What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

Second listen for this one, from 2007.

Alternative, certainly, with lashings of synths, and what sounds like a mellotron. There's almost a noughties version of Prog going on here, but it is a totally contemporary sound.

Almost lyricless.


AllMusic 4/5 stars.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

i havent heard of the last four albums you have listened to here Tiggi...but its the weekend now and theyre a priority to check out on youtube

[Tiggi]

^ I'd be interested in any feedback...

[Tiggi]

Top Alternative album from 2005.

Brash & noisy, but very tightly played. Comparisons with The Cure are a bit inevitable, but Jered Gummere's voice strongly reminded me even more of another singer, but unfortunately I can't think who...

Good album.


AllMusic 4+/5 stars.

[Tiggi]

Third album for Post-Punk band, from 1980.

Borrowing the energy (albeit turned down a bit), and attitude of Punk, and fusing it with some strong Bowie influences, Howard Devoto's band came up with something new, yet familiar.

Classy songs that don't sound at all dated. Wonderful album.


AllMusic 4+/5 stars.

[Tiggi]

Manchester band's umpteenth, from 2006.

For some reason there's Reggae riddims spliced with Alternative Rock on this album. Wasn't sure what to make of it originally, but it seems to make more sense with repeated listening. Sumptuous sound...


AllMusic 3/5 stars.

[SteveO]

THE CAT EMPIRE - LIVE ON EARTH - Whenever I'm a little down (with all the rain we've had in the last two months !!!) I go to ska, reggae, pop , dance, rock, indie, world, etc. Great experience of uptempo uplifting grooves from Aussies' The Cat Empire ! I like this CD because it's live and captures the band's spontaneity and creativity.

This bud's for you, C-H !

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



Dear Leonard, what the hell have you done? A perfectly good catalogue, and then you do this. This will wrap up my Leonard listening for awhile, being his last release, and I'm hoping there is no more to follow. I do not want his legend further tarnished. Ten good albums is not a bad career. This eleventh starts off with some nice sax on the leadoff track. Nothing like good sax first thing in the morning to start the day. Like the last album, this is heavy on the female vocals, sometimes even taking the lead away from Leonard. Same vocalists with Sharon Robinson, Anjani Thomas and Leanne Ungar. A couple of spoken word tracks by Leonard other than actual singing. Of course most say Leonard couldn't sing anyway. Title track is horrendous, when he starts spelling the lyrics. Unfortunately my favorite here is one of the female foreground tracks, Nightingale. I can only hope Leonard can forgive me for jumping off the train here. My journey is over.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Dear Heather

Best Track - Nightingale

I built my house beside the wood
So I could hear you singing
And it was sweet and it was good
And love was all beginning
Fare thee well my nightingale
‘Twas long ago I found you
Now all your songs of beauty fail
The forest closes 'round you
The sun goes down behind a veil
‘Tis now that you would call me
So rest in peace my nightingale
Beneath your branch of holly
Fare thee well my nightingale
I lived but to be near you
Tho' you are singing somewhere still
I can no longer hear you

1) Go No More A-Roving **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX6-9x_0vcU
2) Because Of *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szyFKszMLmg
3) The Letters **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx8RXWKynLI
4) Undertow *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ibNRs4y-4
5) Morning Glory *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5VqZdZDOAg
6) On That Day *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20q1QSibaXk
7) Villanelle For Our Time *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruDxyOebIQM
8) There For You **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlD2Ya6uGcc
9) Dear Heather *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu4kfdgAW6U
10) Nightingale **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT0tCUjPDOY
11) To A Teacher *
12) The Faith **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQf5gXYNd4
13) Tennessee Waltz **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5SZvkZI3eg

3's - 0
2's - 6
1's - 7

Grade - 1.5

[Tiggi]

^ It's awful when your heroes let you down, isn't it ??

[Tiggi]

Sufjan's third from 2003.

This was intended as the first in a series of albums centred around each of the US States, with SS being a Michiganite. That's right, 50 of them. Don't know if that was a sincere wish or an unusual bit of marketing, but the series has ground to a halt after the first two.

His music is fairly unique, so it's not easy to draw parallels. So I won't. The songs are a mix of more Rootsy material using Banjoes & Guitars, and more complex stuff using weird rhythms. His voice has a whispery quality, so he uses some multi-tracking to bolster the vocals.

A good album that's growing on me more with each listen.


AllMusic 4/5 stars.