Yay! I'm back online! Amazing, isn't it?! To be honest, I'm rather impressed with how my technician from AT&T set up our system, and the programming seems to be a lot better, too. Still too many channels, though. It's almost overwhelming. Now, all I have to do is get a VPN and I'm back in business....
This one took me a little while to get used to. I got this after I had Wild and the Innocents, so the style is obviously very different. But, I now listen to it compared with a lot of later Erasure from the 2000s, and I can see them taking cues from this one. Although it's not my favorite album of theirs, it is definitely quintessential Erasure, by far. It's a wonderful listen, even though I don't have any recollection of it from my youth. Only my late teens and early 20s.
I never did like the layout of the 2-Ring Circus, so I've adjusted and added and taken out all of the live material. Again, the live material will be "realized" in the next couple weeks with my "Live Week". But, adding all the mixes really makes it whole. All of the mixes fit onto 2 discs, but there are still two "single remixes" that didn't fit, so I just tagged those on as a couple extra tracks. I actually had fun making the cover for the Remix discs, as I got to type along a curve, which I hadn't done before. I should do it again, sometime....
I've caught up a bit. I've got cover art made through the 24th of March, and I have scheduled out all my albums through mid-June. And, there's still a lot more than that still to come.
My new internet "provider" didn't come today. I don't want to libel any company out there, so I will just say that
some of the letters in their name are an A and there's a T, and also
another T. I called to see what the hell was going on, and they said that they would try and come next week, because today didn't work for them. I told them they would have to be here tomorrow, or I would lose my internet altogether. I am on the phone with them right now. They just rescheduled me for Monday. SO, I will be unable to post music until at least Monday.
This last Saturday, I was caught, once again, downloading via torrent. It was a TV show, so I thought it wouldn't be that big a deal. Well, I guess TV shows count as pirating, too.
My provider has kicked me off their system, but has given me access until Friday to find a new provider, which I have. I get my new provider installed on Thursday.
It would appear, though, that now my current provider has blocked my uploading. I can't upload anything. I have no problems downloading or doing things such as this. I only have issues when I try and upload.
I guess I'm in a forced break now until at least Thursday night. Sucks to be me.
So, go listen to all that cool-ass music I gave you, and have a blast. I'll see you when my service is back on line/
A wonderful album, I was originally drawn to this album because Debbie Smith was a member of the group. A big fan of Curve, I thought Debbie would bring along a little magic with her. Talented as she is, Echobelly remained Echobelly and Curve remained Curve. It would appear that she was little more than a session musician. Tell me I'm wrong. I also had a crush on Sonja, as she is stunning. What a cutie.
The album starts very strong and is fantastic through about the first 5 songs. Then, it drops off and the rest of the songs are slightly better than mediocre, a little better than good, but not great. The b-sides tacked on at the end are pretty good, too.
Looking at this Melody Maker cover, I specifically remember the Oasis/Blur controversy, and shocked that Noel even gave voice to something like he did. Think what he wants, you just don't say shit like that. Needless to say, I still love his work. Hope his attitude toward the subject has changed, though.
So, no more of me crying the fuckin' blues. I'm not "alright", but the edge has been dulled, and I move into manage mode, now. I want to thank those of you who took time to comment on my issues, and hope you all don't think I'm too crazy.
I discovered this band as I was building my Beatles cover song compilation last month. Their versions aren't spot on, and most of them are trying to be direct translations. But, there's something about their passion and hard work that I find endearing and inspiring. You can tell that they are having the best of times while doing this....
I know that not everyone is a fan of the Beatles. But, to understand Rock n Roll today, you have to realize that if it wasn't for the work that those four musicians did in a short span of 6 years, we wouldn't be where we are today. They inspired millions of people and introduced a format of writing and album-making that was unheard of before. And, as proof here, they still inspire people today.
AND... some more inane and boring soul-searching on my part. Skip the purple if you're not interested and head straight for the bottom.....
I'm still feeling pretty rough today.
It's not like I was happy and carefree, and this one incident sent me over the edge. I can handle A LOT of shit before I melt down. I just see my life as one crisis after another, overlapping and layered one on top of another. One crisis doesn't even get resolved before another one pops up. Sometimes it just gets too much to handle, and I crack. And after I crack, I fall into a depression that seems bottomless.
I know I have personal flaws that cause a lot of my issues...
1 - My Attention Deficit Disorder affects my ability to stay focused on any one project for very long, especially if I don't enjoy what I'm doing.
