Entertainment For Lively Minds
Is Kate Bush As Good As She Once Was?
Let me say straight away that I am a Kate Bush fan. That out of the way, am I the only one who thinks a new Kate Bush album is not an event? It's a rarity certainly but ask yourself - when was the last truly great, worthy-of-fanfare Kate Bush release? For me she hasn't released anything as accomplished as Hounds of Love since Hounds of Love (1985) and her last great song (again, for me) is the original version of Moments of Pleasure (1993). Sensual World and Red Shoes were over-produced curate's eggs, Aerial was overblown and unremarkable and Director's Cut was a pointless exercise (one in which she showed her lack of vision by thinking the aforementioned Moments needed an overhaul). I'll listen to the new album and maybe I'll eat my words but I think it's a pretty safe bet that the best and last word for snow was 1980's December Will Be Magic and there'll not be a thing on the new album to match it.
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Sort of...
...I really, really liked Aerial, but could have done with some pruning.
Think there are a few good tracks on Sensual World & Red Shoes, particularly the great Moments of Pleasure and This Woman's Work. I like one of the tracks on Director's Cut.
I do think Hounds of Love was her last great LP, though.
Anyway, you can hear for yourself as the wonderful NPR are live-streaming the LP here: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/13/142133269/first-listen-kate-bush-50-words-...
I'm going to have to say
yes, but with the caveat that she's older now and her voice is kind of different.
She still surprises, however, and that's what she's all about right?
Stephen
Fry. FFS.
Could be worse!
Yes
I though Aerial was great: A Coral Room is one of her best songs and there are a lot of other good stuff on there. I also like the new single, though I agree that Director's Cut was a bit pointless.
The album won't be as big an event, but I think that's probably because we're getting older, and new albums by our favourite albums don't give us the same buzz as they used to. Besides, she's been around now for 30 years. I'm just glad that she continues to be an interesting artist. There's nobody else like her.
Yes
Wuthering Heights
was a good little pop tune. Rest passed me by.
'As good as she once was'?
you could ask that question of any artist who's been around as long as she has and the reply would probably be 'no'.
I would agree that she hasn't surpassed 'The Hounds of Love', but then, who has?
'Moments of Pleasure' probably was her last great song, but it would be hard to better it.
I personally wouldn't describe any album of hers as a 'Curate's Egg' simply because there is not a 'bad' track on any of them. Some songs are better than others, of course, but 'bad', no.
'Aerial.. overblown and unremarkable'?, it had some wonderful tracks on it. Can you really describe 'A Coral Room' as unremarkable?
As for 'Directors Cut', if for no other reason it was worth it simply because it propelled her to record & release this new album. Which for me, is still an event. :=>
And I love this. Kate Bush - 'Wild Man'
Weller's as good as he's always been...
...isn't he?
KB hasn't been relevant since Hounds of Love and the world-at-large hasn't really been listening since The Red Shoes, IMO.
Nah.
For me, you could cheerily scrap everything he's done post-Jam and the world would be no worse off.
You Do Something To Me
For that song alone his post-Jam work has value.
I would list many others but will start to break you down with that one first! I hope.
It's a fine song.
I know it. I like it well enough, but it doesn't bowl me over or make me think "thank god he was around to make it".
Weller's "Jazz Odyssey"
I like Weller. Never been afraid to take a chance and move on to what he feels is HIS next step, regardless of critical reaction.
Split The Jam and then release Cafe Bleu? From knocking out Town Called Malice and their multi million selling "The Gift" to an all too real jazz odyssey album in the space of 9 months is a mighty leap of faith - bigger than Radiohead's casting off of mass acceptance with Kid A by a significant margin.
Regain critical acceptance with "Into Tomorrow" and then release the pastoral "Wild Wood". Fell into a pit with the Modfather stuff and a fug of booze n drugs but came through it and his last two records are as vital and varied as any of the stuff that preceded it.
National Treasure.
Kate Bush was outre from the off - I think an artist like Kate Bush (and Florence will find) will suffer from diminishing returns as Sick Boy's theory will attest.
It would have left our wedding first dance
a bit flat, as it was You're the Best Thing. And while that obviously matters to just two people, we would have also have missed him singing "I could be a king, steal my people's things/ but I don't care much for that power-crazy way" in front of Prince Big-ears at Live Aid.
Much as I love
Hounds of Love, The Sensual World is my favourite KB album.
I thought the Red Shoes was a little weak, but thought Aerial was quietly beautiful. Director's Cut failed to improve on any of the Sensual World stuff, but I found some of the weaker Shoes stuff was improved.
I definitely look forward to hearing the new one.
Difficult to take seriously...
....when she hasn't tried to put bums on seats for so many years.
Still makes interesting output, but hiding behind the wizzardry of studio bells and whistles starts to wear a bit thin if its not balanced by live performance.
I don't expect the girl to come out dancing like it was 1977 or anything. Stood still behind a microphone on the tele would more than satisfy most of her following.
Come on girl, get yourself on "Later" or maybe an Elvis Costello spectacular!
Dare say we could even find a slot for her at the next Lexington word gig if she asked nicely.
What utter rot!
Her ability\willingness to tour has absolutely no adverse effect on her recorded output. Not that her records were particularly simple before she packed away the leotard (cue THAT pic) but it gave her the freedom to create stuff that would only exist in a studio.
I hope she never plays live again cos it would clearly be traumatic for her and would never live up to our expectations but agree that some kind of TV special would be nice. But as she was apparently a nervous wreck having to play 'Moments of Pleasure' in front of a handful of people when shooting the promo many years ago I'd suspect that's also out of the question.
Better to keep up the enigma.
Just streamed "50 words for slow"
I would agree that this particular album is fairly untourable!
