- David Bowie - The Next Day. Uneven. There are a bunch of interesting songs and a handful of songs that just fall flat. It's generally the slower ballads that don't interest me here; the rest is fun and funky. But, that's pretty typical of how Bowie's albums sit with me; even classics like Ziggy and Hunky Dory have a few clunkers. Scary Monsters, I can barely listen to. So far I'm liking this better than that. Some of sounds and little touches in these new songs recall older hits: guitar bits in Dirty Boys that remind me of Fame - but only a little. So, it sounds like a Bowie album.
Pretty good. - Bob Dylan - Tempest. This is the first time I've ever bought a new Dylan record. Wow. His voice is rough and gravelly. Musically... there are a few things I won't mind hearing, when he does his show here. But there are some things that really grate on me. The title track, for example, is a fourteen minute recitation of the Titanic story, over unchanging music - I swear the boat sinks a dozen times in those 40+ verses. The track before it is an eight minute recitation of a triple murder/suicide murder. The track after, a long ode to John Lennon. He steals, alludes, quotes, reworks and retells lyrics from ... everyone, which is interesting. But, on the whole, his lyrics today don't have anywhere near the zing of his lyrics from the 60s and 70s. That he's no longer the same verbal wiz is forgivable, but what wears me down is that he hasn't let up on quantity, even as quality has declined. Classics like "Tangled Up In Blue" and "Ballad Of A Thin Man" are long, but the words sparkle. Here, not so much. They just go on and on. I like most of the songs towards the front of the record (ex), but it drags at the end where the long songs bunch up.
Not my favorite. - Bob Dylan - World Gone Wrong. This one sits a lot better with me. They're all folk standards, recorded simply: just Dylan, his surprisingly deft guitar guitar playing, and some harmonica. Some of them feel a little long, but they don't even approach the grinding tedium (sorry!) of "Tempest". I hope this Dylan shows up for the show.
Better. - Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast / Piece Of Mind. Bought these during a couple bottles of Moinette blonde. The music is better than I remember, the lyrics worse. I didn't realize how progressive these guys were, at the time. And, frankly, I was more of a Judas Priest fan when I was 14; I liked Priest's harder, less-fussy approach. But, nearly thirty years later, I can appreciate how much of a monster Maiden was - how technically adept and how thunderous their music is. I even got over my "Paul Dianno was better than Bruce Dickinson" delusion: Dickinson is just an amazing vocalist.
A nice stroll down Hazy Memory Lane.
Y'all got anything new?
I’ve had the new Bowie album for a few weeks and still haven’t managed to listen to it yet. Thank Breaking Bad for that (2 episodes left, tonight’s the night!).
When not watching BB I have been listening to:
Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy
What a great record. I love the guys voice, I love the lyrics, I love the whole feel of this record. Shades of Neutral Milk Hotel but less fierce, more mellow. The album has a whole “black sheep of the family” theme running through it like a stick of rock. Highly recommended. I have since bought another of their records, “The Stage Names”, but Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have other ideas.
Atoms for Peace – AMOK
It’s Thom Yorke ffs, who fronts my most favourite band of all time, so chances are I wasn’t going to find much to dislike here. And it doesn’t disappoint and is stronger than 2006’s “The Eraser” by virtue of some real bass guitar, courtesy of Flea, and some guitars buried in the mix. Highlights are “Before Your Very Eyes”, “Dropped”, “Unless” and the simply Flea-tastic “Stuck Together Pieces”. I also really like the final title track which isn’t a million miles away from the final track on “The Eraser” and it really nags at you to like it. Three tracks have been released as singles or promos and they are the weakest ones of the lot.
Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
Thank you Cleek, thank you from the bottom of my heart, for introducing me to this f*cking brilliant record. I love it to pieces and am in real danger of out-playing it. Yes, it’s one of those. I’ve introduced a good friend to this and he is also blown away. It’s Spoon + 80s synths just as you described and it’s marvellous. I can’t fault it. If they ever tour the UK I will get tickets for every gig. Like a groupie. A GROUPIE!
Also been playing the most recent Queen record. Sorry, Muse. And been heavily into the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as their new album drops this month. The single, “Sacrilege”, is pretty good and has a video featuring the English model Lily Cole. Who is gorgeous. OMG. It’s soft porn.
And The National will be playing in London in November and my wife is a massive, massive fan so I will be trying to get tickets when they go on sale next week. They have a new album out in May which we are both very excited about. It features Sufjan Stevens amongst others, and she is practically orgasmic with anticipation as she is also a big fan of Mr Stevens.
So it’s all good really. I am off out tomorrow night with some very old friends who I haven’t seen in a long time, all of whom are _massive_ music nuts so I shall return laden with suggestions (much of which will be US indie stuff probably) and will try and remember to take notes in between shots of Sambuca.
Cheers!
Huh, I haven’t listened to “Tempest” yet. Reckon I will skip it. Mostly listening recently to the Memphis Jug Band and Mountain Station, neither of which will be news to you.
Some suggestions from my night out.
The Dry Season
Babes in Toyland
Eat Lights Become Lights
Katastrophe Wife