| Author | Message | ||
     Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 60 Registered: 03-2006 |
Despite The Go-Betweens being my all-time favourite band, I've never really put much effort into exploring the 90s solo albums, other than "Danger In The Past" and "Watershed". (Mainly because I saw them as two halves of what would have been the original "Freakchild".) Anyway, on a whim recently I picked up "Calling From A Country Phone" and really loved it, so I consequently bought "I Had a New York Girlfriend" and "Warm Nights" on a quick trip to Sydney a few days ago, both of which sound promising on first listen. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone can make an Grant specific recommendations. I'm not a big fan on "Watershed", mianly because I absolutely HATE the slick production. But what's the rest of his solo output like? I've heard a few people talk about "In Your Bright Ray" quite favourably. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1186 Registered: 04-2005 |
Lawrence, the conventional wisdom (and there are dissenters) is that "Horsebreaker Star" is the standout of Grant's solo albums. It's certainly the least slick of the four. I prefer "In Your Bright Ray" because it has a more diverse and punchy musical approach, but some find the music a bit too studio-rock generic. "Watershed" is mostly quite good, but there are a couple of major missteps and it doesn't rock much, and I don't rate "Fireboy" very highly as it's fairly weak batch of songs by GM's standards, plus it has some ill-advised musical diversions ("Pawnbroker" anyone?). But the difference between his best and worst solo albums isn't that great, so you'll probably want them all. | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 118 Registered: 12-2004 |
I'd rate them in the following order: 1. Horsebreaker Star 2. In Your Bright Ray 3. Watershed 4. Fireboy I agree with Kurt that they are all worth having. There are some brilliant and some not so great songs on each, so it may be the kind of thing where you compile your own best of CD or double CD. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 241 Registered: 11-2004 |
You'll find Lawrence, that none of Grant's records come close to Robert's. In saying that, you could make a killer "best of" out of Grant's solo years. I personally find all of his albums to be quite flawed - perhaps he was trying too hard to be a pop-singer-songwriter success instead of following Robert's way of simply maintaining his cult status? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 299 Registered: 08-2006 |
Vive la difference, Donat, but I'm of the opposite opinion. I like "Danger in the Past" a lot, and plenty of the songs on RF's subsequent records, but in general I like Grant's solo work more. I wouldn't argue against the idea that Grant was aiming for the mainsteam, or at least his own little corner of it, and for sure the production is too slick, particularly on "Fireboy," my least favorite of the four. But I also think Grant's non-commercial edges poked through more often than not, giving the pop formula just enough of a twist to be charming, or at least interesting. Overall, I think their respective solo careers are illustrative of why the GBs worked so well as a band: The five-songs-apiece restriction provided valuable editing, and Grant popped Robert up just enough while Robert scraped up Grant's smooth surfaces. Or at least that's how it appears to me. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 940 Registered: 03-2005 |
I would rate the albums in the same order as David. I also disagree with Donat's comparative assessment of Robert's records versus Grant's records. But whatever your personal preference, you will find many truly necessary songs on the solo albums. Grant and Robert are writers above all. Their solo work is all of a piece with their work in the GoBees. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1188 Registered: 04-2005 |
And I'm a broken record about this, but Lawrence, if you haven't already, put the two Jack Frost albums on your to-get list. A GM completist needs them. He didn't necessarily save his best songs for the JF projects, but musically he stretches out more and they're both enjoyable albums. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1472 Registered: 03-2006 |
