| Author | Message | ||
     Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7832 Registered: 05-2005 |
Aimee Mann – Whatever | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3648 Registered: 03-2005 |
Lucksmiths -- Warmer Corners Their penultimate LP. I'm still amazed I managed to miss this group through its lengthy career. Immediately prior to the Lucksmiths I listened to: Pale Lights -- Seance for Something EP Unlike the Lucksmiths this is a brand new 2016 release. I've written about them on here before at the time of their 2014 LP. I really like this guitaristic band with the British singer/songwriter at the front but I wish they'd stop using Ron Harrity to master their records because he's horrible. He compresses, reverbs and boxes everything apparently in a misguided attempt to create a 60s sound but really it's just a harsh-sounding mess lacking any real bass while suffering from bizarre rumbling resonances from things like the drum kit's toms. I feel like writing Sutton and asking him to send all of his raw digital tracks to me so I can remix and remaster them. Aside from the mangled sound, four good new numbers here. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7833 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, you have brightened up a grey, wet, miserable first day of winter for me with what you've written above. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3649 Registered: 03-2005 |
Ok, Padraig, I was a little OTT there but the recorded sound is attention-grabbing in the wrong way. Btw, "Sutton" referenced above is Philip Sutton the singer/songwriter who makes it all happen. Unfortunately none of the "Seance for Something" tracks are on youtube as of now. Here's a link to "Fourteen Stories Tall" from their last single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4-rli3Y mC0 Their music can be found on Bandcamp. Mmmm! Grey, wet. We've enjoyed an oddly mild May which is more typically the occasion of our first heat wave in anticipation of summer. A normal June here is my favorite month because of the "June Gloom." It's usually overcast for most of the days. We get enough sun so the month of external sunglasses is much appreciated. Since we've had such an odd May I imagine we'll also have an odd June, whatever they may prove to mean. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7834 Registered: 05-2005 |
Prince & The Revolution – Dream Factory (the album that would eventually become Sign O' The Times, without the Revolution) | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 914 Registered: 03-2007 |
Kid Canaveral - First We Take Dumbarton Track from their third album ( Faulty Inner Dialogue ) which will be released by Lost Map Records on 29 July, 2016. They have added a wee bit of electronica to their sound. One of my favourite Scottish bands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXcPmlYR M9k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfegEhzs U7A | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 915 Registered: 03-2007 |
Star Wheel Press - Life Cycle Of A Falling Bird Scottish band who released their debut album back in 2011. Came across them for the first time yesterday, ordered the album and ep from Bandcamp and they arrived this morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pz-AKZh YHQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCqIT79i 2Tk | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3651 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hugh, thanks for alerting about the upcoming Kid Canaveral album. I definitely like them and still need to get their other album besides "Shouting at Wildlife." Not sure I'm sold on Star Wheel Press though. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7838 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Very Best – Makes A King. Bought it today in JB Hi-fi when I saw it for $10. I'd never heard a lick of it, but I googled the reviews and liked what I read. I'm listening now and like its mix of African high life with electronic music a lot. (I'm sure someone will correct me if it's not actually high life, but a different schism of music.) When I uploaded it to my computer, iTunes did not recognise it, which I suppose shows how little it sold and why it's now going for $10 in JB. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 916 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, It was apparently the best selling album in Avalanche Records, Edinburgh, in 2011 and the Scottish author Ian Rankin ( Inspector Rebus ) named it as his album of the year. It was produced, engineered, recorded and self released by the band. I initially listened to a couple of tracks on YouTube. I was not sure I would like it as I don't buy / listen to much americana / country influenced music these days but I went ahead and bought a copy anyway. Glad I did as I think it is a gorgeous album. It has been on heavy rotation these last few days. Currently listening to :- The Savings and Loan - Today I Need Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAdAfB-L 78Y | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7845 Registered: 05-2005 |
Eternal Summers – Gold And Stone. A current US band that sounds like a 1990s UK indie band. | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 357 Registered: 08-2005 |
Australia v England, first rugby test, near the end. Getting quite tense... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7846 Registered: 05-2005 |
