The Year 1977 Albums Calendar and Rankings

1977, a year kind of transition in some ways for the majority of my taste. Many of the bands/artists who released some of their best albums earlier in the decade, put out either one of their last good albums (at least 3, maybe 3.5 to bordering on 4-stars). Or in some cases, like The Grateful Dead or Pink Floyd, released my favorite and what I consider their best.

Animals, has almost the entire time I've been a Pink Floyd fan (since around 1991 or 1992), I have always seen as my favorite. And it was released January 23rd, so if the older version of me had heard it in 1977, it likely would been on top all year and not been topped. Although I love A Farewell to Kings and up to that point, I probably would consider that Rush's best album (of course not for long!, lol), but I doubt then and of course can rate it at the level of Animals.

Ironic as I'm finally finishing this extensive list, Roger Waters is playing in town tonight. And I've never actually seen him live (I heard him outside once or twice, lol), and he actually is playing half of Animals. (Pigs and Dogs) But I'm not going unfortunately per I saw Bent Knee on Monday and plan to see Bubblemath on Saturday. Plus I should get to sleep early tonight or my lack of sleep this week may catchup with me.

But hopefully another time (hopefully Roger isn't done, but at his age, who knows. If he needs money? I suppose it may not be). and if he were to play the whole Animals, I would not miss it. He's done Dark Side and The Wall to death, and the casual fans of course look to those 2 and then Wish You Were Here well before Animals for some reason. Likely Classic Rock radio and the length of the songs having to do with that.

Dave Kilminster does a lot of David Gilmour's parts, which is fine, but I have seen Animals live twice before (local MN band Soap did it), and Kilminster with Steven Wilson, so the loss doesn't feel so much. There's also plenty of videos on YouTube from the tour.

Anyway, beyond Animals though, 1977 was the year Punk was becoming big, but despite that., there was plenty of prog and jazz-rock. Even just Classic Rock, Power Pop and Psych stuff, many of which I of course listed below in the calendar, but know only from reputation or just ratings that I want to check out.

Styx, Ai Di Meols, Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac, Bowie, Queen, Steely Dan, Billy Joel, Journey's early music, etc. Deep Year with a couple of gems at the top.

1. Pink Floyd - Animals
2. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
3. Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
4. The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
5. Renaissance - Novella
6. Annie Haslam - Annie in Wonderland
7. Steely Dan - Aja
8. Styx - The Grand Illusion
9. Yes - Going for the One
10. Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood
11. Genesis - Seconds Out
12. Kansas - Point of No Return
13. Weather Report - Heavy Weather
14. Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost
15. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
16. David Bowie - Low
17. Happy the Man - Happy the Man
18. Queen - News of the World
19. Billy Joel - The Stranger
20. David Bowie - Heroes
21. Journey - Next
22. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Car)
23. Heart - Little Queen
24. Rick Wakeman - White Rock
25. Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group - Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live
26. The Muppets - The Muppet Show
27. Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
28. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus
29. Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
30. The Beach Boys - Love You
31. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 2
32. Genesis - Spot the Pigeon [EP]
33. Starcastle - Citadel



David Bowie - Low
rel January 14, 1977


Gentle Giant - Playing the Fool
rel January 18, 1977


Pink Floyd - Animals
rel January 23, 1977


Renaissance - Novella
rel January 1977


Return to Forever - Musicmagic
rel January 1977


Starcastle - Fountains of Light
rel January 1977

 
Rick Wakeman - White Rock
rel January 1977


Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
rel February 4, 1977


Utopia - Ra
rel February 4, 1977


Television - Marquee Moon
Rel February 8, 1977


Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood
rel February 11, 1977

 
Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel
rel February 25, 1977


Journey - Next
rel February 1977


Max Webster - High Class in Borrowed Shoes
rel March 1, 1977


Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 1
rel March 17, 1977


Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group - Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live
rel March 1977




Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost
rel March 1977


Shakti with John McLaughlin - A Handful of Beauty
rel March 1977


Weather Report - Heavy Weather
rel March 1977


The Clash - The Clash
rel April 8, 1977


Supertramp - Even in the Quietest Moments
rel April 10, 1977


The Beach Boys - Love You
rel April 11, 1977


10cc - Deceptive Bends
rel April 1977


Brand X - Moroccan Roll
rel April 1977


Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
rel April 1977


Peter Hammill - Over
rel April 1977


Heart - Little Queen
rel May 14, 1977


Genesis - Spot the Pigeon [EP]
rel May 20, 1977


Dixie Dregs - Free Fall
rel May 27, 1977


Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
rel June 1, 1977


Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus
rel June 3, 1977


Crosby Stills and Nash - CSN
rel June 17, 1977


Hawkwind - Quark, Strangeness and Charm
rel June 17, 1977


The Muppets - The Muppet Show
rel June 25, 1977


Rainbow - On Stage
rel July 7, 1977


Styx - The Grand Illusion
rel July 7, 1977


Yes - Going for the One
rel July 15, 1977


Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
rel July 22, 1977


The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
rel July 27, 1977


Happy the Man - Happy the Man
rel August 1977


Rush - A Farewell to Kings
rel September 1, 1977


Talking Heads - Talking Heads:77
rel September 16, 1977


Steely Dan - Aja
rel September 23, 1977


Billy Joel - The Stranger
rel September 29, 1977


Klaatu - Hope
rel September 1977


Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue
rel October 3, 1977


Kansas - Point of No Return
rel October 10, 1977


David Bowie - Heroes
rel October 14, 1977


Genesis - Seconds Out
rel October 21, 1977


Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
rel October 21, 1977


Queen - News of the World
rel October 28, 1977


Blue Oyster Cult - Spectres
rel October 1977


Santana - Moonflower
rel October 1977


Starcastle - Citadel
rel October 1977


Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 2
rel November 1, 1977


Brand X - Livestock
rel November 18, 1977


Chic - Chic
rel November 22, 1977


Eric Clapton - Slowhand
rel November 25, 1977


Joni Mitchell - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
rel December 13, 1977


Café Jacques - Round the Back
rel 1977


Billy Cobham - Magic
rel 1977


FM - Black Noise
rel 1977


Goblin - Suspiria
rel 1977


Gryphon - Treason
rel 1977


Jan Hammer Group - Melodies
rel 1977


Annie Haslam - Annie in Wonderland
rel 1977


Pat Metheny - Watercolors
rel 1977


Hermeto Pascoal - Slave Mass
rel 1977


The Rubinoos - The Rubinoos
rel 1977


Lenny White - Big City
rel 1977

Ne Obliviscaris - Urn (2016-2017)

 

1. Libera (Part I) – Saturnine Spheres (9:52)
2. Libera (Part II) – Ascent of Burning Moths (2:36)
3. Intra Venus (7:29)
4. Eyrie (11:51)
5. Urn (Part I) – And Within The Void We Are Breathless (7:30)
6. Urn (Part II) – As Embers Dance In Our Eyes (6:38) 
 (45:56)

Mixed feelings to an extent as my take/feeling about this band is not where it once was. However, this seems like a concept album, and 1 that hardly looks extensive being 45 minutes. Maybe this album will be more refined/concrete perhaps?

I suppose my big issue is with them the mixing and production on their 2 proper studio records (Citadel and Portal of I) and the emphasis on Blast Beats and layers. They often feel hot and almost overproduced. 

Mind you, people love them and I am certainly really glad they have found success (or even are still a a band considering the events of a few years ago with their guitarist and Visa issues in Australia, etc).

I guess we'll see. I am I suppose cautiously optimistic about this. When I check out the 1st track below "Intra Venus" my take may change a little.

And the release date just makes it to be included for this year's end of year list with the Halloween deadline just a few days after the October 27th release date. 

Preorders including vinyl below of course.

Also I do wonder if their Patreon program has been going well since they still have it and it's shared. It's great to see if so of course. 

