Van Morrison "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart" (1983)

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
release date: Mar. 1983
format: cd (2008 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]
producer: Van Morrison
label: Polydor Records - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Higher Than the World" - 5. "Rave on John Donne" - 7. "The Street Only Knew Your Name" - 10. "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 2"

14th studio album by Van Morrison originally released on Mercury Records follows one year after Beautiful Vision, and it takes him further down the road in search of spirituality. Where the predecessor had many songs focusing on narratives this one comes with four instrumentals, and the album seems like an outlet for his belief that music have healing powers regardless the lyrical matter. Stylistically, he makes strong use of synths, keyboards and saxophones to create a sensation of new age style on top it all.
In the credit list Morrison explicitly thanks Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, a gesture, which in many ways points to his long-lasting spiritual search but also places this very release on a shelf among few others by Morrison that so openly speaks of his strong religious foundation. From Wavelength (1978) to Beautiful Vision (1982) he often sang about childhood memories with a mother devoted to Jehovas Witnesses, and this theme has continued with a more undefinable presence of spiritual divinity, although, an explicit addressing to the founder of Scientology says something about his viewpoint at this stage of his constant search. There are no evident proclamations to be found here, but the lasting impression sort of lifts the music here to serve as a foundation to a state of meditation. The album is almost without really great songs - just an echoing of other characteristic songs of his and much blow of hot air. The album was met by lukewarm to positive reviews, and peaked at number #24 on the UK albums chart list. The highlighted tracks doesn't really represent the nature of the album as they are... better and all more uptempo compositions than the remainders. Just listen to "Connswater", "Celtic Swing", or "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 1", which help define the nature of the album. To me, it's one of the contenders to his least interesting albums.
The 2008 remaster contains two bonus tracks which are alternate takes of songs #9 and #10.
[ allmusic.com, Rooling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

BEST OF 1986:The Smiths "The Queen Is Dead" (1986)

The Queen Is Dead

release date: Jun. 16, 1986
format: vinyl (gatefold - ROUGH 96) / cd
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,85]
producer: Morrissey, Marr
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "The Queen Is Dead / Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty (Medley)" (5 / 5) - 2. "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" (5 / 5) - 3. "I Know It's Over" (5 / 5) - 4. "Never Had No One Ever" (5 / 5) - 5. "Cemetry Gates" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" (5 / 5) - 3. "Vicar in a Tutu" (4 / 5) - 4. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (5 / 5) - 5. "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" (5 / 5)

3rd studio album by The Smiths produced by the songwriter duo Stephen Morrissey / Johnny Marr. The album is another step into new territories. The music is sharper and more punk rock-inspired with faster, shorter, and more energetic tracks. The lyrics are both a continuing of the introvert texts on sex and moral, political issues, but also a new sarcastic sneer at personal critics and the music industry in general. The album cover features Alain Delon in a 1964 film "L'Insoumis" ("The Unvanquished") by Alain Cavalier. Not long after the purchase, I soon realised that this album was now my favourite Smiths album, and I simply loved and heard "Cemetry Gates", "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side", "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" over and over again. The album is great and is by many considered not only the band's best but also one of the best albums ever to be recorded. I still can't single one out as the best - they all have their strengths. The album was ranked the greatest record of all time on NME's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, and it's naturally enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, Sputnik Music, Select 5 / 5 stars ]

[ collectors' item 'near mint' - from ~ 50€ ]

1986 Favourite releases: 1. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead - 2. Talk Talk The Colour of Spring - 3. R.E.M. Lifes Rich Pageant

Veronica Maggio "Och vinnaren är..." (2008)

Och vinnaren är...
release date: Mar. 26, 2008
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Oskar Linnros
label: Universal Music - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 2. "Gammal sång" - 3. "Ingen kommer undan (Inte ens i Sverige)" - 4. "Stopp" - 7. "V för vendetta" - 8. "Måndagsbarn" (4 / 5)

2nd studio album by Veronica Maggio released on Universal and produced by Oscar Linnross is a fine Swedish pop soul album. The music is sweet, blue-eyed happy-go-lucky music with nothing but joy and fresh air. I bought the album some time after acquiring Satan i gatan (2011) as it was on sale. She hasn't got the most fantastic vocal range but she certainly has charm and an undefineable lightness, which makes me think of her as a clone of Lisa Ekdahl (the tiny light voice), Nina Persson of The Cardigans, and a more energetic Lisa Nilsson. Very much like Persson, she has a certain star quality of fragile lightness to her voice without being a brilliant singer. The best tracks are when she makes fun of everyday-life, i.e. "Ingen kommer undan (Inte ens i Sverige)" and "Stopp" - a track that almost forecasts her Scandinavian hit single "Jag kommer" (Satan i gatan, 2011).

Overall, it's a good attempt but generally the album lacks great songs.

