The Rolling Stones - "Let It Bleed" (1969)

Let It Bleed is the tenth studio album released by the Rolling Stones in America.  Due to some differences in some release differences in their home country of England, it is the eighth album that was released in England.  It was released in December of 1969.  This was the final album to feature band member, Brian Jones.  He was a founding member of the band and played a wide variety of instruments.  He died in July of 1969; his death was reported as "death by misadventure."  This was a tragic loss for all of the music industry, and has been the topic of many theories of conspiracy.  This album features some of The Rolling Stones' most famous songs, including "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want." When discussing the success of The Rolling Stones, this is an album that is sure to be discussed.  

1) Gimme Shelter (10/10)

This is possibly the best Rolling Stones song ever.  When it was released, it also had great emotional appeal, due to the suffering everyone was feeling because of the Vietnam War.  One of the greatest parts of the song is when Merry Clayton sings in the background.  She is the standout female voice that sings the powerful lines including "War, Children, it's just a shot away."  Her exceptional performance along with the band's stellar job creates one of the best songs in rock and roll history.

2) Love In Vain (9/10)

What comes as a shock to most people is that this song is actually a cover of a blues song from 1937 by Robert Johnson.  It is surprising because it seems to fit the Stones' style perfectly.  There is a big difference in the arrangements for both versions however.  The Rolling Stones added a few new chords here and there and the song had a unique country tone to it.  The lyrics are very poignant and their new arrangement made that even more evident.

3)  Country Honk (7/10)

This is actually just a country version of the much more famous, "Honky Tonk Women."  The version on this album is the original version of the song.  They wrote and intended the song to sound the way it does on Let It Bleed.  However, a more modern version was created to become a single.  I personally prefer "Honky Tonk Women," but "Country Honk" has a very distinct ring to it.

4) Live With Me (8/10)

This song really shows off their influences and their own original characteristics.  The song has a definitive blues backbone, along with a number of other traits that only the Rolling Stones could successfully use.  A couple of minutes into the song, there is a wonderful saxophone solo.  Also, the lyrics seem like they may be a joke about the way Jagger was looked at by the public.  Lines like "I got nasty habits, I take tea at three," help to give me this impression.

5) Let It Bleed (9/10)

This is an amusing song that allows Mick Jagger to really show off his personality.  Its loud and rambunctious attitude is at a level only The Rolling Stones can reach, and it is awesome.  Everything just comes together in a way that is somewhat stupefying.  In order to understand what I am trying to say, you really have to just listen to it.  You can listen to it on YouTube by clicking here.

6) Midnight Rambler (9/10)

This is another song that is filled with the blues.  This is a result of the constant harmonica jamming in the background.  This song mostly shows off how talented Mick Jagger really is.  It has been said that this song is actually about The Boston Strangler, who murdered many women in the early 1960s.  If you read the lyrics, the resemblance between the "Midnight Rambler" and The Boston Strangler is very obvious.

7) You Got The Silver (7/10)

This is the first time that Keith Richards held the role of the lead vocalist on a song by the Stones.  Both Jagger and Richards recorded a version of the song, but the band eventually decided on Richards' version.  This is partly because it is Keith's own composition.  It is also the last song to ever feature Brian Jones, who plays the autoharp on this song.  This is a song with the intentions of just pure entertainment.

8) Monkey Man (8/10)

This song has an great guitar part played by Keith Richards.  It's not that it is such a complex part; the simplicity of it is what makes it so thrilling.  Mick Jagger also sings some very strange lyrics, including "Yes, I'm a sack of broken eggs, I always have an unmade bed, Don't you?"  Nevertheless, it is a fantastic addition to this outstanding album.

9) You Can't Always Get What You Want (11/10)

Words can't really describe how good this song is, but I'll do my best to give it proper justice.  It represents the 1960s generation in a really smart way.  The three major themes of the sixties were drugs, love, and politics.  The first part of the lyrics is about love, the second part is about politics, and the last is about drugs.  This is all on top of the band playing a song that has a groove to it that is hard to match.  They even featured a the London Bach Choir and an orchestra on the song.  Mick Jagger said "The orchestra was not just to cover everything up.  It was something extra.  The Stones were working on this song since they were working on their last album, Beggars Banquet.  And yes, "it goes to eleven!"

