Special Edition: Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)

It’s a Christmas miracle! The Abrahams take a break from the tyranny of the Rolling Stone 500 list to discuss a mutually adored masterpiece: the original 1970 concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar. Abraham (Chenzie) and AbraHAM (Guy) deep dive into "Abraham Lore," revealing how this specific album cemented their friendship back in music school (after some initial arrogance).

Since this album isn't actually on the list, the hosts turn to ChatGPT to generate a "Rolling Stone style" blurb. Which, shockingly, turns out to be better written than the real thing. They break down the raw, "Woodstockian" sound of the recording, featuring Deep Purple's Ian Gillan screaming his lungs out as Jesus to the backing of Joe Cocker's Grease Band.

Is Andrew Lloyd Webber a genius of leitmotifs or just a lazy-ass hack who recycles melodies? Is the New Testament essentially "fanfic" of the Old Testament? And why does the violin solo in the epilogue sound suspiciously like Schindler’s List? Join us for a theological, musicological and (mostly) hysterical breakdown of the one of the greatest rock operas ever recorded (according to us!!!)

In This Episode

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records: Christmas Special
• (00:01:40) - Abraham Lore: How this album cemented the hosts' friendship
• (00:04:27) - The "AI" Blurb: Using ChatGPT to generate a Rolling Stone critique
• (00:10:44) - The Personnel: Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and The Grease Band
• (00:15:00) - Origin Story: Why it started as an album (and the "Gospel of Judas")
• (00:18:55) - Compositional Analysis: Leitmotifs vs. "Recycling" Melodies
• (00:26:10) - The Theological Rant: The New Testament, blood libels, and anti-semitism
• (00:30:50) - The Mary Magdalene Debate: Is Yvonne Elliman high or just too confident?
• (00:37:50) - The Overture: Why foreshadowing with 39 lashes is a bold move
• (00:40:38) - Historical Fact-Check: Pilates, Herods, and the geography of Galilee
• (00:46:12) - Genre Definition: Comparing JCS to Tommy and Pink Floyd’s The Wall
• (00:49:37) - Music Theory Corner: Asymmetric time signatures (7/8 and 5/4 grooves)
• (00:51:19) - Vocal Showdown: Ian Gillan’s "Hard Rock" vs. Ted Neeley’s "Glam Metal"
• (00:59:41) - Deep Dive: "John 19:41" and the Itzhak Perlman cameo
• (01:03:30) - Character Spotlight: Barry Dennen's overacting excellence as Pilate
• (01:05:00) - The Judas Legacy: Murray Head's funk soul vs. Carl Anderson's iconic movie role
• (01:09:00) - The Final Verdict: Does this belong in the real Top 500? (Yes.)

About The Abraham Records

Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.

Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.

• Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
• Send us your hot takes: podcasts@shufu.studio

#496: Shakira - Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998)

The Abrahams a here with album #496: Donde Estan Los Ladrones by the Colombian superstar Shakira. Abraham (Chenzie) and AbraHAM (Guy) are surprised to discover that before she was the blonde, hip-shaking global icon, Shakira was a "raven-haired guitar rocker" who sounded suspiciously like a Spanish Avril Lavigne.

They dive into the "logic" of the Rolling Stone blurb (if hips can't speak, can they lie?), the story of the stolen suitcase that inspired the album's title, and the unique fusion of Colombian rock and middle eastern grooves. But overall, this episode is just a one big Shakira appreciation session: her songwriting chops, production instincts and that instantly recognizable voice

Is this album a masterpiece of "Rock en Español" or just a collection of Alanis Morissette b-sides? Why are her hands so dirty on the cover? And how does a discussion about vocal techniques spiral into a dark tangent about a Japanese yodeler's potential connection to the Hitler Youth?

In This Episode

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records
• (00:01:20) - This Week's Album: #496, Shakira - Donde Estan Los Ladrones
• (00:02:32) - Roasting the Blurb: The Logical Fallacy of "Never-Lying Hips"
• (00:05:37) - Cultural Fusion: Combining Colombian Roots with Lebanese Heritage (and Belly Dancing)
• (00:09:17) - Deep Dive: The Album Art & The "Stolen Suitcase" Origin Story
• (00:11:39) - The career bridge convo: Emilio Estefan, the pivot toward English, and Laundry Service
• (00:14:42) - Shakira as a Songwriter: More than just a Pop Diva
• (00:16:45) - Genre Analysis: Is "Rock en Español" just Avril Lavigne in Spanish?
• (00:18:40) - 1998 Context: Dana International's Eurovision Win & The Era of Britney
• (00:23:20) - Track Attack: "Inevitable" (The Vulnerable Ballad)
• (00:25:07) - Track Attack: "Octavo Día" (prog-rock edge, rubato feel, vocal flexing)
• (00:26:54) - Vocal Analysis: The "Shakira Yodel," Jack Black, and Intentional Voice Cracks
• (00:30:15) - Track Attack: "Ojos Así" (The Middle Eastern Beach Party)
• (00:32:05) - Final verdict: recommended, but not Top-500 material
• (00:34:25) - Tangent corner: Japanese yodeling lore (because… of course)
• (00:37:16) - Field test: playing the album at the office (coworkers be grooving)
• (00:41:47) - Fun Facts: Shakira's Real Name & Her Father, William Mubarak
• (00:44:10) - Next week: Boyz II Men (it’s time to "man up")

About The Abraham Records

Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.

Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.

• Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
• Send us your hot takes: podcasts@shufu.studio

#497: Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (1985)

The Abrahams embark on a cultural excursion with album #497: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, a compilation that Rolling Stone calls the "greatest album ever marketed under the heading 'World Music'." Abraham (Chenzie) and AbraHAM (Guy) immediately question the "checkbox" nature of this entry - is it a cohesive artistic statement or just a playlist put together by two British guys to introduce "exotic" sounds to the West?

They dive into the "jarringly fresh" sounds of Mbaqanga and Isicathamiya, debating whether the beats are "loping" or "looping" (spoiler: it’s a horse thing). The hosts struggle bravely with pronunciations that sound like "Harry Potter spells," celebrate the "goat-voiced" growl of Mahlathini, and discuss the Mean Girls connection to Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Did Paul Simon steal this entire vibe for Graceland two years later? Does the electric guitar work sound surprisingly like American country or 70s funk? And why does a discussion about South African resistance music inevitably turn into a tangent about Paul Rudd’s agelessness in Clueless?

In This Episode

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records
• (00:01:34) - This Week's Album: #497, Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
• (00:03:48) - Roasting the Blurb: "Loping" beats vs. "Looping" typos
• (00:06:33) - The Compilation Dilemma: Is a "Various Artists" Collection a Valid Album Entry?
• (00:10:00) - Artist Spotlight: Nelcy Sedibe, Mahlathini, and the "Goat singer"
• (00:13:10) - Understanding the Genres: Mbaqanga, Mgqashiyo, and other made up words
• (00:16:57) - Historical Context: The disconnect between Apartheid-era Soweto and "Happy" Music
• (00:22:25) - Album Structure: Melodic Shifts between the First and Second Halves
• (00:23:37) - Track Attack: "Holotelani", "Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama" and Vocal Percussion Techniques
• (00:27:42) - Artist Spotlight: Ladysmith Black Mambazo & The Isicathamiya Choral Style
• (00:32:15) - The Ranking Game: Rolling Stone’s Drop vs. Pitchfork’s 80s List
• (00:34:53) - The Graceland Connection: Is Recording a Form of Documentation or Stealing?
• (00:39:51) - Musical Analysis: Western Instrumentation (Electric Bass/Guitar) in African Pop
• (00:43:37) - Critique: The Problematic "World Music" Label and Western-Centric Framing
• (00:45:26) - The Final Verdict: A Fantastic Historical Artifact, but is it a Top 500 Album?

About The Abraham Records

Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.

Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.

• Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
• Send us your hot takes: podcasts@shufu.studio

#498: Suicide - Suicide (1977)

The Abrahams are back at it again with #498: the self-titled debut from the synth-punk duo Suicide. Abraham (Chenzie) and AbraHAM (Guy) brace themselves for a journey into the dark heart of 1977 New York, immediately questioning Rolling Stone's description of the band as "rockabilly" (spoiler: it sounds more like a broken vacuum cleaner than Elvis).

They dive into the duo's unlikely origins, a jazz pianist and a sculptor living in a museum, and how they built a "drum machine" out of junk from a furniture store. The hosts discuss the album's minimalist, "uncomfortable" sound, comparing Alan Vega's vocal performance to a "controlled chaos" art installation rather than traditional singing.

Is "Frankie Teardrop" the most terrifying 10 minutes of music ever recorded? Did Alan Vega really get hugged by The Boss? And why did opening for Elvis Costello cause a literal riot in Brussels? Plus, a surprise recommendation for Patricia Taxxon’s Rainbow Road as a palate cleanser for the madness.

In This Episode

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records
• (00:01:34) - This Week's Album: #498, Suicide - Suicide
• (00:02:00) - Genre Confusion: Is it Rockabilly, Punk, or just "A Device"?
• (00:06:00) - Producer Craig Leon & The "Indie" Label Context
• (00:07:45) - Peter Hammill’s Nadir’s Big Chance as a Proto-Punk Influence
• (00:10:40) - Band Origins: Visual Art, Light Sculptures, and Living in a Museum
• (00:12:00) - The "Dream Baby Dream" Perfume Commercial (Thanks, Obama?)
• (00:15:00) - The "Drum Machine": Building beats from broken keyboards
• (00:18:25) - Idiosyncratic Production: "Bad" Mixing as an Artistic Choice
• (00:24:14) - Track Attack: "Ghost Rider" (America is Killing Its Youth)
• (00:25:12) - Track Attack: "Frankie Teardrop" (The "Turn Down The Volume" Warning)
• (00:28:00) - 23 Minutes in Brussels: The Elvis Costello Riot & The "Booing" Album
• (00:36:42) - The Final Verdict: An Important Album, but is it a Good Album?
• (00:41:10) - A Surprise Recommendation: Patricia Taxxon - Rainbow Road

About The Abraham Records

Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.

Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.

• Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
• Send us your hot takes: podcasts@shufu.studio

#499: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - Ask Rufus (1977)

The Abrahams return to the list with album #499: Ask Rufus by the funk powerhouse Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Abraham and Abraham once again lock horns with the Rolling Stone blurb, questioning the description of Chaka Khan as "combustible" and the musical analysis of "twisty-turny" song structures.

They dive deep into the band's dynamic, exploring how a Chicago funk band recruited a lead singer who would eventually LITERALLY eclipse them on their album covers. From Chaka Khan's origins with the Black Panthers and her Yoruba naming ceremony to the 16-month studio marathon that birthed this platinum record, the hosts break down the "Hollywood" sound of late-70s funk.

Is this a timeless masterpiece of neo-soul anticipation, or just a great collection of head-nodding beats? Does the instrumental "Slow Screw Against the Wall" prove the band doesn't need a singer to groove? And most importantly, is Ask Rufus actually better than Stevie Wonder's Secret Life of Plants?

In This Episode

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records (Take 2)
• (00:03:48) - This Week's Album: #499, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - Ask Rufus
• (00:06:29) - Chaka Khan’s Origins: The Black Panthers & The Name Change
• (00:16:55) - Roasting the Blurb: "Combustible" Singers & "Twisty-Turny" Songs
• (00:18:48) - The Ask Rufus Sound: 16 Months in the Studio & Orchestral Funk
• (00:25:42) - Instrumental Interludes: "Slow Screw Against the Wall"
• (00:29:59) - Track Attack: "Everlasting Love" (Shoulder Dancing vs. Head Nodding)
• (00:31:25) - Track Attack: "Hollywood" (Hypnotic Loops & "Pekka Pekka" Beats)
• (00:35:28) - Track Attack: "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" (The 90s in 1977)
• (00:44:07) - Deep Dive: The Album Art (Why is the band so small?)
• (00:52:45) - Tangent: Green Day’s American Idiot & First CD Purchases
• (00:57:27) - The Final Verdict: A Great Album, but is it the Right Album? (Justice for Stevie Wonder)

About The Abraham Records

Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.

Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.

• Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
• Send us your hot takes: podcasts@shufu.studio

#500: Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

Abraham (Chenzie) and AbraHAM (Guy) kick off their odyssey through the Rolling Stone 500 list with album #500: Arcade Fire’s 2004 debut, Funeral. The Abrahams endure the magazine's pretentious, "GPT-generated" blurb and immediately call shenanigans on the "symphonic rock" label (spoiler: a violin and a xylophone do not make a symphony).

They dig into the band's "sophisticated garageband" origins, their "outsized" live shows that feel like a "party on stage," and the album's core themes of suburban-Canadian angst. Is it a cohesive album or just a collection of emo songs? Does "Wake Up" sound just a little bit like Coldplay? And which song is the official "Ringo song" of the album? Tune in to find out.

In This Episode

(00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records

(00:01:07) - This Week's Album: #500, Arcade Fire - Funeral

(00:01:25) - Roasting the Rolling Stone Blurb (It's not "symphonic rock")

(00:08:37) - Band Origins: The "Main Butler" & Educated Musicians

(00:10:41) - The Funeral Sound: Sophisticated Garageband or Toned-Down Emo?

(00:11:40) - Track Naming, Haitian Backstories, and Suburban Angst

(00:14:48) - Is it an Album or a Collection of Songs?

(00:16:46) - Critique: "Anemic" Guitars vs. "Spacious" Mixing

(00:21:01) - Why They're a "Better Live" Band (It's all about the vibes)

(00:23:59) - Deep Dive: The Album Art (What does a quill on a snowy horizon mean?)

(00:27:45) - Track Attack: "Crown of Love" (Guy's Pick: Dark Emo Disco!)

(00:31:47) - Track Attack: "Wake Up" (The "Rock Arena" Anthem)

(00:37:17) - Track Attack: "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" (Chenzie's Pick: Shoutout to the Soviet Space Dog)

(00:41:01) - Track Attack: "In the Backseat" (The "Ringo Song" of the Album)

(00:45:00) - Fun Facts: Godspeed You! Black Emperor & a Swing Musician Grandpa

(00:49:16) - The Final Verdict: Does Funeral belong in the Top 500?

About The Abraham Records

Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.

Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.

• Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
• Send us your hot takes: podcasts@shufu.studio