Cover image by Troy Stoi
January 2010 Music Mix Notes
Please remember to respect copyright law; if you like a song from the mix, there’s a very good chance you will also like the album – so do me and the artist a favour and buy the CD.
Thought I would try something a little new for this month – with two 3-in-a-rows to be found in the mix. I’m not getting all Lord of the Rings on you – simply added 3 songs from my album of the year and 3 songs all connected to one artist – in this case Dave Rawlings.
As always, I hope you receive the deepest joy and pleasure from the magical moments contained within – I know I did putting the mix together – either way, let me know. Oh, and if you like a song buy the album.
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Them Changes
A great way to start the New Year, a new mix with an old Hendrix/Band of Gypsy’s song that’s over 40 years old. But time doesn’t stop this being a classic and Clapton and Winwood make it sound so fresh and alive – the rest of the album is just as good, overflowing with Blind Faith/Clapton/Winwood songs.
Rush – Earthshine
One of my favourite songs from their more recent albums – just love Lifeson’s guitar as the song simply powers along. Great version on their live Rio CD and DVD.
Deep Purple – Never Before
For all his faults, Ritchie Blackmore knew how to play a guitar and as this track highlights could play it funky as well. From their 1972 Machine Head album this song reminds me so much of my youth and the days and nights listening to songs from Purple/Zep et al. – deep joy.
Heartless Bastards – The Mountain
I do like a song that plods along – and this song is such a great plodder. The band are new to me with this song from their third album also called ‘The Mountain’. The rest of the album is just as good – blues/rock led by Erika Wennerstrom, who does the plodding on the guitar.
AC/DC – Love Song
I know what you’re thinking – I thought the same, “This isn’t AC/DC”. Well it is and it’s actually a great song – very different but very good. Originally only released on the Australian version of ‘High Voltage’, ‘Love Song’ evolved from an unrecorded song called ‘Fell In Love’, also written by Malcolm Young and Dave Evans. This earlier version of the song had different lyrics; the finished lyrics as heard on the album were added by the late Bon Scott.
Neil Young – The Loner
On November 9-10, 1968, Young performed two shows at Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This song comes from these performances and shows Young at his acoustic best. It took me a while to enjoy the whole Neil Young thing but like a good whine its gets better as it matures.
Staff Benda Bilili – Sala Keba, Moto Moindo and Je t’aime
The first of my three-in-a-rows involves my album of the year – Très Très Fort by Staff Benda Bilili. I bought this CD while on holiday in the UK after reading a couple of reviews. Two things caught my attention in these reviews, first the fact that they were compared to the Buena Vista Social Club and secondly they sounded so different to anything else I has heard of before, almost like a bad Hollywood B movie. I simply had to buy.
As you can read in my Album of the Year post, the music is simply stunning, with these 3 songs only partially demonstrating the sheer joy and almost childlike genius contained in the album. It’s also interesting how well Sala Keba follows Neil Young – like it was meant to be.
Lee Fields & The Expressions – Ladies
….and this follows on nicely from Je t’aime and has such a good groove:
“You’re sugar. You’re spice and everything nice.
A man is incomplete without a lady in his life.
You can take a bad day and make it turn out right.
You can take a blind soul and make him see the light.
You can take a broken heart and make it new again.
Or you can break his heart and make him less than a man.
You can make a man feel like a king.”
Fabbo lyrics from a man who is a bona-fide, 100%, unadulterated, pure, gut-bucket soul singer – nothing more nothing less. And he does make some sweet Soul music.
Four Tet – And Then Patterns
From the album Everything Ecstatic comes a little bit of electronica for the month and what a good song to pick. Four Tet’s previous album (Rounds) is, I think, better, but this song stands out for me as just perfect, chill out music with a lovely melody and back beat – mmm nice.
El Perro Del Mar – Change of Heart
El Perro Del Mar has been nominated in 6 categories at the Swedish Grammy Award 2010 – Best album, Best composer, Best pop, Best producer, Best writer and MTV’s Best video. It’s a lovely dreamy, mellow song that just floats around your head after a few listens. El Perro Del Mar literally means The Dog from the Sea in Spanish and is a musical project that was founded in December 2003 in Gothenburg, Sweden by Sarah Assbring and follows on perfectly from Four Tet.