Well done, England. I sat down intending to watch it but then became engrossed in a program about health and society in Tudor England and forgot about the rugby. I can safely say that's never happened before. Then again, I was up at 4.50 this morning to watch the France v Romania game. What a magnificent goal by Payet. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7848 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Beach Boys – Endless Harmony. I had seen this album many times over the years, but had always just assumed it was a compilation of songs I already had. But I read something about it yesterday which intrigued me, and so downloaded it from iTunes. (I would have bought the CD if it was still available.) It's a stunning collection of alternative versions. The version of 'Til I Die is just incredible (which was what I had read about yesterday). A great buy. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3654 Registered: 03-2005 |
Second Layer -- World of Rubber Interesting side project by Adrian Borland and Graham Bailey from 1981. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7854 Registered: 05-2005 |
Deerhoof – The Magic. An avant pop album that doesn't neglect the pop side. Well, it's poppy to me. I don't expect to hear it on commercial pop radio ever. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7855 Registered: 05-2005 |
Why We Run – Holograms. I picked it up from the unreviewed books and CDs cupboard at work and this is my first time playing it. I don't know anything about them other than they are from Sydney, there are four of them, Wayne Connolly produced it (which will put Randy offside) and they have heard some Go-Betweens and National records in their time. I think this is going to take a few listens before I get a handle on it. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7857 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Red Devils – King King. Live (and only) album by the LA blues band. Recorded in Los Angeles in 1992, it sounds like it was done in Chicago in the 1960s. Did you ever come across them, Randy? I don't think you're a big blues fan though. I'm not a massive blues fan, but these guys were great. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3661 Registered: 03-2005 |
As you say Padraig, I'm not a big blues fan. I have a soft spot for a couple of late 60s British blues groups and that's about it. I mostly like them for the way they miss the mark. LA isn't known for its blues, to be sure. The only blues-ish group I remember dates from the mid 80s. That was Chuck E. Weiss (of "Chuck E's In Love" fame) and the Goddamn Liars. And I never actually listened to them either. Good band name though. My then-partner was friends with Chuck. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7858 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love Chuck E Weiss! I have a couple of his albums. Do You Know What I Idi Amin is one of my favourite ever songs (and probably the best song title ever). | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 2556 Registered: 01-2005 |
A lot of Kenny Dorham and Francoise Hardy | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7862 Registered: 05-2005 |
Manson – Taxloss | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7863 Registered: 05-2005 |
That should be Mansun. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3662 Registered: 03-2005 |
Welcome back Michael! It's great to see you on here. I've recently taken aboard a chunk of Francoise' later records, particularly after "Le Danger". I don't know how many years ago Spencer Roberts sent me the title song from Richard Hawley's "Coles Corner." I picked up a copy of "Richard Hawley" several years back but never anything else. My old iPod pitched up "Coles Corner" for me last week and I finally sprang for the album, playing now. | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
Ok, I can see why Spence sent me the title track and "I Sleep Alone." Too many of the other songs are far too derivative and too derivative of the wrong things. Still, the song "Coles Corner" is really lovely. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3665 Registered: 03-2005 |
Resorting to vinyl, a lovely 12 inch 45 rpm disc: Last Party -- Black Leather Sheets EP Full size 45's tend to have excellent punchy sound and this is no exception. Last Party is the earlier iteration of the brilliant Bitter Springs. This release dates from 1992. "Barbecued" is the only track I've heard before. The other standout (for me) is "Versatility." | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 923 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, I have been trying to source FLAC files of their back catalogue without success for some considerable time. Currently listening to :- The Notwist - Close To The Glass German group who have been around since 1989. Started off as a hard core band but their later albums are a mix of indie rock / electronica. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv1F7yFB HQc | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3668 Registered: 03-2005 |
