Daniel Amos - Vox Humana - 1984

Of all the posts I've made this last week, this one is probably my favorite.  I was introduced to Daniel Amos in 1985 by a guy named Loren who I used to be friends with when I was a kid, and then he moved to St Louis.  At the time, I was struggling to find myself in Junior High, being a nerd and all.  I was in to Duran2 like nobody's business and reading comic books like they were going out of style.  This album (and the one before it - Doppelganger) seemed to fit my personality to a tee.  (Did you notice I used three different cliche sayings in the last two sentences?)

This album is Part III of a IV part series by DA called Alarma!  I posted Doppelganger several months ago which was Part II.  Part I and IV aren't as good as the middle two, but I will eventually post them.

The sound, as the previous albums, is something of a cross between New Wave and Classic Rock.  The vocals at times remind me of the Beatles, but the melodies themselves are very unique, and I can't compare them at all to any other groups that I can think of.  Whereas the the previous album was somewhat stark, this one is full and lush.  All of the songs jump from genre to genre, every song different from the one before.  Some of them are written and performed smoothly and elegantly, others are stilted and awkward, purposefully.

The best songs, in order of the track listing, are Travelog, William Blake, Live and Let Live, As the World Turns and Sanctuary.

One of the best tracks for nostalgia's sake, is (It's the Eighties) Where's Our Rocket Packs?  It's funny that they were expecting so much back in the eighties, and here it is, 35 years later, and only half of the things they sing about are even close to coming to fruition.

The album was recently re-released with some demos, alternate tracks, and outtakes.  So, I picked the best of them and put them on.  The acoustic versions are fabulous, and I dropped the new outtakes right between "Side A" and "Side B".

I really think if you give this a try, you'll fall in love with it as I have.  It's really that good....

Daniel Amos - Vox Humana - 1984

Sugarcubes - Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! - 1989

Sugarcubes' second album carried forward the quirky and esoteric music that made their first album so wonderful.  An interesting blend of jangle, synth, new wave and post punk with a hint of ethnic folk...  is all that even possible?

Having gotten on the Cubes bus a little late, after Stick Around and before It's It, I found it took several listens before I became accustomed to the sound.  I still don't like the Fred Schneider-like screaming by who I assume is Einar.  But, Bjork's vocals, while still young and wild, are really really awesome.  She is really a talented, albeit eccentric artist.

I know I'm missing a couple of mixes on here, but I'm pretty sure I have all of the tracks and b-sides.  I didn't want to throw on any of the demos, either.  I preferred this sleeve to the original album art.  The lettering is more classical and it has a very retro feel to it.  All in all, it's a pretty sleeve...

Sugarcubes - Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! - 1989

Anything Box - Peace - 1990

Don't be ashamed to say you love Anything Box.  Yes, they sound like early DM bubblegum pop and I can't help but envision a Sophomore teenage girl listening to this in her bedroom while she's doing her homework.  But, it's actually really good music!  Honest to god!

What's funny is I picked this one up while I was in Biloxi Mississippi in 1990 while I was in Tech Training for the Air Force.  I'm marching around in fatigues and in a dorm with a bunch of guys listening to either Metallica or NWA, and here I am listening to Anything Box.  Needless to say, I only heard this one through headphones the entire time I was there.

I think I picked it up, again, because it was on the Sire label, and I was in love with DM and Erasure, and I knew that there was a lot of other great bands like Book of Love, Morrissey and Echo and the Bunnymen as well.  I wasn't disappointed, either.  I knew from the first song that it was going to be good.  The first half of the album is strong, but it peters off on the second half.  The single mixes are pretty good, too.

I'm pretty sure I got all of the tracks, and the best of the remixes.  I know there are a few mixes that I left off for space constraints.  Nice little set, though.  It's a nice filler to pull out once in a while to mix with your 80s/90s synth bands. 

Anything Box - Peace - 1990

Manufacture - Voice Of World Control - 1991

Again, attracted by the Steven Gilmore cover, and the fact that their previous album with Sarah Mclachlan singing a song with them, I picked up this with a hope of some great Industrial tunes.  Well, they ended up what we would probably call Darkwave or Future Pop instead, but there are some really good songs on this one.

I picked it up in the winter of my Freshman year in college, and listened to it heavily while walking to and from class on campus.  While not as good as Nine Inch Nails' Pretty Hate Machine, Skinny Puppy's Rabies or Ministry's The Mind Is A Terrible Thing to Taste, I would compare it more with Single Gun Theory, Frontline Assembly or Front 242 (in quality, not so much style.)

The best tracks for me have to be New Decision and Control Yourself, simply because I really like the vocals and melodies from those tracks.  The rest of the songs are pretty good, though.  This is a prime example of that proto-Industrial sound right before Nine Inch Nails and Ministry tore the scene open in 1992.

I still used the original cover, but used the single sleeve of A Measured Response for the back.  No b-sides, but I tossed a few remixes on for good measure.  There's still about 5 mixes out there, if you like this, I suggest you hunt down the rest.  I hate it when there's not enough material for two discs, but too much for one disc.  That was the case, here.

Manufacture - Voice Of World Control - 1991

Check your phones!

Someone out there has got my blog pulled up on their phone, and it's running in the background.  Starting last week, I had a spike of mobile smartphone visits through Facebook.  Now, I have upwards of 500-600 Facebook mobile app visits a DAY, and they are all visiting the Arcadia post I had back in June.  This far outways any other post I've had out there by the hundreds.  There aren't that many people out there who like Arcadia who come specifically for that, and then leave.

So, check your phones, clear your browsers, make sure that everything is closed out. 

Thank you!

Duran Duran - Rio - 1982

Alright.  Here it is.  I'm not going to say anything about it, no long exposes on how Rio impacted my childhood. I'm just going to throw it all up on the wall here, and you can feast on it like a school of hungry piranha.

Disc One & Two - The UK & US Releases

Disc Three - The Catbirdman Edition

Disc Four & Five - The Remixes

I even threw in some bonus material for those who'd like to try their hands at their own mixes....

