What Are You Listening To?

[Music Head]

listened online



Debut from California band consisting of two former members of Panic At The Disco. Kind of lo-fi retro sounding at times, with the album cover even showing that. Rather Kinkish sounding to me. Up to 3 singles already with Change, Take A Vacation and Everyone But You. Just misses the list.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Young Veins (Die Tonight)

Best Track - Defiance

There was a hope when we found the bridge
Of a place we had never been
Defiance

Ever since I was a kid
They said just stay away from there
Boy, don't you ever live?
In defiance

From the outside looking in
I sure do make an easy target
It's nice to think that you are always wanted

I'm not afraid to laugh
And I don't mind taking a photograph
Because you don't ask for my autograph
In defiance, defiance

She said it was rust and lead
That love could never live again
But we found a way to make it stay
In defiance
She asked
In defiance
She asked

Can't we just be friends?
This kind of thing always happens
I fell in love agian
With defiance
Defiance

1) Change - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv4VKsfVdQY
2) Take A Vacation! - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FqMnDjH41c&feature=fvst
3) Cape Town - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwMzxgG2AxM
4) Maybe I Will, Maybe I Won't - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC_DBzokHA4
5) Young Veins (Die Tonight) - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu_Ul-261-I
6) Everyone But You - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQcEFDTt-s
7) The Other Girl - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clXL8pLS3Zo
8) Dangerous Blues - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKKGh6_nwus
9) Defiance - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxKxBFzRKJc
10) Lie To The Truth - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5J7l5LOmYE
11) Heart Of Mine - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Ejfv7INhM

Average Rating - 1.6

[Tiggi]

Another Robbie borrowing...

More Gothic Americana, but this is more visceral than the studio Secret South set played a few days ago.

Sounds like they'd have been a great band to see live. Too late now...

Very good live album.

[Music Head]

listened online



Debut album from New York band making tribal indie rock/chamber pop (I don't know). Toured with Yeasayer and MGMT. Can't handle the forced falsetto.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - A Mind I Knew

Best Track - Martha

1) Save Your Love For Me - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iysP8Nnhd4A
2) Black Sheep - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9c4GzxejXE
3) Before Your Birthday Ends - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojdu6FCbOD8
4) You Can Keep Me Runnin' Around - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj4eJqVY_3o
5) A Mind I Knew - 1.0 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiI7LPB52I
6) Roman Candles - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZshuCAwGpDc
7) It Gets Your Body Movin' - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX1-a-qPaEk
8) Martha - 2.0 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trTGPB5UuIc
9) King Of Snakes - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OJ8OXZHoiA
10) 2 Eyes 2 C - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08OhxiUqlk8
11) Loose Change - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1giCs2YLg

Average Rating - 1.4

[Music Head]

listened online



This Scottish band, formed in 1989, has yet to make it in the states. Maybe this is the one. This is their ninth, and I didn't know they had that many. Heard them before but never a full album. Sort of a letdown from what I expected. Five years since the last release. Other than the leadoff single of Baby Lee, the album wasn't that good for me, but that single could be all they need. A lot of duds weighted it down.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - The Fall

Best Track - Baby Lee

Love me, leave me
Take my possessions and go
Wine me, dine me
Wreck all the things that I know

I'm enchanted I've fallen under your spell
How can I resist when you cast them so well

Baby Lee I'm only trying to remind you
They had me in mind oh yeah when they designed you
And Baby Lee I'm always watching from a distance
Oh marry marry me oh baby now I am insisting

Wake me, shake me
Put my emotions on show
Make me suffer
Tell everyone that you know

I'm enchanted I've fallen under your spell
How can I resist when you cast them so well

Baby Lee I'm only trying to remind you
They had me in mind oh yeah when they designed you
And Baby Lee I'm always watching from a distance
Oh marry marry me oh baby now I am insisting

1) Sometimes I Don't Need To Believe In Anything - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmmckwDSPOI
2) Baby Lee - 2.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4H8F3TxSzQ
3) The Fall - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIsAxcEv7V0
4) Into The City - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6U0AthXY0w
5) Dark Clouds - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioFbSpKRatA
6) The Past - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_k4Hfm15go
7) Shock And Awe - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7uIL0K4f3I
8) When I Still Have Thee - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSwseEpUKf8
9) Live With The Seasons - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg14YulLPY0
10) Sweet Days Waiting - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqt7mQwcnKE
11) The Back Of My Mind - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hDKJeqtnYk
12) Today Never Ends - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HX3g9uDRII

Average Rating - 1.5

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



One of my few (comparatively) live albums. Not a fan of live albums, but it is the Smiths. Reached #2 in the U.K. and a whoppping #77 in the states. One of those contractual obligations after the band had split. Recorded at Londons National Ballroom in 1986. Since this is a live album, I included crappy live clips.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - The Draize Train

Best Track - Ask

Shyness is nice and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You'd like to

Shyness is nice and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You'd like to

So, if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me I wont say no, how could I?

Coyness is nice, and
Coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in
Life you'd like to

So, if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me I wont say no, how could I?

Spending warm Summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb,
the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together

Nature is a language - can't you read ?
Nature is a language - can't you read ?

So, ask me, ask me, ask me,
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb,
the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together

If it's not Love
Then it's the bomb
Then it's the bomb
That will bring us together

So, ask me, ask me, ask me,
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Oh, la...

1) The Queen Is Dead - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHRP-IzHHw
2) Panic - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1IIUFazum0
3) Vicar In A Tutu - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBRQqeZSrxE
4) Ask - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crkfFMv56xg
5) Rusholme Ruffians - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57Lg7YTJmk
6) The Boy With The Thorn In His Side - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tefDc6mTaZk
7) What She Said - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgwsIhaFuAI
8) Is It Really So Strange? - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYp8NRVyX8Q
9) Cemetary Gates - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfGJWb9OPug
10) London - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy8d1bQYvmM
11) I Know It's Over - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18GrFywPkXE
12) The Draize Train - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVTBVjEyND0
13) Still Ill - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpatyAxOtOY
14) Bigmouth Strikes Again - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwgfeH-0TiA

3's - 3
2's - 7
1's - 4

Rating - 1.9

[Music Head]

listened online



Twenty years since the last one. Sort of wish they would have waited another 20. Then I wouldn't have been here to hear it. Loved these guys back in the day. More sad watching them perform now than hearing the music I guess. Saw them on one of the late nights about a month ago. Grimaced all the way through. There were a couple of decent tracks at the end, but overall, if you were a Devo fan, keep them memories and don't listen to this. Fresh is the first single.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Please Baby Please

Best Track - March On

1) Fresh - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWl6HqNYFXg
2) What We Do - 1.0 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59lyODNtrSc
3) Please Baby Please - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMBxPBciPYE
4) Don't Shoot (I'm A Man) - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVawUAN1gvo
5) Mind Games - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPjpjeKPC3I
6) Human Rocket - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umvot81f3mQ
7) Sumthin - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HKzg9mXD1M
8) Step Up - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo3kSPblJHY
9) Cameo - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOdZQA30jxU
10) Later Is Now - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq61k7kW9ic
11) No Place Like Home - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRyAMCCHdaE
12) March On - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lwriZkVFAQ

Average Rating - 1.4

[Tiggi]

The problem with Robbie is that when he lends you something you really like, he's got loads more of their stuff which he then plonks in your hand. And I always feel obliged to listen...

Shouldn't complain, he's a fine source of new stuff.

Another studio album from my new flavour of the month. This is a more pastoral affair than the others I've heard recently, and it works very well. Much more acoustic, and closer to the American Folk & Country which lies at the heart of their music. Includes covers of Hank Williams, & Carter Family songs, plus a host of arrangements of traditional tunes.

And I've finally figured out that vocalist David Eugene Edwards sounds very much like Richard Ashcroft, although he doesn't much on this album !!

&

The American Analog Set - From Our Living Room to Yours



Picked this up from MD Mk1 a few years ago, from a recommendation by, possibly, JonG.

Must confess it hasn't had a great deal of airtime since purchase, but it's definitely a great little album.

Hypnotic, fairly gentle songs which have echoes of the '60s arising from the use of a - I believe - Farfisa Organ, whilst still sounding very contemporary.

[Music Head]

listened online



My man Tiggi posted this recently. I think he liked it a tad more than I did. They are making some waves it appears, both here and across the pond. At least on the charts. Is that good or bad? New Jersey band with their third album. Definitely has that Bruce sound.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Old Haunts

Best Track - Bring It On

My queen of the Bronx
Blue eyes and spitfire
I saw you walking back and forth
About another boy
Thinking that you may want to leave

So give me the fevers that just won't break
And give me the children you don't want to raise
And tell me about the cool
He sings to you in those songs
If it's better than my love
Then bring it on

And take it back out to the streets
Where you know you used to be
For the Romeos of town
If I bring you down
And you're tired of those vows
And you're really walking out

So give me the fevers that just won't break
And give me the children you don't want to raise
And tell me about the cool
He sings to you in those songs
If it's better than my love
Baby, bring it on
Oh, bring it on

Stop clicking your red heels and wishing for home
I'm hearing that he tells you he can read your thoughts
Is he better than my love
Better than my love
Is he better than my love
Better than my love
So I found the letters with the reason to things
You've been feeling that
He says they'll never know
And you say the night just got too cold
Well everybody's cold
Who's gonna keep my baby warm
Who's gonna keep my baby warm
When everybody goes

So give me the fevers that just won't break
And give me the children you don't want to raise
And tell me about the cool
He sings to you in those songs
If it's better than my love

Well then wait a minute, wait a minute
Was he not good to you
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Was he not good to you
Wait a minute, wait a minute
You don't know what's good for you

So give me the fevers that just won't break
And give me the children you don't want to raise
And tell me about the cool
He sings to you in those songs
You've been baby for so long
Come on, bring it on
Oh, bring it on
Stop clicking your red heels and wishing for home
I'm hearing that he tells you he can read your thoughts
If he's better than my love
Then go on, take it all

1) American Slang - 2.0 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkKqAdaUJH4
2) Stay Lucky - 1.5
3) Bring It On - 2.0 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfjeiCkZzgg
4) The Diamond Street Church Choir - 2.0
5) The Queen Of Lower Chelsea - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh_5NkqdhW4
6) Orphans - 1.5 - live
7) Boxer - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQMCkFQ9zS4
8) Old Haunts - 1.0
9) The Spirit Of Jazz - 2.0 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2GcSYZOh2k
10) We Did It When We Were Young - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zajCqbBsXME

Average Rating - 1.7

[Tiggi]

Usually billed as an Alt-Country band. This is inaccurate, at least regarding this album !! Whilst there are instrumental Country touches, Kurt Wagner's idiosyncratic, gruff voice, and the subject matter of the songs are far removed from Country IMHO.

Laid-back, & gorgeous.

[Music Head]

listened online



English band formed in 2006 with their second album. First one did pretty good in the U.K. but failed to make a dent in the states. This one debuted at #8 in the U.K. Fell into the hype for this, and while there were a few tracks I liked, overall I was unfortunately disappointed. First single was This Orient with a follow up of Miami.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Fugue

Best Track - Spanish Sahara

So I walked into the haze
And a million dirty ways
Now I see you lying there
Like a lilo losing air air

Black rocks and shoreline sand
Still that summer I cannot bear
And I wipe the sand from my eyes
Spanish sahara the place that you´d wanna
Leave the horror here
Forget the horror here
forget the horror here
Leave it all down here
It's future rust and then it´s future dust
Forget the horror here
forget the horror here
Leave it all down here
It's future rust and then it´s future dust

Now the waves they drag you down
Carry you to broken ground
Though I find you in the sand
Wipe you clean with dirty hands

So god damn this boiling space
Spanish sahara the place that you´d wanna
Leave the horror here
Forget the horror here forget the horror here
Leave it all down here
It's future rust and then it´s future dust
I'm the fury in your head
I'm the fury in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head

Cause I am
Find More lyrics at http://www.sweetslyrics.com
I'm the fury in your head
I'm the fury in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head

Cause I am
I'm the fury in your head
I'm the fury in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head
Cause I am

solo

Forget the horror here
forget the horror here
Leave it all down here
It's future rust and then it´s future dust
Choir of furies in you head
Choir of furies in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head

Cause I am
Choir of furies in you head
Choir of furies in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head

Cause I am
Choir of furies in you head
Choir of furies in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head
Cause I am

1) Blue Blood - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwpveU6pV-Q
2) Miami - 2.0 - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ90LRaEIt0
3) Total Life Forever - 1.5 - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr7jkULlh44
4) Black Gold - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9jBBpgrCs
5) Spanish Sahara - 2.0 - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoINidnLRQ
6) This Orient - 2.0 - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NNbxkniLk
7) Fugue - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUbfrAf8bTY
8) After Glow - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD_VYOWTopU
9) Alabaster - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8usByyc2kQ
10) 2 Trees - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avb4az1uLsI
11) What Remains - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPBHgeTV9qw

Average Rating - 1.6