Counterbalance is Eric Klinger and Jason Mendelsohn’s attempt to make sense of the Great Rock & Roll Canon, the albums that have been deemed indispensable by the critical cognoscenti. They’re taking on the Top 3000 albums of all time (as compiled by the mathematical genius at www.acclaimedmusic.net), examining them one by one until someone finally shuts down the internet. Look for them on the Face-Book at www.facebook.com/CounterbalanceMusic.
Blogs
Friday, May 17 2013
Counterbalance No. 129: 'Saturday Night Fever'
The 129th most acclaimed album of all time comes to you on a summer breeze, keeps you warm in your love, and then softly leaves. Call it the night fever, but the Bee Gees et al are the subject of this week's Counterbalance.
Friday, May 10 2013
Counterbalance No. 128: Animal Collective's 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'
Venture my way into the dark where we can sweat. One takes the 128th most acclaimed album by the hand. Animal Collective’s indie rock sensation is the focus of this week’s Counterbalance.
Friday, May 3 2013
Counterbalance No. 127: Radiohead's 'In Rainbows'
The infrastructure will collapse from voltage spikes. Throw your keys in the bowl, kiss your husband good night, and give a listen to the 127th most acclaimed album of all time.
Friday, April 26 2013
Counterbalance No. 126: Nirvana's 'In Utero'
Self-appointed judges judge more than they have sold. They agree though, that Nirvana's 1993 swan song is the 126th most acclaimed album of all time. All in all is all we are.
Friday, April 19 2013
Counterbalance No. 125: The Rolling Stones' 'Aftermath'
"Albums just aren't the same today", I hear every mother say. Mother needs something today to calm her down. The 125th most acclaimed album of all time ought to do it. What a drag it is getting old.
Counterbalance No. 124 Pavement's 'Slanted and Enchanted' (Sound Affects) [12.Apr.13]
Counterbalance No. 123: Bruce Springsteen's 'Nebraska' (Sound Affects) [5.Apr.13]
Counterbalance No. 122: Gram Parsons' 'Grievous Angel' (Sound Affects) [29.Mar.13]
Counterbalance No. 121: Blondie's 'Parallel Lines' (Sound Affects) [22.Mar.13]
Counterbalance No. 120: The Allman Brothers Band's 'At Fillmore East' (Sound Affects) [15.Mar.13]
Counterbalance No. 119: The Beastie Boys' 'Paul’s Boutique' (Sound Affects) [8.Mar.13]
Counterbalance No. 118: Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' (Sound Affects) [1.Mar.13]
Counterbalance No. 117: Bob Marley's 'Natty Dread' (Sound Affects) [22.Feb.13]
Counterbalance No. 116: Elvis Costello's 'My Aim Is True' (Sound Affects) [15.Feb.13]
Counterbalance No. 115: Dr. Dre’s 'The Chronic' (Sound Affects) [8.Feb.13]
Counterbalance No. 114: Tom Waits' 'Rain Dogs' (Sound Affects) [1.Feb.13]
Counterbalance No. 113: The Who's 'Tommy' (Sound Affects) [18.Jan.13]
Counterbalance No. 112: Bruce Springsteen's 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' (Sound Affects) [11.Jan.13]
Counterbalance No. 111: Stevie Wonder's 'Talking Book' (Sound Affects) [21.Dec.12]