Rio Stem Tracks

Hungry Like the Wolf Stem Tracks 

Have a great night, I'll see you tomorrow....

La la la Late Post....

Tonight I will be going to see my son in a performance for/with his Summer volunteering activities.  I work until 5pm Central, and won't be home until 10pm Central, but I'll make my post for Friday before I go to bed.

BUT,  THIS WILL BE THE BEST POST OF THE WEEK IF NOT THE MONTH.  I can guarantee you will be loving this one.

So, set your alarm clocks to check the blog out between 11pm and 1am Central and come see what I've got for you.  It will definitely be worth it....

See you tonight...

Nena - 99 Luftballons - 1982

The first 45-rpm record I ever purchased was Matthew Wilder's Break My Stride.  The second 45-rpm I ever purchased was Peter Schilling's Major Tom.  The third 45-rpm I ever purchased was Nena's 99 RED Balloons.

I say RED with capital letters, because it seems that all people want to talk about or listen to is the German version, Luftballons.  Yeah, yeah, fine and dandy.  But, as a 12-year-old American boy I didn't understand German, so I played the side that I could understand and was comfortable with.  It's not a racial or nationalist thing, I just wanted to know what she was singing about!

Years later, I still see this song as a defining song for the 80s.  I ended up purchasing the US release of 'Nena' in the early 90s at a used record store, and was impressed by it.  I didn't much care for the half German/half English format, but all of the tracks were good, and I enjoyed listening to it.

It's when I decided to get their two earlier albums, that I made a discovery.  The tracks on the American release of the album were found on the first two albums, but in German.  So, essentially, the American release is something of a 'greatest hits' collection.  Well, you know how I feel about greatest hits collections...

So, I've compiled all of the tracks from the first two albums, plus the b-sides, plus the remixes, plus the English versions, and put them all on one 2-disc set.  Now, you have everything that Nena released in those first years of popularity and rise to stardom.  I feel that this is the only way to present them, as the later albums are more conducive to my regular format.  The first two albums and the US release were all made and released within the same 2-year time span, so their sound remains consistent.

It's a great set, so you should enjoy it.  Mind you, 80% of it is in German, so you'll have to love her voice and the melodies more than the words, if you don't know what she's saying.

That's what I do...

Nena - 99 Luftballons - 1982 - Disc 1

Nena - 99 Luftballons - 1982 - Disc 2 

Billy Idol - Vital Idol - 1985

Vital Idol was originally released in 1985 as a compilation of his extended remixes.  But, there were only 7 tracks on it.  I've upped it to 11, and added a new cover, that was supposed to look better than the previous.  I guess it does, but I think it may look too modern for the songs.  Not sure.

Today is my first son's 15th birthday.  As the years have passed, he's made me more and more proud to be his father. He has grown, not just physically and mentally, but spiritually, beyond my wildest beliefs. He makes me aspire harder and harder to be a better dad, and a better person day after day, by leading a positive and optimistic life. Lucas, you are a wonderful son, and I look forward to your bright and hopeful future. I love you, big guy!

Billy Idol - Vital Idol - 1985

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88

So, several months ago, I posted my "Singles Collection" of every OMD single, b-side and remix up through Dreaming.  I know, though, that listening to 6 discs straight through can be a daunting task.  I know because it's tough for me, even on a road trip.  So, I also made myself an extended/remix collection with one mix from each of their singles, if a mix exists.

It's hard to say which disc I prefer, as I have favorites on both of them.  Regardless, it's a good set, and playing through a 2-disc set doesn't take long.  Favorite tracks would include Never Turn Away, So In Love,
Messages, Souvenir, and of course the Martin Hannett mix of Electricity.

I've said before that I don't care for greatest hits collections.  I don't.  But, when it comes to OMD, and Art of Noise, a lot of times, that's the only way you can listen to them.  Don't know why.  But, as far as albums go, neither of them can really pull together a cohesive group of songs that I can like.  I guess I'm too picky.

Anyway, I thought the font and cover graphic was fitting for this collection.  I hadn't made the cover for myself before, but once I got these two, I printed them off.  Looks good on my CD wall.

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88 - Disc One

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88 - Disc Two 

EMF - Schubert Dip - 1991

When this album came out I was a lonely boy.  My best friend was off to college in Missouri, and I didn't have a girlfriend.  Most of my friends from High School had moved on, and the ones that didn't were busy with their own lives, to busy to mess with me.  College friends were rare, as I lived off campus, and everyone else seemed to have developed these dorm room friendships that I couldn't really even break into.  I had work, school and my "blessed" parents.  I say that with a grimace and and gritting of teeth.

But, this album did come out in May of 1991, as I was taking my finals for Spring Semester.  My best friend came back from school for the summer and got a part time job at a restaurant.  We'd work days, and at night we'd head out and have a good time.  We both were making good money and had no real responsibilities to speak of, so we blew a shit ton of money on movies, eating out, music, booze and comic books.  What a life. 

By the end of the summer I was sick of the bastard and just wanted him to go back to school.

This was one of the albums we listened to as we "cruised" up and down the main drag of our city in the late evenings.  We'd drive up and down, back and forth, see a lot of school friends and a lot of women.  We'd turn up the fast songs, and turn down the slow, but I bet we listened to this thing a hundred times in 3 months time.  I used to know the rap to Unbelievable by heart.

Now, it seems dated and really not a very good album.  The songs were catchy, trendy and poorly written.  But it brings back a summer of my life that was carefree and fun.  Whenever I start to feel nostalgic, this is one that I pull out to remember the good times.

EMF - Schubert Dip - 1991

Kaiser Chiefs - Lap Of Honour - 2004

My second "B-Sides Compilation" comes from the beloved Kaiser Chiefs.  They already have a b-side set called Lap of Honour, but it didn't have all of them on there.  I added the additional b-sides and several of the remixes from their first album.

