Pretenders "Extended Play" (1981) (ep)

Extended Play, ep
release date: Mar. 30, 1981
format: vinyl (cut-out record - MINI 3563)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Chris Thomas
label: Sire Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Message of Love" (4,5 / 5 ) - 2. "Talk of the Town" - 3. "Porcelain" - - B) 1. "Cuban Slide" - 2. "Precious" (live)

5 track ep release by Pretenders in the same line-up as on the one-year old debut. Two tracks (#A3 and #B1) are outtakes from the debut album, and tracks #A1 and #A2 are included on the sophomore album Pretenders II (Aug. 1981).
A tight and very fine ep.

Lykke Li "Youth Novels" (2008)

Youth Novels [debut]
release date: Jan. 30, 2008
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,36]
producer: Björn Yttling, Lasse Mårtén
label: LL Recordings - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 2. "Dance, Dance, Dance" - 3. "I'm Good, I'm Gone" - 4. "Let It Fall" - 6. "Tonight" - 7. "Little Bit" - 11. "Breaking It Up"

Full length studio album debut following the 2007 ep Little Bit by Swedish singer and songwriter Lykke Li [full name: Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, daughter of photographer Kärsti Stiege and guitarist Johan 'Zilverzurfarn' Zachrisson of the Swedish band Dag Vag]. All three songs from her debut ep are included on this album [tracks #7, #12 and #13]. Most songs are written with producer and multi-instrumentalist Björn Yttling. Initially, the album was issued in Sweden only but it had its international release in June with the addition of two songs [tracks #6 & #12].
The music is predominantly an art pop release with different influences that dominate specific tracks with soul, indietronica and chamber pop as the most evident styles.
I only came across this album after listening to her acclaimed follow-up album Wounded Rhymes from 2011, and what strikes me about Youth Novels is that it's a rather different album with much more focus on indietronica - or perhaps more precisely: a broader album that only seems harder to label.
Generally, the album was met by positive reviews - in Sweden but also internationally, and Li and the album was nominated in five categories at the Swedish Grammis reward show in 2005.
I like the tone and mood it facilitates but don't find it as accessible as her later works, although, it's evident that it has obvious qualities in terms of artistic originality. What I find lacking are simply a bunch of memorable tunes, though I think that some compositions echo drafts to later successes.
All in all the album is a nice and warm uplifting debut.
[ allmusic.com, NME, The Times 4 / 5, Rolling Stone, Spin 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Bob Mould

~ ~ ~

Bob Mould (birthname Robert Arthur Mould; Oct. 16, 1960) was born in Malone (New York), USA. Toegther with Grant Hart, he was co-founder of the Minneapolis-based hardcore punk band Hüsker Dü (1979-1987), a trio that progressed to become a highly influential power pop, alt. rock band. Both Hart and Mould launched on solo careers immediately after the split and Mould released a well-received primarily acoustic folk rock, singer / songwriter debut album before setting off with his special trademark of alt. rock, power pop combined with a singer / songwriter tradition. The musical style of Hüsker Dü and both Hart's and Mould's earliest solo works have had an important role and may eventually have kick-started the whole grunge rock movement. In the early 90s he put together a new trio called Sugar (1991-95) under which name the debut album Copper Blue (1992) was released. In a sense it is somewhat hard musically to pin out any noteworthy differences from e.g. Mould's second album Black Sheets of Rain (1990) and that is to say the music he already produced but for the short period of time Sugar was around, the style was always alternative, indie pop, power pop with much less focus on the singer / songwriter element one may attribute Mould's solo works. Under the name Sugar, only two full albums was released and therefore the '94 album, which also became known as F.U.E.L., signalled the end of Sugar. From here on, Bob Mould has only released solo albums, almost in a Neil Young kind of way, always experimenting with new styles and very different productions. He proclaimed his retirement as musician in the late 90s as his sufferings from tinnitus made it more than difficult to stay an active composer of music, and the album The Last Dog and Pony Show (1998) was meant as a final release. However, he returned with brand new material in 2002 as he released his so far most electronic album Modulate. He may have slowed down on the production level but has kept releasing new material ever since. His latest album Silver Age (2012) is a return to the golden days of his best albums and also a return to power pop and alternative rock, and it has been received like one of his major releases from the early 90s. Mould is also co-founder of Reflex Records (founded by Hüsker Dü and Terry Katzman in 1981), Singles Only Label [SOL] (founded by Steve Fallon and Bob Mould in 1988?), and Granary Music [GM] (founded by Bob Mould in 2002) on which he has released his solo albums since.

~ ~ ~

Joy Division "The Peel Sessions - Joy Division" (1987) (ep)

The Peel Sessions - Joy Division, ep
release date: Sep. 1987
format: digital (SFPS 033)
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Tracklist: A) 1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - 2. "24 Hours" - - B.) 1. "Colony" - 2. "Sound of Music"

4-track ep by Joy Division. These are the first John Peel recordings with the band but it figures as the second Joy Division Peel Sessions release [!]. Like the other Peel Session with the band, this also contains 4 previously unreleased tracks. It was recorded two months earlier than SFPS 013 on Nov. 26, 1979 and had its first broadcast 14 days later on Dec. 10, 1979. Both original vinyl releases were reissued on one cd as Peel Sessions (1990), a compilation of the two Peel Sessions - Joy Division. The John Peel BBC Radio 1 broadcast series has been a huge commercial success with the album releases of hundreds of radio transmitted live recordings. The Peel Sessions was released on Strange Fruit Records, a record label established by Clive Selwood and John Peel in 1986, primarily to release selected recordings of the many John Peel BBC 1 radio broadcasts on album. Actually, the very first album release was The Peel Sessions - New Order.