Gillian Welch – Revelator
Dave Rawlings Machine – Method Acting / Cortez The Killer
Bright Eyes – Four Winds
Are all part of my second ‘three-in-a-row’ with the link being Dave Rawlings. I first heard of Rawlings on Gillian Welch’s album Time (The Revelator) and was intrigued by the sound of his guitar. To achieve this sound he flat picks a small archtop guitar, a 1935 Epiphone Olympic. This guitar makes such a distinctive sound and has been his primary instrument since hitting the big time with Welch. The one he uses for recording and shows has a carved arched solid spruce wood top, a carved arched solid mahogany back and mahogany sides – must weigh a ton on stage!
Great lyrics on Revelator:
Darling remember from when you come to me
that I’m the pretender,
I’m not what I’m supposed to be
but who could know, lf I’m a traitor?
Times the revelator, revelator.They caught the katy, and left me a mule to ride.
The fortune lady came along she walked beside,
but every word seemed to date her.
Times the revelator, the revelator.Up in the morning up and on the ride.
I drive in to corning and all the spindles whine
and every day is getting straighter.
Times the revelator the revelatorLeaving the valley and fucking out of sight
I’ll go back to cali where I can sleep out every night
and watch the waves and move the fader.
Queen of fakes and Imitators
Times the revelator.
The final track (Four Winds) is such a good track bouncing along like a Space Hopper on heat. Ranked #5 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007, it’s my favorite track on a very good album.
Teitur – Catherine the Waitress
Teitur (pronounced Tie-tor) is a singer-songwriter from the Faroe Islands. He has toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States since releasing his major label debut, Poetry & Aeroplanes. I first heard of Teitur on Corrine Bailey Rae’s first album when he co-wrote ‘Choux Pastry Heart’ – a lovely sparse ballad. This made me buy Poetry & Aeroplanes which is good but one of those albums which I sadly don’t play very often (I have this week though). His latest album The Singer has been described as “a delicate chrysalis that conceals darker matter” and “like aural marmite” which just about sums it up.
Catherine the waitress if you only knew where my mind is
“Is there anything you’d like?”
If I could only tell you!
You haven’t even noticed me, but, oh you are so good to me!Catherine the waitress I don’t intend to seduce you.
I’m not a resident, I’m not a regular.
But if I lived here this would be my favourite bar!
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I’m not drunk, I’m not high!The accident happened one year ago, according to the lines in my hand.
A requiem is playing behind my eyes,
but you don’t see it, Catherine, do you?Catherine the waitress if you only knew where my mind is
“Is there anything you’d like?”
If I could only tell you.
You haven’t even noticed me, but, oh you are so good to me!”
Foo Fighters – Wheels
Sometimes you have to remind yourself that the Foo Fighters are one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. This is because — despite the fact that they’ve sold millions of albums, won Grammys, toured the world several times etc. — they are basically four normal guys. Half of them look like art teachers. The other half are drummers. None of them are really rock stars. This is probably why I like them so much.
This new song from their greatest hits collection is a grand example of a rock song even though it had received some bad press – I don’t really know why but it reminds me of a Neil Young song, not sure which one maybe it’s the style of song.
Eric Clapton – Sweet Home Chicago
One of only two music DVDs I own, the other being ‘Rush in Rio’, so a small but perfectly formed collection. Played the Clapton DVD the other day and had forgotten how good it is, with this song my favourite. I did buy an old Robert Johnson collection but it failed to get me moving like this remake – which I know is a shame.
Space Ritual – Otherworld
I think their mission statement from their website says it all really:
“After light years of travel through hyper-space, learning and experiencing the ancient rituals, the cosmic wheel, the hurricanes and solar winds from a far off nebulae, the great shifting of astronomical tides – the vermillion deserts and jeweled forests of other planes and planets, through electric madness and asteroid storms, black holes, exploding galaxies, supernovae, red dwarfs, influence of anti-matter, fantemattir, through solar flares, past the rabbit in the moon, back again on course now through the galaxies of love and light to beam down to your beloved Terra Earth Base 1.
Returning for a rare manifestation on the material plane at a stabilized energy vibration-point near you – after their long search for intelligent life throughout the cosmos (despite some problems with some Earth cultures) but performing the ritual of uniting the tribes – all beings at different levels of spiritual development communicate the groove, joining in the true spirit, aspiring to the flame. The bright white light, the one love, loving awareness, getting higher together, have fun, greet and meet, move seat and feet to the beat, with Space?Ritual on tour.”
