| Author | Message | ||
     Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3823 Registered: 05-2005 |
All India Radio - Fall | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 488 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thinking the under appreciation of Ron Sexsmith is so similar to the Go-Betweens. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1135 Registered: 10-2008 |
there was a documentary about ron sexsmith on bbc4 at the weekend which i havent watched yet, have recorded it. not his biggest fan, but will watch it anyway. | ||
| Lewisdhead Member Username: Lewisdhead Post Number: 70 Registered: 01-2007 |
Arbouretum-The Gathering Josh T Pearson-Last of The Country Gentlemen Jonny-Jonny | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 294 Registered: 03-2007 |
A selection of artists/bands who recorded for Library Records, Melbourne, between 1998 and 2003. Sleepy Township - Deep Water Bart & Friends - I Was Lonely 'Til I Found You Other People's Children - Fields Of Sadness Shapiros - Compilation Tugboat - All Day Mia Schoen - Champions Cat's Miaow - A Kiss And A Cuddle Cat's Miaow - Songs For Girls To Sing | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2618 Registered: 03-2005 |
It's soul night tonight . . . Gwen McCrae--Lay It On Me (The Columbia Years) Bettye LaVette--Interpretations There isn't enough attention given to great interpreters, the people who can show you why a song that you thought was crap is in fact pretty meaty. Ms. Lavette has done remarkable versions of other people's songs for years. I blundered onto her close to 30 years ago with a "what the hell" purchase from a cut-out bin. This 2010 album is devoted British rock or pop songs. Imagine kicking off an album with a cover of the Beatles' forgettable "The Word." She makes her point. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3828 Registered: 05-2005 |
Three Songs free download EP by Fleet Foxes singer-guitarist Robin Pecknold. The first track features Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear. It's a fox/bear kind of thing. http://www.spin.com/articles/download-fl eet-foxes-grizzly-bear-collabo?utm_sourc e=SPIN%2BMedia&utm_medium=email&utm_camp aign=newsletter030811 | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3829 Registered: 05-2005 |
Perry Blake - Genevieve James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 296 Registered: 03-2007 |
Listening to a lot of Australian music at the moment. New Estate - Considering New Estate - New Estate New Estate - Is It Real? Huon - Answers To Lucky Huon - Songs For Lord Tortoise | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2113 Registered: 01-2005 |
Frank, Did you get the new on from Ron Sexsmith yet? It's on my next to-buy list. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1137 Registered: 10-2008 |
low - c'mon | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 1061 Registered: 08-2004 |
R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now Rolling Stones - Exile... Deluxe K-os - Yes | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 297 Registered: 03-2007 |
Panel Of Judges - No Scandal*No Future*In Heaven Panel Of Judges - Bad Vibrations Royalchord - The Good Fight | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2621 Registered: 03-2005 |
The Good Fight? I haven't got that. New Royalchord? | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 298 Registered: 03-2007 |
Released in 2009 on Mistletone/Supply&Demand. Do you have any of the albums I have been listening to recently? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2623 Registered: 03-2005 |
No, Hugh. Of course not. Nobody has any of the albums you're listening to. But I DO have a lot of Royalchord. I saw them when they did their little North American tour and snapped up everything they had on the merchandise table. But it was my understanding that they were disbanding because one of the women was relocating to Canada. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 299 Registered: 03-2007 |
The only Royalchord releases I am familiar with are 'Nights On The Town' and 'The Good Fight.' Any others I should be looking out for? Their website has not been updated for almost a year so it is possible that they have called it a day. The site does not have a discography section so I have no idea how many titles they have actually released. I think you might enjoy some of the albums I have been listening to recently. That said, perhaps there is a good reason why I am the only person listening to them. :-) Let me know if you want some samples. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2115 Registered: 01-2005 |
R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now First listen impressions: I like it better then Accelerate, the last R.E.M. studio album I bought. I don't have any of their other post Bill Berry albums other then Accelerate, so I can't rank it against those. Right now I would say it's as good as New Adventures In Hi-Fi and better then Monster. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1141 Registered: 10-2008 |
Michael, I have heard the new REM twice, and have heard 2 or 3 songs quite a few times on the radio and can't quite share your emthusiasm. To me the problem with REM these days is Stipe, and I can't believe I feel like that as I thought he was the best thing about them for the first 5/6 years they existed as a band. He seems to shout at the listener, rather than sing to them a lot of the time. NAIHF and Monster werent great albums, but they sure as hell beat the crap out of this one for me. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 300 Registered: 03-2007 |
Ancients - The Ancients Ancients - The Ancients 2 | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2116 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, I can appreciate your comments and it's a valid point about Michael Stipe. He isn't the nuanced singer of Find The River or Night Swimming on the latest album, and one does wonder if he will ever be again. The songs though are a return to form, and that is the well spring from where my comments came from. Maybe it's time for an introspective solo album from Mr. Stipe? That could get him back to a more relaxed singing style and less of a shouting one on a subsequent R.E.M. studio album a couple of years down the road. That would also free up Peter, Scott and Bill to record another Venus 3 album with Robyn Hitchcock as well as another V3 tour. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2164 Registered: 10-2004 |
I just wish REM would break up and go pursue other things. ;) | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 489 Registered: 01-2007 |
Well had a listen to the new REM and i think it is better than anything they have done for a few years, some better crafted songs, I agree Stip is a bit too shouty. Nothing they do is going to equal there first 4-5 even 7 LPs.Didn't really listen to Accelerate but have listened to Around The Sun as my wife sees colours and music in it where I see mid paced songs which wash over me. On the subject or Ron Sexsmith it as good as anything he has done, I hope he gets some financial credit with this as having seen his documentary last week he needs it. Really like PJ Harvey Let England Shake DBT-GoGO boots -really warming to this better than last years one Have on order the Josh T Pearson | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3831 Registered: 05-2005 |
Listening to Collapse Into Now now. Only on track two of the first play, so I'll reserve judgement. Frank, Accelerate is great. Give it another go. I swore after the awful Around The Sun I was done with new R.E.M. music, but Accelerate deserved all its accolades. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3832 Registered: 05-2005 |