R.E.M. "Monster" (1994)

Monster
release date: Sep. 27, 1994
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,80]
producer: Scott Litt and R.E.M.
label: Warner Bros. - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" (4 / 5) - 2. "Crush With Eyeliner" - 3. "King of Comedy" (2,5 / 5) - 4. "I Don't Sleep, I Dream" - 5. "Star 69" - 6. "Strange Currencies" - 7. "Tongue" (5 / 5) (live) - 8. "Bang and Blame" (4 / 5) - 9. "I Took Your Name" - 10. "Let Me In" (5 / 5) (live) - 11. "Circus Envy" - 12. "You"

9th studio album by R.E.M. released on Warner Bros. and produced by Scott Litt and R.E.M. The year 1994 is renowned for its many grunge rock-related releases and this is R.E.M.'s contribution to the pool. Both critics and fans seem divided on this one - my guess is that old fans who really liked the band prior to Out of Time (1991) applauded this for its raw and energetic outburst, while others almost hated the album because it was anything but another Out of Time release.
I think it's great, although, it sounds a bit dated today, and it's also rather uneven. "King of Comedy" is truly a poor compositions, almost clearly below mediocre, which somehow makes me think of "Numb" by U2. Still, I rate Monster as high as 4 despite that I find it contains 3-4 lesser compositions, but it's also an album with three fine compositions and four really great tracks including the splendid "Tongue" and the sublime Cobain tribute "Let Me In". Another fine thing about the album, I think, is that Stipe really challenges his vocal capabilities singing with both fierce energy, in soft harmonies and high pitched falsetto, all in the most incredible manner. I've enjoyed this a great deal for more than a decade - it's one of my top 5 favourite R.E.M. albums but also the last truly great album from this band.
[ allmusic.com 2,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4,5 / 5, Blender 5 / 5 stars ]

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...

~ ~ ~
"Let Me In"

"Yeah all those stars drip down like butter
And promises are sweet
We hold out our pans with our hands to catch them
We eat them up, drink them up, up, up, up

Heyyyyyyyyyyy, let me in
Heyyyyyyyyyyy, let me in

I only wish that I could hear you whisper down,
Mister fisherman, to a less peculiar ground
He gathered up his loved ones and he brought them all around
To say goodbye,
Nice try.

Heyyyyyyyyyyy, let me in
Yeah yeah yeah
Heyyyyyyyyyyy, let me in
Let me in

I had a mind to try to stop you
Let me in. Let me in
Well, I got tar on my feet and I can't see all the birds look down and laugh at me
Clumsy, crawling out of my skin

:: Heyyyyyyyyyyy, let me in
Yeah yeah yeah
Heyyyyyyyyyyy, let me in ::"

~ ~ ~

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark "Dazzle Ships" (1983)

cd cover

Dazzle Ships
release date: Mar. 4, 1983
format: cd (reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: OMD, Rhett Davies
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Radio Prague" - 2. "Genetic Engineering" - 3. "ABC Auto-Industry" - 4. "Telegraph" - 5. "This Is Helena" - 6. "International" - 7. "Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III & VII)" - 8. "The Romance of the Telescope" - 9. "Silent Running" - 10. "Radio Waves" - 11. "Time Zones" - 12. "Of All the Things We’ve Made"

4th studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The band's label Dindisc closed before releasing the album, so the parent label Virgin released the album on a fictitious independent label, "Telegraph". After three lauded albums of pure synthpop the band goes further into experimental synthpop on this and bonds to musique concrète and specifically to the German electronic band Kraftwerk.
The title refers to the Peter Saville cover art, which is inspired by "Dazzle camouflage" and specifically British painter Edward Wadsworth's painting "Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool" (1919) [see here].
The album is one of my absolute favourites by OMD (and probably the single album I would choose of all their releases), and it's one of my most played albums of the 80s. Initially, I bought the album on cassette back when it was issued, and only about a decade after its original release, I purchased the album on a cd reissue (this).
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Record Collector, Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

<  show cover >

org. vinyl (and cassette) cover

Bob Marley and The Wailers "Legend - The Best of Bob Marley and The Wailers" (1984)

Legend - The Best of Bob Marley and The Wailers (compilation)
release date: 1984
format: vinyl (gatefold)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Island Records - nationality: Jamaica

Compilation album by Bob Marley and The Wailers, and one of the better ones. The album contains 14 tracks.

Kim Larsen "Kim i cirkus" (1985) (live)

Kim i cirkus (live)
release date: 1985
format: vinyl (MdLP 6195)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,48]
producer: Poul Bruun
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark

Live album by Kim Larsen following the album Midt om natten (1983).
The album was part of my parents' record collection.
Kim Larsen is a national icon, who also experienced success in other Scandinavian countries. I have never been a fan of Larsen or any of his releases, and that also includes this album.
Not recommended.