I'm completely in Brookman's camp on this one, though probably even more so. I vastly prefer Grant's solo work to Robert's, though "Danger in the Past" is indeed great. It's just that the rest of the catalog, is for me, not so memorable. I do like Robert, mind, but think most of his best work really has been with the GBs. Of Grant's solo stuff, you might skip "Fireboy", though you'd be skipping a couple of great songs. But overall, that record just didn't gel, didn't work. "Watershed" is very good and completely worth having, though. The remaining two, "Horsebreaker" and "Bright Ray" are GM's quantum masterpieces and complete must-haves. I have a hard time deciding which is the better of the two. "Horsebreaker" is probably currently winning that contest. I used to have the American single disc version, but after losing it, recently got the import double-disc set. I had really missed out - the songs left off of the American configuration are wonderful. It has SO many great songs and is so wide ranging - it's that rarity of rarities: a double album that couldn't have been whittled down to a better single album. In a more just world, it would probably be spoken about in the same breath as other classic doubles like "London Calling", "Sign O the Times", "The River" and "Blonde on Blonde". "Bright Ray" is, how you say, f-ing awesome, too. Arguably the songwriting got even better, though at a relatively succinct 12 songs or so, there's less of it. But, if it fits your budget, you should have all of them. Why deny yourself? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 477 Registered: 10-2004 |
I would tend to side with Donat on this one. I think Robert's solo work, for the most part, is vastly superior to Grant's. While I like Grant's solo albums to varying degrees, Robert's "Calling From a Country Phone" trumps anything else *either* of them did solo.* *My favorite Grant solo stuff was a batch of tunes he worked on pretty soon after the break-up, much of which wound up as b-sides. Songs like "Making it Right for Her," "Just Get that Straight," "She's so Strange," "Stones for You," and "I Know What it's like Without You," (and I'm talking original versions, mind you, a few of which were demos, and which tend to show up appended to the Botany St. Sessions bootleg). I think the original versions of these 5 tunes are stellar. I also quite like the song "Haunted House," which is so superior to everything else on "Watershed" that it sticks out like sore thumb. In general, I feel like Grant's solo work is just way too polite MOR adult-contemporary for my tastes. It tends to be bland and melodically un-adventurous. Like music you'd hear in the background at a Starbucks or something, or music you'd expect to hear in a TV commercial for some new pharmaceutical. Each solo album is speckled with good songs, some more than others... "Bright Ray" might have the highest number of good tunes for me, but there's still a lot of "adult-contemporary" issues to wade through, mainly with the production or overall sound. "Fireboy" has some excellent tracks, like "The Day My Eyes Came Back," and "Signs of Life," but it's got a lot of clunkers and might be his least cohesive album. "Horsebreaker" has some nice songs, but again, a lot of stuff that's just a bit too polite and bland for my tastes. In the past I used to deride this one the most, but a few tunes have grown on me a bit. It's got a better sound, overall, than "Bright Ray." For me, however, Robert's "Calling from a Country Phone" is just an amazing collection of songs. A high point for Robert, creatively. The arrangements, the melodies, the lyrics... all finely crafted, inventive, and thoroughly engaging. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 941 Registered: 03-2005 |
I can live without "If I Was a Girl." I almost agree with Jeff in putting "Country Phone" on top of Robert's albums but the lyrics really fall apart on a few songs that, musically, I like quite a lot. "Beyond Their Law" is the one I usually complain about. But they're all worth having. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1141 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love Fireboy. It's not my favourite, but I love it nonetheless. Partly because it was given to me by my then girlfriend in December 1992 when I was about to leave Australia to move back to Ireland. She knew how much I loved The Go-Betweens. There are a couple of tracks that aren't very good, but mostly I think the songs are great pop songs. Watershed has some great songs on it, but the awful 80s overproduction is something I can't get over. Maybe one day EMI will release a double disc of it and we'll get to hear the songs in demo form. Horsebreaker Star was the album of Grant's I played most after his death. Friends of mine who are also Go-Betweens obsessives had the same experience. In Your Bright Ray is a terrific pop album. I was in London the week it came out and every shop wanted between 13-15 pounds for it (ie up to US$30 or Aus$38). But I kept looking and eventually found it in a shop on Berwick St for 5! Bargain. I would also recommend the Jack Frost albums Lawrence and the Far Out Corporation album. With Robert's solo albums, Danger... and Calling... are both classics. The other two have their moments too. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1366 Registered: 05-2005 |
I think Donats right on the money, apart from the bit about a "killer best of" from Grant. Danger In The Past is a bone fide classic, Calling... is merely terrific. Most of Grants solo stuff sends me to sleep. | ||
| Alex Bolton Member Username: Alexb Post Number: 33 Registered: 01-2006 |
Interesting there isn't a consensus on Grant's best solo album. At the start, Beggar's Banquet had high hopes for GM as a commercial act, based presumably on his ability to turn a Bachelor Kisses type tune. For my money all the solo albums have their strengths, though the latter two endure best. Watershed suffers from turn of the 90s production and some weak lyrics. The words on Fireboy aren't always great either (try "some chilli all round - yeah! and you know what I mean) but as Jeff W has pointed out a couple of tracks, The Days My Eyes Came Back and Signs of Life are very good indeed. The US country/Folk rock of Horsebreaker seems to suit Grant's writing style and the songs linger though by this time the label had lost interest commercially. Many feel that In Your Bright Ray is his best effort and I would concur; Comet Scar is one of GW's best ever though production obesessives ( and there are some on this site) might have a problem with the "hot" production. All in all you might say that GW as a more prolific writer functioned best outside the GBs but the wonderful thing was as such contrasting writers they complemented each other perfectly across an album. | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 63 Registered: 03-2006 |
thanks for the advice ... I've ordered "... Bright Ray" from Amazon, and there's a copy of "Horsebreaker Star" at the local sec. hand place which I'm sure will still be there in a few days time. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1203 Registered: 05-2005 |
Roberts's albums are great. Warm Nights I like less than the rest, but its still good. Grant's Horsebreaker Star as mentioned millions of times on this board for better or for worse is my favourite of his. Everything else he had done sounded crap due to the production, had thses songs existed in demo from I am sure they would sound better IMVHO. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 242 Registered: 11-2004 |
Eeek! I didn't mean to say it like that, Kevin. It's interesting to read how we're all divided in opinion regarding the solo albums. I'd Listened to 'I Had A NY Girlfriend' the other day and it made me wish how the mk2 Gobs would've benefitted from a clear, no frills production. It's an album where everything just sounds right: Clare's drums, Robert's guitar - it's all there and it's pure. Not sure if many of you have this, but Robert's 'Brookfield 1975' that's on the Drop/Falling Star EP is perhaps his most beautiful songs - it's a shame it's not on Calling From A Country Phone. Same with his 'rocker', Lonely Boy. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 947 Registered: 03-2005 |
Nope, I don't have either of those Donat. It would be mighty nice if somebody thought about reissuing the solo records in augmented form to pick up the orphan tracks. I try not to get too much into the sonic choices made by an artist because it just drives me crazy. But just as Spence, Jeff and Donat have commented the sound does make a difference. Robert clearly wanted the super reverbed sound he got on DITP. I view this as a big mistake that comes close to sinking the record. Reverb puts the artist at a distance from his listeners which works well for a detached type of artist like Howard Devoto but totally interferes with an intimate artist like Robert or Grant. DITP has a very "cold" sound that's not right for the music at all. "Country Phone" is better because Robert's voice isn't reverbed to hell. NYGF hasn't had a listen from me in quite a while so I can't remember its sound. "Warm Nights" may be a little spotty as an album but Robert's voice is right up front and close where it belongs. Grant's albums were at first blatantly aimed in a major label direction with the noxious gated drums (or synth drums) and also huge reverb again putting Grant far away from us. But Spence is right; imagine these songs in a nice simple demo form. There are some clunkers of course (I personally can't stand "Just Get That Straight" for example) but most of the songs are very good. No one else