30/01/12: Old Ideas

2012. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas (iPod). Enjoyable set of songs detailing LC's usual preoccupations with the graceful style and gentle humour that he has refined well over the years. His voice, too, sounds quite remarkable. The use of backing singers won't be to everyone's taste, but I like 'em. They help add light and shade around Len's own drawl.

29/01/12: NYC Ghosts & Flowers / Songs of the Poets

1976. Nina Simone – Songs of the Poets: Dylan, Harrison and Simone (on cassette). Excellent. One of the few people to record decent Bob Dylan cover versions.

2000. Sonic Youth – NYC Ghosts & Flowers (on cassette). Like most of their albums, interesting music but a bit of a shame about Kim Gordon's vocals.

+
• Raving and Drooling [Live At Wembley, 1974] • Pink Floyd • Wish You Were Here reissue [1975]
• Shine On You Crazy Diamond [Part 1-6] [Live At Wembley, 1974] • Pink Floyd • Wish You Were Here reissue [1975]
• Impossible • The Charlatans • Us And Us Only
• Sexy Sadie • The Beatles • Anthology 3
• Night Birds • Shakatak
+
• Ride Into The Sun • Velvet Underground • Bootleg Series, Volume 1: The Quine Tapes [live 1969] [2001]
• Atlantic Release Promo • Velvet Underground • Live At Max's Kansas City [23/08/1970] [deluxe edition]
• All Tomorrow's Parties • Velvet Underground • Velvet Underground & Nico [1967]
• All Tomorrow's Parties [Demo Version] • Velvet Underground • Peel Slowly And See [1965]

28/01/12: Life'll Kill Ya

2000. Warren Zevon – Life'll Kill Ya (on cassette). Powerful, thought-provoking set of songs. Quite moving in places. Should play this more.

27/01/12: House With No Door

• Nobody Home • Pink Floyd • Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81
• House With No Door • Van Der Graaf Generator • H to He Who Am The Only One [1970]
• In My Arms • Teddy Thompson • A Piece Of What You Need
• Love Has Passed Away • Supernaturals
• Lucky Penny [live on WNYC, 12/08/08] • Regina Spektor
• Après Moi (Live In London) • Regina Spektor • Live In London [2010]
• Sailor Song (Live In London) • Regina Spektor • Live In London [2010]
• Samson • Regina Spektor • Begin To Hope [2006]
• Fidelity • Regina Spektor • Begin To Hope [2006]
• The Lie (Bernini's Saint Theresa) • Peter Hammill • The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage [1974]
• Master Kilby • Nic Jones • Game Set Match
• Such A Woman [Live] • Neil Young • Dreamin' Man: Live '92
• Summer's Day Song • Paul McCartney • McCartney II [1980]
• Caramel • Cluster • Zuckerzeit [1974]
• What Kind Of Man • Cerys Matthews • Never Said Goodbye [2006]

26/01/12: Oh, How To Do Now

• Puff 'n' Blow • Frank Sidebottom • Frank Sidebottom’s ABC & D: The Best Of...
• Sea Diver • Mott The Hoople • All The Young Dudes [1972]
• Oh, How To Do Now • Monks • Black Monk Time [1966]

25/02/12: iPlod

• Dark Ages • Pavement • Crooked Rain Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins [1994]
• Mother Comes After • David Greenberger & Paul Cebar • Cherry Picking Apple Blossom Time [2009]
• Guitar Man • Elvis Presley • The 50 Greatest Hits
• God Only Knows • Langley Schools Music Project • Innocence & Despair [1976/1977]
• Son Of A Preacher Man • Dusty Springfield • Dusty In Memphis [1969]
• Telephone Conversation • Frank Zappa • We're Only In It For The Money [1968]
• Stoned • Rolling Stones • Singles Collection: The London Years [1963–1970] [1989]
• Soul • Van Morrison • Keep It Simple [2008]
• Rainy Night Blues • Shelagh McDonald • Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
• Brick • Ben Folds Five • Sorted: 39 Melodic Indie Hits [1998]
• This Perfect Day • The Saints
• Blowin' In The Wind [Belfast, 06/02/91] • Bob Dylan
• There's A Small Hotel • Jane Birkin • Lolita Go Home [1975]
• French Graffiti • Jane Birkin • Lolita Go Home [1975]
• Rien Pour Rien • Jane Birkin • Lolita Go Home [1975]