Ryuichi Sakamoto "BTTB" (1998)

BTTB
release date: Nov. 26, 1998
format: cd (1999 international issue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Ryuichi Sakamoto
label: Sony Classical - nationality: Japan

Tracklist: 1. "Energy Flow" - 2. "Put Your Hands Up - Piano Version" - 3. "Railroad Man - Piano Version" - 4. "Opus" (4 / 5) - 5. "Sonatine" (4 / 5) - 6. "Intermezzo" (live) - 7. "Lorenz and Watson" (4 / 5) - 8. "Choral No. 1" - 9. "Choral No. 2" - 10. "Bachata" - 11. "Chanson" - 12. "Prelude" - 13. "Uetax" - 14. "Aqua" - 15. "Tong Poo" (live) - 16. "Reversing"

Studio album by Ryuichi Sakamoto released in 1998, originally in Japan only. An international release was released in 1999, however the tracklist is not the same on these, in fact they nearly appear as two different releases sharing the same title. The two releases share 12 tracks and have four tracks that differ.
Anyway, this the international version is truly fine. Sakamoto has often played with a clear classical touch but on this he goes all the way, releasing a pure solo piano album with Satie-inspired prolonged music which makes it near impressionist classical compositions.
I'm quite fond of this one.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Zaz "Recto verso" (2013)

Recto verso
release date: May 10, 2013
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,14]

Track highlights: 1. "On ira" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "Comme ci, comme ça" - 3. "Gamine" - 8. "Toujours" - 11. "Oublie Loulou" (3,5 / 5) - 13. "Nous debout" (4 / 5)

I think this is an improvement from her debut. In 2011 she released the live album Live Tour: Sans tsu tsou, and without hearing it, I think, her music is well-suited for live performances. It sort of goes hand in hand with the jazz ingredient, which is ever-present in her music. I think, this her second studio album is better because it generally contains stronger and more original tracks. Some tracks are more pop-styled, like the fine closing track "Nous debout", with a chorus-based up-tempo song, and other fine tracks are much more traditional chanson and vocal jazz tracks with less orchestration. I think this is a pretty nice release.

Zaz "Zaz" (2010)

Zaz
release date: May 10, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Highlight: 11. "Eblouie par la nuit"

Studio debut album by Zaz, this interesting new French gypsy jazz and chanson singer / songwriter. The music is light and refreshing but I miss interesting tracks from Zaz.

Zaz

~ ~ ~

Zaz: born (May 1, 1980) in Tours, France; aka: Isabelle Geffro [birth name], is a French singer who mixes vocal jazz and chanson and French pop. Before initiating her solo career, she sang in a blues band, Fifty Fingers, and in Izar-Adatz, a band playing French variety music, and in a jazz quintet, which explains some of her mixed musical background.

~ ~ ~

De Må Være Belgiere "Er det tirsdag må det være Belgien" (1983) (single)

Er det tirsdag må det være Belgien, 7'' single
release date: 1983
format: vinyl (REP 4)
[single rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Troels Møller and De Må Være Belgiere
label: Replik Muzick - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Cirkler" - - B) 1. "Ingentid" - 2. "Synsforstyrrelse"

Single and only original release by Danish post-punk band De Må Være Belgiere consisting of Jesper Hede on vocals and guitar, Nils Skovbjerg on guitar, Jacob Leth on bass, and with Majka Bjørnager on drums. The quartet existed from '82 to '86.
Bassist Jacob Leth later joined the band The Grind.

[ collectors' item - only pressing - from €80,- ]

Kitchens of Distinction "Strange Free World" (1991)

Strange Free World
release date: 1991 (Jan.?)
format: cd (US issue - 75021 5340 2)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,54]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian / A&M Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Railwayed" (5 / 5) - 2. "Quick as Rainbows" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Hypnogogic" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "He Holds Her, He Needs Her" - 5. "Polaroids" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Gorgeous Love" - 7. "Aspray" - 8. "Drive That Fast" (5 / 5) - 9. "Within the Daze of Passion" (4,5 / 5) - 10. "Under the Sky, Inside the Sea"

2nd studio album by Kitchens of Distinction released on One Little Indian at some point in January 1991 (some sources claim a promo was released in Mar. '90, some that the first actual release took place in Jun. '90, others point to Nov./Dec. '90, though most sources file it as from 1991. It appears more certain that the US cd issue on A&M was issued in March '91). Like the debut, it's one of the absolute best releases of the year. When a band like KOD at some points betters its fantastic debut, and even in my mind also produces something that equals the best in a year, it means that it's better than most. I have rated their first two albums equally high but they're not alike. The debut album was a revelation of stylistic innovation and sheer energy. This one is the sound of a matured orchestra with a sophisticated soundscape. I love the sound of this album - it's deeper, more spacious, and the guitar work by Julian Swales is just breathtaking. Patrick Fitzgerald has a distinct melancholic way of phrasing that I think people either like or not. Needless say, I'm with the pros. "No surpiiii-iise"... ["Railwayed"] I just love the way he bends that line accompanied by Swales' gorgeous guitar. The album has no weak tracks, no fillers but several great compositions. The opening track is one of my all-time favourite KOD songs together with "Drive That Fast" (which I also own has a 12''). They're both up-tempo songs and I have played the latter a million times at maximum volume jumping around the house singing along: "Take me... - awaaay from these simple feeli-ings - I know... - there's a place on the other side of hee-ere - Take me... awaaay from these simple feeli-ings - I know... - I'll take that car and drive there faster --- I-would-never-want-to-do-that-to-you - I-would-never-want-to drive that fa-a-ast". The songs are not all up-tempo compositions like these, as one of their other great tracks on the album "Within the Daze of Passion" is a quite different composition. It's implementing progressive shoegaze and has that special trademark of theirs built on tension. The song is like a journey, or a Bolero-like dance evolving, investigating down a path into new territory and ending in a burst of (noisy) sound, like sheer bright light. The end track is the most quiet and monotone track with little focus on lyrics on account of a composition utilising horns, strings / synths and where the chorus-line is made up of a repetitious horn-section.

