another car journey so more favourites, including:
CD#73 R.E.M. - Out Of Time
One or two strange tracks, but mostly really good.
CD#74 Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
I like all the Fish era albums for different reasons and Steve Rothery once sat on my sofa, so there.
CD#75 Kate Rusby - Awkward Annie
A beautiful voice singing songs about love, loss, sailors and death, plus a Kinks cover that was the theme tune for Jam and Jerusalem.
CD#76 The Decemberists - What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
Unusually this is my favourite album despite it being their most recent, as I'm mostly all about the "I prefer their early work" school of fandom.
Thursday 31 March 2016
Day 17
Didn't listen to any CDs today, but I did make a trip to Exmouth Indoor Market . . . and bought 10 more CDs.
As usual they are a mix of artists I know and like, artists I've heard of but don't have anything by and artists I've never heard of but the CD cover looked interesting.
Of Montreals' album Skeletal Lamping packaging is particularly mad and folds out even more than the original vinyl version of Armed Forces.
As usual they are a mix of artists I know and like, artists I've heard of but don't have anything by and artists I've never heard of but the CD cover looked interesting.
Of Montreals' album Skeletal Lamping packaging is particularly mad and folds out even more than the original vinyl version of Armed Forces.
Day 16
CD#69 Fischer Z - Red Skies Over Paradise
Their last album first time round, and my favourite. Battalions of Strangers was one of the first bass lines I ever learned to play.
CD#70 Elvis Costello - Get Happy !!
Another from his best period, 20 songs on one album with barely a drop in quality, great lyrics, great playing - brilliant.
CD#71 XTC - Drums and Wires
Neck and neck with Black Sea for my favourite XTC album this is another winner (I was driving for four hours so picked favourites to listen to rather than ones I have less than utter joy for).
CD#72 Suede - Coming Up
Despite the loss of Bernard Butler this is great fun, though the lyrics are amusingly dreadful in places.
Their last album first time round, and my favourite. Battalions of Strangers was one of the first bass lines I ever learned to play.
CD#70 Elvis Costello - Get Happy !!
Another from his best period, 20 songs on one album with barely a drop in quality, great lyrics, great playing - brilliant.
CD#71 XTC - Drums and Wires
Neck and neck with Black Sea for my favourite XTC album this is another winner (I was driving for four hours so picked favourites to listen to rather than ones I have less than utter joy for).
CD#72 Suede - Coming Up
Despite the loss of Bernard Butler this is great fun, though the lyrics are amusingly dreadful in places.
Monday 28 March 2016
Day 15
CD#64 XTC - English Settlement
A great album which for some reason I rarely used to listen to all the way through when playing the vinyl and haven't listened to much at all since buying the CD. It's not my absolute favourite but there's some really good music here.
CD#65 Eurogliders - This Island
Or is it ? Bought from Exmouth Indoor Market, the sleeve declares it to be On This Island by 6 Day Riot, who are described as alt-pop with folk and pop influences. The CD agrees that what you're about to hear is indeed their 2010 album, however . . . the music which issues forth is that of an Australian indie pop band called Eurogliders and their 1984 release This Island, which isn't bad at all despite not being as described.
CD#66 R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant
This one's a bit hit and miss, but it has Fall On Me, which I like a lot.
CD#67 The Cure - Galore
I bought this as part of a opening offer for Britannia Music Club - four CDs for £4 (apart from a Hootie and the Blowfish album yet to be listened to I don't recall the others) and for some reason thought it was an album, but in fact it's a singles compilation 1987 - 97.
I really like The Cure but for some reason I only own this CD, and A Forest on vinyl.
CD#68 Max Richter - Songs From Before
Strings, piano, synths and spoken word (Robert Wyatt reading Haruki Murakami) mixed with scraps of short wave radio and rainfall. Ambience but with purpose, restful but also thought provoking.
A great album which for some reason I rarely used to listen to all the way through when playing the vinyl and haven't listened to much at all since buying the CD. It's not my absolute favourite but there's some really good music here.
CD#65 Eurogliders - This Island
Or is it ? Bought from Exmouth Indoor Market, the sleeve declares it to be On This Island by 6 Day Riot, who are described as alt-pop with folk and pop influences. The CD agrees that what you're about to hear is indeed their 2010 album, however . . . the music which issues forth is that of an Australian indie pop band called Eurogliders and their 1984 release This Island, which isn't bad at all despite not being as described.
CD#66 R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant
This one's a bit hit and miss, but it has Fall On Me, which I like a lot.
CD#67 The Cure - Galore
I bought this as part of a opening offer for Britannia Music Club - four CDs for £4 (apart from a Hootie and the Blowfish album yet to be listened to I don't recall the others) and for some reason thought it was an album, but in fact it's a singles compilation 1987 - 97.
I really like The Cure but for some reason I only own this CD, and A Forest on vinyl.
CD#68 Max Richter - Songs From Before
Strings, piano, synths and spoken word (Robert Wyatt reading Haruki Murakami) mixed with scraps of short wave radio and rainfall. Ambience but with purpose, restful but also thought provoking.
Sunday 27 March 2016
Day 14
CD#59 Michael Manring - Soliloquy
Like the Eric Roche CD, this loses something from only being able to be heard, especially some of the more extreme noises and rhythms.