I fell in love with Kaiser Chiefs with the Na Na Na Naaaaa  song way back when it was a track off of the NME Sampler disc in 2004.  That disc introduced me to about 5 bands I didn't know and found out I loved.  KC was the biggest of them, though.  Their best song is I Predict A Riot, which I can only imagine what it would be like live to here them play.  What an anthem rocker.

Their b-sides are meh, some are okay, some are not.  This is mainly to complete the set from their first album.  I also through in their pre-Kaiser songs as well.  Maybe you should put this one in FRONT of their first album...  I don't know, you decide.

Kaiser Chiefs - Lap Of Honour - 2004

Charlatans - Nons & Bs - 1990-1991

This is the first of two "B-Side Compilation" sets that I'm posting tonight.  Actually, this one has b-sides and non-album tracks.

I've never understood why a band would put out a single without having it on an album to begin with.  I thought that the reason why singles were released, were to entice people into buying the album.  Then, the b-side was created so people would buy the album, but then also buy the single for the bonus track.  I can't even begin to pretend like I understand how the music industry works.

Anyways, after the Charlatans released their first big album here in the states, the then released three different singles afterward that fell in between that first and second album.  The singles and accompanying b-sides were great.  I loved them all.

They've released these some of these tracks on Melting Pot, and then some on Songs From the Other Side, but they never put all of them together on one disc.  I gathered all the tracks, then added the b-sides from Some Friendly, and now we have a nice little young Charlatans set that you can listen to without having to bounce between discs, whether digital or vinyl.

I hope it meets your expectations.

PS - I just got done compiling my Thompson Twins "Future Days" set, and boy is it a doozy.  I've got it scheduled to post on August 18th.  The covers aren't done yet, but I can hardly wait!!!

Charlatans - Nons & Bs - 1990-1991

PSB - Disco 3 - 2002

Disco 3 was released the year after Release and two years after the Break 4 Love single. It was also released before PopArt, the Best of... Collection.  I had a great time listening to this one.  BUT....

I didn't like the fact that when they released Disco 3, they had these great new tracks on there, but then a bunch of mixes from Release.  Well, you know me.  That couldn't be.  The mixes from Release need to go to Release.  So, I've switched up D3 to make it it's own album.  Between the singles released for PopArt and the new tracks from the original D3, there were plenty to fill it up.

Track 00 is a Radio One Jingle that opens this collection PERFECTLY.

Tracks 01, 02, 03, 05 and 08 were the new tracks for Disco 3

Tracks 04 and 06 were the singles from PopArt

Tracks 07, 09, 10 and 11 were the b-sides from the two PopArt singles

Tracks 12 through 16 were some of the remixes from the singles, including the Break 4 Love single.

Plenty for a fabulous PSB set that is lightyears better than the original.  Yes, there were some great mixes from the Release singles, but we'll get to those when I do the Release album.

And again, a great collection of tunes to listen to at about 1:30am in the morning....

PSB - Disco 3 - 2002

Erasure - Loveboat - 2000

It's always mystified me why Loveboat was so unpopular?  The two singles were just two of the more than excellent songs on this great album.  I was living in Kansas City at the time, and I remember loving it because it felt cold and sterile, yet beautiful and comforting at the same time.  Of course, when I was living in KC, and this album came out, I didn't get it until mid-December, so it was very cold out.  And then I listened to it through the entire winter.  I almost like the fact that it wasn't so popular, as it made it seem like it was more personal.

Regardless, I liked it.  I liked it better than "Erasure", Other Peoples Songs, Nightbird and Union Street, so it can't be that bad.  In fact, of the 16 albums that Erasure has released, I would honestly  put this as #7.  Solid.

I changed the color of the front cover to match the color of the single sleeve I used for the back.  There's only 2 decent b-sides, and I put my two favorite mixes on at the end.

Erasure - Loveboat - 2000

Paul Oakenfold - DJ Boxes - Unmixed

I know that this isn't really what my blog is about, but it's Friday, time to go have some fun and dance to something modern, energetic and exciting.  Paul Oakenfold has always been one of my favorite remixers, starting way back in he was mixing Shamen on En-tact.  His solo material is good as well.  But, his skills as a DJ are what people know most about him.

Every month (give or take) Paul releases his DJ box, to let people know what he's spinning at that time.  There is a lot of great material to be had on every disc.  Every once in a while, I'll throw a couple of these out there, as it gives me the opportunity to make my covers without any preconceived ideas of what they should look like.  It's all me and Photoshop, then.

Yeah, I know.  I phoned this one in.  Hope your not too disappointed....

So, here's two months of DJ Box.  Rip them, burn them and party on....

Paul Oakenfold - DJ Box - August 2014

Paul Oakenfold - DJ Box - October 2014 

David Bowie - Never Let Me Down - 1987

One of Bowie's awesome 80s albums.  He'd ditched his "New Wave" phase of his early 80s music and now joined the likes of Wang Chung, Johnny Hates Jazz and Cutting Crew.  Basic 80s pop.

Now, most people would consider that a bad thing.  But, it's what kept Bowie alive for 45 years in the music scene before he died.  I will admit he didn't break any musical barriers with revolutionary work, but he kept inviting new people to listen to the work he did, and it wasn't crap work at that.

I didn't start listening to Bowie until Tin Machine.  All I knew about him before that was that horrid single he did with Mick Jagger and that embarrassing video that accompanied it.  I enjoyed Tin Machine, and liked Black Tie, White Noise even better.  But, working my way backward, I found that I was very comfortable with Never Let Me Down, as it captured my favorite (and I think the best) part of the 80s.  It was a time of discovery for me, and this music exemplified that.  It reminded me of my Sophomore and Junior years in High School in Chicago, and my discovery of life beyond what my parents taught me.  To coin a cliche, "a coming of age" moment.

All of the singles were perfect 80s hits.  Not that they were so much popular, but, as I said, they were SO 80s.  The album tracks were great, and he was able to do a little more of what made Bowie BOWIE.  And the b-sides were prime examples of Bowie in general.  You could line them up with his 70s material without skipping a beat.

I'm thinking of making an 80s compilation of remixes, and you  can be sure that you'll find at least one of these tracks on it. 