24/01/12: Lolita Go Home

1975. Jane Birkin – Lolita Go Home (on iPod). Inventive, quirky, charming pop. Underrated.

23/01/12: Over-Nite Sensation / Last

2011. The Unthanks – Last (on iPod). Too many slow-paced, string-based songs. 'Disappointment is everywhere,' sing the Unthanks. Too true.

1973. Frank Zappa – Over-Nite Sensation (on iPod). Could be the most annoying album ever, by anyone. Quite some feat.

22/01/12: Love Happy / Big Time

1988. Tom Waits – Big Time (on cassette). Live album. A bit annoying in places – he seems to try too hard – but almost always good on the ballads.

1989. The Charlottes – Love Happy (on vinyl). Pleasing indie-rock. Saw them live in a tiny venue in Manchester a very long time ago and they were transcendently great.

21/01/12: Dylan / Music

1971. Carole King – Music (iPod). I could tell it was 'very good', but I wasn't in the mood.

1973. Bob Dylan – Dylan (on vinyl). Unfairly maligned. Hard to resist the exuberance of 'Sara Jane'. In fact, most of it is great. Last played: 29th September 2010.

20/01/12: No music

No music.

19/01/12: You Are My Sister

• Can't Leave Her Behind – Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo – I'm Not There [2007]
• Sexy Sadie – Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – Mojo: White Album 2
• You Are My Sister – The Unthanks – Diversions Vol.1: The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons – Live from the Union Chapel, London [2011]

18/01/12: Tromsø, Kaptein

2011. Robyn Hitchcock – Tromsø, Kaptein (on iPod). OK, but I prefer his covers to his own songs.

17/01/12: No music

No music.

16/01/12: The Jehovahcoat Demos

2011. Julian Cope – The Jehovahcoat Demos (iPod). Excellent. More sonically adventurous than much of his stuff.

15/01/12: Can't Leave Her Behind

• 'Can't Leave Her Behind' by Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo – I'm Not There [2007]
• 'Long, Long, Long' by The Beatles – The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [1968]
• 'Sexy Sadie' by Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – Mojo: White Album 2
• 'Wish You Were Here' [Feat. Stephane Grappelli] by Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here reissue [1975/2011]

14/01/12: Greatest Hits

1975. Abba – Greatest Hits (on vinyl). Early pop genius.

+
Paul McCartney's 'Check My Machine' (7" single B-side). 50p from the charity shop and worth every penny.

13/01/12: FriPod

• Kurious Oranj • The Fall • I Am As Pure As Oranj [live in Edinburgh, 17/08/1988]
• Coming From The Heart [Street Legal outtake, 01/05/78] • Bob Dylan • Unreleased outtake 1978

12/01/12: No music

No music.

11/01/12: iPod

• Dear Prudence • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album live 08/08/04
• Back In The USSR • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album live 08/08/04
• Cry Baby Cry • The Beatles • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [1968]
• Long, Long, Long • The Beatles • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [1968]
• Sexy Sadie • The Beatles • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [1968]
• Sexy Sadie • Rachel Unthank And The Winterset • Mojo: White Album 2
+
• The Sutcliffe Catering Song • Pavement • Crooked Rain Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins [1994]
• Easily Fooled • Pavement • Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition [2006]
• We Dance • Pavement • Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition [2006]
• We Dance • Pavement • Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition [2006]
• Can't Leave Her Behind • Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo • I'm Not There [2007]

10/01/12: Not music

Not

09/01/12: No music

No.