Has anyone here heard the Anna Calvi record? I have it and really like it. It sounds very like early PJ Harvey. And there's nothing wrong with that. However, I am astounded at pretentious reviewers in Uncut, The Quietus and (no doubt) elsewhere going out of their way to say she doesn't sound anything like PJ Harvey! And they do this while mentioning Harvey throughout the review! I suppose it makes them feel holier than thou to say we are all wrong, our ears are deceiving us. But it's very odd they can't then manage to write the review without mentioning PJ Harvey a half dozen times. The oafs. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2063 Registered: 09-2006 |
NME/C81 An cassette compilation from '81 that I was unaware of until now. Kicks off with excellent dub remixes of "The Sweetest Girl" and "Twist and Crawl," goes on to Pere Ubu, Specials, Ian Dury, Aztec Camera, many many more. | ||
| Shane Greentree Member Username: Realinspectorshane Post Number: 85 Registered: 03-2007 |
XTC: Drums & Wires | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3835 Registered: 05-2005 |
NME/C81. It's quite brilliant isn't it Allen? And to think it would be heard of but unheard for most of us without the internet. Good job internet! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3836 Registered: 05-2005 |
By the way everyone, The Saints' All Times Through Paradise 4 CD Box Set is being re-released soon and Amazon UK are selling it for 11.99, which is an absolute steal. If you don't already have it, you need it. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1143 Registered: 10-2008 |
padraig, i bought this several years ago, it has every studio album http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-About-You-1 976-1978-Recordings/dp/tracks/B00004XSNN /ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1 | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2120 Registered: 01-2005 |
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo. I know a few of you bought this when it was released last year, but I just picked it up a week ago. Nice guitar album and the lead gutiar player is the songwriter and singer as well and not even 20 years old yet. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 301 Registered: 03-2007 |
Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2064 Registered: 09-2006 |
Agreed, Padraig...and I actually didn't even know about its existence until recently, when I went back to work proofreading old articles on Robert Xgau's website, and I found a review he did of it. And then immediately went and downloaded it. So, double thanks to the great big internet from this corner... | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 302 Registered: 03-2007 |
Sleepy Township - Set Sail | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1149 Registered: 10-2008 |
like an old girlfriend whose memory you can just never shake off, i have persevered with the new rem album. further exposure to it just enforces how dreadful it is. to call it bland does the word a disservice, they need to split up now. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2122 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, I have yet to play it a second time. I wish Michael Stipe would revert to being a singer again. Maybe an album project with Natalie Merchant would get him back on the right track? Their voices blended nicely on the Maniacs "A Campfire Song" back when Michael used to sing. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2171 Registered: 10-2004 |
Now? REM needed to split up 20 years ago. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2124 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, Then we wouldn't have Find The River and Nightswimming! I've always thought that there last album that I really gave a hoot about stem to stern was Fables. I could live with the few clunkers per album on LRP and Document, but they really started to loose me on Green when the bad songs started to outnumber the good ones. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1150 Registered: 10-2008 |
yes jeff, but they didnt. so they need to split up now. anyway, they should actually have split after document (1987?), that was the beginning of the end. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2174 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, I've always said I could live a decent life without anything after Fables. That was their last truly good album. But to be fair, Pageant, Document, and even Green do have their moments. Throwing in the towel after Document would have been perfect. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 303 Registered: 03-2007 |
Sweet William - World Of Books | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3840 Registered: 05-2005 |
I think R.E.M should have split up after Chronic Town. Everything after that was just corporate rock made by whores who were only in it for the money. (Even Chronic Town was a bit over produced.) | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 729 Registered: 05-2005 |
Come to think of it, why didn't they just give up after the first rehearsal! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3842 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm with you Geoff. They've been sellouts since then. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 628 Registered: 04-2005 |
Re: REM, OK you can all laugh. And I haven't bought anything by them since 'Automatic for the People'. But I do remember hearing 'Drive' on the radio for the first time and finding it almost difficult to believe that this turgid slab of MOR dross could have come from a band that I had felt so passionately about just a few years before. Re: the comment about Nathalie Merchant. Do you know their joint version of John Prine's "Hello In There" filmed in Glasgow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPIpyB_Zt J0 I was there that grey day by the Clyde and it was sheer magic. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3843 Registered: 05-2005 |
Andrew, Geoff and I are having a laugh alright. I suspect, though, that our colleagues from the west coast of America and the west coast of Scotland are engaged in a deadly, who'll blink first, race to the bottom to see who has hated R.E.M. longer. (My money's on Kevin).  | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1151 Registered: 10-2008 |
padraig, i will never hate rem. this is the band that made chronic town - lifes rich pageant in just 4 years and i will always love them for that. since then their albums have got progressively less interesting imo. their last three albums have included the turgid around the sun and the lame collapse into now. i could just be a total fanboy and state that these are works of genius when they patently are not. or i could say that automatic for the people isnt corporate sell out mor crap, although i think it is. geoff has previous for liking bland dross. music made specifically for the coffee tables of accountants, but i'm surprised you havent seen through the bluster padraig :-) | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3844 Registered: 05-2005 |
I know you don't hate them Kevin! Nor does Jeff. Nor Geoff. Nor me. I loved everything before Green, which I thought was overrated. I think Out Of Time is amazing. Automatic ... has many brilliant songs, but Everybody Hurts is abominable. As I've said here (to derision) before, I like Monster. I liked New Adventures In Hi-Fi at the time but I haven't played it this century. Up and Reveal were both big disappointments. Around The Sun is heinous. Accelerate was a mighty return to form, considering I swore I'd never buy another R.E.M. record after the previous abomination. I've only heard Collapse Into Now once. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the post and will reserve judgement till I hear my own copy on my own hi-fi. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1152 Registered: 10-2008 |