I used the same cover as the album and added the single sleeves for the back, and the Remix Disc, I completely redesigned one of the single sleeves.

I'm pretty sure I got all of the b-sides here, let me know if I missed any.  AND, if anyone knows or has any demos or outtakes from these sessions, I'd love to have them....

David Bowie - Never Let Me Down - 1987

David Bowie - Never Let Me Down - the Remixes - 1987 

School of Seven Bells - SVIIB - 2016

When I first heard SVIIB, I knew nothing about the band.  As I listened to the album more, and completely fell in love with it, I learned more about the band and found them to be a tragedy in music.  Benjamin Curtis started his life in little Lawton Oklahoma, but ended up in New York City writing fantastic music and performing with School Of Seven Bells.  In February of 2013, he was diagnosed with Lymphoma and was dead before the year ended.  It's always a travesty to see young people in the prime of their lives die from something beyond their control.  We see people throw their lives away worthlessly all the time, but then someone who wants to live has that stolen from him and there's nothing anyone can do.

This album was written and performed by the two of them right up until his death, but then it was produced later but only released in February of this year.  As Rolling Stone described, its a cross between Shoegaze, Indie Rock, Dream Pop and Electronic, and I have to agree.  You can't really pigeon-hole this one, and I love it.  It's got some complex sounds and beautiful vocals and the melodies are striking and addictive.  I'll find myself humming their songs all the time.

There aren't any b-sides or remixes from this album, but I did pop a remix that they did for Civil Twilight on there, and it fits right in.  If you've listened to their album that I posted last month and liked it, you will be even more surprised to hear how good this one is.  I venture to say that this is my favorite album of 2016, and we're only halfway through the year. 

It's that good.  Download it and try it.  If you don't like it I'll refund you with the post of your choice....

Just kidding.  Like I'd ever give this up, even for a post ;)

School of Seven Bells - SVIIB - 2016

The Bravery - Debut Album - 2005

So, in the midst of this Britrock wave from 2004-2006, I felt that we got two American bands who sounded more "British" than the other British bands out there - The Killers and The Bravery.  Just like Oasis and Blur a decade before, the music press pitted these two against each other to see who was the best.  Unfortunately, neither band was able to garner much excitement past their first album.  The diehard of us stuck around, and they put out some good material, but not like these debuts.  I think that the Killers ended up winning in the end, but I always loved The Bravery more.

It was an Indie Rock sound, with some 80s Wave and some Post Punk vocals.  The tunes were catchy and the concept was truly creative.  I thought that Endicott's vocals sounded a little like Robert Smith's vocals on a couple of tracks.  And Conway's keyboards actually gave the music some substance that refined the rawness of the rest of the performance.

They released two more albums, that progressively proved that they put all of their good work on the first disc and then didn't know what to do.  Some of the songs on The Sun and the Moon were good, but overall they lacked cohesiveness and creativity.

I used the same cover as the album, grabbed all the b-sides, and some of the mixes.  It's a good set, and my favorite album of 2005.

The Bravery - Debut Album - 2005

The Wild Swans - Space Flower - 1989

I really don't have anything to say about this album.  It's really good, I like it, and it's here on my blog. 

Here's the entry from Allmusic.com, if you need to know anything about this great album before you download it...

"The Wild Swans' Space Flower follows XTC (masquerading as the Dukes of Stratosphear) and the Damned into the more pop-oriented side of the '60s: the sort of area that could produce a three-minute single and a ten-minute hallucinogenic mind-blower. Pink Floyd got to be quite masterful at this aspect of things with Syd Barrett; the Moody Blues, too, used to be able to do this to a degree. Typically, the Wild Swans, with a somewhat softer sound than they've had previously, have followed in this rather English area, twenty-some years down the line. What you get for your money is a rather catchy collection of hook-driven numbers with titles like "Chocolate Bubblegum" and "I'm a Lighthouse," not to mention the royally absorbing "Sea of Tranquility," a track that ticks along on a rolling bassline, dispenses with vocals along the way, and proceeds to play sonic games that suck you in and make you wish it could have gone on lots longer than ten minutes. One of the factors in the Swans' favor is certainly an endearing simplicity. Where their songs have often been complex sonic tapestries, Space Flower shucks off the complexities in favor of a very '60s production -- even the sound effects utilized by Paul Simpson are low-key, with the exception of one that's truly startling on "Sea of Tranquility," while his trademark Mellotron, which has sometimes been as omnipresent as those on early King Crimson albums, is hardly to be heard on the album. It's great fun, very catchy, and probably great for parties. Now, if they could just do something about that wretched cover..."

I don't mind the cover, though.

No Remixes.  No B-sides.  Just one good album....

The Wild Swans - Space Flower - 1989 

Howard Jones - Dream Into Action & Action Replay - 1985-86

My favorite of Howard Jones albums, this one reminds me of my youth in Chicago.  It came out when I was in Junior High, and I had the cassette of Action Replay.  At the time it wasn't one of my favorites, but it was always a go-to when I was looking for something "normal" to listen to.

As I've aged, I have grown to respect the work that Howard did in the 80s.  Yes, it was Psuedo-New Wave Radio Pop, but it was all well written.  He worked with a number of talented producers and musicians, including Phil Collins, that helped to give true heart and life to his work.  Although some of the songs aren't too interesting, I can't say anything bad about them lyrically, their melodies aren't that bad, and the production was always tight.  He is a true artist and master at what he does.

I saw him live in 1999 in Chicago with Human League and Culture Club.  All three bands were great, but Howard was the only one who went out there without pretense, and just to have a good time.  He didn't dress up flashy, he didn't have the wild hair, and he was smiling the entire time.  He even brought his teenage son out on stage for a couple of songs.

I don't know how else to put it other than the guy is simply GENUINE. And I love that about him.

Howard Jones - Dream Into Action - 1985

Howard Jones - Action Replay - 1986

A Flock Of Seagulls - Listen - 1983

A Classic New Wave album, AFoS was always one of my favorites from the time when I was young.  I'd watch Friday Night Videos at my friends house when I'd spend the night and we'd stay up until 3 or 4 AM.  Sure enough, we'd see at least one Seagulls video.

