Sting - Mercury Falling - Disc Two - 1996

My best friend got Sting's Mercury Falling as a Christmas gift for my wife and I on our first Christmas.  My wife and I had been married about 6 months, and he was still struggling through medical school, so he was pretty much broke.  We appreciated that he got this for us.

Unfortunately, this was probably my least favorite Sting album for a long, long time.  I was very disappointed when it came out, after his three previous gems.  To me, this was adult contemporary elevator music.  And, in 1996, the music scene was going wild with Electronica, Britrock, American Alternative, and I'm sure some other genres that I didn't care too much about.  All I'm saying is that the music choices at that time were broad and all extremely good, Especially for someone in their mid to late 20s.  So, to decide to listen to this....  well, it wasn't high up on my list.

His Brand New Day album really changed things for him, and for me, and my wife and I saw him the summer of 2000 for that glorious tour.  The best show we saw that summer, beating out both Duran2 and Cure.  In fact, sweaty Simon and Fat Bob could hold a torch to him.  (And, Simon really was sweating through his t-shirt, leaving dark sweat marks in his pits and on his belly.  Gross.)

Having changed my thoughts on Sting after Brand New Day, I went back and gave Mercury Falling another shot.  Yes, the album isn't the most exciting one out there.  But, it is sincere, well-written, performed gracefully and succinctly, and showed Sting's growth and maturity.  The song hooks were subtle yet lasting, the mood was one of happiness and sadness, but ultimately human.

I was going to do the original album with the extra tracks, but it just worked out better to do everything BUT the album, so a disc two to be precise.  Just line this disc up beside/behind the original, and now you have everything.

Yes, this may not have been one of Sting's best ones.  But, it's still better than most out there, and still a necessity for any Sting collection.  He's not just Fields of Gold....

Sting - Mercury Falling - Disc Two - 1996

Bjork - Post Remixes - 1995-96

Another random post (no pun intended.)

I felt like posting this last night, but I held off, hoping to save this one for when I came back, working on building my buffer again, and wanting to keep my "break" up so I would be 100% when I came back.  But, I woke up this morning and this is the first thing I thought about, so I felt compelled to bring you something new.

I had really enjoyed Debut when it came out, so I really had high hopes for the original album when I knew it was going to be released.  You can read about my thoughts on it here.  Although I did like the album, I wasn't 100% impressed.  That's okay, it was more for my fiance than anything.

This album had 187,943 remixes.  Of course I'm being facetious, but it did have an awful lot.  And the singles, not limited to one version, came out in twos and threes, with a host of variations between.  It made collecting them that much more exciting, and made Bjork a hell of a lot of money, I'm sure.  Quite alright.  I've always been about what's NOT on the album more than the album itself (hence, this blog.)  AND, I did enjoy (again, no pun intended) these singles immensely.  

I only put my ultimate favorites on here.  I could have easily filled three discs, but a lot of the mixes were only marginally good.  And there was a fuckload of Army Of Me mixes that I just couldn't get into.  I mean, a Beastie Boys remix of Army Of Me?!  That's like bacon and ice cream, to quote Lou Reed.  It just don't work. There was a lot of good mixes, though, and I had to be selective on what I wanted on this mix so I could include them all, and still have it flow smoothly.

The cover I used for this compilation was actually supposed to be the original cover to Post.  The reason why they chose not to use it escapes me right now, but that's why we have Google.  Go look it up if you're interested.  I will say, upon making the cover for this, I felt that it captured more the feel of Debut than it did Post, so I figure in some sense they may have changed it to show some growth or separation from what she had previously done.

So, I'm planning on officially coming back on Friday, June 2nd, and I will be posting two great albums then, and another on Saturday the 3rd.  After that, I will be posting every Tuesday and Friday evenings, so you can mark your calendars.  For those of you in Europe, more than likely, you will be needing to check me out on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, unless you feel the need to be looking in on what I've put up at 2 or 3 in the morning.  If you choose to do that, maybe you should get some help because the shit ain't that good.

Bjork - Post Remixes - 1995-96 

Suede - Coming Up - 1996 - Already Been Deluxed!

 Already Been Deluxed - Day Five - Suede - Coming Up - 1996

Sorry for the late post.  My parents are in town for the holiday, and we just left the hotel where they're staying.  Had a big elegant supper at a fancy restaurant called Chili's.  Then, we went to their hotel to go swimming in a pool that was slightly bigger than my bathtub, with 12 fat women and 57 screaming kids....  Tomorrow should be better.

Anyway, this is Suede's third album, and the first with their new guitarist, Richard Oakes.  This is where they got really good.  I think this is when most Americans heard of them.  Sad, I couldn't have been in on the ground floor, but better late than never.

This one has every possible recording out there, then some more.  This collection cannot be topped.  I would have arranged the songs differently in my own version, but I also felt that this way is their way, and to rearrange for my own benefit doesn't mean others would like it, too.  So, take it or leave it.

