tpt-90pxIf you don’t know what the ‘rally squirrel’ is, this clip will tell you everything you need to know:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsQYS5zS5u4

I thought it might be fun to take a trip back in time for a moment. As we have seen on the list, there are a couple of big albums that are celebrating their 20th anniversaries this time of year and are being re-released in deluxe forms: U2’s Achtung, Baby and Nirvana’s Nevermind These were obviously both super big albums that had wildly divergent effects on two very different bands. Achtung, Baby helped propel U2 into becoming the biggest band in the world. A distinction which they really still pretty much have, especially if you saw them on their last gargantuan tour. While Nevermind brought the Seattle grunge scene front and center to the music listening world, all the while helping to dismantle the hard rock/heavy metal scene that had wildly blossomed out of control by 1990/91. An album that also brought a certain young, reluctant star Kurt Cobain to the national spotlight. But what else came out twenty years ago? The answer: Quite a lot. Let’s take a look at some other highly notable releases from the year 1991. Here’s the full list including U2 and Nirvana:

 

U2 - Achtung, Baby

R.E.M. - Out of Time

Sting - The Soul Cages

Tom Petty - Into the Great Wide Open

John Mellencamp - Whenever We Wanted

Bruce Springsteen - Lucky Town and Human Touch (actually released early 1992.)

Guns N Roses - Use Your Illusion, Vols. 1 and 2

Metallica - S/T aka ‘the black album’

Fates Warning - Parallels

Nirvana - Nevermind

Pearl Jam - Ten

Smashing Pumpkins - Gish

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

Live - Mental Jewelry

Marillion - Holidays in Eden

Fish - Internal Exile

Genesis - We Can't Dance

Rush - Roll the Bones

Toad the Wet Sprocket - Fear

The Smithereens - Blow Up

Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone

Pretty impressive, huh? I realize some of these were pretty below ground. Marillion and Fish for example. But some were right at ground and bubbling under such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, Live and Toad the Wet Sprocket. These would have huge influence over what the 90’s would become. And some pivotal albums at the top with U2, R.E.M., Guns N Roses and Metallica all becoming mega-huge.

Part of the reason I made up this list is because of how almost all of these albums really stick out in my mind at the time they were being released. The only exception would be Uncle Tupelo who I would discover a year or two later. The band that would eventually break up into Jay Farrar’s stick-to-his-guns approach in Son Volt and the more experimental and widely popular Wilco led by Jeff Tweedy.

And if you go back 10 years from now to 2001, what stands out most? Does it come up something of a blank? Well, I can think of a few if I put my mind to it, Summershine by Vigilantes of Love for one, but mostly it seemed like a lot of Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. Cue the dawning of the age of American Idol. Of course, that’s not what we are here for, although I admit to listing some of the A.I. winners on this list. I guess it truly is the age we live in. But always dig deeper and you can find that the music scene really is alive and well and thriving with some innovative artists giving different and unique spins to the music that has come before, while breaking some new boundaries now and again.

Hey, you might find a few here:

Recently released and not mentioned in last edition:

* Bill Mallonee - Last Days/Early Mars (free download; think Summershine.)

* Sting - 25 Years: Best of (Compilation from the box set.)

* Big Tree - This New Year

* Deas Vail - S/T

* House of Lords - Big Money

* Frazey Ford - Obediah

* Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer

* Jon McLaughlin - Forever If Ever

* Bright and Early - Getting Through It EP

* Alberta Cross - Rolling Thunder EP

* Frank Zappa - Carnegie Hall 1971 (4 CD’s.)

+ Nirvana - Live at the Paramount Theater

+ Life is Beautiful (Blu-ray.)

+ Dumbo (Blu-ray.)

 

10/4

* MuteMath - Odd Soul

* Feist - Metals

* Erasure - Tomorrow’s World

* Indigo Girls - Beauty Queen Sister

* Jack’s Mannequin - People and Things

* Jane’s Addiction - The Great Escape Artist

* We Were Promised Jetpacks - In the Pit of the Stomach

* New Found Glory - Radiosurgery

* Iron Claw - A Different Game

* Mayday Parade - S/T

* The Answer - Revival

* Loney Dear - Hall Music

* Paul McCartney – Ocean's Kingdom (score.)

* Scotty McCreery - Clear as Day

* Hank Williams tribute

* Styx - Regeneration, Volumes 1 & 2(New recordings with current band.)

* The Smiths - Complete Deluxe Box Set

* Scott Weiland - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

+ The Rolling Stones - Ed Sullivan Shows

+ African Cats

+ Fast Five

+ Buck

+ The Undefeated

+ The Heart Specialist

+ Submarine

+ Scream 4

+ The Lion King (Blu-ray.)