An all-time favourite.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

1991 Favourite releases: 1. Talk Talk Laughing Stock - 2. Van Morrison Hymns to the Silence - 3. Kitchens of Distinction Strange Free World

TV-2 "Verden er vidunderlig" (1982)

Verden er vidunderlig
release date: Feb. 1982
format: vinyl (85719) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Cy Nicklin, TV-2
label: CBS Records - nationality: Denmark

2nd studio album by Danish band TV-2 consisting of main songwriter, vocalist & keyboardist Steffen Brandt (ex-member of Kliché), guitarist S'Erik Lerchenfeldt (aka Svend Erik), bassist Georg Olesen, and drummer & percussionist Sven Gaul. The album is stylised Verden er vidunderlig - translated it means 'The World Is Wonderful', but with the subtle addition that with 'vid-' in white also hints both to the colour 'white' ['hvid'] but also signifying 'wide' AND as the word 'underlig' means 'strange' the title both suggests that, yes, the 'world is wonderful' but you may also perceive it as predominantly 'white' AND '(widely) strange'. And then you only have to take a look at the map of the world. Focus on word-play is already a strong trait of Brandt's lyrics, something he should carry on to explore on all of the band's future albums.

I purchased this already in '82 and not long after my first aquisition of a single release by TV-2.
The album has an even stronger focus on the lyrical dimension than the band's fine debut Fantastiske Toyota and its new wave and power pop strengths, have now been exchanged for a more experimental side of new wave or art rock attitude - perhaps a product of being compared to the strongest contemporary Danish act, Kliché. Some saw TV-2 as a Kliché-light version - and that tag wasn't an easy one to neglect since Brandt had played keyboards in Kliché before focussing entirely on TV-2.

Tom Waits "One From the Heart" (OST) (1982)

2004 remaster

One From the Heart (soundtrack)
release date: Feb. 1982
format: digital (2004 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Bones Howe
label: Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 5. "Broken Bicycles" - 6. "I Beg Your Pardon"

Soundtrack album from Tom Waits featuring Crystal Gayle [younger sister to Loretta Lynn] originally released on CBS Records is Waits' final album with Bones Howe as producer.

All songs are written and composed by Tom Waits, who had been hired and 'installed' in an office in Francis Ford Coppola's production company Zoetrope with the aim to create the music for a musical, which eventually would turn out as an even greater financial [and artistic] failure compared to the outcome of "Apocalypse Now" (1979).

The music by Waits is made in his characteristic style from the mid-70s - just as wanted by Coppola, even though Waits himself alledgedly wanted the music for the soundtrack withdrawn, simply because artistically, he saw himself in another place when the album was made.

The 2004 remastered adds two bonus tracks to the album.

org. '82 cover

Goldfrapp "Tales of Us" (2013)

2. "Annabel" - 3. "Drew"

John Mayer "Paradise Valley" (2013)

1. "Wildfire" - 2. "Dear Marie" - 3. "Waitin' on the Day" - 4. "Paper Doll"

The Cure "Let's Go to Bed" (1982) (single)

FICS 17

Let's Go to Bed, 7'' single
release date: Nov. 15, 1982
format: vinyl (FICS 17)
[single rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Chris Parry
label: Fiction Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Let's Go to Bed" (3 / 5) - - B) "Just One Kiss" (3,5 / 5)

7'' single by The Cure. The aftermath of the album Pornography (May 1982) saw some changes within the band. Simon Gallup left, and Steve Goulding was included to play drums while Laurence Tolhurst changed his role as drummer to handling keyboards. This new setup introduces a major step into a totally new direction only few months after the release of their darkest and most sinister album. I never liked this transition period very much, and simply found it too pop-polished, although, I know that Robert Smith hated "Top of the Pops" but still felt that he could embrace that culture by making it different. I just don't think he succeeds well on this nor on the next few attempts but eventually he did get it right.

Ray Charles "I Can't Stop Loving You" (1985)

I Can't Stop Loving You (compilation)
release date: 1985
format: vinyl
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Platinum - nationality: USA

Compilation album by Ray Charles released on the German (low-price re-issues) label Platinum.
The collection of songs on the album are somewhat strange with two Lennon / McCartney songs and no Ray Charles compositions; however, famous Ray Charles staples like the title song together with "Georgia on My Mind", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "What'd I Say", and "Unchain My Heart" make it worthwhile, although, it's easy to find better best of albums with the man.

Veronica Maggio "Vatten & bröd" (2006)

Vatten & bröd [debut]
release date: Sep. 6, 2006
format: digital (10 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]
producer: Stefan Gräslund
label: Stockholm Records / Universal

Track highlights: 2. "Ingenting kvar" - 3. "Dumpa mig" - 4. "Vi har, vi har" - 8. "Nöjd" - 9. "Gå nu"

Studio album debut by Swedish artist Veronica Maggio released on Stockholm Records / Universal and produced by Stefan Gräslund, who not only has written and composed all songs but also is credited 'instruments'.
The album is held in a certain jazz pop style, which bonds to early music by The Cardigans and Bo Kaspers Orkester, I think. Maggio's voice sounds much like Nina Persson of The Cardigans on this, and there's a certain laid back feel of lounge all over.
It's generally Okay, though I don't find it very personal nor that original. The song "Dumpa mig" was her first solo single release and it made it to number #14 on the Swedish singles chart.

