| Author | Message | ||
     kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 405 Registered: 05-2005 |
sonic youth - rather ripped (like a sonic youth greatest hits album but made up of brand new songs - awesome!) destroyer - destroyers rubies (great album from dan bejar who moonlights in New Pornographers. For those who care, this is the album with the 3rd highest accumulated score of 2006 so far on Metacritic - which is a great site for music reviews for those not in the know http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2006.shtml) gnarls barkely - st elsewhere (the biggest hip hop release of the year, but with a massive pop slant - more hooks than a butchers freezer!) | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 401 Registered: 03-2006 |
Hey man, how do you get all your advance copies? Them things ain't out here yet....the Sonic Youth sounds great - all the catchy stuff, i.e. actual songs, with all the boring bs left out. Veddy interested in hearing the Gnarls, too...it's all over the media here... I still have the new Drive By Truckers in heavy rotation - great great stuff, and possibly their best... I also got that "Tropicalia" compilation, that's mentioned in the Metacritic list. Glad to see it's up there, because it deserves it. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 404 Registered: 05-2005 |
Coz he's the KEV! | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 403 Registered: 03-2006 |
He is indeed...I'm jealous - the KEV is one hooked up MF! I'll probably end up paying retail for those discs when they come out here, in about a year from now... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 406 Registered: 05-2005 |
Well guys, what can I say! Thats what happens when you are lucky enough to have friends and acquaintences in the biz they call music. And also a mate who visits, ahem, cough, filesharing sites and copies leaked albums to CD for me. As for being jealous of me Hardin, hows about we swap places for a year and I go and live in one of the most interesting areas of the most exciting country on the planet, and you come in live here in snowy industial Scotland?  | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 404 Registered: 03-2006 |
I dunno, that sounds pretty good, Scotland...ok, except for the snow. I've turned into a total wimp about the cold...otherwise, that seems like it'd be pretty damn charming. The weather's nice here (averages about 70-80 degrees), but it's way too crowded and expensive in Orange County. Highest gas prices in the nation. Don't know how I'll ever afford to buy a house here, unless I win the lottery or bump off some old rich guy in Newport Beach and just take up residence in his beachfront mansion... It's fun to be wired in and get free stuff...I had a friend in LA who owned a record store and would give me all kinds of promos free...sadly, he ended up losing the store when the bottom fell out of the biz... So yeah, milk those connections if you got 'em. Good to hear the reviews. Btw, I can't even find a listing for that Sonic Youth disc online yet.. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 407 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, I always find that Metacritic(yet again!) are the best place for info on forthcoming releases. they also publish both release dates for UK and US if applicable, although more and more these days I find that albums seem to have "worldwide" release dates now. looks like June 13 for the Sonic Youth album see example http://www.metacritic.com/music/upcomingreleases.shtml | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 30 Registered: 05-2005 |
I've forgotten a little bit the canadian boycott asked by Morrissey (Mozz, I do what I can!) and listen to the Organ all the time...One of the best first cd of these years. A excellent mixture of Smiths, Blondie and Go-go's music. | ||
| Eke Member Username: Ekewebb Post Number: 69 Registered: 05-2005 |
That metacritic link scared the life out of me.... Gomez are still around! | ||
| XY765 Member Username: Judge Post Number: 63 Registered: 01-2006 |
Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl Daniel Johnston - Welcome to my World | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 412 Registered: 05-2005 |
Tom Verlaine albums, Around and Songs and other things. Very good, both of them, hate the lack of sleeve detail / info, way too minimal, or tight may be a better way of putting it!! | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 332 Registered: 04-2005 |
I was just about to ask if anyone had heard the new Verlaine albums. Spence, if I have to buy only one initially, should I go for the vocal album ("Songs...")? How's it rate next to his other solo albums? | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 416 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kurt, the non vocal album is much better than Warm and Cool. Its just, warm! Its very good. The vocal album is exceptional, like the foolow up to Televisions last album in a way. In comparison, its a mixture of his first 2 albums experimentalism and a bit of Town called Walker from Flashlight. They are both extremely enjoyable in my opinion. As I say, shame about the lack of info on the sleeve. I saw Tele last year in London, they were awesome, they played a tune that had a lovely Eastern sounding riff, its a Television classic. I heard Tom say a Tele album on the horizon, I really hope that this tune makes it, it was the best thng I had heard from the band in years... | ||
| Eke Member Username: Ekewebb Post Number: 70 Registered: 05-2005 |
Is no-one but Geoff listening to the Flaming Lips' album? What a great record that is. I dragged my Felt compilations (Absolute Classic Masterpieces 1 & 2)out of storage earlier in the week to remind myself how marvellous that band were. Then I got Rihanna's SOS single and the Gnarls Barkley album yesterday - great stuff! And the Go-B's Live In London is on constant rotation since I finally managed to get hold of a legit copy from the online store. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 386 Registered: 03-2005 |
