Jim and William Reid of the band The Jesus and Mary Chain are
responsible for the downfall of project five a day. The bands tour came
to town a week ago today and it happened to fall on the day that over
the course of the day I had only manage to listen to one and a half
albums. The great Goldie lookin' Chain and half of the unexpected Drutti
Column album.
The brothers and the band are one of my
favourite bands of all time (the best is obviously The Clash) so I
didn't want to miss it. Nor did I want to give up on my project. I
thought of having a catch up day on the Saturday but regardless I had
still failed to stick with it thus the plug was pulled.
This was
further evidenced when I tried to listen to The Mary Chain's new album
the following morning and failed to complete it. I had been completely
out done. I was Cracking Up. I wasn't sidewalking with this album. (That's enough, James) Some
Pyschocandy might of fixed the problem. This decision wasn't automatic.
But I was looking April Skies so I didn't need a Mary Chain amputation. (You're Fired, James)
Listen to me!
and me!
Music
reviews will now feature irregularly along side all the usual great
design content, rants about stuff and things (them last two are the most
important). However in terms of design, I have some gig posters I
really want to show you as well as a single cover that nearly was and
what I think Michael Beirut. Meanwhile here is a video of the shows highlight for me.
This week I was defeated by two Scottish brothers in my quest to listen to five albums every weekday. It's been quite an adventure. I will explain later but let's review what I did hear.
Day One
Sonic Flower Groove is a psychedelic pop album by one of the most interesting bands the UK has produced, Primal Scream. This is not that good of an album but it does predate The Stone Roses debut album. Seriously, put a baggy beat to this LP and you will have the Stone Roses debut album.
Live at the Regal is a live album by the Blues Legend BB King and it is amazing. Vaguely familiar with his work, I went into this knowing a few things but the band on this album are on form and so is Mr King. I was toe tapping smiling my head off. He knows how to front a band and engage the audience.
Fox Base Alpha is a Pet shop boys album. Sorry no it's a Saint Etienne album but at it's heart is a Pet shop boys sound. The classy strings, the dance grooves and the song writing. However it takes a few leftfield turns with an interesting use of sampling and none descript instrumental pieces. Known for Only Love Can Break your Heart, this album is well worth a listen.
Brassbound by the Ordinary boys is a post punk revival album which features my two favourite songs by the band. These two tracks do stand out from the others as being significantly better than the rest of the album however there are some Madness type horns in places and bits that have a Specials type vibe in amongst the choppy guitars the mid 2000's revival was done for. Like that Dead 60's album.
I haven't listened to a Pigeon Detectives album since 2008's Emergency album so was unaware as to what to expect from this. Thankfully the album isn't like that one (i was worried nearly ten years down the line and they were repeating the same indie pop that got them famous. This album (Broken Glances) is a dark mellow album with some upbeat glimpses
Day Two
Berry is on top was listened to hear the legends voice once again (after his passing on the sunday prior) This album is a collection of singles from that year and works, mostly, as a best of. However the last two tracks are throwaways Hey pedro is done in a cod mexican accent and blues for hawiians is the only previously unrealesed track and is an instrumental.
Have you heard Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era? Then You don't need to hear The Parrots album Los niños sin miedo.
Life & Livin' It is the new funking album by the great Sinkane. Seemingly taking on board elements from his time in The Atomic Bomb Band and projecting them onto this new Lp cos it sounds fantastic.
Grand Prix by Teenage Fanclub doesn't have as much hype around it as the album Bandwagonesque, an album I didn't 'get'. I like this album alot but still don't get the hype; this album received Critical acclaim and loved by everyone. I have been looking for album like this for a while.Whenever I get frustrated on angry for reasons out of my control, I have a collection of albums I turn to to get my mood back under control and now I can add this one to that list (Tracey Thorn, Laura Marling and Jamie XX are on that list). This is a gloriously chilled vocal Jazz album by Norah Jones, Come Away with me, it's called. Very relaxing and soft for when things are going wrong.
Day Three
The Rutles self titled release is normally 36 Mins but this was the CD reissue taking it to 50 minutes of Beatlesesque music. This collection are endearing parodies of The Beatles discography by their friends. They are very enjoyable but I have a feeling I won't be coming back to them soon. They are very silly. Father John Misty's Debut album Fear Fun is a barquoue folk rock record; very cinematic strings with acoustic guitars and backed by a rock band. It is much like the second album, I love you, Honeybear musically and is just as enjoyable. Von Bondies are a garage punk rock outfit and Pawn Shoppe heart is a loud garage punk rock album.
Brinsley Shcwartz is a strange album. it's called pub rock but does not stand up comapred to the other bands labelled so, namely Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury. It is a bad copy cat of American folk rock with emphasis on virtuosity.
Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign is a great electric blues LP. It has great version of Kanas City on it and is another toe tapping blues album.
Day Four
Straight outta Newport is a tongue in cheek rap album by the Welsh hip hop group Goldie Lookin Chain. The songwriting is smart but rude. I have had Self Suicide, Gun's Don't Kill People, Rapper's Do, Half Man, Half Machine and Roller Disco on repeat.
Rita Ora's debut album ORA is a generic pop sub genre Bland. It has the pop
album problem of tone because one minute it attempts to be hip hop then
pop rock and then EDM. There is no character to her voice. There is one
good track and that is not even her track; anyone producer made a
successful drum and bass track and they tagged it on as the last track.
Cheryl's
a million lights starts really really well because the beat of the
first track sounds like a hip hop beat but then the song starts...boo.
Unfortunately apart from this drum break it is generic electro pop with a
few slow numbers because we don't want people dancing all the time.
Also how come a lady with the most broad of geordie accents sounds like
Rita Ora on this thing. Autotune?
Heatworms is the new album by The Shins and it sounds like a good Belle and Sebastian album. +Office Jukebox +
Worhead
is the new Little Comets album and it is just like the last Little
Comets album I heard, Life is Everywhere. It's not adventurous or all
that interesting. +Office Jukebox +
Sticks and Stones is the
debut album but ex X Factor lady, Cher Lloyd. This is straight up awful.
It's Eliza Doolittle with synthesizers. The song writing is aimed at
early teens, the production is offensive electro pop. She interpolates
Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry with worse lyrics. She 'puts dub on the
track' over dubstep and grime b listers rapping. One track is a pop rock
dubstep mash up that no one wanted, she has a distinctive annoying
voice. It's just awful.
Day Two
All of these are Prince albums and up until
recently I hadn't heard them due to there absence on streaming services.
I am a big fan of Sign O The Times and these projects are very good
like that album but none of the Flawless.
Lovesexy was a great day opener. Very funky and grooves really well but verges on annoying when virtuosity takes over the feel of a track.
Purple Rain features the first
Prince song I remember hearing, Lets Go Crazy, the album is not the
greatest as the music papers claim. It is good for a number of the
tracks are great.