Counterbalance No. 110: Sufjan Stevens' 'Illinois' (Sound Affects) [14.Dec.12]
Counterbalance No. 109: N.W.A's 'Straight Outta Compton' (Sound Affects) [7.Dec.12]
Counterbalance No. 108: 'Led Zeppelin' (Sound Affects) [30.Nov.12]
Counterbalance No. 107: Roxy Music's 'For Your Pleasure' (Sound Affects) [16.Nov.12]
Counterbalance No. 106: 'Elvis Presley' (Sound Affects) [9.Nov.12]
Counterbalance No. 105: Oasis' 'Definitely Maybe' (Sound Affects) [2.Nov.12]
Counterbalance No. 104: Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall' (Sound Affects) [26.Oct.12]
Counterbalance No. 103: Dusty Springfield's 'Dusty in Memphis' (Sound Affects) [19.Oct.12]
Counterbalance No. 102: Eagles' 'Hotel California' (Sound Affects) [12.Oct.12]
Counterbalance No. 101: The White Stripes' 'Elephant' (Sound Affects) [5.Oct.12]
Counterbalance No. 100: Tom Waits' 'Swordfishtrombones' (Sound Affects) [28.Sep.12]
Counterbalance No. 99: Pink Floyd's 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn' (Sound Affects) [21.Sep.12]
Counterbalance No. 98: Led Zeppelin's 'Physical Graffiti' (Sound Affects) [14.Sep.12]
Counterbalance No. 97: Neil Young's 'Harvest' (Sound Affects) [7.Sep.12]
Counterbalance No. 96: Pixies' 'Surfer Rosa' (Sound Affects) [31.Aug.12]
Counterbalance No. 95: AC/DC's 'Back in Black' (Sound Affects) [24.Aug.12]
Counterbalance No. 94: Van Morrison's 'Moondance' (Sound Affects) [17.Aug.12]
Counterbalance No. 93: John Lennon's 'Imagine' (Sound Affects) [10.Aug.12]
Counterbalance No. 92: Kraftwerk's 'Trans Europe Express' (Sound Affects) [3.Aug.12]
Counterbalance No. 91: DJ Shadow's 'Endtroducing…' (Sound Affects) [27.Jul.12]
Counterbalance No. 90: Iggy and the Stooges' 'Raw Power' (Sound Affects) [20.Jul.12]
Counterbalance No. 89: David Bowie's 'Low' (Sound Affects) [13.Jul.12]
Counterbalance No. 88: Miles Davis' 'Bitches Brew' (Sound Affects) [29.Jun.12]
Counterbalance No. 87: Oasis' '(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?' (Sound Affects) [22.Jun.12]
Counterbalance No. 86: Radiohead's 'The Bends' (Sound Affects) [15.Jun.12]
Counterbalance No. 85: Primal Scream's 'Screamadelica' (Sound Affects) [8.Jun.12]
Counterbalance No. 84: The Jesus and Mary Chain's 'Psychocandy' (Sound Affects) [1.Jun.12]
Counterbalance No. 83: The Stooges' 'Fun House' (Sound Affects) [25.May.12]
Counterbalance No. 82: U2's 'Achtung Baby' (Sound Affects) [18.May.12]
Counterbalance No. 81: Aretha Franklin's 'I Never Loved a Man...' (Sound Affects) [11.May.12]
Counterbalance No. 80: The Band's 'Music from Big Pink' (Sound Affects) [4.May.12]
Counterbalance No. 79: Elvis Costello's 'This Year’s Model' (Sound Affects) [27.Apr.12]
Counterbalance No. 78: Lou Reed's 'Transformer' (Sound Affects) [20.Apr.12]
Counterbalance No. 77: De La Soul's '3 Feet High and Rising' (Sound Affects) [13.Apr.12]
Counterbalance No. 76: Paul Simon's 'Graceland' (Sound Affects) [6.Apr.12]
Counterbalance No. 75: Derek & the Dominos' 'Layla' (Sound Affects) [30.Mar.12]
Counterbalance No. 74: My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless' (Sound Affects) [23.Mar.12]