I will add that it’s a great song from a bunch of old Hawkwind geezers
Keith Jarrett – God Bless the Child
Now this really is a gift to you and something that should chill you out after the mayhem of unwrapping presents and fighting for the stuffing.
Keith Jarrett with Gary Peacock on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums just oozes class and sophistication. This track is from their first Standards album (both are excellent) and it’s the album I always listen to when I need to relax, especially on a day like today as it puts all the madness of this world into perspective and leaves me feeling like my world ain’t a bad place to be.
Once again we’re at the end of my Music Mix – I hope you enjoy.
All the best, Laughing Dog
Don’t forget – if you like a song on the Mix, let me know, I’d love your feedback.
The Music Mix 06 [a 178mb zip file] will be available for one month from today – until midnight on 31 January 2010.
Please support the artists – if you like a track, buy the album!
Music for the Month ~ Music Mix 06 ~ January 2010
| # | Track | Length | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Them Changes | 05:10 | Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood | Live From Madison Square Garden |
| 2 | Earthshine | 05:38 | Rush | Vapor Trails |
| 3 | Never Before | 03:30 | Deep Purple | 30: The Very Best Of |
| 4 | The Mountain | 05:19 | Heartless Bastards | The Mountain |
| 5 | Love Song | 05:15 | AC/DC | Backtracks |
| 6 | The Loner | 04:41 | Neil Young | Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968 |
| 7 | Sala Keba | 04:25 | Staff Benda Bilili | Très très fort |
| 8 | Moto Moindo | 01:53 | Staff Benda Bilili | Très très fort |
| 9 | Je t'aime | 05:00 | Staff Benda Bilili | Très très fort |
| 10 | Ladies | 04:17 | Lee Fields & The Expressions | My World |
| 11 | And Then Patterns | 04:44 | Four Tet | Everything Ecstatic |
| 12 | Change of Heart | 05:07 | El Perro del Mar | Love is not Pop |
| 13 | Time (The Revelator) | 06:22 | Gillian Welch | Time (The Revelator) |
| 14 | Method Acting-Cortez The Killer | 10:20 | Dave Rawlings Machine | A Friend of a Friend |
| 15 | Four Winds | 04:16 | Bright Eyes | Cassadaga |
| 16 | Catherine the Waitress | 03:57 | Teitur | The Singer |
| 17 | Wheels | 04:38 | Foo Fighters | Greatest Hits |
| 18 | Sweet Home Chicago | 05:17 | Eric Clapton | Sessions for Robert J |
| 19 | Otherworld | 06:10 | Space Ritual | Otherworld |
| 20 | God Bless the Child | 15:32 | Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette | Setting Standards |
Fantabulous mix Mr Dog (once I’ve deleted the Rush & Deep Purple, sorry!).
Very glad that Staff Benda Bilili are your album of the year, I’ve just ordered Très Très Fort (can’t wait for it to get here!) and hope that you’ll be featuring more “world music” (is there a better term?) over the coming months. I think Papa Wemba is a bit too commercial for your tastes – try some of his earlier stuff though, Molokai maybe? Or how about Salif Keita (Guardian article).
Anyway, many thanks for a great mix, hope you, Mrs Dog and the kids are having a great day!
Dear Laughing Dog – I must admit to you that January’s mix is excellent. I have spent a quiet but enjoyable Christmas on my own, watching some old movies, re-reading Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks and listening to music. One of which was you latest music mix.
You have carefully selected some great tracks from a wide range of artists and I do like your ‘3-in-a –row’ concept especially the 3 songs attributed to Dave Rawlings. I am also impressed with the ‘flow’of the mix; commencing with your 3 rockers (not so sure I like your plodder by Heartless Bastards though). You then follow this with a rare AC/DC track and one of my favourites from Neil Young another track that is not so widely appreciated.
Next up is your selection of tracks from Staff Benda Bilili, your album of the year. An interesting choice and I can fully understand your reasons; unfortunately I happened to witness them live recently and was not overly impressed, even though all the critics posted glowing reviews. I will have to purchase the CD before I criticize too much. Following SBB are 3 quite different tracks by Lee Fields, Four Tet and El Perro Del Mar that add much to your mix as they contrast so well to the preceding songs especially like ‘Change of Heart’ which has quite an interesting video if you care to visit You Tube as I did last night.
You then present us with your Dave Rawlings ‘3-in-a –row’ which for me is the highlight of the mix. Three great songs that showcase an extraordinary talent and includes the emotional Time the Revelator, so powerful and poignant. The remaining tracks continue in the same vein good songs that work well together.