has mentioned it so I will, coming from a dead-end town even if not nearly as small as the one Grant was writing about, "Dream About Tomorrow" resonates with me very deeply. I mean core-of-my-soul deeply. John Keane has made a career out of his organic back porch approach. His wonderfully warm recording sound suits Grant and would also have suited Robert and it would have been a truly wonderful thing if the GoBees Mk II had made their way to Georgia for an album with him. "Bright Ray" is wildly overly hot as a recording. Sometimes the players were doing decidedly unengaging things (though I think the players were all doing exactly the right things on "Lamp by Lamp"). But, again, there are a lot of really fine songs on IYBR which easily surpass Grant's contributions to FORW. I've picked on BYBO on a number of occasions but I sure won't fault its sound. The only thing missing for me on that album is more detail to the arrangements and I still think Robert should have spent some more time on the lyrics to "Caroline and I." But the recorded sound is just about perfect. It's right there in the room with you and totally unpretentious. Like Robert and Grant. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1474 Registered: 03-2006 |
Well put, Randy. Btw, I think the connection you've forged with "Dream About Tomorrow" is what it's all about. I know exactly what you mean - there's nothing like when a song hits you that way, hits you "where you live". Everything else, to me, is just so much trainspotter bullshit. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 479 Registered: 10-2004 |
Randy, I agree with Keith, that was a very well put post. I think your comments on DITP are particularly interesting because normally, reverb is my friend. There are a lot of albums out there where reverb was used liberally, even wrecklessly, which I like. I don't mind the reverb on DITP so much, and in fact, on a few songs "Dear Black Dream" and "I was Looking for Somebody," I think it actually works quite well. However, I can see how stylistically, other songs might've benefited from a dryer sound. The thing that really bothers me about DITP is Mick Harvey. I think he's too heavy-handed with his Bad Seeds thing, which admittedly is what anyone would come to expect from him. But I just don't think the Bad Seeds vibe works very well with Robert's material. I like the Bad Seeds (though not nearly as much as I used to), but I think the results were too stereotypically Bad Seeds-esque for it to work. It's a turn-off for me, actually, particularly the title-track, which just sounds like a parody of Nick Cave. And I *so* don't want to hear Nick Cave when listening to Robert. That is partly why I, unlike many folks here, much prefer Country Phone. I think the other reason I prefer Country Phone is just better, more consistent and more melodically interesting songs. Also, after hearing some of the DITP demos on the Botany St. Sessions, it's hard to listen to those songs without imaging how much better they would've been had they been recorded by the Go-Betweens (sans Mick Harvey producing, of course). | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 431 Registered: 01-2005 |
The single disc version of Horsebreaker Star was the only solo disc I bought before seeing Robert and Grant in Pontiac, Michigan in June of 1999. I quickly scooped up the other 7 discs. Hosrsebreaker and DITP are my two favorites, followed by CFACP and IYBR. Is the double disc UK version of Horsebreaker worth picking up then? | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1479 Registered: 03-2006 |
Absolutely, Michael. The six, or so, songs left off are all keepers. Don't know why they (the record company), in their infinite wisdom, took them off the US version. Perhaps it was to keep the overall tenor of the record a little less "country-rock" - the tracks left off seem a little more of that bent, though they are great, and if you ask me, that's the strength of the record - its unique take on that sound. There's one song, in fact, that sounds like it wouldn't have been out of place on a Buck Owens record. Oh, and there's a great, majestic cover of the Byrds' "Ballad of Easy Rider". Your cup will runneth over, MB! | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1191 Registered: 04-2005 |
I love the darker, reverb-heavy sound of DITP. It adds a lot, I think, and is appropriate to that batch of songs. I think the sound of either it or "Watershed" could have been the direction of "Freakchild," if it had happened. And maybe that was the struggle RF and GM were smart enough to sidestep by dissolving the band when they did. I'm thinking that the best way to hear the full version of "Horsebreaker Star" is on a two-disc vinyl set. On CD, even the "short" U.S. version seems to go on freaking forever; I'm not sure adding seven or eight more songs would help. But split into four well-sequenced sides, I bet it would a great listen. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1482 Registered: 03-2006 |