Hugh, Discogs indicates that the first Last Party album was at least at one time available as a download. I bought "Black Leather Sheets" from Uwe. I'm hoping he gets the idea of a reissue but I suppose the band is holding onto its tight control of their catalog. I've also picked up the LP "Love Handles." It's quite solid as well but inevitably lacking the wonderful punchy sound of a 45. Meanwhile I received a copy of defunct Aussie band Blindside's "Hopes Rise." Sadly it turns out that "Ether" which I had on a Summershine Records sampler is by far the best number. Here it is so you don't have to make my mistake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akJUiL6o fp4 Disappointment. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 924 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, The two albums ( Porky's Range and Love Handles ) together with Cacophony On Port Hampton ( 34 track compilation consisting of all their singles, eps and some rarities ) are available to download but only as MP3s as far as I can tell. I purchased a copy of 'Hopes Rise' some years ago. Not one of my better buys. Very surprised at the prices being asked on Discogs for used copies of the cd and lp. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 927 Registered: 03-2007 |
The Prophet Hens - The Wonderful Shapes Of Back Door Keys Second album by this Dunedin band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPIpdDBp PT4 | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3670 Registered: 03-2005 |
Thanks for the notice Hugh. I keep forgetting that at this stage of life time flips by pretty fast. Now, if Barbara Carlotti would get a new album out . . . . | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 928 Registered: 03-2007 |
Ashtray Boy - Painted With The Mouth The band's latest album ( released late last year on the Minty Fresh label.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi2f2FBS ePA | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7877 Registered: 05-2005 |
Mark Johnson - 12 In A Room. Originally released in 1992, re-released in 1998 with extra tracks. It deserves to made available again. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7881 Registered: 05-2005 |
Nic Hessler - Soft Connections | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 930 Registered: 03-2007 |
Blam Blam Blam - The Complete Blam Blam Blam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVogejK x_c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Dt_0bP OTI Featuring Don McGlashan ten years before he formed the Mutton Birds | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3671 Registered: 03-2005 |
Miossec -- 1964 Following up on Stuart's recommendation upthread (or maybe on another one). Some of the newer Miossec youtube's sported some stereotypical indie guitar work that I found off-putting so I went straight for the one that seems to be Stuart's gold standard for him. It is indeed a very solid album. On first listen I had to appreciate the French thing for actual instruments and actual musicians. I don't know how some of these French releases pencil out financially but their production standards are very high. A person could argue that some of the material on here reveals Miossec to be of the opinion that "La Nuit je Mens" is the world's greatest song. I expect this album to hold up well on repeated plays. Thank you for the umpteenth tip Stuart! Kid Canaveral -- Now That You Are a Dancer I was painting the fiddly wooden porch roof structure while listening to this through the open window. I have to say I got a lot of amusement from the lyrics to "Without a Backing Track." Now I just need to order the new one, probably from the same shop in Glasgow who sent me this. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 931 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, If you experience any difficulty you can always purchase directly from Lost Map Records who will ship to the U.S.A. The label is operated by Johnny Lynch ( aka The Pictish Trail ) who previously ran Fence Records with Kenny Anderson ( aka King Creosote.) I believe he is based on the Isle of Eigg. http://lostmap.com/ Currently listening to :- The Pictish Trail - Secret Soundz Volumes 1 & 2 | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7888 Registered: 05-2005 |
Great BBC 6 program on power pop. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07n2nbs | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 375 Registered: 08-2005 |
The Smiths - how fresh, vibrant and so full-on it still sounds; and the Velvet Underground - genius pre-grunge; | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 932 Registered: 03-2007 |
The Moles - Tonight's Music New album by Richard Davies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lgAZUWD t7o | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7896 Registered: 05-2005 |
I ordered it a week ago, Hugh, but Amazon is taking its sweet time about sending it. I would buy it in Sydney, but it's not available here. Amazon must be switching my order between various jurisdictions to avoid tax before sending it. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1296 Registered: 10-2006 |
Just spotted your post above, Randy... glad to hear you're liking 1964. Well, if he is of the opinion that la nuit is the world's greatest song, I might just have to agree with him! It certainly does everything I want a great song to do, and then some. Meanwhile, listening to his latest, Mammiferes, and it is very Songs to play, ie, a mature artist of great integrity - I guess I'm just winging that to an extent with Miossec, but that's the impression that comes across - teaming up with a bunch of younger musicians (actual instruments and actual musicians, exactly) and a clutch of good songs and recording them out in the sticks (a bit...Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, in this case). Very fresh. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1297 Registered: 10-2006 |
