What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ELVIS COSTELLO "my aim is true" cd, 1977

album stats: #14 UK, #25 AU, #24 CAN, #32 US
singles:
"less than zero"...................no chart action
"alison"..............................no chart action
"red shoes".........................no chart action
"watching the detectives".....#15 UK, #18 AU

Elvis' debut album...
an eclectic mix of new wave, rockabilly,pop,country and even a tinge of 'wall of sound'....
only one of the four singles dented the UK chart which is surprising because the album was a big hit...but then again,few of his singles are big hits,yet his albums are...he's obviously what you'd call an "album artist" i guess....
songs on here show a maturity of songwriting far superior to the writing of most of the other UK punk/new wave guys starting off at the same time...
i still cant believe the country tinged ballad "alison" never made the charts, and now is regarded as one of his finest songs by the 'experts'...im no expert, but that song would definately be in my top5 costello tracks of all time...
album eventually went on to sell a million copies in the US,something he deserved to, but neve managed to repeat out there.
all up, a very,very good album and often quoted as being 'one of the greatest debut albums of all time' by the likes of Roling Stone,NME...

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: miracle man
best track: alison

tracks:

1. welcome to the working week **
2. miracle man **
3. no dancing **
4. blame it on cain **
5. alison ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M87rnvt5B4 live 2003
6. sneaky feelings **
7. red shoes ***
8. less than zero ***
9. mystery dance ***
10.pay it back ***
11.im not angry **
12.waiting for the end of the world **
13.watching the detectives ***

3s=6
2s=7
1s=0

rating: 2.4

[CRAZY-HORSE]

[URL="http://www.music-discussion.com/wiki/File:Jeff_Buckley_grace.jpg"]
[/URL]
JEFF BUCKLEY "grace" cd,1994.

career stats:
studio albums........1
singles..................7

this album: #149 US, #9 AU, #31 UK, #67 CAN
singles:
"grace"......................#89 AU
"last goodbye"............#88 AU, #54 UK
"so real".....................no chart action.
"hallelujah"................#70 UK, #2 UK, #2 CAN

thought i'd have a break from all the Elvis Costello album of late anf play something o bought with my birthday giftcards again...
and after the debarcle that was Daft Punk, this was apleasant change...
i see Buckleys music as folky,but not traditional folk...he does it his way...
i knew a few of these tracks from radio etc already...
a couple of rock tracks on here but mostly sparse tracks abound...
a very good lyricist IMO, and a shame he died after making this one, would have been interesting how he would have progressed over time...
looking at the chart stats i can comfortably say that he was more popular here than anywhere else...
his cover of the Cohen classic "hallelujah" is right up there with KD's version,its atmopheric and angelic all at the same time...
that song should have been released as a single back in the day IMO, but they waited and issued it around 2007 when it became a huge hit in Canada and the UK...
album has gone 6x platinum here over the decades and rightfully so

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: eternal life
best track: lover,you should've come over

tracks:

1. mojo pin **
2. grace ***
3. last goodbye ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtS0rwQK_pI audio
4. lilac wine **
5. so real **
6. hallelujah ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4 vevo video
7. lover,you should've come over ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXe1jpHPnUs audio
8. corpus christi carol **
9. eternal life *
10.dream brother **
11.forget her **

3s=4
2s=6
1s=1

rating: 2.3

[Ruby]

^Funny you should review one directly after the other – Elvis Costello seems to have had a high regard for Jeff Buckley and invited him to perform at his Meltdown Festival in 1995, where Buckley proceeded to blow everyone away with his rendition of “Dido’s Lament” – something normally only tackled by the classically trained (his was off the cuff and not even rehearsed!). Once all the applause dies down, you can hear Costello's remarks, including that "...none of us want to sing next...". It was never released but there are some tidied up recordings from the festival on YouTube. Here’s one of them –

[video=youtube;Y11AMsuh6Ls]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y11AMsuh6Ls[/video]

[CRAZY-HORSE]

now that was a freaky coincidence wasnt it????
another titbit on Buckley...
David Bowie says "grace is the greatest record ever recorded, it would be the first one i'd take with me to a desert island"...

that,along with the Costello comment you mentioned says a lot about the respect others had for him...

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ELVIS COSTELLO "extreme honey" cd, 1997

Elvis' second 'best of' set, this one takes in the years 1988-97 which is a good companion piece to the "the man" one that preceeds it...
the main problem i have with it is the fact that Costello's material from that period is album based, ie: his albums were loosely conceptual, therefore the tracks on studio albums flowed with a theme,
this one to me sounds like bits and pieces, much like a Pink Floyd compilation would sound...patchy and unconnected as a whole...
worst track for me is the one written with McCartney in "veronica", i think its more of a Macca track than a Costello one...would love to hear PM sing it, but not Elvis.
i guess, for the average listener it would sound okay but when oyure an Elvis-ophile like i am, it doesnt work as well as it should...