 

10/11

 * Peter Gabriel - New Blood

* Marketa Irglova - Anar

* Rachael Yamagata - Chesapeake

* Evanescence - S/T

* Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

* TW Walsh - Songs of Pain and Leisure

* Lauren Alaina - Wildflower

* Martina McBride - 11

* Stephen Kellogg - Gift Horse

* Himalayan Bear - Hard Times

* Casiokids - Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen

* Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

* Joe Henry - Reverie

* Ben Lee - Deeper into Dreams

* James Morrison - The Awakening

* Rich Robinson - Through a Crooked Sun

* Mike Muir - The Mad Mad Muir Musical Tour

* Mayer Hawthorne – How Do You Do

* Metric - Fantasies (Fan created remixes.)

* I am the Avalanche - Avalanche United

* The Rifles - Freedom Run

* Future Islands - On the Water

* Crooked Fingers - Breaks in the Armor

* The Ready Set - Feel Good Now

* Fishbone - Crazy Glue EP

* Ben Folds - Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective (3 CD’s.)

* The B-52’s - With the Wild Crowd: Live in Athens, Georgia 2011

* Yes - Live on Air: 1985

* Neil Young - Live on Air: Lost Tapes, Vol. 2

* Michael Schenker - Temple of Rock

* Judas Priest - Chosen Few (Compilation chosen by their peers.)

* ZZ Top - Tribute

+ The Tree of Life

+ Horrible Bosses

+ Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

+ Beautiful Day

+ The Trip

+ Terri

+ Zookeeper

 

10/14

 

+ Neil Peart - Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance (Instructional DVD from the world’s greatest drummer!) ;-)

+ The Green Lantern

 

10/18

* June Tabor & the Oysterband - Ragged Kingdom

* T-Bone Burnett - Presents the Speaking Clock Revue (live compilation.)

* Martin Simpson - Purpose and Grace

* Shelby Lynne - Revelation Road

* Chris Isaak - Beyond the Sun (Tribute to Sun Records.)

* Cowboy Junkies - Sing in My Meadow (Vol. 3 of Nomad Series.)

* Better Than Ezra - Death Valley EP (a distinct LSU Tigers theme.)

* Montgomery Gentry - Rebels on the Run

* Third Day - Christmas Offerings

* M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

* Patrick Stump - Soul Punk (Singer of Fall Out Boy.)

* Buxton - Nothing Here Seems Strange

* Real Estate - Days

* I Break Horses - Hearts

* Gauntlet Hair - S/T

* Class Actress - Raprocher

* Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin - Tape Club(compilation.)

* Bobby Kimball and Jimi Jamison - S/T(Former singers of Toto and Survivor respectively.)

* Peter, Paul & Mary - Holiday Concert

* The Deep Dark Woods - The Place I Left Behind

* Forest Fire - Staring at the X

* Whitehorse - S/T

* My Brightest Diamond - All Things Will Unwind

* Alesana - A Place Where the Sun is Silent

* Iced Earth - Dystopia

+ Talking Heads - Chronology

+ Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (documentary.)

+ Monte Carlo

+ Page One: Inside the New York Times

+ Red State

+ Bad Teacher

+ A Better Life

+ The Names of Love

+ Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

+ Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (40th anniversary Blu-ray.)

 

10/25

* Q Magazine featuring a CD of notable artists covering U2’s ‘Achtung, Baby’ album for its 20th anniversary.

* Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

* Sam Llanas - 4 A.M.(formerly of The BoDeans.)

* She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas

* Tom Waits - Bad As Me

* John Prine - The Singing Mailman Delivers

* Jon Anderson - Open (digital download only.)

* Honeyhoney - Billy Jack

* Kathryn Calder - Bright & Vivid

* Bevis Frond - Leaving of London

* Deer Tick - Divine Providence

* Colleen Brown - Dirt

* Little Red - Midnight Remember

* Skinny Puppy - Handover

* Hammock - Asleep in the Downlights

* Andy Statman - Old Brooklyn

* Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

* Brian Wilson - In the Key of Disney

* Thomas Dolby - A Map of the Floating City

* Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings - Box Set

* The Goat Rodeo Sessions - S/T (Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Stuart Duncan & Edgar Meyer.)

* Nirvana - Nevermind (Mega Deluxe Box Set.)

* Transatlantic - More is Never Enough (Live.)

* Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (Deluxe edition w/live CD and DVD.)

* James - The Gathering Sound (Box set.)

* Rush - Live in Cleveland 1974 (CD.)

+ Pearl Jam - Twenty (Documentary by Cameron Crowe.)

+ Peter Gabriel - New Blood: Live in London (CD/DVD.)

+ Black Country Communion - Live in Europe

+ Europe - Live in London 2011

+ Cyndi Lauper - To Memphis With Love

+ Glenn Hughes - Live in Wolverhampton 2009

+ Bob Schneider - Live at the Paramount Theater

+ Captain America: the First Avenger

+ Winnie the Pooh

+ A Little Help

+ Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

+ The People Vs. George Lucas

 

11/1

* Lou Reed & Metallica - Lulu

* Megadeth - Thirteen

* Jonathan Segel - All Attractions

* Richie Kotzen - 24 Hours

* Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

* Rascall Flatts - Live

* Susan Boyle - Someone to Watch Over Me

* The Hours - I Want More EP

* Safetysuit - These Times

* The Decemberists - Long Live the King EP

* The Beach Boys - Smile Sessions

* Carole King - A Holiday Carole

* Jackie Evancho - Heavenly Christmas (Walmart exclusive.)