Simple Minds "Speed Your Love to Me" (1984) (single)

Speed Your Love to Me, 7'' single
release date: Jan. 22, 1984
format: vinyl (VS 649)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Tracklist: A) "Speed Your Love to Me" - - B) "Bass Line"

Single release by Simple Minds is the second single from the album Sparkle in the Rain (Feb. '84). The B-side is a non-album track.

BEST OF 1987:The Smiths "Strangeways, Here We Come" (1987)

Strangeways, Here We Come
release date: Sep. 22, 1987
format: vinyl (ROUGH 106) / cd / cd (2011 remaster)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,45]
producer: Johnny Marr, Morrissey, Stephen Street
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" (4 / 5) - 3. "Death of a Disco Dancer" (4 / 5) - 4. "Girlfriend in a Coma" (5 / 5) - 5. "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" (4,5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" (5 / 5) - 2. "Unhappy Birthday" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Paint a Vulgar Picture" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Death at One's Elbow" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "I Won't Share You" (5 / 5)

4th and final studio album by The Smiths now with producer Stephen Street, and as with previous albums, once again, the musical universe has changed compared to the predecessor. Apparently, the recording time of the album was delayed and extended due to personal / private disagreements between the two leaders, Morrissey and Marr. In fact, the album was recorded in the spring of '87 - Johnny Marr left the Smiths in July, and the album was released another two months later when attempts to continue the band with a new guitarist had been exhausted, and therefore the album was released post-posthumously at a time when it had become evident that the band would not continue.
The music is not as polished and coherent as the previous album but it still seems rather homogeneous in a way. The jangle pop element is more subdued on behalf of a more orchestrated sound with piano, strings and synthesized sounds, making it a more complex whole. However, on the lyrical side, Morrissey makes sure it's The Smiths at their best with strong lyrics on the same issues as on "The Queen Is Dead" but with even more criticism revealing a strong dissatisfaction with their record company, most explicitly in "Paint a Vulgar Picture". Once again, after a short while the new Smiths album was my favourite The Smiths' record. It sort of contains all the characteristic elements of their vast repertoire. "A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours" is a continued style of Meat is Murder (title track) "Girlfriend in a Coma" is like their best single hits with focus on jangle pop as "The Boy With the Thorn...". "Paint a Vulgar Picture" is a more sarcastic version of "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" from The Queen..., whereas "Unhappy Birthday" and "I Won't Share You" resembles the tone and melancholic style they have carried with them on all of their albums - there's always a 'tear-your-heart-out song' of impossible love for the heartbroken on any of their releases.
The album cover is as always Morrissey's mission and this time it features an image of actor Richard Davalos from the movie "East of Eden" (1955), apparently from a scene starring James Dean who was a beloved icon of Morrissey's.
No new material was released after this but the great live album Rank followed in 1988, the same year Morrissey released his first solo album Viva Hate.
Strangeways, Here We Come is quite naturally enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
I have a 1987 cd version as well as the 2011 remaster issued by WEA.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com, Blender, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

1987 Favourite releases: 1. The Smiths Strangeways, Here We Come - 2. U2 The Joshua Tree - 3. Hüsker Dü Warehouse: Songs and Stories

The Church "The Church" (1982)

The Church [debut]
release date: Jan. 22, 1982
format: vinyl (CALS 130) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Chris Gilbey & Bob Clearmountain
label: Carrere Records - nationality: Australia

Track highlights: 1. "For a Moment We're Strangers" (4 / 5) - 3. "The Unguarded Moment" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 6. "Is This Where You Live" - *8. "Tear It All Away" - 9. "Don't Open the Door to Strangers"

Studio album debut by Australian jangle pop band The Church consisting of lead vocalist and bassist Steve Kilbey, lead guitarist Peter Koppes, guitarist Marty Willson-Piper (6 & 12 strings acoustic and el-guitar) and with Nick Ward on drums. On the back of the sleeve Ward has been exchanged in the credit list by new drummer Richard Ploog, who plays on three of the songs but Ward left the band before the album was finished. This is the '82 European version of the debut, which originally had the title Of Skins and Heart (Apr. '81) released by EMI / Parlophone and only for the Australian market. The European issue is almost identical with only one track differing from the Australian edition: track #8. has been exchanged for "Fighter Pilot...Korean War" on the original.

I purchased the vinyl album back in '82, and it was the only version I knew of until around 2012, when I came to know of the original. Upon listening to the "Fighter pilot..." track, I only think the decision of an exchange seems appropriate, when the album had an international release. "Tear It All Away" falls in the better half of the tracks and appears more in harmony with the current jangle pop style compared to the exchanged track.

Musically, this is labelled new wave - a soft end less aggressive version, which corresponds with other bands of the late 70s to early 80s. This isn't music that relates to the punk rock, as other new wave bands, but the style is with reference to and inspiration from folk rock, as soft rock of the 60s and perhaps with some inspiration from British band The Soft Boys, a band who had listened to The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, The Kinks, and The Byrds.

cover from the debut album
Of Skins and Heart, (1981)

The Icicle Works "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" (1983) (single)

Love Is a Wonderful Colour, 7'' single
release date: Oct. 1983
format: vinyl (106 190)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: David Lord
label: Virgin / Beggars Banquet - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" - - B) "Waterline"

Single release by Icicle Works taken from the forthcoming debut album.