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: veronica
best track: deep dark truthful mirror

tracks:

1. the bridge i burned **
2. veronica **
3. sulky girl **
4. so like candy **
5. 13 steps lead down ***
6. all this useless beauty **
7. my dark life **
8. the other side of summer ***
9. kinder murder ***
10.deep dark truthful mirror ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqJHh0IEhZg audio
11.hurry down doomsday **
12.poor fractured atlas ***
13.the birds will still be singing **
14.london's brilliant parade ***
15.tramp the dirt down **
16.couldnt call it unexpected #4 **
17.i want to vanish **
18.all the rage ***

3s=7
2s=11
1s=0

rating: 2.3

[Tankyou]

Last unicorn- America
am universim- Amorphis
Melanoma Sunrise- Homeless Yellow
portal- vexavoid

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Bones Hillman: Bass, Vocals
Martin Rotsey: Guitars, Vocals
Robert Hirst: Drums, Vocals
Peter Garrett: Lead Vocals
Jim Moginie: Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Warne Livesey : Additional Keyboard
Jeremy Smith : French Horn



Recording History

studio albums - 11
live albums - 3
compilation albums - 3
ep's - 2
singles - 39
videos - 35

ARIA Awards - 11
ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2006

from my library (cd)



Producers: Warne Livesey, Midnight Oil

7th studio album - #20 US, #28 UK, #1 AUS
Singles - Blue Sky Mine - #47 US, #66 UK, #8 AUS
............Forgotten Years - #97 UK, #26 AUS
............King Of The Mountain - #25 AUS
............Bedlam Bridge - #46 AUS
............One Country - #51 AUS

ARIA Award in 1991 for Album Of The Year

Came in a little late on these guys. This is the only thing I own but I have heard prior albums which I prefer. No standouts on this one and a
couple I don't care for. They sure did like them down under where 8 of their albums went top 10, and this one went to the top and is their third
best selling. The band disbanded in 2002 so leadman Peter Garrett could pursue a political career. He won some seat in 2004 in the Labor Party.
In 2007 he was appointed Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, whatever that means. Their songs were frequently loaded with
political activism so I guess it was no surprise to Aussies.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Antarctica
Best Track - Forgotten Years

[video=youtube;X9eap_cKLP4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9eap_cKLP4[/video]

Track Listing

1. Blue Sky Mine **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofrqm6-LCqs
2. Stars of Warburton **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_tqPW2tPUU
3. Bedlam Bridge **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=927kKJlC8tU
4. Forgotten Years **
5. Mountains of Burma **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p0K06L93Ms
6. King of the Mountain **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuC_k51NUqU
7. River Runs Red *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2vVfjbdc7A
8. Shakers and Movers **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHZi3E5zlq0
9. One Country **
video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz3HShQkdd4
10. Antarctica *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbR-3py_R8g

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

grade - 1.8 of 3.0
allmusic - 4.0 of 5.0

[CRAZY-HORSE]

like i wrote before...not a big fan of these guys,well i was, until Garrett became hypocritical as a politician...
this album score is pretty accurate...
i would have had "blue sky mine" and "forgotten years" as ***, but from memory theres at least half the album i dont like...

"diesel and dust" and "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1" (aka "10 thru 1") were very good albums IMO

[Music Head]

Band Members for this release

Jim James - vocals, guitar
Patrick Hallahan - drums
Johnny Quaid - guitar
Tom Blankenship - bass
Danny Cash - keyboards



Recording History

studio albums - 6
live albums - 3
singles - 6

from my library (cd)



Producers: Jim James

3rd studio album - #121 US, #62 UK
Singles - Run Thru

Kentucky band that I haven't been able to get into. It was a push to reach a like score for this one. It was their major label debut but didn't
fare that well when released, but it was their first one to chart here. Last 2 albums have gone top 10 though so I guess they have caught on.
This clocks in at 72 minutes for 12 tracks which didn't help for me. Borders on jam band for some tracks. Allmusic likens it to The Band and
Neil Young, which I can't hear. I get more of a National or Band Of Horses feel. Other than the jam territory the slurred lyrics were also a
drawback. Without a lyric sheet I wouldn't have a clue. I know CH likes these guys and maybe subsequent albums are better. Almost bought the
last one but chickened out.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - I Will Sing You Songs
Best Track - Golden

[video=youtube;QCZZtpC5Yg4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCZZtpC5Yg4[/video]

Track Listing

1. Mahgeetah ** Letterman
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk7NN4RiTsw
2. Dancefloors **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoohfFCLLTM
3. Golden **
4. Master Plan *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSZCA49n1yo
5. One Big Holiday *
live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g1QXrXSiJI
6. I Will Sing You Songs *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHuBPe5_xxY
7. Easy Morning Rebel **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy8KeqSML0k
8. Run Thru *
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27MjAMwVmE
9. Rollin' Back **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Bl3K9mGKg
10. Just One Thing **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_XdNn5a9dY
11. Steam Engine **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybC1Dh4Jxw0
12. One in the Same **
audio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKJOFsKs82I

3's - 0
2's - 8
1's - 4

grade - 1.7 of 3.0
allmusic - 4.0 of 5.0

[CRAZY-HORSE]

their last album "circuital" is more commercially radio friendly than their previous efforts IMO,
songs are better constructed than the earlier albums and none of those lengthy instrumental pieces...

i know what you mean about the Neil Young thing with those guys..i cant hear it neither, but even Tiggi used to say he hears NY in their tracks, so we're obviously missing something the rest of the world seems to hear...