Currently listening to: Week of October 8, 2012

To really hear an artist's work, you must look past the hit singles. The entire album is worth hearing to truly get a glimpse of it all in one body of work. Here are some of the albums I am listening to this week.

Pinhead Gunpowder - Goodbye Ellston Avenue (1997)

Billie Joe Armstrong is a busy guy. He is mostly known as the lead singer of Green Day but he is a member of at least 3 other bands including this one. Other bands he is a member of are Foxboro Hot Tubs and The Network. Pinhead Gunpowder play straightforward punk rock. Not as poppish as Green Day but the voice is very recognizable. This is more similar to the music they did around the 39 Smooth/Kerplunk days and is sure to please fans of that or any other bands on Lookout Records. If you like punk rock and like Green Days most punk songs, check this album out. Here are some great songs on here:
Life During Wartime:

Brother:

I Walk Alone:

Oingo Boingo - Nothing To Fear (1982)

Oingo Boingo's second album, released on A&M Records in 1982. This album is a bit more louder and has more of an abrasive tone compared to their debut, Only A Lad. This further cements Danny Elfman as a brilliant songwriter. The band's mix of ska, new wave and experimental music was unheard of at the time and this release is a prime example of this. This features some classic Oingo Boingo songs such as Nothing To Fear and Private Life. Here are some of my favorite songs from this album.
Private Life:

 Nothing To Fear:

Grey Matter:

Tori Amos - Gold Dust (2012)

Not exactly a new album for Tori Amos. This album includes songs which were on previous Tori Amos albums but now done for an orchestral arrangement. This includes songs on most of her solo albums, with the exception of To Venus and Back, The Beekeeper, Strange Little Girls and Night of Hunters. There are some really interesting versions of Silent All These Years, Precious Things and Gold Dust. This album is a must have for any fan of Tori. It's like hearing these songs for the first time. Here are some of my favorites.
Precious Things:

Flavor:

Star of Wonder:

 
Live - Throwing Copper (1994)

One of the best rock albums of the 90s. This includes the hit songs Lightning Crashes, All Over You, I Alone, Selling The Drama and White, Discussion. This remains Live's best selling album to date. Incredible lyrics, less based on Eastern philosophy than their previous release, Mental Jewelry. It was one of the first CDs I owned so it is a special album to me. They, along with REM, and Smashing Pumpkins really defined the 90s and rock in general. A must have for any collection. Here are some of the best songs:
I Alone:

White, Discussion:

Selling The Drama: