What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

Competent Mancunian three-piece that probably haven't achieved the commercial success they deserve.

This isn't my favourite of theirs, but it's good nonetheless.

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



One of those wild card purchases I make from time to time. At a steep discount, no doubt. This one didn't pan out. Formed in NYC in 2003, this is the groups debut album. It received high praise from the critics, and they were deemed the next Big Thing by Village Voice. Hasn't happened yet, but they only have 3 albums. Pretty even split between tracks I like and don't like, leaning toward the don't side. Probably too synth heavy for me. The album did reach a respectable #19 on the U.S. charts, and the single of An Honest Mistake did barely crack the hot 100. And with a little help from Tiggi, research shows the album reached #5 in the U.K.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Give In

Best Track - Tyrant

Everytime you come around
There's a bouquet for me
A corsage of promises
And I am pinned
Like a butterfly on a card
I'm naked and I'm scarred
And you're so perfect to me

Violent ties with hands like a steeple
Tell me lies with a tongue like a needle
I let the words shot down my throat
A face like an iron fist
That I can never resist
I learn the ...

Words of wisdom from your tyrant mouth
Words of wisdom from your tyrant mouth

I'm stuck just like a pig
Roasting in your eyes
I'll believe anything that you want
You gotta teach me how to live
Cause you make me wanna die
You took it all, now you're all I've got

Words of wisdom from your tyrant mouth
Words of wisdom from your tyrant mouth

There's noises in my head
Just noises in my head
If I could I'd drown them all out
I'd bury all of these noises
From your tyrant mouth

You're just a noise in my head
You're just a noise in my head
I'll drown you out
And I'll bury all the noises
From your hateful little mouth

Words of wisdom from your tyrant mouth
Words of wisdom
Words of wisdom
Words of wisdom from your tyrant mouth
Yeah...

1) An Honest Mistake - * - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8vzbezVru4&ob=av2e
2) No Brakes - ** - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpxc3gAK578
3) Fearless - * - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2QPJ2xGMiY&ob=av2e
4) Tyrant - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnZb06RZUiY
5) Give In - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ3pqdmjK3A
6) Swollen Summer - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB5Ga3W8HIs
7) Public Service Announcement - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EynGbykw_3A&ob=av2n
8) Out Of Line - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBEPo6BWM5E
9) Unconditional - * - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89aKm-7WwLQ&ob=av2n
10) The Ring Song - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHQ_zRT1p4
11) Rites Of Spring - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC4A_zhjn_A

3's - 0
2's - 5
1's - 6

Rating - 1.5

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Different cover than man, but just the pic in the center. Mine just shows Robyn sitting on a rock holding his guitar. This one must be a reissue. Brit folk/rocker that was much bigger in his homeland than here. Still, a cult following is sometimes all you need. I remember hearing Somewhere Apart from this album, and thinking, Holy Crap, that's John Lennon. Still feels the same way today. Nothing great on this album for me but only 2 bombs still gives it a good score. This album did not chart in the U.S. or the U.K. that I can find. Am I using this U.K. search right? Maybe he wasn't all that over. I thought he was. Not many clips available.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Bass

Best Track - Ted, Woody and Junior

1) If You Were A Priest - **
2) Winchester - **
3) Somewhere Apart - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj5rVt9I5mQ
4) Ted, Woody and Junior - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZq3qERaCLE
5) The President - **
6) Raymond Chandler Evening - **
7) Bass - *
8) Airscape - **
9) Never Stop Bleeding - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EYlqY7Qnv4
10) Lady Waters & The Hooded One

3's - 0
2's - 8
1's - 2

Rating - 1.8

[Tiggi]

^ He's pretty obscure over here...

[Tiggi]

By the time of this album, BT were into Grunge-Lite territory.

A lush sound, & some excellent songs including some killer ballads made this an excellent choice for my afternoon in the garden.

&

Bjork - Debut



First post-Sugarcubes solo effort from Icelandic Pixie-genius.

I find most of her music pretty unclassifiable, so since it seems to be an alternative to almost everything, this is where it belongs.

I admire her absolute disinterest in pursueing any form of commercial success, and being successful despite that.

Mostly electronic music, with her squawky vocals all over it, this was good in the garden as well.

I'm sure she could record herself snoring & I'd still find it interesting...

[Thraak]

[video=youtube;_4Q1PmYSsc8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4Q1PmYSsc8[/video]
Another band I picked up for £3 in Fopp the other day. Scottish low fi, pretty unique. They even did some John Peel sessions apparently.

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Nothing to see (or hear) here. Move along. This sophomore effort falls flat for me. A few decent songs, but nothing memorable. A flash in the pan shall we say. For me anyway. Maybe they missed Malcolm. Although they swept up the U.K., they were never an item here. The camp new wave couldn't last long. It actually did better than I thought here, going to #44. Once again I must be wrong as I can't see where this charted across the pond.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Jolly Roger

Best Track - Antmusic

Well i'm standing here looking at you
What do i see?
I'm looking straight through
It's so sad
When you're young
To be told
You're having fun

So unplug the jukebox
And do us all a favour
That music's lost its taste
So try another flavour -
"antmusic"

Well i'm standing here what do i see?
A big nothing
Threatening me
It's so sad
When you're young
To be told
You're having fun

Don't tread on an ant he's done nothing to you
There might come a day
When he's treading on you
Don't tread on an ant you'll end up black and blue
You cut off his head
Legs come looking for you

1) Dog Eat Dog - * - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtxuPqjSJDc
2) Antmusic - ** - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPjfD8ulnpw
3) Feed Me To The Lions - **
4) Los Rancheros - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGlxhFlHnGI
5) Ants Invasion - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KNT3NHrCR8
6) Killer In The Home - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOiPe7t5S-k
7) Kings Of The Wild Frontier - ** - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSzlLfmpRE
8) The Magnificent Five - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Pbf92I2Ow
9) Don't Be Square (Be There) - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLg-sVMcDLA
10) Jolly Roger - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLZaboTeBbA
11) Making History - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abhNyW9s8A
12) The Human Beings - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_KosoVMKd0

3's - 0
2's - 7
1's - 5

Rating - 1.6

[CRAZY-HORSE]

diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks i guess, because i really like this album.
'dirk wears white sox' was the name of the ants debut album in 1979,it didnt chart anywhere as far as i know but got reissued after initial success of 'kings' album and had moderate uk success.
'kings of the wild frontier' got to no.1 in uk, total 66wks on charts, album spawned 3 hit singles 'kings of the wild frontier' and 'ant music' both got to no.2, 'dog eat dog' reached no.4 in uk singles charts.
adam and the ants follow up album to this in 1981 'prince charming' reached no.2 in uk charts and had 2 no.1 singles 'stand and deliver' and the title track. after 'prince charming' the ants 3rd album, the group split, adam ant had a uk solo no.1 hit with his debut solo single 'goody two shoes'. he released albums spasmodically through the 1980s and 1990s. his best album was called 'wonderful' released in 1995, but by then his sales had tanked.
its interesting to note that 'adam and the ants' had two drummers to achieve their tribal beats
i believe that now he goes under his real name stuart goddard and has gone into acting,nothing substantial,just bit parts in uk tv shows.

[Tiggi]

He's also had problems with mental instability, and has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, spending 6 months in a psychiatric hospital.

[Tiggi]

Another of Robbie's...

There are hints of the Stones in their gentler modes on this album, but John McCauley's hoarse vocals are reminiscent of a slightly rougher version of Mark Eitzel of American Music Club.

A generally melancholy Americana record which is decent enough, but prolly won't result in a purchase.