October 20, 2021 Playlist

"No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" by Motörhead (1981)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Motörhead "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith"  1981 (UK)
Motörhead was one of the most iconic and important heavy metal bands, and provide evidence for the dictum that sometimes the most classic ideas are the simplest. Motörhead was the loudest, fastest, ugliest, most overpowering band of all time. "Wall of sound" doesn't begin to capture the intensity they managed to get from just three instruments. But on the other hand, their songbook is like that of The Ramones: they wrote the same song over and over again. They were more about the overall sound and attitude - who needs "artistic growth" when your frontman is a wart-encrusted giant playing the loudest bass in the world like a machine gunner in a war zone? Therefore I nominate the group's first live album as the greatest Motörhead album: it has all the best songs from their most innovative early albums, played even faster with more distortion accompanied by an ecstatic audience of headbangers roaring their approval. It was also Motörhead's most successful album, going to #1 on the British album charts at a time when "new romantic" synth pop was the hot sound. I would be remiss to not recount a few historical facts about the band: iconic leader Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister was the bassist for Hawkwind during the period when they were making their best albums (and was even the lead singer on their biggest hit single "Silver Machine"). Also, the original guitarist of Motörhead was Larry Wallis from the final line-up of The Pink Fairies - though he quit before Motörhead recorded their 1977 debut album.
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
GranicusYou're In AmericaGranicus1973USA
Von LMOFuture LanguageFuture Language1981USA
Iggy & The StoogesSearch And DestroyRaw Power1973USA
Ty SegallSilver Machine (live - Hawkwind)Live At Death By Audio2013USA
Iron Maiden The ParchmentSenjutsu (N)
("Tactics")
2021 (Parlophone/BMG)UK
Melvins Boy MikeWorking With God (N)2021 (Ipecac)USA
 
 
Parquet Courts Walking At A Downtown PaceSympathy For Life (N - forthcoming album)2021 (Rough Trade)USA
Guided By Voices Trust Them NowEarth Man Blues (N)2021 (GBV Inc.)USA
Poppy BloomFlux (N)2021 (Sumerian)USA
88Kasyo Junrei
("88-point Pilgrimage")
JOVE JOVEGenma Daisai (N)2021 (PPR)Japan
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Dodonpa
("More And More")
Candy Racer (N - forthcoming album)2021 (KRK Lab)Japan
   
 
MotörheadAce Of Spades (live)No Sleep 'til Hammersmith
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1981UK
MotörheadMetropolis (live)No Sleep 'til Hammersmith
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1981UK
MotörheadMotörhead (live)No Sleep 'til Hammersmith
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1981UK
MotörheadThe Watcher (Hawkwind)Motörhead1977UK
HawkwindKings Of SpeedWarrior On The Edge Of Time1975UK
The Pink FairiesStreet UrchinKings Of Oblivion1973UK
   
 
Black SabbathIron ManParanoid1970UK
Judas PriestDreamer / Dreamer DeceiverSad Wings Of Destiny1976UK
MetallicaThe Four HorsemenKill 'em All1983USA
SlayerAt Dawn They SleepHell Awaits1985USA
Patrick GleesonDeath Star (John Williams)Patrick Gleeson's Star Wars1977USA
   
 
Hot TunaBar Room Crystal BallYellow Fever1975USA
Captain Beefheart & The Magic BandMirror ManMirror Manrec. 1968, rel. 1971USA
Jerry GarciaLate For Supper
   / Spidergawd
   / Eep Hour
Garcia1972USA
   
 
Jade WarriorTeh Ch'eng suite (excerpt):
   Quietly By The River Bank
   / Arrival Of The Emperor: What Does The Venerable Sir Do?
   / Teh Ch'eng: Do You Understand This?
   / Arrival of Chia Shan: Disclosure And Liberation
   / Towards The Mountains
   / The Last Question
Kites1976UK

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