I hope you are all inspired to go and listen to Let It Bleed now.  I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.  It was an album that helped define a generation, and end it.  It was the last Rolling Stones album of the 1960s.  Rolling Stone Magazine rated Let It Bleed as the 32nd best album of all time.  From the lethal guitar on "Monkey Man" to the ferocious blues on "Midnight Rambler" to the incredible symbolism on "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want," this is the best album by The Rolling Stones.

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Christina Aguilera - "Lotus"

Lotus is Christina Aguilera's seventh studio album that was released last Friday, November 9th.  This album is a huge step up from her last album, Bionic.   It has a great mix of club/dance songs and piano focused songs that bring out the best in her powerful voice.  It is a CD that definitely brings her voice front and center, something that Bionic lacked.  Her previous album was a major flop in the music industry with very low sales figures.  Aguilera has put out her best album in years with this latest release.  The main theme throughout the album is that she is a fighter and refuses to be hurt by what all of her critics have to say.  All of the Aguilera fans will be very pleased to see what she has done with this album.

1) Lotus Intro (??/10)

This "song" sets the mood for the rest of the album.  It's not much of a song, as the entire thing is spoken word.  The words, however, use the lotus flower as a metaphor for Christina's "rebirth."  She is making it clear that she wants a clean slate and is ready to take on her career with a new attitude.  I can not give it a score, just because it isn't really a song.

2) Army of Me (7/10)

This song is about facing the pressure of being a celebrity.  Aguilera is already using her lyrics to build herself up and prove that she will not be affected by what anyone else has to say.  It has the sound that I would expect in a single off of this album.  I wouldn't be too surprised if this inspiring hit will see some time on the radio in the coming months.

3) Red Hot Kinda Love (8/10)

Now this song is interesting.  The first time I heard it, I absolutely hated it.  But after a few listens it began to become one of the standout songs off of this album.  It is a fun pop song filled with energy that is bound to make its way onto the playlists of clubs everywhere.  This song takes some warming up to, but it has that sound that will have people singing it all over the place.

4) Make The World Move (feat. CeeLo Green) [4/10]

The addition of her "Voice" co-star seemed really unnecessary.  His vocals never had an important part in the song.  He was basically a back-up singer for the track.  The song was backed by a band that featured a lot of trumpets and horns that didn't quite fit.  The mix of "old-fashioned" and modern music made for a sub-par song.

5) Your Body (8.5/10)

This is Aguilera's lead single off of Lotus.  It was released sometime in September and saw a good amount of time on the radio.  It shows off Aguilera's incredible vocal ability tremendously.  What makes this song so good is that it can do that and be a pop song that will be very successful.  This is a hit song for Aguilera and her producer.

6) Let There Be Love (7/10)

This song is headed straight for the radio.  It uses the familiar formula for hit songs, mostly because of the producer of this song, Max Martin.  He has also produced songs for Katy Perry, Usher, and Britney Spears.  Christina is likely to release this as a single also, as Martin has proved to be very successful in the past.  The song itself does not lack vitality and deserves to be a hit single.

7) Sing For Me (8/10)

This is the first ballad of the album.  It is reminiscent of arguably her best song to date, "Beautiful."  This is another song where she gains confidence by singing about how she is not affected by what other people have to say.  It is backed by some soft violins and a piano, with a solid "ballad drumbeat." For die hard Christina Aguilera fans, this is a precious jewel to save from this LP.

8) Blank Page (7/10)

Aguilera decided to follow up the album's first ballad with another intense piano ballad.  This is the first song with a lot of emotion that doesn't focus on her thoughts of herself.  These lyrics focus on a lost love.  Christina is able to show off the power in her voice.  Her voice is able to make the listener feel the emotions she is feeling, and that is very evident in this song.

9) Cease Fire (5/10)

This song is very bland and uninteresting.  From the extremely unnecessary use of auto-tune at times to all of the war analogies, this song is probably the album's low point.  Even the chorus isn't as electrifying as the rest of the songs.  I just feel like this song was released unfinished.  If it was a little more polished and the lyrics were put together a little better, it could be great.

10) Around The World (6/10)

This song also lacked the excitement the album reached in the beginning.  It reminds me a little bit of "Your Body," but without the thrills that it had to offer.  One good thing about this song is the drums, something about the drumbeat in this song stood out to me.  Aguilera also referenced her hit song from 2001 by whispering "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?" in the background.  That might have been the best part of the song.