CD#60 Michael Rattray Allstars - Smile At Who You Need To
As far as I can recall I got this from gigging with him/them but I have no idea where or when (which shows I can't remember much). Perfectly passable indie/pop/rock.
- - - - - - - - - -
At this point I counted up the CDs and discarded those that are downloaded albums written to CD, cover disks and compilations where I later bought all the albums (The Smiths, for example, I had all the albums on vinyl so bought a Best Of CD, then bought all the albums on CD). This has compressed the target to 456 CDs (I can include the rest on another listening challenge if I'm daft enough to).
So I make that just over 13% of the way there.
Onwards !
- - - - - - - - - -
CD#61 Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - How I Long To Feel That Summer In My Heart
I discovered the Mynci's (no idea if they mind me abbreviating their name like that, but it saves writing Gorky's Zygotic Mynci again) on a compilation that will turn up later. Patio Song was the tune, but it's not on this album, one of a number of theirs I own. I'm not sure I've listened to them all up to now but thanks to this blog it's only a matter of time.
CD#62 Blues Traveler - four
Back in the days before the internet I used to watch a US comedy import called Roseanne.
Apart from the episode where they replaced the eldest daughter with a new actress (who I last saw on Scrubs) when they included some "we know you know" gags, and at least three of the actors ending up on The Big Bang Theory at various points, there was an episode where Roseanne and Dan had something to do with a band (no memory as to why and I can't be bothered to look) and it finished off with the band playing a song which I thought was fantastic, with some mad harmonica playing.
I had no way of finding out who the band were until a few years later when I was watching a film about bowling and the Amish (Kingpin - Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid) and it ended with THE BAND playing over the credits.
Because it was on VHS and my TV wasn't great I could barely make out the credits, but I made my best guess and went to a record shop in town (Spinadisc, no longer there) to ask about what I thought might be the name of the band. They had one CD, which I bought and took home.
Skipping through I got to track nine and there it was, a song called Hook.
There are some other tunes which are pretty good too, but nothing beats Hook and the journey I went on to find it. (apart from my two-year search for Lorraine Ellison's original version of Stay With Me, which is a whole other story, but on vinyl - stunning song though)
Nowadays I'd google it and be listening to it on YouTube before the credits had finished.
CD#63 Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
One of his best, when he made interesting music that didn't follow an EC formula, which is how his more recent stuff sounds to me. I don't think his song writing has necessarily changed, but to my ears what comes out of the studio has been diluted over time, probably from Spike, maybe before.
Like the Eric Roche CD, this loses something from only being able to be heard, especially some of the more extreme noises and rhythms.
CD#60 Michael Rattray Allstars - Smile At Who You Need To
As far as I can recall I got this from gigging with him/them but I have no idea where or when (which shows I can't remember much). Perfectly passable indie/pop/rock.
- - - - - - - - - -
At this point I counted up the CDs and discarded those that are downloaded albums written to CD, cover disks and compilations where I later bought all the albums (The Smiths, for example, I had all the albums on vinyl so bought a Best Of CD, then bought all the albums on CD). This has compressed the target to 456 CDs (I can include the rest on another listening challenge if I'm daft enough to).
So I make that just over 13% of the way there.
Onwards !
- - - - - - - - - -
CD#61 Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - How I Long To Feel That Summer In My Heart
I discovered the Mynci's (no idea if they mind me abbreviating their name like that, but it saves writing Gorky's Zygotic Mynci again) on a compilation that will turn up later. Patio Song was the tune, but it's not on this album, one of a number of theirs I own. I'm not sure I've listened to them all up to now but thanks to this blog it's only a matter of time.
CD#62 Blues Traveler - four
Back in the days before the internet I used to watch a US comedy import called Roseanne.
Apart from the episode where they replaced the eldest daughter with a new actress (who I last saw on Scrubs) when they included some "we know you know" gags, and at least three of the actors ending up on The Big Bang Theory at various points, there was an episode where Roseanne and Dan had something to do with a band (no memory as to why and I can't be bothered to look) and it finished off with the band playing a song which I thought was fantastic, with some mad harmonica playing.
I had no way of finding out who the band were until a few years later when I was watching a film about bowling and the Amish (Kingpin - Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid) and it ended with THE BAND playing over the credits.
Because it was on VHS and my TV wasn't great I could barely make out the credits, but I made my best guess and went to a record shop in town (Spinadisc, no longer there) to ask about what I thought might be the name of the band. They had one CD, which I bought and took home.
Skipping through I got to track nine and there it was, a song called Hook.
There are some other tunes which are pretty good too, but nothing beats Hook and the journey I went on to find it. (apart from my two-year search for Lorraine Ellison's original version of Stay With Me, which is a whole other story, but on vinyl - stunning song though)
Nowadays I'd google it and be listening to it on YouTube before the credits had finished.
CD#63 Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
One of his best, when he made interesting music that didn't follow an EC formula, which is how his more recent stuff sounds to me. I don't think his song writing has necessarily changed, but to my ears what comes out of the studio has been diluted over time, probably from Spike, maybe before.
Saturday 26 March 2016
Day 13
CD#55 The Bluetones - Expecting To Fly
This was released in 1996 and since then I must have listened to it about three . . . times.
Slight Return is the stand out track but it's not enough to raise the album above "it's ok, I guess".
CD#56 Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way
I'm not a huge country music fan, but this is pretty good, well played and powerfully sung.
CD#57 Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club
Not sure why I've never bought more than this album, there are some great songs on here, Run, Baby Run being my favourite.
CD#58 Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
For a long time the only thing I owned of theirs was of course (Don't Fear) The Reaper, but a few years ago I bought this album. According to Wikipedia, in 1975 a poll of critics of the British magazine Melody Maker voted Secret Treaties as the "Top Rock Album of All Time", so there you go.
This was released in 1996 and since then I must have listened to it about three . . . times.
Slight Return is the stand out track but it's not enough to raise the album above "it's ok, I guess".
CD#56 Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way
I'm not a huge country music fan, but this is pretty good, well played and powerfully sung.
CD#57 Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club
Not sure why I've never bought more than this album, there are some great songs on here, Run, Baby Run being my favourite.
CD#58 Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
For a long time the only thing I owned of theirs was of course (Don't Fear) The Reaper, but a few years ago I bought this album. According to Wikipedia, in 1975 a poll of critics of the British magazine Melody Maker voted Secret Treaties as the "Top Rock Album of All Time", so there you go.
Friday 25 March 2016
Day 12
CD#50 Lee 'Scratch' Perry and The Upsetters
A compilation album full of cool dub, animal noises and gunfire. Weird and groovy.
CD#51 Good Cop Bad Cop - Liberal Hearts Bleeding
Great local band, a Foo Fighters/QOTSA kind of thing with a hint of Bauhaus in the vocals.
CD#52 The Good The Bad & The Queen - The Good The Bad & The Queen
I mostly like this, though if I recall it drags a bit towards the end (it did a little).
CD#53 Annette Bjergfeldt - The Kissing Post
Another one bought on the back of a friend's review, I had it in my head as "a bit meh" but it's much nicer than that, though it's perhaps more nicely played and pleasant rather than striking, or particularly memorable.
CD#54 The Jam - All Mod Cons
A great album from a great band, part of the soundtrack of my teenage years and still fresh and exciting 38 years later.
A compilation album full of cool dub, animal noises and gunfire. Weird and groovy.
CD#51 Good Cop Bad Cop - Liberal Hearts Bleeding
Great local band, a Foo Fighters/QOTSA kind of thing with a hint of Bauhaus in the vocals.
CD#52 The Good The Bad & The Queen - The Good The Bad & The Queen
I mostly like this, though if I recall it drags a bit towards the end (it did a little).
CD#53 Annette Bjergfeldt - The Kissing Post
Another one bought on the back of a friend's review, I had it in my head as "a bit meh" but it's much nicer than that, though it's perhaps more nicely played and pleasant rather than striking, or particularly memorable.
CD#54 The Jam - All Mod Cons
A great album from a great band, part of the soundtrack of my teenage years and still fresh and exciting 38 years later.
Thursday 24 March 2016
Day 11
CD#46 The Himalayans - She Likes The Weather
The band that Adam Duritz left when Counting Crows took off, they're a little bit busier than CC but not so different for Round Here to sound unfamiliar (the Counting Crow version being a cover albeit with the same vocalist).
CD#47 Ruth Theodore - White Holes of Mole Hills
I bought this from Exmouth Indoor Market because the packaging caught my eye and when I looked at her website I discovered I already had one of her earlier albums, which I'd bought from Exmouth Indoor Market because the packaging caught my eye . . .
CD#48 Fastball - All The Pain Money Can Buy
Bought off the back of the single (The Way), which is probably the only Fastball song most people will have heard - there are at least half of the remaining 12 tracks which are just as good, so definitely a result in my book.
CD#49 The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
The Decemberists are a relatively recent find, which is always fun when you find that the "new" band have a sizeable back catalogue. This is my most recent purchase but their 5th album (of 7) and was begun as a song based on an Anne Briggs EP title, which blossomed into an album with motifs spread throughout and a full tale told. I wasn't sure the first time, but it's grown on me and I like it a lot.
The band that Adam Duritz left when Counting Crows took off, they're a little bit busier than CC but not so different for Round Here to sound unfamiliar (the Counting Crow version being a cover albeit with the same vocalist).
CD#47 Ruth Theodore - White Holes of Mole Hills
I bought this from Exmouth Indoor Market because the packaging caught my eye and when I looked at her website I discovered I already had one of her earlier albums, which I'd bought from Exmouth Indoor Market because the packaging caught my eye . . .
CD#48 Fastball - All The Pain Money Can Buy
Bought off the back of the single (The Way), which is probably the only Fastball song most people will have heard - there are at least half of the remaining 12 tracks which are just as good, so definitely a result in my book.
CD#49 The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
The Decemberists are a relatively recent find, which is always fun when you find that the "new" band have a sizeable back catalogue. This is my most recent purchase but their 5th album (of 7) and was begun as a song based on an Anne Briggs EP title, which blossomed into an album with motifs spread throughout and a full tale told. I wasn't sure the first time, but it's grown on me and I like it a lot.