Currently in the car: "Glasgow School" -- Orange Juice. I love these primitively played terrific pop songs with sometimes amazingly clever lyrics. Edwyn Collins' voice takes some getting used to; he sounds like the Bonzo Dog Band's Vivian Stanshall doing his crooner schtick. This is my first exposure to Orange Juice and all credit goes to Spence and Kevin and everyone else on this board who has talked them up. I also gave Turin Brakes' "Ether Song" a spin yesterday until I finally just couldn't hack it and had to stop it. I'll file it away on the Travis shelf. I'm glad people are enjoying the Go Bees' "Live in London" disc. It was so amazing to see them as a three piece and hear them do such unlikely selections as "The Sound of Rain" and "Your Turn, My Turn." That whole show was such a gigantic gift to their fans. And look at that: The "Off Topic" police have segregated away a thread that inevitably leads back to the Go Betweens. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2006 |
rural moments robert johnson - king of the delta blues singers hi everybody, i am new here, but a long time admirer of the music of the go-betweens (since the first half of the eighties). since their reunion and with the age i love their music more and more. if someone is interested: i am from germany and live in berlin. i listen to music since the begin of the seventies. i am not a fan of someone specific. i like a lot of different kind of music. my english is not the best, nevertheless i hope that i can participate here from time to time. many greetings andreas | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 415 Registered: 03-2006 |
Welcome aboard, Andreas! Your English is great (twice as good as mine), so don't even think about that...I think you'll find this a very friendly and interesting place to visit. The GBs, by the way, have a German connection you're probably aware of: Forster is married to a German woman and is good friends with the band she played in, Baby You Know. Have you heard of them? I don't know anything about them - I only know these facts from reading the (great) Go-Betweens book by David Nichols. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 410 Registered: 05-2005 |
Welcome to our little corner of cyberspace Andreas - any fan of Robert Wyatt is all right by me Randy, I burst out laughing at your Turin Breaks incident - I also hope that your Travis shelf is not too big. If you tell me that you also have Keane in your collection thats me and you finshed!! I got the current Mojo delivered today and was horrified to see the full page advert on the back page for a new album by Keane called "Under The Iron Sea" I hate it already and I have not heard a note - Its going to be a long summer and I'll just need to avoid the radio for the next 6 months. God save us | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 412 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, finally listened to the new Tom Verlaine (the vocal one) - sounds good after only 1 and a 1/2 listens. Sounds really stark and sparse, I love that type of sound. the drums also have that live sound that I like. can see this one getting a few listens | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 418 Registered: 03-2006 |
Kevin, I already know I'm all right by you , but I'm with you on Wyatt...too many great performances to cover here, but how 'bout his version of "At Last I Am Free"? Holy Sh_t! And Keane are so wimpy they make Coldplay look like Hell's Angels! Randy, finally got a copy of Live in London - wow, it really is just chock full o'greatness! Great selections from the catalog and great performances - I particularly dig the string-augmented numbers. As much as I enjoy the DVD, I would really have loved to have seen a film of the Barbican performance...hmmm, wonder if they actually did film it? | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 414 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, he could sing the telephone directory(does that phrase mean anything over the atlantic?) and make it sound fantastic. For me , his version of ECs Shipbuilding is the song that sends shivers down my spine | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 387 Registered: 03-2005 |
Actually I've never heard Keane. The advantage of never turning on the radio strikes again. I do want to amend my earlier comment on the early Orange Juice stuff. It's not "primitively played." It's wonderfully well played and just totally unproduced. It got me thinking about whether smooth productions actually take away some of the pleasure of listening to well-conceived songs. No conclusion there. Welcome aboard, Andreas. I made my first visit to your city last summer and spent nearly the entire visit in the old eastern half. It was great. East Berlin looks like a perfect place to put together a band. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2006 |
first, thanks for the warm welcome. i think i should have participate here a little bit earlier. hardin smith wrote: kevin,.... but how 'bout his version of "At Last I Am Free"? Holy Sh_t! you noticed that i am a big admirer of robert wyatt. so it is not amazing that mr. wyatt's version of the chic-song ''at last i am free'' is outstanding - and it becomes a totally new song. At last I am free I can hardly see in front of me I can hardly see in front of me At last I am free I can hardly see in front of me I can hardly see in front of me I'm lonely, please listen to what I say I can't go on livin' life this way I've tried and I've tried to make you see You call this love, all this lyin' My friend, it just can't be At last I am free I can hardly see in front of me I can hardly see in front of me At last I am free I can hardly see in front of me I can hardly see in front of me I'm lonely, please hold me Come closer, my dear It feels so good just havin' you near But who am I foolin' When I know it's not real I can't hide all this hurt and pain Inside I feel At last I am free I can hardly see in front of me I can hardly see in front of me not only a love song. also a political statement (when robert wyatt sing this song. maybe just my interpretation). | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 338 Registered: 04-2005 |
Keane = early U2 with piano instead of guitar (shudder) | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 327 Registered: 10-2004 |
baden powell - canta de moraes e paolo cesar pinheiro -lot's of various ennio morricone from late 60s/early 70s, like "metti una sera a cena," "scusi, facciamo l'amore," "giu la testa," and "veruschka" among a gazillion others. -pulled out some of my el comps, like london pavillion, vol. 1. also, the first anthony adverse record. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 389 Registered: 03-2005 |
This afternoon: "Soul Groover" -- Alton Ellis; Lloyd Cole & the Negatives; "Scraps at Midnight" -- Mark Lanegan. | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 128 Registered: 07-2005 |
Neil Young Everybody knows | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 97 Registered: 12-2004 |
Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison/At San Quentin | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 418 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Chills - Submarine Bells (sublime "lost classic" that I forgot I had - thanks to Padraig for reminding me about this band) Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (the best Youth album in aeons! and early contender for my album of the year) Drive By Truckers - A Blessing and a Curse (possibly my second favourite album of the year so far, and according to All Music Guide "the best hard rock band in the USA today" - http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Anroibkk9fakx) The Sonic Youth and Drive by Truckers albums both have something in common - they were both engineered/mixed by a guy called John Agnello. It can surely be no coincidence that both these albums have great guitar sounds - does anybody know which other bands this guy has been involved with? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 346 Registered: 05-2005 |
Agnello has worked with: Dinosaur Jr, Screaming Trees, Redd Kross, Jawbox, Buffalo Tom, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and lots more. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 423 Registered: 05-2005 |
Crikey, that guy has worked with some fine musicians. I do recall seeing his name from time to time over the years, and given that he has worked with D Jr and Buffalo Tom he is obviously no rookie - these bands mostly recorded in the late 80s, early 90s. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 427 Registered: 05-2005 |
Keane are the new ultravox! Jeff do you remememebr The Gol Gappas? They were one of the best el groups, and Always. I remember I used to go see Nick Momus a lot when he lived in London and he gave me Nicky 12'' signed etc etc and it made my year! His 2nd release on el I think. I have his Beast with 2 backs, white lable test pressing signed with a drawing of the missing sleeve on a plain white paper sleeve by the great man himself. Still love Circus Maximus! Randy glad you like the Glasgae School!!!!!!!!!! Kev, been playin the Tom stuff, it gets better, not Tom keane by the way!!! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 426 Registered: 05-2005 |
Neil Young - Living with war.(Neil goes electric again,a few tracks even have a very prominent trumpet. better get the tin hat on Dubya- old grumpy sure aint pulling no punches lyrically and one track is called "lets impeach the president", seriously!) Sons and Daughters - The Repulsion Box (hadnt played this for a while but saw them supporting morrissey last week and really enjoyed them. very sensuous, rhythmic raw rock with a country edge) The Saints - Wild About You ( one of the great things about this board is that discussions remind you about great albums that you havent heard recently. prompted to dig this one out after spence asked for Saints recommendations. leafing through the sleevenotes there is a picture of an advert for a gig at the London Roundhouse - get this for a line up. The Ramones, Talking Heads and The Saints. If reports about The Saints live are to be believed, these other two great acts would have been blown off the stage!) | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 427 Registered: 05-2005 |
on a purely trivial note, I am just writing this post because I noticed that if you look above my last post Spence has 427 posts to my 426, both of us having joined almost a year ago in may 2005. guess thats us equal now spence !! However, nobody can hold a candle to that workshy idler Mr Hardin Smith who has 418 posts since joining in March this year!! Either your boss is one very understanding dude Hardin, or you do all your posting when he's looking the other way. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 428 Registered: 05-2005 |
just played the sweetest girl by scritti politti- one of my all time favourite singles. just reminded me of how much this song owes to robert wyatt, from the tinny sounding electronic percussion to the rolling piano all the way to the cheap primitive keyboards. this in turn led me to search out Nothing Can Stop Us by Robert Wyatt. Andreas is right, Robert turns Chics At last I Am Free into a political statement. And so on to Strange Fruit from this album, the keyboard sound was "stolen" by Eyeless In Gaza who made a career (if thats the right expression) from this sound. I used to really love that band in the early 80s, now they sound slightly amateur and shambolic but still very loveable. Anybody else remember them? | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 31 Registered: 05-2005 |
I was fan of Eyeless in Gaza. Martyn Bates has a great voice. I've bought recently their "singles collection" and, despite some good and immortal tunes, it deceived me. Nevertheless, I'd like to hear "Rust red september" or "Back from the rains" but these cd's are hard to find. | ||
| Andy Robinson Member Username: Andyblue Post Number: 34 Registered: 03-2005 |
Looking back a coupla days - Kurt "Keane = early U2 with piano instead of guitar". As a student (having led a fairly musically sheltered early life (see other threads) I can remember getting quite excited on a dance floor to "I will Follow" and "New Years Day" - in some early approximation of moshing. Can't imagine doing that to Keane. I can't really remember what alternatives there were to dance to, but my ears began to blossom as I purchased Swoon, Life's a Riot etc. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 429 Registered: 05-2005 |
TROU - dont know if you have a Napster subscription but they have the first 5 Eyeless in Gaza albums (including Rust Red... and Back from....) If you dont have a subscription, it might be worth joining up for a month (actually sometimes they have a free months trial) and downloading the albums and then buying them at £7.95 each. Then you can burn them to disc, and cancel after a month if indeed you had to pay for the subscription in the first place. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 429 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kev, watching my posts eh! you GB's Msg Board anorak you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 419 Registered: 03-2006 |
What's an "anorak"? A trainspotting nerd? Not our Kevin... Actually Kev, my boss is neither male or particularly understanding...I'm just, for long periods, chained to my computer, due to the nature of my job. So, if I'm sitting at my desk, typing, nothing looks particularly askance.. It may look like a lot of posts, but in terms of quality and substance, I dunno...if you prorate it out, the total is more like 12 or 13 substantive posts... | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 328 Registered: 10-2004 |
