| Author | Message | ||
     kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 911 Registered: 05-2005 |
Robin Hitchcocks new album Ole Tarantula. Dont know much about this guy but have heard a few on here talking him up so downloaded from Napster. Nice jangly pop, you can tell Peter Bucks involved. Cathal Coughlan - Black River Falls. Have not kept up with his stuff since Viva Dead Ponies by Fatima Mansions. Again saw a few mentions of his solo stuff on here so thought I would check something out. Randys 4 tracks. Randy, no bull, I think your stuff is very good. Your bass playing is just the style I love, almost playing its own song within the structure of the song (sorry but thats the best way I can put it), and your voice fits in very well with the songs. I have played Rue de Rivoli 3 times now and it is lodged in my head. I was going to suggest that you maybe had the songs in the wrong order and should maybe start with R de R but now I think you have the order spot on. Somehow I Find... is an ideal opener, I love the harmonies. Whats the chances of these songs ever being full band versions? I'd love to hear R de R with drums to flesh out the song. Well done sir!! | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 690 Registered: 04-2005 |
You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover - Bo Diddley On streaming audio from Seattle's KEXP. Remarkably refreshing after an afternoon of their usual indie rock and light dance- and techno-oriented stuff. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 641 Registered: 05-2005 |
For anyone in Sydney, Cathal Coughlan's most recent album is in the bargain bin in Egg records in Newtown for $6. If you buy four others in the bargain bin you get the five of them for $20. Egg is off King St on the street with the brilliant new gelateria on the corner. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 630 Registered: 03-2005 |
Padraig, do you mean the BRAND NEW Coughlan album? In the bargain bin? Life is so unjust for a new release by someone that wonderful to go straight to the bargain bin. I'm planning to get busy on trying to get a copy when I get back from vacation, when I also need to dig up the Robin Hitchcock and the Lloyd Cole and the Josef K and I think I'm forgetting at least one more also coming out in October. Until then I need to conserve the cash. Kevin, your comments blow me away. I consider you the toughest critic of all, i.e., least likely to bother with being diplomatic about something if it's crap. (Well, maybe Abigail is the absolute toughest). As for full band arrangements, I agree that R de R needs drums more than anything else I've done. The plan all along was to get a set of digital drums but I haven't gotten around to it because of both money and space reasons. I haven't played drums since I was 17 so that will be interesting if I do it myself. It's amazing you mention my bass parts because they are almost always the hardest thing for me to do, sometimes taking as much as 30 takes to get more or less right. That's what I get for not practicing that instrument. It would be nice to have some other players involved in this because the limitations of my own ability really get in the way at times. But I'm a control freak. And I've never been too sure whether my stuff is "worthy" of bringing other people into. Today I listened to: The Cannanes again. And "Soft Bomb." Last night: my newly arrived copy of the Cannanes' "Love Affair with Nature," the Bats' "Fear of God"--lord, what a beautiful sound!--and Sunnyboys' antho "This is Real." | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 644 Registered: 05-2005 |
Not the one that's about to come out Randy, the one from about three years ago. I doubt his new one will even warrant a release in Australia. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 432 Registered: 08-2004 |
The Icicle Works - The Icicle Works DJ Shadow - The Outsider Thea Gilmore - Harpo's Ghost The Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional St. Etienne - Too Young To Die The Who - A Quick One Talking Heads - Fear Of Music R.E.M. - And I Feel Fine Public Enemy - He Got Game ... and the glorious BYBO. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 785 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kev, Black River is a wee gem is it not? Padraig, how do you rate the new Cathal? Been listening to Barry Adamson, Stranger on the sofa, and Meat is Murder by The Smiths this week, also the tunes from Adele's MySpace. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 913 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, my pleasure. You are right, Abigail is one tough cookie,and I for one wouldnt mess with her. Listening to Beck, The Information. Interesting to see he actually started this before Guero, shelved it, did Guero, and then started work on it again. I think this is his best for a while, but just imagine how good it would be if he took the best songs from both albums, they would make up a killer album | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 899 Registered: 03-2006 |
