Great weekend of new music
Posted by: greeny on 13 October 2003
Just a quick note to encourage anyone to buy any of the albums below.
When I buy a batch of music I tend not to listen to it all at once but feed in 2 or 3 albums a week, sometimes at weekend I do a couple more etc. Anyway I bought a batch of 20 odd a couple of weeks ago, and as usual some have proved more successful thank others, the weekend before last I listened to Bell X1 - Music in Mouth and Ed Harcourt - Maplewood for the first time and was quite disapointed (though Bell X1 has grown a bit since). However this weekends efforts have all been a huge success leaving me with that happy, can't wait to get home and get the hiFi back on, feeling.
Here are the albums responsible.
Elbow - Cast of Thousands.
This has been talked about elsewhere, but I've listened to this 4 or 5 times through the weekend and it's just brilliant. I have their 1st album and although it's good it just didn't scream Play Me in the same way this does. Tracks 5 and 6 are two of the best of the year. The album could do with finishing 2 tracks earlier, the last 2 tracks being relatively weak, but overall a huge success.
Calexico - Hot Rail
Feast of Wire has been just about my favourite album of the year (elbow may now be challenging that), this is their 2000 effort and it's nearly as good. Similar to Feast of Wire with Mexican tinged acoustic and brass, spaghetti western-esque in feel. Not quite as varied perhaps, but anyone with a likeing for Feast of Wire should definately give this a go.
Solomon Burke - Don't Give up on Me.
This was released last year, won a grammy and was Mojo Album of the year. I don't know any of Soloman work, but this is a fabulous album. It's made by his voice, everthing a Soul singer should be with such feel and character (maybe not as powerful as some I guess). But I also love the arrangements and songs which I thing work beautifully.
Supper Furry Animals - Phantom Power
OK so I'm a Furry's fan, and their latest effort has done nothing to change that. Maybe not as quirky (or proggy) as Rings around the world and ultimately not quite as good as that (my favourite Furry's album). But it's still packed with great tunes, interesting arrangements and plenty of ideas.
Makes it all worthwhile when you hear some great albums for the first time!!!
When I buy a batch of music I tend not to listen to it all at once but feed in 2 or 3 albums a week, sometimes at weekend I do a couple more etc. Anyway I bought a batch of 20 odd a couple of weeks ago, and as usual some have proved more successful thank others, the weekend before last I listened to Bell X1 - Music in Mouth and Ed Harcourt - Maplewood for the first time and was quite disapointed (though Bell X1 has grown a bit since). However this weekends efforts have all been a huge success leaving me with that happy, can't wait to get home and get the hiFi back on, feeling.
Here are the albums responsible.
Elbow - Cast of Thousands.
This has been talked about elsewhere, but I've listened to this 4 or 5 times through the weekend and it's just brilliant. I have their 1st album and although it's good it just didn't scream Play Me in the same way this does. Tracks 5 and 6 are two of the best of the year. The album could do with finishing 2 tracks earlier, the last 2 tracks being relatively weak, but overall a huge success.
Calexico - Hot Rail
Feast of Wire has been just about my favourite album of the year (elbow may now be challenging that), this is their 2000 effort and it's nearly as good. Similar to Feast of Wire with Mexican tinged acoustic and brass, spaghetti western-esque in feel. Not quite as varied perhaps, but anyone with a likeing for Feast of Wire should definately give this a go.
Solomon Burke - Don't Give up on Me.
This was released last year, won a grammy and was Mojo Album of the year. I don't know any of Soloman work, but this is a fabulous album. It's made by his voice, everthing a Soul singer should be with such feel and character (maybe not as powerful as some I guess). But I also love the arrangements and songs which I thing work beautifully.
Supper Furry Animals - Phantom Power
OK so I'm a Furry's fan, and their latest effort has done nothing to change that. Maybe not as quirky (or proggy) as Rings around the world and ultimately not quite as good as that (my favourite Furry's album). But it's still packed with great tunes, interesting arrangements and plenty of ideas.
Makes it all worthwhile when you hear some great albums for the first time!!!
Greeny,
Don't be discouraged by the lack of response. As you so rightly point out, this forum can use all the help it can get. You have no way of knowing how worthwhile your initial post was. For example, just one of the 140 hits on your thread was me, and I felt sufficiently inspired (because the other music in your list proved that we were in simpatico) to go to Amazon and listen to some samples from the Solomon Burke album. I didn't respond because I didn't feel that I had anything constructive to add to the discussion (apart from "I agree" and "thanks").
Anyway, I agree, and thanks.
Don't be discouraged by the lack of response. As you so rightly point out, this forum can use all the help it can get. You have no way of knowing how worthwhile your initial post was. For example, just one of the 140 hits on your thread was me, and I felt sufficiently inspired (because the other music in your list proved that we were in simpatico) to go to Amazon and listen to some samples from the Solomon Burke album. I didn't respond because I didn't feel that I had anything constructive to add to the discussion (apart from "I agree" and "thanks").