Spence - the only Gol Gappas songs I know are those that were on the particular El comps I happen to have. And they are good! Did they ever make any albums? And I love Always. Definitely an El highlight for me. That record still gets fairly regular play at my house. I'm incredibly jealous of you for your Momus rarities. Early Momus was absolutely brilliant. Circus Maximus is one of my all time favorite albums, which I'm sure I mentioned. Those singles and Eps from that era are ace. I like the early Creation stuff too, esp. Murders, the Hope of Women. I saw him live a few times back in the late 90s, and he performed a pretty generous helping of early material, which always went over the best anyway. But I just remember being nearly reduced to tears, it was so beautiful. Just seeing him in person, just him and his beat up, old acoustic, running through stuff like Murderers and Hotel Marquis de Sade. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 433 Registered: 05-2005 |
Jeff, Always always! reminded me of The Happy Family. The reason I got to know Momus many moons ago, was through Malcolm Ross' wife Syuzen Buckley. (Nick wrote a song about her on Circus Maximus - Day circus came totown), When Syu and Malc lived in london, from 84 onwards, I used to go down and stay with them having known them for a few years, man and boy!! And everytime I used to go down, we'd end up seeing someone who I had always wanted to meet. It was '86, and Nick was recording The Poison Boyfriend? (I saw aletter on his bed from Alan Mcgee, stating royalties or something) His second album, and he was in town one day and Syuzen rang him up and said "WE'RE COMING ROUND NOW!!" So me Syu and Davey Weddell from Josef K, who was a lovely guy who I went drinking with down there popped to Nick's flat. Very posh area, Draycott Place just up from Sloane Sq in London. We ate Pasta and drank whisky and listened to the demos from his second album. Nick was quite an awesome character, very articulate and had this aura about him. He was very humourous, he kept on about the Indian session musicians who played on the album making references to playing the percussion shakers was like masterbating!! We then travelled around London together on a red London bus, we visited many churches, it was a Sunday, I seem to remember discussing his music with him, and not knowing where to look as we sat at the front of the bus at times in front of a black reflkective glass window. He was an extremely pleasant guy. I saw him a few times afetr that, a Creation 2 nighter in 87, a gig in london in 92 and have bumped into him a few times since. I sometimes leave a msg on his guestbook and he remembers me, as I created the Josef K website www.josefk.net and I told him the videos of Josef K were on my site, I spent ages getting them digitised 6 years ago from the vids Malc lent me, until I moved it and they disappeared...they are all over the Internet now! So that was my Momus introduction... I think he owes a lot to Malcolm Ross. Malcolm Ross was a very good promoter and netwrker in the old days. he got the ex members of Josef K interested in Nicks songs after they had split up etc etc. I suppose if it wasn't for that, who knows!? I remember his beat up ols acoustic, it was a Gretsch! What a guityar to have and throw around! Nick's picking style and chord arrangements were very clever. The guy is a very intelligent person, a bit like a professor, of what I don't know. He is very underrated, however, I prefer his early material, and on odd occasions I shall dip into his new stuff. His take on See a friend in tears by Jaques brel is a tear jearker if ever there was one! | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 130 Registered: 07-2005 |
Bought Q magazine yesterday because the "free" cd was all cover versions and couldn't resist it for the Nick Cave version of Disco 2000 and Richard Hawleys version of a Jesus and Mary Chain song ( can't think of the name of it now) worth it for this hte rest was not worth it. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 442 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Slits - Cut. Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman Congos and Friends - Fisherman Style The Chills - Submarinebells (sorry Padraig but this just shades it over Soft Bomb for me) Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 442 Registered: 03-2006 |
Loudon Wainwright III - One Man Guy (best of) Booker T. and the MGs - Stax Profiles (best of) The Staple Singers - "" Wire - Pink Flag The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon Alejandro Escovedo - The Boxing Mirror GBs - Live in London Tropicalia - (the Soul Jazz comp) | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 347 Registered: 04-2005 |
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road XTC - Upsy Daisy Assortment Go-Betweens - That Striped Sunlight Sound Miles Davis - In a Silent Way | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 304 Registered: 08-2004 |
Go-B's - Botany St. (Edit) White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan The Who - My Generation Eminem - The Eminem Show Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance Black Grape - It's Great When You're Straight ... Yeah | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 28 Registered: 07-2005 |
The Association - Just The Right Sound ( Anthology ) | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 414 Registered: 03-2005 |
That any good Hugh? I've always liked "Along Comes Mary" but then I think of "Cherish" . . . . | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 29 Registered: 07-2005 |
Randy, I think so but I have always had a soft spot for them and even quite like 'Cherish.' It's a good introduction to the band as it contains 52 tracks spread across two discs and can be picked up quite cheaply ( US$23.95/£14.25 ) at the moment. All the hits are included ( Along Comes Mary; Cherish; Windy; Never My Love ) and, in my opinion, some of the lesser known stuff ( Enter The Young; No Fair At All; Everything That Touches You; Time For Livin'; The Time It Is Today; Look At Me, Look At You ) is equally good. The sound quality is, as you would expect from a Rhino/Warner Brothers release, very good. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 449 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin was spinning Pink Flag last week, great innit!! I been playing Fruits of the original sin, a Crepescule comp, excellent, are you there jeff!? | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 452 Registered: 03-2006 |