11) Circles (8/10)

This song was a complete change from the current mood of the album.  With the hook line being "Spin around in circles on my middle middle finger" it definitely took me by surprise.  Anyway, the song is one of the more fun tracks off of the entire record.  It was filled with attitude and was a great change from past three songs, which were not very great.

12) Best Of Me (8/10)

This is Aguilera remembering how she used to be so vulnerable.  With this song she is putting the past behind her and promises that nobody will ever get the "best of me" anymore.  This is a song of hope that she can stay strong in the future.  This is the third and final ballad of the album.  I think it is the best of the three.

13) Just A Fool (feat. Blake Shelton) [7/10]

This is a great song to end the record.  It is another duet with her fellow judge on "The Voice," but this one is much better than the first, with CeeLo.  The first verse is all Aguilera, and the second is with Blake Shelton.  Even so, he continues to sing along with Christina in the last part of the song.  There is a great powerful drum beat that is perfect for tapping your feet along with the music.  If there was one song that really proved that Christina Aguilera is one of the best singers of this generation, it would be this one.

Lotus is so much better than I thought it would be.  It is one thousand percent better than her last album, Bionic.  The addition of a long list of new producers make this an album that is filled with songs that are bound to make an impact on the charts.  There was a brief stage of about three songs where things got a little weak, but for the most part, this was a great album.  Christina is starting a new chapter, and all of her fans will be very excited when they hear this new record.

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Van Morrison - "Moondance" (1970)

Moondance was Van Morrison's third studio album and was released in February of 1970.  The style of this album was very unusual for its time.  It blended jazz with soul and soft rock, creating a truly unique, intimate experience.  This has been widely considered to be one of Van Morrison's most famous albums.  This album has been critically acclaimed since its release and it continues to please listeners to this day.  It is one of my favorite albums of all time; and the title track is one of my favorite songs of all time.  Van Morrison is intensely articulate with this work of art, creating a one of a kind experience that is hard to top.

1) And It Stoned Me (9/10)

In these older albums, the artist could tell a story and express themselves through the music.  In this opening track, Van Morrison told the story of a day in the life of a young freedom seeker.  This could very well be an account of an actual experience he took part in.  The soft rock and roll that backs up his distinct vocals makes this one of the best songs on the record.  Somehow, this song is both relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. 

2) Moondance (10/10)

This is one of the standout songs off of this album.  It is probably the most famous song from it.  This also consists of soft background noise surrounding Van Morrison's voice.  It is a jazzy, romantic song that brings out the best in his music.  The soothing nature of this song does not take away from the passion in Moondance's lyrics.

3) Crazy Love (8.5/10)

Van Morrison sings so softly during this song, it is close to a whisper.  This creates a feeling of powerful intimacy that is not matched on the entire album.  The album starts with a few quiet songs that focus on his wonderfully unique voice.  The group of back up singers add to the suspense of this classic love song.

4) Caravan (9/10)

The music and lyrics to this song look so simple on paper.  Nevertheless, Van Morrison throws his personality into it and creates a very intricate piece of music that touches the soul.  The way this song was put together is genius.  The way the band fades in and out somehow allows Van the Man to communicate his emotions in a very effective manner.

5) Into The Mystic (10/10)

This song basically sums up the entire message behind Moondance.  The way Morrison sings this song makes the listener feel like he is directing his words to one specific person, not millions of fans.  It is a beautiful representation of romance because of its traditional structure.  The lyrics are wonderful, but they can be interpreted differently by any listener.  The lyrics are beautiful, the song is beautiful, and this is the best song off a great album.

6) Come Running (8/10)

Van Morrison described this song as a "happy-go-lucky" song.  That is exactly how I would describe it as well.  The song comes in at a fairly short 2 minutes and 33 seconds.  This does not leave Morrison enough time to completely express himself as he did in the past 5 tracks.  However, it's a fun song to listen to, and begins the transition into the more light-hearted, second half of the album.

7) These Dreams Of You (7.5/10)

After a couple of minutes, the repetitive style of this song began to get a bit boring.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great song.  However, it is definitely not the best song on the LP.  The lyrics consist of the telling of what are apparently dreams Van Morrison has had.  A pretty saxophone solo makes this a good one, but it can't be compared to the genius of songs like "Into the Mystic."