2 - I find it hard to filter my thoughts when I speak. Sometimes I'm either too direct and my words are cutting or hurtful, OR I just say stupid shit, as it's the first thing that pops in my mind. Usually, it's something that is totally the wrong thing to say at any given time.
3 - My tactfulness is for shit.
4 - I tend to over think things way too much, to the point of causing enough anxiety to make me sick.
5 - I have a history of making the wrong choices in my life.
6 - I can be lazy. Especially if I am unmotivated.
As for things outside of my control.... I can only think of one... Due to the economy, the job market in my city/state is horrible. My only skill sets that I have nurtured (sales) limit me in what I can do. Sales jobs are a dime a dozen, but most of them involve a lot of cold-calling which I suck at, or are selling products that are near impossible to sell and make a living at (which is why they are available to begin with. Nobody wants them.)
It's like a vicious cycle, and the best thing I can do is distract myself and escape into music, or politics, or my love for Star Wars, Japanese tokusatsu, Sci-Fi, fonts or cooking. I tend to let my troubles and distractions take priority over things in my life that are important like basic housekeeping, home repairs, looking for other jobs, and most importantly, time with my family. When I do spend time with my family, especially during these crisis modes, the underlying anxiety causes me to be on edge and short with people, especially when they don't deserve it. And there are times, more often than not, that I try and use humor to disguise my pain, but it's relatively transparent and obnoxious.
Hopefully, there won't be too many more posts like this. It has suddenly become a journal for me to get my feelings out, and try to understand them myself. If I can articulate them, maybe it will be easier for me to work with them, change them, overcome them. For the time being, at least it makes me feel a little better.
Boy, I really feel vulnerable right now. I've been airing my issues to thousands of people. It's like I posted a dick pic of myself or something. Fortunately, all I am to you is a computer screen. I'd be even more embarrassed if you actually knew me. Hopefully, maybe, in expressing my pain and problems, I'm helping people realize that they are not alone in the world. I know that I can't possibly be the only one who feels this way. And we all know that misery loves company.
Let's all hope these depressing posts end soon!!!!
I bought this one when I was hot on Electronica, in it's early years. The record store had filed it in their special Electronica or Techno section, and I was immediately taken by the cover. I knew nothing of Ryuichi or YMO. I just thought it was another artist out to make his name. Little did I know at the time, his name was already made.
There are a lot of good tracks on here, but I am always ALWAYS drawn to 7 Seconds. Stone cold classic. No real b-sides, and only enough room for a couple of mixes. But, definitely one worth having.
As for yesterday... (and today, unfortunately) I snapped when a minor problem was the last straw. If you aren't interested in my personal problems, then skip the green and go straight to the bottom.
When you're a kid, you always think that you're going to grow up and find this great job that you are going to excel at, and everyone is going to be impressed and rely on you and you will totally love what you are doing, so much that it won't even feel like work. Right. I was President of Future Business Leaders of America in High School. I was in advanced and gifted classes all through K-12. I majored in advertising and graphic design. I went to a national competition for graphic design.... And here I sit, with no college degree, selling janitorial supplies over the phone, shuffling delivery tickets and managing a 200.00 cash drawer. And, I might just lose my job, because I may or may not have made someone mad. I am tired of getting shit on by half-wits that I know I'm mentally superior to. I'm not being egotistical, it's just a fact.
I have worked myself through 3 different jobs in the past 9 years, only to lose them all. And they were all shitty jobs to begin with. I've burdened myself with two cars, a large house that I can't afford (even when my wife had a job we were just barely making ends meet) a rental property that is draining what little money we have left, and my wife still can't find a job. And, now I hear rumors that I may have pissed someone off at work, and I might lose my job over it. I hate the fucking job, with a passion, but, I can't afford to lose it, especially not now. How many of you know how miserable that is? Probably a lot, I know. On top of that, I do have ADD, which I try to make light of, but coupled with being a manic depressive, and having several other issues from my childhood that have fucked me in the head, it only makes things worse. It's funny, no matter what anyone ANYONE says about how great I am or what potential I have, my self-esteem is for shit. My self-loathing is fucking palpable. I also think the seasonal change alters my moods as well. Not the one where winter makes you depressed and sad, but the one like today, when I walked out on my front porch and it's 70 degrees out and the sun is shining in a cloudless sky, and I instantly feel like cutting my own throat. Thank god for medication. It's about the only thing that holds me together, along with a steady diet of prayer, hoping that someone up there is listening. I also have been to a shrink before. I went to him weekly for 3 years straight, and, at times I feel more messed up than before I started. This was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I'll admit, I'm not the most stable person out there, but, I'm not fucking crazy, alright? I haven't completely lost it. Just working through a very very bad patch.... I just thought I owed you all some sort of explanation, also because it's still plaguing me. And that's not even the problems that occurred several weeks ago, this is just from the last couple days.