Kevin, my buddy came through with the afore-promised copy of the new Pernice Bros. And yeah, I'm enjoying it. The cuts you mention as standouts truly are, plus I'm digging "pch 1", which must be about the Pacific Coast Highway, come to think of it. I'm reserving judgement, because a coupla their albums have trickbagged me - I liked 'em at first, but they didn't have staying power. But for now, all the elements seem to be in place... I also traded in a bunch of stuff at my used shop and came away with quite a haul: got the Hold Steady, which is, of course, a brilliant, total classic, and the new Beck, which sounded, frankly, pretty f-ing great, too, upon first listen. Also picked up the new disc of Ray Charles, backed by the Count Basie Orchestra (I think it's one of those "Frankenstein monster" discs, assembled through studio trickery, but still supposed to be great) and the new Gladys Knight. Probably way too mainstream names for most folks here, but hey, it's what floats my boat. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 916 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin. You are right about The Pernices. If there is one criticism I have it is that after 2 or 3 listens you feel that the albums are very familiar, and lacking staying power is a good way of putting it. Thanks for reminding me of the Ray Charles.You're right about your Frankenstein theory. I read just the other day that Basie was a hero of Rays but through one reason or another they never worked together. Oh well, the wonders of modern technology. Once more Napster has come up trumps and they have it so I'm downloading it now. Their strike rate is phenomenal, especially for new releases, I reckon if I search for an album they have it 7 or 8 times out of ten. And all for £10 a month subscription. Surely the artists cant make as much money out of this as if I bought the physical CD? Also listening to the La's at the BBC. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 635 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hardin, what's the Gladys Knight like? I've always loved her voice. I haven't listened to anything new of hers in years. The last I ever heard, she seemed to be just sinking deeper into the Hades of MOR but that "come to mama" voice applied to real music could stop everyone in their tracks. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 901 Registered: 03-2006 |
Kev, do you hear that? I'm knockin' on your door and I'm comin' in! 901 posts! Feets don't fail me now...You know, I have no purist ideas about modern technology - if the end result is a good album, who cares? Tell me again about Napster - for your monthly fee, you can listen to anything they carry as often as you like? But if you download it, you have to buy it for $10 or whatever? Randy, "Come to mama" is exactly it - something about the earthy sensuality she exudes that strikes a chord with uptight WASP-y types like me...I'm a big fan - for instance, I've memorized all the background vocals, the "Pips parts", for "Midnight Train to Georgia"...perhaps I harbor a misplaced fantasy about being a Pip (some would say "Pimp") - you've got to admit they have some killer dance moves and coordinated hand gestures.... As for the new one, it's a tribute, of sorts, to her favorite female vocalists that inspired her: Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and others, so she assays songs they made famous. So I don't think you'd quibble with the song quality. On it, she eschews the grittier style used on some of her classic stuff, and goes a little bit smoover. Also, the performances are refreshingly free of histrionics and melisma...overall, a top notch outing. It's a treat, for once, to hear an artist tackle these kinds of songs that has the chops to pull them off. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 921 Registered: 05-2005 |
LK - Napster costs me £10 per month. For that subscription I can download absolutely as much music as I want, there is no limit. The only extra cost is if you want to burn an album to CD. That price is shown beside the album, I would say the average is about £7. However, as you know I have my PC and stereo system linked up so I dont need to burn to CD, I just play the albums via Windows Media Player (or your player of choice), and as I've said before I can hardly tell the difference from a CD. Maybe the best analogy is to compare the difference between a bookstore and a library. You would buy a book from a bookstore but Napster is like a library, you are basically just hiring the music from them. The tracks are encoded with some software called DRM which allows you to play the tracks only for as long as you keep your subscription up to date and pay your monthly fee. If you decide to cancel your subscription the tracks would still be on your PC but would not play back because of some jiggery pokery magic done by the DRM software.In the UK you can get a free months trial from Napster, I would be surprised if they dont do the same in the US. Its a great way to try out stuff you are not sure about. Hope this makes sense, being succinct has never been my strong point  There is some software that exists that allows you to bypass the DRM and burn to CD, or so I have heard anyway | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 650 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, I have not heard the new Cathal Coughlan album yet. I will be back in Ireland again at Christmas and will no doubt pick it up then. I know I said I'd pick up your last album in Ireland when I was last home in June, but I could not find it in any of the record shops I went to (though I did not go to anywhere near as many as I usually do - what with the World Cup and all!). I'll have to have a look on Amazon. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 637 Registered: 03-2005 |