The final song by Keith Jarrett is, as you say, a gift to us and ends your mix with a delightful jazz standard that is quite simply remarkable. I for one was not expecting such a song to appear here but you have demonstrated a good ear for combining diverse musical genres and have set the bar high for future mixes – congratulations.
Hi Ken – thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed (great book by the way think I’ll try and re-read this week as well)
Shame you didn’t enjoy Staff Benda Bilili live as I would have imagined them to be brilliant and the reviews are very good. Although, you will know not to always believe a review especially one for a band like this.
You are right about the video for ‘Change of Heart’ – bit arty but good.
A little off topic and I don’t suppose you want to venture into book reviews but… am I the only person in the world who hated Birdsong? It should have been right up my street but I found the writing cold and passionless. I have enjoyed some of his other books (Engleby in particular) but this one? Hated it.
Talking of Engleby, if BBC Radio 4 ever repeat the reading of it by Douglas Hodge drop everything and listen, superb.
Hi Sis – well its kinda funny discussing this as you are to books what I am to music – so it is strange that you didn’t enjoy Birdsong. It must one of the most memorable books that I have read which really says it all for me – haven’t re-read this week as one of my pups grabbed it but aim to start soon. Maybe a re-read for you will help you enjoy?
You might be right about giving it another go, not sure when though! I recently joined the village library (can’t believe we’ve been living here two years already and only now I’ve managed to get there) so I can borrow it (having giving my copy away a long time ago). What I might do is re-read a couple of his other books to remind me of how well he can write and then move on to Birdsong.
Mind you, I’ve a stack of books to get through before I can even think of “treating” myself to some fiction so it might be a while before I report back!
Hey Mr LD great mix again not sure its the best but its pretty good. There seems to be alot of older songs and songs that I dont recgonize on here Deep Purple, Neil Young, Space Ritual etc. but I do like your 3 in a row parts and the final song by Keith Jarrett is pure chill out. And the AC/DC song really doesnt sound like them at all cnat see them playing this live. What the album like?
Hi Sinny – glad you like the mix. The AC/DC CD and DVD is good – not fantastic but good especially if you’re a fan and I would expect you to enjoy it after seeing them live.
2010 already ???? Doesn’t time fly by? Oh well another year older, not quite sure about the wiser thing but at least our happy Hound is keeping us informed. Some oldies here for the youngsters to catch up on, some that us old codgers may have missed first time around, and of course a healthy splattering of new tunes to keep things ticking over. So what do we have this month then, let’s see:
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Them Changes: The biggest attraction for this CD for me was Steve Winwood’s participation. Traffic were one of the first bands I ever really got into. Difficult to choose this version over Hendrix’s, but it does make interesting listening.
Rush – Earthshine: Not one of their best known tracks, but it does press all the correct Rush buttons. This is another CD I have which doesn’t really get played that often, call me an old fogey (why not, everyone else does) but I still prefer the earlier releases, 2112 in particular.
Deep Purple – Never Before: And I only found out this week that The Purple are coming to Cork in the summer! Just wish it was this line up though. Like Mr Dog, this one takes me back to an earlier, more innocent age. Well I remember my older brothers blasting this one out of the bedroom stereo to my mother’s constant roars of “Turn that racket down”. Thankfully, they never did. Great song, timeless, even Junior SP has been known to get rocking to this one.
Heartless Bastards – The Mountain: Mr Dog has said he likes a “plodder”. I often-times agree, but the plodding has to have a purpose of some kind. I honestly can’t see the point of this song. I have been told that their earlier releases are more Blues/Rock orientated, but I can’t say that this one would convince me to investigate them any further. Still, buy me a drink, you never know!
AC/DC – Love Song: Just so unlike the Aussie rockers that unless you had told me, I would never would have guessed. Different yes, but this is not the AC/DC we know and love. Not hard (for me anyway) to see why this one never made it onto the original UK album. The guitar work is quite good though.
Neil Young – The Loner: Ah you can’t go wrong with a bit of Neil Young. I especially like to hear him with nothing but the acoustic guitar. Its the feeling he somehow manages to squeeze into every word, every note that just makes him so special. Not quite sure of my favourite track of his, although this one rates highly, how about Down By The River from Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, or maybe Cowgirl In The Sand.