1999, all the tracks are 12" mix length and some work;
DMSR and 1999 but others suffer and are mostly underwritten songs that
shouldn't be 8 mins long.
Around the world in a day is a conscise and
funky LP and probably my fave of the day.
Parade is namely slow and
lacks substance. Girls and boys, kiss and mountains are all fab.
Day Three
Diana Vickers, another ex factor album, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree and has everything wrong with it that
the others do. It has synth pop tracks, pop rock tracks and token
acoustic numbers to bring the pace down.
Fleur East, ex factor
contestant and an album that jumps on the funk pop thing that Uptown funk
brought us. Everyone jumped on it and this album does too even covering
it (Uptown funk) on x factor and tagging it on here. No one told Simon
that funk it's real and not just made in garage band by the blandest
producer. Water down what makes a funk record work and you have this. To
be honest they actually forget it's meant to be funky half way through
and it just becomes bland electro pop. Do Not Listen to Love, Sax and Flashbacks.
Emma Bunton's album Free Me is radio 2 the album with some smooth classical pop music. It has a great album cover too.
Title
by Meghan Trainor is one of the most annoying albums. Lyrically for the
most part is patronizing, her voice is unique but really grates on you,
the idea of reviving doo woop is an odd concept and hence it only
lasted 6 months. It has the worst title too.
Rachel Platten had
one hit called Fight Song, it was a bad song. Generic Triumphant 'yeah I
fought through ________ today, yeah!. the rest of this album 'Wildfire' filled with some
inoffensive bland electronic pop music. Her voice isn't
distinctive,carries no weight to it and that might of made this Album a
bit less poop but I don't remember any other track.
Day Four
Spice Girls
debut album is mostly a fun R &B flavored pop record, it is
consistent in tone. Each member brings something new to the range and
yeah, the music is of its time but it didn't offend me, I actually quite
liked it in spots.
The Saturdays covered the early Depeche Mode
hit and it was a smashing success. That's all I know about them. It's
not a bad song, it's a great song actually just their version was an
exact copy with worse production. This album (Chasing Lights) for the most part is synth
pop but for some reason pop rock sneaks in. Why can't a bands album
producers talk to each other! I digress, I nearly fell asleep because
the voices all sound the same and they are all auto tuned to hell and
back.
Bewitched is a nineties album. At its heart it keeps the
R&B influenced pop but and this is the good bit: Irish Fiddles, Drum
and Bass Passages, classical guitar, string sections and buzz saw
guitar. All over the baggy, R&B thing. The lyrics are aimed at kids
so can't call them out that much but this album just confused me.
What
will the Neighbors say? by Girls Aloud saved the day. I love pretty much all this
album. It's consistent, the songs are good (despite the pretenders and
pointer sisters covers) and the production is by one bloke and you can
tell. Love machine has always been a guilty pleasure but it is a great
song, Arctic Monkeys covered it. It has relentless energy. It saved my
sanity and now retrospectively makes me looks stoopid for hating on them
when they first came out.
Ashlee Simpson's autobiography is an
pop rock album. I miss the days when pop stars could be seen with
guitars and not need to have very few clothes on. Ellie Goulding, I am
looking at you. Yeah, this is a very pleasant pop rock album. This feel
genuine as a project not done by committee of record managers in high
office closing swimsuits for the album photoshoot.
Day Five
Hot thoughts
by Spoon is the best of post punk rolled into one. It's dark, the drums
are pounding, and the groveling bass. Political as well, there is a
great line about tearing down a certain wall.
The Haze, the new
LP by Pulled apart by Horses. Is a noisy noise album the buzzsaw guitar
doesn't let up much on these joyous fun garage rock tunes.
Different
Creatures, is the surprise of the day by the band, Circa Waves who I
keep being told are hip and cool and worth tickets for shows and I
hadn't listened to them. This album is a solid indie rock record
In
Mind by Real Estate is a dreamy indie guitar album. The first track is
amazing with a great rhythms, fab bass parts and lead guitar lines. Then
unfortunately it ends up petering out into just dreamy guitar lines and
that's it. No song structures just guitars in echo.
Spirit
by Depeche Mode is a musically stripped back yet lyrically clunky album.
Politically empty lyrics and demanding others for the revolution when
you can play just as much a part yourself. Musically it is great though.
It was Mark E Smith's 60th birthday last Sunday so decided to dedicate Monday to The Fall and the albums that I have not heard. Tomorrow I am planning a day of pop Princess'; I am determined to find any album as good as Body Language by Kylie by a female solo artist. Pop men should be Thursday, Busted Related stuff on Wednesday and Friday is newish music Friday.
Happy Belated Birthday Mark E Smith
County on the click - this is a noisey lofi Fall LP with some really exceptional songs. The production on the first track is so noisey you can't hear anything properly apartment from Mark's vocal; everything is swamped by a distorted guitar. There are a couple of songs on here that sound like Iggy Pop. There great backing vocals on this thing that compliment Mark's expression of poetry.
Your Clutter, Our Future, is an amazing album. It's is experimental with so many fast panning guitars, over the top noisey synths and tight tight Rhythm sections. Bury, is a seminal track as well as good any of the classic Fall stuff. Great little features from Mark's dictophone as well.
Room to Live is the wackiest and most off the wall fall LP, it is very repetitive, very lofi and very noisey and that is saying something for a Fall album. Papal visit is the epitome of all this weirdness.
Imperial Wax Solvent is a good fall album. It doesn't stand out as exceptional but what does is 50 year old man, this albums 11 minute ode to his age.
A Part of America Therein, is a chaotic live album by the fall. Great to hear the American compare at the being of this LP. The tracks are really good. The version of The NWRA is a fairer recording of the tack than the studio cut. Hip Priest sounds like it could fall apart at anytime, possibly because it features the falls ex bassist on drums. Wired, lie Dream and older lover are amazing. The tracks aren't cut properly as they are from different gigs so weird fade ins and outs are common. But I do like a live fall.
Female Solo artists
Duffy's Rockferry is much better than its lead single; Mercy. That
song was everywhere in 2007 and the track stands out like a sore thumb
on this album of cinematic soul inspired in equal parts by Motown and
Philly spector. Glorious strings sections, Soulful unique enough voice
and solid song writing. Mercy is the only obviously upbeat track, only
track with an organ and no its not bad it's just not as good as I
remember.
Eliza Doolittle's self titled album is early
Kate Nash and Lily Allen pop music if it was less interesting and more
doo woop inspired. It is Grey for most of the record with some glimpses
of potential. The albums big hit; Pack Up is the albums most interesting
track and it's main hook isn't even sung by her. It's all bittersweet
too. I ain't the target market but I don't see any appeal.
Drastic
Fantastic is a equal parts folky and britpop. The album starts with
some footstompers and progresses to Laura Mailing esque stuff but all
really enjoyable and the album cover photo is absolutely sublime.