I had no problem getting the Winnebagos from Amazon, Padraig. Unless Spence has something even newer. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 934 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Smithereens - Especially For You. Had always seen their name bandied about but never actually heard them. LK- this sounds right up your street, shades of EC and The Attractions. Augustus Pablo- The Essential. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 902 Registered: 03-2006 |
Oh yeah, man. I'm all over the Smithereens, have been for many years. The problem is, though, they're kind of a dead end. That's a really good album, but they proceeded to make it over and over again, for at least, oh about, the next six or seven. I think a lot of artists are afflicted with that problem, they do a certain thing really well, then repeat themselves endlessly, till people lose all interest. Saw 'em a coupla times too, and they give good value for money. And, there's a good comp of them called, I think, "It Came From Jersey". One final bit of trivia about them: according to one of those "making of" articles, Nirvana listened to the Smithereens heavily while making "Nevermind" for inspiration. They were hoping to write songs with big, cinematic choruses of the same ilk, and of course, they succeeded. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 692 Registered: 04-2005 |
I remember reading a review of the Smithereens that described them as power-pop for guys who in New Jersey who drove around in Camaros. That sounds about right to me. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 936 Registered: 05-2005 |
I take it thats not good Kurt? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 651 Registered: 05-2005 |
It's a great description of The Smithereens. I always thought of them when Sopranons showed scenes set in Adriana's (RIP) club. Their singer, Pat Denezio, met a mafia moll in one of those type of clubs and wrote a song about her. Can't recall which one right now. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 693 Registered: 04-2005 |
It's not necessarily bad, Kevin. To misappropriate a word from your continent, the Smithereens were perhaps a wee bit more "laddish" than, say, the Shins. Intended for fans of the hard-rocking, fist-pumping kind of sound. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 937 Registered: 05-2005 |
Anybody heard Solomon Burkes new album called Nashville? It was recorded in Nashville and he duets with people like Emmylou and Gillian Welch. I love country, and I love Solomon so this should be a winner. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:bu68mpma9f2o | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 938 Registered: 05-2005 |
Anybody heard Solomon Burkes new album called Nashville? It was recorded in Nashville and he duets with people like Emmylou and Gillian Welch. I love country, and I love Solomon so this should be a winner. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:bu68mpma9f2o | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 639 Registered: 03-2005 |
I'd be interested in hearing a nice detailed description of the new Solomon Burke. I love it when people flip from their usual genre into another one, especially the cross between r&b and country, but I found Solomon Burke's "Don't Give Up on Me" a little disappointing because of the trad arrangements. I'm putting it on for a re-listen. I haven't heard the Smithereens in many a year. I find that the only thing of theirs I have is "Especially for You." While trolling around on YouTube, I came across the Hoodoo Gurus' "What's My Scene?" I have the "Blow Your Cool" album and totally forgot what a great song "What's My Scene" is but at the time I just lumped both the Smithereens and the Hoodoo Gurus together. At work I listened to about the first half of a cheesy antho called "Lounge-a-Polooza" which title is enough to put me off it but I borrowed it from a friend for Steve & Eydie's "Black Hole Sun." It's full of amusing things but I had to leave the office before finishing. I got as far as PJ Harvey & Eric Feldman's "Zaz Turned Blue." It's even got an Edwyn Collins track on there but I haven't heard it yet. "Black Hole Sun" is still outshining the other tracks. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 940 Registered: 05-2005 |
Not much use to you Randy, but on BBC2 tonight there is an hour long documentary on Solomon Burke. I think I may have seen it before but will watch again | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 642 Registered: 03-2005 |
Kevin, thanks for the allmusic link, I should have noticed it before. This sounds like it is going to be a very important album. It may not be able to wait until I return from my trip. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 643 Registered: 03-2005 |
Kevin, thanks for the allmusic link, I should have noticed it before. This sounds like it is going to be a very important album. It may not be able to wait until I return from my trip. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 403 Registered: 10-2004 |
