I have noticed in myself a recent trend towards listening more to classical music rather than other sorts, and so, as Mrs Marcopolovitch was away for the weekend, I took the opportunity to indulge myself. I set out to remind my subconscious that there is real quality outside the classical arena (and have a few beers).
I started with Portishead then Talking Heads, Lucinda Williams, Tom Waits, Linda Thompson, ending up with a different Lucinda album (Blessed). But then it was a bit too late to start with Kirsty McCol. (Whether classical or no, I always end up at the more emotional end of the spectrum.)
Well, my conscious, at least, is convinced. Let's see what happens. Has anyone else had a similar experience (particularly later in life!)?
Posted on: 07 July 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Tindersticks 'Ypres' is a minimalist classical album produced to soundtrack the new WWI museum in Ypres where it plays on a continuous loop. Mournful and deeply sombre but in a way quite inspiring.
Not everyone's taste for sure, but quite something.
I love recent Leonard Cohen but actually I think he is wryly funny rather than glum. If you like that style try Bill Cllahan, especially 'Dream River'. Great album. Emotional but with wit too. Previous albums are also excellent.
For something more countrified The Handsome Family are a blast and one of my slightly eccentric pleasures. This married couple produce albums with a fairly classic country sound but with grimly poetic subjects. If you can find the track 'After We Shot The Grizzly' online somewhere you will see what I mean. Blackly comic.
Willard Grant 'Regard The End' is a brilliant 'southern gothic' country album. Rest of their back catalogue a bit patchy.
Bruce
Posted on: 08 July 2015 by TomK
Bruce I agree about Leonard Cohen. Who can forget his comment on Live in London.
"The last time I was here, I was 60 years old . . . just a kid with a crazy dream."
To me that's funny.
It's also a wonderful album.
Posted on: 09 July 2015 by joerand
When I play Nirvana's music, I get an innate sense I'm listening to tragic music, especially given Kurt Cobain's ultimate fate. Still, I enjoy their music immensely. I find it uniquely genuine and the raw, visceral energy is inescapable.
On the other hand, I'll give a rare listen to The Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. It's a double CD with a couple of great tracks, but tough to get through both discs as a whole due both to Billy Corgan's voice and the overall depressive/oppressive sound. It goes beyond tragic to me, yet was a Number 1 charter and has sold over 10 million copies.
Posted on: 10 July 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Knowing the arc of an artist such as Cobain certainly colours the experience of the music, even when it is not inherently dark. Kirsty MaColl does that for me. Her songs have a superficially jolly style but often have a tinge of sadness that is heightened by her demise (at a time when she was as happy as she had ever been). 'Days' breaks my heart every time.
Johnny Cash's last couple of American albums have it too, the sense of a great voice at the end of it's life. There is a moment on 'Hurt' when his voice cracks up a bit that I find quite mesmerising-especially in view of the lyrics.
Bonnie Prince Billy can make sad and emotional lyrics that really bite. The track 'Missing One' from Lie Down In the Light is 2 minutes of bleak and yet quite uplifting grief. A desert island track for me.
My wife used to moan I had too much sad music!
Bruce