Wednesday 23 March 2016
Day 10
CD#42 Emily Slade - Fretless
Singer-songwriter, folky tunes sung with a very nice voice, nothing breathtaking but a pleasant way to start the day.
CD#43 Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Some great tunes topped off with that bass bit every F1 fan knows (it sounds to me like the finest of all basses, a Fender Precision).
CD#44 Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Two or three decent tracks (which is better than The La's) but it does get a bit samey after a while. I didn't buy any more Oasis albums after this one, though there are one or two of their later songs I like (but not Wonderwall).
CD#45 Ash - Nu-clear Sounds
I like some of the things Ash have done, but none of them are on this CD.
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Day 9
CD#38 The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
I finally got round to buying this iconic album a view years ago and was disappointed. On listening again I've now come to the conclusion that I was right first time. God Only Knows is sublime, and Wouldn't It Be Nice is not far off, but take them away and there's not much left.
CD#39 Eric Roche - With These Hands
I've got a few of these one-man-with-a-guitar CDs, and whilst most of them contain some pleasant pieces of music there is one huge problem for me.
In my opinion, most of the time they would sound better if they were played by more than one musician, and this is clear when all you have is the sound and not the sight of the musician performing the gymnastics often needed to combine all the sounds you hear. The guitar sound is compromised by the setup of the instrument so it's easier to tap and the rhythmic accompaniment is a series of taps and thumps in the places where something can be squeezed in.
So while I admire the skill and the dedication which allows someone to create these pieces with one guitar and no loops or any support from another musician, in the cold light of day it's not as good as it could be.
CD#40 Rilo Kiley - Take Offs and Landings
Their first album, a long way from the neutered, polished Under The Blacklight. I do like quirky, adventurous indie-pop and this album is a fine example.
CD#41 Small Faces - Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
If I'd paid £20 for this CD and all it had on it was Afterglow of Your Love it would have been money well spent, but as it turned out there were lots of other great tunes (and Stanley Unwin) on it too, so it was an absolute bargain.
I finally got round to buying this iconic album a view years ago and was disappointed. On listening again I've now come to the conclusion that I was right first time. God Only Knows is sublime, and Wouldn't It Be Nice is not far off, but take them away and there's not much left.
CD#39 Eric Roche - With These Hands
I've got a few of these one-man-with-a-guitar CDs, and whilst most of them contain some pleasant pieces of music there is one huge problem for me.
In my opinion, most of the time they would sound better if they were played by more than one musician, and this is clear when all you have is the sound and not the sight of the musician performing the gymnastics often needed to combine all the sounds you hear. The guitar sound is compromised by the setup of the instrument so it's easier to tap and the rhythmic accompaniment is a series of taps and thumps in the places where something can be squeezed in.
So while I admire the skill and the dedication which allows someone to create these pieces with one guitar and no loops or any support from another musician, in the cold light of day it's not as good as it could be.
CD#40 Rilo Kiley - Take Offs and Landings
Their first album, a long way from the neutered, polished Under The Blacklight. I do like quirky, adventurous indie-pop and this album is a fine example.
CD#41 Small Faces - Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
If I'd paid £20 for this CD and all it had on it was Afterglow of Your Love it would have been money well spent, but as it turned out there were lots of other great tunes (and Stanley Unwin) on it too, so it was an absolute bargain.
Monday 21 March 2016
Day 8
CD#32 Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat
First solo album away from Rilo Kiley and a year away from their last (and for me, weakest) album. This probably showed her that she could easily go it alone and maybe hastened the end, as it's pretty good (not sure about the Wilburys cover though).
CD#33 Stereophonics - Just Enough Education To Perform
It's got some good tunes (though it did get a bit much by the end) and it's much more slick (and laid back) than the raw feistiness of Word Gets Around.
Sadly.
CD#34 Sixpence None The Richer - Sixpence None The Richer
There are some nice songs on this besides Kiss Me, and my re-released version also has a cover of That Song originally by The La's.
CD#35 R.E.M. - Murmur
More often than not I prefer a band's early work over their later, more commercial stuff, but in R.E.M.'s case my favourite period is probably between albums 5 and 9, though there is a lot worth listening to either side of that, this included.
CD#36 Nirvana - In Utero
Another one I'd forgotten I'd bought, though 8 songs in I'd say that song for song I prefer Nevermind which might explain why I don't recall it.
CD#37 Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
A nice relaxing contrast to Nirvana to end the day.
First solo album away from Rilo Kiley and a year away from their last (and for me, weakest) album. This probably showed her that she could easily go it alone and maybe hastened the end, as it's pretty good (not sure about the Wilburys cover though).
CD#33 Stereophonics - Just Enough Education To Perform
It's got some good tunes (though it did get a bit much by the end) and it's much more slick (and laid back) than the raw feistiness of Word Gets Around.
Sadly.
CD#34 Sixpence None The Richer - Sixpence None The Richer
There are some nice songs on this besides Kiss Me, and my re-released version also has a cover of That Song originally by The La's.
CD#35 R.E.M. - Murmur
More often than not I prefer a band's early work over their later, more commercial stuff, but in R.E.M.'s case my favourite period is probably between albums 5 and 9, though there is a lot worth listening to either side of that, this included.