Christine
and the Queens debut album is a minimal spacious electro pop album with
flat production, forgettable songs and has very little going for it. I
tried this album last year when I became allergic to this mid tempo
minimal electro and I still am by the sounds of it. I became allergic
because every album by synth pop stars went let's turn the down the
tempo and strip out the interesting stuff. The Naked an Famous, The
Invisible, Jagwar Ma.
Do you want the truth or something
beautiful? by Paloma Faith is an orchestral pop album tracks I didn't
think I'd heard before but most of the tracks had been featured on
adverts. I have always liked her as a person. Funny in interviews,
beautiful lady and her style is so unique. This album is very good.
Fabulously composed tunes.
Write off Wednesday
The same year Charlie Simpson rejoined the band he once said he'd never go back to he released this inoffensive country flavored solo album. That does nothing much interesting. The most interesting track is a Bon Iver cover. I have no desire to explore this again.
Son of a Dork was the first project released by the other two members of Busted that weren't Charlie simpson. Matt and James I believe there names were. This is colour by numbers pop punk record. Taking the style of Blink 182, Sum 41 and in places Good Charlotte and replacing me against the world lyrics and replace them with creepy 'love' songs /isn't being a failure cool songs. If you stop thinking while listening it could be a Blink album but minus the good songs.
Our next album is Night Driver by that there reformed Busted and it's awful. When you make a comeback Lads remember what genre you once were. You nay as well started another project to release this and not used guitar pop stylee. What makes this album awful is not the lack of guitar, it's the bland synth pop songs with dire lyrics. Kids with computers is one of the song titles, these kids you are taking about make much better music than you. It's faceless too, they have been away song long, I can't remember whose voice is who's. This could be anyone.
Speaking of bland synth pop, when guitars became old hat for 'pop' stars. Mcfly dropped there guitars immediately and became experts in synth pop music. Ha hah hahaha. Don't be silly this was released roughly six years before the New Busted album and I can't help think they wanted to copy it's formula. This has the same problems as it.
While Charlie Simpson, the guy at the beginning of this day who seems miles away, was off making credible country acoustic music, McFly and The other two busted members were running out of money so they decided to form a super group and this album is dire. It fused the bad pop punk that son of a Dork were doing with the later day electronic stylings of McFly and it is awful. Dare I say it hints at potential but never reaches it. I also don't know who this is aimed at. It still seems aimed at young kids but they don't know who these people are. People who once like these two bands have moved on (I am now into hip hop, post punk and Jazz) shouldn't dig this unless they want nostalgia which shouldn't really be a draw otherwise I would of got it.
Today we are calling write off Wednesday, most of it didn't reach much above awful and it was only the Bon Iver cover reached above mediorce. Instead let's listen to something completely different. One of the best pieces of comedy the ex parrot sketch.
Male Solo Artists
The weekend always seemed to me like a dumb artist name and that's because it is. Starboy is the name of his latest effort and with his last album topping the charts with hit collaborations.i was skeptical as whether I would like this. I do, 45% of this album is danceable, grooving and fun tunes. Some sound like Disclosure and others prince. Other tracks when he attempts to rap or do love songs it ends up falling flat or sounding creepy. It is also far too long over an hour. I'd forgive some of the badder tracks if the album was shorter thus increasing the percentage I like this.
Girl by Pharrell is a confusing album. It starts off as a homage to MJ and then goes into a Caribbean flavour thing, then northern soul and the back to this tropical tracks. Alica keys turns up for a duet mainly centered around Pharrell. Half through the album there is a minute and a half of wave noises. Caused more confusion than enjoyment.
I loved the days when pop music was organic, when horns, drum kits and there was a sense of reality to them although I am talking about a on the nose pop rock middle of the road record it easier to hear an acoustic guitar. This was the Era of pop that that offbeat thing going on, not reggae just the rhythm of each track was an off beat making people bounce along. Olly Murs album is a solid down the nose pop LP. However if there were more likes like the first, A Change is Gonna Come (Not the Sam Cooke song), which sounds like Movin on Up by Primal Scream it would be higher.
Divide is the all concurring album by the weedy ginger haired lad that is Ed Sheeran but how does jamuggins feel about it? Can I see it's appeal to kids? Yes. Can I see young adults liking it? Yeah sure. I think 40% is good. The opening track sounds like Eminem, Galway girl is really fun and others have genuinely funny/ witty lyrics but most tracks are soppy or over sexual love songs. That's why I struggle to give this album a pass.
Wanted on Voyage is another down the middle acoustic pop acoustic male solo artist record. Kinda sounds like early Jake bugg if he had a few more members to his sound. The album starts with his two singles that most people would of bought it for and then turned it off. They would have been saved from the mediorce that follows. He does have that thing you need in a singer songwriter a unique voice but with one track that picks up the pace another is slower and more Grey than the last.
Newish Music day
Ow my ears, did Kanye reincarnate into a woman? Cos that's all I hear on this album. The beats and the auto tune. The forced bad rhymes just made me laugh. Most of the songs are about Sex and the club and the guest collaborations are useless. They can't save any of the tracks from being in your face, overtly sexualised bad hip hop/trap/ Dance. It's just so confusing.
The first few bars of the second album sound like Tom Waits so I know we are in safe hands. Laura Marling is back and I couldn't be happier. Semper Femina is a beautiful beautiful record. It is genuine, folky lovingly crafted. Heart went into this. I love everything she has done and this form continues onto this.
Volcano is the long awaited second LP by the band Temples and is a slight change of pace for the band. It is slower, more dreamy and more dense sounding. Atmospheric synthesizers recall Tame Impala, distorted pounding drums are Sgt pepper esque and it all fits together perfectly. Not what I was expecting but just as good as what I was.
Hurray for the Riff Raff is a country outfit from America or so I am told. They have appeared on a few festival posters in UK Soni thought I would check them out. First I thought they were a new band, they aren't. First I thought they were inspired by Courtney Barnett, they aren't (makes me realize how many cues Courtney takes from country music). Lastly, I like this album. More listens will be coming on this. Some great vocal textures, compositions and the opening ditty is one of the stranger ways to open an album. Great album cover too.
The last album is by an Allison Crutchfield who I hadn't heard of until I started listening. Seen her album advertised but never listened. I like this a lot. It is a lo fi rock record with some retro sounding synths and rye Lyrical takes on romance. Tourist in the town is well worth a listen and is a highlight for this project.
The A1111 And Other Ones! by John Shuttleworth is a compendium of the greatest hits of the comedian John Shuttleworth performed on his casio organ. Shuttleworth talks his through the hits with great guest appearances from his wife and friend Ken. 'Mingling with Mourners' is a very moving tune and One cup of Tea is never enough is another gem. Get the Volvo, Val features the most words crammed into a bar I have heard. All of these songs are really fun. It is a long compedium but that is by no means a bad thing.