Their music was great, and the hairdos were wild, but that guy with those fucked up glasses...  Geez, dude, pick some better frames.  Where I come from, glasses like that are called BC Glasses, or Birth Control Glasses.  Because, if you were ever wearing glasses like that, you weren't getting laid by anyone.

There's really not a whole lot to say about this album.  It was the Seagulls second album, and it had three singles, including Wishing.  I liked this album better than their first one, because it sounded more confident and self-assured.  Their first album was really wild and raw, like they were throwing themselves out there to make a statement or impact or something.  This one wasn't like that at all.  It was simply about making good music.

I have all the album tracks and b-sides, but no remixes.  That will probably be a separate disc...

A Flock Of Seagulls - Listen - 1983

William Orbit & Beth Orton - Superpinkymandy & Hinterland - 1993 & 1995

Always a fan of William Orbit, I was happy to listen to Strange Cargo III when it was released.  I instantly fell in love with Water From A Vine Leaf, along with a number of other tracks from the album.  Learning that Beth Orton had done the vocals, I found that she had also just released an album of her own.  Low and behold, it was also done with William Orbit. 

I found that upon listening, the Beth Orton album - Superpinkymandy - was better than Strange Cargo III.  Her vocals are infectious and the melodies are catchy and traditionally Orbit.  It sounds as if it was an Orbit album rather than an Orton album.  His trademark blips and bloops, it's all there.  Great great stuff!!!!

The lead song on the album was originally released with Beth Orton and Orbit under the moniker of Spill.  There is a Rumble Mix and a Tumble Mix, both by Orbit, that are out there.  I don't have them digitally, so I was unable to put them on the Superpinkymandy disc.  If anyone has those two mixes, I would love to have them.

SO....

Two years on, I finally find that Orbit has released another Strange Cargo album called Hinterland.  Hooray!!!!  I can hardly wait to hear it!  I rush to the cashier, slap down my hard-earned, and run to the car to play this pristine disc as quickly as possible.  Press play...  Yeah, this song, Million Town is pretty sweet.  Lets move on to She Cries Your Name.  Hold on, didn't he already do this track with Beth?  Holy cow, he did.  This is sort of an "alternate version", I guess.  No big deal.  How about Montok Point.  Wait a minute!  This is ALSO an "alternate version" of another BO song called Yesterday's Gone!  Track after track I skip through the album to find the the majority of the album is a set of instrumental alternate versions of tracks he did with Beth.  Can we all say Retread?

BUT, come on, now.  It's William Orbit.  I listened to the album, and it's still good.  Every track is slick and true to sound.  Beth's vocals are great on her versions, but the tracks are equally good and in some cases better on the Hinterland versions.

Both albums are great individually, yet they compliment each other when they are together.  Put these two albums side-by-side in your WO collection, and listen to them together when you can.  The comparisons are awesome.

I didn't like the covers for either of the original albums.  Hinterland's cover was boring, and Beth's cover just looked silly, and didn't fit the music.  I took a stock image from the web and played with the colors, finishing them with a minimalist typestyle.  The covers befit the music, and add a layer of integrity to the two albums together. 

Finally, I thought of putting some of the William Orbit remixes from the same time period on here, but they would've ruined it.  The only mixes worth it would've been the Madonna and Peter Gabriel mixes, but they didn't fit with the sound of the album.  Plus I fucking hate Madonna.  Ray Of Light?  Uhh... That's another story for another post...

Enjoy.

William Orbit & Beth Orton - Superpinkymandy - 1993

Strange Cargo - Hinterland - 1995

SPK ‎– Digitalis Ambigua, Gold And Poison - 1987

After my accidental discovery of Skinny Puppy in late 1987 and 1988, I started a thorough search for anything on the Nettwerk label, and any other bands that gave the appearance of being "Industrial".  Nine Inch Nails hadn't yet arrived on the scene, and the Industrial craze had yet to hit.  I was finding the likes of Front 242, Frontline Assembly, Severed Heads, Wire, In the Nursery and....  SPK.

Personally, this album is their best.  I would almost place this as a bit Goth, a bit Industrial, and mostly Synthpop.  It's not that hard.  But, it has a lot of great samples, noises and beats.  The vocals are somewhat mainstream, and probably would've been radio-friendly, given the chance.  But, back then the airwaves were flooded with Wang Chung, INXS and Tiffany, so fat chance of that.  In this day and age, I would probably classify this as Futurepop.  It's just not dark and scary enough to be considered Industrial.  I think it would probably fit right in with the early Sarah Mclachlan albums.

The original album was half new tracks, and half tracks from their previous album.  So, as a first on this blog, instead of expanding what an album has on it, I have reduced it instead.  I took out the tracks that were from the previous album, and added the remixes from the singles.

Honestly, I found this disc to be something of an oddity, and peculiar for the Nettwerk label.  It didn't have the caliber of the other bands that had been signed.  But, it's still fun to listen to occasionally.  Good thing is, Graeme Revell then decided to go on and score a number of great film soundtracks like the Crow, Spawn, Street Fighter and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - the Movie.  Wow.

I still think the cover is sweet, though. Steven R Gilmore is the bomb...

SPK ‎– Digitalis Ambigua, Gold And Poison - 1987

The Glove - Blue Sunshine - 1983

This was the post I originally intended for yesterday.  Sorry it's late, but what can I say?  It was beyond my control.

As I grew ever more and more fond of the Cure in the late 80s and early 90s, I started to accumulate as much material as I could lay my hands on.  I didn't find The Glove until 1992, and even then it was only on cassette.  I hate to say it, but I thought it sucked.  Sucked HARD.  The two Robert songs were great, but I couldn't stand their vocalist.  Still to this day she really turns me off.