Facebook

Our new album 'URN' is set for release October 27 and we are excited to share with you the first song from it... 'Intra Venus'!
'URN' merch bundles are available to pre-order NOW from the below links:
NeO USA Official Store: http://www.jsrdirect.com/merch/neobliviscaris
NeO AUSTRALIA Official Store: https://artistfirst.com.au/collections/ne-obliviscaris
Season of Mist EU/USA/AU Stores: http://smarturl.it/NeObliviscarisUrn
Sign up to Patreon: patreon.com/neobliviscaris

Rest in Peace Chester Bennington

msn.com

Rest in Peace.

Suicide unfortunately.

As I posted on Twitter/FB, I never really was a fan of Linkin Park, but I always liked this song and video.

I can remember distinctly seeing it come on to MTV2 or 1 of the other music channels in the early 2000's. It was when I was back living in Eagan. And I was shocked to learn it was Linkin Park, lol.
And how they didn't have many if any other songs like it.

And I even remember some friends of mine online saying they really liked their debut album Hybrid Theory. Prog fans, etc. I suppose many Dream Theater fans enjoyed some Nu Metal, so it makes some sense.

Anyway, Rest in Peace. I guess he was friends with Chris Cornell and was at his funeral. And today would have been Chris Cornell's 53rd Birthday. I doubt Cornell's passing was the only or even main reason he took his life, but it probably had something to do with it given the timing and date.

Fjokra - Bang on the Door [1B] (2017)

Holy Crap! Too much impatience to wait until later.

Dig it, especially the little accordion section towards the end.

it seems Annie Bea is becoming rather involved in the vocal arrangements if you consider this new one and the single "Sick Kids" from a few months back (posted below). I dig her contrast to Fjokra.

And with this, 2 new singles in 3 months. Can't complain, although I wonder if the video/singles route could be easiest right now. A bit like The Reign of Kindo or other bands in the past (3, Pure Reason Revolution, Revere come to mind among others).

I'm also still hoping "Evening Lights" will be on the radar of course from that BBC Radio London Introducing from last Winter.

But man, great to get another new song and video from Fjokra.

From the Description:

Published on Jul 19, 2017

The official video from Fjokra for their new single 'Bang On The Door' digitally available on July 21st!

Videographer/editor/director - Ben K Adams http://www.benkadams.com/

Special thanks to; Nic Kozubik, Gav Mc and Olly Andrews.

Fjokra comprise of Annie Bea; vocalist, percussionist, Freddie Draper; bass, Jack Richardson; guitar and Filippo Galli, drummer and Fi; main vocalist, visionary and writer along with garbage lids and lots of sticks and things that would not normally appear on stage with any average band.

Instagram: https:/.instagram.com/fjokra
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fjokra
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fjokra/
Website: www.fjokra.com/

Eric Nally - Ruby [1B] (2017)

Not sure what to make of this. I like the production overall, and while he seems to be channeling Michael Jackson a bit extensively, I can see how this works. It is very catchy in some ways.

The production SLICK, not unlike "Get Lucky" from Daft Punk for example.

I wonder if the vocals were enhanced, and I'll maybe get a better idea once hearing it with headphones tomorrow at work. But it wouldn't surprise me to learn there is some extensive reverb applied.

Eric Nally by the way, is from the band Foxy Shazam, who were/are a band I saw on tour, I think with The Dear Hunter and a couple of others. It was probably around 2009 or 2010. 2011 maybe, I forget. And their music, I wanted to like, but I guess I felt was kind of a short-lived novelty.

Like it seemed and sounded on paper, including just the name, like something I might like, but I just never found it as charming as say Under the Influence of Giants or something. However, perhaps I will with this?

The fact he was on a song with Macklemore and Lewis though, I can't say increases my interest.

Joey Eppard (Three/Solo) Q and A (Summer 2017)

Facebook Link 

I'm posting this with the hope that it's completely available to the public.

This Q and A that Joey did on Facebook on Saturday afternoon was per the Alien Angels 3 Fan Group.

Just to summarize, he talks about the solo record he is working on and working on new Three music. The solo album ("Word to the Wise") would likely come out before the next Three album. But there's some new Three music being worked on as well.

