r/albumbucketlist

Synopsis:

Released in 1991, White Light from the Mouth of Infinity marks a monumental shift for Swans. After years of pioneering the most punishing, abrasive "no wave" and industrial sounds imaginable, Michael Gira pivoted toward a more melodic, neo-folk, and gothic style—without losing an ounce of the band's trademark intensity. 

Review:
The album opens with “Better Than You” It begins with a rhythmic, pulsing acoustic strum that builds into a wall of percussion and shimmering bells. Gira’s vocals are commanding. There’s a swirling haunting tone that engulfs the whole track. It climaxes into this ambient tone that perfectly transitions into “Power & Sacrifice” which has this gothic dense groove that is aided by some tribal drum beats and some swirling synth textures. The intensity of the track grows as the song moves along. “You Know Nothing” has this dark gothic sound. It feels so menacing and dense. There is an aggressive intensity  that grows throughout the song’s runtime. “Song For Dead Time” is this atmospheric haunting track. It has this melancholy moodiness which is aided by the  eerie backing vocals from Jarboe. “Will We Survive?” has this bleak apocalyptic theme. Gira's voice sounds so commanding over the eerie synth melodies. The track feels so icy cold and gives off an intense dreadfulness. “Love Will Save You” escapes the darkness and has this bright lightness. Gira lyrics and vocal presence tells a story of false hope symbolizing in our happiest moments darkness is still all over the place. “Failure” ditches the dense gothic groove and replaces it with this raw, minimalist sound.
“Song For The Sun” experiments with some psychedelic rock elements. It gives off such a sunny yet dense vibe. “Mircacle Of Love” adds some gothic religious undertones to the album. It feels so cold and intense. “Blind” doesn’t appear on the original vinyl release but was added to the CD reissue of the record. It features a dark folk simplicity that makes it stand out from the rest of the album's dark dense moodiness. “When She Breathes”  continues that quietness of the previous track with Jarboe’s light whisper of a vocal delivery. “Why We Are Alive” has this lushness that just builds momentum until its final climax. The album closes with “The Most Unfortunate Lie” which is a slow-burning, somber finale. It brings the album to a close with a sense of finality. It brings the album’s theme of beauty and despair to a final closure. 

Final Thoughts:
This was the beginning of the gothic post-rock run of albums from Swans. This one has a nice balance of darkness and light making it one of the more accessible albums in the band’s catalog. I think this record would be a perfect starting point for anyone interested going down a Swans rabbit hole.

Synopsis:
Temple of the Dog is the only studio album by The Temple Of The Dog released on April 16, 1991, t. It is a tribute to Andrew Wood, the former lead singer of Malfunshon and Mother Love Bone , who died on March 19, 1990, of a heroin overdose . Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell who had been Mother Love Bonevocalist Andrew Wood’s roommate, approached former Mother Love Bone members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament  about working on material he had written when he was on tour with Soundgarden in Europe.^([)The line-up eventually included Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron  and newcomers Mike McCready (lead guitar) and Eddie Vedder (background vocals). McCready and Vedder were featured on the album due to their involvement with Ament and Gossard's next project, which became Pearl Jam . The name Temple of the Dog is derived from the opening lyrics of the Mother Love Bone  song "Man of Golden Words": "Wanna show you something, like joy inside my heart. Seems I've been living in the temple of the dog".
Review:
The album opens with “Say Hello 2 Heaven”  ; it has this slow bluesy melodic groove. The opening lyrics "Please*, Mother Mercy, take me from this place"* and "I never wanted to write these words down for you" were the first things Cornell wrote down on a piece of paper after finding out about Andrew’s death. The song’s slow build just gains more momentum as the song moves along. “Reach Down” is just an 11 minute jam session. It feels so sludgy and raw. Mike McCready just takes over with some of the best guitar playing you will hear on a 90’s rock album. The last three minutes is just the band jamming hard. “Hunger Strike" is significant for being the first time the world heard Eddie Vedder’s vocals chops on a record. Sonically the song has this slow swirling yet melodic groove. Vedder & Cornell’s vocals mesh so well. The song is about selling out to the mainstream music industry and the survivor's guilt he felt  that his friend Andrew wood never got to see the fame he was about to get. “Pushing Forward Back” is a balls-out 90’s grunge tune. You could hear the beginnings of the sound that would capture the early 90’s grunge scene. “Call Me A Dog” is a piano based bluesy ballad. A complete change of pace for the record but one of my favorite 90’s rock songs. It is so powerful. It was one of the first times we get a sense that this Chris Cornell guy was more than a lead singer of a metal band but one of the great artists of his generation. “Times Of A Trouble” begins with this nice guitar riff that would be the basis for the Pearl Jam B-Side “Footsteps”  The song once again features this nice rolling piano riff played by the album’s producer Rick Parashar. It also features some mournful harmonica that gives the song a classic rock vibe. “Wooden Jesus” has some psychedelic rock influences. The song blasts the commercialism of organized religion. “Your Savior” is a sharp heavy 90’s rock jam. It actually could’ve been a Mother Love Bone song. “Four Walled World” has this bluesy wailing  guitar hook from McCready that lays down a nice foundation for the song. Cornell’s vocals conjure up some blues rock inflections. The album closes with “All Night Thing” ; it is a sultry love ballad that is a surprising way to end this record. I think it is a brilliant way to end the record. 
Final Thoughts:

This might be my favorite “grunge” album of all time. I have loved this record since the first time I heard it. It is just an amazing set of songs from a group of musicians coming together to grieve their friend. It being the beginnings of Pearl Jam makes it historic. Also Chris Cornell provided some of the best emotional moments of his career. I got the chance to see them live during their reunion tour in 2016, one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. If you haven’t heard this incredible record, put it on your bucket lists today.

Synopsis:
The album opens with “Do It Again" it is a high energy track with some slick 80’s production. “Word Of Mouth” sounds more jittery and not as slick as the opening track. Dave Davies shines with a powerful guitar hook. “Good Day” changes course with its yacht rock melodies. Dave Davies shines on “Living On A Thin Line” it has this haunting bassline that is the foundation of the whole song. It has this menacing swirling groove that just builds momentum throughout the track. It was famously used in an episode of The Sapronos. “Sold Me Out” has this high octane punk rock energy. “Massive Reductions” has a nice new wave energy that gives it this chaotic yet infectious vibe. “Guilty” has a hard driving hook that is played fast and loose. “Too Hot” continues that high pace energy but has some early Kinks inflections hidden in the melodies. “Missing Persons” switches it up with this tender melodic ballad. One of Ray Davies' vulnerable  vocal deliveries. “Summer’s Gone” has this swaying warm rhythm that gives it a nice breezy sound. The album closes with “Going Solo” which has this bright power pop melody. A nice breezy way to end the record.
Final Thoughts:

Am I crazy or do these 80’s albums rock? At this point in this project I don’t think The Kinks are capable of making a bad album. This is a solid mid 80’s rock album. Put this one on your Kinks deep dives and bucket lists.  

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds-Let Love In (1994)

Elliott Smith-Figure 8 (2000)

ZZ Top-Fandago (1975)

Pulp-His'nHers (1994)

Butthole Surfers-Rambrandt Pussyhorse (1986)

2001-The Coup-Party Music

2002-Cattle Decaption-To Serve Man

2003-iron Maiden-Dance Of Death

2004-Deerhoof-Milk Man

2005-Korn-See You On The Other Side

Winners:

1955-1960: Chuck Berry-One Dozen Berrys

1961-1965: Geraldine & Ricky-Trees Talk Too

1966-1970-Terry Riley - A Rainbow Curved Air

1971-1975-Three Dog Night-Hard Labour

1976-1980--Baird Hersey-Looking For That Groove

1981-1985-Ney Matogrosso-Ney Matogrosso

1986-1990 Millie Jackson -Back To The Shit

1991-1995 Van Halen-Balance

1996-2000-Limp Bizkit-Chocolate Starfish & The Hot Dog Flavored Water