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 25: Television - 'Marquee Moon'
Television’s 1977 masterpiece Marquee Moon is the 25th Greatest Album of All Time, but is it too “too too” to put a finger on? Counterbalance sees it all backward.
20 Jul 2020
Music
Counterbalance 24: The Doors - 'The Doors'
Before you slip into unconsciousness, Counterbalance has put together a few thoughts on the Doors' 1967 debut album. It's number 24 on the Big List.
13 Jul 2020
Music
Counterbalance 23: Bob Dylan - 'Blood on the Tracks'
Bob Dylan makes his third appearance on the Acclaimed Music list with his 1975 album, Blood on the Tracks. Counterbalance’s Eric Klinger and Jason Mendelsohn are planting their stories in the press.
07 Jul 2020
Music
Counterbalance 22: Jimi Hendrix - 'Electric Ladyland'
“Have you ever been to Electric Ladyland?" Counterbalance's Eric Klinger and Jason Mendelsohn have, and they file this report.
29 Jun 2020
Music
Counterbalance 20: The Beatles - 'Abbey Road'
The Beatles once again make their way onto the list with their 1969 tour de force Abbey Road. Halfway through, Klinger and Mendelsohn realize they can steal but they cannot rob.
22 Jun 2020
Music
Counterbalance 19: Patti Smith -'Horses'
One of the most critically-acclaimed debuts in rock history, Patti Smith’s Horses is a whirlwind of poetry and proto-punk rock. Counterbalance takes Horses for a ride -- go Rimbaud and go Johnny go!
15 Jun 2020
Music
Counterbalance 18: Bruce Springsteen - 'Born to Run'
The rock 'n' roll crossfire of Counterbalance returns with a look at Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 epic Born to Run. Strap your hands ’cross their engines!
08 Jun 2020
Music
Counterbalance 17: Public Enemy - 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back'
Hip-hop makes its debut on the Big List with Public Enemy’s meaty, beaty manifesto, and all the jealous punks can’t stop the dunk. Counterbalance’s Klinger and Mendelsohn give it a listen.
01 Jun 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 16: David Bowie - 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'
Up next for the Counterbalance series is David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Press your space face close to mine!
18 May 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 15: Van Morrison - 'Astral Weeks'
Van Morrison ventured in the slipstream between the viaducts of your dreams with his 1968 LP Astral Weeks and made it to Number 15 on the List. Klinger and Mendelsohn recount the journey in this latest installment of Counterbalance.
11 May 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 14: The Beatles - 'The Beatles' a.k.a. 'The White Album'
The Beatles' 1968 self-titled double LP has been referenced by everyone from Joan Didion to Charles Manson and analyzed literally backward and forward. Mendelsohn and Klinger, always smiling and arriving late for tea, discuss the Number 14 album on the Big List.
04 May 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 13: Radiohead - 'OK Computer'
Is Radiohead's OK Computer the last canonical rock album? Counterbalance debates the case.
27 Apr 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 12: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - 'Are You Experienced?'
Before Jimi Hendrix, face-melting guitar solos were all too rare. His 1967 debut album Are You Experienced? blew the lid off the unmelted face market and rock was never the same.
20 Apr 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 11: Bob Dylan - 'Highway 61 Revisited'
Counterbalance needs a dump truck, baby, to unload its head as it revisits Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan's 1965 game-changer.
13 Apr 2020
Music
Counterbalance No. 10: 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols'
The Spirit of ’77 abounds as Sex Pistols round out the Top Ten on the Big List. Counterbalance take a cheap holiday in other people’s misery. Right. Now.
06 Apr 2020
Music
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
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