News "Trafik" (1982), single

Trafik, 7'' single
release date: 1982
format: vinyl (T 8519)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Cy Nicklin
label: Sonet Grammofon - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Trafik" - - B) "Forstadskvarter"

Single release taken from the debut album Stereo magasin (1981) by the Danish band News, who has been reduced to a quintet before releasing the single as guitarist Jakob Vejslev has left the band. Both tracks have lyrics by Steffen Brandt from the band TV-2 and keyboardist Martin Nordborg is credited as musical composer to the A-side and guitarist Aske Jacoby is composer to the B-side.
I recall finding the A-side more than just fine and shortly after purchased the album, which I never found on the same level.

Love Shop "Copenhagen Screaming!" (2004) (live)

Copenhagen Screaming! (live)
release date: Mar. 22, 2004
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: mixed by Hilmer Hassig; Mikkel Damgaard (mixing assistant)
label: Fanstar Records / Playground - nationality: Denmark

11 track live album released simultaneously with the compilation album Sendt fra himlen - 1990-2004 to signal the disbandment of Love Shop. The recorded live concerts are taken from five different locations during the band's farewell tour in the autumn of 2003, which took place before the "disbandment" had been announced or even discussed within the band. All concerts were held in Copenhagen (thus the title) in the span of six days in late September at: Stengade (Sep. 15, 2003); Loppen, Christiania (Sep. 17, 2003); Lille Vega (Sep. 18, 2003); Kitty Club, Park (Sep. 19, 2003); Pumpehuset (Sep. 20, 2003). These concerts are performed by the Love Shop trio: Jens Unmack, Hilmer Hassig and Henrik Hall together with the stable additional line-up of studio and live musicians: Mikkel Damgaard on keyboard and backing vocals, Thomas Risell on bass and backing vocals, and with Thomas Duus on drums. The concerts were part of a strategy to reinforce positivity and creativity in the band. Each of the band's many studio recordings of their albums had been more than sheer struggles, and the idea was to make it easier for the band members by releasing a live album instead of hard and draining studio work. The album is not over-produced, or so it seems. It sounds quite convincingly like the recorded concerts without heavy mixing and overdubs - the naked and honest statement, and a document of an essential Danish band of (primarily) the 1990s. 'Sounds like' because fact is musical architect of the band and producer, Hilmer Hassig spent a long time in the studio re-mixing and re-arranging what had to be fine and useful recordings. In the book "Himmelflugt og højdeskræk - historien om Love Shop" (2015) by Tommy Heisz, Jens Unmack is cited for his and Hall's harsh criticism concerning Hassig's reluctance in keeping the material as it was recorded. On the other hand, Hassig claimed that the vocal performances by Unmack simply documented how he consistently sang out of tune, and Hassig also asserted that it didn't matter one bit if it was live, as long as the illusion of live recordings were intact.
I must say that Hassig did a remarkably good job producing the album 'cause you really cannot tell that it's not actual live recordings. The album is nicely mixed, but it does feel strange listening to live music not knowing how the band actually played at the reported concerts, and with that Hassig again proves what a brilliant producer he was and that he truly had an ear for sonic statements.
[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]

Love Shop "Sendt fra himlen - 1990-2004" (2004)

Sendt fra himlen - 1990-2004 (compilation)
release date: Mar. 22, 2004
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Columbia Records / Sony Music - nationality: Denmark

Compilation album by Love Shop released simultaneously with the live album Copenhagen Screaming!. Both albums were not meant to be the epic last releases that would sum up all their best tracks from all their seven studio albums, but in hindsight they stand like landmarks after the band's musical composer, lead guitarist, and main producer, Hilmer Hassig, had decided to leave the band; and although, the remaining two, Hall and Unmack, didn't feel like calling it a day, a disbandment seemed like the most natural consequence. Hassig proclaimed his departure on the band's official site, and Unmack soon stated that they all felt sorry about Hassig's decision, but he also wrote that it did not mean that Love Shop wouldn't continue as a band but that it would signify a period of uncertainty and without a new album around the corner.
The last studio album thus remain National (2003) - despite fine reviews, I feel it's not as successful as their former creations and in a sad way end it all - although, it would not quite end with this after all.
This compilation is a fine collection with 16 great tracks but it really doesn't justify the band's catalogue, as more than a few great songs are left out, and as a double disc version hasn't been released, this remains the best alternative to buying all their albums.

Ryuichi Sakamoto "Sweet Revenge" (1994)

Sweet Revenge
release date: Jun. 17, 1994
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]
producer: Ryuichi Sakamoto
label: Elektra Records - nationality: Japan

Track highlights: 2. "Moving On" - 4. "Regret" - 7. "Sweet Revenge" - 9. "Same Dream, Same Destination" (feat. Roddy Frame) - 11. "Water's Edge"
[ full album ]

Studio album by Ryuichi Sakamoto originally released in Japan by For Life Music with two additional tracks. All tracks is with music credited Sakamoto and with the majority of the compositions with lyrics written by various guests artists including J-Me (tracks #2, #4, and #8), Paul Alexander (track #5), Holly Johnson (track #6), Vivien Goldman (tracks #3 and #11), Roddy Frame (track #9), and Latasha Natasha Diggs (track #10).
This is mainly art pop and sophisti-pop with strong influences from jazz pop.
To me, the clearly strongest track on the album is track #9 featuring Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame on vocals. In 1993 Sakamoto as producer stood behind Dreamland by Aztec Camera.
The album has a nice lounge feel and may be filed as art pop, but the sensation is really a warm and laid-back compilation of sophisticated jazz pop that doesn't stir up the party but may function as the perfect album for pre-party warm-up or a natural choice for after dinner conversation.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Tom Waits "Nighthawks at the Diner" (1975)

Nighthawks at the Diner
release date: Oct. 1975
format: cd (1990 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Bones Howe
label: Asylum Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "Emotional Weather Report" - 6. "Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac With Susan Michelson)" - 8. "Better Off Without a Wife"

3rd studio album by Tom Waits is nearly a perfect live album with the sound of a drunken Waits in his prime, chattering, joking with what sounds like life experience wisdom playing merrily out there in what might sound like a warm pub atmosphere. Only issue is that it has been staged and practically recorded in a large studio with hand-picked spectators for two days of recordings. The album follows one year after The Heart of Saturday Night.

