Cover image by TouTouke
November Music Mix Notes
Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
I just can’t resist a thumping good bass line – and this has a thumping good bass line in spades. Plus I love the way the song keeps its sparkle throughout its 8 minutes and 26 seconds – not a dull moment to be had and a great way to start the mix. The album “Narrow Stairs” is worth a look at too, in my opinion it’s their best yet – though my pups disagree.
Everclear – So Much For The Afterglow
Their 2000 album “Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to… ” is a better album and introduced me to the band but this song just powers along at the speed of diarrhea with a riff to die for. I can’t dance but I can certainly move my butt to this.
Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
This song reminds me so much of a holiday in France in 2001 when me and Mrs. Dog would sing along to this as we drove south – much to the dismay of my pups. But what a great song – you know I love Luci (Blue was included on Augusts mix) and I do love a song that rhymes ‘Eggs ‘n’ Bacon’ with ‘House in Macon’ – just superb.
Athlete – Love Come Rescue
Great album (see review), great band and this is a rather surprising song from them – a slow acoustic song – simple but good.
Gomez – Natural Reaction
Such a good band and make it as my ‘Artist of the Month” with 2 songs in my mix. This song has a great chorus – I’d forgotten how much I like a good chorus:
“I get so nervous
Waitin’ for a natural reaction and
I can’t stop thinkin’
You’ve exposed (?)
Leave me a nervous wreck
… a nervous wreck”
And the bridge near the end which almost turns into a Russian folk song? Good stuff.
Grand Drive – Love and the Truth
From their fourth album “The Lights in This Town Are Too Many to Count”, this song takes an age to develop but when it does it really does it in style with the bass and drums simply doing what bass and drums do best kicking it into life making this the Wilson brothers (Danny and Julian) best song.
Gruff Rhys – Candylion
From Gruff’s 2007 solo album, this song just begged me to be included into my mix – and who can resist a song with lyrics like “A penguin and carnation/A lemon and Dalmatian” – he is such a good songwriter.
Gomez – Make No Sound
Second track on the mix from Gomez and the title track from their Mercury winning debut album – great song, great album, great band – what else do you need to know?
Irma Thomas – In the Middle of it All
Track number 9 and time to slow it down a little and who better to do that than the wonderful Irma Thomas. I’ve always loved a good voice, especially a female soul voice, and they don’t come much better than Irma’s. It has so much character and style that she could sing the yellow pages and have me in tears. This song is from ‘After the Rain’ which has come to mean so much to the people of her home town of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina hit them and as with all good soul and R&B, it takes a heartache to make the song good – this song is special.
Anita O’Day – Sweet Georgia Brown
Even I find this a strange choice to be included in my music mix – but you know that I do like different types of music and this is such a classic version of a classic song – perfect for singing in the shower. Here’s an extract from the bio on her website:
“Anita O’Day, was the last surviving member of the great jazz singers (whose ranks also include Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan). Born in Chicago, O’Day gained national attention as the girl singer with drummer Gene Krupa’s orchestra on the hit record “Let Me Off Uptown”. After two tenures with Krupa and one, in-between, with Stan Kenton and his Orchestra, O’Day became a solo star and, along with Fitzgerald and Vaughan, a founding fore-mother of modern jazz vocals.”
I especially love the intro with just drum and voice then the band kicks in and all hell breaks loose “Sweet Georgia Brown”.
Craig Armstrong – ‘Wake Up In New York’ feat. Evan Dando
Atmospheric chill out music at its best – the album ‘As If To Nothing’ has a gorgeous quality to it with collaborations with Bono and The Edge, Mogwai, and David McAlmont but it’s this track that stands out for me and always makes me stop and listen.
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Couldn’t resist Amazon’s description of this song – “The relentless, driving drums and thunderous bass of the opening title track are the magic components that make it the best song Iggy Pop ever recorded without the Stooges” – says it all really. Another one for the shower!
Guru – Loungin’
Another bass line from Heaven but this time it’s a wee bit jazzy and soulful. I bought both the album that this song is from (Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1) and Vol. 2 when I didn’t really know what I was buying – I just loved the music. My Dad is a big jazz fan, and even he loves this song with the trumpet and reference to the old jazz greats – “loungin’ loungin’ – mellow out we’re loungin.”