08/01/12: The Hissing of Summer Lawns

1975. Joni Mitchell – The Hissing of Summer Lawns (on iPod). Another great Joni album but I couldn't hear it very well, as I was in a supermarket at the time.

+
You Are My Sister • The Unthanks • Diversions Vol.1: The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons – Live from the Union Chapel, London [2011]

07/01/12: Clouds

1969. Joni Mitchell – Clouds (on vinyl). Very nice singer-songwriter album. She does some interesting chord-related stuff on 'Songs to Aging Children Come'. 'Chelsea Morning' is sublime. And I like her painting on the cover, too. Did it inspire the cover of Bob Dylan's Self Portrait?

+
Live recording of Television at Glastonbury Festival 1992. Even the tuning up segment is impressive.

06/01/12: No

Nuffink.

05/01/12: Windy

No music – just the sound of the wind.

04/01/12: For the Roses

1972. Joni Mitchell – For the Roses (on vinyl). Very good, but all the sad songs brought me down somewhat. Great lyrics and brilliantly understated performance. She's still underrated.

03/01/12: 50 Words for Snow

2011. Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow (on iPod). It's striking how different her voice now sounds, although it may have been heavily treated on some tracks. The song about sleeping with a snowman is brilliantly strange. The appearance of Elton John on this is very worrying. He doesn't have an interesting voice and adds nothing to the track. Overall, though, an impressive concept album.

02/01/12: Lego My Ego / McCartney / Psychomania / 20 Jazz Funk Greats

1979. Throbbing Gristle – 20 Jazz Funk Greats. Some of the music is ambient and interesting, but frequently the vocals are rather tedious. 'Discipline (Berlin)' and 'Discipline (Manchester)' really are very tiresome indeed. TG are probably more interesting to read about than listen to. Superb album title, though.

2003. John Cameron – Psychomania soundtrack. Brilliantly varied music, evoking all sorts of moods and images. Released by the always reliable Trunk label. No idea what the film's like or about.

1970. Paul McCartney – McCartney. Some rather flimsy tracks here, but all nice enough and 'Junk' and 'Maybe I'm Amazed' are good songs.

1992. Mercury Rev – Lego My Ego. Excellent compilation of wonky psych-pop from before this band became ordinary. 'Chasing A Bee' is especially good.

01/01/12: Kitty Wells Dresses / Diversions Vol. 1

2011. The Unthanks – Diversions Vol. 1: The Songs Of Robert Wyatt And Antony and The Johnsons. Enchanting. Just when I thought the Unthanks were starting to lose the freshness and vitality that made The Bairns so special, they come back with this exceptional live album. Seductive and also deeply melancholy. It's strangely moving to hear the two Unthanks singing 'You Are My Sister' to one another.

2011. Laura Cantrell – Kitty Wells Dresses: Songs of the Queen of Country Music. Not familiar with many of the songs (although Bob Dylan did some good versions of 'Searching For Soldier's Grave'), but this is a charming (and welcomely brief) album.

31/12/11: Arriving Late in Torn and Filthy Jeans

1989. Dead Famous People – Arriving Late in Torn and Filthy Jeans (on vinyl). This was released on Billy Bragg's Utility Records label. Indie-pop. I haven't played it since it came out. Sadly, it's a bit dreary and pedestrian. My loss will be Cancer Research's gain.