Pink Flag's the sh_t, man! It STILL sounds like a million bucks...truly sui generis. What is it about the Brits and art school, anyway? Do they hand out guitars at orientation? Seems to produce some hellaciously good music. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 454 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, dont know if you are aware but there is a spin off album from that great post punk book "Rip it up and start again", comes out next week in the UK - not sure when you guys get it. Unbelievably it does not have a Wire track, although this may be more to do with licensing problems because Wire would be a must for this record. 1. Fiery Jack - Fall (1) 2. Praying Hands - Devo 3. Devil Lives In My Husbands Body - Pulsallama 4. Sluggin' Fer Jesus - Cabaret Voltaire 5. Sense Of Guilt - Josef K 6. PAs - Scritti Politti 7. Spend Spend Spend - Slits 8. Violence Grows - Fatal Microbes 9. Grass - Wyatt, Robert 10. Slowdive - Siouxsie & The Banshees 11. Only Loved At Night - Raincoats 12. Choci Loni - Young Marble Giants 13. Dancevision - Human League 14. Tight As A Drum - Leer, Thomas 15. White Car In Germany - Associates (1) 16. Give Me Back My Man - B-52's 17. Beasley Street - Cooper Clarke, John 18. Friday Night Saturday Morning - Specials 19. I'm Your Money - Heaven 17 20. Dumb Magician - Blue Orchids Cabaret Voltaire - now there is a great under appreciated band. Ive been playing Shack - On The Corner of Miles and Gill (no they havent gone all jazzy!) Twilight Singers - Powder Burns (at last Greg Dulli makes a good, if not great album for the first time in a decade) | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 454 Registered: 03-2006 |
I must have it! Thanks, Kevin. Sounds like a relatively painless way to sample ths sounds discussed in the book without buying all those albums. No Gang of Four either, huh? Must be licensing issues. It's a shame you're married, dude. A very nice single woman I know loves both Dulli and AMC (she's from Ohio, where both artists hail from. Curiously, she doesn't like Devo or Pere Ubu). I could broker a little international luv connection! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 457 Registered: 05-2005 |
Also been listening to a great band called Patty Hurst Shifter, and their album Too Crowded On The Losing End. Got alerted to this band by a review in last months Uncut - the first line of a 4star review reeled me in. "Fans of Big Star, the Replacements and, of course The Stones eternal swagger will get a huge kick out of this" The review also mentioned "barroom heartache, reckless living and ruinous women", an internet search also found reviews mentioning early REM and Marquee Moon. Arrived today and on first listen sounds great. Any of you guys heard of this band?, they are from Raleigh North Carolina. Just to top it off for me the singer is called Marc E Smith | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 458 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, unfortunately I must decline your kind offer due to a combination of issues with distance, and more importantly health and safety!! Your friend sounds nice, but I am more than happy with my little lady. May be an opportunity for yourself with your friend | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 416 Registered: 03-2005 |
This morning at work: the new Calexico. I like "Letter to Bowie Knife" a fair bit but most of it sounds blandly well-crafted. I'm wondering if I might prefer their older less mainstream things. I also listened to Neko Case' "Blacklisted." I love it, of course, except that she should have left "Running Out of Fools" alone because she can't touch either Aretha Franklin or even . . . get this . . . Kiki Dee on that one. Besides, that song gives me uncomfortable flashbacks. Yesterday afternoon I decided to take my cheapie Microdisney comp to work to listen to once again. I need to listen to it at home instead. I hear all sorts of classic Cathal Coughlin hallmarks in the music but am distracted by the glitzy 80s arrangements and productions. I think that's my problem there. The set I have is "Big Sleeping House." Is this a very well-chosen anthology? | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 31 Registered: 07-2005 |
Randy, if you are not familiar with it then check out Slush by OP8 ( Howe Gelb, Lisa Germano, John Convertino and Joey Burns.) Interesting collaboration. | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 455 Registered: 03-2006 |
Nah Kevin, I couldn't date anybody with that sh_tty taste in music! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 362 Registered: 05-2005 |
I think Big Sleeping House is a great comp. Gale Force Wind is one of the great unheralded pop/rock singles of our times and every other track is a cracker too. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 363 Registered: 05-2005 |
I listened to The Ponys Celebration Castle last night after buying it a couple of weeks ago in a 3-for-$10 bargain bin. At first I did not like it much - the singer's voice is hard to take. But then I got into it and really liked it. The review I saw of it on Amazon mentions US bands such as Television and The Voivoids, but I think The Ponys actually sound like a history of post-punk British music. One track sounds like The Slits (a woman sings that song), another sounds like The Cure circa 1982, while another sounds like Blur in their Brit-pop days. Sure, it's derivative, but I enjoyed it a lot last night. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 460 Registered: 05-2005 |
For anybody needing a little gentle persuasion that Wire are one of the greatest, most influential bands off all time - see todays Pitchfork. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/w/wire/pink-flag-chairs-missing-154 .shtml Would have given 154 a 9.8 myself | ||
| Hardin Smith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 459 Registered: 03-2006 |
I lost all my Wire albums, Kev (a breakup). The Pink Flag I referred to was a used copy of the new re-master of it I picked up at Second Spin...My feeling was it is the stone mastapiece by them and the one that grabbed me the most. Of course, re-listening the other day to PF only confirmed those impressions - it still sounds like a zillion bucks...Maybe I need to get the others again, too, dammit. Which one does the song "Dot Dash" come from? | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 141 Registered: 07-2005 |