Gnags "Har de puttet noget i kaffen?" (1987)

Har de puttet noget i kaffen?
release date: 1987
format: vinyl (GENLP 163) / digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,14]
producer: Michael Bruun, Gnags
label: Genlyd - nationality: Denmark

13th studio album by Gnags.

The Smiths "Girlfriend in a Coma" (1987) (single)

Girlfriend in a Coma, 12'' single

release date: Aug. 14, 1987
format: vinyl (RTT 197)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Stephen Street
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Girlfriend in a Coma" - - B) 1. "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" - 2. "I Keep Mine Hidden"

Single release by The Smiths with the title track from the forthcoming album Strangeways, Here We Come (1987).

[ collectors' item ]

Kate Bush "Cloudbusting" (1985) (single)

Cloudbusting, 7'' single
release date: Oct. 4, 1985
format: vinyl
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Kate Bush
label: EMI Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Cloudbusting" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Burning Bridge" (3 / 5)

2nd single from the album Hounds of Love.

Sebastan "Tiderne skifter" (1979)

Tiderne skifter

release date: Mar. 1979

format: vinyl (EXL 30.006) / 2 cd (2009 reissue)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,72]

producer: Sebastian, Nils Henriksen

label: Exlibris - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: A) 1. "Sangen om vandhjulet" - 2. "Sørøver Jenny" (live) - 3. "De elskende" - 4. "Surabaya-Johnny" - - B) 1. "Solomons sang" - 2. "Visen om den lille vind" - 3. "Ballade om konen & soldaten"

9th studio album by Danish singer/songwriter and folk rock artist Sebastian (aka Knud Grabow Christensen) is an album entirely with songs written by Bertolt Brecht (translated by Erik Knudsen and Ivan Malinowski) to music by Sebastian. The release follows Ikke alene Danmark (1978) and is succeeded by Cirkus Fantastica (Nov. 1979).

Kate Bush "Hounds of Love" (1985)

Hounds of Love
release date: Sep. 16, 1985
format: vinyl / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Kate Bush
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A-side) ['Hounds of Love'] 1. "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" 2. "Hounds of Love" (5 / 5) - 5. "Cloudbusting" (4 / 5) - - B-side) ['The Ninth Wave'] 2. "Under Ice" - 5. "Jig of Life" - 6. "Hello Earth" - 7. "The Morning Fog"

5th studio album by Kate Bush released 3 years after The Dreaming. After the long and financially difficult studio sessions working on her 82 album Bush build her own studio so she could use whatever time she needed on making new music. The album's style is more mainstream but it still could be categorised as art pop. Where The Dreaming appears as closed and angry this seems more positive and open. The original vinyl issue's A-side 'Hounds of Love' contains the most evident pop hits, whereas the B-side 'The Ninth Wave' is more of a conceptual progressive composition in several acts. The album contains some of her best single hits and was her second album to reach #1 on the album charts list in the UK. It's by many considered her best album ever, which I agree with, and it's also enlisted in numerous of best of albums comprising all time best albums including "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Sounds, Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

Joy Division "The Peel Sessions - Joy Division" (1986) (ep)

The Peel Sessions - Joy Division, ep
release date: Nov. 1986
format: vinyl (SFPS013) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Bob Sargeant
label: Strange Fruit - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Exercise One" - 2. "Insight" - - B) 1. "She's Lost Control" - 2. "Transmission"

4-track ep by Joy Division, which is actually the second John Peel recording with the band consisting of four previously unreleased tracks. It was recorded Jan. 31, 1979 and it had its first broadcast 14 days later on Feb. 14, 1979. All tracks are great examples of the band's strength, and they are brilliant versions of tracks found on the first album (#2 and #3) but also one track (#1), which was composed and played when the band's name was Warsaw, and track #4, which was released as a single only. The album was the first Joy Division release in the John Peel Sessions but it follows the first release by New Order.
The album is the 13th of the Peel Sessions released on Strange Fruit [SFPS013].

Beto Guedes "Amor de Índio" (1978)

Amor de Índio

release date: 1978

format: cd (reissue)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]

producer: Ronaldo Bastos

label: EMI - nationality: Brazil

Track highlights: 1. "Amor de Índio" (5 / 5) - 2. "Novena" - 3. "Só Primavera" - 6. "Feira Moderna" (4 / 5) - 7. "Luz e Mistério" - 8. "O medo de Amar é o medo de ser Livre" - 9. "Era menino"

2nd studio album by Beto Guedes is like the '77 debut album produced by Ronaldo Bastos, also credited as co-composer of two songs. Guedes has written most songs and co-composed the majority of these tracks together with Marcio Borges and/or Fernando Brant - one song is composed with Gaetano Veloso (track #7). "Feira Moderna" is composed with Marcio Borges and Fernando Brant as early as in 1969, thus preceeding the music collective "Clube da Esquina" also featuring Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges.

On Amor de Índio Guedes contines in the style of MPB [Música Popular Brasileira] in the folk tradition rooted in the Minas Gerais-region. The album contains two of Guedes' most beloved songs: the aforementioned "Feira Moderna" and the title track as his perhaps most magical contribution ever, but also the fine songs composed with Veloso and Brant (tracks #7 and #8) have become MPB staples.

The album betters his debut and has secured Beto Guedes national glorification.

Highly recommended.