Four Tet – She Moves Me
From the 2003 album ‘Rounds’ this is a fine example of electronic music (sic I hate that term) that treats the listener on to a wonderful acoustic guitar melody that makes the drum loop and synth come to life.
Dire Straits – Down to the Waterline
The guitar is a wonderful instrument and the sound of Mark Knopfler’s guitar on their 1978 debut demonstrates how it really should sound. Pure genius, pure British rock/blues at its best – this is their best album (though Communiqué is close) – forget their later albums, this cannot be beaten and is a true reflection of Knopfler’s talent – a great song.
So… we’re on track 16 – how’s it been so far? Me, I’m having a ball, next song please!
Feeder – Just the Way I’m Feeling
There are better songs on the album “Summer’s Gone” and the title track “Comfort in Sound” to name but two but it’s this song, I feel truly highlights how they were feeling at this time with the sad death of drummer Jon Lee, in January 2002 – the chorus says it all…
and i feel it’s going down
10 feet below the ground
i’m waiting for your healing hands
1 touch can bring me round
i feel we’re going down
10 feet below the ground
it’s just the way i’m feeling
yeh yeh it’s just the way im feeling
Dada – All I Am
When I lived in the UK, I would spend many enjoyable hours searching the CD dump-bins of my local Woolworths and W. H. Smiths looking for albums for 2 quid (sometimes less) that I would like. I often bought just because I recognized the producer or simply liked the artwork on the cover. Very often these purchases ended up in the bin – sometimes they ended up at the front of CD collection. This is one example – I can’t even remember where or when I bought it – and I’m not going to spoil your fun by doing a google search for information on the band ‘cos I know nothing about them either – just love the song.
The Golden Animals – Steady Roller
From their 2008 debut album “Free Your Mind and Win a Pony” that apparently they recorded somewhere in the Californian desert in temperatures in excess of 120 degrees! The album is OK, not great – this song is by far the highlight although ‘Queen Mary’ and ‘I Want You To Come’ are pleasant enough.
Cary Brothers – Ride
Love the muted guitar on this song and the dreamy vocals – plus it blends so well with the previous song by the Golden Animals. This is from the only EP of theirs I own, ‘Waiting for Your Letter’. Think I’m going to have buy some more of their stuff.
Eddi Reader – Jamie Come Try Me
Fabulous voice, fabulous song – the album gets a bit repetitive at the end but this song is a worthy addition to my mix and brings a lovely Celtic feel to proceedings.
Genesis – Undertow
From their ninth studio album ‘And Then There Were Three’ released in 1978 this must be one of my favourite Genesis tracks. I haven‘t got the original album on vinyl anymore (this is from their Platinum Collection) but I can remember being overawed by the sheer quality of the whole album. Great song to end my Music Mix for November – hope you enjoy.
Don’t forget – if you like a song on the Mix, let me know, I’d love your feedback.
The Music Mix 04 [a 122 mb zip file] will be available for one month from today – until 30 November 2009.
Please support the artists – if you like a track, buy the album!
