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 (on iPod). 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]
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• 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]
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• 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
• 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]
+
• 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.