What Are You Listening To?

[Ruby]

Here - have a break from him!

Little Moon ~ Grant Lee Phillips (indie folk/Americana/rock/alt) - can't get pics to load!

History: seven releases spanning the time period 2000 to present. This is his sixth album (as Grant Lee Phillips – had other previous releases as Grant Lee Buffalo).

Grant Lee Phillips is another incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist who is equally at home playing his 12 string acoustic as he is the mandolin or the piano, and he has a wonderful way with his voice – it tells such stories! So too do his words, he is lyrically lyrical, and don’t let the gorgeous melodies fool you. Perhaps that’s the differentiating factor, for me, at least – a something extra about the voice that makes it an instrument in its own right without the player having to try too hard; not just someone who can hold a note. Admittedly, he does range from tenor to falsetto and back again with consummate ease, which probably helps a lot!

He has that indefinable ‘something’ that separates him from a myriad other singer/songwriters out there – a je ne sais quoi. Whether or not that will make him ‘commercially’ successful remains to be seen and frankly, I prefer that he isn’t. Not that I don’t wish him material wealth; of course he deserves reward. I do, however, like the fact that he’s slightly quirky, a tad bit dark (despite a certain superficial jollity), and that he doesn’t conform to a prescribed idea, or an accepted norm. I got to thinking that there are so many lower profile muso’s who abound throughout all our societies; men and women who faithfully plug away over the years, consistently producing quality material without the benefit of big bells and whistles – getting themselves out there, performing wherever they can - people who simply love their craft, or who just don’t have a choice – it’s what they were born to do. They’re approachable, unpretentious, and as faithful to their following as it is to them. I believe we should support them wholeheartedly – they work damned hard.

Back to Phillips! In terms of personal history, he’s a registered member of the Creek Native American tribe and also related to Chief John Ross. Paternally, he is of both Blackfoot and Cherokee ancestry all of which may have some bearing on some of the lovely titles of his work – Walking in the Green Corn, Little Moon, etc., although I am of the impression that he does not play on his origins at all, he’s pretty much his very own man and just gets on with the business of making beautiful sounds. He knows the business intimately well, and dives in unapologetically and head first. This is an accomplished musician who is in full command of the tools at this disposal. Although he is patently serious about his career, he has a well-developed sense of humour, and I like that he clowns around some (‘The Sun Shines on Jupiter’). Generally speaking, I like very much indeed!!

1. Good Morning Happiness*** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQe0ig2NZcQ
   
2. Strangest Thing**** - http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Strangest+Thing/5aceCb
   
3. Little Moon***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMc_kP_0_z4
   
4. It Ain’t The Same Old Cold War Harry**** - http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/It+Ain+t+The...rry/3JrT1V
   
5. Seal It With A Kiss*** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArUIJQrXY1k
   
6. Nightbirds**** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc-z4NUkjeQ
   
7. Violet**** - sorry, no links available
   
8. Buried Treasure***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge7R6SZSBn4
   
9. Blind Tom***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOrTCuSBaoA
   
10. One Morning*** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClmbCOW73eo
    
11. Older Now***** - see below
    
12. The Sun Shines on Jupiter***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZhhADmHNNo
    

Score - 4.2/5
allmusic – 4/5

[video=youtube;gWC6IU0T2Bs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWC6IU0T2Bs[/video]

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Morrissey – vocals
Alain Whyte – guitar, backing vocals
Boz Boorer – guitar
Jonny Bridgwood – bass
Spencer James Cobrin – drums



Recording History

studio albums - 10
compilation albums - 11
live albums - 2
ep's - 1
singles - 48
videos - 35

from my library (cd)



Producers: Steve Lillywhite

5th studio album - #66 US, #4 UK, #74 AUS, #35 CAN
Singles - Dagenham Dave - #26 UK
.............The Boy Racer - #36 UK