happy st padraigs day by the way, at least whats left of it in your part of the world!! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3845 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks Kevin. I was down in Canberra. I flew there yesterday to go to the launch of an excellent new exhibition on Irish Australian history. I haven't seen so many Irish people in the one room in Australia since I worked in an Irish bar here 19 years ago. It was a good night. Flew back this afternoon. The best record shop in Canberra turned out to be long gone, I discovered today. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2175 Registered: 10-2004 |
Padraig - there's definitely no contest to see who hates REM's post-IRS era the most. I think it's simply genuine disappointment by people who LOVE REM's early years, but struggle to (or just plain cannot) connect with their post-80s body of work. MOR, bland, and turgid are all apt descriptions, imo. People who like REM's output over the last two decades are lucky because they get to enjoy a slew of albums by a band that doesn't know when to quit! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2126 Registered: 01-2005 |
PC wrote: -Up and Reveal were both big disappointments. -Around The Sun is heinous Which is why I've never bought them and never will. They should have split up after Bill Berry chucked it in and became a gentlemen farmer. They stopped being my favorite band in 1988 even before Green was released. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1153 Registered: 10-2008 |
the dust blows forward - an anthology. captain beefheart | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 304 Registered: 03-2007 |
New Estate - Out Of The Ground | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2067 Registered: 09-2006 |
I sort of liked Up and Reveal on the first couple of listens, but it didn't last. I do like the In Time comp a lot, though I didn't like it until I resequenced it chronologically and found myself even enjoying the highlights from the above two albums. Padraig, you might give New Adventures a spin if you feel in the mood...IMO it's their last really good one. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3846 Registered: 05-2005 |
R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now. Very Out Of Time sounding, though nowhere near as good. Still, some very good songs which, obviously, wouldn't have been recorded if they'd broken up. The Saints - Prehistoric Sounds. You know this is great, don't you? Robert Scott - Ends Run Together. Great record, which puts me in mind of The Bats' Couchmaster. Blue Aeroplanes - Swagger (disc 2) | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2128 Registered: 01-2005 |
Allen, It's probably no small coincidence that New Adventures was also Bill Berry's last album with them. I didn't pick it up until a few years ago, as I had pretty much given up on them. NAIHF did get me interested enough in them again to buy Accelerate and Collapse. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2625 Registered: 03-2005 |
Yes, Padraig, "Prehistoric Sounds" is definitely great. The Robert Scott sounds interesting. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 730 Registered: 05-2005 |
Now you've got me interested Padraig! I guess I will have to give R.E.M. another chance. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1158 Registered: 10-2008 |
you'll love the new rem geoff. it's shit! :-) | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3847 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lykke Li - The Only | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2628 Registered: 03-2005 |
All those recent Hugh Nimmo New Estate entries reminded me that I have a copy of . . . Considering. It's on right now. I don't even remember when I got this. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 731 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks for the up on the new R.E.M. Kevin. We can always rely on you to be the expert on shit. ;P | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1163 Registered: 10-2008 |
on the subject of not selling out, the band drive by truckers are a great example to hold up against rem. co-incidentally they are based in athens georgia. they are on their 11th album now, and as far as exposure goes probably receive as much press attention as any other contemporary rock band. they started off with a style that was part uncle tupelo, part faces/replacements, which they have not totally abandoned. along the way they have embraced many styles but can loosely be described as a southern rock n soul band. crucially they ditched one of their songwriters, jason isbell, when his songwriting took on a blatant "lets get a radio hit" bent on the album a blessing and a curse about 5 or 6 years ago. its most fans least favourite album although it still contains 4 or 5 great songs. since isbell left they have made another 3 very well received albums, and are probably at a critical/record sales/fan base peak. they tour like hell, and regularly play 3 hour sets. if i have a current favourite band(a band whose music you love, whose members you love equally, and whose gigs you love) its them, a band who are incapable of selling out. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2068 Registered: 09-2006 |
From much of what I've read Isbell & the Truckers definitely came to a diverging crossroads as far as musical styles, but his crumbling marriage to Shonna Tucker and his hard-living ways were equal factors in the split as well. Never having had a problem with pop, I rather like his solo record. I like the new R.E.M., too, except for a few bum lyrics here and there. Had to put it away for a little while, and that helped. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2630 Registered: 03-2005 |
Triffids--Early Cassettes | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 305 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, most of the stuff I have been playing recently revolves around a small core of Australian musicians performing with different bands. For example, Mia Schoen who is a member of New Estate was previously a member of Sleepy Township and Huon. Bart Cummings who is a member of Bart & Friends was previously a member of The Shapiros and The Cat's Miaow. What did you make of New Estate? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2631 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hugh, for some reason the name Mia Schoen is familiar to me though I don't think I've ever heard any of those other bands you've named. As for New Estate, they kept making me thing of Sonic Youth and then Gaslight Radio. Except Gaslight Radio are usually more song-oriented. I found them too primitive--at least on "Considering." I got tired of hearing that super distorted chord guitar sound. On the other hand, I assumed that I'd start skipping around through the Triffids cassettes CD. I put on the earliest one. And I just simply enjoyed the whole thing. So much so that I listened to the next CD with their fifth and sixth cassettes. Graham Lee and the others did a very good job culling the good things from the early cassettes and also tweaking the sound to make it decent to listen to (the rather clunketa-boom sound of the drums notwithstanding). In their early years the Triffids had a very good sense of humor. And David McComb simply always had a good sense of song. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 306 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, she is an artist as well as a musician so perhaps that is how you came to hear the name. New Estate's three albums and ep are all fairly similar low-fi recordings. According to the sleeve notes, their last album ( Out Of The Ground ) was recorded in only four days. I like the way they record and their sound but I had a feeling it might not appeal to you. What I particularly like is that none of the bands she has been in ( Sleepy Township; Huon; New Estate ) sound remotely the same. Currently listening to :- Simpatico - The Difference Between Alone & Lonely | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 490 Registered: 01-2007 |