Counterbalance No. 73: Bob Dylan’s 'Bringing It All Back Home' (Sound Affects) [16.Mar.12]
Counterbalance No. 72: Sonic Youth’s 'Daydream Nation' (Sound Affects) [9.Mar.12]
Counterbalance No. 71: Wilco’s 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' (Sound Affects) [2.Mar.12]
Counterbalance No. 70: Portishead’s 'Dummy' (Sound Affects) [24.Feb.12]
Counterbalance No. 69: Jeff Buckley’s 'Grace' (Sound Affects) [17.Feb.12]
Counterbalance No. 68: 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' (Sound Affects) [10.Feb.12]
Counterbalance No. 67: John Coltrane’s 'A Love Supreme' (Sound Affects) [3.Feb.12]
Counterbalance No. 66: Carole King’s 'Tapestry' (Sound Affects) [27.Jan.12]
Counterbalance No. 65: R.E.M.’s 'Murmur' (Sound Affects) [20.Jan.12]
Counterbalance No. 64: Joy Division’s 'Unknown Pleasures' (Sound Affects) [13.Jan.12]
Counterbalance No. 63: 'Led Zeppelin II' (Sound Affects) [6.Jan.12]
Counterbalance No. 62: David Bowie’s 'Hunky Dory' (Sound Affects) [16.Dec.11]
Counterbalance No. 61: 'Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul' (Sound Affects) [9.Dec.11]
Counterbalance No. 60: Guns N’ Roses’ 'Appetite for Destruction' (Sound Affects) [2.Dec.11]
Counterbalance No. 59: Pixies’ 'Doolittle' (Sound Affects) [18.Nov.11]
Counterbalance No. 58: Fleetwood Mac’s 'Rumours' (Sound Affects) [11.Nov.11]
Counterbalance No. 57: Beck’s 'Odelay' (Sound Affects) [4.Nov.11]
Counterbalance No. 56: 'The Clash' (Sound Affects) [28.Oct.11]
Counterbalance No. 55: 'The Stone Roses' (Sound Affects) [21.Oct.11]
Counterbalance No. 54: Captain Beefheart’s 'Trout Mask Replica' (Sound Affects) [14.Oct.11]
Counterbalance No. 53: R.E.M.’s 'Automatic for the People' (Sound Affects) [7.Oct.11]
Counterbalance No. 52: Radiohead’s 'Kid A' (Sound Affects) [30.Sep.11]
Counterbalance No. 51: Sly and the Family Stone’s 'There’s a Riot Goin’ On' (Sound Affects) [23.Sep.11]
Counterbalance No. 50: Prince’s 'Purple Rain' (Sound Affects) [16.Sep.11]
Counterbalance: Year One (Sound Affects) [9.Sep.11]
Counterbalance No. 49: Love’s 'Forever Changes' (Sound Affects) [2.Sep.11]
Counterbalance No. 48: Joni Mitchell’s 'Blue' (Sound Affects) [26.Aug.11]
Counterbalance No. 47: 'The Band' (Sound Affects) [19.Aug.11]
Counterbalance No. 46: Stevie Wonder’s 'Songs in the Key of Life' (Sound Affects) [12.Aug.11]
Counterbalance No. 45: The Strokes’ 'Is This It' (Sound Affects) [5.Aug.11]
Counterbalance No. 44: Neil Young’s 'After the Gold Rush' (Sound Affects) [29.Jul.11]
Counterbalance No. 43: The Rolling Stones’ 'Sticky Fingers' (Sound Affects) [22.Jul.11]
Counterbalance No. 42: Stevie Wonder’s 'Innervisions' (Sound Affects) [15.Jul.11]
Counterbalance No. 41: Joy Division’s 'Closer' (Sound Affects) [8.Jul.11]
Counterbalance No. 40: James Brown’s 'Live at the Apollo' (Sound Affects) [1.Jul.11]
Counterbalance No. 39: Miles Davis’ 'Kind of Blue' (Sound Affects) [24.Jun.11]
Counterbalance No. 38: U2’s 'The Joshua Tree' (Sound Affects) [17.Jun.11]
Counterbalance No. 37: 'Ramones' (Sound Affects) [10.Jun.11]
Counterbalance No. 36: The Rolling Stones’ 'Let It Bleed' (Sound Affects) [3.Jun.11]
Counterbalance No. 35: Talking Heads’ 'Remain in Light' (Sound Affects) [27.May.11]
Counterbalance No. 34: The Arcade Fire’s 'Funeral' (Sound Affects) [20.May.11]
Counterbalance No. 33: The Who’s 'Who’s Next' (Sound Affects) [13.May.11]
Counterbalance No. 32: Massive Attack’s 'Blue Lines' (Sound Affects) [6.May.11]
Counterbalance No. 31: 'Led Zeppelin IV' (Sound Affects) [29.Apr.11]
Counterbalance No. 30: The Rolling Stones’ 'Beggars Banquet' (Sound Affects) [22.Apr.11]
Counterbalance No. 29: The Beatles’ 'Rubber Soul' (Sound Affects) [15.Apr.11]
Counterbalance No. 28: The Smiths’ 'The Queen Is Dead' (Sound Affects) [8.Apr.11]
Counterbalance No. 27: Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller' (Sound Affects) [1.Apr.11]
Counterbalance No. 26: Prince’s 'Sign o' the Times' (Sound Affects) [25.Mar.11]
Counterbalance No. 25: Television’s 'Marquee Moon' (Sound Affects) [18.Mar.11]
Counterbalance No. 24: 'The Doors' (Sound Affects) [11.Mar.11]
Counterbalance No. 23: Bob Dylan’s 'Blood on the Tracks' (Sound Affects) [4.Mar.11]
Counterbalance No. 22: Jimi Hendrix’s 'Electric Ladyland' (Sound Affects) [25.Feb.11]
Counterbalance No. 21: Pink Floyd’s 'Dark Side of the Moon' (Sound Affects) [18.Feb.11]
Counterbalance No. 20: The Beatles’ 'Abbey Road' (Sound Affects) [11.Feb.11]
Counterbalance No. 19: Patti Smith’s 'Horses' (Sound Affects) [4.Feb.11]
Counterbalance No. 18: Bruce Springsteen’s 'Born to Run' (Sound Affects) [28.Jan.11]
Counterbalance No. 17: Public Enemy’s 'It Takes a Nation of Millions' (Sound Affects) [21.Jan.11]
Counterbalance No. 16: David Bowie’s 'Ziggy Stardust' (Sound Affects) [14.Jan.11]
Counterbalance No. 15: Van Morrison’s 'Astral Weeks' (Sound Affects) [7.Jan.11]
Counterbalance No. 14: The Beatles' 'The Beatles' AKA "The White Album" (Sound Affects) [23.Dec.10]
Counterbalance No. 13: Radiohead's 'OK Computer' (Sound Affects) [17.Dec.10]
Counterbalance No. 12: The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 'Are You Experienced?' (Sound Affects) [10.Dec.10]
Counterbalance No. 11: Bob Dylan's 'Highway 61 Revisited' (Sound Affects) [3.Dec.10]
Counterbalance No. 10: 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols' (Sound Affects) [19.Nov.10]
Counterbalance No. 9: The Clash's 'London Calling' (Sound Affects) [12.Nov.10]
Counterbalance No. 8: The Rolling Stones' 'Exile on Main St.' (Sound Affects) [5.Nov.10]
Counterbalance No. 7: Bob Dylan's 'Blonde on Blonde' (Sound Affects) [29.Oct.10]
Counterbalance No. 6: Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' (Sound Affects) [21.Oct.10]
Counterbalance No. 5: The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (Sound Affects) [14.Oct.10]
Counterbalance No. 4: 'The Velvet Underground and Nico' (Sound Affects) [7.Oct.10]
Counterbalance No. 3: Nirvana's 'Nevermind' (Sound Affects) [24.Sep.10]
Counterbalance No. 2: The Beatles' 'Revolver' (Sound Affects) [16.Sep.10]
Counterbalance No. 1: The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' (Sound Affects) [9.Sep.10]