~ ~ ~

Also listen to:

"Amor de Índio" brilliantly interpreted by Milton Nascimento, which is a very different version.

Echo and the Bunnymen "Ocean Rain" (1984)

Ocean Rain
release date: May 4, 1984
format: vinyl (KODE 8) / digital (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Gil Norton, Henri Loustau and Echo & The Bunnymen
label: Korova - nationality: England, UK

4th studio album by Echo & The Bunnymen following Porcupine (Feb. 1983) in the classic line-up with songwriter and vocalist Ian McCulloch (also credited guitar & piano), guitarist Will Sergeant, bassist Les Pattinson, and drummer Pete de Freitas.
The 2003 remaster is issued as 25th Anniversary Edition containing eight bonus tracks.
The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

2003 remaster

múm "Finally We Are No One" (2002)

Finally We Are No One
release date: May 20, 2002
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Green Grass of Tunnel" - 3. "We Have a Map of the Piano" - 9. "I Can't Feel My Hand Any More, It's Alright, Sleep Still" - 11. "The Land Between Solar Systems"
[ full album ]

A studio album by múm. Like the debut album, it's electronic and glitch but there's more traditional songwriting in this, and not the same sketches of ideas that may or may not have been the case on the first album. This is also much closer to the style of Sigur Rós without copying, or following the same recipe, but in the way they succeed in making the sound more progressive and orchestrated.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

múm "Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK" (2001)

Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK [debut]
release date: Apr. 2, 2001
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,40]
producer: múm
label: Tugboat Records - nationality: Iceland

Track highlights: 2. "Smell Memory" - 3. "There Is a Number of Small Things" - 7. "The Ballad of the Broken Birdie Records" - 10. "Slow Bicycle"

Studio debut album by Icelandic band múm (who also made the soundtrack Blái hnötturinn, aka "The Blue Planet" in 2001). The band is a quartet consisting of Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, Gunnar Örn Tynes, and the twin-sisters, Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir [from 2007 solo artist aka Kría Brekkan] and Gyða Valtýsdóttir [2 men + 2 women]. The genre is electronic and stylistically it's glitch pop with a progressive and / or ambient touch of idm and folktronica [electronica fused with folk / folklore elements].
It's a small but quite interesting album that just feels like a rather warm and cute collection of somewhat longy [typically 5-7 mins running time], though never too long compositions.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, NME, Mojo 4 / 5, The Guardian 5 / 5 stars]

Susana Baca "Eco de sombras" (2000)

Eco de sombras
release date: Jul. 1, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "De los amores" (4 / 5) - 2. "Valentín" - 4. "Los amantes" - 5. "El mayoral" - 7. "Golpe e' tierra" (4 / 5) - 8. "Panalivio / Zancudito" (4 / 5) (studio session) - 10. "Xanaharí"

Studio album by Peruvian vocal jazz artist Susana Baca. This is a wonderful version of latin vocal jazz or Música Criolla Peruana closely related to the Portuguese fado, the coladeira of Cape Verde, AND Son Cubano of Cuba. Baca has also been engaged into politics, and was Minister of Culture (2011-13).
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

2000 Favourite releases: 1. PJ Harvey Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea - 2. Susana Baca Eco de sombras - 3. Olesen-Olesen Der er brev fra onkel Bob i Amerika

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds "From Her to Eternity" (1984)

From Her to Eternity [debut]
release date: Jun. 18, 1984
format: cd (1996 Japan reissue)
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,16]
producer: Flood, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
label: Mute Records - nationality: Australia

Studio album debut by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
When the Australian band The Birthday Party split duo to disputes within the band about musical direction, Nick Cave and multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey found new partners in ex-vocalist and guitarist of German experimental industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten, Blixa Bargeld (aka Christian Emmerich) and former guitarist of British art-rock post-punk band Magazine, Barry Adamson (both had played with The Birthday Party either live or as substitutes), and together with Australian guitarist Hugo Race they formed the band Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds around 1983, a band which initially also featured songwriter Anita Lane.
The album's title is a reference to the film and novel "From Here to Eternity" (1953) by Fred Zinnemann. The music is in essence a blend of styles attributed both Einstürzende Neubauten and The Birthday Party, which means: art punk post-punk noise rock and experimental rock. The first track is "Avalanche" written by Leonard Cohen but in this version, the track is literally unrecognisable. I've tried, many times to understand or just to come to terms with the music but it doesn't move me one bit. I think it's mostly just noise without head or tail, and I find that this is less interesting than the music by both The Birthday Party and Einstürzende Neubauten. However, the album was met by positive reviews. 

After the release, both Anita Lane, who was only credited as co-writer on this album, as well as Hugo Race left the band.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Robyn "My Truth" (1999)

My Truth
release date: May 17, 1999
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,98]
producer: Lindström & Ekhé
label: BMG Sweden - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: *1. "Play" - 2. "My Only Reason" - 4. "Electric" - 6. "Main Thing" - 12. "Not on the Inside"
* The track list starts with #0 making this the 2nd song on the cd.