Staff Benda Bilili: Just what is that weird instrument they use in the first song? I can’t say that I’ve heard that one before, certainly adds a whole new dimension to the overall sound. Very good music all the way through these three tracks, maybe not quite what I was expecting. I can see how the comparisons to Buena Vista Social Club arise. They are similar, but different enough to keep it interesting. I think I would have to listen to a whole lot more though before stating that I preferrred one or the other. Good as it is, I don’t think I would have made it my album of the year.
Lee Fields & The Expressions – Ladies: Not really my kind of thing I’m afraid. A bit too slushy for me: “You’re sugar. You’re spice and everything nice” – come on, get a grip, try using a chat-up line like that in Cork and see how far you get!
Four Tet – And Then Patterns: Chilled, laid back, relaxing. Nothing offensive but maybe just a tad on the boring side, it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Mr Dog says their earlier stuff is better so I’m not going to write them off yet. May take a while before I delve much deeper though.
El Perro Del Mar – Change of Heart: Just kind of drifts along, easy to listen to. If only I had a nice sunny day and a glass of wine to accompany it!
Gillian Welch – Revelator: I see what Mr Dog means by the distinctive sound of the guitar. I don’t know the first thing about the mechanics of such machines, but I know when I hear something I like, and this song sounds excellent.
Dave Rawlings Machine – Method Acting / Cortez The Killer: And it just gets better. When the first song started I thought it appeared a bit dreary, but stick with it and you’ll hear some beautiful music. And then the way it blends into Cortez the Killer is just simply spooky. I’ve got this one on my MP3 now and played it a few times, can’t wait for the CD to arrive. Problem is now, I have to decide if this is even better than Mr Young’s version. Oh well, no point in agonising over it, just enjoy them both.
Bright Eyes – Four Winds: Not quite so sure about this one however. Oh it’s jaunty enough, just seems a bit amatuerish when compared to the previous two tracks.Maybe a bit like a second rate Waterboys (now there’s a band we haven’t discussed yet, what about it Mr Dog?).
Teitur – Catherine the Waitress: “like aural marmite” ? Hmm, wonder what rhymes with that? I don’t want to knock anyone’s taste, so lets just skip ahead to the next one!
Foo Fighters – Wheels: OK so I suppose as far as heavy rock bands go they’re OK, not a patch on Nirvana though. I know Mr SA likes them, and I can understand that but I do think there are much better bands of this genre out there. Definitely sounds better played loud.
Eric Clapton – Sweet Home Chicago: First of all, I am going to take Mr LD to task over his sacriligous comments!!! Shame on you, how can you say that this remake is better than Robert Johnson’s original? I disagree 100% and if you think Clapton can interpret Johnson’s music better than the master then you obviously haven’t heard peter Green’s Johnson songbook!. having said that, I do wish Clapton would stick with the Blues and forget all the slushy MoR stuff he has churned out of late. I don’t know that this song can be done badly, I certainly haven’t heard a bad version of it.
Space Ritual – Otherworld: many people have remarked on how this band are more Hawkwind than Hawkwind are these days. To a certain extent I agree. Whereas Hawkwind tend to repeat their old (but brilliant) songs time and time again, Nik Turner just takes Space Ritual into other dimensions and show us where Brock could have gone if he had wanted to. This entire album is outstanding, whether it’s the new versions of the oldies, Black Corridor, Arrival In Utopia or the new songs cleverly crafted by Mr T, this album just rocks. This song is typical of the CD, spacey, trippy, but very very clever at the same time.
Keith Jarrett – God Bless the Child: And so to finish with one of the coolest guys ever to walk the planet. A late night chill out. Mrs SP, being the jazz pianist devotee that she is has decided that this month’s mix is worth the admission price for this track alone – can’t say that I disagree.
All in all then the year is off to a flyer. How are you going to top this I wonder?
Great review – welcome back Spacey!
Thanks Spacey for your comments – much appreciated. In fact with you and Ken both saying nice things about my Mix, I think I’ll stop now as the only way is down. So no more music mixes, as of next month I’m going to post a mix of my favourite poetry – watch this space!!
I actually think my mixes are better now as I know my audience a little better and try to direct the music to fit this. I have been putting together mixes for over 30 years in some shape or other starting with C90 cassettes and will still include songs that I like (Lee Fields, El Perro Del Mar) as the mix will always reflect me and whatever music is making me go “mmm…I like that” but the direction of the mixes is certainly getting better.