30/12/11: Modern Times

2006. Bob Dylan – Modern Times. Thoughts, by track:
1. 'Thunder On The Mountain'. I like the Alicia Keys reference. It will date, but maybe in a good way. A fun song, maybe not a great one. A typical album opener for late-era Dylan in the fast-paced style of 'Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum' (or even 'Wiggle Wiggle'). The title makes me think about Toyah.
2. 'Spirit On The Water'. A crooned love song. The singing's great. Very pretty. This slightly reminds me of 'Does She Need Me' (as played in Eat The Document), especially in this very sweet section: 'I'm pale as a ghost / Holding a blossom on a stem / You ever seen a ghost? No / But you've heard of them'.
3. 'Rollin' And Tumblin''. Slightly generic bluesy track that would have benefited from some of the Beefheart weirdisms of Love & Theft's 'Cry A While'. This sort of song seems a bit too 'lazy comfort zone' for BD.
4. 'When The Deal Goes Down'. A pretty waltz ballad. Some of the album's best singing.
5. 'Someday Baby'. Another blues number, but with real purpose. Very 'Smokestack Lightning'. Somehow, this one works.
6. 'Workingman's Blues #2'. Quite lovely. Instant classic. Good use of the word 'proletariat'. Rich, full, moving. It seems to fade out too early.
7. 'Beyond The Horizon'. Another crooner. Great walking bass. He somehow squeezes in the word 'treacherous' (at 3:39). Light and very charming.
8. 'Nettie Moore'. The album's oddest (and best) track. The slow drum leads it. I like 'greasy trail' and the extremely odd way he sings 'cowboy' and the Love & Theft trick of fitting in slightly too many words in some of the lines. A great verse/chorus contrast, and odd drumming. Is anyone else reminded of 'Ride Away' by The Fall?
9. 'The Levee's Gonna Break'. Back to the blues. Nice enough but arguably coasting.
10. 'Ain't Talkin''. Sinister and excellent. Hints of 'Ballad Of A Thin Man' and possibly 'Blind Willie McTell'. Taut, tense, shimmering, dynamic and alive. Stalking rhythm and compelling images from Bob. Listen to the yearning in the word 'yearning': the gift for phrasing is still very much there. The shift to a major key at the very end seems like a mistake, changing the mood at the very final moment. Perhaps intentional but sounds false somehow.
Overall: a pretty good Dylan album. Not an enormous leap forwards from Love & Theft but at least half of it is great.

29/12/11: Graceland

1986. Paul Simon – Graceland (on vinyl). I knew the singles, like everyone else does, but had never heard the whole album until today. Unsurprisingly, it's very good indeed. 'The Boy in the Bubble' and the title track are especially brilliant: good rhythms, good tunes, good lyrics. Still sound fresh, too.

+
• For No One • Robyn Hitchcock • Revolver [live 29/08/11]
• Back In The USSR • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [live 08/08/04]
• Dear Prudence • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [live 08/08/04]
• Glass Onion • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [live 08/08/04]
• Martha My Dear • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [live 08/08/04]
• Wild Honey Pie • Robyn Hitchcock • The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album [live 08/08/04]
• Bike • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Chinese White • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Way Back In The 1960s • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• It's All Over Now, Baby Blue • Robyn Hitchcock • Robyn Sings [2002]
• Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues • Robyn Hitchcock • Robyn Sings [2002]
+
• One More Cup Of Coffee • Roger McGuinn & Calexico • I'm Not There [2007]
• I'm Not There • Sonic Youth • I'm Not There [2007]
• Can't Leave Her Behind • Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo • I'm Not There [2007]
• Billy • Los Lobos • I'm Not There [2007]
• Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again • Cat Power • I'm Not There [2007]
+
• Way Back In The 1960s • Incredible String Band • The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion [1967]
• Rambling, Gambling Willie • Bob Dylan • The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3 : Rare And Unreleased, 1961-1991
• Wined And Dined • Syd Barrett • Barrett [1970]
• Panic • The Smiths • Louder Than Bombs [1987]
• Hey Mr. Rain [Version 1] • Velvet Underground • Another View
• Looking For Love • Lou Reed • The Bells [1979]
• Tougher Than The Rest • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]
• What Kind Of Man • Cerys Matthews • Never Said Goodbye [2006]
• He'll Have To Go (Live) • Elvis Costello • Almost Blue [bonus disc] [1981]
• How To Be Dumb • Elvis Costello • Mighty Like A Rose [1991]
• Exercise - With Several Hands On A Piano • Faust • The Faust Tapes [1973]
• Carol, You Fool • Frank Zappa • You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 [1989]
• Don't Break The Heart • Laura Cantrell • When The Roses Bloom Again [2002]
• 2,000 Miles • Pretenders • The Singles
• Everything In Its Right Place • Radiohead • Kid A [2000]
• French Disko • Stereolab • Refried Ectoplasm: Switched On, Vol. 2 [1995]

28/12/11: Singles 1974 • 1978

1978. Carpenters – Singles 1974 • 1978 (on vinyl). A golden voice. Such warmth. 'Solitaire' nearly had this listener weeping.

