The 500 - #320 - Amnesiac - Radiohead

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: # 320

Album Title: Amnesia

Artist: Radiohead

Genre: Experimental Rock, Electronica

Recorded: Three Studios, Paris, France, Copenhagen, Denmark, Oxford, UK

Released: May, 2001

My age at release: 35

How familiar was I with it before this week: A little

Is it on the 2020 list? No

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Knives Out

Amnesiac, the fifth studio record by Radiohead, was released in May, 2001, seven months after their fourth album, Kid A, In fact, Kid A was still selling briskly and listed on the US Billboard Top 200 chart on the day Amnesiac was released. We'll revisit Kid A in about four and a half years. It sits on The 500 list at position #67.

Album jacket for Kid A (2000) by Radiohead

When I was a kid, it was not unusual for a band to release two critically well-received records relatively close together, sometimes within the short span of a calendar year. Genesis, Elton John and Led Zeppelin did it in the 70s. The Beatles, whose  albums Revolver and Rubber Soul came out eight months apart in 1965 and 1966, created works so good that both made the top five on The 500 list.

Album jackets for Rubber Soul & Revolver (1965)  The Beatles

Prior to 1990, an album release typically meant a single, 12-inch vinyl record  which was limited to about 23 minutes of material per side. Consequently, albums such as Rubber Soul and Revolver clock in at 35 minutes each.

However, after 1990, many artists released material with the rapidly growing compact-disc (CD) market in mind. A CD can hold twice as much music as a vinyl record. Collectively, Amnesiac and Kid A have a running time of 93 minutes, so Radiohead fans were delighted and surprised when the two records hit shelves so close together. It also got them thinking:

Was the material on Amnesiac just a collection of outtakes from the Kid A sessions?

Or

Was Amnesiac a continuation of the musical statement the British alternative band had started with the release of Kid A?

Both views held some truth. The recording of each album took place at the same time, between January and April, 2000. Then, in 2021, Radiohead released Kid A Mnesia, which combined the two records along with previously unreleased material and remixed versions of songs from the albums. This supported the long-held theory that both records were part of a unified theme, or musical journey, for the band.

Album Jacket for Kid A Mnesia (2021) Radiohead

I gave a brief history on Radiohead in an earlier post, which included my relationship with the band's music. I have been a fan throughout their 30-year career, but seeing them live remains elusive. Although I did not follow them closely during  the early 2000s when I was holding down three jobs, I was delighted to see Amnesiac on The 500 list. It was wonderful to spend a week delving  into a record that I hadn't had time to fairly appreciate.

Radiohead (2000) 

The haunting, atmospheric and jazz-inspired Amnesiac is surreal and sometimes disorienting. It works well over morning coffee, but I wouldn't play it at a social gathering or as conversational background music because it requires sustained focus. And although I concentrated on the lyrics,  the thing that kept sticking with me was the title.

An amnesiac is someone who suffers from a medical condition called amnestic syndrome that hinders memory. There are two types of this condition. In the first, anterograde amnesia, comprehending new information is difficult. The other, retrograde amnesia, impacts an individual’s ability to recall events. Sometimes, both forms of amnesia are due to trauma or connected to a progressive neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease.

The thought of either horrifies me – life without memories? And life void of continuing new inputs can strip the unfortunate sufferer of a meaningful existence, trapped in an earth-bound limbo. There are others who suffer too, such as friends and relatives. No one wants to be a burden.

I've reached an age where people I know are struggling with their cognitive function and it is heartbreaking to see. A good friend visits his mother in a long-term care facility, but she no longer recognizes him. He's been outwardly courageous in accepting his family tragedy, but I also know it impacts him profoundly and I am at a loss over what to say or do to help him.

When asked about the Amnesiac title, bassist Colin Greenwood said: "The record was like discovering a forgotten book buried deep in a library. This was a collection of songs that we didn't know we had (from the Kid A sessions). I suppose we knew we had them and had forgotten how proud we were of them, so we called them Amnesiac."

Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood

Perhaps, this is a helpful analogy when trying to come to terms with the cognitive decline of someone we love who has forgotten us. We still love them and we are still proud of the life that they left behind, even if it is buried deep in the library of their subconsciousness.

The 500 - #321 - Pink Moon - Nick Drake

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: # 321

Album Title: Pink Moon

Artist: Nick Drake

Genre: Folk

Recorded: Sound Techniques, London, England

Released: February, 1972

My age at release: 6

How familiar was I with it before this week: Not at all

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #203 (up 118 places)

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Pink Moon

Horrifically, it was Nick Drake's mother who found his lifeless body on November 25, 1974. He had not left a suicide note. The coroner's verdict of "self-administered, acute amitriptyline poisoning" has been disputed by some, including members of Drake's family. Amitriptyline is a powerful anti-depressant Drake had been prescribed, the side effects of which are punishing.

Near his bed was an unfinished letter to his close friend, Sophia Ryde, and a copy of The Myth Of Sisyphus by French philosopher Albert Camus. The main question discussed in Camus' 1942 book: "Does the realization of the meaninglessness and absurdity of life necessarily require suicide?"

The title of this collection of essays was taken from the tale of Sisyphus. In Greek mythology, this former king was punished by the god Zeus, with the task of eternally pushing a boulder up a hill in the bowels of Hades (Hell)...only to have it roll back to the ground just as it reached the summit. Metaphorically, Sisyphus, for Camus, represents the pointless struggle we all undertake while trying to understand our purpose in, arguably, an absurd and meaningless world.

There was a time during my undergraduate years when I fancied myself a bit of a philosophy buff and even considered pursuing it as a major. Truth be told, I took a single course (The Introduction To Philosophy) in 1986. Like many twenty-something college kids I went through a somewhat insufferable phase when the idea of a philosophy degree seemed highbrow and scholarly. For me, it coincided with a decision to grow a goatee. I briefly considered wearing a sport coat with leather elbow patches. I guess I was tapping into my inner-Camus, searching for some meaning while concurrently adding to the ridiculousness of my existence.

Of the many philosophical ideas we studied in that class, it was the examination of existentialism and absurdity that fascinated me most. Since that time, I have dug a little deeper into the thinking of Camus.  My interest was rekindled by the brilliantly clever animated series Rick and Morty -- a television program well summarized as "a never-ending fart joke wrapped around a nuanced look at nihilism."

Morty, from Rick and Morty, summarizes his philosophy on life

For me, curiosity about existentialism and nihilism is not a morbid preoccupation. The diversion of spotting, questioning and then ridiculing life's absurdities is gratifying. It's why I enjoy the often ludicrous comedy of Monty Python or The Kids In The Hall so much. It's also why Rick and Morty scratches an itch I have for complex, stratified, farce...and fart jokes. Yet, much like the aforementioned Sisyphus and his eternal task, I continue to seek purpose in my own existence.

Sisyphus, doomed to unsuccessfully roll a rock up a hill for eternity.

With a running time of about 28 minutes, Nick Drake's third and final record, Pink Moon, sold only 5,000 copies when released. Drake was, by the time of this recording, a recluse, living at his family home in Warwickshire, England. He had stopped touring and no longer worked with other musicians. Accompanying himself on guitar and piano, he recorded Pink Moon over two midnight sessions with only his producer, John Wood.

After his death, at 26, Drake's music found a wider audience. He has been cited as an influence by well-respected contemporary artists, including, Beck, Kate Bush, Peter Buck, Jeff Tweedy, Lucinda Williams, Paul Weller and Robert Smith, whose band, The Cure, took their name from a lyric in one of Drake's earlier songs.

"Time Has Told Me / You're a rare rare find / A troubled cure / for a troubled mind." 

The collection of songs on Pink Moon are musically and lyrically soft, sparse and simple. His voice is breathy and beautiful and the guitar tones he achieves with his complex fingerpicking style are clean and rich. Some fans see the album as his suicide note because it explores such bleak themes. However, there are also moments of  hope. The title is taken from the first full moon of April, considered an early sign of spring and rebirth. Coincidentally, this year's pink moon lit up the sky the evening I wrote this post.