8) Brand New Day (8/10)

"Brand New Day" is a very down to earth song that is very fervent.  The amount of capability this song offers is beyond that of most of the songs I have ever listened to.  It leaves a lot to the listener to put things together and completely absorb the magnitude of this song.  The only negative thing about this song is that it leaves you wanting more.  It shows off the broad spectrum of talent Van Morrison has to offer.

9) Everyone (7/10)

This song has a very joyful and happy tone that seeps into your mind and makes the listener feel these same emotions.  When talking about this song, Van Morrison described it as a "song of hope."  Many fans, however, feel the song's lyrics represent a different meaning.  I feel like the lyrics are telling the story of a troubled group of kids, filled with hope.  This quote from the song represents the idea of hope well: "By the winding stream we shall lie and dream/We'll make dreams come true if we want them to..." 

10) Glad Tidings (8/10)

This is the perfect song to end this album.  The upbeat tempo rolls along as Van Morrison's signature horn section plays in the background.  It's the fun kind of ending that makes you want to listen to the entire thing all over again.  While it is not the best song on the record, it is the best song to end the album.

In my opinion, Moondance is Van Morrison's best album, and the most defining release of his career.  Every song is a masterpiece in its own way, and that is what makes the album come together and become such a breath-taking piece of art.  Moondance was such an innovative album for its time.  It combined a unique style of jazz, with the popular genre of rock and roll to create one of the best albums of all time.  Even Rolling Stone rated it as number 66 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  I believe that this album represents the peak in, not only Van Morrison's career, but in the entire genre of European soul music.

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Aerosmith - "Music From Another Dimension!"

Music From Another Dimension! is Aerosmith's fifteenth studio album since their premiere in 1973.  This album has been highly anticipated by Aerosmith fans because it is their first album to feature all new material since 2001.  To avoid confusion I will clarify something right now.  The album was released in two formats; a single CD version as well as a deluxe edition.  I will be reviewing the basic version that lacks three bonus tracks, bringing the total track count down to 15.  Before I get started, I'll say that if you haven't heard an Aerosmith album since the seventies, you might be a bit disappointed.  However, if you are a fan of Aerosmith's music since the nineties, you might enjoy this album.  Let's get started.....

1) LUV XXX - (6/10)

Just the name of this song (pronounced 'Love Three Times') had me worried at what to expect from Aerosmith's latest album.  After the minute of a creepy voice explaining how this album was going to control my emotions, I wasn't feeling any better about it.  However, they surprised me and pulled of a solid rock tune with an infectious drum beat and nice little guitar solo by Joe Perry.  I'll give it a six out of ten just because Tyler's vocals just didn't sound like himself and that took away from the experience.  The majority of the song didn't sound like it should be an Aerosmith song.  But I have to say, the last minute is completely different than the majority of the song.  The last bit reminded me of Aerosmith in their prime and it got me pretty excited.

2) Oh Yeah - (7/10)

This song also had its dull moments.  There were times when the constant singing of "Oh Yeah!" in the background got kind of annoying.  Regardless, this song was definitely better than the opening track, but it still lacked some of the characteristics I have come to expect in Aerosmith's music.  Another awesome guitar solo brought this song to life and left me satisfied.

3) Beautiful - (8.5/10)

This was the rowdy rock anthem I had been waiting for!  It's hard to think of anything negative to say about this song.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Aerosmith, this song represents their style perfectly.  With another impressive guitar solo and electric vocals from Steven Tyler, this album just got a whole lot better.

4) Tell Me - (7.5/10)

This was an interesting choice to follow up the hard-rocking "Beautiful."  This song is driven by the acoustic guitar and is a typical Aerosmith love song.  It progresses from just an acoustic guitar and Tyler's vocals to a quality rock ballad.  This is the first song on the album that expressed a lot of emotion and had meaning.  Perry snuck another guitar solo into this song, making that four songs in a row in which he had a share of the spotlight.  Let's see how long this streak lasts!

5) Out Go The Lights - (9/10)

After listening to this song I felt like I was back listening to Aerosmith in the seventies.  It is a hard rocking song that shows off their bluesy roots.  The backing vocals give this song a type of groove that I haven't heard in an Aerosmith song in a long time.  Another long-lasting guitar solo brings the streak to five consecutive songs!