27/12/11: Speeding Time / Another Great Record From The Damned: The Best Of

1981. The Damned – Another Great Record From The Damned: The Best Of (on vinyl). Used to be mad about this lot. Played one of their albums for the first time in at least 20 years and no longer quite sure what I liked so much about them.

1983. Carole King – Speeding Time (on vinyl). Another CK album that seems to have good songs lost to bad arrangements and production.

+
• Doctor Robert • Robyn Hitchcock • Revolver [live 29/08/11]
• For No One • Robyn Hitchcock • Revolver [live 29/08/11]
• And Your Bird Can Sing • Robyn Hitchcock • Revolver [live 29/08/11]
• All The Young Dudes • Robyn Hitchcock • Revolver [live 29/08/11]
• I Want You (She's So Heavy) • Robyn Hitchcock • Revolver [live 29/08/11]
• Bike • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• The Wind Cries Mary • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• River Man • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Reynardine • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• I Can Hear The Grass Grow • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Chinese White • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• It's All Over Now, Baby Blue • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Way Back In The 1960s • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
+
• Follow Me • Innocence Mission • Take Me Home: A Tribute To John Denver
• Hallelujah (live) • John Cale • Unknown
• It Must Be Love • Madness • single
• Half A World Away • R.E.M. • Out Of Time
• What Kind Of Man • Cerys Matthews • Never Said Goodbye [2006]
• Streets Of London • Ralph McTell • Spiral Staircase [1969]
• 2,000 Miles • Pretenders • The Singles
• Way Back In The 1960s • Incredible String Band • The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion [1967]
• Tougher Than The Rest • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]

26/12/11: Can't Leave Her Behind

• Ballad Of A Thin Man • Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers • I'm Not There [2007]
• Ring Them Bells • Sufjan Stevens • I'm Not There [2007]
• Can't Leave Her Behind • Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo • I'm Not There [2007]

25/12/11: Waiting / Inner Mission

1988. The Blacklight Chameleons – Inner Mission (on vinyl). Forgotten psych-pop. Pretty good.

1983. Fun Boy Three – Waiting (on vinyl). I didn't know until today that this was produced by David Byrne. 'The Tunnel of Love' and 'Our Lips Are Sealed' are both great tracks. The rest isn't bad, either, and T. Hall's vocals are always a pleasure to hear.

+
Blancmange – 'Waves' [7" single]. A gem.
+
Bits of Robyn Hitchcock's live performances of The Beatles' Revolver from 28/08/11 and 29/08/11.