Music for the Month ~ Music Mix 04 ~ November 2009
| # | Track | Length | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Will Possess Your Heart | 8:25 | Death Cab for Cutie | Narrow Stairs |
| 2 | So Much For The Afterglow | 3:53 | Everclear | So Much For The Afterglow |
| 3 | Car Wheels On A Gravel Road | 4:44 | Lucinda Williams | Car Wheels On A Gravel Road |
| 4 | Love Come Rescue | 2:53 | Athlete | Black Swan |
| 5 | Natural Reaction | 4:16 | Gomez | A New Tide |
| 6 | Love and the Truth | 5:18 | Grand Drive | The Lights In This Town Are Too Many To Count |
| 7 | Candylion | 2:31 | Gruff Rhys | Candylion |
| 8 | Make No Sound | 3:26 | Gomez | Bring It On |
| 9 | In the Middle of it All | 4:45 | Irma Thomas | After The Rain |
| 10 | Sweet Georgia Brown | 4:17 | Anita O'Day | Anita O'Day Sings for Oscar / Pick Yourself Up |
| 11 | Wake Up In New York feat. Evan Dando | 3:30 | Craig Armstrong | As If To Nothing |
| 12 | Lust for Life | 5:14 | Iggy Pop | Lust For Life |
| 13 | Loungin' | 0:58 | Guru | Jazzmatazz, Volume 1 |
| 14 | She Moves Me | 4:42 | Four Tet | Rounds |
| 15 | Down to the Waterline | 3:38 | Dire Straits | Dire Straits |
| 16 | Just the Way I'm Feeling | 4:22 | Feeder | Comfort in Sound |
| 17 | All I Am | 4:49 | Dada | American Highway Flower |
| 18 | Steady Roller | 3:12 | The Golden Animals | Free Your Mind and Win A Pony |
| 19 | Ride | 3:15 | Cary Brothers | Waiting For Your Letter |
| 20 | Jamie Come Try Me | 4:41 | Eddie Reader | Sings The Songs of Robert Burns |
| 21 | Undertow | 4:46 | Genesis | Platinum Collection |
I am really bad about music listening. First of all, I don’t listen to enough of it. For much of the day I need silence to concentrate (oh how I wish I were one of those folk who can work/study and listen to music!) and come the evening I’m catching up on the housework and/or catching up on Radio 4 output. So not a lot of time for music.
Second of all, a track needs to grab me right away, I don’t have the patience to give it a longer listen and certainly not a second listen. I know, my bad.
But!
You use iTunes don’t you? Does it have a star rating system where you can assign 1-5 stars? I loathe iTunes so instead use MediaMonkey. Anyway, I had the music mix folder up and ready to play when I noticed that the Athletes track “Love come rescue” had five stars to the side of it. I hadn’t touched it, I swear! So we can only conclude that even MediaMonkey loves Athlete
And out of the thousands of mp3s sitting on my hard drive, it joins that special band of 14 tracks that merit a five star rating.
Lucinda Williams – you introduced me to her music a while back and I still enjoy listening but I don’t think that this is one of my favourites. I wish I could be more like Spacepig and suggest an alternative track or two but that ain’t the way my brain works, sorry!
Anyway, the stand out tracks for me: Craig Armstrong – Guru – Anita O’Day – Irma Thomas – ooh the drums on the Iggy Pop track! – Four Tet (can’t believe I’m enjoying something classed as “electronic!) – Dada.
Gomez – never heard of them – luuurve their music and suspect that one of their cds will be hitting my Amazon basket later this week. “Make No Sound” is especially good.
So a new fan here for two bands, Athlete and Gomez – thank you!
God you know me – I do everything to music (well almost everything)
Glad you like the tracks – iTunes ain’t so bad, I find it simple to use, secure and links to my iPod nicely.
For Gomez, I recommend ‘How We Operate’ or ‘A New Tide’ (quite radio friendly shall we say) or ‘5 Men in a Hut’ its all their early singles which are great but also an album of rarities and ‘B’ sides. For Athlete I think it has to be either their first ‘Vehicles & Animals’ or their latest ‘Black Swan’
Just for a change Mr Dog, I’m going to disagree with you. If anyone has never heard Gomez then really there is no argument, they have to listen to their first one, Bring It On, before all others. This album is quite simply stunning with not a duff track on it.
Then go for Liquid Skin, the follow up. I didn’t think much of Split the Difference but How We Operate was a definite return to form. I haven’t picked up their latest one yet but I will get there before long.
Seen them live a few times and I can highly recommend this if you ever get the chance.
By the way, I have downloaded the music mix, just considering my comments, watch this space.
Hey Mr LD
Great cover picture where do you get them from?
Just downloading now as I type never heard of some of these guys but hey you mknow me I will give them a try
SA – pics are from my dear Sis – I just love this one. Not sure where she gets them from perhaps she will enlighten us when she reads this
Bring It On must be one the best albums of the past 150 years but I know my dear sis’s musical taste and I know she would prefer the ones I recommended first – they are, in my opinion, more accessible than either of their first 2 albums and much easier for her to listen to and hopefully enjoy
You’ve made my day Sin again! This image comes from a great photographer called TouTouke, here’s their Facebook page .