So, when they released the deluxe set with the RS Demos on the bonus disc, I was ecstatic.  Overjoyed.  Thrilled.  I listened to it like it was a lost Cure album.  Well, essentially, that's what it was, to be honest.  Yeah, Severin was good in his own right, but IMO, nothing compares to Fat Bob.  If that makes some Banshee lovers out there mad, I'm unapologetic about it.

In a comparison side-by-side playing of the original album, and the RS vocal album, it's surprising how different they sound.  It's amazing what a difference can be made just by switching up the vocalists.

So, on my version, I kept all the Smith vocal tracks.  I cut out all the original release tracks and remixes.  I left the b-sides, and anything on which Robert sang.  I used a single sleeve as the cover, and here you have a beautiful "New Wave" looking album with all of the goodness, and none of the bad.

I wish I could've been Robert, he was so cool back then.  Now, though, eew!  Sorry, Bob, but you is fat and scary looking.  You look like Aughra from the Dark Crystal.  Time to retire.  It's best to have burnt out than to fade away...

The Glove - Blue Sunshine - 1983

Inspiral Carpets - Life - 1990

Since I missed last night's post, I will do it today, along with today's regular post.  SO, two posts on a one post day!!!  Woohoo!

When Madchester exploded, I always liked the Carpets better than all the rest.  Their look was the best, I loved their keyboard/organ (reminded me of the Doors), and they always had the best pophook melodies.  Of all of the groups, these were the guys I sang along with the most. 

I got these guys my Senior year in High School, right before graduation.  I had it playing in my car, and the girlfriend I had at the time just rolled her eyes like I was some sort of freek.  So be it, the music was good.  While everyone else was listening to MC Hammer, New Kids on the Block and Bel Biv DeVoe, I was jamming out to British hipsters, and I loved it.  Listening to it now, it's hard to believe that it was even released during the same time as those other musical outfits, as it has transcended it's birth, 26 years later.  Can't say the same for those other guys.

After this album, they had another that was pretty good, not bad.  After that, they slid into an irrelevant hole of uncreativity.  Too bad for them...

This album has already been released as a deluxe set.  But, they didn't include any b-sides, and they had a bunch of Dung 4 tracks on there as well.  I've eliminated the live tracks, demos and Dung 4 tracks, and added the b-sides and remixes.  Much better.

Maybe later I'll post my Dung 4, but not now.  For now, this is good....

Inspiral Carpets - Life - 1990

Power Outage

Our electricity has gone out again.  It rained all day today here and there are about 100 different outages occurring all over the city affecting more than 20,000 customers.  I'm making this post from my iPad, and I have no access to any of my music. So, I guess that that our posts for today will be delayed until the electric company gets my power back on. The estimate from the company is that I will have to spend the next 12 hours in the dark. What a pain in my rear end!

 Good thing is, it looks like we're going out to eat tonight!

Information Society - Self-titled - 1988

Classic sing-along songs from the late 80s, I have always been a big fan of this album and Hack.  The rest of their music is a major Meh.  Nothing in the way of b-sides, I have the best of the mixes from the album on here.  I know that there's more, but they aren't that great and I ran out of disc space.  Maybe I can make a second remix disc called Shitformation Society, because that's what it sounds like.

ANYWAY, this brings back more memories of High School and my move from Chicago to the midwest.  It's bittersweet, but I'll get by.  I remember listening to this when one of my friends borrowed his mom's station wagon and we went for a drive.  He said "Watch this..." and opened it up in a residential area.  He got it going about 75 miles an hour, and we came to a huge dip in an intersection.  We hit it so hard, the station wagon LITERALLY caught air.  In a residential area.  In a station wagon.  He was howling with laughter, whooping and hollering, while I clutched the "Oh Shit" bar and sucked the seat cushion half way up my ass.  "That was F**king Awesome!!!!" he screamed, and he wanted to do it again.  All I could envision was smashing through some front yard and into someone's living room while the engine drops out of the bottom and the tires exploding.  Needless to say, we didn't do it again.
....

I'm really struggling today.  Work was difficult, as I had to deal with two different clients that I would like to choke the life out of.  It sucks when you have to acquiesce to a client to ensure business, and they know it and take advantage of that fact to belittle and demean you just to squeeze another dime or assert some sort of authority.  I know if I pay money for something, I expect the best for the dollar I'm spending.  But, I don't berate the salesman just because I can.  A lot of times I think that clients forget that it's supposed to be a two-way relationship and that you're better treating your sales representatives with some respect, so that way they'll actually work for you to get you the best deal.  Right now, I could slap those prick fuck douche bags with a 56% profit margin and wouldn't give a rats ass.  If they'd been fair and equitable and worked WITH me, I'd be a little more inclined to look out for their best interests.  Not now.

So, now that I have that off my chest, enjoy a little InSoc, and have a beer on me....

Information Society - Self-titled - 1988

High Violets - To Where You Are - 2006

You would think (I would think) that I would have a problem with a Post Punk band coming from the United States.  I mean, all my life I've considered Post Punk to be a European if not strictly British movement.  When I think Post Punk, I think New Order, Echo & the Bunny Men, Cure, Smiths, Psychedelic Furs and Siouxsie.  Not a local band from Portland, Oregon. But, here I am posting a release that I feel is comparable to all of them.

If you are a fan of Cocteau Twins, Lush, Curve or the Sundays, then you are definitely going to find something of interest here.  The first time I heard it, I instantly fell in love with them.  Fortunately, I didn't know they were from Oregon, or I may have passed them by.  Not that I have something against American bands, just that my tastes are a tad European.  When I think American music, I think Hard Rock, R&B, Rap, Country and teeny-bopper Pop shit.  Anything considered "alternative" by American artists is usually full of unjustified angst, which I find to be disgusting considering most of them should move out of their parents basements and get a job.

I keep slipping back onto that soapbox, sorry.

The entire album is full of great music that sounds very "early-90s", but with a modern twist.  The vocals are heavenly, and the guitar-playing would impress Robin Guthrie.  The melodies are full of pop hooks, and you'll find yourself humming along by the third playing.  Very catchy.