A pink moon

The album’s last track, From The Morning, contains the hopeful lyric “And now we rise/And we are everywhere,” a phrase which would appear on Drake’s headstone.

Nick Drake's tombstone

I find an element of positivity from this beautiful record. It might be a Camus-esque reflex – searching for meaning behind the absurdity in this talented young man’s death. The educator in me wonders, "what could have been done to make a difference for him?" Can I learn from him and make a difference with someone else?

I will think about him when working with students who are struggling with their own torments – perhaps emotionally, academically or socially. A pink moon shines brightly, but the light comes from a distant sun. I will try to be a sun for others. For whatever the absurdities of this life may be, I know there is meaning when one is there for those in need.

The 500 - # 322 - Sail Away - Randy Newman

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: # 322

Album Title: Sail Away

Artist: Randy Newman

Genre: Orchestral Pop, Satire

Recorded: Three studios in Los Angeles, California, USA

Released: May, 1972

My age at release: 6

How familiar was I with it before this week: 1 song

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #268 (up 54 places)

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Political Science

Sail Away is Randy Newman's third studio recording and also the third of three records he has on The 500. In August, 2021, my friend Rob Hodson guest blogged for the record, 12 Songs, and I penned a post for Newman’s fourth record, Good Old Boys, about a year earlier.

In the final paragraph of that 2020, post, I talked about the "uncomfortable, but titillating thrill" that comes from really well-crafted and provocative satire. I cited the films Monty Python's Life Of Brian and Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles as two examples of media that lampooned taboo subjects in order to shine a critical light on more important societal injustices and hypocrisies.  

Randy Newman albums are masterpieces in satirical commentary. My first exposure to the legendary songwriter, pianist and singer was in the winter of 1977 when his song Short People hit the charts. I was 12 and, initially, was shocked by the lyrics. As were many people, but we had completely missed the point.

Short People Lyric and Album Cover

To my credit, likely because I was already a fan of Monty Python, MAD magazine and had heard a National Lampoon record, I deduced this was a spoof and Newman had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. Short People was, if you paid attention to the lyrics in the bridge section, an indictment on the ridiculousness of racist beliefs.

Short People (Lyrics from the bridge) Alternate Album Cover

Sail Away is full of marvelously witty, facetious lyrics performed over catchy, melodic piano scores. Newman is accompanied by a who’s who of session players, including Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner, and clarinetist and saxophonist Abe Most, best known for his work with the swing bands of the 1930sm – not the least being Benny Goodman's Orchestra.

Abe Most

At first pass, the title track on Sail Away seems like a jingoistic characterization of “immigrants” bound for America. However, on closer examination, the lyrics reveal the perspective of an 18th Century slave trader addressing his human cargo as it arrives in Charleston Bay, South Carolina.

Album Cover for Sail Away / Political Science Single Release

The tracks He Gives Us All His Love and God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) could easily be misinterpreted as celebrations of faith. However, Newman, who was raised as a non-observant Jew, has often said that organized religion never made any sense to him.

In an interview, he recounted a time when, as a teen, he was invited by a classmate to a cotillion (dance) at her country club. He accepted, but received a call from the girl's father to disinvite him. The father said his daughter "never should have invited him because Jews are not allowed at the club". The incident was, understandably, scarring and led Newman toward the atheism that manifests in his lyrics.

Newman performing - mid 70s.

All three of Newman's records on The 500 list are gems -- musical delights with deliciously rich, funny and entertaining lyrics. Of the three, I think I like Sail Away the best. Prior to this week, the only track I knew from this record was, You Can Leave Your Hat On, although I was unaware  Newman had penned it. There is a version by singer Joe Cocker that was made famous in the erotic drama 9 1/2 Weeks) and a Tom Jones take (used delightfully in the comedy The Full Monty).

With The Full Monty in production to be released as an eight-episode television series with the original cast, I expect another iteration recorded by a contemporary pop star will soon be in the contemporary zeitgeist.