And he has written many songs, but many are not finished (either writing or just the recording of them).

No real projection on the timing of his solo album. But he gets only like 1 hour a day to work on his music, whereas he used to have a lot more time, etc.

2018?

The songs from the 2014 1-song per month thing may come out in on Three album in the future (not necessarily their next studio record).

Ani Di Franco, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Opeth, Dream Theater, Victor Wooten, and Elliot Smith among other names he talked about as being a fan of, or inspired by, etc.

Also there was a Comic for Paint By Number that was never really finished. But the artwork is taken from part of that. And I guess the album is out of print and hard to come by now. I thankfully have a copy for myself.

I wish someone might have asked him about Vinyl (Three albums), but maybe another time soon.

Also the next Three album might be helped by crowd-funding (the question mentioned Kickstarter, but I would suggest Pledgemusic I guess).

Oh and cool to learn that Dug Pinnick of King's X is a fan and saw Three with Porcupine Tree when they toured together and hit Houston. I'm surprised Three and King's X never tried to tour together after that, but maybe they could? Porcupine Tree and King's X I know toured together at 1 point as well. I wonder if that was a result of Dug having seen PT live at that show?

edit: just googling, the King's X PT tour was in 2009, and I recall Three opened for PT before Progressive Nation in 2008, so perhaps.

Mutemath - Play Dead (2016-2017)

7/14/17 11:25AM

2nd new track "Stroll On" which I like, but not as much as Hit Parade.



Preorder Page 

Amazon 

Release date for the standard album is September 8th.

per this Facebook Update
Limited Edition Deluxe LP on Opaque Orange Vinyl + Bundle Packages available Wednesday 7/19.

Not sure how that will work, and it honestly makes a leak of this album predictable to be sooner. On the other hand, all the so-called journalists who receive promos early (of course not myself) likely won't be the 1st to hear it. Or at least ahead of those bundle preorders.

1 Hit Parade 5:15   
2 Pixie Oaks
3 Stroll On 3:57  
4 Break The Fever
5 Nuisance
6 Placed On Hold
7 Everything's New
8 War
9 Achilles Heel
10 Marching To The End


6/6/17 11:47AM
New Mutemath album Play Dead.

1st single "Hit Parade" below. I'll be honest, I noticed this pop-up in my YouTube feed and didn't recognize the title, but thought it was an old song.

It is sort of, in that Paul posted on twitter the band had been tweaking it here and there live I guess for awhile.

How this new album will compare/be received? I dunno as I know a lot of fans who didn't like the more electronic-driven Vitals from 2015. Personally, I still enjoyed that record a lot, so I'm not concerned.

https://twitter.com/MUTEMATH/status/871940295268720640

'Hit Parade' - The new single off MUTEMATH's forthcoming record 'Play Dead' - Out Now: http://smarturl.it/MM_HitParade  #HitParade #PlayDead

Offa Rex - The Queen of Hearts (2016-2017) [The Decemberists + Olivia Chaney]

7/13/17 12:00PM
Stream 

its been up there for a week now, but I haven't checked it out yet. Should be soon. Reviews have not been amazing for it though, which like the new Planetarium project from Sufjan Stevens and co, I hold with a grain of salt.


6/1/17 12:25AM

Saw this new video of "Blackleg Miner" on the Drowned in Sound message board.  Will give it a go later. I must say, this project/album has me a fair amount more intrigued than I would ever have expected.

This album could be a sleeper for the end of the year.


 

5/11/17 9:56AM

edit:

http://www.nonesuch.com/artists/offa-rex

Album is titled "The Queen of Hearts" and is being released on July 7th.

Preorder


1  The Queen of Hearts  3:56
2  Blackleg Miner  2:22
3  The Gardener  4:59
4  The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face  3:31
5  Flash Company  4:15
6  Old Churchyard  4:07
7  Constant Billy (Oddington) / I’ll Go Enlist (Sherborne)  1:56
8  Willie o’ Winsbury  7:30
9 Bonny May  6:32
10  Sheepcrook and Black Dog   4:35
11  To Make You Stay  5:02

http://www.avclub.com/article/decemberists-unveil-new-folk-side-project-offa-rex-254844

in the vein of a 60's and 70's British Psych/Folk Revival, which doesn't sound like they are branching out incredibly, sans for using Olivia's vocals I suppose. The "Queen of Hearts" interpretation is nice though.

The Harpsichord on it does add something. I guess given my lack of love for their last couple of albums, this could be a welcome diversion.

New YouTube Channel: deep cuts

deep cuts on YouTube

Not enough time right to elaborate in detail, but I stumbled on this YouTube Channel the other day and I must say, I'm liking a lot of the content. Namely the video below about 5 albums to get into Modern Prog.

fsdasdfdsfdsfdsfdsf

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (2013)
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
Spock's Beard - Snow (2002)
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute (2005)
Haken - Aquarius (2010)

Of course seeing Kevin's Shaming record in there immediately grabbed my attention. Steven Wilson, The Volta and even Spock's I follow to a point. Haken of course, not my thing, but I follow. Although most usually go with The Mountain (2014?).

His channel though has been going for a little over a year and he has 27 thousand subscribers, lol. I might add more about that at a later time.

But in that sense, he has the reach for this taste in music similar to people like CoverKiller Nation.

This guy's videos are edited of course, so he obviously spends time with them (unlike someone like myself who doesn't have the time really at this point).

And just going through many of his videos and taste, he does cover a lot of mainstream(hipster) stuff as well, but in that sense, he and his channel is unusual and unique. And honestly, I think I'd be up from hearing about it from this channel rather than say The Needle Drop or some others at this point.

Anyway, cool new YouTube Channel find.

deep cuts aka Oliver J is on both Twitter Here and Facebook Here .

Certainly a channel to checkout and maybe pass more along about in here in the future (and maybe fill some of the void left by the loss of MinistryofMusic I suppose).

oh and I chimed in below on my 5 suggested Modern Prog albums (leaving off many of course)

Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
dredg - El Cielo (2002)
Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third (2006)
The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading (2007)
Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I (2000)

Anathema - Endless Ways

I finally got around to revisiting Anathema's new record The Optimist , as I hadn't given the whole thing a listening since I first got to hear it about 2 months ago.

I can say, I have a better sense about it now, and maybe its concept to a point.

But for me, especially right now, the 1st half worked very well, and the 2nd half I found a little more hit and miss.

But the biggest thing that I'm retaining right now from it is this track "Endless Ways" with Lee Douglas on lead vocals. Sohhh melancholy. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I would rank this now as 1 of my 5 favorite Anathema songs, and kind of like 2016's track "You Never Were Alone" from Cloud Cult and "Happy Returns" from Steven Wilson.

I was fighting back the tears trying to listen to it. Different images and reasons for them. A bit like The Antlers 2009 album Hospice and the timing of discovering it not long before and then after when my grandfather passed away. My head is lingering with nostalgia for the recent past and my now old apartment.

I feel almost like someone or something died. And actually, my wife's Aunt did sadly just pass away, and I was at the funeral last Friday which was melancholy in a lot of ways like this song. But this song is capturing my sadness from my memories of the past 8.5 years. I'm not sure how else to describe it.

I guess leaving my independence in a lot of ways behind. Sort of closing a chapter in a book. It definitely carries that emotion. And given the timing of hearing it more profoundly now, I may always associate it with losing or leaving my independence behind and the memories I have of my life since 2009 and my bachelor-lifestyle back in my old apartment in Maplewood.

I suppose it and a lot of the rest of the album brings my frequent thoughts of mortality and aging too, and the story about someone living on the West Coast of North America, likely Northern California and a tragic event (a Wild Fire?) that impacts them. Their home burns in a fire and they have to drive away to an unknown destination?

I am not sure how much I will love The Optimist compared to their other recent records which are all 4-4.5 stars, but the criticism of it not comparing I only can follow to a small degree. It may just be more of a slow burner and a grower. At a minimum, Endless Ways is gorgeous and sad as all fuck, much like many of their songs are, which is one of the biggest reasons I love a lot of their music. And to add to the timing of this for me, may just be what makes it an all-time favorite of mine.