* U2 - Achtung, Baby (20th anniversary Deluxe.)

* Florence & the Machine - Ceremonials (Deluxe.)

* Jethro Tull - Aqualung (40th anniversary Deluxe.)

* Journey - Greatest Hits, Volume 2

+ Kings of Leon - Talihina Sky: Documentary

+ Crazy Stupid Love

+ Cars 2

+ Water for Elephants

+ Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

+ Trespass

+ Tabloid (Documentary.)

 

11/8

* Laura Veirs - Tumble Bee

* Me’shell Ndegeocello - Weather

* Built Like Alaska - In Troubled Times

* Brian Eno - Panic of Looking

* Thea Gilmore - Don’t Stop Singing

* Atlas Sound - Parallax

* Shonen Knife - Tribute to the Ramones

* Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - S/T

* Seahaven - Winter Forever

* Brooke Fraser - Flags (Deluxe.)

* Eric Carr - Unfinished Business (Compilation.)

* Disturbed - The Lost Children

* Pink Floyd - A Foot in the Door: Best of

* Deep Purple - Live at Montreux 2011 (w/Orchestra.)

+ Rush - Time Machine Tour: Live in Cleveland 2010

+ The Change Up

+ Life in a Day (Documentary.)

 

11/11

+ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

 

11/15

* R.E.M. - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011 (40 song career retrospective w/three brand new songs.)

* Angels & Airwaves - Love, Part 2

* Leigh Nash - Hymns and Sacred Songs

* Newsboys - God’s Not Dead

* Matt Wertz - Snow Globe

* Tegan & Sara - Get Along: Live

* Childish Gambino - Camp

* Curt Smith - Mayfield

* Slash - Made in Stoke: Live

* Fastway - Eat Dog Eat

* The Who - Quadrophenia (Deluxe.)

+ God Bless Ozzy Osbourne (Documentary.)

+ Larry Crowne

+ Bellflower

+ Beginners

+ Turtle: the Incredible Journey

 

11/22

* Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow

* Magnum - Evolution

* Daughtry - Break the Spell

* Nickelback - Here and Now

* James Durbin - Memories of a Beautiful Disaster

* Elvis Costello - Spinning Songbook: Live (CD/DVD.)

* Chris Cornell - Songbook

* Rhett Miller - The Interpreter: Live at Largo

* Riot - Immortal Soul

* Death Cab for Cutie - Keys and Codes remix EP

* King’s Daughters and Sons - If Then Not When

* Calexico - Road Atlas: 1998-2011

* The Rolling Stones - Some Girls (Deluxe.) and Some Girls: Live in 1978 (DVD.)

* The Muppets soundtrack

* Rush - Sectors 1,2,3 (3 five CD box sets.)

+ Taylor Swift - Speak Now World Tour: Live (CD/DVD.)

+ Nirvana - Nevermind: a 20th Anniversary Tribute

+ Super 8

+ Sarah’s Key

+ Conan the Barbarian

+ The Devil’s Double

+ Spy Kids: All the Time in the World

 

11/29

* Richard Thompson - Strict Tempo

* Beggars & Thieves - We are the Brokenhearted

* Gorillaz - Singles Collection: 2001-2011

* The Smashing Pumpkins - Gish/Siamese Dream (Deluxe editions.)

+ Cave of Forgotten Dreams

+ The Future

+ Seven Days in Utopia

+ 30 Minutes or Less

+ The Art of Getting By

+ Another Earth

+ One Day

+ Our Idiot Brother

 

12/6

 

* The Black Keys - El Camino

* The Fall - Ersatz

* Nils Lofgren - Old School

* The Roots - Undun

* The Dead Milkmen - The King in Yellow

* Little River Band - A Little River Band Christmas

+ Cowboys & Aliens

+ The Debt

+ The Help

+ The Hangover, Part II

+ Mr. Popper’s Penguins

 

12/13

+ Kung Fu Panda 2

+ Rise of the Planet of the Apes

+ Fright Night

+ Tanner Hall

 

12/20

+ Midnight in Paris

+ Colombiana

+ Glee

 

12/27

+ Apollo 18

 

LYRICS of the MONTH:

 

“Where’s your heart gone

Where’s your soul

Where did all of your faith go

And where’s that old spark a failure stole

Well I bet we find it in no time at all

 

We’ll find it in no time

We’ll find it in no time

We’ll find it in no time

We’ll find it in no time at all

 

Where’s your nerve gone

Where’s your hope

Where’s that sunrise you’ve been waiting for

And where’s that one day you counted on

Well I bet we find it in no time at all

 

When the walls start falling on the world you have

Just hold tight, in no time, we can get it back

 

When the skies come crashing on the world you have

Just hold tight, in no time, we can get it back.”

 

MuteMath, the song ‘In No Time’ from the album Odd Soul released in October, 2011.

 

See MuteMath on tour. You’ll be glad you did!  http://www.mutemath.com

 

See you in November...

 

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

 

Chris Barlow

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.