Also just belatedly noticed that 1964 features the guitar of Édith Fambuena (who is, to my surprise, a bloke) and keyboards of Jean-Louis Piérot, who, together with Bashung, actually co-wrote La Nuit je Mens; plus ubiquitous leather-breeked guitar hero & Bashung favourite Yan Péchin. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1298 Registered: 10-2006 |
ooops, no, she's a woman!! Sorry, Edith!! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3674 Registered: 03-2005 |
Stuart, I intend to slowly familiarize myself with him. It's kind of exciting to find out that he's been around so long. That means a huge back catalog and a lot of opportunity to get the gist of his artistic core. That's how I eventually found myself totally able to enjoy Bashung's "Pizza". I hear different things in it now and see it as one of his many challenges to the listener--a different listener than the one being challenged by "Play Blessures"--to resist jumping up and shutting down the stereo. Am I making sense? It can be hard to express these things on the internet. My point is that I even find certain ineffable subtleties in one of his least subtle records. I could not have heard them without immersing myself in his others. Very smart of you to look at the credits! My vision is getting worse for reading small print on CD packages and I've let laziness overtake me. Now I know it's not such a coincidence to get a "La Nuit je Mens" vibe from some of the songs on "1964." New Moles. Is Davies working with any of his old partners? Has he wearied of lawyering? Now why would that happen to ANYone? | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 933 Registered: 03-2007 |
Randy, Not working with any of his old partners as far as I can tell. He is however accompanied on several tracks by Free Time who feature Dion Nania ( previously of Panel Of Judges ) in their lineup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDXvTpq TC4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXhKMLvv Dlo Currently listening to :- Crepes - Cold Summers ( EP ) Tourist Dollars - Tourist Dollars ( EP ) Padraig, Only released on Fire Records last week so copies are probably still in transit to Australia. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7902 Registered: 05-2005 |
It's on its way, Hugh. I think the problem is a CD by Linden which I also ordered, which Amazon said it had one copy of, but I bet they don't. Anyway, the Moles album and Chills CD/DVD are on their way. I presume you're a Linden fan, them being basically your countryman Joe McAlinden? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7903 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm not suggesting you would like his stuff because he's Scottish, but because it seems like it would be your kind of music. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7905 Registered: 05-2005 |
Love And Rockets single, A-side: So Alive, B-side: Dreamtime. One of the greatest A & B side combinations ever. I bought this when it came out in 1989, in Tower Records in Boston. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Hugh_nimmo Post Number: 934 Registered: 03-2007 |
Padraig, I am not familiar with Linden but will check him / them out. Redspencer - Redspencer ( EP ) Leisure Suite - Leisure Suite ( EP ) | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7907 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Linden album is on its way too. Amazon had it after all. | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 377 Registered: 08-2005 |
Lovely sunny summer's day, a 20-minute walk home from the station, everything is well in the world so I thought I'd have some joyous, uplifting music... the Velvet Underground and Nico!! Timeless and classic, though not necessarily the sound of summer. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7915 Registered: 05-2005 |
Rebehka Del Rio – Llorando. From an incredible scene in a dreadful movie, Mulholland Drive, which recently got voted the best film of the 21st century by critics far too pretentious for their own good. | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 378 Registered: 08-2005 |
I'm a huge fan of some of David Lynch's films (and I love my fair share of pretentious movies) but from my memory Mulholland Drive is a complete pile of tosh. I could think of dozens of better films this century that are better - Let the Right One In, Pan's Labyrinth, The Consequences of Love, Mad Max, Fury Road, Wall-E, Momento... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7918 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love most of Lynch's films but, as you say, Mulholland Drive is a complete pile of tosh. It's up there with Leaving Las Vegas and The Piano in the league of films loved by critics too afraid to say the emperor's not wearing any clothes. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7921 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Red Button – She's About To Cross My Mind | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 7924 Registered: 05-2005 |
Steve Forbert - The American In Me |