Slightly better than the last one for me. I remembered that I do have Viva Hate on vinyl which I think is what kept me into the guy. Still I'm
wondering whether these next 3 of his that I own are any better. This one only went silver in the UK and neither single even charted anywhere
else. Only 8 tracks on it with a couple of too long ones. The cover is a picture of a boxer from the sixties named Kenny Lane and was lifted
from The Ring magazine. Morrissey says the title refers to the school of hard knocks with southpaw being what they call a lefty boxer.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Dagenham Dave
Best Track - Best Friend On The Payroll



Track Listing

1. The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iy1BbYd08w
2. Reader Meet Author **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCR8T5YFHg4
3. The Boy Racer **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SvXZHuQ7mQ
4. The Operation **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNkmek08Aw
5. Dagenham Dave *
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmKdgQdCrYU
6. Do Your Best and Don't Worry **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtWvSs1PIPE
7. Best Friend on the Payroll **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxKFH6f5aVQ
8. Southpaw **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ujllpBWpg

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

grade - 1.8 of 3.0
allmusic - 2.5 of 5.0

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Morrissey – vocals
Alain Whyte – guitars and backing vocals
Boz Boorer – guitars
Gary Day – bass guitar
Dean Butterworth – drums
Roger Manning – keyboards



Recording History

studio albums - 10
compilation albums - 11
live albums - 2
ep's - 1
singles - 48
videos - 35

from my library (cd)



Producer: Jerry Finn

7th studio album - #11 US, #2 UK, #64 AUS, #37 CAN
Singles - Irish Blood, English Heart - #3 UK, #7 CAN
.............First Of The Gang To Die - #6 UK, #57 Can
.............Let Me Kiss You - #8 UK
.............I Have Forgiven Jesus - #10 UK

Finally a good score with two love tracks and nothing I don't like. Almost 10 years since the last album I have, with only 1 album in between.
This is Morrissey's only album to go platinum, in the UK only, and is also his highest charting album in the US, even though none of the singles
charted here. The man never got much respect here. A highest charting single for the UK with Irish Blood. Nancy Sinatra released a version of
Let Me Kiss You before Morrissey's own. Did well in the UK. Didn't know Nancy was doing any recording that recent. Some versions of the cover
for this album have the machine gun cropped out. Wouldn't want to offend those who have had loved ones killed by a machine gun.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - I'm Not Sorry
Best Track - First Of The Gang To Die

[video=youtube;3qgn1Rc0YJ4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qgn1Rc0YJ4[/video]

Track Listing

1. America Is Not the World **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2scLTOkqa7s
2. Irish Blood, English Heart **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKoS5X4SMrY
3. I Have Forgiven Jesus **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyVLMfXVPKE
4. Come Back to Camden ***
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itldtaLv_X4
5. I'm Not Sorry **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWPJrASPz8E
6. The World Is Full of Crashing Bores **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JPBvWsKCIw
7. How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hepBq0tnETQ
8. First of the Gang to Die ***
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qgn1Rc0YJ4
9. Let Me Kiss You **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmPw3SPgWrw
10. All the Lazy Dykes **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-fsCgGmbPo
11. I Like You **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPmOwv-du9w
12. You Know I Couldn't Last **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7SjS9KiCuw

3's - 2
2's - 10
1's - 0

grade - 2.2 of 3.0
allmusic - 4.0 of 5.0

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Morrissey – vocals
Alain Whyte – guitars and backing vocals
Boz Boorer – guitars
Jesse Tobias – guitars
Gary Day – bass guitar
Matt Chamberlain – drums
Michael Farrell – piano, organ, keyboards, trumpet, trombone and percussion



Recording History

studio albums - 10
compilation albums - 11
live albums - 2
ep's - 1
singles - 48
videos - 35

from my library (cd)



Producer: Tony Visconti

8th studio album - #27 US, #1 UK, #55 AUS, #41 CAN
Singles - You Have Killed Me - #3 UK, #3 CAN
.............The Youngest Was The Most Loved - #14 UK
.............In The Future When All's Well - #17 UK
.............I Just Want To See The Boy Happy - #16 UK