However,
Rush – Earthshine: Not one of their best known tracks, but it does press all the correct Rush buttons. This is another CD I have which doesn’t really get played that often, call me an old fogey (why not, everyone else does) but I still prefer the earlier releases, 2112 in particular – Of course 2112 will always be the album and the era that made these guys especially as it followed ”Caress of Steel’ which was undeservedly criticized by press and record company and nearly stopped a rather promising career.
But Rush are more than 2112 and one of their key attributes has always been the ability to develop their music and evolve as a band.
Since 1976 (when 2112 was released) Rush have produced 15 studio albums with each one, I feel, different from the last with their musical style changing over the years. Don’t forget their debut album was strongly influenced by British-Blues rock such as Cream and Led Zeppelin, and it wasn’t really until ”Caress of Steel” that they were influenced by the British progressive rock movement and became successful with albums like 2112, A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres. The 1980s saw Rush evolving their sound to include the use synthesizers, sequencers and electronic percussion and creating 2 more classic albums in Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures and of course being accused of selling out when in fact all they were doing was making great music – you cant please some folk. The ’90s saw Rush’s transform their sound and style once again that maybe reflected the alternative rock movement of the time and while their albums have not been the classics mentioned above they still contain enough good music to warrant buying especially Snakes and Arrows and Signals (from the 80′s) but even Counterparts an album that even Rush fans criticized has gems like ‘Animate’ and ”Nobody’s Hero”. So, my point is…..give them and their later albums a chance.
Heartless Bastards – The Mountain: There’s more to this band than just being plodders try http://www.mtviggy.com/video/iggy-music-heartless-bastards-hold-your-head-high-live-performance for an acoustic version of ”Hold Your Head High”
Lee Fields & The Expressions is one of those songs and one of those artists that I love and know that you don’t. This won’t stop me putting songs like this in the mix as it does add a bit of soul a bit of groove to proceedings – plus this guy is just amazing try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XwdRSMs4FY
Teitur – Catherine the Waitress – it’s alright rhymes with aural marmite and that what this guy is a bit of alright. This song is actually the most upbeat on the album but fitted into the mix better than the other tracks on the album. I reckon you might actually like the album as its very different, a little dark but just great especially songs like ‘We Drink the same Water”, ‘Your Great Book’and the title track ‘The Singer’ – and they use such a variety of different instruments that make this album a bit special.
Eric Clapton – Sweet Home Chicago – Listening to Peter Greens version as I type and I reckon its more like the original being quite lo-fi and less rocky but I still prefer Clapton’s version with the great Billy Preston on keyboards, Nathan East on bass, Steve Gadd drums, Doyle Bramhall II on guitar and Clapton playing and singing at his peak you just can’t fault it. You are right on one thing – he should do more blues.
So….how am I going to top this – you’ll have to wait until February 1st to find out.
P.S. I’m glad Mrs. SP enjoyed the Keith Jarrett song
First off, whatever you do, don’t change the way you do the mixes. I concede that I may sound a bit too critical at times but I do enjoy the opportunity to hear the wide variety of music. OK, often enough there are tracks I don’t like, but these are far outweighed by the ones that I do find enjoyable. And I have found quite a number of new bands to splash the cash on after discovering them in your mixes, not quite sure that my bank manager has the same high opinion but that’s his problem.
Although 2112 has always been my favourite Rush album, I have enjoyed many others. There are some great tracks on Signals and Red Sector A was just awesome. I really don’t have a problem with them evolving although I don’t have many of their most recent releases, but I always seem to find my way back to 2112 and Permanent Waves. I am really going to have to getting around to picking up Snakes & Arrows sometime though. I would also be interested to hear your opinion of their covers album, Feedback. Is it worth investing in?
And….. I finally got around to watching Rush in Rio – right the way through – very very good! I realise that as I get older my taste in music gets stranger and stranger, but I did really enjoy this DVD. And the sound quality was just stunning, should have done that years ago.
I have the Heartless Bastards clip playing at the moment – still not 100% convinced but I am trying. I was kinda hoping it was a cover of the old Argent song but no such luck.
Eric Clapton is the kind of artist who can split opinion in any company. At least we can agree that he should play more Blues. With him, I am afraid that I am stuck in my old time-warp again. I loved Cream and Blind Faith, but got bored with his stuff after that.
As for the poetry threat!!! As long as you include some Robert Browning you won’t hear any complaints from me. How’s this for a start:
Porphyria worshipped me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propped her head up as before,
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria’s love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!
