- Leon Redbone - Champagne Charlie. This was his third record (1981), and like the two before it, it's a collection of ragtime, Dixieland, jazz, blues, country and standards from the early 20th century - all done in Redbone's trademark spare and laid-back style. It's not quite as fantastic as his first, "On The Track" - for that matter, neither is his second. But I think it's really just a matter of song selection - the performances here, and on "Double Time", are good - he just used all his best material on that first record.
Three Yen: ¥¥¥
- Tokyo Police Club - Champ. This one is a little more mellow than their previous releases. Keyboards do more of the driving, letting the guitars sit back a bit. But, it's still full of that quirky TPC charm: twitchy, jumpy, a little off-kilter, with smart lyrics and bristling all over with little hooks.
Three Yen: ¥¥¥
- Robyn Hitchcock - Moss Elixir. I played the hell out of this one when it came out, in 1996 - so much that I haven't wanted to hear it at all for the past 13 or 14 years. But, on a whim, I played it while making dinner the other night and was pretty much blown away. As it was playing, I was surprised that I remembered all the words and all the music, but was even more surprised that I'd forgotten how good the songs were. For this one, he replaced the busy, new-wavey, Egyptians with Deni Bonet's violin and some occasional horns, and that let the unusually-straightforward lyrics take center stage. There are a lot of stories here, and some of them sound very personal, tragic even (ex. "The Speed Of Things"), but Hitchcock is still opaque and clever enough to stop his words from becoming maudlin. There are a couple of weak spots (ex. never much liked "Filthy Bird"), but all in all, it's a bright spot in the list of his often-spotty 90's albums.
Four Yen: ¥¥¥¥
ok-cleek
Man I had a dreadful flight
Moss Elixir always seems like a companion record to Storefront Hitchcock to me. I was absolutely crazy about it when I first heard it — not actually that long ago, three years or so — and now I’m happy when it comes on the shuffle, but it’s not my go-to record for RH listening. Absolutely love two songs on it, “DeChirico Street” and “Alright Yeah” — but there are versions of both songs that I like better than the album version (“Alright Yeah” off of Storefront, and “DeChirico Street” off of a concert tape). Some other songs I like a whole lot “Sinister”, “Heliotrope”, “I am not You”, “Man w/a Woman’s Shadow”; but “Beautiful Queen”, “Devil’s Radio” (usually), “Filthy Bird” fail to move me.
“DeChirico Street” is possibly the catchiest thing he’s ever done.
Just got the new Arcade Fire album which I am most looking forward to hearing…
“catchiest thing ever” is approximately how I feel about “Alright Yeah”. Did I ever tell you my “DeChirico Street” story?
Have you heard the version of “De Chirico St.” on “Mossy Liquor”? (The vinyl-only release of alternate takes) — Not as strong as the one on the record but it’s got some beautiful fiddle work on it. (“Mossy Liquor” also features a version of “Alright Yeah” sung in Swedish.)
yeah, i’ve heard it, but not in many moons. that’s one of the things i need to get around to ripping to mp3.
“Did I ever tell you my “DeChirico Street” story?”
awesome :)
“Just got the new Arcade Fire album which I am most looking forward to hearing…”
i’m still trying to get into AF… not sure what my hangup is.
Random 10 over here — have you listened to Departure Lounge?
have you listened to Departure Lounge?
haven’t.
and when i tried to… all their MP3 links are brokedown.
will try iTunes / Amazon.
The Too Late to Die Young CD, which I am listening to now, is available on remainder from Amazon for a penny — easily worth 1000 times that.