Judson's Music & Outdoors Blog

A few sample ratings...

2005-02-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

I realize that one of the shortcoming of rating albums I own is that y'all won't get much of a chance to hear me really go off on some really crappy album, 'cause (IMHO, of course) I don't own any. (I'm sure I'd get some disagreement on that from Cavender, Jeffie, ETK, et al. ...).

Nonetheless, I'd like to get this rating system off the ground and flapping it's wings by rating some albums I have listened to recently.

Tortoise- Standards: 4.4 Sounds a bit- well, OK, a lot- over produced at first listen, but it's finer qualities begin to insinuate themselves into your groove-meter after several listens. Plus, I can play it in my classroom when my kids do Art, and it doesn't scare the crap out of 'em too bad. I think they just like it 'cause of the band name, though. They also like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for the same reason.

Beatles- Rubber Soul : 5.0 I'd like to give this something higher. Simply one of the 5 or 10 best albums ever made, period. Now, in the days when everything is so PC, "Run for Your Life" sounds deliciously creepy. And George, who's solos were never his strong point, busts out a little bit of perfection on "Michelle". Twice. OK, not really a solo; maybe more of an instrumental break...

Pinback- Pinback: 4.7 I heard this for the first time in NJ, of all places. Ross put it on and I was immediately transfixed. I wanted to hear it again and again. That doesnt' happen often on a 1st listen, and my fondness for it has not withered in the years since.

Low- Things We Lost in the Fire: 4.6 You'd think an album full of glacially-slow songs would get old, but it hasn't. Absolutely astounding harmony vocals. I never get tired of singing along with this one, even though the lyrics are not really that outstanding. Also, I wish it had been recorded with a LOT less bass. If I didn't adjust the equalizer way down on the bottom end every time I listened to this at home, my neighbors would be lining up at my door with torches and pitchforks. I think this might be the one that blew out a back speaker in my car.

Bach- Goldberg Variations (Glenn Gould, piano- 1981 version)- 5.0 Gould recorded another version of this in 1955. I don't know much- OK, anything- about keyboard technique, but I did find myself saying "Holy crap!" a great deal. Some are put off by his humming along while he plays, but to me, it's just a pure expression of his joy at being able to connect with the music in the way he does. I have the variations on harpsichord as well, but they just don't pack the punch of this recording. According to Jeff, the 1955 is even faster and more visceral.

I'll try to come up with some worse albums in a few days to spice things up a bit...

music rating scale

2005-02-09T22:57:00.000-08:00

As promised in the title bar, you will occasionally find discussion of music hereabouts. In preparation for such, I'd like to share with you my Foolproof Music Rating System. Albums receive a score of 1 to 5. Here's how it breaks down:

5- You cannot imagine life without it. If you lost it, you'd be willing to pay upwards of $75 to procure another copy. At times, it is capable of making you weep with joy. You invite friends to listen to it, all the while ranting about its merits with an almost messianic fervor. You have a barely restrainable urge to beat people who do not love it as much as you.

4.5-4.9- Dear Merciful Jesus, it's good, but at least one of the above is not true. You won't quite have seizures if you don't hear it for a week or two. You still can't understand how someone couldn't love it, but you can actually hold conversations with people who don't, and perhaps even like them. Might make you cry if you had been drinking. Still, there isn't one weak song to be found.

4.0-4.4- Ladies and gentlemen, you simply have to stand up and applaud, because this is one fine damn recording. You can, however, imagine life continuing if you didn't own it. Brief moments, or even whole songs, might make you say, "Holy crap!", but the album as a whole does not. You are willing to admit it has some faults (though not many), and it may even contain a song you genuinely don't like. You can be good friends with people who hate it passionately. You'd have to be good and stewed for this one to make you cry.

