This is pretty much by the numbers post punk with agit prop lyrics about IRA prisoners, situationist politics and violence on TV. At one point he genuinely sings “Love’ll get you like a case of Anthrax and that’s something I don’t wanna catch”. The high point is probably the song about drugs (where he has a choice between Asprin and Paracetamol).
I think that this another case of mistaken identity. I assumed that Super Furry Animals were a novelty kids band, like the Wombles. However, they turn out to be a sort of Welsh psychedelic, shoe gazy, dubstep version of the Beach Boys with songs morphing from mellow piano introductions into glitchy electronica without pausing for breath. One track even features Paul McCartney chewing celery in the background. Enjoyably bonkers!
Brian Eno is probably best known for his iconic ambient albums and his work with some of the biggest names in rock music as a producer over the last fifty years. However, his solo albums are not to be missed. He had an amazing set of collaborators for this album including Robert Fripp, Robert Wyatt and even Phil Colllins playing drums on two tracks. Apparently over a hundred songs were recorded and whittled down to ten for the album over a two year period.
Going straight from Sonic Youth to Fleetwood Mac is like roaring down a highway on a loud bike and then suddenly slamming into a cushy pile of teddy bears, only to realize you're now stuck inside one of those arcade claw prize machines at the back of a small-town bar.
This is another classic album that I haven’t listened to all the way through before, although I knew most of the tracks especially that bit from The Chain which is the theme tune for F1 racing in the UK for some reason. The back story to this album is interesting too, with most of the band going through drug problems and divorces, and somehow still managing to produce a whole load of optimistic love songs. My highlight was Songbird, one that was new to me.
Remember the other day when I was surprised that the Black Crowes didn’t sound grungy and cynical? Well, I think that Sonic Youth must have got an extra helping to make up for it. They’ve got fuzzed out guitars, laconic vocals, thumping bass and lots of swirling feedback. I don’t think I listened to this at the time, but I liked it a lot. The highlight was Tunic (Song for Karen) which sounds like it was a direct influence on Dry Cleaning’s Magic of Meghan.
I am not diggin' today's #1001albums and even though I listened to this kind of music 15-20 years ago, I never got into #SonicYouth no matter how hard I tried.
Today I am not really in the mood for #1001albums )The Temptations), instead, I am gonna spin my first #BruceDickinson solo album (yes, really, I never listened to The Chemical Wedding).
The Mandrake Project sounds fantastic, and for some reason Bruce sounds waaay better here than on the last Maiden album, but listen for yourself:
I missed two #1001albums in a row, didn't find the time for a heavy metal album off #FletchsFridayReleases list and one of my fingernails is inflamed.
But I am back on track to reach my getting in shape goal for the month and I had frozen leftover xmas cookies as cheat treat today, so I got that going for me, which is nice.