CD#36 Nirvana - In Utero
Another one I'd forgotten I'd bought, though 8 songs in I'd say that song for song I prefer Nevermind which might explain why I don't recall it.
CD#37 Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
A nice relaxing contrast to Nirvana to end the day.
Sunday 20 March 2016
Day 7
CD#27 Eels - Souljacker
Not on my list of favourite albums, this to me is a bit of a mish-mash of quiet introspection mixed with distortion, both vocals and guitars. It's not awful but there's not much to encourage me to put it on.
CD#28 Catatonia - International Velvet
One or two misses, but mostly great pop tunes sung with husky Welsh-accented passion, Road Rage will always be my favourite Catatonia song but there's more besides, great fun.
CD#29 Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill
A great band for Sunday morning relaxation.
CD#30 Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
Weird and wonderful. With the 3 for £x offers from Exmouth Indoor Market I often pick up CDs where I like the packaging/artwork, or it's perhaps an artist whose work I'd be unlikely to buy from Amazon, and this is most definitely in both categories, which is how I come to own it. It's not a CD for putting on while doing your accounts as it demands much more of your attention if you're going to get from it all it's got to give.
CD#31 Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs
Some great playing amidst the tales of sailors, lost loves and all the typical trials and tribulations of characters found within folk songs. Rightly considered a classic.
Not on my list of favourite albums, this to me is a bit of a mish-mash of quiet introspection mixed with distortion, both vocals and guitars. It's not awful but there's not much to encourage me to put it on.
CD#28 Catatonia - International Velvet
One or two misses, but mostly great pop tunes sung with husky Welsh-accented passion, Road Rage will always be my favourite Catatonia song but there's more besides, great fun.
CD#29 Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill
A great band for Sunday morning relaxation.
CD#30 Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
Weird and wonderful. With the 3 for £x offers from Exmouth Indoor Market I often pick up CDs where I like the packaging/artwork, or it's perhaps an artist whose work I'd be unlikely to buy from Amazon, and this is most definitely in both categories, which is how I come to own it. It's not a CD for putting on while doing your accounts as it demands much more of your attention if you're going to get from it all it's got to give.
CD#31 Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs
Some great playing amidst the tales of sailors, lost loves and all the typical trials and tribulations of characters found within folk songs. Rightly considered a classic.
Saturday 19 March 2016
Day 6
CD#22 The La's - The La's
Like those who around the time of its release also bought A Brief History Of Time and only got about a third of the way through, I bought this album because of That Song, only to find the rest of the album was a bit rubbish. I have listened to it once or twice since then and my conclusion now is not so much that the rest is rubbish but that That Song is so different in style, performance and production to the others it makes the rest of the album feel like something recorded in another studio at another time, with other musicians. . . it is a bit rubbish though.
CD#23 Shack - H.M.S. Fable
I doubt I'd buy this album if it was released now. Not because it's particularly bad, there are some very listenable tracks though maybe the vocals are a little weak in places. I bought it because at the time I heard about it that was the only way of finding out if the glowing review was something I agreed with. As it turned out I listened, shrugged and thought "that was ok" and put it away, never to be heard again. Now I'd listen to a couple of songs on YouTube, shrug and think "that was ok" and that would be it.
CD#24 David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name . . .
Groovy.
CD#25 Gene - Drawn To The Deep End
I love this album, Fighting Fit is one of my favourite "get the adrenaline flowing" songs and there are plenty of other great tunes too. Despite that I have never bought anything else by Gene, no idea why, maybe this all I need.
CD#26 Tubeway Army - Tubeway Army
After Tubeway Army with guitars and synths gave way to Gary Numan and the guitars were dropped I lost interest, apart from buying the single Cars. I certainly heard some of the subsequent GN stuff but it didn't thrill me the way this and Replicas did.
Like those who around the time of its release also bought A Brief History Of Time and only got about a third of the way through, I bought this album because of That Song, only to find the rest of the album was a bit rubbish. I have listened to it once or twice since then and my conclusion now is not so much that the rest is rubbish but that That Song is so different in style, performance and production to the others it makes the rest of the album feel like something recorded in another studio at another time, with other musicians. . . it is a bit rubbish though.
CD#23 Shack - H.M.S. Fable
I doubt I'd buy this album if it was released now. Not because it's particularly bad, there are some very listenable tracks though maybe the vocals are a little weak in places. I bought it because at the time I heard about it that was the only way of finding out if the glowing review was something I agreed with. As it turned out I listened, shrugged and thought "that was ok" and put it away, never to be heard again. Now I'd listen to a couple of songs on YouTube, shrug and think "that was ok" and that would be it.
CD#24 David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name . . .
Groovy.
CD#25 Gene - Drawn To The Deep End
I love this album, Fighting Fit is one of my favourite "get the adrenaline flowing" songs and there are plenty of other great tunes too. Despite that I have never bought anything else by Gene, no idea why, maybe this all I need.
CD#26 Tubeway Army - Tubeway Army
After Tubeway Army with guitars and synths gave way to Gary Numan and the guitars were dropped I lost interest, apart from buying the single Cars. I certainly heard some of the subsequent GN stuff but it didn't thrill me the way this and Replicas did.
