For Week Ending:
20 May 2023

Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde (1966)

[Classic Rock]

In his own words, Blonde On Blonde is the 'thin wild mercury music' Dylan heard in his head in the mid-1960s. It is a proclaimed masterpiece by many music fans, and whilst it isn't my favourite album of his from the period, I can't deny the scope and depth. Dylan effortlessly switches between rock, folk, blues, ballads, and even Dixieland jazz on this eclectic double album - in fact the first double album ever released in popular music - and his third released in a year. Songs like the soppy 'Just Like A Woman' and the up-tempo 'I Want You' would be become radio standards of the 60s, but I don't think anything on this album reached the heights of his previous album opener 'Like A Rolling Stone'. 'Visions Of Johanna' does come close though, and 'Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again' is a great representation of his music from the period. All in all a great listen.

Arist Information
Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Generally regarded as one of the greatest songwriters ever, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his 60+ year career. He has sold more than 145 million records, making him one of the best-selling musicians ever. He has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, ten Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. Dylan has been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. The Pulitzer Prize Board in 2008 awarded him a special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." In 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

Grinspoon - Guide To Better Living (1997)

[Alternative Rock]

Aussie alternative scene was now huge mid-90's. So much so that Government funded broadcaster JJJ put together the 'Unearthed' concept, where the 'weekend warriors'/'garage bands' had the opportunity to submit an original song with potential stardom awaiting. The very first one in 1995 saw Lismore locals Grinspoon win the competition. Some cash and a recording contract. The side note to this competition is arguably they were the best product of this competition over the years. A couple of E.P.'s later and we have Guide in 1997. Fist pumping, neck snapping, in your face not so much heavy rock. It's more than that. They get called post-grunge. Reality is it's 16 tracks in 42 minutes of thick/crunchy guitar, with some tasty solo's, heavy-handed drumming and then there is Phil's sometimes deranged singing style, covering all the important topics such as DCx3 (Dead Cat x 3) and of course Sickfest, that won them 'Unearthed'. In 1998 they signed to a record label in the States and off they went. Heck of a ride in under 4 years of existence. I think Kylie Minogue is still trying to make it in the States.

Arist Information
Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales, formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. In 1995, Grinspoon won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore, with their post-grunge song 'Sickfest'. The name Grinspoon was taken from Dr. Lester Grinspoon, an associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, who supported marijuana for medical use.

Release Information
'Guide To Better Living' is the debut studio album by Grinspoon. The album reached number 11 on the ARIA Albums Chart and spent 36 weeks on the national charts.