Now the challenge is – find some music to put it to!!!!
Note to Laughing Dog – I believe you either love or hate Rush. I am quite firmly in the latter group as I find them quite monotonous with such dreary vocals and uninspiring and mind-numbing lyrics that I quickly head for the delete button whenever I hear one their tedious songs. They have always appeared to me to be a poor-mans Led Zeppelin which is obviously quite well received in the out backs and waste lands of Canada and other godforsaken places as they have sold millions of records but I really can’t see the attraction.
Another point concerning your latest mix – on reflection it does not appear to me to flow like previous mixes. I have re-listened to previous mixes and the flow is much smoother with each song gliding effortlessly into the next. With this mix, I feel that you have placed more emphasis on the song and the quality of the song regardless of the flow. Please don’t take this as a criticism – as I stated in my previous comment it was one of the highlights of my Christmas – this is simply an observation that you may or may not agree with.
Also, one more point – I also take great joy in creating music mixes, mostly for personal pleasure, and I was wondering what approach you take when you start to create one of your mixes.
Note to Spacepig – I agree with Laughing Dog, Clapton’s version is far superior to Greens and even dare I say the original but only because production techniques are more advanced providing an enhanced and better quality sound. Also, you do not appear to enjoy the Teitur song, I bought the album after hearing Catherine the Waitress in the mix and it is a delight and I thoroughly recommend it to you.
Also, I believe I have found some music to compliment your poetry – anything by your favourite band Faust.
Hi Ken
A poor man’s Led Zep – that must be the first time I’ve heard that argument (not) anyway you are right there does not seem to be any middle ground with Rush – but they have given me (and my son now) a great deal of pleasure over the years and you can fault that.
You also say that the flow of the last mix was not so good – mmm…… I do believe you are right – I think the same although it wasn’t done on purpose I simply wanted to include this set of songs and they didn’t flow as I would have liked. Not to worry I enjoyed putting it together and now enjoy listening to it. What I also find very enjoyable, and I recommend to all to do is to put all the music mixes you have on a playlist and shuffle them – now that’s what I call music.
The process of putting together a mix – is a harder question. I’m always listening to music, always thinking about what song would sound good in the mix, often listen to my ipod on shuffle and will hear 2 or 3 songs that sound great together and will add these into my mix. I do try to start with a bang, have a bit of a relax in the middle then finish with a bang (I’M STILL TALKING ABOUT THE MUSIC MIX – LETS NOT GET MUCKY) so I do have some sort of methodology but really all I do is to try to put together a bunch of great songs that my friends here will enjoy – just like I did in my bedroom all those years ago with my friends then.
And Faust would be perfect for Spacey’s poetry
Hi Spacey – I agree with happy Ken Faust would be perfect.
Glad you enjoyed Rush in Rio – I’ve ordered the Led Zep and Neil Young DVD’s that you and Ravey Davey suggested so tell your friends in dispatch to get a move on.
Feedback – apart from Summertime Blues I like it – its 3 talented musicians playing songs that they love – it has to be good. But I can see why some people criticize it but as I’m not overly familiar with many of the songs on it I found it to be a good album. Maybe if I had grown up with the originals I would not be so kind – in fact someone I used to work with actually snapped his copy of the CD in front of me because he hated it so much. So did you snap your copy?
Do buy Snakes and Arrows and its less than 4 quid now
My poetry???????????? I wish it was! If I could write like that do you think I would be eking out a miserable existence in the way I do? No, no – that is the work of a true genius. But then, they do say that there is a very thin line between genius and insanity.
I have tried it with Faust (surprise surprise) but it doesn’t work. How about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJp0rr54OU0
Isn’t someone else going to give us some poetry to get going with? Come on LZ, you must have some tucked away somewhere. If no one else does, I may just have to post some more (that ought to do it!).
As to the Rush question. I don’t actually have the CD (yet) although it is on it’s way. The problem I have is that I do know all the songs on it, and I must admit I am a little bit concerned as to how they have interpreted some of them, but, nothing ventured and all that!
Hi Spacey – I fear you will need a some alcohol before you listen to Feedback otherwise you will hate and maybe end up snapping it in half like my other friend
Listening to Comus now – not half bad though I doubt its “the greatest song ever written” as suggested by bob20202020 and my wife has just asked me to put the headphones on as she says its weird very weird – so it cant be all bad (remember she’s a Shaky fan)