Listen to the Lion

Elvis Costello review

NRO just posted my new review of Elvis Costello's The Delivery Man here.

My 10 favorite albums

I thought I'd list my 10 favorite albums as a way to give myself something to write about and to practice actually managing the software to make this site look good.

For variety, I limited myself to just one album per artist/band, otherwise it would be all Van and Bob.

Also, these are my favorite albums as albums, works of art that depend on smaller parts making a greater whole.

Therefore, lots of my favortie pre-album-era artists (such as Robert Johnson or Hank Williams) don't make the list, and the only remotely country/bluegrass artist here is Gillian Welch. Most country or bluegrass albums aren't meant to be coherent statements in the way that the stuff on this list is.

So, here it is:

1. Astral Weeks by Van Morrison
2. Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan
3. Exile on Main Street by The Rolling Stones
4. Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
5. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos
6. The Band by The Band
7. Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 by the Traveling Wilburys
8. Grace by Jeff Buckley
9. Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys
10. Shoot Out the Lights by Richard and Linda Thompson

As the inspiration hits me, I'll do an entry for each one telling you why I like it, so stay tuned.

Lookin' for a brand new start

I did a reasonably well-received blog called "Walking in Jerusalem" earlier this year, and a few people have told me I should do another, more permanent one. This is my attempt at that.

In addition to being a home for exclusive content, "Listen to the Lion" will point you to other stuff I write.

More new stuff soon, but in the meantime, check out two of my CD reviews - on Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton - that appeared at National Review Online.