The DBT are a find I put down to this board and Kevin in particular. I love them now, though there last LP the Big to Do was a disappointment initially but like most of there stuff really grows on you, prefer the newer one GO GO Boots myself. Still think Brighter Than Creations Dark is a masterpiece. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2632 Registered: 03-2005 |
To wipe away all the posts about REM, here's the real thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3-7F8T16 cE Too bad they couldn't get Michael Clarke at the time. | ||
| Graham Twyford Member Username: Graham_twyford Post Number: 43 Registered: 05-2005 |
It's still easy to make a pretty impressive R.E.M. compilation from their post Bill Berry years. If we're saying 12 tracks I'd go: - Walf Unafraid - Diminished - At My Most Beautiful - I've Been High - Disappear - Saturn Return - The Great Beyond - Living Well Is The Best Revenge - All The Best - Uberlin - I'll Take The Rain - It Happened Today Around The Sun is admittedly appalling. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1164 Registered: 10-2008 |
Frank, I think of Brighter Than Creations Dark as a "flawed" masterpiece. Possibly 3 or 4 songs too many, 19 in total I think, which is well above their average of 14 songs per album. Then again, for the last 10 years or so they've had 3 excellent (differing) songwriters on each album, so perhaps that amount is understandble. Even their odds n sods album from a couple of years ago is excellent. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1165 Registered: 10-2008 |
seems like this guy christgau likes the drive by truckers, and in particular "brighter than creations dark". its a lengthy article, but he does write about it eventually. http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Ro ck-Roll/The-Righteous-Path/ba-p/4507 must admit, i've never been to convinced about this guy, although i know he seems to be revered by american music fans. my impression going by his writings that i've read, and the lists he does at the end of each year, is that he really had his finger on the pulse in the 70's/80's - but has lost it big time in recent years. but admittedly i'm far from an expert on his stuff. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2070 Registered: 09-2006 |
Speaking as probably his biggest booster on this board, I'd say that the only pulse he's concerned with having his finger on is his own, and that he's only lost it if one is expecting him to agree with all of one's own opinions - something one can't even expect from their best friend. . I will say that part of the reason I like him is that I can trust him - not because I think his opinions are the word of God, but simply because our tastes are pretty darn close. For many years I've tried out the recommendations of a number of different critics/friends/acquaitances, and his success rate is large - if he says try it, there's a pretty good chance I'll like it, though maybe more or less than he does. Other things I like: his writing style, which requires a few rereadings sometimes, but rewards that effort. The fact that he has no use for purism or any other form of musical snobbery - he likes what he likes. And he likes a very wide range of music, which has been very instrumental over the years in helping me to broaden my tastes. Turned me on to many bands, such as the Go-Betweens and the Drive-By Truckers. One other note: yes, he was the guy who said Robert was the "lesser half" of the Go-Betweens in his first review of "The Evangelist". But looking at what he wrote after that I have the strong feeling that he realized he'd misspoke. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2633 Registered: 03-2005 |
Able Tasmans--Hey Spinner! | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1167 Registered: 10-2008 |
low c'mon | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2071 Registered: 09-2006 |
Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia 4-disc box set, the cream of one great strain of 70s soul. Spinners, Delfonics, Stylistics, Three Degrees, O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, much much more. Mmmmmmmm. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 307 Registered: 03-2007 |
Huon - Hung Up Over Night | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2638 Registered: 03-2005 |
Deep in a Dream--An Evening with the Songs of David McComb | ||
| Shane Greentree Member Username: Realinspectorshane Post Number: 87 Registered: 03-2007 |
Cocteau Twins: Lullabies to Violaine Volume 1: 1982-1990 | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 732 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lots of early OMD (up to Dazzle Ships) and some Simple Minds (Sons...+ Sister..+ New Gold Dream). The sounds of youth, when the future was ALL ahead of you. The new R.E.M. one isn't bad but it isn't great either. Maybe it will grow on me. They just seem a bit superfluous. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 308 Registered: 03-2007 |
The Siddeleys - Slum Clearance | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2133 Registered: 01-2005 |
Geoff, I bought the reissues of the first three OMD albums on CD a few years back. Is Dazzle Ships worth picking up, or is it too much of a departure from the sound of the first three? | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2075 Registered: 09-2006 |
Am enjoying the Scritti Politti best-of a lot...although, Kevin, can you direct me to one of those Green interviews that explains the funny track order and why there's nothing from White Bread Black Beer? The two new songs make me want to hear a whole album that sounds like them. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1175 Registered: 10-2008 |
alan, can only assume its contractual that there is nothing from white bread..., although like songs to remember that was also on rough trade. it cant be due to lack of quality, its an amazing album. my only gripe with the best of is that its front loaded with tracks from cupid and psyche,why not chronological? can't remember where i saw the online interviews, most were actually in printed press, but i found these two http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/feb /22/green-gartside-scritti-politti-inter view http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and -lifestyle/showbiz/2011/03/13/scritti-po litti-s-green-gartside-on-cracking-under -the-pressures-of-fame-91466-28322003/ | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2076 Registered: 09-2006 |
Thanks for finding those. The only reference to the reason for the tracklisting I can find is: "Towards the end of Absolute there's an annexe of what Gartside calls "juvenilia and pre-history"" Which maybe means he's slightly embarrassed by his early stuff. He shouldn't be, of course, but the rest of the interview gives a lot of evidence that he's got some self-esteem issues. No matter...I'm going to put together a chronological CD-R version soon and see how it sounds. The most pleasant surprise is how good the stuff from Anomie & Bonhomie sounds. I never took to that one at the time, but it looks like it's time to try again. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1178 Registered: 10-2008 |