Straight out of the Jungle - The Jungle Brothers. Old school hip hop classic here. Great use of sampling and smashing appearances from Q Tip. Strangely though the bands big hit (I'll House You) features halfway through the album and is the only house track on the album. That said a great album. Salt and Acid - Nightlife. Wearing your influences on your sleeve isn't always a bad thing especially on your band's debut album to know where the band is coming from. This is one osuch album that does that. It does sound like 2008 pop punk with Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco and Paramore and is an enjoyable version of that sound.
Saturday Night - Tim Darcy. This is a great lo fi indie rock album calling echoes of Lou Reed in the music and Roy Orbison in the voice. Social Music - John Batiste and Stay Human. A really cool jazzy poppy gospel album by the Late Show with Stephen Colbert's house band. Tuesday Drunk - Thundercat. The new album by the Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus collaborator is awesome. It is a vintage soul album with virtuoso bass playing, what sound like chessy midi drum parts and features some great collaborations. It is a bit long. It has a great album cover. See Clear Now - Wiley. What I saw as the most relevant period of Grime until this latest period. Released the same year as Dizzee Rascal's big hits; Bonkers, Holiday and Dirtee Cash. This is a really good album with a load of great bars and verses. Mark Ronson, Ronson collaborator Daniel Merriweather and Hot Chip all feature and were all massively popular at the time of the release which is why I thought it had broad appeal.
Half Mute - Tuxedomoon. Ambient Synth jazz album. That's what it is. I don't get it. 25 O'clock - The Dukes of Stratosphear. for a parody album of psychedelic music it is a thoroughly enjoyable LP.
Field Music Play - Field Music. A compilation of covers by the Sunderland based brothers. I love the Pet Shop Boys covers and the rest are also very pleasant again. Unfortunately, they don't really add anything to the original.
Weddo's Wednesday
Watusi - I fell in love with the first half of this album. So Long, Baby, Click Click & Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah are just classics. Really like the rest of this too.
Mini - This is an enjoyable short album about cars and girls. It has the classic Wedding Present sound.
Saturnalia - A more laid back take on the classic Wedding Present sound. Really like the track Big Boots.
Take Fountain - A strong come back album of the Weddo's. This is a more ambient take on the classic Wedding Present sound continuing the tone of the last one.
El Rey - Back to the classic Wedding present sound. I really like the lead single The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend.
Thursday
Lou Reed - Lou Reed. For some reason people didn't like this album, I really like this album. It's classic Lou Reed sound. It follows logically on from Loaded by VU; It doesn't invent anything new but yeah. Very good.
Duran Duran - Duran Duran. Top tip do not stick two big hit singles at the beginning of your album if they are the two best tracks on the album. The rest follow the formula of them two tracks to death. The guitar strums all feature on the same beat. There are a few long ambient synth workout's that are just dull.
The Return of the Super Ape - The Upsetters. Labelled as dub album I see this more as a reggae album with the unique touches that Mr Perry. He is really good getting some really unique sounds in his productions.
A Sailor's Guide to Earth - Sturgill Simpson. I love this album. It is a modern country soul album. This man has a great voice. The unexpected Nirvana cover blends into this album really well. This is was the surprise of the week. Top Top album.
Colour it in - The Maccabees. I know you are going to find it hard to believe but I have never listened to this album before. I have listened to the following albums by this band and it sounds like they are repeating themselves on them albums based on hearing this.
Friday
English Tapas - Sleaford Mods. I like to listen to Sleaford Mods albums a few times before coming to conclusions but they have ditched the loud shouty tracks in place is more melodic slower tracks. There is more emphasis on electronics and drum machines and not cut up punk samples. Uyai - Ibibio Sound Machine. The funky bits are really really funky on this and the slower tracks just seem really slow and jarring. I wanted more funk. It's good just not what I thought it would be.
Last Place - Grandaddy. Yep, it's a Grandaddy album. It's a really enjoyable one as well. Evermore is an amazing track; you should check it out. See below.
The Joy of Sex - Tragedy: The All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gee's and Beyond. The parody of glam metal that loses it's appeal when it is just in your ears. I really enjoyed the cover of Staying Alive with the double time change up. I did find myself headbanging to some of the tunes but you really need the visuals to accompany the joke.
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Big Daddy. An album of tracks off of The Beatles seminal album set to musical covers of other tracks like Poison Ivy, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On & The Wanderer. Bizzare.
The post punk revival of the early to mid 200's were the shot in the arm of the music industry bring guitars back to fore. But with all the bands that were really good and brought something unique to them game there were many who played choppy guitar tunes like the style would die out if they didn't. Some seen in the pages of NME radar when I was growing up and not many amounted to anything.
Why am I telling you this? Well this week was the week I set out to discover the post punk revivalists that I had;
1. Heard of and listened to a bit
2. Heard of put hadn't listened
3. Related to artists that I liked from that scene.
There are three exceptions due to the office jukebox being on I had heard a few other things so forgive me. Please forgive me.
Understanding Electricity - Official Secrets Act - NME Radar Hyped band and love the album artwork; however the album leads with songs that sound like The Futureheads and then moves into what latter day Foals sound like just nowhere near as good. Some interesting Drum sounds though...
On The Brain - Bromheads Jacket - I am sure I have seen the album cover in a design magazine. This is a really fun loud garage psych rock album.
Gospel Bombs - Vincent Vincent and the Villains - This is a great album. It's really enjoyable, feels like an Orange Juice album with a shot of Roy Orbison. 'I'm Alive' is great tune.
Little Death - Pete and the Pirates - Lyrically quirky and just a great fun indie pop record.
Be Your own PET - Be Your own PET - Surprise of the bunch. From seen their image plastered of The Bunker's Rehearsal space and in copies of NME, I expected a stand post punk aware but this is Hardcore punk with tracks that barely reach three minutes. Riot Grrl in the best way possible. Check this out.
The Gift - Sons and Daughters. I spent so much time trying to work out what this albums sounded like instead of listening to it probably. When I flicked that switch, I realised how awesome this is. It was advertised everywhere in NME in 2008 and I didn't know what spotify was but this is a gem. Highlight of day Two. PS it sound like a Phill Spector produced indie rock LP.
Bulletproof Heart - Grace Jones - office jukebox - This is a really great album, it was her last before come back and was commercially unsuccessful (I have no idea why). It is the Grace Jones formula of great production and her distinctive vocals are awesome. I found myself grooving through the whole thing.
Highly Evolved - The Vines - A Strange fusion of britpop and grunge...I'll explain. This album takes the cues of The Verve and Oasis when it comes to ballads but takes it's louder cues from Pixies and Nirvana. I kept thinking Stereophonics too. It doesn't feel like and album of two halves with each style. It actually melds the two together nicely.