Friday 18 March 2016
Day 5
CD#18 Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
I bought this because of a glowing review in the Guardian weekend magazine and I've listened to it twice since then. It's not awful, it's just not much of anything really, you could have it on in the background at a dinner party (I imagine, I'm not one for dinner parties) without it being too obtrusive, which is not a great reason for its existence ;O)
CD#19 Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
When a lot of my classmates were listening to Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Rush et al., I was listening to The Clash, Sex Pistols and The Jam. For many years my favourite Led Zep song was D'jer Mak'er from Houses of the Holy, but a few years ago I picked up the first four Led Zeppelin albums in an attempt to see what all the fuss was about. I do like them, but they're not going to be anywhere near the top of any list I might make.
CD#20 Hensley & Wright - Strong
I saw them as a vocalist/guitarist duo (there's added bass and vocals on the CD) at The Silver Moon in Hitchen when I was gigging as the bass player in a duo called Cloudy, and at the time I was very much into buying CDs from acts wherever possible (though within reason, we did see some acts that I felt it best not to encourage ;O) ) and they were very good. IIRC it was the night that we were the last act on for an evening in a room that had been packed for all the locals before us . . . we played to two or three people. Nevertheless this CD is definitely worth a listen.
CD#21 Toyah - Sheep Farming In Barnet
Before the more mainstream pop of I Wanna Be Free there was Toyah the band, which was much more interesting. Like a lot of people I found them through a performance (Danced) on Shoestring, bought this album and a couple of singles before it all went a bit rubbish. I still love this album.
I bought this because of a glowing review in the Guardian weekend magazine and I've listened to it twice since then. It's not awful, it's just not much of anything really, you could have it on in the background at a dinner party (I imagine, I'm not one for dinner parties) without it being too obtrusive, which is not a great reason for its existence ;O)
CD#19 Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
When a lot of my classmates were listening to Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Rush et al., I was listening to The Clash, Sex Pistols and The Jam. For many years my favourite Led Zep song was D'jer Mak'er from Houses of the Holy, but a few years ago I picked up the first four Led Zeppelin albums in an attempt to see what all the fuss was about. I do like them, but they're not going to be anywhere near the top of any list I might make.
CD#20 Hensley & Wright - Strong
I saw them as a vocalist/guitarist duo (there's added bass and vocals on the CD) at The Silver Moon in Hitchen when I was gigging as the bass player in a duo called Cloudy, and at the time I was very much into buying CDs from acts wherever possible (though within reason, we did see some acts that I felt it best not to encourage ;O) ) and they were very good. IIRC it was the night that we were the last act on for an evening in a room that had been packed for all the locals before us . . . we played to two or three people. Nevertheless this CD is definitely worth a listen.
CD#21 Toyah - Sheep Farming In Barnet
Before the more mainstream pop of I Wanna Be Free there was Toyah the band, which was much more interesting. Like a lot of people I found them through a performance (Danced) on Shoestring, bought this album and a couple of singles before it all went a bit rubbish. I still love this album.
Thursday 17 March 2016
Day 4
CD#14 World Party - Private Revolution
Essentially a Karl Wallinger solo album, the first few tracks shout 80s ! at you in terms of its sounds and production, though it settles down a little later on. I bought it originally to be able to hear Ship Of Fools and that's far and away the stand-out track for me, though there are one or two others that catch the ear too.
CD#15 XTC - Mummer
This is the first CD on the list which I already owned on vinyl when it was bought - I still have all my vinyl, LPs and singles, and those that aren't duplicated on CD might end up as a Playing All My Vinyl LPs blog if I get to the end of this one ;O)
While I'm a huge fan of XTC and have all their studio albums they did lose something for me over the span of their recorded output, having said that this is a good one.
CD#16 Elvis Costello - When I was Cruel
I loved Elvis Costello for years, but ran out of steam a bit after Spike (11/12 great albums though, so not too shabby) and didn't seek out any of his new material for a long time. Since then I've picked up bits and pieces but not heard anything to blow me away like he does at his best. I must confess I bought this a few years ago but this is the first time I've listened to it all the way through.
Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas are there but no Bruce Thomas (one of my favourite bass players), and the bass is less prominent than my favourite EC songs, though there are one or two moments where it's possible to think he might be playing. It's not a dreadful album but the best bits are those that remind me of the really good ones.
CD#17 Silver Sun - Silver Sun
The Beach Boys crossed with The Toy Dolls - need I say more ?
Brilliant.
Bonus points if you can make any sense of the lyrics to Lava.
Essentially a Karl Wallinger solo album, the first few tracks shout 80s ! at you in terms of its sounds and production, though it settles down a little later on. I bought it originally to be able to hear Ship Of Fools and that's far and away the stand-out track for me, though there are one or two others that catch the ear too.
CD#15 XTC - Mummer
This is the first CD on the list which I already owned on vinyl when it was bought - I still have all my vinyl, LPs and singles, and those that aren't duplicated on CD might end up as a Playing All My Vinyl LPs blog if I get to the end of this one ;O)
While I'm a huge fan of XTC and have all their studio albums they did lose something for me over the span of their recorded output, having said that this is a good one.
CD#16 Elvis Costello - When I was Cruel
I loved Elvis Costello for years, but ran out of steam a bit after Spike (11/12 great albums though, so not too shabby) and didn't seek out any of his new material for a long time. Since then I've picked up bits and pieces but not heard anything to blow me away like he does at his best. I must confess I bought this a few years ago but this is the first time I've listened to it all the way through.
Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas are there but no Bruce Thomas (one of my favourite bass players), and the bass is less prominent than my favourite EC songs, though there are one or two moments where it's possible to think he might be playing. It's not a dreadful album but the best bits are those that remind me of the really good ones.
CD#17 Silver Sun - Silver Sun
The Beach Boys crossed with The Toy Dolls - need I say more ?
Brilliant.
Bonus points if you can make any sense of the lyrics to Lava.
Wednesday 16 March 2016
Day 3
CD#10 Robyn Hitchcock - Olé! Tarantula
Whilst I've been aware of Robyn for a long time, I don't really know much about him or his work.
I bought this on one of many trips to an indoor market stall in Exmouth, probably as part of a 3 for £20 deal (3 for £10 for s/h CDs, but this one was new). It's blessed with a number of musicians I like, including Peter Buck as part of "the Venus 3", with Ian McLagan and Kimberley Rew (Katrina and the Waves) guesting on a few of the tracks. For some reason it's catalogued as "weird but wonderful" in my head, but musically it's less weird than I'd remembered (some of the lyrics are amusingly odd, perhaps that's what I'm remembering).
CD#11 The Flaming Lips - Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
There are times where I like the idea of The Flaming Lips more than I like The Flaming Lips, the music and vocals are both happy to play with atonality, which I don't mind, but when there's a lot of it I do find it a bit much. This has their version of Plastic Jesus on it, so all is forgiven.
CD#12 Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
There's an awful lot of Bob that I like, but for me this isn't his finest hour. There are some good songs but on some his vocal is full of quiet/loud moments and weird phrasing that takes a little away from what could have been. You couldn't say he didn't put any effort in but I'd like it more if it could have been pulled back a touch.
CD#13 Jane Taylor - Montpelier
An album of variety, Jane has a strong and sometimes idiosyncratic voice and a nice collection of songs.
Some songs she backs herself on guitar or piano, others have the addition of variety of different musicians including one with just her vocal and double bass. I've not heard this for years but it deserves better than that.
Whilst I've been aware of Robyn for a long time, I don't really know much about him or his work.
I bought this on one of many trips to an indoor market stall in Exmouth, probably as part of a 3 for £20 deal (3 for £10 for s/h CDs, but this one was new). It's blessed with a number of musicians I like, including Peter Buck as part of "the Venus 3", with Ian McLagan and Kimberley Rew (Katrina and the Waves) guesting on a few of the tracks. For some reason it's catalogued as "weird but wonderful" in my head, but musically it's less weird than I'd remembered (some of the lyrics are amusingly odd, perhaps that's what I'm remembering).
CD#11 The Flaming Lips - Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
There are times where I like the idea of The Flaming Lips more than I like The Flaming Lips, the music and vocals are both happy to play with atonality, which I don't mind, but when there's a lot of it I do find it a bit much. This has their version of Plastic Jesus on it, so all is forgiven.
CD#12 Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
There's an awful lot of Bob that I like, but for me this isn't his finest hour. There are some good songs but on some his vocal is full of quiet/loud moments and weird phrasing that takes a little away from what could have been. You couldn't say he didn't put any effort in but I'd like it more if it could have been pulled back a touch.
CD#13 Jane Taylor - Montpelier
An album of variety, Jane has a strong and sometimes idiosyncratic voice and a nice collection of songs.
Some songs she backs herself on guitar or piano, others have the addition of variety of different musicians including one with just her vocal and double bass. I've not heard this for years but it deserves better than that.
Tuesday 15 March 2016
Day 2
CD#6 Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
A classic. Apparently.
I like Van Morrison a lot but this was hard work - according to Wikipedia:
"Except for John Payne, Morrison and the assembled jazz musicians had not played together before and the recordings commenced without rehearsals or lead sheets handed out."
Well to me it sounds like some of them were playing along to a different backing track in places and there was one point where I wondered if somewhere in the process of re-mastering for CD the left stereo track had slipped out of sync with the right, so much so that it was really hard not to skip to the next track.
Some of the songs are ok but others just seem to be everyone noodling away with no regard for what anyone else is doing.
Maybe I should pick up an old vinyl copy to see if my CD version is part of the problem, I doubt I'll be rushing back to this for a while.
CD#7 Graham Parker - Howlin' Wind
This is much more like it, great tunes and a group of musicians all playing for the songs, not just mucking about. I haven't bought the most recent album because they were so good around this time and I fear that time might not have been kind to them (this may not be true but I'm scared to find out).
You don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing!
CD#8 Meshell Ndegéocello - Bitter
Fewer grooves and a bit more introspective than some of her stuff, but none the worse for that. I do like a bit of Meshell, though for me she's one of those artists who's more of an occasional special treat rather than something to be listened to every day.
CD#9 Boo Hewerdine - Harmonograph
This is a collection of songs written both alone and in collaboration with other people that had their first airing played by other acts and until this album had not been recorded by Boo, including Patience of Angels, which was originally a single from Eddi Reader. Boo's got a wonderfully delicate voice and there are some great songs on this.
A classic. Apparently.
