Tags
Brian Eno, Discogs, Echo and the Bunnymen, Frank Zappa, Franz Schubert, Madonna, Music, Nina Simone, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Records, The BCPF, The Mothers of Invention, The Mountain Goats, The Pixies, The Waterboys, Tom Waits, Underdog Records, Wilco
Salutations™!!
The BCPF and I both took Friday off, so we treated it like a “first Saturday.” We did the things we do for Saturday. We had breakfast/brunch/lunch, went to Underdog Records then came home and listened to what we got. We repeated the process on the actual Saturday, too, although that wasn’t the plan. Anywhat! Here’s the two-day haul (and a note that all these releases are “new”):
©Chrysalis/Island
- Nirvana – In Utero (2013 Mix) — I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with Nirvana. But, most of my disdain has passed and I am more on the “appreciate” side of them, now. This is the 20th-anniversary remix of the album from 2013. But, this is also a reissue of that version. 2xLP.
- Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot — #493 on the RS list, it’s one of The BCPF’s faves. “Heavy Metal Drummer” was put on a mix CD for me when we were both just friends. I like that they mention KISS throughout and that Mediocre Bad Guys covered it. The buildings on the front cover make up Marina City in Chicago. When we were in Chicago last we stayed at the Hotel Chicago which is directly behind Marina City, part of the complex itself. It was something out of Mad Men but elegant. It was definitely a weird stay but we enjoyed it. Not quite as much as we enjoyed the Sofitel but that was one of the nicest hotel rooms we’ve ever had. 2xLP.
- Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones — I liked this one better than I liked the other we got from Mr. Waits this weekend. I know it’s his schtick. I know it’s his gimmick. But, I really dislike it when he gets the most grumble for his buck in his voice. He actually sings in a regular tone and timbre for some of the songs. When he does that, his voice actually comes through. He sounds like he’s faking it at times when he grumbles. But, his piano playing is fantastic. I love that part (of both albums).
- Tom Waits – Heartattack And Vine — Ditto everything I said on the previous entry.
- The Mothers Of Invention – Weasels Ripped My Flesh — I have been trying to at least understand Zappa better. This credited to The Mothers of Invention but only so because of the live material. The studio stuff was Zappa solo, as the Mothers had disbanded two albums prior. I have tried to take the approach to Zappa as the fact that he was a talented jazz musician that liked take the idea of jazz to the far extreme boundaries of the genre. Sometimes it’s beautiful. Other times it is anything but. This, well it just is.
- The Waterboys – The Waterboys — The debut album from this Edinburgh-based band. While not on this album, their biggest hit was probably “The Whole of the Moon.” I hear a lot of Doug Davis (yes that Doug Davis) on this. Not that he was on it, but I hear some influence on it. I know that he’s a fan of the band. It was a great listen.
- The Mountain Goats – We Shall All Be Healed — The brainchild of John Darnielle, the award-winning author and musician, The Mountain Goats, again, is a favorite of The BCPF. He’s funny, witty, and a good musician. I get kind of tired of everything sounding the same but again, the content makes up for that.
- Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me — This is the Nina Simone album that I mentioned last week that we got two weeks ago. It finally made it to Discogs so I could include it. It was a great record and we really enjoyed it.
- Madonna – Madame X — Madge’s latest album, released Summer 2019. A lot of electropop and a mixture of activism/connected and Madonna pop sensibilities. Not a bad record. I got it brand new from the clearance bin. Was regularly $30+ but I got it for $16. Win!
- Schubert / The Budapest Quartet – The Last Quartets — This is technically “new” because it is still sealed and never opened. Jonathan had it in the “used” bins. It was supposed to be purchased on Friday but we accidentally left it in the bin instead of grabbing it. We got it yesterday. 3xLP of Schubert. Yes.
For the next selections, these are all “imports.” Most are “unofficial” releases which, to me, anyway, could mean “bootleg.” But, they were sold to Jonathan through a distributor, so I don’t know. Anywhat! All are “new.” Here we go.
- Pink Floyd – Live In NYC 1977 — I love Pink Floyd. They hover around the 5-8 spot on my “all-time favorite” list. This is basically Wish You Were Here live. The sound quality is awful as is the performance, but it’s cool to hear it. I didn’t mind the fact that they didn’t recreate the album, they interpreted their own album. Clear “coke bottle” vinyl.
- Echo & The Bunnymen – BBC Recordings 1979-1980 — I didn’t know E&BM went back that far, but they did. When I heard these songs yesterday, I thought it was U2, but it’s not. U2 has been around since 1976, I didn’t know that, either. Still, the fact that this album sounded like Boy or October is a good thing, as I like everything U2 up until Zooropa. Not my fave by any means. This was a great listen and makes me love that era of the “first wave” even more. We need more of this.
- Pixies – Into The White- BBC Recordings From 1988 And 1989 — Everything that I said about Mothers of Invention earlier? Well, multiply that by about 20. I like Pixies in the studio. Live, they get weird. I have a hard time taking them seriously, but I try.
- Brian Eno – The BBC Sessions — I am a fan of Brian Eno. At least I think I am. One thing the BBC Sessions always tell me is that people get weird (or weirder in Eno’s case) when they step into the BBC Studios. Now, to be fair, we haven’t listened to this one, yet. So, it may not be weird. I am just preparing for it to be.