This is true. Even those hallowed double disc classics like the Beatles' White Album and London Calling? Nobody really listened to them in a sitting - their greatness was absorbed in smaller doses. I even have a hard time listening to long albums by artists I love, like say, Tom Waits. On that note, I remember reading a quote by John Lennon where he said that the most his attention span would hold up for, even with artists he revered, like Chuck Berry, was a single side of an album. That's why the GoBees were so smart to keep it to 10 songs... | ||
| terry eason Member Username: Easonic Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2007 |
Hi, just thought I'd throw my two cents in on the interesting Grant solo album debate. I definitely fall into the In Your Bright Ray camp on this one. No doubt Horsebreaker Star is a great album, I just don't care as much for the "country-tinged" vibe and I think the songwriting on In Your Bright Ray is top notch, "Do You See the Light" and "Comet Scar" are some of his best. There's hardly a dud among them (okay maybe "Sea Breeze" isn't a high point for me). So, go buy that one if you were to only own one of them. It rocks. In a good way! But, as has been pointed out here many times, they're all worth owning. That said, interestingly enough, I've never delved into Robert's solo career. Sounds Like a good place to start would be Calling From a Country Phone, right? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 952 Registered: 03-2005 |
Michael, at first I was disappointed by the additional songs on HS when I finally got the double disc version. The ones left off are not really the high-water marks of the whole set although I agree with Hardin that "Ballad of Easy Rider" is a truly wonderful touch. I find Grant's version of that song particularly moving now that he's gone. Again, there's a personal angle to it. My oldest brother, who really is the starting point for my musical tastes, has always been a major Byrds fan. I could not get him to listen to anybody "new," and "new" for him will include an 80s act like the GoBees. I find it ineffably satisfying to have one of the principals in my favorite "new" act cover one of my oldest brother's favorite songs. I always objected to the decision to tack "Fighting Fires" onto the HS songs for the US market disc so it's worthwhile to get rid of that and get the other songs. Face it, as a completist you'll need it. Terry, Robert's records are a totally different pleasure. It's funny how Robert has told us that he was the "strategist" and Grant was the dreamer because when you hear their solo records you assume the opposite is true. Grant's records seem to always have an eye on the market. Robert's just blissfully ignore the outside world and go the way that Robert is going at the moment. "Country Phone" is a fine album and you get to start it out by listening to the beautiful "Atlanta Lie Low." I nearly died when I first heard that song. It's extremely simple but it works. One of my personal favorite GoBees live memories is of them doing "121" in Paris in 2003. It's made for the stage so it really took new life there. Jeff, I know what you mean about the Bad Seeds thing on DITP. But Robert made it really clear that he wanted to do a Mick Harvey production with a "big room" sound. So he got it, for better or worse. It sounds like you and I probably pretty much agree about the results even if you might be more tolerant of the heavy reverb than I am. The idea of either the sound of DITP or "Watershed" being the next GoBees record's sound is a nightmare to me. But remember they wanted to go acoustic as a duo. There might have been a third way . . . . | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 66 Registered: 03-2006 |
thanks team. I went out and bought "Horsebreaker Star" and "Fireboy", and have ordered "In Your Bright Ray". (Typically, I saw it sec. hand for NZ$8 a day after I ordered a copy from the UK.) "Fireboy" certainly has it's moments, although it's overlong and a bit patchy. On first listen "Horsebreaker ..." sounds great, and I'm suddenly thinking of selling my US copy and re-buying the UK doube. (I didn't realise there were two versions until I got home from the shop.) Anyway, thanks for the tips. I'm really enjoying "... NY Girlfriend" and half of "Warm Nights" too. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 244 Registered: 11-2004 |
