What Are You Listening To?

[Music Head]

^^

gotta confess this would probably grow on me if I gave it a chance, as did their other ones.
just my aversion to the techno sound I guess

[CRAZY-HORSE]

i got the double vinyl album of this one in this colour, limited to the first 500 copies, all subsequent covers are the same as the cd.
...and yes, mine is still sealed.

[Tiggi]

Nice Lloyd.

Expensive ??

[CRAZY-HORSE]

$40, approx 25 quid, i dont buy much vinyl now, just ones i think may increase in value over time.
$40 is the going price here for 'new release' vinyl, also got the 35 anniversary vinyl "dark side of the moon" with 40 page booklet at the same time

[Tiggi]

£25 doesn't sound exorbitant for a limited edition release. Well done, you...

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS "tangalooma" 2010. cd. #67 Aust.

JSS have been around for about five years here in Australia, theyve released several "ep's" and "mini albums" but this is their first full length release, which was released here late last year(oct/nov).
i wouldnt really call this "alternative" in the true sense of of the genre, moreso a combination of alt/pop IMO.
its a nice sounding album full of lovely harmonies, the music is big on percussion with a splash of guitars and brass(trombones), it feels to me as similar sounding music to the lighter moments of Ben Folds and Crowded House. the melodies are in a similar vein to those of the more mellow moments of Traffic(hole in my shoe), the Kinks and Small Faces....i suppose its very retro in its overall feel.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: toes and fingers
best track: rainbow kraut

tracksorry about the lack of links...but you'll get the idea of the album from these.

1. your favourite perversion (2.0*)
2. overpass (2.5*)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxWM8z_OVT0 video
3. cause of self (1.6*)
4. toes and fingers (1.5*)
5. evolution (1.8*)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afWl3lTglsw live (average sound!)
6. masochist (2.5*)
7. once i (1.8*)
8. you've got nothing to be proud of (1.6*)
9. dying tree (1.6*)
10.rainbow kraut (3.0*)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpeqfsfH2b4 video
11.great divided self (1.6*)
12.sleep (1.6*)

sometimes its easier to rate specific (1.8*) rather than *,**,***.

3s=3
2s=8
1s=1

rating: 1.8

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



Back with another installment. This is Leonards fifth. I remember reading that he hated this album. There was bad blood created between him and producer Phil Spector, which I assume led to Leonards assessment. It also led to a five year hiatus from the recording industry. It is certainly quite different than any of his previous efforts, with the overused Spector term of wall of sound. Very true in this case though, as the music takes center stage. Cohens lyrics are as sharp as ever, just not as prominent. Writing credits all go to Spector/Cohen. Heavy on the backing vocals, which in some cases are almost a duet rather than backing. Most prominent is Ronee Blakley who I think had done previous work with Phil. Also mentions Bob Dylan as backing vocals on Don't Go Home With Your Hard On, my least favorite track here. Despite Leonards evaluation, I still love this album. Stepping out of the strict confinements of the acoustic label, he let's it all hang out. I'm sure Phil made that happen. All the better for me. The album never charted here but got to #35 in the U.K. Can't believe there's no clip for my favorite.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Don't Go Home With Your Hard On

Best Track - Death Of A Ladies Man

Ah the man she wanted all her life was hanging by a thread
"I never even knew how much I wanted you," she said.
His muscles they were numbered and his style was obsolete.
"O baby, I have come too late." She knelt beside his feet.
"I'll never see a face like yours in years of men to come
I'll never see such arms again in wrestling or in love."
And all his virtues burning in the smoky Holocaust
She took unto herself most everything her lover lost
Now the master of this landscape he was standing at the view
with a sparrow of St. Francis that he was preaching to
She beckoned to the sentry of his high religious mood
She said, "I'll make a place between my legs,
I'll show you solitude."
He offered her an orgy in a many mirrored room
He promised her protection for the issue of her womb
She moved her body hard against a sharpened metal spoon
She stopped the bloody rituals of passage to the moon
She took his much admired oriental frame of mind
and the heart-of-darkness alibi his money hides behind
She took his blonde madonna and his monastery wine --
"This mental space is occupied and everything is mine."
He tried to make a final stand beside the railway track
She said, "The art of longing's over and it's never coming back."
She took his tavern parliament, his cap, his cocky dance,
she mocked his female fashions and his working-class moustache.
The last time that I saw him he was trying hard to get
a woman's education but he's not a woman yet
And the last time that I saw her she was living with some boy
who gives her soul an empty room and gives her body joy.
So the great affair is over but whoever would have guessed
it would leave us all so vacant and so deeply unimpressed
It's like our visit to the moon or to that other star
I guess you go for nothing if you really want to go that far.
It's like our visit to the moon or to that other star
I guess you go for nothing if you really want to go that far.
It's like our visit to the moon or to that other star
I guess you go for nothing if you really want to go that far.

1) True Love Leaves No Traces - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoknBw5iQlc
2) Iodine - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMG7sYpMaF4
3) Paper Thin Hotel - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTcO2RGVqd0
4) Memories - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USWLHcRIdBU
5) I Left A Woman Waiting - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB5SrOUDhzo
6) Don't Go Home With Your Hard On - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLK2buZxamo
7) Fingerprints - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG9zED01DuA
8) Death Of A Ladies Man - ***

3's - 4
2's - 4
1's - 0

Grade - 2.5

[CRAZY-HORSE]

we should change the title to "death of a lady" and thats the story and legacy of Spector IMO.

[Tiggi]

^^ I've not heard that one, Ed. Was a bit put off by the Spector factor.

Love Spector's work, and adore LC, but can't get my head around the two of them working together.

It seems I should get me a listen...

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE BOOMTOWN RATS "the fine art of surfing" 1979, vinyl. #7 UK, #11 AU, #103 US.

before i go any further...why the hell did "i dont like mondays" only reach #73 in the US singles charts?...was it because of the subject matter...were Americans too sensitive to it??

this is the Rats third album, its the only one i have, i have heard the others and they pale into insignifigance compared to this one.
this one is full of good 'new wave' beats mixed with thoughtful lyrics and a touch of Geldof's Irish sarcasm and witt. tracks 1,9 and 10 are very Elvis Costello in pace and nature,well, he was part of the New Wave movement so i guess it all fused together through the various bands. the difference being Costello morphed,backflipped,moved sideways and forewards to survive, whereas most of his contemporaries including the Rats either didnt or couldnt.
the only problem with the album is that "i dont like mondays" sticks out like a sore thumb, musically it does not belong here, unfortunately i cant deduct points for it over the tracklisting decisions of others when its such a good song.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: sleep
best track: i dont like mondays

tracks:

1. somebody's looking at you*** #4 UK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYQ_MBFmpi8 live
2. diamond smiles** #13 UK, #42 AU.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZXJTlB_3WQ Geldof live solo
3. wind chill factor**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iULUuflWZEo audio
4. having my picture taken**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJCS-Y2NFeQ audio
5. sleep*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYP_cgQSO...re=related audio
6. i dont like mondays*** #1 UK, #1 AU, #73 US.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaGnwx62F...re=related live
7. nothing happened today***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlpvvpzGXkA audio
8. keep it up**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L06OQSCYEG8 audio
9. nice 'n' neat**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVZqX2298L8 audio
10.when the night comes**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcgtLhNO6hA audio

3s=3
2s=6
1s=1

rating: 2.2