What Are You Listening To?

[AmericanIdle]

"What the Hell" by Avril Lavigne - she's so awesome!!

[Music Head]

from my son-in-law (cd)



Haven't heard a new Neil in years. Even though this is now 3 years old, it was new to me. Only thing I had heard previously was Pretty Amazing Grace which is an ok song. Standout here was the leadoff If I Don't See You Again. Could have used some percusiion, but even without, a fantastic song. Nothing else comes close to that. Was surprised to see this was his first number one album. In the U.K. also. That made Neil the oldest performer to have a number one album, at 67. Surpassed by His Bobness (title stolen) with his Together Through Life release. This is another career revitalized by Rick Rubin at the boards. He had also produced Neils previous release, 12 Songs. Many of the same musicians who played on Johnny Cash's American albums are also on this one. Another Day is a duet with the Dixie Chicks Natalie Maines. Pretty Amazing Grace was the lone single here, which didn't do much. A couple of covers to close it out, Harry Nilsson's Without Her, which bombs, and Dylans Make You Feel My Love, which passes.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Slow It Down

Best Track - If I Don't See You Again

If I don't see you again,
it was a hell of a ride.
Don't need to say let's be friends,
don't need to promise you'll write.
We rode that train through the night
and never cared where it went. If I don't see you again.

If I don't see you again,
we ran a whole other race.
Two strangers meet on the road
and find their time and their place.
We never once had to lie,
we pass the age of consent. If I don't see you again.

I know it's crazy out there.
I hated sleeping around.
I went out looking for love
and never liked what I found.
Don't pay to make it alone.
God knows it's lonely out there.
I made it once on my own,
and hardly anyone cared. If I don't see you again.

Who you gonna run to, baby?
Who you gonna hide behind
when the nights get suddenly cold?
Whose gonna hold you?
Whose gonna know? Who will you go to?

Who you gonna call if it ain't me?
When you feelin' lost
and there's nobody out there lookin' for you?
What will you do?
Where will you go? If I don't see you again?

If I don't see you again,
you made it happen somehow.
I think I gave up on life,
but I feel better right now.
Something you said turned me 'round.
Don't even know what you meant. If I don't see you again.

And at the end of the day,
I hated sleepin' alone.
There's nothing worse when you're lost,
and you don't want to go home.
It's gonna work out someway,
I just don't want to be found.
I'm waitin' here 'round the bend,
and I'll be hanging around. If I don't see you again.

Who am I kiddin,'
I'm going nowhere.
I can't even get through
an hour without you.
Should be ashamed,
just want to hear you, callin' my name.

Two of us missed connections.
Guess we must of somehow
missed something more.
'Cause we're here alone.
I know we're together.
But too far apart to know how to get back home.

It's time for sayin' good-bye
'cause if I stay for too long,
You'd get to know me too well
and find that something is wrong.
The time is perfect to go
before the curtain descends.
Right now when both of us know
that everything's got to end. If I don't see you again.

What's it gonna come to, baby?
Who you gonna hide behind
when the nights get filled up with doom?
Lookin' to run, you run out of room.

And will you be the one to save me?
Doesn't look like the future is clear and,
Need you to hear me
playin' a tune when nobody hears me,
I ended up playin' to the moon.

It's time for sayin' good-bye
'cause if I stay for too long,
You'd get to know me too well
and find that something was wrong.
The time is perfect to go
before the curtain descends,
Right now when both of us know
that everything's got to end. If I don't see you again.

If I don't see you again,
somehow we both made it through.
I woulda gave up on life
before I gave up on you.
You went and turned me around.
'Could be was something you said.
I couldn't make out the sound.
I didn't care what it meant.
If I don't see you again.
If I don't see you again.
If I don't see you again.

1) If I Don't See You Again - ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9ZmfqtUKvU
2) Pretty Amazing Grace - **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdSJFHnbls0
3) Don't Go There - **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hmy_sbnGEI
4) Another Day (That Time Forgot) - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Niz8C2Nj34
5) One More Bite Of The Apple - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWSDqtBWY1g
6) Forgotten - *
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y7QEcVBQA4
7) Act Like A Man - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh1wGCRNzMU
8) Whose Hands Are These - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIvwqgnFBGc
9) No Words - *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7KHlEtM-Ho
10) The Power Of Two - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSdxUt5Yumw
11) Slow It Down - *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP8IHvR_vIo
12) Home Before Dark - **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4db5DBkMlI
13) Without Her - *
14) Make You Feel My Love - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWGJU8woA7o

3's - 1
2's - 9
1's - 4

Grade - 1.8

[Tiggi]

Compilation of hits & misses from a band who were/are a cut above most of their peers.

Their singles chart their progress from early cold, futuristic themes in the late 1970s, through to the lush electronic Pop mini-symphonies in the mid 1990s that stand comparison with the Pet Shop Boys.

Good stuff.