OT: Update/Move

Long story short or longer:

So I completed my move out of my apartment finally last night around 6:30pm-ish.

I've moved a few times before as this most recent was from my 3rd apartment since 1999, however per a few factors, this move was more work, longer, more extensive, and felt like it would never end, etc.

Moving does suck, and it raises some points for me.

1) Why do I have so much crap? I unfortunately more or less since I was an infant, have been someone who likes to collect and posses physical items, I think probably for nostalgia over time, maybe as much as any other reason. But ultimately, all these items are going to end up somewhere else, probably either in some strangers possession, or in a landfill. Unless I decide to get buried with some of them, lol.

2) Maybe the thing to do is to document them in a non-3-dimensional way, i.e. Photos and Videos, etc.

3) The maintenance required to leave an apartment, at least if you want to get any of your Security Deposit back, let alone avoid having to pay for damages, is frankly absurd. You're paying to live there, yet you have to go through basically SLAVE LABOR just to get out? Bending over backwards to remove every little mark, hair, dust-bunny, etc behind refrigerators, in vents, walls, behind counters, etc. And I am highly thankful my wife and Aunt helped me out (again, although we helped her a few months back).

4) Packing things up quickly, because time is at a shortage as always, there is no time to actually look and sort through so many papers and things. Organizing would be helpful, and I will admit to having literally thousands of pieces of bills, junk mail, insurance statements, financial statements, medical documents (EOBs and others)  among many others things that will require many hours to part with. I would just give it to Office Max or something and pay whatever it is per pound to have them shred them, but I just hope something doesn't go missing later like my old Car's Lease, lol. But maybe it's better and easiest to not think about it and just give it to them.

CD jewel cases and cassette tape recordings, originals, and bootlegs.

My wife found a video online the other day about these people who are "Minimalists" who more or less live like a Nomad with possessions. And while I can't see that being me (and frankly, they came across as hugely narcissistic and hipster snobs from my impression, a bit like a lot of obsessed vegetarians who like to call you out for eating meat); I could see adopting some of their approach and just not only purge a lot of my crap, but largely reduce accumulating it.

MUSIC? even so. Buying Digital may be the thing to do for many "fringe" artists I guess, at least in the near future. Sadly, it may just be more practical. If I love something so much, I may just decide to buy it 10 years later as a physical item, per it stood the test of time, etc.

As far as what is next?

1) I will eventually end my lease with my storage space when the wife and I find a place of our own. I am living now with her and her Mom at her Aunt's place. Eventually though, we will look to either rent or buy a place. Preferably, not Rent an apartment as I've had my fill of that. But maybe renting a house or Town House. Or another duplex or bungalow. Or depending on finances of course, buying something. The Town House idea I would like save for the large Association Fees often included that only cover the Outside of the house.

When? It may be only a few months, but better odds sometime next Spring or Summer I get to do this whole thing again. Although at least my stuff is boxed up already and I won't likely have to do much maintenance of the Storage space.

2) As far as this blog? outside of the time needed to look for a new place and a few other things, I hope to have more time to work on some of the projects again. Namely the Albums Calendars and Rankings by year as I don't have a ton of work left before that could be finished, at least per my plan being to finish every year up through 2007. And then do the last decade.

I also have some catching up to do naturally, as there's probably half a  dozen albums or so that I have not listened to or only briefly:

Anathema - The Optimist
Bent Knee - Land Animal
Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Hotel Junk Box
Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions
SikTh - The Future in Whose Eyes?
Solstafir - Berdreyminn

Pluse many singles and upcoming albums of course. 1 from Public Service Broadcasting, and another from In the Presence of Wolves. 

But as for that apartment I just left behind, I moved there in January 2009. It wasn't that long ago, but a ton has happened and changed since then, it's rather surreal and depressing in some ways. Why I fall for my love of nostalgia, almost too much and too easily. If only I could find a Time Machine, lol.