2nd studio album by Robyn was only released in Sweden due to conflicts about two of the songs. RCA were to make a version to be released on the American market and the record company wanted Robyn to re-record parts on the album, where Robyn speak of abortion, which was a too sensitive subject, according to RCA. Ultimately, Robyn denied to alter any of the songs and the album release was shelved.
The approach to write and produce songs for the album is like on her debut, but the biggest difference here is that My Truth is made through the aid of a long long list of musicians and technicians.
Stylistically, the album follows much in the footsteps of her debut album, although the songs are less dance-pop and not as uptempo and vivid as the predecessor. It starts out focusing on ballads in a contemporary r&b mode without the strong dance-floor pop hits. The album produced four singles of which only "Electric" made it to top 10 peaking at number #6 on the Swedish singles chart. The three other singles (#1, #2, and #6) didn't reach top 30; however, the album sold well, reaching number #2 on the national albums chart list and it secured Robyn her first Grammis in 2000 for best Female Pop / Rock Artist.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

The Chemical Brothers "Dig Your Own Hole" (1997)

Dig Your Own Hole
release date: Apr. 7, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,33]
producer: The Chemical Brothers
label: Freestyle Dust / Virgin - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Block Rockin' Beats" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Dig Your Own Hole" (4 / 5) - 3. "Elektrobank" (4 / 5) - 5. "Setting Sun (feat. Noel Gallagher)" (5 / 5) - 8. "Get Up on It Like This" - 10. "Where Do I Begin (feat. Beth Orton)" (5 / 5) - 11. "The Private Psychedelic Reel" (5 / 5 )

2nd studio album release by The Chemical Brothers is one of the true great classic big beat albums. It was the first album I heard and bought with the duo, and I must have heard "Setting Sun" a zillion times at maximum volume - to my neighbours' regret. Best tracks however, are the two disc-end tracks. I don't listen much to it anymore but it's rather tight and a great dance album - I mean: I wanna dance, I don't do drugs, and I normally never ever dance without being drunk, which happens once every second year or so, but put this on, hand me the vacuum cleaner, turn up the volume, and I start cleaning the house dancing away! The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, NME, Q Magazine, Spin, Rolling Stone, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]

1997 Favourite releases: 1. Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club - 2. The Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole - 3. The Divine Comedy A Short Album About Love

Cristina Branco "Corpo iluminado" (2001)

Corpo iluminado
release date: 2001
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Meu amor, meu amor (Meu Limão de Amargura)" - 5. "Meu amor é marinheiro" (live) - 10. "Locais"

A studio album by Portuguese artist Cristina Branco. The music is close to that of Susana Baca of Peru, Cesária Évora of Cape Verde, and Omara Portuondo of Cuba because of the close relationship between the African morna and coladeira with both Portuguese fado and latin jazz of Peru and Cuba. They all have the mournful and folk based narrating character accompanied by percussion and primarily acoustic (Spanish or jazz) guitar, violin, and other typical latin instruments. It's stories about lost love and the motherland. Cristina Branco sings in a convincing mature way despite her relatively young age (born 1972).
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark "Genetic Engineering" (1983) (single)

Genetic Engineering, 7'' single
release date: Feb. 11, 1983
format: vinyl (VS 527)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Rhett Davies & OMD
label: Virgin / Telegraph - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Genetic Engineering" (4,5 / 5) - - B) "4-Neu"

Single release from the forthcoming album Dazzle Ships released one month later.
After three successful albums, OMD returns to its roots of experimental electronic music influenced by musique concrete and Kraftwerk in particular.
The A-side is really far from anything by the famous German band, but it really was something else when it first came out. I recall buying the single without having heard it before. I hoped for and expected something like "Enola Gay", and was initially disappointed but after a few repeats quite soon embraced this new style by OMD. I still think it's one of their absolute best tracks, but also was saddened as the band didn't stay on this path after the splendid Dazzle Ships.

New Order "Brotherhood" (1986)

Brotherhood
release date: Sep. 29, 1986
format: vinyl (FACT 150) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,61]
producer: New Order
label: Factory / MNW - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Paradise" (3 / 5) - 2. "Weirdo" (4 / 5) - 3. "As It Is When It Was" (4 / 5) - 4. "Broken Promise" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Way of Life" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Bizarre Love Triangle" (4 / 5) - 2. "All Day Long" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Angel Dust" (2,5 / 5) - 4. "Every Little Counts" (4 / 5)

4th studio album by New Order released as FACT 150 on Factory Records. I really loved the album back then, and equally as much as Low-Life (May 1985), but I tired of it after a year or two. I think, I felt it was too much alike the '85 album. Despite the fact that the band understood to reinvent itself and recorded another two fine successive albums after this, I didn't acquire them back then, and I simply had grown tired of the New Order sound and style, and perhaps basically tired of Peter Hook's bass-line hooks.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Angelic Upstarts "Reason Why?" (1983)

Reason Why?
release date: 1983
format: cd (1997 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Mond (aka Ray Cowie)
label: Summit - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Woman in Disguise" - 3. "Waiting, Haiting" - 4. "Reason Why" - 5. "Nobody Was Saved" - 7. "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" - 8. "42nd Street" - 10. "Solidarity"

3rd studio album by Angelic Upstarts with guitarist and main musical songwriter Ray Cowie as producer originally released on Anagram. The '97 reissue comes with two bonus tracks.

The band has taken a move away from the initial (primitive) punk rock toward more harmony-founded melodies, which could be described as pop punk, but they still play anarcho-punk songs with strong social commitment.

