Not just a sad "Echo" after all

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had a pretty good decade in the 1990s. In 1991, the group released "Into the Great Wide Open." If you've never heard the album, it's like "Full Moon Fever, Vol. 2." Just about every song on the album sounds like it could have / should have been a radio hit (and a couple of them surely were).

Then you had the first "Greatest Hits," which featured "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Anyone who was conscious in the mid 1990s knows this song (and probably loves it). And for the Kim Basinger haters, well, the video featured her as a corpse. Win-win, right?

Then came Tom Petty's second "solo" album "Wildflowers" (the first being "Full Moon Fever," and the "solo" distinction reflecting that ... one again ... many of the Heartbreakers were actually involved). "Wildflowers" is my favorite of all the Petty-related albums released through 2011, so I don't need to speak further on my opinions of its qualities.

And THEN you have the great soundtrack to the movie "She's the One." I'm not a big fan of the film itself, but the album is an enormous success. Everything about the variety of the music screams to the immense strengths of the band. And it had one of their last great frilly psychedelic hits: "Walls (Circus)."

And finally ... you hit "Echo." Released in 1999, it's something of a curiosity.

Upcoming reviews? Could be

Greetings and howdy, friends.

It's 2012. So far, it's not too radically different from 2011. The Republican candidates for the presidential election are still weeding themselves out. The economy still isn't awesome. It's still winter. You know, that kind of thing. But let's not jump the gun. It's only early January ... there's time yet. And there's definitely good music coming. Remain hopeful!

So, let's talk about music.

For my first album review of the new year, I've got a handful of contenders. One of the albums (PJ Harvey's "Let England Shake") is totally new for me - I haven't listened to it yet. I've heard a couple of tracks and they sound fantastic. One of the forums I visit often has gotten me into it, and both "Mojo" and "Uncut" gave her album their top album honor for 2011. The other albums are either favorites or classics that I haven't really paid much attention to (like Sonic Youth's "Dirty" album).

I'll be doing reviews for each of these in the coming days/weeks/months. If you have preferences on which ones get reviewed first (or you have suggestions / recommendations), please leave me a note in my comments. I welcome your vote!

Here are the albums I've got on the docket:

PJ Harvey "Let England Shake"  (getting critical acclaim from just about everyone)
The Beatles "Live at the BBC"  (one of my absolute favorites, loaded with classic songs by other artists)
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers "Echo"  (an underappreciated album ... even the group ignores it)
The Monkees "Headquarters"  (my personal favorite of their albums, though "PAC&J Ltd." is close)
Sonic Youth "Dirty"  (an album I haven't paid much attention to, though Sonic Youth are pretty cool)
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Willy and the Poor Boys"  (a few hits, but a lot of great songs)

All are very solid entries and should make for exciting listens. I might try to live blog one or more of them, too, because I enjoyed that experiment with The Black Keys' "El Camino" album. Again, if you have preferences on which (if any) of these albums should get the live-blog treatment, please leave a comment! Or ... give me some other recommendations. I'll do my best to be receptive.

Okey doke, folks. Hope you're all doing well. Chat with you later.