Peter Sommer "Destruktive vokaler" (2006)

Destruktive vokaler
release date: Mar. 27, 2006
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "Intro" - 2. "Voksende mennesker" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Sang til Bo" (3 / 5) - 4. "Man hamrer løs på en åben dør" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Hvorom alting er" - 6. "Livets gang i Virkelyst" (3,5 / 5) - 7. " Karma" - 8. "8-6-6-0" (4 / 5) - 9. "De gamle stoffer" - 10. "Tænkeboks" - 11. "I morgen er alt muligt"

2nd studio album by Peter Sommer is a generally better and more coherent album with less fill and also better lyrics compared to his debut album. It's still folk rock and singer / songwriter with minimal orchestration.

Veronica Maggio

~ ~ ~

Veronica Maggio: aka Veronica Sandra Karin Maggio [birthname], born Mar. 15, 1981 in Uppsala, Sweden. She is a Swedish singer of both Swedish and Italian parents. She won the first prize as Årets Nykomling ('Debutant of the Year') at Grammisgalan 2007 in Sweden.
She started as lead vocalist in a band called Solitude, but was unnoticed until she released her debut single "Dumpa meg" ('Dump me') in 2006. I only heard her at a live performance on TV in 2011 with her hit single "Jag kommer". Her music is contemporary pop soul in a typical Scandinavian style with traces back to The Cardigans and also the Swedish vocalist, Lisa Nilsson. Maggio's lyrics often dwells on troubles in relationships, love, lost love, and the smaller things in life all dealt with a lightness, a positive approach, and a share of humour.

~ ~ ~

Kitchens of Distinction "Drive That Fast" (1990) (single) (ep)

Drive That Fast, 7'' single ep
release date: 1990
format: vinyl (49TP12)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Drive That Fast" (5 / 5) - 2. "These Drinkers" - - B) 1. "Elephantiny" - 2. "Three to Beam Up"

Ep single by Kitchens of Distinction. The title track is one of the band's best songs ever, and it features on the forthcoming '91 album. The track "Elephantiny" is not identical to the title track on the Elephantine ep nor the same as the song appearing on later reissues of the debut album.

The Smiths "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" (1985) (single)

The Boy With the Thorn in His Side, 12'' single
release date: Sep. 16, 1985
format: vinyl (RTT 191)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [4,17]
producer: John Porter, The Smiths
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Rubber Ring" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "Asleep" (4 / 5)

A 12'' single taken from the forthcoming '86 album.
The title track is a marvelous song and the B side is pretty decent. The front cover features a Young jumping Truman Capote in a (tinted) 1949 photo by Cecil Beaton.

[ collectors' item ]

original photo by Cecil Beaton

Lou Reed "Street Hassle" (1978)

Street Hassle
release date: Feb. 1978
format: vinyl (AB 4169) / cd (2016 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Lou Reed, Richard Robinson
label: Arista Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Gimme Some Good Times" (4 / 5) - 3. "Street Hassle: a) 'Waltzing Matilda' - b) 'Street Hassle' - c) 'Slipaway' " - 4. "I Wanna Be Black" - 5. "Real Good Time Together" (4 / 5) - 6. "Shooting Star" - 7. Leaving Me Alone" - 8. "Wait" (4 / 5)

8th studio album by Lou Reed follows 1½ years after Rock and Roll Heart (Oct. '76) and it has been co-produced by Reed and Richard Robinson. The album may not contain his greatest songs, but it may just be a fine document of his ongoing struggles in and with life itself - and in many ways this is a fine return to form. The 70s probably sent Lou on his most frightening trips, experimenting with (too many) substances and finding himself in and out of relationships. All that may be heard on the album, but it also documents his writing capabilities. When Lou is good, he really rocks away - not like a gifted singer or a prodigy guitarist, but more like a freight train providing whatever is needed. The sound here is dark and somewhat murky but not in a negative way. It's an album that reflects real lived life in a truly honest and genuine way.
I have always preferred this particular album over many of his more acclaimed releases, and I find it refreshingly honest. There's no bull about it - just very straight forward and it's a sheer blast when played loud. Imho, this is his third-best solo album throughout his long career only bettered by New York (1989) and his best-ever: Transformer from 1972.
(My issue is a US-import cut-out record)
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Chicago 4 / 4, Rolling Stone Album Guide 5 / 5 ]

Jan Garbarek "Eventyr" (1981)

Eventyr
release date: Dec. 1981
format: cd (ECM 1200)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Manfred Eicher
label: ECM Records - nationality: Norway

Tracklist: 1. "Soria Maria" (4 / 5) - 2. "Lillekort" - 3. "Eventyr" - 4. "Weaving a Garland" - 5. "Once Upon a Time" - 6. "The Companion" - 7. "Snipp, snapp, snute" - 8. "East of the Sun and West of the Moon"

Studio album by Jan Garbarek with Naná Vasconcelos and John Abercrombie. Vasconcelos plays berimbau, talking drum, percussion, and is credited for voice performance, and Abercrombie for playing guitars.
It's an interesting release by the great Norwegian saxophone player who has already established his special "Nordic" sound of ambient or contemporary jazz, closely related to the works of Palle Mikkelborg and / or Danish jazz band Entrance.
The overall impression is a somewhat uneven album with too many interests, and personally, I find other works by Garbarek better.