3.5-3.9- Ah, the middle of the pack. (No, 2.5 is not the middle) This is not a bad album, though it may have several poor songs. You enjoy listening to it almost all of the time, but finding yourself using the "music skip" button occasionally. You probably own several like this, though you thought they would be a little better when you bought them. It's not bad enough, or even bland enough to sell back, though. You often find yourself describing it with such faint praise as "pretty good". Might have 1-3 truly amazing songs. You wouldn't be embarrassed if your band had released this album. Would not make you cry unless you had gout and dropped the jewel case on your toe.

3.0-3.4- Hmmm... boy, you really wish you hadn't bought this one, though it's not quite bad enough to sell back. You could go as much as a year or two without listening to this one. When you do pop it in, there might be some songs that suck, but overall it's a decent experience. You see copies of it all the time in the used bins. Unless it's completely bland and devoid of personality, it most likely has at least one tune for which you have a strong and active dislike. No one except the painfully stupid and/or the criminally insane show great enthusiasm for it. On the other hand, it has enough good moments that it'll never end up on anyone's "Worst Record of the Year" list.

2.5-2.9- Something is wrong here. For the first time on this scale, the album immediately brings to mind the word "bad" and is most likely something you'd try to sell. It's not bad enough to hate, but it sure ain't good. Probably not more than a song or two you enjoy. If someone saw this in your collection, you'd be a little embarrassed, but still might try half-heartedly to explain why the hell you own it. You have occasionally tried to give it to friends with no musical taste, hoping it might bring them happiness (the dumbasses).

2.0-2.4- What the hell was this band thinking? They might not totally suck, but this album sure does. You do not own an album in this category; you long ago sold them back without hesitation. It's bad enough that when the record store dude passed on buying it, you attempted to hide it in his bargain rack. It's not bad enough to make you angry, but the mere thought of it makes you wrinkle your nose, and you question the cerebral fortitude of anyone who enjoys it.

1.5-1.9- Boy, does this album suck. You're still not totally pissed off by it, but having a buddy who liked this album would put a strain on the relationship. This is the first time we find something bad enough to make fun of. If there's anything good here, it doesn't last more than a few seconds, but there's not even one whole song you can enjoy. You might have a few words with the idiot who suggested it to you.

1.0-1.4 Sweet fancy Moses, this albums bites! It is definitely bad enough to make you angry- at yourself for listening to it, and at the jerkoff who led you to believe it would be a pleasant experience. Listening to it can occasionally make you feel like breaking something. You would have a very hard time maintaining friendly relations with anyone who loved it. There is truly not one moment of anything worthwhile on this disc. Even when you were a total tool in junior high, you would have hated this album.

Does it get worse? Not often, but it can. An album in the 0.0 to 0.9 range happens infrequently enough that it doesn't merit lengthy description. Suffice it to say you would rather suffer broken bones than listen to it start to finish. Those responsible for its creation, recording, and release should be beaten.

Expect the first album review soon (must sleep now.)

2005-02-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Lithia Park

Super Bowl Sunday (unofficial nat'l holiday?)

2005-02-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday is an odd thing when you're not a football fan. In addition, there's the whole hyped-up atmosphere building up to and during the actual event. Not to mention the otherworldly, surreal circus which is the half-time show. This is what is must feel like to be Jewish on X-mas day.

Personally, I'm going to steer clear of the TV and go for a run. Should find the running trails pretty deserted.

2005-02-05T21:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a journal of my hike around Mt. Hood on the Timberline Trail over Labor Day Weekend, 2004.

http://www.trailjournals.com/judson/

This summer, in August, I'd like to do the 93-mile Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier. Still haven't decided where I'm going for Spring Break: Oregon Coast Trail? Pacific Crest Trail in SoCal?

2005-02-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

in the Death Trap, Trout Cr. Mtns.- Memorial Day weekend, 2004

2005-02-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

Well, here's a stumbling beginning to my blog. ETK told me setting this up was idiotproof, but I'm a pretty significant idiot. Hopefully, once I get out the kinks (read: "get a clue and figure out how to do it"), this blog will feature tales of outdoor adventure- with plenty of photos, I hope- and reviews from my current CD collection, including indie, experimental/post-rock, electronic, jazz, classical, and who knows what else.