Back down the ladder for this one. Nothing I love and 3 I don't like. #1 in the UK as usual but the world lags behind. Morrissey attributes the
harder rock sound to new guitarist Jesse Tobias. I don't think it sounds any harder but whatever. Picks up Davide Bowie producer Visconti who at
the time called the album one of the best he'd ever worked on. The next one he worked on he probably said the same thing. Allmusic says this
album is the closest Morrissey has been to forgettable. Ouch. They still gave it 3 stars though so it couldn't have been too bad for them.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Life Is A Pigsty
Best Track - On The Streets I Run

Track Listing

1. I Will See You in Far-Off Places ** lol at the Bush jab
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B9MMZamyqs
2. Dear God Please Help Me *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x82SIRSY0nE
3. You Have Killed Me **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3TIM1EtsA0
4. The Youngest Was the Most Loved ** Jools Holland
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR5txeafe54
5. In the Future When All's Well **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA2hnOIkQ0g
6. The Father Who Must Be Killed **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEfjab8UnuQ
7. Life Is a Pigsty * too long
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GagLGxsEiM
8. I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12dW_2D9r4I
9. On the Streets I Ran **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTRBHIJUN8s
10. To Me You Are a Work of Art *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R8EkrZVq8A
11. I Just Want to See the Boy Happy **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3gridIpTa8
12. At Last I Am Born **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQm-ionxS4o

3's - 0
2's - 9
1's - 3

grade - 1.8 of 3.0
allmusic - 3.0 of 5.0

[Ruby]

Such an incredible wash of sounds – love the instruments – qanun/kanun, oud and bouzouki? They really get to the point between the four and five minute mark. Calexico and Takim - great collaboration!

[video=youtube;XiZT1IU4rrU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiZT1IU4rrU[/video]

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Morrissey – vocalist
Roger Manning - keyboards
Boz Boorer – guitarist
Jesse Tobias – guitarist
Solomon Walker – bassist
Matt Walker – drummer



Recording History

studio albums - 10
compilation albums - 11
live albums - 2
ep's - 1
singles - 48
videos - 35

from my library (cd)



Producer: Jerry Finn

9th studio album - #11 US, #3 UK, #87 AUS, #36 CAN
Singles - I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris - #21 UK
.............Something Is Squeezing My Skull - #46 UK

This one wraps up my Morrissey with an average like score. I have 7 of his albums, 2 on vinyl. You Are My Quarry got my best score of the cd's,
but I'm pretty sure Viva Hate is my favorite. That might have been the newness coming off of the Smiths which I was anticipating at the time. I
would pick up any missing Morrissey albums only out of the discount bin. He returns to producer Jerry Finn for this one and loses long time lead
guitarist Alain Whyte who does retain some writing credits. Sounds like they had a falling out. Not sure who the baby on the cover is but
Morrissey must be afraid of it.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - You Were Good In Your Time
Best Track - That's How People Grow Up

Track Listing

1. Something Is Squeezing My Skull **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RId8Ikb8-z0
2. Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed ** Kimmel show
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai2XFoVhKPI
3. Black Cloud **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ybUrXsFNI
4. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6B0GdCa9w
5. All You Need Is Me **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZLTkvYQq98
6. When Last I Spoke To Carol **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BE6CKJnkyQ
7. That's How People Grow Up ** Letterman show
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-LdmNYqbCw
8. One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaSVMIMyOXE
9. It's Not Your Birthday Anymore **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-MqnqwK7Qc
10. You Were Good In Your Time *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gGj8kbYFys
11. Sorry Doesn't Help **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMWxsJW2IDc
12. I'm Ok By Myself **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnkNCSMU7Us

3's - 0
2's - 9
1's - 3

grade - 1.9 of 3.0
allmusic - 4.0 of 5.0

[CRAZY-HORSE]

nice reviews MH....
like you...i'd only pick him up out of a discount bin now, and "viva hate"(titled "education in reverse" here) would be my favourite also.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