The album was my first encounter with the band, and it was an immediate favourite for several years in the 80s. However, the music hasn't aged that well, and today many of the songs appear as rather naïve compositions tied closely to the early 1980s Thatcher England. And the album came out at a time when music had moved elsewhere - production-wise and also stylistically. The band continued to play, and as of 2014, they still play live concerts, however after Reason Why? the band sort of vanished from the British clubs and instead focussed on a growing popularity in the Eastern European countries, and especially in the Balkan area Angelic Upstarts aas well as many other punk rock bands faced great support in the mid to late 80s.

In retrospect, the album lives its own life as what could be described as a 'time stamp'.

Radiohead "Kid A" (2000)

Kid A
release date: Oct. 3, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: Nigel Godrich, Radiohead
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Kid A" - 3. "The National Anthem" - 4. "How to Disappear Completely" - 6. "Optimistic" - 8. "Idioteque" - 9. "Morning Bell"

4th studio album by Radiohead released nearly three and half years after the band's acclaimed OK Computer (Jun. '97).

On this new album they really step into new musical territory within art rock and the alt. rock genre, and it showcases a completely different sound, which incorporates jazz-rock elements and perhaps doesn't have the same immediate appeal by challenging traditional song structure. The album was initially met by luke-warm reviews but these were somehow silenced as the album was nominated for and won several prestigious musical prizes.
My initial thoughts about it told me that the predecessor contains some great compositions that are unmatched on this, however, I have come to understand the importance of Radiohead as a band of a new era. Undoubtedly, the '97 album contains more classic hit material and familiar songs, but as an overall verdict, there's no doubt that I enjoy this album much more for its stronger experimental approach and also for placing Radiohead alongside other great post-rock artists. Kid A is a musical statement and a natural source to inspiration, which I find is traceable to the music by Talk Talk and that band's last two albums. To me, this is where Radiohead becomes one of the most fascinating British bands of modern times. Kid A is also the third Radiohead album to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

[ allmusic.com, Drowned in Sound 5 / 5, Spin 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]

Lloyd Cole and The Commotions "Mainstream" (1987)

Mainstream
release date: Oct. 26, 1987
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Ian Stanley
label: Polydor Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

3rd and final studio album by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions is another step into mainstream pop / rock.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5, Q Magazine, Sounds, NME 4 / 5 stars ]

The Smiths "Louder Than Bombs" (1987)

Louder Than Bombs (compilation) (US)
release date: Mar. 30, 1987
format: cassette / 2 lp vinyl (2011 reissue) / cd (2011 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Sire / Rhino - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 3. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" (A-side single) - 5. "Half a Person" (B-side single of #3) - 6. "London" (B-side single of #3) - 7. "Panic" (A-side single) - 13. "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (US mix) - 13. "Ask" (A-side single) - 14. "Golden Lights" (B-side single of #13) - 20. "Stretch Out and Wait" (B-side single) - 23. "Unloveable" (B-side single)

3rd compilation album by The Smiths originally released on Sire Records in the US. The album was initially only meant to be an extended release for the American market, which hadn't been introduced to Hatful of Hollows (1984), but the record company soon decided to release it in Europe as well, and thankfully so, or they could have done without the shorter The World Won't Listen, as I think this is the best of the two. You don't really need both, and forced to pick between the two, I would choose this as it contains 24 tracks and was released as a double-album on vinyl. I originally only had an original cassette version purchased in the US and a cd containing all tracks on 1 disc. Compared to The World Won't Listen, and aside the 10 common tracks and 1 track with different vocals, Louder... contains 13 tracks that you don't get with The World..., so... it's a narrow and hard choice, and the best thing would simply be to make a new compilation with all, which would make it a 30 track album, which would suffice only together with the studio albums of course.
I bought both compilation albums when they were released; however, I only bought this one on tape and much later on cd and vinyl as well. Anyway, if you don't consider buying all their albums, I would pick this one as an introduction to their repertoire and then maybe get The Sound of The Smiths (2003) which both has some essential singles as well as a fine handpicked collection of tracks from their studio albums, a total of 23 tracks, and many you don't find on Louder.... All of which only suggests that you cannot do with a one-disc album if you want to embrace their huge musical legacy. Yes, there are probably a dozen of compilation albums to choose from, but I wouldn't buy one as I have most of their original material. However, if you are looking for just one album that sort of collects not everything but most of the "picture", I would buy Louder Than Bombs. Best... I (1992) and ...Best II (1992), Singles (1995), The Very Best of The Smiths (2001), The Sound of The Smiths (2008), Singles Box (2008) all seems insufficient because they either focus on their singles, which gives a wrong picture of their music or just selects from all material, which may be good but also very incomplete, then of course you could buy Complete (2011), a box-set that contains 8 discs with all 4 studio albums, the live album Rank, the first official compilation Hatful..., and both the two 1987 compilation albums as mentioned here - and that would be... just to be safe.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

~ ~ ~

" : I wear black on the outside

'cause black is how I feel on the inside :

: And if I seem a little strange

Well, that's because I am :

But I know that you would've liked me

if only you could see me

if only you could meet me

I don't have much in my live

but take it, it's yours"

[ "Unloveable" ]

Patti Smith "Radio Ethiopia" (1976)

Radio Ethiopia (1976)

"Pissing in a River"

