Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual - 1984

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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.

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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.

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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.

Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual - 1984

Cure - Head On the Door - 1985

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.

Cure - Head On the Door - 1985

The Wake - Harmony - 1982

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.

The Wake - Harmony - 1982

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

Flowered Up - A Life With Brian - 1992

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."

Flowered Up - A Life With Brian - 1992

 Remixes

The Beloved - Conscience - 1992

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!

The Beloved - Conscience - 1992

Celebrate Your Life  -  Outerspace Girl

Rock To the Rhythm Of Love  -  1000 Years From Today

Sweet Harmony

And a little something extra for good measure...

Sweet Harmony - the 2000s

Eleven Pond - Bas Relief - 1986

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.

Eleven Pond - Bas Relief - 1986