Terry, get all four Forster records and listen to them chronologically, with a bottle of scotch at the ready. I don't know which one to get first, hence grabbing the lot while they're still in print. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1213 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lawrence and after downing your scotch, you can line dance to some tunes from Horsebreaker Star, do your own thing!! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1179 Registered: 05-2005 |
Don't listen to Donat and Spence Lawrence. Drink Irish whiskey, not Scotch. We invented it, we make it better. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1502 Registered: 03-2006 |
I'm always open to fresh new ways to get a buzz on, PC. Any particular brands of of whiskey you recommend? Bushmill's? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1182 Registered: 05-2005 |
I have to admit not liking whiskey at all LK - not Irish, not Scotch, not bourbon, not Japanese knock-offs, not nothing. But Jameson seems to be the one most people drink when they're drinking Irish. | ||
| David James Member Username: Broadmajestic Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2006 |
Robert's version of "2541" by Grant Hart is superb. It's on "NY Girlfriend" | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 315 Registered: 08-2006 |
Jameson is my poison, LK. Speaking of which... | ||
| terry eason Member Username: Easonic Post Number: 6 Registered: 01-2007 |
Wow, Robert covered Grant hart? I had no idea. I don't live far from that address! I'm not much of a whisky guy either, so I'll pick up those Forster albums and maybe some other sort of winter warmer. Dang, it's cold here in Minnesota february! | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 319 Registered: 08-2006 |
"2541" is great song, and one of those tunes that's catchy enough yet obscure enough to make a perfect cover. I've seen more than a few bands do it live, and even have an album on which Marshall Crenshaw tackles it. Forster gets bonus points for his version since he's on a different continent. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 969 Registered: 03-2005 |
It's Robert's cover of 2541 that turned me onto Grant Hart in the first place, since I'd never been a Husker listener. His cover of "Locked Away" really works too. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 245 Registered: 11-2004 |
Picture it: a reliable carousel CD player, a nice easy chair, straight scotch (or Irish whisky - either/or I guess) and hearing the light and shade over four albums - a brilliant scene! At least get Warm Nights - if you're Ebay savvy, you can find a copy for the price of a pint. | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2007 |
I bought NYG and CFACF (on CD to replace my old tapes)for less than £2 each including postage form Amazon marketplace. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1234 Registered: 05-2005 |
I must admit, thinking about it, in the great scheme of things, there ain't an awful lot of albums solo wise to choose from, I say to anyone, just but the fuc*in lot of em, and ebay the ones you don't like! | ||
| Lawrence Mikkelsen Member Username: Simplythrilledhoney Post Number: 68 Registered: 03-2006 |
Just got "In Your Bright Ray". Yes, it's great ... really really great. Now, anyone know of a good Robert/Grant discography? I'm thinking I need to start tracking down solo CD singles. Or should I nip this madness in the bud? | ||
| Elizabeth Robinson Member Username: Liz_the_new_listener Post Number: 65 Registered: 10-2006 |
Dear Lawrence - I love 'In Your Bright Ray', especially the title song and 'Do You See the Light?' And if I ever fall asleep to 'Horsebreaker Star' it's because it's wonderful stuff to fall asleep to. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1519 Registered: 03-2006 |
I like what Robert Christgau sez about "Horsebreaker Star": "play these songs five years from now and every one will be yours". Love "Bright Ray", too...the ones you mention are great, Liz - also really love "Lamp by Lamp"... | ||
| Elizabeth Robinson Member Username: Liz_the_new_listener Post Number: 66 Registered: 10-2006 |
'Lamp By Lamp' is a lullaby for sweethearts, so peaceful and well written. I'm sorry I forgot to mention that one. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1390 Registered: 05-2005 |