If you ever want to see more of an artist/photographer’s work, The Dog always put a photo credit link directly under each cover but always feel free to ask (and especially to compliment!), it’s great to pass on the work of other folk on teh interwebs
Hey Ms. LZ you are welcome – what the heck does your name mean?
Mr LD – Listened just the once to your new mix and I like not so sure about Anita O Day and I think Superhuman Touch would have been a better choice from Athlete best song on CD. Will listen to it more today in work as I have a quiet day
Hi Sin again – “Liefste zus” is Dutch for Dearest sis(ter) – I have the dubious honour of being the Dog’s sibling
So yes, I could dish all the dirt if anyone were to ask…
“Liefste zus” don’t forget I know many things about you too (your Cilla Black infatuation for example) but I wont tell if you wont
SA – There were many Athlete songs I could have picked, in fact Wires was in the mix for a while and almost made it to ‘Song of the Month’ but I think ‘Love Come Rescue’ fitted the mood of the mix a wee bit better – plus I feel that it shows that they can still produce a great song.
Ooooh, that’s a low blow. And I wouldn’t call it an infaturation as such (can’t stand the woman) but I still like to listen to her early sixties belters (You’re My World, and “Alfie“, etc.).
Am desperately trying to come up with a similar lapse in musical taste by the dog but failing. Miserably.
OMG I cant believe Cilla was so hot
LOLOLOL!!!
Its a good mix, you appear to have spent time putting this together as each track compliments the next one as your guide the listener through a rather wonderful musical journey.
I like the way you have introduced some quite unusual tracks, (e.g.) Anita O Day’s version of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ which is indeed a wonderful track but even better when you position it directly after Irma Thomas which in turn is followed by Craig Armstrong. Also enjoyed ‘Down to the Waterline’ directly after ‘She Moves She’ rather a good blend here as is the final three tracks by Cary Brothers, Eddie Reader and Genesis.
I believe that the secret to a good mix is the positioning of the songs and you have accomplished a very good mix here – I will not claim to love all the songs here and of course you have gone for some popular tracks by an artist, but I cannot be pedantic and criticize the odd one of two that I could find a more suitable replacement (I believe Spacepig will attempt this).
Hi Ken
Thanks for your comments – glad you enjoyed.
You are right about the positioning of the tracks or the flow as I call it and I do spend time listening to this before I upload. I try to have a few faster, rockier tracks at the start then start to slow down a little around track 5 then again at the end where I try to end on a high.
My dream job (apart from underwear adviser to Halle Berry) would have been working for a record company creating compilation albums.
Mr LD – dream job for me would be Kylies underwear adviser always had a soft spot for her
mmm this discussion could get a bit mucky – careful
Here we go then, Music Mix digested, investigated and waffle regurgitated. Again, an interesting mix so let’s see what I made of it:
Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart:
Another one of those bands that I am always going to get around to checking out and just never got around to it, so thanks Mr Dog for this opportunity. So, what did I make of them? Well, I have to admit that I loved the first 4 ½ minutes of this song. Then after that I just liked it, once the singer kicked in. Liked it so much in fact that I went and borrowed the CD. Which may have been a mistake because I very soon realised that this is the only track on the CD worth listening to. The singer’s voice just started getting annoying and I don’t think there are any new ideas on the CD.
So all in all, great track, but leave it at that, not a band I can listen to for too long.
Everclear – So Much For The Afterglow:
OK I suppose, nothing too new or exciting but at least it bops along at a nice pace. Seems to have a bit more energy than some of their newer stuff and a little bit more rawness. Wish they had stayed like this.
Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road:
Could be any one of a thousand American female warblers. Again, not a bad song, but nothing to make me rush off and buy any of her CDs.