Girls and Weather - The Rumble Strips - I thought Mark Ronson had a hand in this but his relation with the band came after this. It is just unusual to have such dominant horn sections around this time without his stamp. This is a Dexy's Midnight runners album in style, vocal delivery and feel and it also features that song that has been on a million adverts. I found myself dancing while cooking my tea and listening to this so that's good
Cape Dory - Tennis. a very enjoyable Lo-fi oldies infused indie album with songs about a boat and the ocean.
No Fighting - Harrisons - a by the numbers post punk revival album with choppy guitars, Shouty lyrics and great rhythms.
PAWS. - Pull Tiger Tail - a by the numbers post punk revival album with choppy guitars, Shouty lyrics and great rhythms however complimented with a great synth work.
Cuts Across the Land - The Duke Spirit - A female lead indie rock and roll riot, garage rock inspired album. Definitely overtakes the characterless albums earlier in the day.
Jewellery - Micachu and the Shapes - Not what I was expecting this is a lo-fi leftfield folk album with choppy beats, keyboards and really short songs.
Everything is New - Jack Penate - A poppy friendly fires esque LP. Knowing two singles from this LP I was expecting the rest to fall flat but they fit really well into this album.
Elephant shell - Tokyo Police club - a by the numbers indie pop album with choppy guitars, Shouty lyrics and great rhythms.
Ra Ra Riot - Ra Ra Riot - A No Wave flavour to this one with unexpected strings that seem to come in from nowhere it's an odd mix. It's is noisey and grungey.
Life is elsewhere - Little Comets - an enjoyable by the numbers indie pop album with choppy guitars, Shouty lyrics and great rhythms.
I will Be - Dum Dum Girls - Love this album cover. This album doesn't appear to have an bass frequency in sight. It has stiff rhytms from the drum machine and a lo-fi sound.
Box of Secrets - Blood Red Shoes - A enjoyable by the numbers male female bluesy rock duo ala White Stripes.
Flying Microtonal Banana - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - a fabulous psych rock concept record with repetitive beats, great riffs all with the unique KG&LW sound on it.
The Colourful Life - Cajun Dance Party - A colour and charming folk influence indie pop album by a band that was splattered across the NME's advert pages and and news sections.
Hats off to the Buskers - The View - Only ten years late to the party with this great album. So much character and interest in this LP. Quirky acoustic ditties with a large dose of Indie Rock 'n' roll Riot both complimented with one of indies unique voices Mr Kyle Falconer.
Young for Eternity - The Subways - This is a great album found myself head banging and foot tapping to the tunes on this LP. John Peel approved garage rock with an indie slant.
Late Night Endless - Sherwood and Pinch. Once you get past the grammatically incorrect album title this is a very enjoyable danceable dub album and a great way to round off a week of choppy indie guitar rock, angsty vocals and great rhythms.
This is Icona Pop - Icona Pop. Boring electro pop album. The first five tracks share pretty much the same drum pattern and structure and the last five share more of the same elements. I have danced to one of these songs in a club and it worked then because it was a big dumb pop song but don't stretch the success of that single across and album.
Paris - Paris Hilton. This is why models shouldn't make albums. They hire expensive but dull producers who smash out generic pop songs. All these songs are faceless uninspired generic electro pop with hip hop track , a track with a washed out guitar (in an attempt at pop rock) and a track with an off beat guitar ( I won't dignify it by calling it reggae) with words that make me ill.
Cinderella's eyes - Nicola Roberts. Judged this album by the front cover because it features a great photo and not just because she is an attractive lady. Shame it is a bland electro pop album with dull song writing. There is one interesting effect on the first track and one track sounds faintly like the Pet Shop Boys.
Sheezus - Lily Allen. I loved Lily Allen's album prior to this, It's not me, It's you. It had smart song writing and a more organic pop sound. This is just a synthetic pop mess. Don't get me wrong the song writing is mostly great with some smart witty lines a long side one of my fave songs of the past five years, Hard Out Here. Before I forget I am sure Nigel Blackwell wrote one of these songs, URL Badman, seems like something he'd write. Unfortunately the layers of synths, dubstep wobbles and vocoder is detracting. Sorry Lily, Love ya.
Anywhere I lay my head - Scarlett Johansson. What is essentially a Tom Waits covers album by a leading actress, I had no idea what to think. It's folky, Country, but then half way through a drum machine starts some of the tracks and feels awkward against the folk instrumentation. It's not bad and may take more than one listen to enjoy it a bit more. My hearings not particularly good at the minute so will save this for listen number two.
Day Two - Lullaby versions
Lullaby versions of The White Stripes, Green Day, David Bowie, Blur and The Clash.
All of these albums have the same problems. The faster songs slowed down make it hard to comprehend what song they actually are. The slower songs work really well but blink and you you won't be able to tell what's happening. Day Three - Krautrock Viva - La Dusseldorf. Sounds like a Yes album but I enjoyed it a whole lot more. Hijack - Amon Duul II. Bland Hippy Space Rock Opal - Embryo. Jazzy intense rock music - very much like Can.
Musik Von Harmonia - Harmonia. Sounds like one half Steve Reich and one half Brian Eno. Zuckerziet - Cluster. Proto-dance music: with a big beat over it it could be a Chemical Bros album. Day Four - Difficult Second Albums
A French Kiss in the Chaos - Reverend and The Makers. Politically charged lyrically without resolve backed by enjoyable Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era influenced rock.
Ten New messages - The Rakes. Post punk revivalism without twist or much interest.
The Optimist - New Young pony Club. Kinda reminds me of the second Gossip album in all the right ways.
Don't say we didn't warn you - Does it Offend you, Yeah? Exaggerated noiser sections and more tuneful quieter parts than the debut.
Do it again - Twisted Wheel. Mod rock from the one time punks.
Day Five - Newish releases
Lemon Memory - Menace Beach. Noisey psychedelic garage rock and roll with a scartch and sniff front cover.
Nehurvia - Bishop Nerhu. Well produced Hip Hop with lyrically simple, love and egotistical songs.
Dumb Blood - Vant. Lyrically Blunt Garage rock
Prisoner - Ryan Adams. Pleasant heartfelt country album.
Life will see you Now - Jens Lekman. There Goes Rhymin' Simon era Paul Simon takes song writing lessons from Courtney Barnett.
*DISCLAIMER. This review is late, not because I needed to catch up on albums but because of a panic of design work, Friday and sheer laziness, Saturday.*
Day One
This time it's personal - John Cooper Clarke and Hugh Cornwell. I think this is fabulous. JCC hasn't sung on record before and to me he sounds like a Roy Orbison character. Rock n roller and a singing for the lonely. These are cover versions of tracks I have never really heard but these renditions are beautifully arranged. The problem lies, as my dad addressed, who is this for? JCC fans are used to the poet, not the singer and Hugh Cornwell has been on... My point is these are mostly obscure oldies arranged and done by two punks in 2016. It's great but no audience is probably why it's in the sale bin in hmv. It's great but no one's listening.