yes alan, the one thing that really jumped out at me from the printed interviews was green's unfathomable lack of self esteem. i mean, a great looking guy with talent- whats the problem you would think? i also seem to recall anxiety issues caused him to "go sick" when scritti had to call off a tour with gang of four circa 1980. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2078 Registered: 09-2006 |
One of those mysterious things - sounds like his home and school life was rough in some ways, which always has its effects one way or another. Some can ride that stuff out better than others. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2135 Registered: 01-2005 |
Gang of Four and Scritti Politti toured together in 1980? That would seem to be an oddball combination. Gang Of Four toured North America in 1982 with Pylon as the opening act. I missed the show in Detroit. The local college radio NPR DJ's (WDET 101.9) used to talk about how great a show it was. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2181 Registered: 10-2004 |
Gang of Four and Scritti Politti in 1980 would seem to be a good fit, in my opinion. Scritti were pretty scratchy and dissonant back then. I mean, Gang of Four was more tuneful than Scritti, even at that point. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1180 Registered: 10-2008 |
tv on the radio - nine types of light lee scratch perry - the return of sound system scratch | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1183 Registered: 10-2008 |
fleet foxes - helplessness blues. only had two listens, but this is one helluva impressive, ambitious sounding album. the vocals/backing vocals immediately sound stunning, only long term exposure to the songs will determine how good this album will turn out to be i guess. i wouldn't imagine fans of this band will not be disappointed. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 733 Registered: 05-2005 |
Michael, To my ears, Dazzle Ships is not a conventional OMD album in the sense of BEFORE it or AFTER it. The proper "songs" sound like the embryonic version of what they became on Junk Culture, Crush etc - a bit big and a bit obvious - the hushed mystery of say, Sacred Heart is not there. The other "pieces" are radio static, cold war Czech radio etc. It's quite entertaining really but I need to give it even more of a spin. My ears are still adjusting to so many analogue synthesisers! | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1184 Registered: 10-2008 |
^^^ i would imagine fans of this band will not be disappointed. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2182 Registered: 10-2004 |
Geoff, Michael - I love Dazzle Ships and I think it fits in well with OMD's first four albums. To me it's their last brilliant album - afterwards things went downhill, at first gradually (Junk Culture and even Crush at least had some redeeming moments, despite their comparative blandness), and rapidly thereafter. I've always been puzzled as to why Dazzle Ships got slagged so much by critics when it came out. Okay, yes, there is a loose concept running throughout the album, and I suppose you could accuse OMD of kind of padding the album out a bit with the segments of radio noise and effects. But Dazzle Ship's poppier songs rank with the band's best, with infectious and driving numbers like "Telegraph," "Genetic Engineering," and "Radio Waves." The slower, more contemplative numbers are lush and beautiful, particularly "Silent Running" and "Of All The Things We've Made." It's also a bit less polished than much of Architecture and Morality, interestingly. I think it's an excellent album and would recommend it to anyone already in love with the previous three. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1185 Registered: 10-2008 |
to use a quote randy has utilized many times "i've been staying out of this one..." but never been a big fan of omd, despite being a fan of a lot of synth based pop music. one of my stumbling blocks was the singer and the way he danced about like an idiot! however, i'm interested to know were omd massive in the usa for a while, or just on the fringes? from what i can remember, in the uk at one point they were all over smash hits (mag for teenage girls predominantly) and top of the pops, and had a similar career trajectory to teardrop explodes - eg indie faves who crossed over into the teen/pop fan market. i can't really remember how they were regarded in the rock press in the uk, and certainly nobody that i hung about with rated them. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2183 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kevin - OMD were HUGE in the US, particularly with the song "If You Leave," which came out in '86. Heavy rotation on MTV and top 40 radio. The relentlessly bland follow-up, "Forever Live and Die" (from the terrible Pacific Age album), also did well, as I recall. But that was the extent of their mainstream popularity here, so it was definitely short-lived. I bet a lot of casual music listeners in the US probably reckon OMD was a one-hit wonder. But then OMD's first 4-5 albums have always had more of a cult following among the more geekier music fan types, and deservedly so, since they weren't at that point pandering to top 40 tastes, even though they charted highly at times. But this era of OMD was more popular on "alternative" and college radio stations in the US, and didn't get the kind of mainstream MTV exposure of the mid-80s stuff. As far as Andy McClusky's dancing - like I mentioned in the gigs thread -yeah, he dances like a geek, but I love how he dances the way a total white-boy nerd would dance, completely uninhibited, while alone in his room listening to his favorite records. It's like it's involuntary or something. It's how his nerdy white-boy body respond to the music. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 1062 Registered: 08-2004 |
OMD had a similar trajectory to Cabaret Voltaire & Depeche Mode in America thanks to college radio. In no small way did the Brit new romantics help inspire techno just as disco had inspired synth sounds in the 1st instance. OMD's debut is quite dark territory not unlike The Associates first 2 LP's & early Human League. Certainly quite innovative for the time. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 1063 Registered: 08-2004 |
Genuinely looking forward to hearing the new Fleet Foxes btw. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2639 Registered: 03-2005 |
I haven't heard OMD in a long long time. My recollection is that the first 3 albums are pretty good. Weirdly, I don't have the second album on CD, though I definitely remember having it on vinyl. However that's gone too. I have "Dazzle Ships" but can't remember what it sounds like. I even have "Pacific Age" but can't remember that either. I suspect not remembering is a bad sign. I went no further with OMD. I should pull out the albums and see what I think of them now. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1186 Registered: 10-2008 |
its bugging me which kraftwerk song that omd ripped off for their debut single electricity. honestly, its shocking plagiarism! thanks for filling in the blanks jeff and jerry, i guess the yanks embraced the early 80's brit synthpop bands more fully than i realised. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2184 Registered: 10-2004 |
Randy - yeah, the first four OMD records are solid, the fifth (Junk Culture) is a transition to more accessible pastures, while everything from Crush onward (incl. Pacific Age) is bland, slickly produced, characterless drivel. But those first four albums are wonderful. I tend to have trouble singling out a favorite, although the first album alone is worth it for "Messages." | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 734 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ditto Jerry re Fleet Foxes. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3854 Registered: 05-2005 |