The 500 - #323 - Ghost In The Machine - The Police

 I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Once again, at the start of 2022, I offered the students in my class the opportunity to guest post on my 500 blog. To my delight, Austin took up the challenge and when we looked over the upcoming records he was quick to pick #323, Ghost In The Machine by The Police. I was happy with his choice. I have already written about the other three records by The Police on The 500, so I was fresh out of stories about my experiences with the band. So, it's nice to get a fresh perspective on this influential post-punk trio.

Album: # 323

Album Title: Ghost In The Machine

Artist: The Police

Genre: New Wave

Recorded: AIR, Montserrat, Le Studio, Quebec

Released: October, 1981

My age at release: Mr. Hodgkinson was 16, I wasn't born

How familiar was I with it before this week: Not at all

Is it on the 2020 list? No

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Invisible Sun

Here’s what Austin chose to write:

Hi, my name is Austin, I am twelve years old and I am in Mr. Hodgkinson's Grade 7 class at Sir Arthur Currie Public School in London, Ontario. 

Austin C. (Age 12)

The first time I heard the title Ghost in the Machine I instantly knew this was going to be a great album. Well, I also literally thought about a ghost inside of a machine. To be exact, I thought about an arcade machine like Pacman and the little ghosts that chase around our yellow hero. Anyway, no more jokes, the title really interested me.

Ghosts in a Pac Man Machine

At first, I thought the title meant a glitch in a system or a loophole in a program. I wasn’t entirely wrong. The title is based on a book of the same name by writer Arthur Koestler. He was trying to explain human violence in psychological terms.

The Ghost In The Machine - Arthur Koestler

I think the “Ghost in the Machine” is also when your brain is on autopilot. For example, when you are dreaming and something important creeps in, such as a date, a time, a place or anything that can actually help you with your future decisions and choices. Let me explain with an example. Two days before I was going to have surgery, I dreamed that everything went perfectly and my dad bought me a new Playstation 5 video game system. When I went to get the surgery, I wasn’t scared. I just knew that everything was going to be alright. I guess I was deciding to trust the Ghost in my Machine. Sadly, I didn’t get the Playstation 5, because it was not available at the time. I did get some money to buy games for my Playstation 4.

Playstation 4 gaming system

The song on the record that I was most drawn to was Invisible Sun. Invisible Sun is a work of art that, for me, is a mix of a simple happy melody (sort of like songs I love from The Beatles) with a dark grittiness. It is unlike any song I have ever heard. When I was researching it on Wikipedia, I saw this amazing quote from songwriter, singer and bassist Sting:

“I wanted to show some light at the end of the tunnel. I do think there has to be an 'invisible sun'. You can't always see it, but there has to be something radiating light into our lives."

— Revolver Magazine, 2000

Wow, that is one deep quote. But, I kind of understand what he is saying. Amazing people come into and leave your life and you need to cherish those good moments. The song's message is a sad and happy one. It was written about how war torn countries move on and try to rebuild, even as they’re getting bombed. 

Album cover for the single, Invisible Sun

They have to live with death and destruction, but there has to be an “Invisible Sun” to light their way. It is a metaphor for hope. I hope the people of Ukraine are finding an invisible sun to help them get through the war that is happening there.

Lyrics for the chorus of Invisible Sun

To conclude my post, I knew my dad saw The Police in concert when he was younger so I wanted to ask his thoughts on this album.

Are you a fan of The Police?

A: Yes, I was always a fan. But my best friend in school was an ardent fan and taught me a lot about the band.

Do you ever listen to this album?

A: Not always. I tend to listen to songs by The Police instead of the albums.

What’s your favorite song?

A: Definitely Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. I saw The Police when I was 30 at Madison Square Garden. That song was the best part of the performance.

Do you like the song Invisible Sun?

It’s one of the best on the album. I think that it’s a thoughtful meditation on socio-political events at the time Sting was writing this. But sonically it is a bit too cumbersome and heavy.

In conclusion, this was a highly rated album among fans and it hit number one on the US Billboard 200 and was in the Top Ten Records that year (1981).  It has also been ranked #76 on the Greatest British Albums of all Time. I think it deserves these rankings and the fact that it is album #323 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time is an honour it deserves.

Thanks for reading,

Austin