I've been listening to the first album by Colin Blunstone, called 'One Year.' For those who don't know, he was in the Zombies (the singer, I think? I'm not a big Zombies fan). But this record is totally different from the Zombies - it's full of string quartets and harp and slightly jazzy-Brazilian inspired guitar. It's lush, gorgeous, haunting, melodic. His voice reminds me of a strange hybrid of Nick Drake and Sam Prekop. A friend of mine burned this for me, so I have no idea if it's out of print or anything, but it's quite nice. Also been listening to a lot of "Triangle" by the Beau Brummels - thanks to Randy for helping me discover that. Also in heavy rotation are Scott Walker's 1 and 2, in keeping with the preoccupation with Scott Walker I've had this year. Other frequent/recent listens: Sad Lovers and Giants - Feeding the Flame Kissing the Pink - Naked | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 644 Registered: 03-2005 |
I haven't heard Kissing the Pink in years, Jeff! Wonder what I'd think of it now. I used to love that album. It fell into disuse with the change from vinyl to CD. I think it's easy to get "One Year" as that's generally recognized to be Colin Blunstone's best album. And, yes, it is pretty timeless. Glad you're enjoying "Triangle." | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 905 Registered: 03-2006 |
Kevin, that Solomon Burke is definitely on my list. I love him and thought "Don't Give Up On Me" was wonderful.Loved the bespoke tunes cooked up for him by that cast of megawatt stars, particularly Tom Waits' "Always Keep a Diamond in Your Mind" (curiously, I didn't really like the one EC wrote, "The Judgment"). And, the prospect of him tackling country tunes and teaming up with some of those folks sounds very appealing, too...It is produced by Buddy Miller, too, who is no slouch. Alas, once again, I can't find it anywhere in town. Stores around here are really cutting back on what they carry. It's almost as though they're unwilling to take a chance on anything that isn't Jessica Simpson. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 943 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Blue Orchids - A Darker Bloom. This is a compilation. Once upon a time I had their debut, The Greatest Hit, but lost or sold it years ago. They sound like a cross between The Fall and The Velvets, not surprising as Bramah and Baines from The Fall mark 1 are in the band. Spence, you seem to be our 80s post punk expert, how do you rate them? http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hl6ompcj9fco | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 791 Registered: 05-2005 |
Fu*kin love em Kev! They are truly great, an institution! Bad Education being a real fave. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 137 Registered: 04-2005 |
The Blue Orchids 'The Flood' (45) Another one of these stunning debut records. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 947 Registered: 05-2005 |
Television- Adventure. Not a patch on Marquee Moon, but thats like saying Reckoning is not as good as Murmer Solomon Burke - Nashville. Only had 1 listen, but as good as I hoped it would be. Cathal Coughlan - Black River Falls. Making up for lost time on this one, 3 plays in the last day or so. The duet with Dawn Kenny on Dark Parlour is stunning. If it wasnt for this board, I would have forgotten all about Cathal, so thanks to whoever brought him up recently. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 654 Registered: 05-2005 |
Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden before, Dinosaur Jr's Green Mind right now. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 953 Registered: 05-2005 |
Padraig, I really must get in to Talk Talk. Too many people I respect both here and elsewhere rave about them for me to ignore it any longer. I remember my mate gave me two CD-R copies a few years back, one of Spirit of Eden, the other of Laughing Stock. I played them a couple of times and filed away in a cupboard. Time for a re-appraisal I think. One thing that needs cleared up for me. My copy of Spirit of Eden only has four tracks, the first track The Rainbow is 23mins:11secs long. According to AMG, the album is actually 6 tracks with The Rainbow being just over 6mins. Presumably The Rainbow is actually a song in 3 parts? see link http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2e66mps39f1o I am working tonight so will take Spirit of Eden in to listen to. Laughing Stock is playing just now, hints of jazz and a fantastic production. Who produced these 2 albums? http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5e66mps39f1o | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 662 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yes, Spirit... is six tracks. Tim Friese-Green produced and co-wrote a lot of the stuff (maybe co-wrote all of it actually). I don't actually have Laughing Stock. Must get it as I love Spirit... so much (I didn't like it much when I first got it years ago either though). | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 957 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Roots - Game Theory. Hip Hop album of the year for me. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden. Trying to get to grips with the vocalists distinctive tones, the only drawback for me because musically its very good. Was it the vocals that you didnt like initially Padraig? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 667 Registered: 05-2005 |
It wasn't the vocals Kevin. I think it was that when I first got it it was too quiet and introspective for my tastes. Or maybe I just listened to it on a couple of bad days. |