Athlete – Love Come Rescue:
This will probably make me Public Enemy No.1 with Mr Dog and Mr Sin, but just what do you guys see that is so good about this band? This song is nothing special, just another little acoustic ditty done reasonably badly, the rest of the CD is plain boring. If you want acoustic music why not stick with someone with an idea or two, like Bert Jansch?
Gomez – Natural Reaction:
Ah at last!! Great to hear something new from Southport’s finest. Just love this guys voice and this one plods along nicely. Will certainly be buying this one.
Grand Drive – Love and the Truth:
Good song, works well with Gomez before it. I would worry that it may become a bit boring with a CD full of this but worth investigating further.
Gruff Rhys – Candylion:
Nice sort of pop-psychedelic stuff, reminiscent of a plethora of ’60’s flower power type bands. Much better than any Super Furries release. Ever seen them live? I had the misfortune of seeing them twice. Won’t make that mistake again!
Gomez – Make No Sound:
Mr Dog says this CD is in his top 150 releases ever. Its in my Top 10! Not a duff song on this CD. They were the high point of T in the Park 2001 for me and Junior SP and I must have seen them about six times since. Could have been around 30 years ago and they would have been mega. This song is typical of the rest of their first CD, my fav. on there though would have to be Get Myself Arrested.
Irma Thomas – In the Middle of it All:
Great song, great voice. Up there with the best of them. One for putting on when you’re lying on the grass with a beer or two on a hot summer’s day. Really gets some emotion into it doesn’t she?
Some really good guitar work as well.
Anita O’Day – Sweet Georgia Brown:
Jazz is really big in the Spacepig household and here’s another one for the collection. We know all about Anita of course but apart from the odd track or two we don’t have any of her CDs. Maybe time to put that right.
Craig Armstrong – ‘Wake Up In New York’ feat. Evan Dando:
Good enough songwriting, but oh so dreary. Cheer up Craig, it might never happen!
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life:
Great oldie. My problem with this one is that every time I hear it I can’t help but think of Trainspotting. If you have never seen it, don’t bother. It has to be the most repulsive movie ever made and I would quite happily shoot anyone involved with it in any way. You can’t help but like Iggy, but don’t we miss The Stooges?
Guru – Loungin’
Two annoying things about this one. First thing is, whenever I do a search for Guru Guru, no matter where it is, this always pops up.
Other thing is, who told them hip hop works with jazz? Let me tell you now, it doesn’t! At least it’s short.
Four Tet – She Moves Me:
Never heard of this lot before, but it’s quite good. Mr Dog doesn’t like the ‘electronica’ term, but I don’t think that really describes this track, there’s much more going on than just electronica.
Dire Straits – Down to the Waterline:
I have always suspected that this band were only formed to enable Mr Knoplfler to display his guitar genius. Nothing wrong with that as far as I’m concerned. And any CD that has Sultans of Swing on it is going to be worth getting. Had this one since it came out and still gets a regular spin.
Feeder – Just the Way I’m Feeling:
Why does anyone bother with this band? One of life’s little mysteries I suppose. Not worth wasting any more time on, move on!
Dada – All I Am:
Believe me Mr Dog – there’s a reason why this one was in the bargain bin when you found it! Very amateurish.
The Golden Animals – Steady Roller:
OK song. I’m going to take The Hound at his word and believe this is their best song though. I don’t see where they can go from this one so I’ll save my pennies.
Cary Brothers – Ride:
Another one I have never heard of. Love the ethereal voice. Seem to be much better than the Britpop bands that Amazon reviewers have lumped them in with. Needs further investigating.
Eddi Reader – Jamie Come Try Me:
Ha, Oor Eddie! She used to play in the local pubs long before her Fairground Attraction days. Playing to a bunch of Aberdeen fishermen and riggers is never an easy gig, but she used to have them eating out of her hand. Great performer with a huge variety of songs. Don’t have this CD, probably pick it up after hearing this track, but I always seem to think of her as a pub singer for some strange reason.
Genesis – Undertow:
A band of two halves, pre and post Gabriel. Don’t think it would bee too hard to guess which version I prefer. Why does Phil Collins seem to have that ability to make everything sound so dreary. Should have stayed behind the drumkit.