Here's a few DJ Boxes for you tonight. Just some mind-numbing dance music, which is exactly what I need right now.
You know, when it rains it fucking pours in my fucking house. I thought that by this time in my life, approaching 50 (in five years, I know) I would have sorted myself by now. But, shit keeps stacking and life keeps piling and you feel like you're drowning and don't know which way is up. I want to get in my car and start driving and keep driving until I run out of gas, then start walking and keep walking until my legs can't support me anymore. I know running from my problems won't solve them, but that's all I feel that I can do. What's bad, is they're fucking problems that have haunted me my entire fucking god-forsaken life. If it weren't for the sake of my boys and my wife, I would have checked out a long time ago. Sometimes, I just hate living.
Yeah, I like this album, sure. But, tonight's post is specifically for my wife. She got this album and fell in love with it. I tried forever to avoid listening to it, but eventually I had to. Yes, I was impressed, and I like Sarah's other work, too. But, I'm posting this for my wife, as she has a "group orientation" at a potential job that really isn't what she wants. But, right now, it's all we have, and we have to put food on the table.
I love you, sweetheart. I know you'd sacrifice everything for your family. And, I'm incredibly grateful for it.
Forget the fact that it's old school rap. Just listen to the music. To me, it's 808 at their best. Well, maybe not their best, but damn good.
My version differs slightly from the Japanese deluxe version released 6 years ago. I don't have a couple mixes, and I didn't put Pump or More on as well. I stuck with what I have, as it's what I remember as a kid (is 19 a kid anymore?) Regardless, it's a great little album for 808.
Back on December 28th, I posted my deluxe version of PSB's Behavior, with the promise that I'd get to the mixes eventually. That time is now.
I had to stretch everything over three discs, and even put So Hard and How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously? on their own "cd singles" as there were too many different mixes to do otherwise. I'm pretty sure I got them all, but who knows. Again, they had so many pro mixes and amateur mixes, it's hard to tell.
SO, add these three on the backend of the official "Further Listening" version, and you should have it all. It makes for an interesting set.
Only a few small points to make on this little nugget. I had to post it, because it's very difficult to find online. And, it's also the last good album the Shamen ever made, even without the fabulous raps of Mr C. The original cover of the CD was made from hemp paper. Also, finding (or making) a decent scan of the album cover as it was intended, without looking like a scan, is very very difficult. I had to take a bad scan of the cover and literally redraw the entire graphic. Fortunately, it wasn't too horribly difficult. Lastly, I have always liked their parting message for the One Little Indian founder, Rick Birket. If you don't know what I'm talking about, do some research and I bet it will make you smirk a bit as well.
This was a very unique and interesting time in the history of what was called "Duran Duran". Yes, it had two of the original members, but it was closer in membership to Arcadia than Duran2, and the sound was way the fuck off. Way off.
I remember I was traveling for a restaurant chain between locations as a trouble shooter. I would go to various chain locations and "fix" their problems and move on to the next local. I was in Ames Iowa when this one came out. I remember getting the CD single from EB and being somewhat baffled. Shortly after, I got the album, and took several months memorizing and analyzing it from the various first note to the last beat, every second of every song.
At this time, the USA was knee deep in the remnants of grunge, and hip deep in this American "Alternative" music with bands that all sounded the same. You also had Electronica exploding all over the place, and RnB Hip Hop everywhere. Where was Duran2 to go? What were they to do? The music scene at the time was why we got an album like Medazzaland. They really didn't know who they were and were starting to imitate the music of the time, rather than defining it, like they did in the eighties.
There's really nothing wrong with the album. It's actually a very good album. It's just not Duran Duran. It's not Arcadia. It's not Powerstation or Missing Persons. I really don't know what it is. It's just not Duran Duran!!!
From the album proper, only two of the songs are worthless. The very first track, Medazzaland, and the last track, Undergoing Treatment. Can't stand either one of those. As for the rest of the songs on the album, they are all very solid, well written and well produced. Big Bang Generation and Electric Barbarella stand out as two of the better "fast" or "non-ballad" tracks. As for the ballads, you've got Out Of My Mind, Michael, Silva Halo, Midnight Sun and So Long Suicide that I really like. All in all, every song has it's own qualities that make it good.