Stylewise, it's a turn towards vocal jazz in a bluesy corner, and the songs are really a fine collection. The album appears in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

Together with the first two releases, Nighthawks at the Diner has a natural part of Waits' early period, where a great deal of inspiration is drawn from contemporary American singer / songwriter and folk tradition, which at the time embraced artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Tim Buckley and more.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Mojo, SputnikMusic 4 / 5 stars ]

R.E.M. "Dead Letter Office" (1987)

vinyl cover

Dead Letter Office (compilation)
release date: Apr. 27, 1987
format: cd (1993 - The I.R.S. Years Vintage 1987)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Mitch Easter, Don Dixon, Joe Boyd, Don Gehman, R.E.M
label: I.R.S. Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "There She Goes Again" - 2. "Burning Down" - 6. "White Tornado" - 8. "Windout" (live) - 9. "Ages of You" - 10. "Pale Blue Eyes" - 12. "Bandwagon" (4 / 5) - 14. "Walters Theme" (live)
Bonus tracks on 1993 extended edition: 16. "Wolves, Lower" - 17. "Gardening at Night" (4 / 5) - 18. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" - 19. "1,000,000" - 20. "Stumble"

1st compilation album by R.E.M. released on I.R.S. records is not a best of compilation but a collection of singles, B-sides and rare material. Several tracks are the band's cover-versions of some of their favorites, which include track #1. "Crazy", originally performed by the Athens' band Pylon, three tracks written by Lou Reed, originally performed by The Velvet Underground: track #2. "There She Goes Again", track #10. "Pale Blue Eyes", and track #13. "Femme Fatale"; track #7. "Toys in the Attic" by Aerosmith, and track #15. "King of the Road" (classic) by Roger Miller. The remainders of the original issue's 15 tracks are all written by R.E.M., and they are almost entirely B-sides found on their single releases. I used to own a copy of the vinyl issue but resold it after purchasing the '93 cd issue which comes with 7 bonus tracks, and these basically constitute the addition of the debut 5-track ep Chronic Town (1982), and two early takes. The whole album is as such more of a collector's choice but for a fan it's a fine gem.

1993 bonus track reissue

Show lyrics <- click...

~ ~ ~
"Bandwagon"

"Come on aboard, I promise you you won't hurt the horse
We treat him well, we feed him well.
There's lots of room for you on the bandwagon
The road may be rough, the weather may forget us

But won't we all parade around and sing our songs
A magic kingdom, open-armed

Greet us hello, bravo, name in lights
Passing on the word to fellow passengers and players, passing in
Until you're tired looking at all the flags
And all the banners waving
This is some parade, yesiree Bob

Could we have known?
Yesiree Bob, could we have known?

Look at all the flags and all the banners waving
Open up our arms, a magic kingdom, open-armed and greet us all

Come on aboard I promise you, you won't hurt the horse
We treat him well, we feed him well
There's lots of room for you on the bandwagon
The road may be rough, the weather may forget us

But won't we all parade around
And sing our songs and wave our flags
A magic kingdom, greet us all hello
Greet us hello, greet us hello"

~ ~ ~

Frank Sinatra "September of My Years" (1965)

September of My Years
release date: May 27, 1965
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Tracklist: A) 1. "The September of My Years" - 2. "How Old Am I?" - 3. "Don't Wait Too Long" - 4. "It Gets Lonely Early" - 5. "This Is All I Ask" - 6. "Last Night When We Were Young" - 7. "The Man in the Looking Glass" - - B) 1. "It Was a Very Good Year" - 2. "When the Wind Was Green" - 3. "Hello, Young Lovers" - 4. "I See It Now" - 5. "Once Upon a Time" - 6. "September Song"

The king of croon with just one of his majestic albums. It's one of those essential albums in an artist's repertoire that you shouldn't skip. Also, I think it's kinda nice to own something released in the year I was born. At this point of his long career, Sinatra was a shining star and he had already made great covers of pop ballads but here he goes off the mainstream popular track and proves his talent as an emotional vocal jazz crooner. It's not Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald or Nina Simone vocal jazz but it's a more genuine Sinatra who seeks an expressiveness you hardly find on his blue-eyed jazz pop ballads, suited for coffee table arrangements and chit-chats about the husband's new well-paid job, or the kids' good grades. The type of swing and popular standards made him... popular at the time but looking at his long and shinning career, it is his jazz repertoire that shines the brightest. And he made lots of albums of this type of albums that also became known as easy listening. In a way it's almost like a natural progression from Where Are You? (1957), Only the Lonely (1958), No One Cares (1959), Point of No Return (1962), and Softly, as I Leave You (1964). The titles already signals the lost love theme. Instead of his blue-eyed pop ballads albums, this is like the aforementioned songs of: "ah, there's a real life, it ain't all blue sky, roses and happy-ever-after" tone and quality, which suits him and his splendid voice so well.
I most certainly didn't listen to this album until the mid-1980s but I certainly knew of Sinatra from quite a young age. I was familiar with at leat half of these songs before even going into my teens 'cause Sinatra was one of those familiar voices that I associate with my pre-teen years lisening to whatever came out of the national radio - and this was definitely something I enjoyed.

1965 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul - 2. The Beatles Help! - 3. Frank Sinatra September of My Years

Not this particular album as such, but Sinatra plays a big part of my earliest music memories that wasn't purely children's songs.