I like Van Morrison a lot but this was hard work - according to Wikipedia:
"Except for John Payne, Morrison and the assembled jazz musicians had not played together before and the recordings commenced without rehearsals or lead sheets handed out."
Well to me it sounds like some of them were playing along to a different backing track in places and there was one point where I wondered if somewhere in the process of re-mastering for CD the left stereo track had slipped out of sync with the right, so much so that it was really hard not to skip to the next track.
Some of the songs are ok but others just seem to be everyone noodling away with no regard for what anyone else is doing.
Maybe I should pick up an old vinyl copy to see if my CD version is part of the problem, I doubt I'll be rushing back to this for a while.
CD#7 Graham Parker - Howlin' Wind
This is much more like it, great tunes and a group of musicians all playing for the songs, not just mucking about. I haven't bought the most recent album because they were so good around this time and I fear that time might not have been kind to them (this may not be true but I'm scared to find out).
You don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing!
CD#8 Meshell Ndegéocello - Bitter
Fewer grooves and a bit more introspective than some of her stuff, but none the worse for that. I do like a bit of Meshell, though for me she's one of those artists who's more of an occasional special treat rather than something to be listened to every day.
CD#9 Boo Hewerdine - Harmonograph
This is a collection of songs written both alone and in collaboration with other people that had their first airing played by other acts and until this album had not been recorded by Boo, including Patience of Angels, which was originally a single from Eddi Reader. Boo's got a wonderfully delicate voice and there are some great songs on this.
Monday 14 March 2016
Day 1
I'm planning to work through all my CDs (not in alphabetical order as it might get boring working through 15 R.E.M. albums without a break) and see what I make of some that haven't been played for more than 10 years. I'll include all of them, good and bad, and add notes if I have something particular to say.
If I manage to listen to 4 CDs a day and spend at least 5 days a week listening I should manage them all in 32 weeks - though I might skip a few (while I like a lot of SRV I can only just about manage one CD before I get bored so they'll either get skipped or have to be well spread out).
So, in no particular order:
CD#1 Kris Delmhorst - Songs For A Hurricane
I found this artist via a friend's Myspace page, back when that was the No 1 place for me to find new music. Not listened to this one for years, which is a shame as she's got a great voice and I liked it a lot.
CD#2 The Unthanks - Here's The Tender Coming.
I really like the way their vocals intertwine, tonally and stylistically they're very distinct but complimentary. While I have other albums of theirs I think this is the only CD (the others will have to wait for Playing All My Downloaded Albums) - overall another enjoyable album.
CD#3 Lo-fi Lung - Heading for Those Trees/ Sit Down For A Day
Two four song EPs from a duo/band that were part of a gig I played (IIRC in Birmingham somewhere) great fun live, plus I got a packet of seeds which I still have somewhere.
CD#4 Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
There was a recent thread on a forum that asked for bands people would like if one thing was changed, and number of them included bands where they'd prefer a different singer, SP being one. For me the vocal is one of the stand out things about Smashing Pumpkins and they'd be less interesting without it.
Sadly I'm not in a position to listen to it at the optimum volume, some music is SO much better when it's rattling the windows :O)
CD#5 Jonatha Brooke - The Works
Another artist found via Steve Lawson (and not the last) who I like a lot, this is a collection of songs with lyrics chosen from the Woody Guthrie archive (Billy Bragg is another who's done this, but despite being a fan I've not heard it). For her part Jonatha does a great job and is accompanied by some great musicians including Joe Sample and Steve Gadd.
If I manage to listen to 4 CDs a day and spend at least 5 days a week listening I should manage them all in 32 weeks - though I might skip a few (while I like a lot of SRV I can only just about manage one CD before I get bored so they'll either get skipped or have to be well spread out).
So, in no particular order:
CD#1 Kris Delmhorst - Songs For A Hurricane
I found this artist via a friend's Myspace page, back when that was the No 1 place for me to find new music. Not listened to this one for years, which is a shame as she's got a great voice and I liked it a lot.
CD#2 The Unthanks - Here's The Tender Coming.
I really like the way their vocals intertwine, tonally and stylistically they're very distinct but complimentary. While I have other albums of theirs I think this is the only CD (the others will have to wait for Playing All My Downloaded Albums) - overall another enjoyable album.
CD#3 Lo-fi Lung - Heading for Those Trees/ Sit Down For A Day
Two four song EPs from a duo/band that were part of a gig I played (IIRC in Birmingham somewhere) great fun live, plus I got a packet of seeds which I still have somewhere.
CD#4 Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
There was a recent thread on a forum that asked for bands people would like if one thing was changed, and number of them included bands where they'd prefer a different singer, SP being one. For me the vocal is one of the stand out things about Smashing Pumpkins and they'd be less interesting without it.
Sadly I'm not in a position to listen to it at the optimum volume, some music is SO much better when it's rattling the windows :O)
CD#5 Jonatha Brooke - The Works
Another artist found via Steve Lawson (and not the last) who I like a lot, this is a collection of songs with lyrics chosen from the Woody Guthrie archive (Billy Bragg is another who's done this, but despite being a fan I've not heard it). For her part Jonatha does a great job and is accompanied by some great musicians including Joe Sample and Steve Gadd.
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