that it is was hidden by 1980s big hair bands.  This album should come as a refreshing deviation from what is normal in music.  I love it, and I hope that you are able to do the same.  If nothing else pick up either one of the following greatest hits albums “What Hits? (1992)” or “The Best of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (2005),” if you aren’t planning on getting the Chili Peppers albums before Blood Sugar Sex Magik.  As to whether or not there are enough good songs on this one to make it worthwhile to buy the self-titled effort of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I would have to say that is a, “Yes,” but not a strong enough yes for me to rate this album 5 stars.  I rarely rate any albums 5 stars for that matter.
Also, if you haven’t noticed that most of my reviews are of bands that are of lesser popularity than usual.  It just so happens to me that I don’t like being a part of the herd.  I don’t like being a part of things that are very popular.  Likewise, I was only naïve and in 8th grade when I bought the mega-popular album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and I do have to admit; the crowds got it correct on this one.  Unusually, music that was popular was also good.  I think that has also happened in a few other instances like The Dave Mathews Band, and Lady Gaga, but for the most part I enjoy this album because it is still somewhat of a rarity that is very fun to listen to.
Last, but not least.  Unlike the other retro-champions of this time, such as Nirvana or the Smashing Pumpkins, The Red Hot Chili Peppers do not offend my ears with overly simple music.