👉 Another one from that earliest stage.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Love Shop "National" (2003)

National
release date: May 5, 2003
format: cd (MNWCD 389)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: MNW - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Sig det aldrig mere" - 3. "Bin Laden Blues" - 8. "(Før vi) kører galt" - 10. "Carpenters" - 11. "Skønhedsoperation"

7th and so far final studio album by Love Shop released on the Scandinavian label MNW. The style is much like on Anti from 2001, which I found the band's least interesting studio release to date. The album would prove to be the last by the trio of Unmack, Hassig and Hall. Drums are handled by Thomas Duus, who has participated on the band's albums since its third album Billeder af verden (some tracks are with Freddie Pedersen on drums), additional bass is played by Thomas Risell, and Mikkel Damgaard and Povl Kristian are credited for keyboards. Although, Hassig is a true multi-instrumentalist, also old collaborator Finn Verwohlt plays additional guitars.
It's like the half-hearted attempt to reproduce what worked so well on Go! (1997) with a combo of pop / rock and glam rock - here in a darker, more sinister, and slower rock version with industrial elements - only this just has fewer fine compositions and no really great ones. So, on an overall basis, I only find it clearly bettering the 2001 album, which in essence means the band's so far second "worst" album.
I think, Hilmer Hassig, the band's main musical composer and the true backbone of Love Shop, had seen the writing on the wall after two lesser releases in a row. In late 2003, he decided to leave the band, and for the remaining two members, lead vocalist Jens Unmack and backing vocalist, harmonica-player and keyboardist, Henrik Hall, this literally meant that the band could not survive, so they prepared to finish the era with two compilation albums in early 2004. Little did they know that sadder events eventually should revive the band in 2009. In the meantime, both Unmack and Hall would go on to pursue solo careers and release fine solo albums. But National is really not the place to start if you want to know this band.
[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]

Turboweekend "Fault Lines" (2012)

Fault Lines
release date: Jun. 25, 2012
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Turboweekend
label: EMI - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Fire of the Stampede" (4 / 5) - 2. "Neverending" - 4. "On My Side" (4 / 5) (live stream) - 5. "Boulevard" (4 / 5) - 6. "Good Morning, It's Tomorrow" - 7. "You're the Cure" - 8. "Rubicon" (4 / 5) - 9. "Drying Out in the Sun" - 11. "I Forgot" (4 / 5) (live on DR P3)

3rd studio album by Turboweekend. I had heard a few luke-warm reviews on this before actually buying it but when I finally put it on my stereo, you know... I knew it was bliss! Nothing at all like the critics had it on TV-2 (they're simply dumb and daft), and this band is nothing but my favourite contemporary Danish act. Sorry, I can't provide more evidence with the best tracks, especially "On My Side", "Boulevard", "Rubicon", and "I Forgot" are stand-outs. Until Marie Key released De her dage this was in my top 3 of the year. Turboweekend play indietronica, meaning indie pop in the electronic genre and alt. dance very much like another fine Danish act Veto.
This is the band's so far best studio album.
[ Gaffa.dk 5 / 6, Undertoner, Soundvenue 4 / 6 stars ]

Eldkvarn "Musik för miljonärer" (1980)

Musik för miljonärer
release date: 1980
format: vinyl (SRS 4664)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,24]
producer: Anders Lind
label: Silence - nationality: Sweden

5th studio album by Eldkvarn counting the debut 1974 debut album Elisabet as the band's first, although released under the name, Piska mig hårt. Musically, it's close to the new wave, pop / rock style of Elvis Costello, Johnny Thunders, and Graham Parker.

Pink Floyd "Animals" (1977)

Animals
release date: Jan. 23, 1977
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Pink Floyd
label: Harvest / EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Pigs on the Wing" - 3. "Pigs (Three Different Ones)"

10th studio album by Pink Floyd is another conceptual album but also a change of style. The overall theme is loosely based on George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and therefore a hierarchy of animals reflecting their value and / or status in society. It's also said to be a response to the British punk rock movement in which the band saw positive changes with music being political- and social-minded, but Animals still presents music on its own terms like a secluded and inhuman space. All previous albums gave room for all band members contributing with his own compositions on equal terms, but here I think, Roger Waters for the first time positions himself as the songwriter of the band, and unfortunately at the sacrifice of the band's unity. Waters is credited as text and songwriter on all compositions, only Gilmour is co-writer of the music for the track "Dogs". To me this is more like The Final Cut (1983) than any of their other albums except for this one being a more indistinct stylistic release with both bits of psychedelic rock as on earlier albums, and progressive rock art rock as on the tighter and more successful Wish You Were Here (1975). It's like the narration of an idea, the concept, and one man's story from start to finish in what I find a monotone and simplistic way, in contrast to the more diverse and spacious tale of The Wall (1979) with much more poignant songs.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, The Daily Telegraph 3 / 5, Rolling Stone Album Guide 2 / 5 stars ]

Love Shop "Anti" (2001)

Anti
release date: Sep. 10, 2001
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: MNW - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Alle har en drøm at befri" - 2. "Kræmmersjæl" (4 / 5) (live) - 5. "S.T.O.P." - 7. "Det tog mig et år" - 9. "Du er kommet for at gå"

6th studio album by Love Shop is as usual produced by guitarist and musical composer Hilmer Hassig. It's been two years since Det løse liv and the sound and style remain unchanged.
The best thing about this is the first track and the following great classic "Kræmmersjæl". Aside from another three songs, I find that this is the band's low-point to what I feel is a continued artistic decline. It's as if they have no great ideas left but to reproduce sound and build music on new British glam rock. Are we Suede or should we instead be as Kent?