I included the remixes from the tracks that were on the album, which they had released on a disc in 2007.  They didn't release any singles, so there's no b-sides.  But, the mixes make up for it.  It's great stuff, you should like it if you like Harriet, Toni or Ms Fraser.

Unfortunately, they've only released two albums since then, and I didn't find them to be very interesting.  But, they did have an EP called 44 Down from 2002 that was pretty good.  You may check that one out as well....

High Violets - To Where You Are - 2006

Cutting Crew - Broadcast - 1986

When this album came out, it was my little sister who purchased it.  I looked on with disdain and disgust and razzed her for listening to such a bunch of wimpy girly-men.  I watched the guys on MTV and listened to them when my sister played their tape.  But, I didn't pay them much mind.

In college I was at the record store shoveling through the used CDs, and came across this one.  It was only 1.99, and I had already heard it, so I didn't think it could be so bad if I got it and gave it a listen to again, just for nostalgia, if anything.  Listening to it once again, I realized that I truly did like this album, quite a lot.  The song writing is pure, the melodies are catchy, the vocals are strong, and its not as obnoxious as I used to think.  It's just solid 80s rock, good listening and well worth owning.

The first six songs back to back are really impressive.  It's almost one solid piece.  If I didn't know better, I would almost say there's a hint of AOR in there.  "Side Two" is sort of sketchy, but it still pulls out sounding fulfilled.  It's too bad their follow up albums didn't stack up to this first one, because it was great and I have always wanted more.

I have the b-side on there at the end, as well as four mixes.  The cover is the US release, and the better of the two covers issued.  So many single sleeves!  I only kept the best and we still have 7 of them.

Anyway, have a great night, and don't make fun of me.  ;)

Cutting Crew - Broadcast - 1986

Public Image Limited - PiL - Nine - 1989

The first time I saw the PiL logo, it was a sticker on the back window of a mid-70s volkswagen bug in my High School parking lot.  I always thought the logo was really cool and a great design.  The guy who owned the bug was a really scurvy looking dude with a long flop hairdo and a big nose.  It took me a while to put it together, but when I did, I picked up a few of their 45s at the record store to give them a try.  This was the first album of theirs that I actually purchased, though.

I think that despite the SP connection, PiL are an acquired taste that either grows on you or doesn't.  I can only listen to about 3 of their albums, this being one of them, because I can't tell if they're being experimental, or attempting to sound somewhat talentless, or if they really are without talent.  Yes, the image is cool, and I know that Malcolm McLaren did a lot of promoting of the group as an art piece, but at times, a lot of times, the songs are just hard to listen to.

I think this album is pretty good, though.  I made out with a girl to it, and I still think of that occasion when I here these tunes.  It's one of those discs that I've had in my collection since I started collecting CDs, and it's not going anywhere.  I've lost discs, worn discs out and repurchased them, sold them back to the record stores, garage sales and pawn shops.  But, I will never part with this one.  It's a fucking original.

Anyway, popped on the only b-side and 3 mixes.  Good enough.

Public Image Limited - PiL - Nine - 1989

Lenny Kravitz - Mama Said - 1991

Always a fan of Kravitz, I think that Mama Said is his best work ever, followed shortly by Are You Going to Go My Way.  The power behind the lyrics and the performance make this collection of tunes essential to any true Rock and Roll Aficionado.  Lenny's talent shines brightly in Fields of Joy, Always On the Run and Stand By My Woman, right up front.  Closing with What the Fuck Are We Saying, the album is not shy on style and panache.  I love it.

I never got Lenny's first album, don't know why.  This was the first one I purchased.  When I originally got it, I got it on vinyl, and it blew my mind.  It was tough switching to digital, as it lost some of it's strength during the translation.  But, it's still a killer disc.

I made the collection a little more cohesive and inclusive, eliminating the demos and live tracks.  I strictly wanted an album of material that you could listen to without having to pull out the liner notes and figure out what was going on.

As for the cover, the original cover is an absolute classic.  It's perfect.  So, I just popped the single sleeves on the back and we're done.

Lenny Kravitz - Mama Said - 1991

New Order - Movement - 1981

I didn't purchase this album until my senior year in High School.  Reason being, for the most part, at that time in my musical tastes, I had problems with a lot of bands "first albums"  I don't care for the first albums of Depeche Mode, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Skinny Puppy, Smiths, Beatles, Rolling Stones, U2, Sugarcubes, Peter Gabriel, Cocteau Twins, Shamen and INXS.  This list goes on eternally.  So, getting me to purchase a debut album of any group is sometimes a challenge.

But, I got this album and had a good listen.  It seems to be a cross between Joy Division and New Order, rather than NO proper.  Every track is dark, and the vocals are deep and low.  It took a while, but their songwriting skills really took hold and I knew they had a winner with this one.

They also released a herd of singles and EPs around that time, which I have included in this set.  In some places the tracks work.  In other places they don't.  For the most part, I think this is probably as complete a set as you can get for the time period.  I also popped Turn the Heater On into the set, which I feel is something of a rarity.

The original US release to this album was white and burgundy, so I opted to try that one out instead of the traditional blue standard.  I think I like it better this way.  I've also seen a navy blue version, with white letters and yellow lines and dots that looks good too.  I also found this version below on deviant Art that I really liked, too.  But, I think it might be too much of a departure, so I will probably use it for one of the bootlegs later on.

New Order - Movement - 1981 

The Book of Love - Personal Compilation - 2016

This is one of my forever-evolving compilations that I originally intended as a gift to my wife, but has morphed into an expression of my soul and love for her.  I've had many many songs come and go from this set.  But, this is the most current.  There's probably a lot of songs you haven't heard on here.  Surprisingly, there is also a lot of cover songs as well.  It is impossible to tell you which songs are the best, as each song wouldn't be on this set if I didn't think it was the best.  They are ALL the best.

I encourage you to listen and see if you can find yourself in any of these tracks.  If you can think of a song that would fit in here, suggest it.  If you think a song doesn't fit and needs to be subtracted, then suggest that as well.  As I said, this is a forever evolving compilation, and it is never set in stone.