Buzzcocks "Another Music in a Different Kitchen" (1978)

Another Music in a Different Kitchen [debut]
release date: Mar. 10, 1978
format: cd (2001 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Martin Rushent
label: EMI Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Fast Cars" - 3. "You Tear Me Up" - 7. "I Don't Mind" - 9. "Autonomy"
*12. "Orgasm Addict" - *13. "Whatever Happened To…?" - *14. "What Do I Get?"
*Bonus tracks on 2001 remaster

Studio album debut by British punk rock and pop punk quartet Buzzcocks originally released on United Artists. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
The 2001 remaster contains four bonus tracks.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, Uncut 4 / 5, Mojo 5 / 5 stars ]

The Smiths "The World Won't Listen" (1987)

The World Won't Listen (compilation)
release date: Feb. 23, 1987
format: vinyl (ROUGH 101) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: England, UK

2nd compilation alum by The Smiths. The album was the next "real" compilation after Hatful of Hollows (1984). It's a compilation of A and B-sides of 1985-86 single releases and it includes just one track from Meat Is Murder and 3 from The Queen Is Dead, which makes it a good buy if you don't have any of their singles as it contains a total of 17 tracks. Of course best of compilation albums have been released almost in a flood later on, and it's difficult to pin out one as the best if you don't have anything by the band and are only interested in a comprising good one. Anyway, I wouldn't go for this one, as Louder Than Bombs is almost identical but has more tracks on it. That said, it's still a pretty good compilation. Compared with Louder Than Bombs they have 10 tracks in common. This release contains the track "Stretch Out and Wait" with a alternate vocal take, whereas the original take is on Louder.... Also, this contains four single hit tracks and two from The Queen Is Dead that do not figure on Louder..., so.. they are very much alike but also has unique tracks on them.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Diana Ross "So Close" (1983) (single)

So Close, 7'' single
release date: Jan. 1983
format: vinyl (CL 277)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Diana Ross
label: Capitol Records - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) "So Close" - - B) "Fool for Your Love"

Single release and last of three singles by Diana Ross taken from her most recent album Silk Electric (1982). The A-side is written and composed by Diana Ross, Bill Wray, and Rob Mounsey, the B-side by Diana Ross, Bill Wray, and Ray Chew.

Toy Dolls "Dig That Groove Baby" (1983)

Dig That Groove Baby [debut]
release date: Mar. 1983
format digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Track highlight: 7. "Nellie the Elephant"
[ full album ]

Studio debut album by Toy Dolls. The band, which seemingly still exists in some form, was a strange project. The original line-up consisted of three members, Michael Algar (aka 'Olga', vocals, guitar), Phillip Dugdale ('Flip', bass), and Robert Kent ('Happy Bob', drums), and their style was a strange mix of primarily punk rock cloned with children's music and satire. The track "Nellie the Elephant" became their signature song. It's kinda fun and original, but also tedious in the long run.

Richard Hawley "Lady's Bridge" (2007)

Lady's Bridge
release date: Aug. 20, 2007
format: cd / vinyl (2019 reissue LTD. green vinyl)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,20]
producer: Richard Hawley, Colin Elliot, Mike Timm
label: Mute Records / Setanta Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Valentine" (4 / 5) (live on Later) - 2. "Roll River Roll" - 4. "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" (5 / 5) (live on Later) (acoustic live) - 5. "Lady Solitude" - 7. "The Sea Calls" - 8. "Lady's Bridge" (4,5 / 5) - 9. "I'm Looking for Someone to Find Me" (4 / 5)

4th studio album release by Richard Hawley is another fine chamber pop and singer / songwriter album. Some of the songs are much alike the most beautiful tracks from Coles Corner (2005) and others are refreshingly new in style, making the album a more complex attempt with songs in rock & roll, country rock, and others shaped in jangle pop. "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" is one of his absolute best tracks, and I rate the album very much on par with its fabulous predecessor.
Highly recommendable.

EDIT Oct. 2019:
I have only just received the 2019 reissue on coloured transparent green vinyl issued on Setanta Records. Great to own a vinyl copy of this genuine masterpiece.

[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, Uncut 4 / 5 stars ]

Schwarzwald Library "Silver Surf" (1995)

Silver Surf [debut]
release date: Jan. 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "So Prime" - 7. "August in Rain" (live) - 13. "LAIKA" (4 / 5)

Studio debut album by Danish (post-) grunge rock, alt. rock, alt. metal band Schwarzwald Library released on AGM Music. The band consists of Jens Gotthelf (vocals, otava), Peter W.A. Sandorff (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Jeppe B. Jessen (bass guitar), Kristian A. Sandorff (drums, percussion). In 1995 grunge rock with Cobain was more or less all over and certainly this Danish band is very much inspired by Nirvana (at times too much), but Silver Surf remains a first draft, and it definitely has its moments. Like Psyched Up Janis, and their phenomenal debut Swell (1994), SL tries to combine grunge rock with its personal and unique style within the vast pool of alt. rock, but what is successfully established by Psyched Up Janis, never really works for SL. Having said that, I still find this album interesting, and not as a whole, 'cause the single tracks are of various quality, but for "So Prime", "August in Rain" [Nirvana copy], and especially "LAIKA", which truly is an original disturbing but great composition: "LAIKAAAAA!!"