Lou Reed "Sally Can't Dance" (1974)

Sally Can't Dance
release date: Aug. 1974
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,28]
producer: Steve Katz, Lou Reed
label: RCA Records - nationality: USA

4th studio album by Lou Reed isn't really the place to start if you wanna check out the man's repertoire. This is a laid-back, almost indifferent musician, who release 'just' another one. It doesn't contain classics nor horrible nonsense, but it stays there in the middle of nowhere with no ambitions to do much other than... entertain ? It's a bit of a low point, really, although his 5th studio album, the successor really hits the bottom, Metal Machine Music from 1975 is... just a Lou Reed (experimental) release, and that's the best thing you can say about that. This one is mediocre, and Lou has produced several.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5 stars ]

Love Shop "Det løse liv" (1999)

Det løse liv
release date: Sep. 15, 1999
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Polydor - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "I dit spejl" (4 / 5) - 2. "For evigt for altid" - 4. "Min Elvis" - 6. "Bellavista sol" - 8. "Født til action" - 10. "Birgittelyst"

5th studio album by Love Shop introduce a return to a rock-universe, and it introduces Mikkel Damgaard for the first time on additional keyboards.
Musically, the album is fine but it's also a somewhat uneven release. The style is much like on the acclaimed forth album Go! only with less energy. The first track is the band's continued tradition in contributing to the Danish collection of contemporary pop classics, and although, the album also contains other fine compositions it also contains several tracks that are not on the same high level and merely feel like album fillers.
Overall, Det løse liv is still in the high end of what other Danish artists release these years, but when thinking of what Love Shop has already accomplished it does vain in comparison.

Love Shop "Go!" (1997)

Go!
release date: May 28, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Pladecompagniet - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Love goes on forever" (4 / 5) (live) - 2. "Copenhagen Dreaming" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Fremmedlegionær" - 5. "Sendt fra himlen" - 7. "Vi blinker så hurtigt vi kan" - 8. "Glimmer show"

4th studio album by Love Shop continues where Billeder af verden ended but also introduce a harder rock-style. The band remains the same, and the credit list more or less count the same additional personnel.
Stylistically, this is perhaps their most glam rock inspired album with hints to Marc Bolan (especially "Fan Star", which perhaps is the only poor track on the album), Bowie, and contemporary glam rockers like Suede. The album may also be seen as a move from a mainly pop-founded territory to a more traditional rock playground.
Go! is no less than one of the band's best albums ever, and tracks #1, #2 and #5 have already become classic Danish pop / rock songs.
Highly recommended.

Marine Girls "Beach Party" (1981)

Beach Party [debut]

release date: 1981

format: digital (16 x File, MP3) (1987 reissue)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: Pat Bermingham

label: Cherry Red Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "In Love" - 7. "All Dressed Up" - 8. "Honey" - 10. "He Got the Girl" - 11. "Day / Night Dreams" - 14. "Dishonesty" - 16. "Marine Girls"

Studio album debut by Marine Girls founded in 1980 by Tracey Thorn on guitar and vocals, and with Gina Hartman on percussion and vocals. Later in 1980 Jane Fox was included on bass, and before actually recording this they were expanded to a quartet with the inclusion of Jane's sister, Alice sharing credits with Hartman. Prior to this album the quartet recorded 12 songs, which was self-released on cassette as A Day by the Sea (released early '81). Beach Party contains half of these early songs and although it was recorded with a producer, it was alledgedly recorded in a shed, and subsequently it was also released on cassette only, now by In Phaze Records. Later that year it found its way to vinyl via Whaam! Records, and from '87 the album was re-issued on Cherry Red who also released the album on CD for the Japanese market only in 2006. The album counts no less than 16 tracks but only runs for 29 minutes as most of the songs are shorter than 2 minutes in playing time - the longest sonmg, track #15 goes for 2:24 minutes! Thorn is credited eleven songs, Jane Fox four, and the remainder (track #9) is co-written by Thorn and Fox.

Stylewise, this was really something else back in '81. At the time people would see this as a natural part of the post-punk movement, which in a way it really was 'cause artists sought new ways of expression, but on the other hand this was indie pop and lo-fi with bonds to folk, which was a bit far from what was normally accepted, but the strong lo-fi sound probably secured it a spot.

Already here Thorn demonstrates some of her strong vocal qualities, but really: the whole album is a diamond in the rough from another time, which paved way for new styles such as jangle-pop, jazz pop, and eventually also sophisti-pop.

[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Skids "Working for the Yankee Dollar" (1979) (single)

Working for the Yankee Dollar, 7'' single

release date: Nov. 1979

format: vinyl (VS 306)

[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]

producer: Mick Glossop; Bill Nelson

label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Tracklist: A) "Working for the Yankee Dollar" (4 / 5) - - B) "Vanguard's Crusade"

Second single release taken from Days in Europa (Oct. 1979) and following the release of Charade (Sep. '79). The A-side is a different single-version re-produced by Mick Glossop of the album track, which has Bill Nelson as producer - he also produced the B-side, an outtake from the album, and both tracks are credited songwriter Richard Jobson and composer Stuart Adamson. The title track peaked at number #20 on the singles charts.

back cover

Love Shop "Billeder af verden" (1994)

Billeder af verden
release date: Nov. 7, 1994
format: cd (PCCD 8077)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Pladecompagniet - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Billeder af verden" (4 / 5) - 2. "Det er mit liv" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Skudt ned" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Det elsker jeg" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Alt skal bort" (4 / 5) - 6. "Fuck min højdeskræk" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Tag mig, hold mig, løft mig" (4 / 5)