Hold on now youngster - Los Campesinos. This album was splashed all over the NME 10 years ago when I was an avid reader. 10 years later; I hate what the NME has become and I love this album. This is a gloriously chaotic, essentially a duets, humorous album. It's Css without the synths but with fuzz guitars. Great level of humour. Kinda like that Art Brut album from week one/two of this project.
Everything that happens will happen today - David Byrne and Brian Eno. I love David Byrne, I think he is great and going into this I thought it was gonna be like his last album with Brian but 30 seconds you can tell it's not. These songs are Byrne on an acoustic guitar and then build up from there. The songs are really pleasant and are complimented greatly with the use of drum machine and ambient pad synth sounds. There are touches of African influence with the call and response between byrne and the backing vocals which is delightful.
Mothership Connection - Parliament. P funk is something I have never understood but have always been caught under its spell of the groove. This album sounds bare bones but always seems to have a lot going on. The groove (bass and drums) are centered in stereo and the rest of the instrumentation is either right or left...that might be why? Wasn't as enthralled by it as One Nation Under a Groove but on this album there are so many things hip hop has sampled/used, this band is tight and I love George Clinton.
The Angry Buddhists - The Angry Buddhists.
Day Two -
Don't stand me down - Dexys midnight runners. The lost classic as the music press now sees it. It sounds like a musical, to me there are segments where the members are talking toward thread of tracks like as a hand off to the next track. It's soulful, there are some great organ sounds but there are too many extended sections without anything interesting happening. 8 tracks long but 8mins is the average run time of the tracks.
Talking to the Taxman about poetry -Billy Bragg. Inspiration to my good self's third album has a much more augmented sound to it than his first two. Guest musicans compliment Bragg's tales of love and romance. Never listened to this album all the way through, now I have and I can safely recommend it.
Process - Sampha. One half is a piano ballad and the other is piano lead hip hop album. Some really interesting textures, great piano skill and a very unique voice. Short and sweet album, wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did.
Year of the Horse - The Mighty Stef. Saw these guys supporting The Strypes when they played Carlisle. Listened to this album because the band was recommended to my work colleague Dom. It's an ambitious Irish garage rock album with a little bit of fat (it's an hour long) but it is a very enjoyable listen regardless of the longer running time. It's a shame the band split up just after I discovered them. Ps they were better than The Strypes live.
Broken Ear Record - Black Dice. This album is a sound collage. It's not always on time, it's messy and noisy. It's repetitive, it does groove but it's not enjoyable. It's just a challenge
Day Three
Dirty Fan Male - Trunk and Wisbey. Funny readings of genuine letters of fan mail sent to Daily Sport Models/ porn stars. Some are set to music, some are followed by 'how is this real?' and some aren't funny. Heard about this on numerous podcasts so glad I tried it.
Dub Roots - Prince Douglas. Obscure Recently reissued dub LP and it's amazing. It came out originally in 1980 but feels a lot more recent cos of some of the echos and production technique sound like an Aphex Twin. The cutting up of vocals and synths/organs seem way ahead of their time. Top album cover too.
Lifeblood - Manic Street Preachers. Welsh Rockers, turn on their pop sensibilities and make a shiny pop album. Although its not bad, there are few memorable moments personally and it removes the attitude from the Manic which is a lot of why I like them.
Overgrown - James Blake. I never understood James Blake's appeal. It's very quiet and based on subtly. Most of this album I couldn't tell you what it sounded like because it just blended into the background. I never saw his music exclusively designed to be like Music for Airports album but I think it is. However the best track is with the guest RZA who adds some spoken word.
Yezzus - Kanye West. Starts super strong with the first four tracks but Hold my Liquour spoils the good run. It struggles to pick up the form it had from there. Songs about doing ladies, or annoying samples or generic production of drums etc.all the reviews of this album say this is the album Kanye learnt to over use autotune and they aren't wrong. It some times work but otherwise it just sounds messy
Day Four
Try to Be Hopeful - The Spook School. Martha associated power pop Rocker's who write great pop songs in the key of punk/C86/riotgrrl. It's a bit DIY sounding but that doesn't detract from these very enjoyable songs.
You can make it if you boogie - James Kirk. Have you ever heard Loaded? ' we wanna be free to do what we wanna do'.no not that one you twit. Loaded by the Velvet Underground cos this sounds like with a little bit of a soul vibe. James Kirk famously of Star Trek. Not that James Kirk you fool. James Kirk was a member of Orange Juice the fore father's of of indie music as we know it. He even covers Felicity like a Lou Reed.
Word gets around - Stereophonics. Some serious Britpop vibes from this album. Heard a lot of this with my boss singing over the top of it. Anthemic tunes before it became a standard feature on every bands press release. Smart songs and a really solid debut album.
All We Are - All We Are. Equal parts dreamy indie pop and danceable synth pop. Catchy songs, grooving rhymes and all round enjoyable listen.unlike the circumstances I listened to it in. On a late crowded metro train with fake 12 year old girls declaring it smells while taking snap chats, a bloke explaining how he fixed a sofa with a leather repair kit and someones elbow in my back
The Boys - The Boys. Old school punk rock and roll album. Short simple songs that sound like if the Ramones and Chuck berry had a baby... Like The Heartbreakers in that sense
Day Five -
19 (Nineteen) - Adele. This album has it's heart in the right place. The songs are good, the arrangements are all very nice but it is nothing special. I used to like a Chasing Pavements but hearing it on this album it doesn't sound like I remember. There are two songs that stood out to me "Right as Rain" and "Make You Feel My Love". It is the only two song streak in the album that is good.
Ein Produkt der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Freundschaft - DAF. Noisy industrial snippets of what seemed to be an improvisation session. It's a shame they cut it up cos I would of love extended pieces rather than one minute section of rhythm just to stop.
Dalek, I Love you - Dalek, I Love You. David Balfe and Alan Gill of Teardrop Explodes fame's experimental synth pop outfit which sounds like a clash of Heaven 17 and The The.
Apocalipstick - Cherry Glazzerr - Classic Riot Grrl sound, great songs and was not let down. I have seen this album advertised everywhere so I am really happen that it deserved the press.
Blue and Lonesome - The Rolling Stones. These guys still love the blues after all these years. Doing these old blues gems justice. I never new the orignals but this makes me wanna listen to them. Jagger's harmonica playing stands proud, the band bring their A game and this is a really enjoyable listen.
Turn It Up - Pixie Lott. This album should be called Turn It Off. Complete in difference to an album is more painful than it being bad because you can see potential to where it could of gone. I admire the skill to completely rip off the sound that Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse crafted on Black to Black. Replacing Winehouse with a pretty face with a non distinct voice so they can autotune it to sound like Amy and just missing the point. The bits that aren't ripped off something are just generic pop tunes.i don't think she had creative control of the music which is something I would of preferred to hear (at least it would be honest) not just whatever the music executives wanted.