Anyway, I agree, and thanks.
Oh Greeny - cheer up mate! When I post to thread, it usually kills it stone dead anyway, so you wouldn't want me here 
I saw Elbow last year and they bored me rigid. I have a bit of a block with slow mournful songy type things (coldplay, Sade), but that appears to be just me. As for the rest of it, I don't know what they are on about here half the time. And I'm sure David Slater is either buying for professional/work purposes, or he is a complete nutter How many hours in the day are there??
David - I think nutter
(in the nicest possible way of course).
I saw Elbow last year and they bored me rigid. I have a bit of a block with slow mournful songy type things (coldplay, Sade), but that appears to be just me. As for the rest of it, I don't know what they are on about here half the time. And I'm sure David Slater is either buying for professional/work purposes, or he is a complete nutter
How many hours in the day are there??David - I think nutter
(in the nicest possible way of course).Minky and Greeny,
i thought it was just me posting and not getting much in the way of responses - but i feel somwhat relieved it's affecting others also...
i thought it was just me posting and not getting much in the way of responses - but i feel somwhat relieved it's affecting others also...
Wow. I don't look at the forum for a few days and suddenly one of my threads gets 10 responses.
I was probably feeling a bit depressed last week having written quite a few comments on the music room and, as Rasher says, managing to kill the thread stone dead. It's good to know that at least it's not just me
I've got to admit I do try to read most music room threads and comment where I feel I can add something, but: classical's out; many threads do seem relatively obsquire (which is not a problem but unless the music is related to something I do know unlikely to be useful, I know that several of you (Nick) do try to do this); I don't read the 'Last album' thread anymore 'cos it's too big and I'm I only recognise 1/20 of Mr Slater's lists anyway
Anyway onto the Comments:
Elbow.
Obviously I've only just started listening to this so i Can't comment of longevity, but I still like it very much, I can certainly see the 'boring' argument though. Still in my top few of the year!. As for James similarities, I agree, I actaully prefer Millionaries over Laid though.
Soloman Burke.
Thanks for the comments Mike, As I stated I haven't really heard any of his other stuff, of course if I compaired I might say this album is not his best, but as a one off it's great. Also as I said his voice seemed to lack power, you say the recording is compressed, you are probably right, but even so I think the character in the voice comes through. I may need to try some of his other stuff (though I tend not to like best of's )
Willard Grant Conspiracy
Yes Regard the End is a very good album (I mentioned this in a thread a couple of months ago), but it doesn't have the Mexican/Jazz feel of Calexico, but similar in some ways. Anyone heard any other of their albums??
[This message was edited by greeny on MONDAY 20 October 2003 at 13:09.]
I was probably feeling a bit depressed last week having written quite a few comments on the music room and, as Rasher says, managing to kill the thread stone dead. It's good to know that at least it's not just me
I've got to admit I do try to read most music room threads and comment where I feel I can add something, but: classical's out; many threads do seem relatively obsquire (which is not a problem but unless the music is related to something I do know unlikely to be useful, I know that several of you (Nick) do try to do this); I don't read the 'Last album' thread anymore 'cos it's too big and I'm I only recognise 1/20 of Mr Slater's lists anyway
Anyway onto the Comments:
Elbow.
Obviously I've only just started listening to this so i Can't comment of longevity, but I still like it very much, I can certainly see the 'boring' argument though. Still in my top few of the year!. As for James similarities, I agree, I actaully prefer Millionaries over Laid though.
Soloman Burke.
Thanks for the comments Mike, As I stated I haven't really heard any of his other stuff, of course if I compaired I might say this album is not his best, but as a one off it's great. Also as I said his voice seemed to lack power, you say the recording is compressed, you are probably right, but even so I think the character in the voice comes through. I may need to try some of his other stuff (though I tend not to like best of's )
Willard Grant Conspiracy
Yes Regard the End is a very good album (I mentioned this in a thread a couple of months ago), but it doesn't have the Mexican/Jazz feel of Calexico, but similar in some ways. Anyone heard any other of their albums??
[This message was edited by greeny on MONDAY 20 October 2003 at 13:09.]
Well Bruce , I'm off to get Laid as I have a thing against Best of's.. Thanks for that.
, I'm off to get Laid as I have a thing against Best of's.. Thanks for that.quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
Well Bruce
Nothing to do with the jazz fusion girl, I hope
Greeny:
I love the Solomon Burke album. Compressed or not, the emotion comes through.
Calexico have been recommended so many times here that it's really about time I got hold of the album.
Sorry, but I also find Elbow dull, and I just don't get Super Furry Animals. I bought Fuzzy Logic, found it unremarkable, and haven't bothered with anything of theirs since. What am I missing?
Davie