The Pogues "Rum, Sodomy & The Lash" (1985)

cd version

Rum, Sodomy & The Lash
release date: Aug. 1985
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,33]
producer: Elvis Costello
label: Stiff Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn" (5 / 5) - 2. "The Old Main Drag" (4 / 5) - 3. "Wild Cats of Kilkenny" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "A Pair of Brown Eyes" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Sally MacLennane" (5 / 5) - 7. "Dirty Old Town" (3,5 / 5) - 8. "Jesse James" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "Navigator" (3,5 / 5) - 10. "Billy's Bones" (4 / 5) - 11. "The Gentleman Soldier" (3 / 5) - 12. "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (4,5 / 5)

2nd studio album by The Pogues. This is the best combination of folk(lore), celtic rock and punk rock I have ever come across. If many artists find the follow-up album to a debut a hard and difficult one, The Pogues got everything right here, as I think it's simply their best ever album. Elvis Costello produced the album and I think, he succeeded pretty good in finding the right combo of Celtic folk tradition and folk punk energy. The debut Red Roses for Me (1984) was interesting and is by no means a bad album but on this one they simply turned up the punk rock element, which was more suppressed on the debut and had more focus on folk and celtic rock in a traditional perspective. Shane MacGowan was on top and wrote and sang at the peak of his career also distinguishing this from the debut by having less traditional songs and more tracks composed by MacGowan. Like their music is filled with references to life on the edge, in the shadows, with streams of beer and a life at an everlasting party, Shane lived his life in the fast lane and became notorious for his alcohol abuse and a lifestyle with no regrets, or so it seemed. This album remains their manifest and legacy, I think, and it's enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". A 2004 cd-reissue of the album also contains the 4-track ep Poguetry in Motion (1986) as bonus tracks.
[ allmusic.com, Sounds 4,5 / 5, Mojo, Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

1985 Favourite releases: 1. Ry Cooder Paris, Texas (OST) - 2. The Smiths Meat Is Murder - 3. The Pogues Rum, Sodomy and the Lash

org. album cover

Best of 2010:Søren Huss "Troen & ingen" (2010)

Troen & ingen [debut]
release date: Oct. 18, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,36]
producer: Søren Huss & Christoffer Møller
label: Universal - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Som mejslet i massiv granit" (4 / 5) (live) - 2. "Velkommen hjem" - 3. "Du er" (4 / 5) - 4. "Fra tanke til..." (4 / 5) - 5. "... Hvorfor?" - 6. "Svigt" - 7. "Jeg finder vej" - 8. "Intet er, intet bli'r" (4,5 / 5) - 9. "Et hav af udstrakte hænder" (5 / 5) (live) - 10. "Troen og ingen" (4 / 5) (live) - 11. "Tak for dansen" (4 / 5)

Studio solo debut from frontman / lead vocalist of Danish pop / rock, soft rock band Saybia, Søren Huss, and what a breathtaking accomplishment it is. Huss (aka 'Søren Huus', birth name) born Sep. 6, 1975, grew up in Nyborg, Denmark. Since 2008, the band's activities have been paused, presumably as a consequence of the tragic death of his girlfriend, who was killed by a truck Dec. 17, 2007 - an accident that severely injured and almost killed his two-year-old daughter too. Troen & ingen is about his loss and tragedy. Knowing just a small part of the tragic circumstances that motivated Huss to write these songs, makes it overwhelming to have this small glimpse of one man’s personal tragedy and existential struggle with life, and its hopeless conditions. He narrates openly about his deepest frustrations, about the fatal loss of life of his beloved girlfriend, the meaninglessness about life as such, and he ends this sinister tale, which forever will be present in his mind and soul, with an open-minded and more productive approach on life - and in that demonstrates the will to live on.
The songs are far from sing-a-long pop songs but more like chapters of a diary with words meant to be taken in. The lyrics are in that way honestly brutal, and yet he accomplishes with some fine arrangements, which make the single tracks stand out as individual compositions on what seems much like a conceptual album. Yes, this is an outstanding performance, and it aspires more than any to this year’s best Danish album release.