6) Legendary Child - (8/10)

This song proves that Aerosmith is really putting forth an effort to return to their seventies form.  I was surprised to find out that this was the lead single off of this album.  For the past 20 years, it seems like Aerosmith has been making pop-influenced songs in order to stay on the radio.  It's a great song that deserves to be the lead single.  An additional guitar solo means that Joe Perry has had a solo on every song on the album so far!

7) What Could Have Been Love (7/10)

This song is just a classic power ballad that is a target to expand their audience and get playing time on the radio.  It highlights Steven Tyler's voice but the song as a whole lacks detail that could have made this song better than what it is.  Tyler's passion gives it a tone that makes the song, um, not terrible.  The power ballad did not call for a real guitar solo from Perry, ending the streak at six consecutive songs.

8) Street Jesus (9/10)

This is another great song that brings me back to Aerosmith's prime.  There are pieces of this song that could have been taken directly from an old album of theirs.  It has a blues sound to it that is just awesome.  This is definitely one of the stand-out tracks off of this album.  Going back to Joe Perry's string of guitar solos, this song gets him back on track with a few nice riffs and one great solo.

9) Can't Stop Lovin' You (feat. Carrie Underwood) [4/10]

I don't know what to say about this one.  What were they thinking?  This song is an awkward cross between country and shrieking hard rock.  It doesn't make sense.  However, I have asked other people their opinion on it and some people really like it.  To me,  I think it was a terrible decision on Aerosmith's part.  I actually lost some respect for these guys just now.

10) Lover Alot (7/10)

This is just a raw, powerful, hard rock song.  This is another one that is reminiscent of Aerosmith's prime days in the seventies.  It's surprising to see how much their music has changed since their last album, 11 years ago.  This song is all about repetition.  This was the song that was stuck in my head after listening to the album for the first time.  It is also the second single off of the album.

11) We All Fall Down (6/10)

This one is just another ballad.  It's more sappy than the first one (What Could Have Been Love), and it doesn't fit in with the rest of the songs that take on that old "Rock 'n' Roll" sound.  Despite that, this was expected because they gained a large amount of fans from their "sappy" stuff in the nineties.

12) Freedom Fighter (8/10)

Politics isn't usually something that is brought up in Aerosmith's music.  However, lead guitarist Joe Perry was outraged when he learned of Joseph Kony, who has been abducting children all across Uganda and surrounding areas.  He was inspired by the documentary "KONY 2012", which went viral on YouTube.  Perry wrote and sang this song all on his own, making it the only song that does not feature vocals from Steven Tyler.  On top of all this background information, it's a great song.

13) Closer (5/10)

This song is just boring.  It is lost somewhere between a regular mid-tempo Aerosmith song and one of their slower ballads.  I haven't been able to figure this one out, and the confusion made the song come across as a bit dull.  If anyone can give me a clue as what this song is all about, please let me know.

14) Something (6/10)

This album is beginning to lose the early excitement it had in its first half.  This song is also a little boring.  I think the vocals belong to Joe Perry, but I can't be sure.  It's definitely not Steven Tyler.  Something about this song just didn't do it for me.  

15) Another Last Goodbye (7.5/10)

This closing ballad was a great way to end the album.  The final track was the best of the three ballads off of this album.  It featured a few signature screams from Steven Tyler.  The song expressed the emotion of the entire album.  Based on the lyrics, I wouldn't be surprised if this last song may be the final song of Aerosmith's career.  This is quite possible because Steven Tyler is well into his sixties now.  The song and the album ended with the return of the eerie voice from the beginning.  This time it told me that I am now allowed to return to reality.  I don't think that was at all necessary, it made the whole thing seem pretty corny.

Music From Another Dimension! adds to the success of the legendary band, Aerosmith. The album had several hits and a couple misses. And although the 15-track album isn’t its best work, it is much better than anything they have released in the past 15 years. Aerosmith is obviously trying to recreate its prime days, but I don’t think any longtime fans will be complaining.

Listen to the Deluxe Version of Music From Another Dimension on Spotify!

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Welcome to Taking Notes! This is a place where I will review all kinds of new music.  Here, you will find Track-By-Track Reviews of new and old music CDs.  You will find a new post every Wednesday and Thursday!  I appreciate all kinds of feedback and I look forward to keeping you all informed with the world of music! read more