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