2010 Favourite releases: 1. Søren Huss Troen & ingen - 2. The Chemical Brothers Further - 3. Robyn Body Talk

Lloyd Cole and The Commotions "Easy Pieces" (1985)

Easy Pieces
release date: Nov. 22, 1985
format: vinyl (LCLP 2) / digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley
label: Polydor Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Rich" - 2. "Why I Love Country Music" (4 / 5) - 3. "Pretty Gone" - 4. "Grace" - 5. "Cut Me Down" - 6. "Brand New Friend" (4 /5) - 7. "Lost Weekend" (4 / 5) - 8. "James" - 10. "Perfect Blue"

2nd studio album by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions released one year after the debut album Rattlesnakes (Oct. 1984). The album has a stronger pop / rock and polished mainstream sound - most likely due to the choice of the producer-duo Langer / Winstanley, but it basically continues the original blend of styles.
Ultimately and without any fillers, I find it slightly bettering a mighty debut.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Sounds 3 / 5, Record Mirror 5 / 5 stars ]

Kitchens of Distinction "Quick as Rainbows" (1990) (single)

Quick as Rainbows, 12'' single
release date: Mar. 1990
format: vinyl (43TP12)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Kitchens of Distinction
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Quick as Rainbows" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mainly Mornings" (4,5 / 5) - - B) 1. "In a Cave" (4 / 5) - 2. "Shiver" (4 / 5)

Single release by Kitchens of Distinction contains four tracks. The title track is recorded by Martin Hannett and it's included on the forthcoming second studio album Strange Free World (1991), and the remaining three songs are taken from the '89 debut album, Love Is Hell but here in live recordings making this a very strong release.
Ep or 12" single? There's hardly any difference. This 12" single has 4 tracks just like the Drive That Fast ep. Anyway, what makes this a more interesting release is the inclusion of live material.
Front cover info: "Includes all Kitchens lyrics ever."

The Chemical Brothers "Exit Planet Dust" (1995)

Exit Planet Dust [debut]
release date: Jun. 26, 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,76]
producer: Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Cheeky Paul
label: JBO / Freestyle Dust / Virgin - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Leave Home" (4 / 5) - 2. "In Dust We Trust" - 3. "Song to the Siren" - 4. "Three Little Birdies Down Beats"

Studio debut album by The Chemical Brothers consisting of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simmons. The album contains some really groundbreaking tracks. I only heard the album after buying Dig Your Own Hole (1997), and didn't find it nearly as appealing, until some 10 years later. Today, I fully understand the hype and attention they received from this, and it's striking how much it resembles the style and beats on Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) by The Prodigy, which is one of my favourite albums of the '90s. "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, The Guardian, Select 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

R.E.M. "Green" (1988)

vinyl cover

Green
release date: Nov. 7, 1988
format: vinyl (925 795-1) / 2 cd (2013 reissue - 25th Anniversary Edition)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,36]
producer: Scott Litt and R.E.M.
label: Warner Bros. - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) 1. "Pop Song 89" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Get Up" (4,5 / 5) (live from Tourfilm) - 3. "You Are the Everything" (5 / 5) (live from Tourfilm) - 4. "Stand" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "World Leader Pretend" (4,5 / 5) (w. lyrics) - 6. "The Wrong Child" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Orange Crush" (4 / 5) - 2. "Turn You Inside-Out" (4 / 5) - 3. "Hairshirt" (4 / 5) - 4. "I Remember California" (4 / 5) (live from Tourfilm) - 5. [untitled] (5 / 5)

6th studio album by R.E.M. is their first on Warner Bros. and it's the band's second to be produced by coproduced by Scott Litt. On the original vinyl release, side A is labeled 'Air' and the B-side is labeled 'Metal'.
This one is like the amalgamation of what I enjoy the most about the band: the strong original R.E.M. sound, which has its origins in the 1960s folk rock guitar-string bands, their combo of jangle pop and alt. rock, and the blend of energetic electrified compositions with great vocal harmonies and choruses. I see this as the best of Lifes Rich Pageant (1986), Document (1987), AND its successor Out of Time (1991). Some tracks are sheer energy: "Pop Song '89", "Get Up", "Turn You Inside-Out", others are beautifully arranged serenity: "You Are the Everything", "Hairshirt", and "[untitled]" (the end track), and then some that are more complex compositions within the same musical space as later hits ("Losing My Religion"), "Stand", "World Leader Pretend", "Orange Crush", and "I Remember California".
Imho, this is simply the band's best album ever, and it's the best alternative rock / pop-rock album of 1988, and quite naturally, it has been enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
The album was reissued in a remastered 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition including the bonus disc "Live in Greensboro 1989".
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

2013 25th Anniversary
Deluxe Edition

1988 Favourite releases: 1. Chet Baker Memories: Chet Baker in Tokyo - 2. R.E.M. Green - 3. Talk Talk Spirit of Eden

Top 5 albums by R.E.M.
1. Green
2. Lifes Rich Pageant
3. Document
4. Monster
5. Automatic for the People

Show lyrics <- click...

~ ~ ~
"You Are The Everything"

"Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing
(say, say, the light) I'm very scared for this world
I'm very scared for me
(say, say, the light) Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene: you're in the back seat
(say, say, the light) laying down the windows
wrap around to the sound of the
(say, say, the light) travel and the engine

All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end
But slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone you are the everything

I think about this world a lot and
(say, say, the light) I cry and I've seen the films and the eyes
(say, say, the light) But I'm in this kitchen
Everything is beautiful and
(say, say, the light) she is so beautiful
She is so young and old
(say, say, the light) I look at her and I see the beauty
Of the light of music

The voices talking somewhere in the house
Late spring and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth
You are here with me
You are here with me
You have been here and you are everything

Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing
(say, say, the light) I'm very scared for this world
I'm very scared for me
(say, say, the light) Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene: you're in the back seat
(say, say, the light) laying down the windows
wrap around to the sound of the
(say, say, the light) travel and the engine