3rd studio album by Love Shop who is once again back to a trio, as Mikael Dehn is longer credited as band member but still contributes on backing vocals. The trio of Unmack, Hassig and Hall is without a band drummer, but this will be the longest lasting and most memorable constitution of the band. The bold addition of keyboards is also reflected by the credit list, with Hassig from the band expanding his list of instruments but three additional musicians are credited for playing keyboards (and Moog) on the album. Thomas Duus handles drums, Asger Steenholdt and Oli Poulsen plays bass, and Finn Verwohlt plays rhythm guitar and is also assistant producer on five tracks. Jesper Siberg (formerly Scatterbrain) plays keyboards and is likewise credited as assistant producer on two tracks.
With the album, the band introduces a new style with more focus on synths, which in my mind helps creating the band's best-balanced album of both pop and rock as an indie pop and synhtpop release. Billeder af verden is one of my absolute favourite studio releases by Love Shop, and I think it basically contains all elements of their repertoire: the up-tempo refrain-driven tracks with both Hassig and Hall's signatures (tracks #1, #2, #7, #8, and #12), strong ballads (tracks #3, #4, #6, and #14), light and witty pop songs (tracks #5, #11, and #13), and brilliant lyrics throughout. Modern Danish classic pop / rock songs on this album are "Det er mit liv", "Skudt ned", "Fuck min højdeskræk", and "Det elsker jeg", but several others are just memorable tracks that will endure.
Highly recommended.

The Sound "Jeopardy" (1980)

Jeopardy [debut]
release date: Nov. 1980
format: vinyl (black labels - KOW 58 255) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Nick Robbins and The Sound
label: Korova - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "I Can't Escape Myself" (4 / 5) - 2. "Heartland" (4 / 5) - 3. "Hour Of Need" - 4. "Missiles" - 5. "Heyday" - 9. "Resistance" - 10. "Unwritten Law" (4 / 5) - 11. "Desire"

Studio debut album by British post-punk band The Sound. The initial line-up consists of three former members of the punk rock band The Outsiders: songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist Adrian Borland, bassist Graham 'Green' Bailey, and drummer Michael Dudley. New member is keyboardist Belinda "Bi" Marshall. This their first full album after the fine 3-track ep Physical World (1979) was positively received by critics - in fact it was handed 5 out of 5 stars from three of the biggest music magazines at the time: NME, Melody Maker, and Sounds, however, it simply failed to attract a broad audience. The fine "Unwritten Law" is from the 1979 ep, and it's a typical song by the band with Borland's beautiful guitar-sound and a balanced tension of beauty, despair and raw energy.
As I recall, I didn't get this album as my first The Sound album but most likely purchased it around '82 / '83. The style is very much their own mix from inspirational sources like Velvet Underground, The Stooges, and Joy Division. I really liked this more back then. It's a very raw and simple style, quite one-dimensional, and rather well-organised as a whole.
This is the only album featuring Bi Marshall - she left the band shortly after the album release and was replaced by Colvin 'Max' Mayers.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Melody Maker, NME, Sounds 5 / 5 stars ]

[ collectors' item - 'vg+' black labels - from ~ €70,- ]

Warm Guns "Italiano moderno" (1981)

first issue cover

Italiano moderno

release date: Apr. 1981

format: vinyl (first issue - 6344 234) / vinyl (1982 reissue) / cd (1996 reissue)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]

producer: Rod Huison

label: Vertigo Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: A) 1. "Arrivederci" - 2. "Wonderkids" - 4. "Golden Dreams" - 5. "Nightcrawlers" - 6. "Public Enemies" - - B) 1. "The Night Belongs to You" - 2. "Hard Luck" - 3. "Magic Motions" - 5. "Luckie Walkie"

2nd studio album by Warm Guns shows a more complex sound within a new wave universe. Again, Nils Henriksen produced several tracks, which was sent to the band's English label, where Rod Huison then produced the majority of the selected tracks (Henriksen is credited as producer of tracks #A1, B5, and the bonus tracks 13-15 on the '96 cd re-issue). Jacob Perbøll left the band before making most of the album, and the band members here are: Lars Muhl on vocals and keyboards, Lars Hybel on guitar and bass, Jens G. Nielsen on drums, and with new member Frank Lorentzen (with whom Muhl and Perbøll had played in the band Daisy before forming Warm Guns) on guitar and keyboards. Also Georg Olesen from the band TV-2 plays bass on four tracks (most easily heard on #4), and Jacob Perbøll plays bass on tracks #1 and #11. The original vinyl album comes in two different issues and unfortunately, Vertigo already released a reissue after only one year with a completely different track listing. Not only are the songs mixed on the two sides but four of a total of twelve compositions have been exchanged from the original issue. These four new compositions had all been released on the 4-track ep 4 Heartbreakers Only earlier in '82, and they then concluded that the album would've been stronger with these replacements. Both vinyl issues consists of 12 tracks, whereas a '96 cd reissue contains 15 tracks, which combines the two vinyl issues somehow leaving out the song "The Young Go First". After this, drummer Jens G. Nielsen left the band to focus on his primary band, Gnags - he was subsequently replaced by Troels Møller, and Frank Lorentzen (who continued with Bamses Venner) was replaced by Kaj Weber on bass.

I have always found this their strongest and most vital album. Here, the inspiration is less obvious, the band appears playful and original, and they basically play with a distinct international sound, which however, never was sought for, nor acknowledged. Perhaps, some would argue that Lars Hybel has been working hard to sound much like James Honeyman-Scott of Pretenders, but really, if he can pull that off, it's hardly a bad thing is it?!

In my mind, Italiano moderno stands as one of the best Danish albums of the early 1980s and also a must in terms of original new wave releases. Sadly, the band played an international music, which didn't appeal to the Danish music buyers, and the English label didn't believe they had potential to make it on an international scale.

Because of the big differences of the early issues, I have both versions and simply never understood the need to change the original track listing.