24/12/11: Bob, Rob, etc

• Changes • Robyn Hitchcock • Hunky Dory [live 31/10/2010]
• Spoken #11 • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Bike • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Spoken #6 • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• I Can Hear The Grass Grow • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Way Back In The 1960s • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
• Spoken #1 • Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd • Chinese White Bicycles [Sydney, 09/11/11]
+
• The Times They Are A-Changin' • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• Mr Tambourine Man • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• Enough Is Enough • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• Desolation Row • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• Girl From The North Country • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• License To Kill • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• Jokerman • Bob Dylan • Rome, 21/06/84
• It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [Take 1] • Bob Dylan • The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: No Direction Home – The Soundtrack
• Covenant Woman • Bob Dylan • Saved [1980]
• Angelina • Bob Dylan • The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1–3 : Rare And Unreleased, 1961–1991
+
• Ride Into The Sun • Lou Reed • Lou Reed [1972]
• Dissolute Ride Into The Sun • MES vs VU • Clearing Space On Computer Compilation
• Ride Into The Sun [Instrumental] • Velvet Underground • Another View
• Travelling's Easy • Anne Briggs • Sing A Song For You [1973]
• Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) • Edward Byrnes & Connie Stevens • Looney Tunes [1976]
• Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) • Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel • The Best Years Of Our Lives [1975]
• I Can Hear The Grass Grow [bonus track] • The Move • The Move [1968]
• What Kind Of Man • Cerys Matthews • Never Said Goodbye [2006]
• Streets Of London • Ralph McTell • Spiral Staircase [1969]
• 2,000 Miles • Pretenders • The Singles
• Way Back In The 1960s • Incredible String Band • The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion [1967]
• Tougher Than The Rest • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]

23/12/11: Tougher Than the Rest

'Tougher Than the Rest' by Bruce Springsteen from Tunnel of Love [1987].

22/12/11: Brilliant

Brilliant Mistake [Glastonbury, 20/06/87] • Elvis Costello
Brilliant Disguise • Elvis Costello • Kojak Variety [bonus disc] [1995]
Brilliant Disguise • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]
Spare Parts • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]
All That Heaven Will Allow • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]
Tougher Than the Rest • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]
Ain't Got You • Bruce Springsteen • Tunnel Of Love [1987]
Dear Landlord • Fairport Convention • Unhalfbricking [1969]

21/12/11: Painting Box

'Painting Box' by the Incredible String Band. What a lovely song it is.

20/12/11: Muzak

A muzak version of 'Don't Look Back in Anger' by Oasis, in a café.

19/12/11: No music

No muesli, either.

18/12/11: Laughing Stock / Television / Quartet

Back to the cassette archives for three on-tape albums:

1982. Ultravox – Quartet. Overwrought and busy for much of the time, you crave the graceful minimalism of 'Vienna'. But 'Visions in Blue' is a good song, and it certainly sounds like they put some effort into the album.

1992. Television – Television. Their not-very-popular third album. Sonically always interesting, but the songs aren't always up to much. Not as good as Adventure, which isn't as good as Marquee Moon (what is?). I like it though...

1991. Talk Talk – Laughing Stock. Textural, moody and 'painterly'. I suppose all the things everyone says about this are true, but you need to be in the mood.

17/12/11: Out of Time / Tunnel of Love

Exploring the tape cassette albums once again I uncovered:
1987. Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love. Pretty good in places. Amazing how Elvis-like Brooce sounds on the first track. 'Tougher Than the Rest' has terrible '1980s production' but is still a great song.

1991. R.E.M. – Out of Time. Some of their best and worst songs. 'Radio Song (feat. KRS-One)' is embarrassing indeed. I would rank the tracks thus (1 being best):
1. Half a World Away
2. Country Feedback
3. Low
4. Me in Honey
5. Losing My Religion
6. Belong
7. Endgame
8. Near Wild Heaven
9. Shiny Happy People
10. Texarkana
11. Radio Song (feat. KRS-One)

16/12/11: Far

2009. Regina Spektor – Far. Some great bits, usually when she just plays piano and sings. A little overwrought and overproduced in places, which is unfortunate. A truly awful album cover:

15/12/11: School play music

School play music, including, bizarrely, that horrible track 'The Heat is On' by Glenn Frey and an improbable version of 'Silent Night' by Stevie Nicks.

14/12/11: Did not listen to any music

No music today.

13/12/11: Devil's Spoke

'Devil's Spoke' by Laura Marling (I Speak Because I Can) [2010]. Not sure what I think of this Laura Marling...

12/12/11: Help Me Make It Through The Night

• 'Lolita Go Home' by Jane Birkin (Lolita Go Home) [1975].
• 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' by Olivia Newton-John (I Honestly Love You).

11/12/11: Myself at the piano

Myself at the piano.