Here, not there - Heathers. Glorious Folk duo with great harmonies, intelligent words and it's upbeat. Clocking in at 25 mins, I can't think of a many better ways to spend that time. I wish I had listened to this sooner. I first heard one of there tracks on Steve Lamo's 6 music program and I fell in love with it so I am disappointed it's taken me this long to get here.
BBC Radiophonic workshop volume 21 - this is the most interesting album (it's a compilation but that remains true) I've listened to in a long time. These are snippets of music composed in house at the BBC to soundtrack shows and for shows special effects. This is pretty affordable synths, pre computers and presents digital recording. So this is way ahead of its time. It's not a sing a long but you can hear so much that went on to influence other musicians.
Mesh and Lace - Modern English. Dark Noisy arty post punk ala Joy Division and The Cure. Monotone vocals, relentless rhythms and excellent use of effects on guitars (phaser on guitar adds an experimental feel. Does miss the single I know this band for off the original release but still stands up as a obscure post punk gem.
Cluster and Eno - Cluster and eno. Ambient music that actually gives you something digestible to listen to. It's mostly drone based but it does merely sit in the background. There are change in dynamics, bright synth sounds and glorious echos giving it a spacious feel. Selange has has some abstract drumming to it that follows the jazzy repetitive piano.
Tuesday
Third Reich and Roll - The Residents. Normally I listen to something 'easy' on a morning first thing but when I read about this LP yesterday I had to put it on ASAP. and now I am just confused. It's noisy, discordant and free form versions of other people's songs in two 20 minute segments. There is some straight sampling of the originals, versions of the songs in German and then when songs are played over each other it's just messy. This is an oddity, if this peaks your curiosity check it out and if not I saved you the audio chaos. Do I like it? I like it because it is a brave and interesting album. No I will not be listening again.
Update Your Brain - The Tuts. Power pop with personality. Tales of being a girl in a band, which for some reason is still really a taboo and you get misstreated for it as you will hear. the songs are great, the lyrics are great and it's just a great slice of power pop/ pop punk.
Strictly Dub Wife - Dennis Bovell. Glorious dub album with some chilled vibes, great synth/organ sounds and some interesting effects.
Lights - Ellie Goulding. What a really fun folky pop album with great songs, distinctive voice and just a very enjoyable album. Saw her live on this tour and it brought back great memories of seeing her live. Unlike her second and third LPs which saw her musically become generic pop and become overtly sexualised. This is most enjoyable.
Soft Hair - Soft Hair. Twisted disco is the first thing that popped into my head. It grooves like a disco track but has too many off kilter rhythms, vocoded vocals and dark synth sounds. It's glitchy in places, ambient in places but unfortunately it's nothing new. I had an allergic reaction to this kind of slow electro stuff last year because it's so damn boring.
Wednesday
Playland - Johnny Marr. Melodic power pop with some great songs (including the excellent single, Easy Money), splashes of experimentation with heavy reverb and echos as well as some awesome guitar work by Marr. It has energy, melody and is well worth forty minutes of your time.
Simplicity - JAWS. It's dreamy poppy noisy and a thoroughly enjoyable listen. I have pretended long enough to know about these guys so it's great listening to them now.
How men are - Heaven 17. You can tell it's a Heaven 17 album due to their unique sound. I don't really know why this album has been sidelined. It's really enjoyable. Apart from the ten minute last track which goes off on a tangent for no reason and then return to the chorus and I just thought, this songs ended didn't it? Very enjoyable stuff from the shefield Lads.
Wreckless Eric - Wreckless Eric. Odd quirky pub rock with a punk rock attitude. Some great horn sections on this album. Includes the smashing single Whole Wide World.
Revolution Dub - Lee Scratch Perry. Oh my word this album is great. Very unique mixing style. Interesting use of panning/stereo. The bass is so heavy. The early sampling in this album makes this album so unique.
Thursday
Another Eternity - Purity Ring. Pop music from the school of Grimes. Instead of light drum machines, generic lead singer autotuned to be in tune and bad lead synth riffs. this is has over the top in your face big synths, autotuned vocals as a vocal effect (like you would a reverb) and the drum machines sound huge and glitchy. There are touches of industrial music, dub and big beat in just the drums. It feels like a pop album but of course this is too good to be widely recognized by the pop music market.
The abstract dragon - Busta Rhymes and Q Tip. Short but perfectly formed hip hop album. the lyrics aren't particularly nice to female kind but the production is great if you like Jazzy Hip Hop.
In a Gadda Da Vida - Iron Butterfly. Oh god no flashbacks. This isn't Yes-terday again is it? My word I really find it hard to like early hard rock. It's just such an awkward middle ground. It's not heavy enough to be metal but it's not soft enough to work as beat music. So they just sound like drawn out Beatles songs with a distorted guitar and bad mixing. The stereo is dreadful as it shoves the whole drum kit in one ear, but even in mono, I think I still would of fallen asleep. It's just show off, especially the last track. 17 mins of a boring song because everyone needs a solo and then a chorus return.
Inner fire - the soul jazz orchestra. I always thought by the front cover that this was a Sun Ra album despite it bearing no resemblance to one. However like Sun Ra, I like this album very much it's an African jazzy funk album with chanting, great rhythms and some extraordinary musical skill.
Future Breeds - Hot Hot Heat. First off love the album cover, second, I was expecting some kind of synths electronic stuff but I got Post Punk/ Dance Punk. Some tracks have an Arctic Monkeys thing going on some are like The Rapture/ Lcd Soundsystem, there is a bit of jazz elements when it gets slower but the was a glorious surprise for me. Thirdly, we picked up the CD cover when we were on Holiday in Santa Barbara thinking it was a free CD and then got in the card to find no CD but it did comes with a cool poster.
Friday
If you were Fruit - The Lovely Eggs. I am just gonna come out and say this. I love this. It's inconsistent in music tone changing from noise rock to country to indescribable things but it's Lyrical tone is funny all the way through and the best part is they play it straight. Rhyming Scorpion and bourguignon as if it was just a normal thing to rhyme. This is an a drill, listen to this album. It's Half Man Half Biscuit, Courtney Barnett and Velvet Underground. It's country, Indie rock and punk.
Tookah - Emiliana Torrini. can't decide if it's a folk album or a Bjork album and ends up sounding odd because of this. Instead of a fusion of the two styles it's just a split album. It's pleasant don't get me wrong but is just not consistent in style.
The Slow readers Club -The Slow Readers Club. If Johnny Marr joined New Order...scrap that. Sounds like an electronic (Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner project) album. It is a really enjoyable album and would recommend it to fans of either New Order or Electronic.
