Best Albums of 2016...So Far
We're barely halfway through the year and already there's an overwhelming amount of great new music to enjoy. Jim and Greg share their lists of the Best Albums of 2016...So Far. Plus, they discuss the "Stairway to Heaven" plagiarism verdict and pay tribute to Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell.
Music News
The copyright infringement lawsuit over Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" now has a resolution. As we've previously covered, the trust of Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe sued Zep, alleging that "Stairway" plagiarized the 1968 track "Taurus." A California jury didn't hear enough similarity between the songs and decided in favor of Led Zeppelin. And as we wind on down the road from the decision, intellectual property attorney Jeffrey Brown tells us this probably won't change the legal standard for copyright infringement. Even when the plaintiffs win – like in the "Blurred Lines" trial – the legal fees are too high to be worth it for anyone but the wealthiest of artists. These cases will continue to be primarily worked out in backroom deals.
Best Albums of 2016...So Far
Greg and Jim just couldn’t wait until December to talk about some of their new favorite albums. They discuss some of the best records of 2016 so far. Here are their complete lists:
Jim
- Beyoncé, Lemonade
- The Gotobeds, Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic
- Lucinda Williams, The Ghosts of Highway 20
- The Coathangers, Nosebleed Weekend
- Savages, Adore Life
- TEEN, Love Yes
- Wire, Nocturnal Koreans
- Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book
- Parquet Courts, Human Performance
- Mavis Staples, Livin’ on a High Note
- Bob Mould, Patch the Sky
- PJ Harvey, The Hope Six Demolition Project
Greg
- PJ Harvey, The Hope Six Demolition Project
- Anderson .Paak, Malibu
- Eleanor Friedberger, New View
- Kendrick Lamar, untitled unmastered.
- Beyoncé, Lemonade
- Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book
- Savages, Adore Life
- David Bowie, Blackstar
- Bob Mould, Patch the Sky
- Iggy Pop, Post Pop Depression
Listener Picks
- Chris from London: Tacocat, Lost Time
- Erin from Long Beach: David Bowie, Blackstar
- Greg from Wichita: Weezer, The White Album
Music News
This episode has been all about celebrating the first half of 2016, but Jim and Greg also want to acknowledge the many losses the music community has had recently. This week we pay tribute to four more musical greats: Elvis Presley's guitarist Scotty Moore, bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley of the Stanley Brothers, "Mustang Sally" songwriter Mack Rice, and keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Worrell was a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and played keyboard for such bands as Talking Heads and Black Jack Johnson. He was a pioneer known for using the Moog synthesizer to make funk music long before the Moog was considered funky. While Worrell's additions to music history are often overlooked, Jim predicts that his legacy will live on for years as artists continue sampling his indelible synth melodies.
Featured Songs
- Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven," Led Zeppelin IV, Atlantic, 1971
- Spirit, "Taurus," Spirit, Epic, 1968
- Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Garber, "Chim Chim Cher-ee," Mary Poppins, Buena Vista, 1964
- The Style Council, "You're the Best Thing," Cafe Bleu, Polydor, 1984
- Beyonce, "Freedom," Lemonade, Columbia, 2016
- PJ Harvey, "The Ministry of Defense," Hope Six Demolition Project, Vagrant, 2016
- The Gotobeds, "Cold Gold (LA's Alright)," Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic, Sub Pop, 2016
- Mavis Staples, "If it's a Light," Livin' On A High Note, Anti-, 2016
- Savages, "Adore," Adore Life, Matador, 2016
- Tacocat, "Dana Katherine Scully," Lost Time, Hardly Art, 2016
- David Bowie, "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore," Blackstar, Columbia, 2016
- Anderson .Paak, "Put Me Thru," Malibu, Steel Wool, 2016
- Lucinda Williams, "Can't Close the Door on Love," The Ghost of Highway 20, Universal, 2016
- Eleanor Friedberger, "He Didn't Mention His Mother," New View, French Kiss, 2016
- Tina Turner, "The Best," Foreign Affair, Capitol, 1989
- Weezer, "L.A. Girlz," The White Album, Atlantic, 2016
- The Coathangers, "Make it Right," Nosebleed Weekend, Suicide Squeeze, 2016
- Kendrick Lamar, "untitled 06," Untitled Unmastered, Aftermath Entertainment, 2016
- Elvis Presley, "That's All Right," That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky, Sun, 1951
- The Stanley Brothers, "Man of Constant Sorrow," The Lonesome River / I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow, Columbia, 1951
- Wilson Pickett, "Mustang Sally," The Wicked Pickett, Atlantic, 1967
- Parliament, "Flash Light," Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, Casablanca, 1978
- St. Paul and The Broken Bones, "Call Me," Half the City, Single Lock, 2014
- Kanye West, "Ultralight Beam," The Life of Pablo, GOOD Music, 2016
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Breakdown," Pack Up the Plantation, MCA, 1985
- Pink Floyd, "Hey You," The Wall, Columbia, 1979
- Jay Reatard, "Death is Forming," Blood Visions, In the Red, 2006
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