As for the cover art, I vote this one as the WORST Duran2 cover ever, followed closely by Paper Gods. The artwork is atrocious. Absolutely appalling. Even though I am including material for two discs, I've only made a cover for the first main disc. I didn't have enough artwork that was reasonable to even make a cover for the second disc. Plus, the second disc is really a mish-mash of tracks left over from the main album. Some of them weren't good enough to put on the first album, like P.L.You and Plastic Girl. Most of the mixes really didn't mix well together, and really didn't match the style of the rest of the album. The demos and alternates are MEH, with the exception of So Long Suicide, which I liked better than the original. And then you have Niles and Simon with Do That Dance. O. M. G. No way that was going on the main disc. It's almost a joke.
Anyway, if you like Duran2 and haven't listened to this album, or haven't listened to it in a while, it's a nice little break from what you normally hear from them. It's different and unique, and worth the time.
Back in April of last year, I posted the mixes from this album. If you read that post, you would know the story and experiences I had around the time I originally purchased the album. Wonderful story, glorious times.... This is the very first CD I ever purchased, and I still have that exact same CD to this day. Although, it's not my listening copy anymore. I hung on to it for nostalgia's sake.
Due to the fact that I was young and didn't fully understand at the time that specific track arrangement meant something to the artist when an album is released, I did a lot of, shall I say, BOLD decisions when I arranged "my" album. It's reflected here. I still like to listen to it in this order.
Does ANYONE know if there are original mixes of Happiest Girl or Sea Of Sin out there? A 7-inch single mix or album mix? I think it would be good, if I could find them, if they exist, to include them on this mix rather than the remixes....
Obviously, I am still having some issues here at home. Dealing with them has monopolized my time, and also really puts me in the mindframe of not being able to even make a coherent post (evidence, my last post on Cyndi Lauper.) I don't want to air too much of my current dirty laundry (lord knows you guys know a lot of my past as it is) but, once I get through this, and given time, it will make an EXCELLENT story for my posts here. Until then, bear with me.... Thanks for your patience.
I'm sitting here looking at this post, and I have nothing to say. Really. Nothing good, nothing bad, nothing nothing. My brain is still thinking about work, and I have family making noise around me and I just made that post on my Cure entry from yesterday... And I can't think of a single damn thing to say.
......
Let's see. I've been binge watching "The 100" on Netflix and Star Wars "Rebels" on Disney XD (with my son on that one.) Last night for supper I made Baked Chicken and Wild Rice with Cream of Mushroom Soup. I've been trying to avoid listening to any of the political horse shite that's going on right now.... I didn't watch the Super Bowl. Hmmmmmm......
All I can say about CL that I haven't already said in my previous posts about her is that this album was popular when I first started listening to music seriously. It was girly and she had a squeekie voice, so she annoyed me a bit. I obviously grew to like and respect her later. She was like the good-girl Madonna. I remember her "Dad" was in the WWF for a while, and she showed up ringside once or twice. Funny stuff.
........
I have recently gone through the websites that I peruse looking for "New" new music. Like really new stuff. and I don't know half the groups out there. More than half. I don't recognize names, songs, nothing. I don't know any Lady Gaga songs, I don't know who this Thicke guy is, I haven't heard a Beyonce song, and I thought Justin Boober was still popular. Am I that old? Have I fallen out of the role of knowing the cutting edge of music and into the role of old man pining for better days? And, if I have, is that so bad?
Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed that ever since the internet started exposing people to more diverse musics, the radio has become sort of secondary. I feel that people are more apt to listen to Progressive Rock or 80s Jazz or Thrash Metal now, than they were 20 years ago. People aren't as dependent on what the radio dial tells them to listen to anymore. I'll say this, I haven't listened to FM radio in 20 years or more. I think the exposure to more styles of music has allowed a resurgence in styles that were dying out, like Glam Metal and Hard Rock. Artists are also able to garner exposure more through the internet without a label, sometimes, too. Now, it's not up to the labels to decide what people will listen to, as much as the reverse.
Anyway, just diarrhea of the mouth (or fingers in this case) Hope you enjoy Cyndi's first album.
So with Disintegration being my favorite Cure album, followed by Kiss Me x 3, then Three Imaginary Boys... I guess HOtD is my 4th favorite Cure album. It would probably slip a place or two if I added in Mixed Up and Japanese Whispers, but those technically aren't albums. As it is, when looking at the amount of work RS has released, being in 4th really isn't so bad. Better than being 4:13 Dream, which came in dead-fucking last on my list.