Come on then, tear me apart for my opinions, I can take it! At leats you can’t accuse me of following the masses.
You appear not to understand the concept of a music mix (i.e.) its not the individual tracks that should be analyzed as the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. Its not always wise to judge each song on its unique merits or blemishes but rather to understand how those components interact, and when one is willing to accept that; then one will enjoy the musical journey on offer here.
The creator of this mix (Laughing Dog) has attempted to forget the origin or genre of each track and carefully blended each together to further develop the song (please listen to tracks 7 to 12 for a fine example). I doubt many mixes would place Anita O Day, Gruff Rhys and Iggy Pop together.
Well that could well be because, as I have stated elsewhere, I am not the kind of person who listens to mixes. When I listen to music I put on a CD and play it right the way through, I don’t skip from track to track and I very rarely listen to compilations. As you have said elsewhere too, the way the artist intended it to be heard.
In my (rather lengthy) lifetime, I think I have been to a disco twice, but I have lost count long ago of the amount of gigs I’ve gone to.
There has been nothing inherently wrong with any of Mr Dog’s mixes, and I think I may be the only one who has them all, but yes, I treat them them as individual tracks and an opportunity to hear bands that I may have missed or just never heard of.
I think that I am probably too old now to change the way I listen to music and to tell you the truth I don’t think I really want to.
Long may the mixes continue, but I will certainly continue to review them as I have always critiqued any music. I will concede though, I dread to think of the results if I were ever to attempt it myself.
MR SP I agree with you and I do like all the comments you make about the songs maybe Ken does not understand what a mix is? I think Mr LD does a good job with his mixes and I have also bought cds after hearing the band here.
If I was you I would not change the way you are as you do love you music yeah though I would like to see what songs would be in your music mix
mmm nice discussion developing here – thank you
Ken you make your point well but I think that you don’t understand Spacepig yet – he might appear to be a moody old bugger but in the short time I’ve known him he really only has one thing at heart – and that is the music. Your idea of a music mix is similar in many ways to mine and I thank you for your kind words, but don’t knock Spacey – for one thing he sounds hard (always asking to meet outside the pub for a fight) plus he kinda knows what he’s talking about when it comes to music; and he defiantly knows what he likes and doesn’t like. Think of Victor Meldrew with headphones on and I believe you won’t be far away – when he compliments one of the tracks off the music mix you know you’ve done a good job.
But this is what is so good about music and THE reason for me starting the blog to generate discussion which it certainly has here – may it continue.
Ken – one thing you haven’t done yet is provide some idea as to your taste in music. Your background is very interesting – what are you listening to at the moment?
Spacey – I certainly can’t accuse you of “of following the masses” and you do make some sparkling comments as usual.
However…………………….Death Cab for Cutie are worth your attention – I just love any band with the balls to do an 8 and a half minute song these days and get away with it – just great. The rest of the album is good too with the highlights being “Bixby Canyon Bridge”, “Pity and Fear” and “Grapevine Fires” recommended my friend.
Lucinda Willams is not one of a thousand American female warblers she is THE American female warbler great voice great song and so many memories – maybe you had to be in the car with me and rest of pack to appreciate the effect my singing had on my pups as we drove down through France.
Athlete – I know this ain’t your cup of tea but its mine and apparently Sinny’s as well so leave us alone – there’s nothing wrong this little acoustic ditty – I know it wont change the world but it made me happy for 2 minutes and 54 seconds plus it mixed well with Lucinda and Gomez but that’s another post.
You wont make many friends in the Dog house hold by slagging off the Furries the best Welsh band ever – think I’ll make ‘Mwng’ Decembers album of the month just to wind you up.
Guru is great smooth jazzy R’n’ B soul – Guru Guru are tosh I’m surprized even you can listen to them
Dada – probably the best 99p I have ever spent. Just uncomplicated good honest rock songs that get my foot atapping what’s wrong with that?
Agree about Golden Animals but this song is good
Genesis – I actually like both versions I even saw them with Ray Wilson in Birmingham and they were great – the guy could really sing but alas didn’t last too long.