Also, if you have your own compilation of tracks that speak from your soul as well, feel free to include a link or a track listing in the comments for others to share.

I hope you enjoy this set.  It means a lot to me.

The Book of Love

Dandy Warhols - Welcome To the Monkey House - 2003

I'm gonna attribute my love for this album to the Duran2 reference primarily.  I think, after listening to the "original" version from 2009, that Nick Rhodes reworking really improved the groundwork the Warhols had laid.  Yes, NR's version was a departure from what the group had originally intended, but at the time, NR had taken his 20+ years of experience and took a mediocre album and turned it into a pophook extravaganza.

I got this album when my first son was 3 years old and played it continuously.  It got so my son started requesting the "banana songs" and we would dance and sing together while We Used to be Friends was playing loudly in the living room.  Now he only listens to Christian Inspirational Worship music, the likes of Tenth Avenue North, so I don't know where I went wrong, there....  Maybe it's his form of rebellion....

All of the b-sides are here, and it is obvious that NR hadn't worked with them.  With the exception of three of the cover songs, the rest of the b-sides are crap.  But, their version of Hells Bells really kicks ass.  Turn that MFer UP.  Best songs on the album are, We Used To Be Friends, Plan A, Call Me, Relax, Hells Bells, The Last High and Heavenly.  The Jean Genie cover really sucks, and it sounds like a demo or session.

Anyway, listen away, it's good for a party weekend or even jamming out while you're cleaning the kitchen on a Saturday morning.  Good Stuff, Lots of Fun, and Quality Listening!!!!!!

Dandy Warhols - Welcome To the Monkey House - 2003

They Might Be Giants - Lincoln - 1988

I'm going to make it through this post with trepidation, as emotionally, I am in a state of flux.  The woman I shared a cubicle with for the past two and a half years at work passed away in the night last night.  She suffered from what is called a hemorrhagic stroke and it killed her.  The guesstimate is that she didn't even see or feel it coming, and she was gone before she knew what was happening.  It's funny how you can be chatting and laughing and working with someone one day, and the next day they are gone forever, and you never even get to say goodbye.  She was only 53.  Well, goodbye, Cindy.  It was a pleasure working with you......

As I started the summer of 85, I remember seeing the video for Don't Let's Start by TMBG.  What a couple of weirdos, I thought to myself.  Not long after, Ana Ng was playing, and it definitely caught my attention.  But, the arrival of Flood was the turning point for me (and millions of others) that proved that TMBG were a definite talent force to be reckoned with.

Of course, as you all may well know, finding ALL of the material that these two gentlemen have produced is nothing short of impossible.  I would venture to guess that in their lifetimes, these two men have written and released more than a thousand songs.  I haven't done an accurate count, but my best guess would be possibly 1400-1600 songs.  If anyone has any more insight into this count, feel free to correct me on it.  I'd honestly like to know.

After Flood, I continued to listen to all of their material.  To this day, though, I find the Flood and pre-Flood songs to be the best.  

I feel that Lincoln is better than Flood in a number of ways.  The songs are written in a way that leads me to believe they were trying harder, trying so very hard to be that break-out artist.  The songs definitely seem more sincere.  I think that they knew they were on the verge of that major achievement and they wanted it bad.  They weren't desperate-sounding, just pushing themselves to the max to reach that goal.  And it shows.  The songs are all very heartfelt and full of energy and life.

Then, Flood gets released and it completely overshadowed all of their previous work.  I'm sure they didn't mind, it was growth and prestige and success.  Move on and carry on, as it is.

But, it's fun to listen to it all now....

They Might Be Giants - Lincoln - 1988

Temples - Sun Structures - 2014

Nothing too fancy today.  Just a tasty slice of British Psychedelic Rock.  Pretty good album from 2014 that sounds like it was made in 1967.  I collected the b-sides and one remix and tacked them on the end. 

Feeling rather withdrawn today, I don't have anything else to say.  I am making a few more covers, though, tonight.  I'm roughly two weeks ahead of schedule, so all is good....

Good night...

Temples - Sun Structures - 2014

Suede - Head Music B-Sides - 1998

I'm not sure if Suede has already released a B-sides companion to Head Music or not, but I'm throwing this out there anyway.  Great album, and the b-sides were quite special as well.

I don't have much to say other than this was another of those great albums that came out in 98 or 99, and I found it to be really special.  Tooling down Interstate 435 in Kansas City with this one freekin' blaring in the stereo, my ears almost bleeding.  They are great rockers, but have mellowed significantly since.  I'll appreciate what they did release, though.  And, you should too!

Suede - Head Music B-Sides - 1998

gusGus - This Is Normal - 1999

In 98 and 99 there were quite a few new albums that were very very good.  These albums exposed me to several new groups that I hadn't considered before, but now I'm glad to have heard them.  And in some cases, that one album was all I wanted to hear.  Gusgus was one of those groups.  I really like this album, but everything else by them has not caught my ear.  In fact, I usually cringe.

This Is Normal is the second album from Gusgus.  I got this one at the same time I got Kula Shaker and Suede's new albums, along with Fat Boy Slim's megahit album.  I was instantly drawn to the melody and vocals, along with their unique sound.  Lyrically... meh.  But, for the most part, it was awesome.  The mixes aren't bad, and there was only one b-side.  But, I threw on their cover of DM's Monument.

I bought this album when I was working at this really horrendous restaurant, and we'd play it in the kitchen.  It was the second worst restaurant job I've ever had, and I have horrible memories of the place, but I can still listen to this album and enjoy myself.  Don't you hate when there is music that you love, but your brain associates it with a bad time in your life?  Sometimes it's good times, and that's fine.  But, the bad times can totally ruin some great albums for you.  FOR INSTANCE, I cannot for the life of me listen to Cure's Bloodflowers album without thinking about killing myself and feeling that gnawing bite of dread in my chest.  This Gusgus album is almost there, but not quite....

gusGus - This Is Normal - 1999

gusGus - This Is Normal - Remixes - 1999