A big haul, for sure. Bigger than most, recently. Good stuff. A lot of listening time. Jonathan has Underdog Records, the brick-and-mortar, open Thursday through Saturday 11-7, and doing deliveries on Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesday as long as weather permits. Watch Instagram and Facebook for what he’s putting out, be it new or used. You can shop for new vinyl anytime, day or night, by visiting the website. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and you should, too!
Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!
—
“Well, the eggs chase the bacon round the fryin’ pan and the whinin’ dog pidgeons by the steeple bell-rope. And the dogs tipped the garbage pails over last night. And there’s always construction work bothering you. In the neighborhood.” – “In the Neighborhood” (Waits)
blues and the gospel and gain respect for doing so. Speaking of which, this album shows a lot of that latter point. Elvis had been throwing down some soundtrack albums in the few years prior to this (1969) to fulfill his obligation to Paramount Pictures for allowing him to make horrendous movies. There’s plenty of the blues and gospel on here with a lot of soul aspects thrown in. There’s even some rock happening. “I’m Movin’ On” is an example of such an amalgamation: country rock rhythms with the feeling of soul and gospel choirs. It’s a thorough representation, I think. The first part of the album, to me, started a bit slow (not the tempo, just the pace of the album) but at the point of the aforementioned song, it picks up. “Power of Love,” whilst a blues song, it rocks and pretty hard for The King. I love the aggressiveness of that song and the strong rhythmic punches it throws. Elvis’ history comes to life in “Gentle on my Mind.” The lone hit on this album was “In the Ghetto,” although one of my favorite Elvis songs, if I had any, is “Suspicious Minds,” and that song was recorded during the sessions but released independent of the album. And “In the Ghetto” reminds me of Taylor Hicks from back in the days when I watched that ridiculous program, American Idol. I liked this album, and I will admit I was surprised to say so. I’m saying yes, to Elvis’ comeback record and I dig.
Rhapsody, but I am an Amazon Prime customer and have been since it started. This was the first time that I used Prime Music and it’s awesome! I have the album on CD (two versions, the original release and the original concept) and vinyl (the 25th anniversary edition). Let’s say that I LOVE this album. I’m working (read: chipping away at) on Vagabond Saints Society to do this album front to back with me doing the PG parts. The only part that I don’t really care for is “We Do What We’re Told (Milgrams 37)” and that’s just because there’s not a lot to it. It was recorded for Melt, also known as Peter Gabriel (3). It’s an interlude, really. And, it’s only lately that I’ve grown fond of “This is the Picture (Excellent Birds).” That tune has some weird timings and I think that really it was thrown together. I know, for a fact, that it was decided just in the last 48 hours before submission to the record company to even include it. It was written with Laurie Anderson and was on an album of hers in 1984. If I ever get to do this with VSS, then I guarantee that it will be a visual show. I even have my Kate Bush picked out (and she agreed). Now, who that will be, you’d have to wait to see if we do it. You won’t be disappointed. Anywhat! To give this a dug or twenty dugs wouldn’t do it justice about how I feel about this album. If you want to know more about my thoughts and feelings about it, hit me up. I can talk about it for sure. My only regret about this album is its placement. To me, and yes, I’m biased, it should at least be in the top twenty if not fifteen. But that’s just me. At least it’s not Quicksilver Messenger Service.
hang a man for killing a woman what was stealing his horse, I guess (that’s what the lyrics pretty much said). I think that horse belonged to his wife. As you’d guess, he falls in love with another woman and they live happily ever after or something like that. I’m not giving this facetious sounding review to be negative. There’s a lot of good instrumental interludes and storytelling here. There’s nostalgia to hearing Willie because Ma Père is a Willie fan and makes me think back to my childhood. Willie, like Neil Young, Lou Reed and especially Bob Dylan, aren’t the greatest singers but their stuff is full of emotion and conviction. There’s something endearing about that; warm, embracing. And it was short! Fifteen songs in just over thirty-three minutes. That’s where the instrumental interludes happened. Is this something that I’d want to hear a lot of? Not at all. I am, however, glad that I listened as it’s certainly one that I’d not get close to voluntarily. I dig it for what it is, though. Especially since it’s not Quicksilver Messenger Service.
up album, is better known and probably the better album. It seems that while they let the lovers in the band they didn’t really feel easy with their songs. Yes, Lindsay started the album off with “Monday Morning” and each had three writing credits per with some extra vocals. But, out of the four singles released (“Warm Ways,” “Over My Head,” “Rhiannon” and “Say You Love Me”) three were McVie and one, “Rhiannon,” was Stevie. I think “Monday Morning” would have been a better choice than either “Warm Ways” or “Over My Head.” “Landslide” was released as a single twenty years later when the band stopped squabbling long enough to do a reunion tour and release an album commemorating it. I’ve always like McVie the least, but think she’s a great songwriter, even if I’m not the biggest fan of those songs. Like I said, Rumours was a better album, and her songs on that album were, to me, much better. I’m not saying these are bad, just not my faves. Give me Lindsay and Stevie first. Still, this is a good album. It’s not Quicksilver Messenger Service and I dug it.