So in my defence your honour I tried my best , honest I did, and you did like some of the songs – so hey roll on December and 20 songs about Santa and his pervy little elves
Wait a minute, I thought I was complimenting Death Cab For Cutie. Well, sorta complimenting them in my own way. At least I found that track interesting enough to go and investigate further. I have even decided to take your pups advice and go and listen to some of their other stuff to see how that grabs me.
And speaking of the pups, what did they make of your warbling along as you zipped past the vineyards? I think we need to get them on here for their own take on that.
I don’t think I was that harsh on Athlete either, just found them a bit boring.
But now I must protest in the strongest possible terms!!! The Furries, the best Welsh band ever!!! My dear little canine friend, how wrong can you be? Haven’t you ever even heard of Man? I believe I am committing an act of gross indecency even mentioning them in the same breath, but I will not accept anyone even considering that there is a greater Welsh band than Man. Just look at the lyrics:
I like to eat bananas
Cause they got no bones
I like marijuana
Cause it gets me stoned
Sheer profundity, The Furries couldn’t even come close.
And with your comment on Guru Guru, I hope you realise you now have the entire (freak) Teutonic nation taking up arms and marching on Doha. I would get out now while you still have a chance. Head for Siberia now before it’s too late.
Probably, although I can’t definitively state this, Genesis were better with Ray Wilson than with Phil Collins bleating over everything. I only heard a couple of tracks with him but they sounded OK. I don’t have a problem with Phil’s drumming, far from it, but his singing really gets me down.
So really, as I said, I don’t think this is a bad mix, far from it, and I have now ordered up an Irma Thomas CD on the strength of it and I am trying to work out what the best Anita O’Day one is.
Oh and by the way, I’m not hard, except with words maybe, but whatever you do, never,never, ever wind up Mrs Spacepig!!! Many times I have seen grown men reduced to tears by her.
Note to Spacepig
I do not wish to be too argumentative with you and spoil what is becoming a rather good music website; but I feel that your approach to music is outdated and quite archaic, to put simply, you’re a dinosaur.
You stated “When I listen to music I put on a CD and play it right the way through, I don’t skip from track to track and I very rarely listen to compilations” – this, is not conducive to record company strategy or to the buying trends of this musical generation. I still have a few trusted contacts in the music business and they all confirm that the album as a commercial entity is dead, has been for a number of years. The future is the single track.
Now, I know there is much written about this, and I expect you reply with statistics proving me wrong, don’t believe them – the future of music is the single track. Please consider two things:
• Downloading music enables the buyer to preview then select the track that he/she wants, it is no longer a requirement to buy a whole album to hear your favourite track
• The overall quality of albums is in decline. I can remember buying albums where every track was good (an example being this month’s album of the month) now if any song after track number 6 is worth listening to you’re a lucky man. I think Laughing Dog agrees with me here as he has commented on this in his discussion on ‘Old or New – I just don’t know any more’ where he reflected on the lack of quality in new albums; this I believe supports my argument here.
Awaiting your reply
Ken
Some very good points Ken, and well worth considering. I certainly am not going to reply with a bucketful of statistics as I know how easily they can be manipulated to provide the answer which the statistician requires to prove his point. I would much rather just tell it in my own way using my own words.
First off, yes – I am a dinosaur and proud of it! The sources of this pride are many-fold, but they basically hinge on the fact that I am of that generation where we learned that in order to appreciate any artists genuine talent, we need to listen to more than a snippet of their work. And, to fully understand and empathise with the artist’s meaning, the work has to be allowed time fully enter our senses.
I can appreciate art in many forms, but I have to admit, the first time I seen anything by Dali, I just thought “what on earth do we have here’? Over time I began to understand it a little bit more, but I did not fully get it until visiting the Dali museum in Barcelona just a couple of months back and taking the time to appreciate what he was getting at.
Yes, it may be archaic, old-fashioned, out-dated, but personally I still think it necessary to listen to the full album. This may not be the trend which the present CD or download buying public or the record industry is promoting at the ,moment, but there are still bands will and do follow this formula. I don’t know if you have listened to last month’s album of the month, but I think both Laughing Dog and Mr Sin will agree that to only listen to one or two tracks off of Porcupine Tree’s – The Incident, would be to totally demean the album. Same with my own personal album of the year, Siena Root’s – Different Realities.