Listening to Enola Gay now. Haven't played it in many, many years. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3855 Registered: 05-2005 |
Now listening to Maid of Orleans. A great single. Always loved the picture sleeve cover. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2136 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'll echo Randy's comment regarding OMD's first three albums being pretty good, and I might even notch them slightly higher. I thought they went way too poppy though in the later 1980's and stopped paying attention to them. I still might explore the fourth album (Dazzle Ships) sometime in the future. | ||
| Shane Greentree Member Username: Realinspectorshane Post Number: 88 Registered: 03-2007 |
XTC: Rag & Bone Buffet | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1187 Registered: 10-2008 |
king tubby - the dub master. great new comp on trojan | ||
| Lewisdhead Member Username: Lewisdhead Post Number: 73 Registered: 01-2007 |
Neutral Milk Hotel-In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Deerhoof-Offend Maggie | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1189 Registered: 10-2008 |
panda bear - tomboy. sounds pretty good on first listen http://www.npr.org/series/98679384/first -listen the excellent new album from low can also be heard from the site above | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1191 Registered: 10-2008 |
love/hate gritty, violent, and pretty gripping drama about the dublin underworld | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1192 Registered: 10-2008 |
oops, wrong thread | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2139 Registered: 01-2005 |
Carmen McRae - McRae Sings Monk Highly, higly recommended and one of the Top 5 greatest jazz vocal albums of all time as far as I'm concerned. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2640 Registered: 03-2005 |
Blue Aeroplanes--Spitting Out Miracles on vinyl. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3857 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ron Sexsmith - Long Player Late Bloomer. Four songs into the first play and it sounds like the best thing he's done in a very long time. I reckon you would really like it Geoff. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1194 Registered: 10-2008 |
the feelies - here below. even on first listen this sounds great. from the first few seconds, the first few notes, this couldnt be any other band. it even sounds like it was made in the 80's. there is absolutely no hint of modern recording technology being used thankfully. no compression whatsoever! can't wait to get familiar with this one. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3860 Registered: 05-2005 |
Has your famous in-law come good with a pre-release copy Kevin? Nice win for the Bhoys last night btw. Going to come down to the last Old Firm game of the season I think. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1195 Registered: 10-2008 |
Padraig, no a friend gave me a cd-r. Celtic were excellent last night, especially first half and blew Hibernian away and were 3-0 up at half time. The Rangers game is on Easter Sunday, just a few weeks away, can't wait! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3864 Registered: 05-2005 |
Wilco - A Sampler (promo CD) 1 Either Way 2 What Light 3 Handshake Drugs 4 Jesus, Etc. 5 War On War 6 Via Chicago (Kicking Television version) | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1198 Registered: 10-2008 |
autechre - ep's 1991-2002. 5 cd box set of their essential non album output. the only uk act to match the techno from detroit and berlin. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 309 Registered: 03-2007 |
Driving Past - New Estate Sleepy Township - All These Records ( Singles & Rarities 1994 - 2000 ) | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1199 Registered: 10-2008 |
kode9 and the spaceape - black sun even after just one listen absolutely blown away by this. after a slow start to the year, late march/april has seen fantastic new electronica/dubstep albums from falty dl, 2562, instra:mental and kode9 and the spaceape. not to mention the utterly essential 5cd box set of ep's released by autechre between 1991-2002. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 310 Registered: 03-2007 |
Should have been Real Estate by Driving Past and not New Estate. Mixing up my album titles with band names. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3865 Registered: 05-2005 |
Rrakala, the new album from Gurrumul Yunupingu. It's great. I got it on Thursday and today read Robert Forster's rave review of it in The Monthly. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2645 Registered: 03-2005 |
Huon--Songs for Lord Tortoise. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2145 Registered: 01-2005 |
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway I forgot how great this album is. Strangely enough though it's the only album I have by them. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 311 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, the opposite of slick and glossy production. I love it. The following link lists the band's output from 1998 to 2001. http://www.virtual.net.au/~awithy/huon.h tm Currently listening to Ambiguous/Calendar/InvisibleInk/Volatile by Sweet William. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2187 Registered: 10-2004 |
High Llamas - Talahomi Way Their new album, which comes out tomorrow, the 19th (nabbed a promo copy at Amoeba a couple days ago). After a few listens, I have to say I'm hugely disappointed. I had given up on the Llamas about 11 years ago, but then when Beet Maize and Corn came out back in 2004, it was so good that it rekindled my interest in them. The last album, Can Cladders, was half good, but this new album is really *not* good. Very convoluted, extremely unhummable, melodically muddled songs, with super flimsy, lightweight sound and arrangements. Some of the songs are downright annoying. Only "Fly, Baby Fly" stands out as being melodically engaging, whereas the rest of the album sounds stilted and forced. While I definitely kept expectations low (given the Llamas' spotty track record), I wasn't prepared to be quite this disappointed. | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 243 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff wrote: "when Beet Maize and Corn came out back in 2004, it was so good that it rekindled my interest in them" I have that somewhere, I must give it a turn. Bought Sean's erstwhile partner Cathal Coughlan's latest CD titled 'Rancho Tetrahedron'(2010) and found it disappointing also. Robert Forster's most recent Evangelist didn't exactly set the world on fire for me either. Oh dear, back to The Smiths for me. The revival can't be that far off now .... | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 312 Registered: 03-2007 |
A collection of 3 inch CD-R Classics ( a blast from the past ) released on Cloudberry Records. Bart & Friends - Bart & Friends The Kensingtons - The Death Of Middle England The Sainsburys - My Favourite Colour The Speedpuppies - The Speedpuppies The Proctors - The Proctors Kosmonaut - Listen To The Radio Crush 22 - Crush 22 | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2646 Registered: 03-2005 |
Paradise Motel--I Still Hear Your Voice at Night | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 430 Registered: 10-2006 |