10/12/11: Saturday various

• Guest Informant • The Fall • Astoria, London, 14th May 1987
• Happy Birthday • Innocence Mission • Uncut: Happy Birthday Bob [2011]
• Follow Me • Innocence Mission • Take Me Home: A Tribute To John Denver
• Hallelujah (live) • John Cale
• I'm Straight • Modern Lovers • Modern Lovers [1976]
• Jealous Guy • John Lennon
• The Birthday • Idle Race
• Runaway • Del Shannon • single
• ...Interlude... • Cerys Matthews • Cockahoop [2003]
• Louisiana • Cerys Matthews • Cockahoop [2003]
• Mother Sky • Can • Soundtracks [1970]
• I Threw It All Away • Bob Dylan • Nashville Skyline [1969]
• Crackin' Up • Bo Diddley • Go Bo Diddley [1959]
• You Owe Me One [bonus track] • ABBA • The Visitors [1981]
• Town Of 85 Lights • Wake • Mix It Up #14
• He Ain't Give You None • Van Morrison • T.B. Sheets [1973]
• Albinoni: Adagio In G Minor For Strings & Organ - Adagio • Richard Edlinger: Capella Istropolitana • Discover The Classics
• Buckskin Stallion • Townes Van Zandt • The Nashville Sessions [1993]
• Ima Avaza • 100 First Songs • 100 First Songs
• Streets Of London • Ralph McTell • Spiral Staircase [1969]
• I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day • Frank Sidebottom • Frank Sidebottom’s ABC & D: The Best Of...
+
• Nothing Lasts Forever • Echo & The Bunnymen • Sorted: 39 Melodic Indie Hits [1998]
• Stay • Bernard Butler • Sorted: 39 Melodic Indie Hits [1998]
• Ten Storey Love Song • Stone Roses • Sorted: 39 Melodic Indie Hits [1998]
• Lost Myself • Longpigs • Sorted: 39 Melodic Indie Hits [1998]

09/12/11: Half a World Away

• 'What's the Frequency, Kenneth?' – R.E.M. [Monster]
• 'Half a World Away' – R.E.M. [Out of Time]
• 'Streets of London' – Ralph McTell [Spiral Staircase] [1969]

08/12/11: Howl

Nothing but the howl of the wind – and the cat.

07/12/11: MTV Unplugged

1995. Bob Dylan – MTV Unplugged. Some average performances and a couple of fairly great ones. Always enjoy this version of 'Shooting Star' ('Did I miss the mark?'), and what is probably the best post-1966 version of 'Like a Rolling Stone'. You can hear Bob's voice warming up/thawing out as the song unfolds, and he's really letting rip by the end. They should have included the false start you can hear on the bootleg version, as it sets up this full take as an even greater triumph. 'Dignity' is well sung, too (new enough that Bob isn't yet bored of the song?), although the band sounds chug-a-lug. Most of the rest is so-so. 'John Brown' is 'rare' enough that it should have been a highlight, but it ends up leaden. And on 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' there seems to be an annoying loop of distortion or crowd noise that repeats all the way through the track. Apparently Bob wanted to play old folk and traditional songs at this show, but got talked into making it more of a 'greatest hits'. A shame, because he might have been more engaged if allowed to play material that excites him. Why didn't he put his foot down?

06/12/11: ISB

• Chinese White – Incredible String Band [The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion] [1967]
• The Hedgehog's Song – Incredible String Band [The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion] [1967]
• Way Back In The 1960s – Incredible String Band [The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion] [1967]
• Painting Box – Incredible String Band [The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion] [1967]
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• Chardonnay – Cerys Matthews [Cockahoop] [2003]

05/12/11: Bits of Street-Legal

Bob Dylan - 'Changing of the Guards'
Bob Dylan - 'New Pony'
Bob Dylan - 'No Time to Think'

04/12/11: Sorted

'Stay' – Bernard Butler
'Summertime' – Sundays
'I'm Leaving' – Lodger
– from a somewhat naff compilation CD called Sorted!: 39 Melodic Indie Hits.