All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end
But slowly drifts into sleep
The greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone you are the everything
For you alone you are the everything"

~ ~ ~

Lise Westzynthius "Siberian Mission" (2007)

Siberian Mission

release date: Nov. 5, 2007

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,26]

producer: Lise Westzynthius

label: A:larm / Auditorium - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Siberian Mission" - 2. "Childlike Curves" - 3. "Motion Picture" - 4. "Soldiers" - 5. "Long Dark Night of the Soul"

3rd studio album by Lise Westzynthius follows the album Rock, You Can Fly (Mar. 2004) by close to four years. Where the predecessor starred British producer Ian Caple, this new album is made with Westzynthius producing seven tracks, mixing engineer and producer Carsten Heller and Henrik Balling (of Gangway) both producing one track each, and then British musician Rob Ellis as producer and arranger of two songs (tracks #1 and #8) still offer high quality guest appearances - it's probably no coincidence that Ian Caple, who produced Westzynthius' 2004 album later produced husband Peter Sommer's Destruktive Vokaler (2008), on which Henrik Balling and guitarist Søren Bigum appears - Bigum also plays guitar on six tracks here, and then also Peter Sommer appears on two songs.

Stylewise, Siberian Mission is in some ways an extension of her 2004 album, blending indie pop and electronica with subtleness, but along the way it's obviously a much more folk-oriented album compared to the predecessor, but also less of a coherent release. Most tracks are soft and mellow in style, some are uptempo pop, but a few tracks simply burst with aggressiveness, which makes them stand out much more when surrounded by quiet and gentle songs, and then hardly any songs in particular attracts your attention and makes this a great album. In fact, I find it a bit underwhelming when thinking of how good the predecessor was.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions "Punch the Clock" (1983)

Punch the Clock
release date: Aug. 5, 1983
format: vinyl (XXLP 20) / digital (2013 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley
label: F-Beat Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Let Them All Talk" - 2. "Everyday I Write the Book" - 3. "The Greatest Thing" - 4. "The Element Within Her" - 5. "Love Went Mad" - 6. "Shipbuilding" (5 / 5) - 7. "TKO (Boxing Day)" - 13. "The World and His Wife"

8th studio album by Elvis Costello - his sixth with The Attractions and the first of two consecutive albums to be produced by the pop-producer-duo Langer / Winstanley, who at this point had faced great sales with albums like The Rise & Fall by Madness and Too-Rye-Ay by Dexys Midnight Runners, and the duo's job was to secure hit material singles that had been missing on his previous album, Imperial Bedroom (Jul. '82). Langer / Winstanley stood for large-scale arrangements and they brought with them strings arranger David Bedford, the Afrodiziak [backing choir] and the brass-constellation, The TKO Horns in support of The Attractions.

The 2013 remaster is released by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.

I recall buying the vinyl album immediately upon its release - I found the single "Everyday I Write the Book" rather nice despite signalling a new pop tone to the sonic universe of Costello. I also recall how I found the album too slick and without much else. Yes, it also contains his modern classic "Shipbuilding", originally written by Costello to be released with Robert Wyatt [Wyatt version] on lead vocals in Aug. '82 - a quite unforgettable version - and as Costello thought of it as his best song ever he included it here with his own vocals and with the addition of a trumpet solo by Chet Baker; and then a few other fine songs, but the overall impression wasn't entirely positive. The video to "Everyday I Write the Book" became an MTV staple and together with a positive Costello, who no longer rejected the press but now willingly stood up for interviews, all in all secured good sales, and the album eventually sold Gold, both in the US and in the UK, where the album peaked at a high top 3 - making it his best-selling album since Get Happy!! (1980).

Over the years it has proved to contain other fine songs but it's still an album that has that unfortunate Langer / Winstanley 'over-produced' touch all over it - a notion several contemporary critics also heard when they referred to the album as 'pretentious' - a tendency that would prove to be further accentuated on Goodbye Cruel World (rel. Jun. '84) - also produced by Langer / Winstanley. The album may be touched, or slightly ruined from poor production and too heavy arrangements, but it's still an album that reveal great songwriting, and in that perspective, it's not a bad album at all.

[ allmusic.com, Blender, Uncut, Mojo 3 / 5, Rolling Stone, Sounds 4 / 5 stars ]

The Chemical Brothers

~ ~ ~

The Chemical Brothers: formed 1992, Manchester, UK. The band is a duo consisting of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (aka Bonus Beats Orchestra, aka The 237 Turbo Nutters, aka *The Dust Brothers). The duo has been one of the primary sources (together with The Prodigy and later Fat Boy Slim) to the popularity of big beat as a sub genre of electronic music. They have experimented on the electronic scene with downtempo and neo-psychedelia, and most recently, they have stretched the style into more electro house oriented compositions.
*An American trio also exists by this name. Originally, Rowlands and Simons took this name in homage to the American band but threats of a lawsuit made them change name to The Chemical Brothers.