Mickey3d - Tu va pas mourir de rire I've been listening to a lot of stuff you could call from the "Uncut 4 star" category, Iron & Wine, Arcade Fire, Decembrists, Avi Buffalo, Citay, Treelight for Freelight (or similar), Buffalo Tom, Holton's Opulent Oog, Elbow... never finding much beyond the quite pleasant, too many high-pitched squealy or simply rather dull voices, and the downright irritating with the toneless what's-a-note Holton guy who makes me sound like Pavarotti, so thank god for this French band, bit like a Gaulic Malcolm Middleton, who sing like they mean it and invest in tunes... | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 313 Registered: 03-2007 |
Stuart, I have just listened to some samples of their stuff on AmazonCo. I cannot understand a word but I like the music and have ordered a few titles from MarketPlace Sellers. Thank you for the heads-up. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3876 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Grays, Hindu Love Gods and various Flying Nun bands. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 431 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yes, Hugh, one has to hope he's not singing about the positive aspects of ethnic cleansing; presumably not, though. My recent interest in French pop, after the board-inspired Alain Bashung obsession (which has now been passed on to friends around the world) has at least revitalised my high school French, and I even managed to get through a highly enjoyable 328-page biog of Bashung, to my great surprise. I've ordered more Mickey too, in the meanwhile. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3878 Registered: 05-2005 |
Pete Townshend - Lifehouse Chronicles | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1564 Registered: 08-2006 |
tUnE-yArDs: w h o k i l l - Heard a track on my local Internet radio station (which I know makes no sense - how can Internet radio be local?) and bought it straight away. I really enjoyed their first album, but this one's really something. Unlike the current crop of bands who take African instrumentation and yoke it to indie song forms, this one takes elements of African song structures and embellishes them with electronics, bass and god-know-what-all. Utterly original and, I think, very exciting. Here's a vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ1LI-NTa 2s | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2080 Registered: 09-2006 |
Very much agreed, Rob...I've been playing it a whole lot for a week and a half now. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1200 Registered: 10-2008 |
this album has me intrigued, have heard a couple of tracks one of which was pretty good. the reviews have been exceptional, but they have me wary as they portray yet another kooky, wailing, shouty, unhinged female vocalist. does the world need another bjork, joanna newsome, kate bush - whose work i avoid like the plague? tell me i'm wrong rob and allen!! | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1201 Registered: 10-2008 |
the feelies - here before. this album has been in constant rotation for the last few weeks. it sounds like the album they would have made after the good earth, rather than an album made in 2011. this is a good thing, i dont think they made enough albums back in the day that we can complain that they are just retreading old ground, and they were hardly going to turn into kraftwerk, radiohead or primal scream , or introduce a dance element to their sound! the reviews in the uk have been pretty lukewarm - 2 stars in mojo, and 3 in uncut, but reviews in the usa have been much more positive thankfully. http://www.allmusic.com/album/here-befor e-r2142958/review http://www.metacritic.com/music/here-bef ore/critic-reviews?dist=positive anybody else heard it yet? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1565 Registered: 08-2006 |
Hey, Kev: I understand how a lazy reviewer might make the the Bjork/Newsome comparison, but it's not apt. First off, Merrill Garbus's voice is huskier. Second, I think her singing is very African influenced, so to me it's very familiar as opposed to arty of affected. But African singing, particularly certain styles, could be crudely described as "wailing." It's not the Carpenters, that's for sure. I think you'll like it. I also don't think hearing tracks in insolation does justice to how good the record is as a whole, if that makes any sense. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1566 Registered: 08-2006 |
By the way, I'm liking the Feelies record. As big a fan as I am of the band, though, the first few spins left me a little disappointed. Maybe it was TOO familiar. It's grown on me, although I think the record drags in a couple spots. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1567 Registered: 08-2006 |
The other CD that's been competing for space in the player with tUnE-yArDs (I have an ancient, single-CD unit) is - improbably - the new Paul Simon. I don't own a Simon album post-"Graceland" so believe me when I say I bought this one reluctantly and was thoroughly surprised. I don't know why he went and made a great record nearing 70, but, like "Graceland," the new one sounds so effortless you wonder why it took 25 years to pull it off. There's no conceit here involving a production technique or musical style, just great, catchy tunes and classic Simon lyrical work. Go figure. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2081 Registered: 09-2006 |
Not a musical style, per se, Rob,though I do think the instrumental deployment throughout is amazingly varied and fits perfectly. As to tUnE-yArDs, kevin, I can't lie...in some ways Merrill is in the company of those other artist you mention, but not all. If the tracks you've heard intrigue you at all, give it a try, but it just might not be up your alley. I do hope you don't think it's unbecoming for women to shout, though. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1202 Registered: 10-2008 |
just when they're singing allen :-) | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1568 Registered: 08-2006 |
Agreed, Allen. I guess the variety was what I meant to point out. A lot of Simon's later records revolve around a musical genre or production style - this one kind of lets the songs go where they want to go, and it's better for it. And Kev, as a huge fan of Sleater-Kinney, I clearly have a high tolerance for women shouting. So Allen's right - take my recommendation for what it's worth... | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2082 Registered: 09-2006 |
I hear you, Rob. And damn, that t-y video is something else. Thanks for pointing it out. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2147 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, I have an old interview with Anton Fier in which he explains why he left The Feelies after the first album, and you hit the nail on the head with your comment about "not making enough albums in the day", which is why Anton split. That and not touring enough. He formed The Golden Palominos as a result of his Feelie frustrations. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2190 Registered: 10-2004 |
Shiny Two Shiny - Halfway Across the Rainbow | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3879 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm with Kevin, and Rudy Giuliani, in having zero tolerance for shouty female singers. But please Kevin, don't lump the divine Kate Bush in that number. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2148 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kate had enough of an octave range (and song writing skills that produced numbers for all those varied styles) that she never had to depend on ever being pigeon holed in a single vocal style catagory. Unlike, say Lene Lovich, or some of the other "female flavors of the month singers" back in the early 1980's. Being one of the first to jump on the Fairlight CMI bandwagon (after being exposed to it on Peter Gabriel's third album) provided added depth to her more agressive songs and vaulted her above the competition (as well as expanding her musical style beyond what she showed on her first two albums). | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1203 Registered: 10-2008 |
if a gun was placed at my head and i had to listen to either bush, newsome or bjork i would probably toss a coin over newsome and bjork. if the gunman was feeling evil and then said i had no choice but to listen to bush i would just think to hell with it, give me the gun and i'll shoot myself :-) | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1569 Registered: 08-2006 |
Okay, I just spit coffee on my keyboard. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1204 Registered: 10-2008 |
sorry rob! but to me she was the catalyst. no kate bush, no shouty females(or at least not as many!) | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1570 Registered: 08-2006 |
Kate Bush is an interesting case for me. On paper, she's the kind of thing I'd hate, all artsy, affected prog-rock bulls**t. But I confess to loving "The Hound of Love," which, frankly, is the very definition of artsy, affected prog-rock bulls**t. And I play "The Whole Story" when the mood strikes. But I do blame her for Tori Amos. For the record, I don't find the act that started this discussion, tUnE-yArDs, even remotely comparable, unless we're talking chromosomal make up. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2647 Registered: 03-2005 |
I've never thought of Kate Bush as "shouty." I think of her as gimmicky, with a too-elaborate vocal style that--for me--intrudes on the songs. I put Bjork in the same category. I've so far managed to maintain my innocence of Joanna Newsome. I'm thinking about picking up the new Feelies even though the one song that I was linked to from this board seemed kind of "well, are they just going to retread 'Good Earth'?" At their absolute worst the Feelies are rootsy Muzak for an alternative universe and that's not really a bad thing. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2648 Registered: 03-2005 |
On the subject of the tUne-yArDs--okay, typing that is TOO much work--after listening to three numbers on youtube I didn't even realize that the singer was female. She made me think of Terrence Trent Darby. (Seriously, I thought it was a guy.) The backing music made me think of Wild Beasts, albeit more sampled. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2649 Registered: 03-2005 |
Re the name tune yards: great name. There have been vastly too many perfectly good bands with tiresomely childish names in the past 20 years. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2083 Registered: 09-2006 |
I don't think that Kevin was saying that all three of those artists had all of those attributes, necessarily. Personally I love "kooky, waily, shouty, unhinged" in the right circumstances (just like I love hushed/restrained in the right circumstances and not in others). I do think Merrill Garbus (a.k.a. tUnE-yArDs) is all those things at different times on her album, and gloriously so...it's my favorite record so far this year. Kate (have loved since my teens, have all her records) gets waily and kooky at times, sometimes shouty in her way. Bjork (own a couple of her albums and enjoy them a lot when I play them, but don't do so very often) is all of the above. Joanna (like her first album a great deal, not so much anything after that) is rarely shouty but is all of the other things. I've never felt any of the above artists are affected, though - even if I sometimes don't like what they're doing, their sincerity comes through loud and clear. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1205 Registered: 10-2008 |
i agree randy. if i had just heard tuneyards without knowing it was a female vocalist i would assume it was a male vocalist. having now heard the album once all the way through, and then replaying the ones i found interesting enough, i'm not convinced its my bag. musically fine, vocally i think i'll struggle to not get at least slightly annoyed. willing to give it more listens though. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2084 Registered: 09-2006 |
Randy, my wife thought Merrill was a black man at first too. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2191 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kate is many things, but not shouty. Ditto Bjork. Joanna Newsome is not shouty, but her affectations are incredibly annoying. When I think shouty, I think of Janis Joplin. I'd happily take a symphony of jack hammers over Janis Joplin any time. I also think the wave of white english female soul singers (Adele, Amy Whinehouse) are really shouty in a bad, bad way. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1206 Registered: 10-2008 |
well they're shouty to me. if i knew the song names i would give you examples, but believe me i hear them enough on bbc6 music to know its shouty as hell. and screechy, and waily (is that a word?), and hysterical, and screamy. if you were being generous you would say they were all kooky, and i hate kooky. | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 244 Registered: 05-2005 |
skulldisco - you make her sound like a banshee. "shouty as hell. and screechy, and waily (is that a word?), and hysterical, and screamy" Tell you something for nothing: Grant McLennan thought she was a very under rated artist, (direct quote), I kid you not!! | ||
| David Gagen Member Username: David_g Post Number: 351 Registered: 02-2007 |
She's a bit wacky. Fancy singing pi to 122 places!! and she left a coupla out! | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1208 Registered: 10-2008 |
ok, tuneyards has had its last play from me. i have tried, twice more yesterday, and again this morning but had to give up with 4 songs to go. its musically interesting, and quite challenging, i like the drums/percussion but i just can't get over the vocal operatics | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2192 Registered: 10-2004 |
The Tuneyards (at least that which I heard on youtube) = not very good. Not challenging, just farting around with digital delay pedals and clickety-clacking on rims, not to mention annoying singing over songs that take too long to go nowhere. I couldn't hear Wild Beasts in the backing like Randy does - Wild Beasts at least have melodies and tunes. | ||
| skulldisco Member Username: Skulldisco Post Number: 1213 Registered: 10-2008 |
the first track from the album was played on the radio last night while i was working and i thought "who's that again? i quite like that!". then it dawned on me that it was in fact tuneyards, so apart from surprising myself, maybe they are a band to take in small dozes despite rob's opinion that "I also don't think hearing tracks in insolation does justice to how good the record is as a whole" one things for sure, they've certainly got us talking like no other band for a while! confused!! | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 273 Registered: 05-2005 |
John Foxx - The golden section. This record (1983) hasn't aged very well I think.. John Foxx - Interplay. The new one deserve to be listened. In fact, that's very good music! | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 2093 Registered: 09-2006 |
Poly Styrene - Generation Indigo | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3891 Registered: 05-2005 |
Times New Viking - Fuck Her Tears (available here http://soundcloud.com/wichita-recordings /times-new-viking-fuck-her?utm_source=Wi chita&utm_campaign=abf91f33d5-Wichita_04 0211_list&utm_medium=email) |