(Perfect Albums) The Evaporators - Ripple Rock

This album is a happy-go-lucky romp through Nardwuar the Human Serviettes skittish mind. The Evaporators rifle through 18 tracks in true punk fashion, with the average track time being just over one minute. 

The simplicity of Ripple Rock is what makes it so special, each song fits verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure, there's nothing to look into lyrically, and all song concepts are extremely day-to-day. 


However, they inhabit simplicity with such energy, ability and astonishing character. Truly, no other album I have heard is filled with such wall to wall fun.

Ripple Rock is proof that good music isn't always about tapping into the deepest thoughts and feelings, it can be as simple as saying 'I Feel Like a Fat Frustrated Fuck' or 'I Quit School' to a catchy and memorable tune.

Favourite Song: 'I Feel Like a Fat Frustrated Fuck'

The Time I Faced DOOM

Opportunities to see the super-villain rapper, MF DOOM (Daniel Dumile) are very few and far between, the dude is underground, and he likes to keep it that way. 

Though it has been announced he will don his mask and climb out of hiding to play a show on Flying Lotus' bill at Brixton Academy on May 1st. I have bought a ticket and look forward to the post-show "boy, that was worth starving for".

The show is headlined by experimental, electro producer Flying Lotus, who is joined by DOOM, Shabazz Palaces, Lapalux and KUTMAH. 

I have listened to and am aware of some of Flylo's projects and have heard good things about his live act, so will make it my goal to familiarise with more of his work before the show. I'm also a big fan of Shabazz Palaces, so it'll be nice to see them live for the first time. The other two I have never heard of and will have to size them up soon. The main pull though, is the appearance of my favourite rapper, the unrivalled DOOM.


I saw DOOM for the first time at Reading Festival in 2013, surprisingly, or unsurprisingly he played his set on the smallest stage at the festival; in the alternative tent. It was the smallest crowd I had seen the whole weekend, which made me doubt that DOOM would actually appear; being renowned for either sending an imposter in his place, or just not showing up at all.

It seemed everyone had this same thought, it had long gone past the time he was expected on stage and everyone began murmuring about how they knew he wouldn't turn up. 

These bucket hat detectives were eventually silenced however, as the background music switched off and DOOM's hype-man appeared, urging everyone to coax DOOM out. The chant "We want DOOM!" was the best everyone could do to entice the metal fist terrorist, and it worked. 

Over the PA, his deep, raspy voice met with us - "DOOM wants you!". It was happening! If this was an imposter then the guy deserves an emmy. 

Hearing his iconic voice on a record is one thing, but seeing him bring songs like 'Accordion' and 'Hoe Cakes' to life made for an action-packed 40 minutes or so, with DOOM rifling through his biggest hitters. 

I can't remember much of the show, I think I was too struck by how surreal the moment was. I had my eyes fixed on DOOM and his every move instead of paying any real attention to anything else going on.

All he had on the stage was a laptop and a hype-man; in typical DOOM style he did what he had to do and got out, seemingly without a trace. 

He didn't seem phased by the low attendance, and gave great energy to every one of his songs for those who had made the effort. 

You always have to treat a DOOM sighting as if it's the last, so I am thoroughly looking forward to May 1st, and will hopefully be less of a fan-girl this time around so I can take in every detail of the set. If he turns up that is.

Shameless Plug: /r/strong10

Some friends and I have started a sub-reddit (www.reddit.com/r/strong10) that will be a place for discussing music of the 10/10 variety, where people can come and add their views on acclaimed classics, underground gems, perfect new releases, or really any album that they believe should be awarded 10/10 status.

We want as much debate as possible so any and all additions are welcome, come and fight for a favorite album/ artist that doesn't get the credit it deserves. Even better, go pick out an album that we have shortlisted as "perfect" and bring it down from its pedestal. 

Its very early days and the page is quite bare at the moment but the more support and interest we get, the more it can grow.

SUBSCRIBE!  

 

(Perfect Albums) Classic Review: Johnny Cash - Live: At Folsom Prison

Outlaw country's rugged captain, Johnny Cash released his infamous live album 'At Folsom Prison' in May 1968 on Columbia Records - it is effectively a greatest hits from his past 26 albums that makes up a dream set list, exclusively for the convicts of Folsom Prison.

Along with his future wife and collaborator June Carter and band The Tennessee Three, Johnny plays through 19 songs, of which 5 were originally written by Cash, with the rest being covers and songs written for him.   

It was Johnny's idea to play a show inside prison walls after writing his song 'Folsom Prison Blues' in 1955 - the track that aptly kicks off the album.

The idea was delayed however, as those in charge of Johnny's material at Columbia Records didn't see fit to put a drug addled Cash in front of a rowdy convict audience. 

With a cleaning up of his act in 1968 and a desire to reach commercial success, the Man In Black was taken to play a show to hundreds of inmates inside the dining hall of California's Folsom Prison.

This one off event included two shows in one day on January 13th, 1968. The live tape recording immediately achieved commercial success in the U.S - reaching the number one spot in the country music chart, and getting as high as 15th in the national album standings. 

This was an unprecedented turn-around for Cash, having previously been shunned by just about everyone in the music industry for his unpredictability, drug abuse, and inability to keep up with the evolving industry; as new, fresh acts placed Johnny's gospel themed, country-blues into the past.

So what makes this thing a PERFECT album?  

For me, it is a perfect storm of all the mitigating circumstances and speculation that surrounded Cash at the time that raises the profile of this record into legendary status. He had to prove his relevance in the cut-throat music industry, and he pulled through with a killer live performance brimming with emotion, wit and ripe technical ability. 

Cash didn't bend over backwards to incorporate himself into the evolving scene, instead he took advantage of his branding as a rock and roll outlaw by reaching out to his fellow societal outcasts and allowing them to witness his revival. 

Johnny sets out to please and let the inmates know he is on their side with every song on this calculated set-list, right from his token introduction "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" he has the audience howling with praise and laughter through tracks like 'Cocaine Blues' that incorporate comedy to the act, with lyrical punchlines of dark proportions such as Johnny's brag: "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die".

The inmates adds to the comedy with shouts and cheers as the prisoners relate to the tales of criminality. 

It's the tightrope that Cash walks between comedy and sincerity that showcases his charm and his audience awareness on this record. As well as hanging onto every word of Johnny's lone voice in ballads of death penalties and life sentences: 'Send A Picture of Mother' and my personal favourite 'Give My Love To Rose', the crowd stamps their feet along to '25 Minutes To Go', a rib-tickling countdown to a man's hanging.  

Johnny dresses his songs with sounds and storytelling that transport his audience away from the prison walls, be it with laughter ('Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart'), or with makeshift sounds of train tracks and whistles ('Orange Blossom Special') as well as pastoral songs of freedom ('Green, Green Grass of Home').

This album would come with me onto my desert island without a doubt, I wouldn't place it in a top 10 list, but at the same time I wouldn't like to live without it. Whilst it exhibits fantastic song-writing and that is usually the key to a successful record, it takes a back seat as Johnny Cash sets the bar for what live music is all about.