~ ~ ~

Everything but the Girl "Idlewild" (1988)

Idlewild
release date: May 3, 1988
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Ben Watt
label: Blanco y Negro - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1 "I Don't Want to Talk About It" - 2. "Love Is Here Where I Live" - 3. "These Early Days" - 5. "Oxford Street" - 10. "Tears All Over Town" - 11. "Lonesome for a Place I Know"

4th studio album by Everything but the Girl. It comes in at least three different versions with individual track listings. The original vinyl pressing (both British and German pressings) consisted of 11 tracks that are found here as tracks #2-12. Track #1 is something as unusual as a cover-version written and composed by Danny Whitten of Crazy Horse. On some cd issues it's enlisted as track #12.
Idlewild is luckily not just another attempt into sophist-pop but makes a return to a more simple form making it more of the natural successor to Love Not Money from 1985, thus being a much better release than the '86 album, although, the duo still seems a bit stuck in which way to choose. There are some fine jazz pop compositions, jangle pop tunes, but it also contains tracks built as symphonic sophisti-pop with funky frettless bass-lines that doesn't improve anything; however, Watt and Thorn are back as fine songwriters, and that's nice.
To me, the album comes out as the duo's second best album so far.
It's the first of only two albums by EBTG to be included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Peter Sommer "På den anden side" (2004)

På den anden side [debut]
release date: Oct. 11, 2004
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "Valby Bakke" (4 / 5) - 2. "Bombesikker" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Københavns Energi" - 4. "Flygtning" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Endnu en sommer er forbi" - 6. "Halvleg" - 7. " Chris & Tania" - 8. "Tigger" (4 / 5) (live) - 9. "Vand ved siden af" - 10. "Hvis bare jeg ku' " - 11. "Pigen & øen"

A promising debut album after leaving (?) the duo Superjeg. The album was like a sunbeam to Danish music, especially in the sense that it's a folk rock singer / songwriter album with lyrics in Danish, which was a rare but very welcome initiative at the time, and Sommer was almost inevitably compared to the great C.V. Jørgensen. Having said that, I think the album lacks great songs. "Valby Bakke", "Bombesikker", "Flygtning", and "Tigger" are the really fine songs here, but the rest are mediocre and basically feel a bit like fillers to make a full solo album a reality. Having said that, I think it's... promising.

Peter Sommer

~ ~ ~

Peter Sommer: (aka Peter Sommer Christensen, birth name) born Aug. 28, 1974, was born and grew up in Skanderborg, Denmark. Former member of the band Superjeg, a duo with Carsten Valentin Lassen (guitar & keyboard), which was active from 2000-2003. He formed the collaboration duo De Eneste To in 2010 with Simon Kvamm (lead vocalist of Nephew). Peter was married to Danish singer / songwriter Lize Westzynthius, (2003-2010). He is primarily a singer / songwriter and he made his solo debut in 2004.

~ ~ ~

Neil Young & Crazy Horse "Live Rust" (1979) (live)

Live Rust (live)
release date: Nov. 1979
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Released as Neil Young & Crazy Horse this is another live album, and originally a double vinyl issue. Compared to Rust Never Sleeps this is the music of his great career, both as soloist and with Crazy Horse, and in that respect it is a 'must-have'. The album starts out with a track he wrote in the late 1960s before going solo, followed by a song for Buffalo Springfield, "I Am a Child", also a track from the '60s, and in that way the album continues on a journey up until his most recent songs. In one way it resembles Rust Never Sleeps, and that's how the album is split up in an acoustic start and an electrified ending, only here it's only the first 5 songs, side A on vinyl, that are (slow) acoustic and the rest, which is 11 tracks that make up side B, C, and D on the double lp version, are electrified folk rock compositions.

Alela Diane "About Farewell" ('About Farewel', 2013)

Rodriguez "I Think of You" ('Coming From Reality', 1971)

Buika "En el último trago" (2009)

En el último trago
release date: Oct. 19, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Sombras" (live) - 6. "En el último trago" - 7. "Se me hizo fácil"

Studio album by Spanish artist Concha Buika, or: Maria da Concepción Balboa Buika [birth name], better known as just Buika on an album featuring the Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés. The music is latin jazz with mostly just Buika singing accompanied by piano. It's simple and nice.

Sena Ehrhardt "Buried Alive" ('All In', 2013)

New Order "Taras Shevchenko" (1983) (Live in New York, November 18, 1981)

Taras Shevchenko, video
release date: Aug. 1983
format: vhs
[ vhs rate: 4 / 5]

Set list: 02:56 "Chosen Time" - 07:01 "Dreams Never End" - 10:23 "Everything's Gone Green" - 15:35 "Truth" -  20:12 "Senses" - 24:46 "Procession" - 28:46 "Ceremony" - 33:32 "Denial" - 38:32 "Temptation"

First official video featuring New Order. It was recorded from a live concert held in New York at Taras Shevchenko (The Ukranian National Home), Nov. 18, 1981 and was released Aug. 1983. I used to own this great live recording on VHS. It's the band's first tour in the US. Joy Division was scheduled to tour in the summer of 1980 - a tour that was cancelled because of lead vocalist Ian Curtis' suicide. The band continued as New Order with Gillian Gilbert on keyboard and guitar, and guitarist Bernard Sumner took the part as vocalist. This concert shows his unfamiliar part as vocalist. Later on he proved to do much better, but despite his poor singing qualities at this stage, it works, and perhaps mostly because of Stephen Morris' excellent job playing drums, and at times like a drum machine. Fantastic performance.