AllMusic 4+/5 stars.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

for some reason i only hae the "enola gay" single, maybe i should look at a best of set as you quite correctly said: they were a cut above their peers.
the only thing is i was more interested in The Jam and Style Council then.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

CROWDED HOUSE "temple of low men" 1988, cd. #1 AU, #40 US.

this is the second album release by these guys from the land of earthquakes, no not Japan...New Zealand!
its one of those albums that upon first time listening isnt very interesting, but instead it grows on you over time to become one of those great albums with a surprise at every turn.
Neil Finn's lyrics here are very dark and deal with subject matter of destructive relationships, infidelity etc in relationships, the music is generally light in nature, a stark contrast to counteract the words within, but neverthe less a great Neil Finn collection.
"sister madly" is the most accessable track here with a nice upbeat jazz influenced sound, but the standout track and probably the finest three and a half minutes Finn has ever laid down in the studio is the classic McCartney-esque "better be home soon".
the album has none of the radio friendly songs of their debut album or show any hint of the worldwide success they woud achieve the following year but is still a superb album in its own right.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: kill eye
best track: better be home soon

tracks:

1. i feel possessed*** #91 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhhB4ztWFbQ video
2. kill eye**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBBwqXeMfyQ live
3. into temptation*** #67 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8U1gC2JilQ video
4. mansion in the slums**
5. when you come*** #28 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0h7fnIwK4o live
6. never be the same***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgKYh2Vh7VA audio
7. love this life***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1_Ody4BObg live
8. sister madly*** #81 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOMtIl7aMMs live
9. in the lowlands**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOMtIl7aMMs audio
10.better be home soon*** #2 AU, #42 US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD8pMIH1puw live

3s=7
2s=3
1s=0

rating: 2.6

[Music Head]

^^

damn! may have to check this out.
only have once CH and it's not that one
hey, cool, CH, same for group and poster
don't try. I got a buzz going on.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

AQUA "aquarium" 1997, cd. #3 AU, #6 UK, #7 US.

OH MY GOD!
NO!, i did not buy this!!!
i think i inherrited it from my daughter when she grew out of it at age 10ish....that's my story, and im sticking to it!
embarrassing Danish group who somehow managed to sell some 33million albums in their short career.
it is horrible bubblegum euro pop/dance music, the only four tracks here that get a 'like' rating are the ones without that terrible "doof,doof, doof" bass sound.
also, i appologise for the five hits they had here in Australia off the album and for the high #3 album chart placing, but afterall what did you expect? we did export Kylie Minogue to the world!

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM!!

worst track:...pick one!
best track: turn back time

tracks:

1. happy boys and girls*
2. my oh my* #61 au, #6 uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTnT3DfQyrw video
3. barbie girl* #1 au, #1 uk, #7 us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_pTeDz4Zpk video
4. good morning sunshine**
5. doctor jones* #1 au, #1 uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziG0TWUFOXI video
6. heat of the night**
7. be a man**
8. lollipop* #3 au, #23 us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGZH3EFzJ4 video
9. roses are red*
10.turn back time** #10 au, #1 uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-ALQyVDJM4 video
11.calling you*

3s=0
2s=4
1s=7

rating: 1.4

[Music Head]

^^
lol, I thought I was the only one to admit to owning this.
I've got an excuse too.
Me and a friend decided to exchange our worst albums, not knowing what we would get from the other.
Can't friggin remember what I gave him, but I'm sure he got the better deal.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
lol, I thought I was the only one to admit to owning this.
I've got an excuse too.
Me and a friend decided to exchange our worst albums, not knowing what we would get from the other.
Can't friggin remember what I gave him, but I'm sure he got the better deal.

LOL good story...but at least neither of us paid for it

[CRAZY-HORSE]

WHAM! "make it big" 1984, vinyl. #1 UK,AU,US.

this is the one that made George Michael a household name worldwide as opposed to being a household name for several other reasons nowadays??
this is pure pop in its finest form, mixing danceable beats with catchy tunes and boy can George sing, absolutely fantastic vocal ability, nonemoreso than his brilliant version of Queen's "somebody to love" from the 1990's.
however, back to this one...the boys(Andrew & George) were as close to black 'soul' music as any 'white boys' ever got, some of this stuff rates as highly as the best tracks from early Motown IMO. track three sounds so much like The Ronnettes its unbelieveable.
three of the finest '80s songs are on this album in "wake me up...", "freedom" and the sublime lornful ballad "careless whispers".absolutely love the sax work on this on which is why its my favourite track here.
after this album they recorded several tracks which accompanied their 'best of' set, then George went off to record the brilliant "faith" album as and became a solo star,Andrew, on the other hand went into production.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: like a baby
best track: careless whisper

tracks:

1. wake me up before you go-go*** #1 UK,AU,US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgZ7gMze7A video
2. everything she wants** #2 UK, #7 AU, #1 US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf_Lwe6p-Cg video
3. heartbeat**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_yd8oF72ZM audio
4. like a baby*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON7wa7GExmU audio
5. freedom*** #1 UK, #3 AU, #3 US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFwOs-jy53A video
6. if you were here**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f8f2ndBXOU audio
7. credit card baby**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpjs6QSDqN0 audio
8. careless whisper*** #1 UK,AU,US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t84phSJ5hJY video

3s=3
2s=4
1s=1

rating: 2.3