DIVINYLS "greatest hits" cd, 2006

career stats:
studio albums......5
singles................25

this album...............#50 AU

1980s-90s Aussie rock band fronted by the sometimes controversial female singer Chrissy Amphlett...
songs were often a bit confrontational with their subject matter from domestic violence,female masturbation,prostitution,alcoholism etc etc
all that with Chrissy dressing in a school girl outfit with stockings and suspenders,stillettos,bright red lipstick and pouting sensually...
these guys(and gal) only had a couple of big hits here and really only one hit outside of Australia(i touch myself)...
not a great rockband by anymeans but they did make a few very good singles during their time...
this album released to coincide with their induction into the Australian 'r+r hallof fame'....
vocalist Amphlett died less than twelve months ago at her home in NYC from breast cancer...she was unable to have treatment for it due to her chronic MS illness...
the song "i touch myself" has now been used as the official tune in adverts for breast cancer awareness campaigns here in Australia

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: back to the wall
best track: im jealous

tracks:

1. boys in town **
2. science fiction ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiCv9F_GRBA video
3. siren ***
4. only lonely **
5. casual encounter **
6. good die young **
7. in my life **
8. pleasure and pain ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH8hcfhG1Jo video
9. sleeping beauty **
10.temperamental **
11.back to the wall **
12.hey little boy ***
13.punxsie **
14.i touch myself **
15.love school **
16.make out alright **
17.im on your side ***
18.i aint gonna eat out my heart anymore **
19.im jealous ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiUGDE6b8oY video
20.human on the inside **

3s=6
2s=14
1s=0

rating: 2.3

[SteveO]

I like this band !

[video=youtube;YMPF6lpM0XM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPF6lpM0XM&list=RDzol2MJf6XNE&index=12[/video]

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Dexter Holland – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Noodles – Lead guitar, backing vocals
Greg K. – Bass guitar, backing vocals (uncredited for backing vocals)
Ron Welty – Drums, backing vocals



Recording History

studio albums - 9
compilation albums - 3
ep's - 4
singles - 33
videos - 26

from my library (cd)



Producer: Thom Wilson

3rd studio album - #4 US, #21 UK, #1 AUS, #3 CAN
Singles - Come Out And Play - #1 US (alt), #8 AUS, #43 CAN
.............Self Esteem - #4 US (alt), #37 UK, #6 AUS, #34 CAN
.............Gotta Get Away - #6 US (alt), #43 UK, #53 AUS, #32 CAN
.............Bad Habit

Surprised those singles only showed up on the alt chart here, with the album charting that high. Their breakthrough album and it remains their
best selling going 6x platinum. The album became the best-selling independent label album of all time. Of course the band then got signed by a
major. I don't recall hearing any other albums by this band. The tracks that I like on this one remind me of Green Day. With Dookie coming out
the same year they got a lot of comparisons. We know who won that battle.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - So Alone
Best Track - Come Out And Play

[video=youtube;1jOk8dk-qaU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jOk8dk-qaU[/video]

Track Listing

1. Time to Relax
2. Nitro (Youth Energy) **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riXRmFS01rg
3. Bad Habit **
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmJnSZkKCq4
4. Gotta Get Away ***
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joclttkYzkU
5. Genocide *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhYgeGT_vcU
6. Something to Believe In *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK_gDmweR9Q
7. Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated) ***
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jOk8dk-qaU
8. Self Esteem ***
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkFH0KMO0G0
9. It'll Be a Long Time **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOB9D-1AxBs
10. Killboy Powerhead *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzo_GZgOiIQ
11. What Happened to You? **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak8sOWiRO3Y
12. So Alone *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXR9PjmDQtE
13. Not the One **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XG9dDB6l4w
14. Smash *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh2vO_FTEJc

3's - 3
2's - 5
1's - 5

grade - 1.8 of 3.0
allmusic - 4.5 of 5.0