With it's fantastic Pop music introduction, this album is sure to please everyone.  If you haven't already acquired this wonderful album, now's your chance.

CD1   CD2

Orbital - In Sides - 1996 - Already Been Deluxed!

 

Already Been Deluxed - Day Four - Orbital - In Sides - 1996

This was really a tough one for me to decide.  I couldn't decide whether it was already deluxed (as it would've been from day one) or if it was an album better suited for next week's Nothing Extra theme.  As it does have the Box single, and the additional Macro-Head track, I rolled the dice and put it in this week's theme.

I personally feel that this is Orbital's best and most cohesive album from their entire catalog.  My wife and I had just been married when this one came out, and it brings back the joys and pains of that first year her and I had, as we sorted our new life out and put it together with each other.  I remember listening to the Box single while laying on my couch.  From beginning to end, it put me into a trancelike state.  And when the final mix came on with Allison and Grant, it was like a snap back to reality and the song took on a surreal aspect.  Wonderful.

All that aside, if you listen to the album, seriously and with all of your attention, from beginning to end, you'll see that the album is absolutely magical.  The only single we got from this beauty was The Box, but I would have seriously considered Out There Somewhere, as well.  It's the best track(s) on the album.  But, a 24-minute song might be a little tough to release as a single.  And editing it would ruin it's overall effect.  AND, I refuse to count The Saint/The Sinner as part of this album.  It just isn't.  It's not a bad single, it's just definitely not part of this album (and neither is the LIVE stuff they released with it later...)

If you haven't already heard this, (and I'm sure most of you already have) then you're missing an absolutely fabulous masterpiece.  It's pure gold.

Orbital - In Sides - 1996

 

Shamen - Hempton Manor - 1996

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.

Shamen - Hempton Manor - 1996

Northern Uproar - Self-Titled - 1996

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.

Don't dismiss them, have a listen....

Northern Uproar - Self-Titled - 1996

Republica - Self-titled - 1996

This was one of the bands my wife took a liking to, and I grew fond of it as time went by.  It isn't the best album, but it's a fun listen, and there's a couple really cool mixes on it.  They had one more album after this, and Saffron did a guest vocal with Robert Smith on that one Cure song Just Say Yes.  Too bad they didn't release any more material than that....

My wife and youngest son are out of town this week, as my wife is off looking for work.  She's still not found a job, and her unemployment runs out in a month.  So, it's my oldest son and I, and he likes spending time in his room alone (teenager), so I should be able to get a lot of work done here on the covers.  I'm actually making a folder of albums I haven't posted yet, so I can see how much longer I can keep this thing going.  Hopefully, I can fill it up....  can you ever "fill up" a digital folder? 

Republica - Self-titled - 1996

Electronic - Raise the Pressure - Disc II - 1996

When Electronic first released Raise the Pressure, I will admit I was a little disappointed.  After their stellar "debut" in 1991, this one lacked the creativity, diversity and spontaneity the first one had.  It came out at the same time as PSB's Bilingual release, and after Very, I felt the same about that one as well.  I don't know if it was the time period that they came out, or if they had grown tired, or if I was even expecting too much. These two released lacked the fire of their predecessors had.

As with Bilingual, I listened to this one repeatedly.  They both were still in constant rotation at home and in the car.  And, over time, I learned to love them and hear the creative nuances and finesse that only these two groups could bring.  Electronic's album really hit home with me, not in the singles, but in the album tracks and b-sides.  That was where you could really hear the expertise that both Sumner and Marr had.  The magic that the two of them shared was like no other.  Honestly, though, I would have preferred a little more on Johnny's guitar, but that's beside the point.  And, as for Bernard, his singing was exceptional, as always.

There were too many b-sides and non-album tracks to make one disc with them and the album, and a second disc with just the remixes.  So, here you have DISC 2.  Load this puppy right behind the album, and you'll be set.  I also wanted to try and use the For You single sleeve as the cover of this one, but none of the pics I had of them were clear enough, and if I tried to fix it, you could totally tell and it looked stupid.  Still, eventually, I would like to make a font of that typeface on the cover (unless someone out there already has it and would like to share with me) because it's fabulous, and I can think of a dozen projects I'd like to use it on.

Tomorrow is the first day of Compilation Week, we'll see you then...

Electronic - Raise the Pressure - Disc II - 1996

Carl Cox - At the End of the Cliche - 1996

As I said in the Earl Grey post, I was unaware of Carl Cox's own label Worldwide Ultimatum.  I had been searching for his mixes, as I had always been a fan of them while collecting other artists tracks.  Little did I know, he had a 5-year label with some really wonderful sounding material.  This collects his entire first album, and the mixes that go with it.  The covers, also by Me Company are some of the finest looking covers they produced, in my honest opinion.

That pretty much sums up Techno week.  I'm sure most of you are rather glad it's over.  I understand.  As I said to Mr P. Randy, it's not everyone's cup of tea.  I have one more post tomorrow that I like to lump in with Techno, and you all can tell me whether it is or not.  We'll see.