1982 cover

Love Shop "DK" (1992)

DK
release date: Sep. 3, 1992
format: cd (PCCD 8047)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,44]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Pladecompagniet - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Hun er stadigvæk en lille pige" - 3. "Pia Larsen" - 5. "Drømmenes København" (live) - 6. "Casanegra" (4 / 5) - 8. "Livet er en fest" - 9. "Himlen vil briste" - 10. "Alle veje fører bort fra Rom"

2nd studio album by Love Shop is a fine follow-up to their strong debut. The original trio of Jens Unmack, Hilmer Hassig and Mikael Dehn has by now been expanded to form a quartet with the inclusion of Henrik Hall on harmonica. As was the case on the debut, bassist Flemming Muus and drummer Stefan Grabowski are credited as additional musicians.
Stylistically, it's quite close to the debut album, and both music as well as lyrics are on the same high level as one finds on the 1990 album. Here you will find Danish classic pop / rock songs like "Pia Larsen" and "Casanegra".

Adrian Borland

~ ~ ~

Adrian Borland: (birthname: Adrian Kelvin Borland; Dec. 6, 1957 - Apr. 26, 1999) was born in London, UK, where he also took his own life at the age of 41. He founded a band, The Outsiders, at the age of 14 and shortly after the band Second Layer with school mates including Graham 'Green' Bailey, and with Bailey, they formed The Sound with Mike Dudley and Bi Marshall [Benita Biltoo]. The Sound was disbanded in 1988, and Adrian went to The Netherlands to form a new band, Adrian Borland and The Citizens with whom he released the first two solo albums. However, very much in the tradition with The Sound he faced very low sales. Be it a record company matter or just a general disinterest, is difficult to say, but it didn't help on Adrian's self esteem or a depression that is said to have started in 1985 and stayed with him until his death. His solo albums received some fine reviews, although, many of these have been much more positive after his death. He worked in collaboration bands and as producer and songwriter for others, and the legacy of his musical production is highly acclaimed. A stardom and position he didn't receive in his lifetime.

~ ~ ~

Articles on Adrian Borland:

Brittle Heaven - dedicated to Adrian Borland (1957 - 1999)

The Independent "Obituary: Adrian Borland" (18 May, 1999)

Wikipedia on Adrian Borland

Allmusic.com biography by Andy Kellman

Tribute: on YouTube (images to 'Land meets ocean')

Mark Burgess and Yves Altana "Adrian Be"

Mark Burgess live in Amsterdam "Sense of Purpose"

Documentary trailer

and then... just another song by Adrian "Silent Air" (from the album "In the HotHouse")

~ ~ ~

Love Shop "1990" (1990)

1990 [debut]
release date: May 29, 1990
format: cd (2000 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Pladecompagniet - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Idag så bedre ud igår" - 2. "En nat bliver det sommer" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Øjne jeg aldrig har set" (4 / 5) - 4. "Radio Kalundborg" - 7. "Alt jeg ser er hendes ryg" - 9. "21" - 11. "Til stjernerne" (4 / 5)

Studio debut album by Danish indie pop, pop / rock band Love Shop originally released on the label Garden Records. The band is merely a trio consisting of lead vocalist Jens Unmack (formerly bassist in Næste Uges TV and more recently in the band Greene), Hilmer Hassig (from Scatterbrain and Naïve) on guitars, and with Mikael Dehn (from Russia Heat) on backing vocals. Most tracks are co-written by Hassig and Unmack with the latter being responsible for lyrics and the two as composers of the music. With this scarce instrumentation within the band they have gathered a small unit of additional musicians, which include Kåre Bjerkø on keyboards, Flemming Muus on bass, and Stefan Grabowski on drums, who would all work with the band on several albums. Later full member Henrik Hall is also credited for adding harmonica on the album.
The album was launched to positive reviews, but Garden Records was struggling economically, and the album was hardly promoted at all, which may explain its poor sales. A year later, the label was declared bankrupt, and the newly founded label Pladecompagniet [established by Anne Linnet and Jan Degner] re-issued the album as 1990/91 with a different track list, but with no great success. Furthermore, the first cd issue of the album from '90 had been issued with bad sequencing, which is why the remaster (with the original track list and cover) eventually was issued in 2000 - still with Hassig in control of the remastering. The remaster sounds pretty neat and basically is better produced than the band's two succeeding non-remastered albums. Anyway, this the studio debut from Love Shop is a fine and strong album, on which the band immediately initiate a long tradition of writing tracks that would become Danish classic pop / rock compositions. On this it's undoubtedly the track "En nat bliver det sommer", with lyrics co-written by former Kliché bassist Johnny Voss [aka Johannes Møller]. Rumour has it that Voss initially helped Unmack who initially struggled with his songwriting in Danish as opposed to English language they had all been set-up for, but the record company had pursuaded the trio to stick to their native Danish because they saw it as something different that would help define the band in a time characterised by English copy-bands of American and British artists. So, whoever at Garden Records pushed on with this, it proved to be a lasting idea - at least for Love Shop.

BEST OF 1989:Pixies "Doolittle" (1989)

Doolittle
release date: Apr. 17, 1989
format: vinyl (CAD 905) / cd (2008 reissue)
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,88]
producer: Gil Norton
label: 4AD / Rough Trade - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) 1. "Debaser" (5 / 5) (live) - 2. "Tame" (5 / 5) (live) - 3. "Wave of Mutilation" (5 / 5) (live) - 4. "I Bleed" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Here Comes Your Man" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Dead" - 7. "Monkey Gone to Heaven" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Mr. Grieves" - 2. "Crackity Jones" - 3. "La La Love You" (4 / 5) - 4. "No. 13 Baby" - 5. "There Goes My Gun" - 6. "Hey" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "Silver" - 8. "Gouge Away" (4 / 5) (live)