I obviously don’t know what generation you are from, and as of yet you haven’t given us much of an idea of what kind of music you prefer, but there are some people out here (I’m sure I’m not the only one) who still do prefer the album as a whole. I think there may even have been a discussion on this topic on the Amazon forum at some time, I’ll see if I can find it sometime and we’ll see how opinion lies.
Anyway, there’s no point in either of us getting upset about it. I think The Dog intended his website for these kind of discussions.
I still think the Music Mix is a great idea, it’s just that I tend to use it in a different way from you. Is there anything wrong with a bit of a mixture of people on the site? And, I have found a few new bands to listen to off of it, so thanks Dog!
Well hello Kenpig and Spacedinosaur you two are getting on well I see – turn my back for a moment……….
Actually its great to see this discussion here and Spacey you are right, it is what I hoped for when I started this website – so great stuff and long may it carry on – think I’d better hide the sharp knifes first though.
I can understand both points of view here but lately I have been going through phases of not buying albums and buying individual tracks instead. Then I make a playlist May 09, June 09 etc. with these tracks on. Its sometimes works well as I do enjoy the songs on these playlists but I do also wonder if I’m missing something even better or would get more reward from buying the album – I cant work out if I’m being lazy or if its the magpie in me that just wants to hear the highlights of an album.
I think another reason is the lack of good albums these days – albums with 10 or 11 songs on it to make me go “mmm…I like that”. This has actually changed recently with the help of Spacey and his great recommendations and love of classic albums and I’m actually buying and re-buying albums these days by Them Crooked Vultures, Siena Root, Porcupine Tree, Colour Haze, Roy Harper, Wishbone Ash to name a few that are actually great albums that can be listened to all the way to the last track without falling asleep.
Ken – I would like to hear more from you as you obviously are a music lover at heart and do bring much to the table here. What are you listening to now – what can you recommend for me and my friends here. You also appear to have quite a colourful past – would love to know more. All in all the Dog is a happy man.
Hey Mr LD I think I agree with you I do like to d/load a track if I hear it somewhere and not buy the CD. Its also about time I dont seem to have much time these days to buy and listen to CD’s cant listen at work and at home I have other things to do but on the other hand it is nice sometimes to listen to a new CD. I also travel alot just got back from UK and I did listen to a couple of new CDs on journey one is the new Crooked Vultures CD which is really great.
so I think I agree with you all but did like the discussion Spacedino lol
Reply to all who asking about my taste in music and what I’m listening to now
First of all I will abstain from telling all as one never really knows who is reading this website but I will attempt to provide a flavour of me and my musical taste.
Born near Edinburgh not long after the war my father, who was quite a well known session musician, moved to London to work for EMI. This is where my love affair with music began as I grew up surrounded by the sounds of Adam Faith, Shirley Bassey, Frankie Vaughan and Alma Cogan, as well as of course Elvis. I also have worked in various aspects of the music industry, nothing too major, mostly PR work and on occasions in the studio mixing and helping to produce bands that you will have heard of, but as they mostly were complete and utter c/suckers I will refrain from naming names.
My musical tastes are quite catholic having experienced the crazy times that were the 60’s and 70’s I enjoy a wide and varied musical collection: for example this week I’ve enjoyed Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective, Bach: 6 Cello Suites a wonderful box set by the French cellist Pierre Fournier. I’ve also watched Cliff Richard And The Shadows – The Final Reunion [DVD] as it rekindles some lovely memories for me.
Ken
Hi Ken
Thanks for posting – interesting background, I reckon we’re going have to get you drunk one night so can dish the dirt on these c/suckers you helped produce. Also, quite a varied taste in music – I don’t think I could sit and watch Cliff Richard And The Shadows even though I appreciate that in their time they were the kingpins and actually excellent musicians which they’re not always given credit for.
Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective – I tried and failed just couldn’t enjoy, maybe I’ll try again.