Elizabeth, excuse me if I am wide of the mark here. But I always enjoy your contributions to this message board, however I have noticed you have not (to the best of my knowledge) visited the "off topic" section of the board where you will find we tend to gather for some lively debate, I was thinking maybe you dont know it exists. Maybe you do know though, and who could blame you for staying where you are  | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1238 Registered: 05-2005 |
Elizabeth, Kev is the Grandaddy of the 'Off Topics" crew, be careful, if you enter, you may never leave. In Off Topic, no one can hear you scream!! | ||
| Elizabeth Robinson Member Username: Liz_the_new_listener Post Number: 67 Registered: 10-2006 |
The door creaks behind me... 'Lamp by lamp....' (sung out of context and on tiptoe). I think I have weighed in about (shudder) Dubya and (applause) my favorite sites, but definitely should pop in more often there in 'Off-Topic' stuff. Point taken. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 457 Registered: 01-2005 |
LK/Hardin and Randy, thanks for recommending the double disc version of Horsebreaker Star. I just got a very nice used copy in the mail yesterday and I am listening to it as I compose this. I totally agrre with Randy's comment about "Ballad Of Easy Rider" being so moving with Grant's passing. | ||
| terry eason Member Username: Easonic Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2007 |
I've been listening to Horsebreaker Star a lot more lately, perhaps due to this discussion, and I must admit it's rating a lot higher now, maybe even neck and neck with IYBR. "Open Invitation" has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever composed! | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1531 Registered: 03-2006 |
Absolutely, Terry. Very slyly profound lyrics, too... And, Glad you're enjoying it, Michael. That version of "Easy Rider" really is a beaut - so moving, so eloquent. Out of the extra songs Grant wrote that are on the double-disc, my current fave is "Late Afternoon In Early August". Great jaunty, up-tempo tune, great fiddle riff and for some reason, I get a kick outta hearing GM sing the line, "All the boys are busy, pulling the heifer from the bog". The guy had a serious cowboy fixation, it seems... | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 250 Registered: 11-2004 |
Open Invitation dates from the Freakchild demos in case you didn't already know, Terry. I think every GW song has been re-recorded for his solo years, but there's a few of RF's from those sessions that have yet to see the light of day. | ||
| Peter Member Username: Peterw Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2007 |
Re Robert recording 2541... Grant once told me that he felt a great affinity for Husker Du, a band who had a bad split following a successful 'underground' run in the 80s. I don't think he was referring to a musical link, but the Huskers had 2 song writers as did the Gobs and they were both Bob and Grant. Maybe Robert shared his affinity and that's why he covered 2541 (or maybe 'cuase its a great song!!)... | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 418 Registered: 08-2006 |
Never thought about the parallel, Peter, and Husker Du ranks with the GBs as one of my all-time favorite bands. I think a lot of songwriters had admiration for the the Huskers. Underneath all that noise there was a lot of smart, surprisingly poppy, songcraft. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1260 Registered: 04-2005 |
Another huge difference (besides the fact the Huskers played at least 50 dB louder than the Go-Betweens) is that there was always a lot of tension and jealousy between Mould and Hart that didn't exist between RF and GM. Mould made damn sure that songwriting split was never 50/50 and that he always got the lead-off track on albums. Also, Lindy Morrison was a much, much better drummer than Grant Hart. He was fast...that's about it. | ||
| Peter Member Username: Peterw Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2007 |
Yeah I don't think he intended the comparison to be that deep, really just the Bob and Grant thing, two song writers, big critical but little commercial success, bad break up etc etc...obviously the comparison doesn't hold up to serious scrutiny. Rob its the reason I remember the chat, 'cause like you I loved both bands but I never thought of it either. | ||
| Sloan Nevidy Member Username: Rockandrollfriend Post Number: 11 Registered: 07-2005 |
I know I'm late on this thread, but I think "Parachute" of Far Out Corporation is one of Grant's best songs, so I would definitely pick up that cd if you ever see it . No Grant completist can do without it. I'll also have to agree with Ms. Robinson and say that I think "Lamp by Lamp" is one of the greatest Grant songs around. "In Your Bright Ray" is his best LP, bar none. |