Keivn thatis uncanny just been on to Pitchfork and read the review and thought just go the the GBs Message board and there you've beet me to it! very high marks indeed which are your favourite wire. Mine is 154 | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 452 Registered: 05-2005 |
The very best of The Beach Boys The Optimist Turin Brakes Vauxhall and I Morrissey As is now Paul Weller The best of John Barry Decade Neil Young | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 461 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hardin, Dot Dash was never on a Wire album initially because it was a "standalone" single released between Pink Flag and Chairs Missing. It is however tagged on at the end of my CD copy of Pink Flag. Going by your comments I am assuming that it is not on the current remaster of PF and that only the original album is on the disc. I must say I prefer this to be the case, the artists intended PF to be their statement of intent at the time, by the time they released Dot Dash they were evolving at a terrific rate and were not the same band that released PF Jerry - its a close call but I would just plump for Chairs Missing, reason being that it enscapulates both their punk attitude and their experimental tunefulness in equal measures | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 468 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Hold Steady - Seperation Sunday (forgot I had this. anybody else rate them?) Wilco - A Ghost Is Born (they get heaps of praise right now, but I have a feeling they will be considered legendary in 20yrs time) Nick Cave - The Boatmans Call (his best album - and its got loads of competition) | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 431 Registered: 03-2005 |
Keren Ann -- Nolita. Nice soporific album. And I love songs sung in french. I saw her live at the time that Grant's funeral was taking place. I concluded that he'd approve of her. Augie March -- Moo You Bloody Choir. Still waiting to see what I think of this one. The one potential objection I have is that it might be a teensy bit too major label in sound for my taste. But there will be many more listens first. The Chills -- Soft Bomb. Love this record, Padraig! I'll be hunting up some other things of theirs but, geez, they're expensive! | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 82 Registered: 04-2005 |
Randy, You might enjoy this live appearance of Keren Ann http://rbally.net/concerts/keren.html. | ||
| Paul Swinford Member Username: Prema Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2005 |
My recent acquisitions are mostly older spins with one new 'un: Tied to the Tracks - Soul Asylum (Their first full-length release on Twin/Tone. I'd now add it my best debut LP list.) Greatest Hits - The Monkees. Reminds me of Saturday morning TV and hearing "Valerie" on AM Radio in the '60s. My childhood wasn't ALL bad! Send Me a Lullaby - Go-Betweens (when I first heard this in 1983 I thought it was unlistenable. Just got the JetSet double cd and am completely astounded by how much I like it. Why didn't I like it then???) The Obliterati - Mission of Burma (much of my favorite music combines beauty and dissonance, catchy, primitive melodies in complex instrumental arrangements. "2wice", the opening song on this CD, is my summer anti-anthem) Seconds of Pleasure - Rockpile (ahhhh, back to fun, back to the roots. Such a loving reinterpretation of rock and roll's origins) Recent single song downloads: "Hungry So Angry" - Medium Medium "Change" - Tracy Chapman "Sun God" - Squirrel Bait "Love Me Like You" - Magic Numbers "Here Comes Your Main" - Pixies "Who Loves the Sun" - Velvet Underground | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 433 Registered: 03-2005 |
Andrew, thanks for the Keren Ann link. It's excellent. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 140 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm always late..... Got both "Lullabies to Violaine" by the Cocteau Twins the other day and have been busy retooling my ME-5 to get those sounds!!! What a wonderful 4 hours you can spend listening to this. I sort of lost interset after they became sorta "normal" what with being able to unnerstand Liz's vocals an all with 4 Calendar Cafe. What I missed!!! Twinlights....brilliant. Otherness...amazing, especially the recycling of Cherry Coloured Funk! and all the rest. Plus, as a humble student I could nedder afford ALL of those early eps that kept coming out. So if you like the Cocteau's, I guess you'll already have this, but if you have never heard of them, I envy you because it will blow you 1000 miles away! | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 39 Registered: 07-2005 |
Geoff, you may have heard of them but, if not, check out Lowlife who have been described as a dark hybrid of the Cocteau Twins and Joy Division. They were formed in 1985 in Grangemouth, Scotland, by Will Heggie, Craig Lorentson, Stuart Everest and Grant McDowall after Heggie left the Cocteau Twins. They went on to record seven albums and a batch of singles/ep's on the Nightshift Label the majority of which were highly praised by the music press at the time. Their back catalogue is currently being re-issued by LTM who are adding singles/eps to each of the albums making them excellent value for money. 'Diminuendo' in particular is a superb album. They were mainly a studio band who toured very rarely but I had the good fortune to see them play live on one occasion in the late 1980's when they supported none other than The Go-Betweens. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 40 Registered: 07-2005 |
Should have mentioned above that I am currently listen to 'Permanent Sleep + Rain' and 'Diminuendo + Singles' by Lowlife. | ||
| B. Rider Member Username: Boundary_rider Post Number: 27 Registered: 05-2005 |
Beirut 'Gulag Orkestar' is great. Sounds like a drunken Balkan gypsy band fronted by a Slavic crooner, turns out to be some 19 year old kid from Alburqueque. Postcards from Italy is the most astonishing song I've heard this year. Midlake's album is wonderful; also been enjoying M.Craft's debut. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 434 Registered: 03-2005 |
Geoff, are you saying that the Cocteaus improved after going downhill a bit or are you saying that you now like the more "normal" sounding records of theirs? In the 80s I was all Cocteaus all the time but I bailed when they went mainstream. I hated "Heaven or Las Vegas" and never got another of their records. I haven't that in so long I have no idea whether I'd have the same attitude about it now. Hugh, thanks for the Lowlife tip. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 483 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hugh, are you from Grangemouth or Central Scotland? As I have mentioned on this board before Will Heggie is married to my sister and I know Grant and Craig very well. Havent saw Grant in ages though, I'm sure he is a policeman now. I still bump into Craig occasionally, a great guy and a true one off! Lowlife were managed by Brian Guthrie, brother of Robin from The Cocteaus. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 41 Registered: 07-2005 |
Kevin, I was born, grew up and still reside in Prestwick on the West Coast of Scotland. I must have missed your previous posts relating to Will as I was not aware of your relationship. I love the band and I am delighted to see their back catalogue being re-released particularly given the fact that LTM are making such a good job of it by expanding the original albums using all of the band's singles/eps. I have already picked up 'Permanent Sleep +Rain' and 'Diminuendo +Singles' and cannot wait for the remaining albums ( especially The Black Sessions and Demos ) to be released. It is wonderful to hear these albums on c.d. and the sound quality on 'Diminuendo' is simply stunning when you turn the volume up. Trying desperately to remember when/where I saw them play live. Not absolutely certain but I believe it would be around 1987/1988 at a venue in Edinburgh ( somewhere up behind the Castle.) Randy, well worth a listen even if it is only to decide that they are not for you. Music to be played loud when you are home alone. 'Tongue Tied And Twisted' and 'Given To Dreaming' from 'Diminuendo' at the loudest level your ears can take will tell you all you need to know about the band. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 484 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hugh I was at the gig when Lowlife supported the Go-Bs in Edinburgh, it was on the Tallulah tour. I remember the buzz of anticipation when Brian (the manager of Lowlife) was dishing out promo vinyl copies of Tallulah in our local pub a few weeks before the album was released. Obviously, only a few of us were in on the secret world of The Go-Bs, most of the other people in the pub were fans of Terence Trent Darby, Deacon Blue and various other plastic soul acts. We did persuade the DJ to play a few tracks though, wonder if there were any people converted that night - you never know. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 42 Registered: 07-2005 |
Kevin, small world indeed. I assume that would make it 1987. Can you remember the name of the venue? I was already well into both bands by that time so, from my point of view, it was a wonderful evening. I was fortunate enough to see the Go-Betweens perform live on several occasions between 1986 and 1989, in Glasgow and Edinburgh at, what I consider to be, their peak. The Forster/McLennan/Morrison/Vickers lineup was superb but the addition of Brown and her violin and oboe playing took them to a whole new level as far as live performances were concerned. Wonderful memories. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 141 Registered: 05-2005 |
Randy, I was only hanging on after Heaven or Las Vegas. Listening to Iceblink Luck now, I can't understand why! When 4 Calendar cafe came out, it was all too different. Liz saying proper lyrics, a cover that was in focus etc all added up to, as you put it, going mainstream. I passed on Milk and Kisses until last year but I must have been in the wrong mood or something. The what I'm saying is that the eps around those last 2 albums are GRRREAT! I haven't yet had time to re-explore them yet but am planning too in my next holidays in 3 weeks. Some of the stuff (Tishbite ep) sounds like classic mid period Cocteaus. Twinlights is Liz singing over piano - amazing. Definately worth a look Randy. You regulars seem to have more money to spend on music than me, so I try to buy very wisely. "Lullabies to Violaine" is more than wise. I would say essential for anyone caught in the thrall of the Cocteaus. Thanks for the tip about Lowlife Hugh! I will try to find some of their stuff. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 83 Registered: 04-2005 |
Hugh, It would have been the Hoochie Coochie club at Tollcross in Edinburgh in May '87. I have no recollection of Lowlife supporting, but that certainly doesn't mean it didn't happen! After that I don't remember many other visits north of the border with the original band: Govan town hall (Glasgow Mayfest) is the only one maybe? | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 43 Registered: 07-2005 |
Andrew, I think you might be correct as the mention of Tollcross rings a bell. I don't know how many times the Go-Betweens played the Hoochie Coochie Club but Lowlife released their first ep in 1986 so 1987 sounds about right. I am just glad Kevin has confirmed that Lowlife did support the Go-Betweens in Edinburgh as it was so long ago and I am at the stage in life where my memory is beginning to play tricks on me. :-) The other Go-Betweens gigs I attended were all in Glasgow ( Rooftops 1985? ; Q.M.U. 1988? ; Govan Town Hall 1989? ; Garage 1997?) I was friendly with a young guy who worked in a record shop in Ayr back in the mid/late 1980's and his then girlfriend, who was a student at the Q.M.U., managed to get my wife and I access to that gig. We must have been the oldest people in the audience that night as I was already in my late 30's by then. This was made all the more obvious to me while we were standing in the queue waiting to gain access to the venue. We were suddenly spotted by Security Staff who came rushing up to us to ask if we were guests of the band. I have to assume they had worked out that we were not students. It was a good venue, the sound quality was excellent and the band put on a great show. Currently listening to 'End Of Love' by Clem Snide. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 486 Registered: 05-2005 |