2nd studio album by Pixies originally released on 4AD Records is the best album release in 1989, I think, and it's one of my all-time favourite albums. It is indeed Pixies at their best and is why it must be rated as a masterpiece. This is where Black Francis got it all right, leaving room for the others in the band: Kim Deal, Joey Santiago, and David Lovering, and where it seems they all directing everything into a dirty garage noise rock blasting synergy. Later on megalomania, or whatever it was, had Francis off track. After the fine but somewhat unfinished / incoherent debut Surfer Rosa (Mar. 1988) with promises of greatness they fulfilled all expectations on Doolittle. Never again should they make such a homogeneous and sparkling album of pure energy and playfulness. And although they were never bad later on, as I also enjoy Bossanova (1990) and Trompe le monde (1991), they never were quite as exquisite as here! Yes, once again Francis wrote almost everything but there was still room for Kim, although I think she found it a hard time working with Francis at this point. This is "only" their 2nd album but later on things went from hard to worse, as I guess Francis took the leadership into an ultimate phase and wanted control with everything. Pixies played very unlike any other band and all their releases share their specific signature but still, in my mind, this album is much better produced and orchestrated than their other albums. Gil Norton produced this as he did with the following two albums but I don't think he or the band ever got that synergistic touch right again. I think, this is the only album on which you hear traditional strings, and of course they shouldn't repeat themselves but progress and evolve but it really suits their noisy distorted sound to include soft, mellow strings - like adding another layer of contrast to their sound.
The album is deservedly enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, NME, Drowned in Sound 5 / 5, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

1989 Favourite releases: 1. Pixies Doolittle - 2. The Blue Nile Hats - 3. Kitchens of Distinction Love Is Hell

Love Shop

~ ~ ~

Original line-up, as of 1992 (l-r): Mikael Dehn,  Hilmer Hassig, Henrik Hall, Jens Unmack

Love Shop: formed 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Band members: Jens Unmack (vocals), Hilmer Hassig (guitar, keyboards, 1986-2004), Michael Dehn (vocals, 1986-94), Henrik Hall (harmonica, flute, vocals, 1991-2011), Mikkel Damgård (keyboard, 2011- ). Love Shop is one of the most popular Danish pop / rock bands for more than two decades. The band started as an indie pop pop / rock band as a project evolving around Hassig and Unmack and with Dehn as the strong harmonic vocalist. The center of their music relies on lyrics written by vocalist Jens Unmack and his narrating voice. From the very start, the band's sound was heavily characterised by the dominating crystal-clear guitar-style of Hilmer Hassig. The band was officially disbanded in 2004 when Hassig decided to leave the band, and it wasn't until Unmack and Hall, after several live performances in memory of Hassig, in 2009, finally decided to reform the band as Love Shop, although it was then basically reduced to a duo. The band was back on track, receiving fine reviews again but in 2010, the band had to cancel several concerts due to a weak Henrik Hall who was hospitalized due to cancer, and eventually he died on Jan. 27, 2011. However, Love Shop continued, if not as a solo band with only lasting member, Jens Unmack, then as a collaboration project with producer and keyboardist , Mikkel Damgård, who had been part of the live version of the band for almost a decade, and who had also been used as a studio musician. Both Unmack and Hall had their own distinct solo careers (Hall being more singer / songwriter art rock) when playing in Love Shop, and that may very well be the reason that the project Love Shop lives on. Unmack's own solo albums are all much more singer / songwriter founded, whereas the music with Love Shop are distinctively different with more focus on an indie pop and synthpop sound, which embodies all Love Shop releases.

~ ~ ~

Frank Zappa "Lumpy Gravy" (1968)

Lumpy Gravy
release date: May 13, 1968
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Tracklist: A) 1. "Lumpy Gravy I" - - B) 1. "Lumpy Gravy II"

A two-track solo release by Frank Zappa recorded Feb. 1967 (his first solo work after producing Absolutely Free). The album was originally released on Capitol Records as an 8-track album. A lawsuit followed as Zappa had a signed contract with Verve Records (owned by MGM), although, the contract didn't say anything about Zappa conducting others, as he claimed with this album. The music is almost entirely a modern classical experiment of musique concrete inspired by the works of John Cage. This is the altered Verve Records version released as two tracks (virtually one long track) only divided by an A and B-side. Zappa has re-edited this version again later on, which has been released in 1984 on Zappa's own label, Barking Pumpkin.

Simple Minds "Sons and Fascination" / "Sister Feelings Call" (1981)

Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call
release date: Sep. 12, 1981
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Steve Hillage
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Sweat in Bullet" (4 / 5) - 3. "70 Cities as Love Brings the Fall" - 4. "Boys From Brazil" - 5. "Love Song" - 7. "Sons and Fascination" - 8. "Seeing out the Angel" - 10. "The American" - 15. "Sound in 70 Cities"

4th studio album by Simple Minds, or in reality: the fourth and fifth, although, the recordings stem from the same sessions and the two albums were released separately but also together. Generally, it's considered a double release 'cause the first issues were released as a double album where Sons and Fascination was the main issue and Sister Feelings Call was included as a bonus lp, which is why the 2003 remaster is released as one cd containing both albums on one disc. The album is the band's first after signing with major label, Virgin Records. Tracks #1-8 are similar to the original single lp versions of Sons and Fascination and tracks #9-15 make up the original single issue of Sister Feelings Call. Mind you, earlier cd issues of the combo leaves some tracks out due to limitations in running time.
Musically, the band has made a noticeable progression toward more melodic compositions, although, they still hang on to a highly original synthpop with new wave / post-punk influences, which also places the band close to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, but the album may also be seen as their stepping stone towards mainstream pop / rock - which would be more accentuated on the successive album.
The album is the last with the original line-up with Jim Kerr on vocals, Charlie Burchill on guitars, Derek Forbes on bass, Mick MacNeil on keyboards, and Brian McGee on drums. Drummer McGee left the band just after finishing the recordings and was subsequently replaced by Kenny Hyslop, who also feature on two of the videos recorded after the album release.
The album was met by critical acclaim and went as high as to #11 on the UK albums chart list.
Imho, this is one of the best albums by Simple Minds, although, it really is the first half of the combo release that shines, and viewed as original sound and an artistic progression of a band, the album may be the most important release by Simple Minds.