03/12/11: The 500 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion / Songs for Drella

1990. Lou Reed and John Cale – Songs for Drella. Really love this album: a genuinely touching tribute to their old pal Andy Warhol.

1967. Incredible String Band – The 500 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion. Some very pretty moments. Inspired to hear this again after the Boyd/Hitchcock show.

02/12/11: Originals

Originals of songs heard last night including the Fairport, N. Drake, B. Dylan and J. Hendrix.

01/12/11: Robyn Hitchcock and Joe Boyd's Chinese White Bicycles

Chinese White Bicycles show, at the Purcell Rooms, South Bank Centre, London. Record producer Joe Boyd read from his White Bicycles memoir, with Robyn Hitchcock playing some of the songs from the time, including:
– 'Way Back in the 1960s' - Incredible String Band
– 'Masters of War' - B. Dylan
– 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' - B. Dylan
– 'I Can Hear the Grass Grow' - The Move
– 'Chinese White' - Incredible String Band
– 'Reynardine' - Fairport Convention
– 'River Man' - N. Drake
– 'The Wind Cries Mary' - J. Hendrix
– 'Bike' - Pink Floyd
Also, much amusing banter. Genuinely fascinating and very, very entertaining.

30/11/11: No music (again)

No music (again). Some blog!

29/11/11: No music

No music – just cat noises.

28/11/11: Born To Be With You

Dion – 'Born To Be With You'.
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E. Costello – 'Accidents Will Happen'.

Songs to play again and again.

27/11/11: Ancient Heart / Tango in the Night / Rockbird / The Soul of Blues Harmonica / Freewheelin'

1963. Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. Some really lovely and/or dazzling tracks – 'Bob Dylan's Dream', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall', 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right', 'Corrina, Corrina', 'Girl from the North Country' – and some over-rated ones. Is 'Blowin' in the Wind' really a good song? 'Masters of War' is completely undermined by the 'I hope that you die' sentiment (which surely just makes BD another of the war-masters he condemns), and some of the album is performed in a slightly annoying way ('Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance', 'I Shall Be Free'). Pleased to hear it today, though.


Plus, four cassettes dug out from my dusty old cassette archives:

1964. Shakey Horton – The Soul of Blues Harmonica. After the previous three, it was really nice to hear something that wasn't from the late 1980s.

1986. Debbie Harry – Rockbird. Rock turkey, more like. A really bad album – awful songs, horribly recorded and produced. Two tracks are just about passable – 'French Kissin' in the USA' and 'Free to Fall'. Some of it, such as 'Beyond the Limit', is a cliché-ridden disaster.

1987. Fleetwood Mac – Tango in the Night. Shallow, tinkly '80s production', but with some OK songs buried in there. Hard-going in places.

1988. Tanita Tikaram – Ancient Heart. I like her voice and the half-hearted way she sings. Was she a Leonard Cohen fan? I also like the 'folk' elements, although these should have been much more to the fore (and probably would have been if this had been recorded in the 1990s or after). One real disaster track – the 'moody 80s jazz' effort that is 'For All These Years'. Think Sade meets Gerry Rafferty – Robert Elms would have loved it. But some nice songs ('Good Tradition', 'World Outside Your Window', etc) make it worth hearing.

26/11/11: All Over the Place / Barbed Wire Kisses / True Stories

1986. Talking Heads – True Stories (on vinyl). Daft, dated pop. Clunky and naff, but 'Dream Operator' had this listener close to tears for some reason.

1988. Jesus And Mary Chain – Barbed Wire Kisses (B-Sides and More) (on vinyl). At its best, a glorious racket.

1984. The Bangles – All Over the Place (on vinyl). Last played this about 20 years ago. Sunny pop. Nice harmonies. Surprisingly charming after all this time.

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Radio/charity shop tunes: