Jason Mendelsohn and Eric Klinger
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 began by examining the most acclaimed albums of all time (as compiled by the mathematical genius at www.acclaimedmusic.net), and now they're looking at the idea of critical acclaim from a broader perspective. Look for Counterbalance on the Face-Book at www.facebook.com/CounterbalanceMusic and on Twitter @EricRKlinger
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Counterbalance No. 9: The Clash - 'London Calling'
Counterbalance offers up the right profile of the Clash's London Calling, an epic, sprawling disc that will leave you sprawled out on the floor as your mind tries to wrap itself around the sprawl of genres over the course of an hour plus.
30 Mar 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 8: The Rolling Stones - 'Exile on Main St.'
In 1972, the Rolling Stones were holed up in a rickety mansion in the South of France, writing an epic love letter to American music. Counterbalance examines the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St and separates the fever from the funk house—now!
23 Mar 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 7: Bob Dylan - 'Blonde on Blonde'
Number seven marks the first appearance of a fellow we’ll be seeing a lot of, one Bob Dylan. He’s a poor fool in his prime on the 1966 opus Blonde on Blonde—Counterbalance has a listen.
16 Mar 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 6: Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On'
Marvin Gaye's What's Going On has been called the greatest soul album of all time. But is it truly "right on"—or maybe a little bit "jive"? Counterbalance’s Mendelsohn and Klinger find out what's happening, brother.
09 Mar 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 5: The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
Number five on the list is practically synonymous with Great Artistic Statements. But was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band really the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper"? A splendid time is guaranteed for all as Counterbalance figures it out.
04 Mar 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 4: 'The Velvet Underground and Nico'
The Velvet Underground & Nico's self-titled debut album started as all hype thanks to Andy Warhol, but it somehow managed to become one of the most influential records of all time. Has this record outlasted its 15 minutes of fame? Peel slowly and see.
25 Feb 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 3: Nirvana's 'Nevermind'
Our Counterbalance team takes on the "Greatest Albums of All Time". This time it's Nirvana's Nevermind. Dust off your flannel shirt... it's going to be a grungy good time!
18 Feb 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 2: The Beatles' 'Revolver'
In this installment of the tag-team series Counterbalance, we take on the Beatles’ 1966 bellwether Revolver. Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream!
10 Feb 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 1: The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'
Ten years ago, we began presenting the beloved Counterbalance series that ran through 2016. Jason Mendelsohn and Eric Klinger debate the merits of some of the most critically-acclaimed albums of all time. We are re-running the entire series beginning today with a new entry each Monday. Enjoy.
03 Feb 2020
Music
Counterbalance: Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
Guess who just got back today? Them wild-eyed boys that have been away. This week they're talking about the 813th most acclaimed album of all time. A 1976 classic rock mainstay is this week's Counterbalance. Spread the word around.
19 Feb 2016
Music
Counterbalance: Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Imperial Bedroom
History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats. Keep your finger on important issues, and keep listening to the 275th most acclaimed album of all time. A 1982 masterpiece is this week's Counterbalance.
05 Feb 2016
Music
Counterbalance: Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson
Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take? Doctor? To relieve this bellyache? A 1972 smash (however unlikely) -- and the 938th most acclaimed album of all time -- is this week's Counterbalance. Jump into the fire and join us!
29 Jan 2016
Music
Counterbalance: The xx - 'xx'
Watch things on VCRs with me and talk about big love. I think we're superstars -- or at least the xx are. A 2009 indie pop masterpiece is the focus of this week's Counterbalance.
22 Jan 2016
Music
Counterbalance: Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues
Put away that gun. This party's simple. We're talking about the 1137th most acclaimed album of all time. (That Talking Heads' 1983 commercial smash is this week's Counterbalance. Turn like a wheel inside a wheel.
15 Jan 2016
Music
Counterbalance No. 16: David Bowie's 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'
Up next for the Counterbalance series is No. 16 on Acclaimed Music's Big List—David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Press your space face close to mine!
11 Jan 2016
Music
Counterbalance: The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
And I will hang my head low — as we build our homes aluminum and fill our mouths with cinnamon. By land, by sea, by dirigible, we turn our Counterbalance attention to a 2006 indie rock classic.
08 Jan 2016
Music
Counterbalance: Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
We'll never know just what Sam Cooke would have accomplished if he had lived, but it's painfully clear that we missed out on something incredible.
18 Dec 2015
Music
Counterbalance: Tame Impala - Currents
On Currents, Tame Impala hit upon a winning formula, moving seamlessly between electronic and organic, big ideas and bigger licks, pushed by an unstoppable rhythm.
04 Dec 2015
Music
Counterbalance: Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
This week, we're stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keeps draggin' on. Actually it went by pretty fast as we listened to the 157th most acclaimed album of all time. Do the roots of roots music start here?
20 Nov 2015
Music
Counterbalance: Courtney Barnett - Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
Put me on a pedestal and I'll only disappoint you. The debut LP by a pop-rock wunderkind is this week's Counterbalance. She hasn't made the Great List of the most acclaimed albums of all time, but look for her next year.
13 Nov 2015
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