Best songs on the album are In Between Days and Push, two absolute pop hook songs, and A Night Like This. The opening guitar cords on Push awaken younger feelings and times, that almost seem like long lost friends coming back to visit. There's always a sense of forlorn and loss when I listen to this album, and I don't know why. Maybe because I loved being a teen, and now that's all gone......
Worst song on the album is Close To Me. Don't know why I feel this way, but I can't stand it. Don't like it now, didn't like it then, won't like it tomorrow, either.
I redid this "Deluxe" version, as the official version had too many live tracks and home demos on the bonus disc, and not a single remix or b-side. Is he serious?! Really? Come on, Robert. Half that crap no one really cares about, and you didn't even add anything extra on the album disc, either. So, I added the b-sides and mixes, and a few of the STUDIO demos, to make it more worthwhile. What I have here is definitely more in line with what I wanted/expected from a deluxe version.
The two demos I included - Lime Time and Mansolidgone - are definitely period, and would have sounded good on the album. Obviously, Lime Time (fabulous name) shared lyrics with Inbetween Days and seemed a tad too cheerful for the actual album. Mansolidgone (stupid name) was also a little too cheerful for the album, but also could have changed the face of the album all together. It sounds like a precursor to a Kiss Me track, reminding me a little of Hot x 3 and WCIBY? Both are great demos, just wish the lyrics and melodies had been filled out a little bit more. But, that's why they're demos, I guess.
The Wake was a Scottish group that I knew absolutely nothing about until I started exploring Factory Records back catalogue. The started around the same time as Joy Division was shifting to New Order. They have that same stark, minimalist Post Punk/Gothic sound that was the basis for New Order's first album. Of course, Movement is 100x better, but this is another take on the same theme, with some interesting melodies and instrumentation.
Unfortunately, I could not find a digital copy of this, so I had to rip it from Youtube and Mp3pm. The quality is better than you'd expect, but it's not the same as a direct rip. It was released on CD in 2001, and should be fairly easy to find. But, you won't have all the wonderful tracks that I've added.
Northern Uproar, an Oasis-wannabe band that I was pleasantly surprised with once I heard them. Made for and by a younger crowd, they still appeal to the Britrock lover in me. They only had a couple albums, and one of their members died in an auto accident, so I guess this is about all we'll see. A worthy listen, and will fit nicely in your Britrock category, whether in a folder on your computer or on the shelf on a disc.
So, another little slice of mediocre Madchester that I felt the need to post. An okay listen, not the greatest. A sign of the times that labels were willing to sign about any band who sounded like the Manchester sound. There were good, and there were bad, but there were a shit-ton in the middle. Just sort of there.
As it is, Flowered Up was mainly known for their spectacular hit Weekender, a mega track that personally lasted way too long. A good song, just went on for fucking ever. I mean, has anybody released an edited version of this that's less than 6 minutes long? I'd be apt to listen to that one more than dragging on like it does.
With all my bitching, it makes you wonder why I'm even posting this. I had a long, tough day. Coming home, I had a flat tire as I left work, so I had to change that. Then pick up the boys as my wife is still out of town. Now, I've got to make some supper, and put them to bed before I can even do anything else. At least one of them is 15, so I don't have to put him to bed, he can do that himself. It's the 5-year-old bastard that's going to be a handful for me. He's usually my wife's responsibility.
Tomorrow I get to sleep in, though, and I'll make some more covers, so I should get some energy back. And the wife will be home tomorrow night. Hooray! Maybe I'll "get some."
I was originally going to post this tomorrow night, but I listened to it tonight during supper, and I really thought it was great. I had a rough day at work, and felt really tired. My wife is out of town, so it's just me and the boys, and listening to this album while preparing our meal and then eating it, we all had a great time. It's happy, fun, carefree and well made. The Beloved have never let us down. This is them at their best.
Not much to say today, been busy. Have a great night!
Here is the second entry in the "I try it, you try it" post series. I don't know how I found these guys, or even heard them, but up until about mid-December I had no idea. I had never heard of them. Musically, I'd put them somewhere around as a very weak "Head On the Door" era Cure. Throw in some synth-pop, and some passive vocals.... I don't know. Melody-wise, things sound pretty good. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. It's something new to try out from an era past that you just might enjoy. Or, you can delete it if it insults your delicate senses and pollutes your refined ear drums. I'm going to hang on to it as just another little Post Punk album from the 80s.