No more special weeks, though, until mid-January.  I will have 5 more posts starting tomorrow, then take time off for Christmas.  Then, I'll be back for 3 more posts, then off for the New Year.  I hope you all stick around for some more fun....

Carl Cox - At the End of the Cliche - 1996

Carl Cox - At the End of the Remixes - 1996 

Cure - Wild Mood Swings - 1996

Again with the dumbass watermarks.  Can't stand that shit.

SO, here's the first album in which Robert Smith started to lose it.  This is where I decided that maybe the Cure would be better off releasing EPs for the rest of their careers rather than releasing albums.  There are quite a few good tracks on this album, but I also noticed that a lot of the b-sides were better than some of the album tracks.  In fact, my favorite song from these album sessions is the b-side It Used To Be Me - Best ever song.

Anyway, this album came out shortly before my wife and I got married.  I was really excited, because I really liked Wish (but not as much as Disintegration and Kiss Me3 and HOtD) so I was anticipating a great new experience with this.  The opening track kicks ass, Club America seemed okay, but a little weird lyrically, and then it started falling apart around The 13th.  That song really really sucks.  Can't stand it.  It wanders in and out for most of the album, then, with the occasional obligatory "smash hit" pop song like Mint Car.  But, then it closes weakly.

I knew then, that the era of Cure greatness had passed us by.

I've added the bonus track Ching Chang Chong (Which people had mistaken for a Bloodflowers demo) and it seems to help things a little.  I had to mix the b-sides into the album, just to try and salvage it.  As I said, the b-sides seemed better than the album tracks, so I hope that having them interspersed will help things.  You be the judge.

All being said, it IS the Cure, so I can't help but collect it and listen to it, and even love it a bit.  It just wasn't as good as I thought it should've been.  But, who am I to judge.

Also, extra disc of mixes...  See you all tomorrow.

Disc One
I accidentally zipped an incomplete recording of
Ching Chang Chong
so use this one...

Disc Two 

Mix Disc 

Lightning Seeds - Dizzy Heights - 1996

My favorite of all the Lightning Seeds albums, and possibly my favorite of all of Broudie's work, Dizzy Heights is a definite must-have for any serious Post Punk collection.  His writing and pop hooks are incredible, and the performance is exceptional.

This was a find of mine that happened mysteriously, as I didn't know it had been released.  I came across it in a closeout bin at the music store several years after it had been released.  I had his previous albums, but I hadn't been following him, so this one slipped by.  I snatched it up, and then scoured the internet for the singles (pre-Discogs, I think I was shopping on GEMM a lot.)  I didn't have everything until about 2009.

Not much more to say than that Broudie is simply brilliant, and everything he plays with turns into a classic.  It's unfortunate that he's only recognized among a small group of aficionados, such as ourselves, and not more mainstream.... 

This is just the album and the b-sides, fitting in at about an hour and seventeen minutes, filling the disc perfectly.  The mixes aren't bad, and I might pull those out later.  But, as an album, this stands well as it is.  I even like his version of Be My Baby....

Lightning Seeds - Dizzy Heights - 1996

Everything But the Girl - Walking Wounded - 1996

My wife and I had been married about 6 months when this album came out in the winter of 1996.  We had gone to Blockbuster Music (remember that?!) and she had listened to it at the listening station and decided to buy it.  I thought it sounded alright, but it was more her than me.  Just like the Bjork Post album, after repeated listening in the car, I fell in love with it.

Unfortunately, the album doesn't have any b-sides, but there are a host of mixes.  I put the best on here, enough to fill up a disc, and slapped a nifty new cover on it using a random "tilt shift" picture from the internet.  I think I hit the nail on the head with it.

At the time, Drum n' Bass hadn't hit full swing, so I wasn't overtired of hearing it.  In fact, it was so new to me, I really enjoyed the sound of it, and found a lot of these mixes to be better than the album. 

I will eventually post mixes from Temperamental, but it's unfortunate that after that they split and their solo work has been less than good.  In fact, it's been rather lackluster and boring. 

Regardless, their shift to Electronica was a smart move and it made an extremely bright moment in their musical careers.

Everything But the Girl - Walking Wounded - 1996

Cocteau Twins - Milk & Kisses - 1996

Last post of the day, I bring you my SECOND favorite album by the Cocteau Twins.  Heaven or Las Vegas is my favorite.  This one is Milk and Kisses.  It's sad that it ended up being their last, as I feel it was their most cohesive in years, especially after the drama surrounding Four-colour Cafe.  The two singles were perfect pop hooks, and the rest of the album meshed beautifully.  Even the b-sides worked!

I prefer the remaster cover to the actual cover.  And, I don't know if there is an a-side/b-side, so I placed all the b-sides at the end of the disc.

It's a really warm album.  I was just listening to it right before I started writing this, and they are perfect!

Cocteau Twins - Milk & Kisses - 1996