Van Morrison "A Period of Transition" (1977)

A Period of Transition
release date: Apr. 1977
format: cd (1997 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,44]
producer: Van Morrison & Mac Rebennack (Dr. John)
label: Polydor Records - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "You Gotta Make It Through the World" - 3. "The Eternal Kansas City" - 4. "Joyous Sound" - 6. "Heavy Connection" (live)
[ full album ]

9th studio album by Van Morrison originally released on Warner Bros. and for the first time in many years an album with a co-producer, which may be a sign of Van's uncertainty concerning musical direction. Anyway, Mac Rebennack, or: Dr. John, who had also featured at The Band's The Last Waltz farewell concert with Morrison in '76. Stylistically, the title suggest what it basically is: an album revealing other influences and something else rather than what you had come to expect from Van the Man. It's like reasoning on his labour with the predecessor, Veedon Fleece - released nearly three years ago, an album that not many of the time really understood, and which have him debating how people have their own expectations. So, in order to make something different, with success, you have to prepare the listener not to expect what is connected with tradition.
The album presents vocal jazz and traditional rhythm & blues in a spiritual shape, which is something different from his previous albums. There's a rock roots sensation to all compositions that you could associate with that of The Band and Dr. John - effectively a strict American tradition.
The album failed as a strong return, and critics found it unfocused and unexciting.
Strong identifying songs may be absent on this album, but it has a warm feel and sincerity, and it's like his most jazz-oriented album to date. I don't find it among his best, but it's an album not to dismiss.
[ allmsuic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]

Neil Young "Neil Young" (1968)

Neil Young [debut]
release date: Nov. 12, 1968
format: cd (1987 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Neil Young, David Briggs; Jack Nitzsche; Ry Cooder
label: Reprise Records / Warner - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "The Emperor of Wyoming" - 2. "The Loner" - 3. "If I Could Have Her Tonight" - 4. "I've Been Waiting for You" - 5. "The Old Laughing Lady" - 6. "String Quartet From Whiskey Boot Hill" - 7. "Here We Are in the Years" - 8 "What Did You Do to My Life" - 9 "I've Loved Her So Long" - 10 "The Last Trip to Tulsa"

Solo studio album debut by Neil Young after the split with Buffalo Springfield. It seems like a tentative yet unfinished or somehow unfocused collection of songs. Maybe it really shows how he struggled in freeing himself from just writing songs for a band of very different musicians. It features some strong folk rock and singer / songwriter tracks but it also lacks consistency of quality in the songwriting. Some songs are sheer country songs, and several songs sound like suited more [leftovers?] for Buffalo Springfield.

[ If any... Neil Young is god ]

Zodiac "A Bit of Devil" (2012)

~ ~ ~

Zodiac: Formed in 2010, Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Band members: Nick van Delft (vocals, guitar), Stephan Gall (guitar), Robert Kahr (bass, organ), Janosch Rathmer (drums).

~ ~ ~

A Bit of Devil

release date: Feb. 19, 2012

formats: digital

[album rate: 1,5 / 5]

German 'hard rock'ers debut album. Musically, they seem very much inspired by Thin Lizzy, which is the best you can say about that as it simply lacks any originality, and the lead vocalist hasn't got a talent for singing. Not an album I would recommend. 

.  .  .
.  .
. 

Jethro Tull "Songs From the Wood" (1977)

Songs From the Wood
release date: Feb. 11, 1977
format: vinyl / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Ian Anderson
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Songs From the Wood" - 2. "Jack-in-the-Green" (4 / 5) - 3. "Cup of Wonder" (4 / 5) - 4. "Hunting Girl" - 5. "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" - 6. "Velvet Green" (4 / 5) - 7. "The Whistler"

10th studio album by Jethro Tull released after the '76 studio album Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!, a less successful Tull album, which saw a change of bassist as Jeffrey Hammond was replaced by John Glascock. Prior to this, additional keyboardist David Palmer was officially included in the band, which by then counted six members.
The album signals a change of style with more focus on British pagan folklore in a blend of progressive rock, folk and hard rock. The result is a simpler musical universe and the tracks are accordingly of shorter playing time.
This was one of two vinyl albums by Jethro Tull that I was given by my older brother when he moved out of our family house back in the early 80s. I really liked the album before that, and often had it on my turntable while playing with my Lego...
[ allmusic.com, Sputnik Music 4 / 5 stars ]

Ramones "End of the Century" (1980)

End of the Century
release date: Jan. 1980
format: cd (1990 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,70]
producer: Phil Spector
label: Sire Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?" (4 / 5) - 4. "Chinese Rock" (3 / 5) - 5. "The Return of Jackie and Judy" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "I Can't Make It on Time" - 9. "This Ain't Havana" (4 / 5) - 10. "Rock 'N' Roll High School"

5th studio album by Ramones follows 1½ years after Road to Ruin (Sep. 1978) and it shows a big leap further in a mainstream direction ensured by 1970s Mr. 'wall of sound' producer, Phil Spector, who is only producer on the album. The sound is fine but honestly doesn't really fit the universe created by Ramones, or perhaps how it used to be like 'cause the band may themselves have asked for a broader style and that'sexactly what they achieve here. Although, the album distances itself from the band's previous studio albums, End of the Century still contains several fine tracks but I'm not a big fan of the sound and felt somewhat disappointed about it - back then, mind you. The album is still made at a time when British bands produced simple punk rock albums, but Ramones had already done this on four earlier studio albums and asked for something else.
In retrospect, I think the album stands as the last of the Ramones classic era.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]