Souvlaki - Slowdive. Shoegaze classic that lives up to the classic tag. Like Galaxie 500 it's dreamy but has enough going on to keep it interesting. It's noisy in places too which makes me wonder why I didn't listen to this album sooner. There is a Beautiful acoustic number at the end too.
New Brigade - iceage. Noisy intense 25 minute punk record. Songs are short and punchy and dark. In that sense, there is some resemblance to the work of Bauhaus (the band, not the important school of design in Germany). Nothing particularly inventive here (unlike the Bauhaus school) but if you like that kinda music give it a shot.
Aphodite - what a great album. Joyous electro pop like Little Boots' first album Hands. Very 80's but no the less great. unashamed Bouncy pop songs. Lyrically yeah not very interesting but that's all my complaints are. Plus All the Lovers is a great great single.
Body Language - starts as a minimal electro feel with Slow, then turns minimal house tracks and then just gets funky and it's glorious. Cohesive sound to the album this time. Her voice is amazing. Someday is beautiful tune as well. I ended up buying this this morning a charity shop. I surprised myself.
X - there is a mix of soul inspired tracks and electro pop tracks which is slightly disorientating that it doesnt stick to one style. Regards they are great songs. There is specifically like a Pet Shop Boys Vibe on the electronic tracks and a loose Amy Winehouse feel to the soul ones. Some tracks mirror mainstream pop from the time and suffer from it. See Nu-di-ty and heartbeat rock are the best example of this.
Impossible Princess - Mr James Dean Bradfield and Brothers in Rhythm are credited on this LP so I had no idea what to expect. It can't keep a consistent tone which I always find frustrating. It is in places a dark and trippy dance album ala bjork but in others it could be a Garbage record. Some gems on here that in the style I wasn't expecting and very interesting listen to Kylie take a side step in music direction.
Fever - starts poor with what feels entirely loop based songs. Apart from Can't get you out of my head (which is still catchy as hell). After a few tracks that are not upbeat enough to be danceable or slow enough to be slow. However after Come into my world and in your eyes, the pace picks up and my foot starts tapping.
Yes-terday I just want to say all these albums are 5 mins longer than one of my fave LPs of all time, Rocket to Russia by Ramones, and they all feel twice as long. Listen to that, Instead!
Yes - It's a jazzy folk rock album without many memorable moments, no its not bad, no I would not complain if I had to listen again but would I reach to buy it nope. Definite highlight was Looking Around ( which is repetitious but it just builds and build with every cycle of that riff.) every little thing features the Don't Fear the Reaper ( it's meant to be Day Tripper) guitar riff in the right ear too.
Time and a word - starts better than the last. Much more dynamic sounding. The orchestra is a great addition to the sound. The organ work is sublime on this thing too. It gets a bit weird after the first few tracks. Blink and you won't know what's happening. Tracks that are more soloing than actual songs get really disorientating.
The Yes Album - this is what I feared would happen. They have expanded upon the bits of the songs I don't like. The dense rock sound, everything feels like a solo not just an instrumental passage, vocal segments that are one repeated stanza and repeated between solos. Track number 2 is just a classical guitar workout. Then the rest are just solos with classical guitar interludes and with sudden leaps in tempo up and down its just chaotic. However great use of stereo.
Fragile - Roundabout has such a delightful funk bassline but it goes on too long. I actually thought the track had finished with (Yet another) Classical guitar but that was only half the song. The rest of the album I just didn't get. More classical instrumentals and meaningless words and virtuosity.
Close to the edge - 3 tracks on this album. Just didn't get the first two. Really long slow things that just didn't click with me. The last track brings back that funk bassline of Roundabout and found my foot tapping.
I have come to the conclusion after suffering all day that Yes are not my cup often. I admire the skill. Love the keys on all these albums but that is not gonna bring me back to these albums.
Sorry Yes but but it's a no from me.
And on that night as he closed his eyes to go to bed and all he could hear was improvised organ lead symphonic rock music
Grandaddyday
Under the western freeway The broken down comforter collection The sophtware slump Sumday Just like the fambly cat
All the bands albums sound the same. They are all equally enjoyable; some are a bit too long, some are too folky but all are lofi pych indie gems and will happily listen to them again. If you like Pixies and Flaming Lips. These are your guys
Alice Cooperday
Killer starts as a
Glam rock album then moves into rock music ala Free/ Faces and then
moves into some progier stuff towards the end but it never stops
rocking. Stripped back dirty rock and roll.
Schools out - American Glam rock. In places it's The Stooges and in places it's New York Dolls but most confusingly there are horn and string sections in this thing. Unexpected but work really well ; Blue Turk is just a straight up jazz track and Luney tune has some giant strings. It's Harder to pin down Alice Cooper based on the guy he has been Pigeon holed into over the years.
Billion dollar babies logical progression after Schools out. More ambitious, bigger sounding, but doesn't lack the tunes. Elected is a smashing track as is no more Mr nice guy.
Welcome to my nightmare - shock rocks definitive album that falls flat on my ears. It's too theatrical, a bit noodley and I just don't find myself invested in the concept. The theme of these albums is there is always some corkers on these albums even if the album as a whole doesn't work.
Goes to hell- don't like it. The tracks are much lower, the riffs aren't as dirty and most are ballads. I hate ballads. It seems to last twice as long as well. Also one of the tracks borrows the effect of the guitar on shaft. Paul Simon's Day
The Paul Simon Songbook - a solo take on the acoustic guitar lead folk music that he was producing with Art Garfunkel. Billy Bragg borrowed a line from Leaves That are Green for his anthem A New England. It's also very Dylan esque too. There is also one track that just shouted Courtney Barnett to me and that's mainly the vocal delivery. I like it. The songs are never boring.
Paul Simon - does this album really start with a reggae track or did I just imagine it? This is Folk with fiddles and harmonica. It's got light percussion and a full drum kit in places. It is more dynamic than the last but doesn't sound as interesting. Very middle of the road to me.
There goes Rhyming Simon - glorious folk rock album. Feels like it should be middle of the road but it's cohesive sounding. Some great piano lines, from interesting ( one man's ceiling is another man's floor) to heartfelt lyrics and great arrangements. Kinda feels like Hunky Dory minus Queen Bitch.
Still crazy after all these years - this album, upon looking at the cover, looks naff. Never seen Paul Simon with a mustache. Looks are deceptive cos this is amazing. It's soulful, funky, folky, jazzy. The song writing is witty and playful. I actually found myself smiling at the track, 50 ways to Leave your Lover, when the funk break comes in.
Graceland - you can't do a day of Paul Simon with his 'classic' album. Previously being a massive Talking Heads fan all this sounds like is Talking Heads with BIG eighties synths (You can Call Me Al), Acapella (homeless) and a certain swing to it (whole album). Cohesive album sound. Toe tapping, interesting and unlike his debut in every way.