Check these links for more info on Lowlife. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowlife_%28band%29 http://www.permanentsleep.com/ Hugh, Andrew is right when he says the Hoochie, the name had escaped me but as soon as I saw it in Andrews post I remembered. I remember it was a Friday night, I was working till 10pm and my mate picked me up in Stirling and drove us the 30 miles to Edinburgh. We actually did not see Lowlife play that night because we were so late getting there, but made it in time to see the Go-Bs. I remember we spent the night in my mates girlfriends nursing dormitory accommodation, the nurses were amused/horrified/delighted to have 2 males for company that night. The next day I bought The Proclaimers debut album. Its amazing what you can remember doing 20 yrs ago, I can hardly remember what I did last week now. Listening to: Born Sandy Devotional - The Triffids Reissues of the first 3 Lilac Time albums Riot City Blues - Primal Scream (what a disappointment this is, only 3 or 4 good songs) Rather Ripped - Sonic Youth (still album of the year for me) | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 84 Registered: 04-2005 |
The Hoochie Coochie club gig was the 24th April 1987 according to the gigography on this site. I certainly remember the next day as I spent half an hour interviewing Grant. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we did the interview outside. You can hear the birds on the tape. He was in fine form and obviously really proud of 'Tallulah'. You know what they say about memory as you get older Kevin! I saw the Proclaimers (as a duo) play in the Venue (just after it changed from the Jailhouse) the night that someone called the fire brigade. Because of the stream pouring out from the ventilators they thought that the building was on fire! | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 85 Registered: 04-2005 |
And back to the topic in hand. Baaba Maal "Mi Yeewnii" - I am involved in the organisation of an exhibition of West African art and selecting some CDs to play. This is great. I have a problem with the production on a lot of African musicians' recordings made in Europe. And the horrible fact that Sting seems to crop up with regularity. But this seems untainted and fits in beautifully with my half-hour drive home from work through the stunning countryside of SW France. Good grief, it's hot. Sandy Denny - some demos found on the net. I keep coming back to her songwriting and amazing voice. Dug out a tape of a radio programme about her with Joe Boyd talking very honestly. Now there's a man that could put together a great autobiography. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 44 Registered: 07-2005 |
Andrew, was the Hoochie Coochie Club situated next to or above an Ice Rink? Kevin, I was already aware of the PermanentSleep website but many thanks for the link to the Wikipedia website. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 488 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hugh, I just speed read the Wikipedia link the first time and missed this little snippet: "In early 1990, following a soccer match accident in which he lost a finger, McDowall decided to retire from the music business and left the band" I was actually present the night that Grant lost his finger. Grant played in goals for a local amateur team and after the game he was removing the nets from behind one of the goals. Unfortunately his wedding ring caught on one of the metal hooks that supports the nets and literally ripped his finger from its socket. I remember people frantically trying to locate some ice to pack the finger in to try and preserve it on the way to the hospital. Through the mists of time I cannot remember whether the search for ice was unsuccessful, or whether some was found, but if it was it was too late and the medics couldnt get the finger sewn back on. Another piece of Lowlife trivia. Stuart Everest was nicknamed "Ben". The reason for this was that the Scottish name for a mountain is Ben - eg Ben Nevis. Therefore some wag spotted the chance to have some fun with Stuarts surname. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 88 Registered: 04-2005 |
Hugh, The Hoochie Coochie was above Coasters, which was a roller skating venue, and also doubled as a concert venue (although the wearing of roller skates was not advised during gigs). I saw REM, Smiths, OJ, Win, Paul Haig, New Order, Gil Scott Heron (son of that Celtic player) and probably lots else there. And the Clash on their busking tour. Completely useless as a gig, as they insisted on playing without a PA. Years later someone told me that they had bought a bootleg tape of the gig and it consisted of what sounded like a football crowd bellowing out the greatest hits of the Clash. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 45 Registered: 07-2005 |
Andrew, I attended the gig at the Hoochie Coochie Club with my wife. When I mentioned this thread to her yesterday afternoon she immediately said she thought the venue was above an Ice Rink called Coasters, or something similar, hence my post. It was our one and only visit to the club. I wish my memory was half as good. She also mentioned that, on the night in question, Robert Forster's hair was light grey/silver coloured. Speaking of Win, I never saw them perform live but I still own a vinyl copy of their album 'Uh! Tears Baby ( A Trashicon )' issued in 1987 on the London label. Kevin, as far as I can see, the next two Lowlife re-issues are pencilled in for later this year ( September.) Currently listening to After The Siesta ( 1998 ) and Classics: A Decade in Pop - Compilation ( 1999 ) by the Happydeadmen. Classic Swedish indie pop music with chiming guitars from the late 1980's into the 1990's. The remainder of their back catalogue is currently unavailable which is a pity. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 91 Registered: 04-2005 |
RF's hair! It was dyed that colour in tribute to who? I am sure that he made a reference to Blake Carrington of Dynasty in an interview? I don't remember Win as being that great live; amazing beginning I think with the radiator song from Eraserhead ('Heaven' ?) crashing into 'UnAmerican Broadcasting'. At the moment I can't quite understand why Davy Henderson has gone all nostalgic: for me The Nectarine No.9 are much better than the Fire Engines. | ||
| Hugh Nimmo Member Username: Nemo Post Number: 48 Registered: 07-2005 |
Andrew, Blake Carrington was the person who came to mind when I first saw Robert F. that night. I didn't realise he made reference to him in a subsequent interview. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 94 Registered: 04-2005 |
A few days ago I wrote "Sandy Denny - some demos found on the net. I keep coming back to her songwriting and amazing voice. Dug out a tape of a radio programme about her with Joe Boyd talking very honestly. Now there's a man that could put together a great autobiography" Apparently he has written it and it has just come out! It's called 'White Bicycles' See here http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/biography/0,,1773820,00.html I might be treating myself. |