I do stand by my impression that her recorded output "has" been affected by her lack of public performance/ broadcast. There are not too many examples from "50 words for snow" that would be a good fit for a live show for example.
Any artist who rides the tour / recording merry go round will tend to keep the two activities in step so that they are complementary. A complete absence of perforamance to this degree absolutly frees up the potential of the studio but is it a good thing?
Not for this particular KB supporter currently working at home with her new album streaming in the background.
Of course its been affected
by non touring but not in an adverse way as you suggest.
Heard it twice now via the streaming
We'll agree to differ this time around!
My answer? Yes.
Kate Bush is one of a very small number of people in the music world whom I consider to be worthy of the term "genius." Her least good albums (Lionheart and Director's Cut, FWIW) are better than most artists' best work. And I think Aerial is right up there with her very best work. I've never felt let down on hearing a new record of hers, and I feel confident I'll love the new record.
Welcome, Jude, by the way. That's fighting talk for a first post!
Thanks for the welcome!
Really interesting and generous responses - it could have been a bloodbath. I knew I would feel at home here.
Listening to new album now (thanks for the link JoLean) and it does have a lovely 'dark days before Christmas' feel about it. Whatever else I may think of her recent output the voice has always been first class and has mellowed over the years to sound like a fruity bath. Well, I know what I mean.
is Kate Bush as good as she once was?
The answer is yes. Alongside XTC's "Apple Venus" she made the best British album in the last 20 years. Aerial is innovative,daring, melodic, dragging pop music a little further forward in terms of originality.
Wow.
Unbelievable. That's two of the best three albums of the last 20 years, you've mentioned. If you now tell me that Supergrass' In it for the Money is the third, then you've practically stolen my identity.
So, clearly, without question, undoubtedly, in answer to the OP, the answer is 'Yes'. There's not many artists about whom I can say that they've brought out three albums, years apart and quite distinct in style, that I'd put up there on the highest pedestal. But she's one of them. The last new music she brought out was Aerial, so as far as I'm concerned, the trajectory's still heading up.
Abso-bloomin-lutely
Could not agree more about Aerial. Nobody else has produced anything as good as it since it came; I have yet to hear Kate's new opus.
The OP question should be turned on its head; is anyone else as good as Kate Bush still is?
and the answer, RC65 is
No!
Bought Aerial - didn't dare play it for a year after the crushing disappointment of Red Shoes - finally got my courage up and fell in love with the voice, the music and the 'wonky splendour' (to quote a rival publication's review) of her unique world vision.
I know she can seem twee, absurd and shockingly dated - but that is Kate Bush - experimental and brave, most of the time, sentimental and silly on occasion.
She's got older and less interested in contemporary sounds and completely disinterested in 'the music industry' as her casual disregard for single releases shows. But the music is worth listening to.
This, oft-derided song from Aerial is typically Kate now. You listen first time and snigger, listen more carefully second time, and then get completely sucked into the strange, rather disturbing use of chords and images.
and then you can never do the washing without it in your head. When a song can change how you think, well that's deep, deep genius IMHO
Does not touring make her bad?
The comment by Martin made me think two things: The Beatles and XTC. They stopped touring, and made some beautiful stuff afterwards.
I agree (and so does Kate) that The Sensual World and The Red Shoes were too long andcould've been tighter. But songs on both of those albums still stand up to a lot of what's come since.
Loved Ariel: it made me want to sit and listen to a whole album, uninterrupted. And you can do it twice as there are two CDs. (Hounds of Love Part 2, anyone?)
And the new album (listening now) is lovely. Makes me want to pour a glass of wine and watch the snow fall.
I think I'm going to say no.
The Hounds of Love and The Kick Inside are remarkable. You can keep the rest, IMO, but then I won't pretend to have given much of it a huge number of chances. Aerial was alright. Didn't do a lot for me (very recent purchase/listen which I've hardly touched since).
There are a few artists whose status among the Massive really surprised me when I first started posting here: people who I would think of as pretty minor either commercially or influentially but who are elevated to godlike status in our little corner of interwebland. I know she sold a lot of records 30 years ago, but KB was very much one of those surprises.
I'll never forget how amazing she was at the time
Not sure if it was a case of having to be there, but when she first appeared there had been nothing like her. She was incredible. She was so new and interesting it shook everything up.
That stays with you.
I'm sure.
I feel like that about Pixies.
Those are here best two albums IMO as well
But I really like all of her albums.
I would try Never for Ever as a future purchase though.
Just listened, will be
Just listened, will be buying, obv.
However, I do wish she would realise that we are not are all as endlessly fascinated and obsessed with her child as she is. Glad she loves him SO MUCH, but some of us actually know children personally. Hell, some of us actually HAVE OUR OWN.
Bit much to expect her
to write songs about your kids.
Kate
I agree with 5C, when she appeared with "Wuthering heights" it was staggering the effect she had. Amaaaazing. Wow. Etc. I have the first three and "Aerial". I've been digging into her other albums today on Spotty, and, I dunno, they are so busy. Too much going on. No space at all. I think this is a problem common to people with a studio and no desire to tour. See also The Beatles. In many ways it was better when studios cost a lot of money and bands wrote the bloody songs in advance, ideally had played them live, then went in and recorded them. All those sampled bangs and crashes. Don't need it, Kate. Your voice is lovely without serried layers of bloody synthesisers layered all over it. Actually I only need one of you most of the time. Choirs of oos and ahhs is just more aural clutter. Do a piano album with a tight little band. Can't wait.
UPDATE Just put on "The kick inside". It is absolutely lovely.
New album...
... being streamed on NPR at the moment - very strange singing on the first track (and on the next one).
That's her son...
..."helping" on the first track(see my post above).
Really???
... it's fucking awful - I thought it was being played at the wrong speed.
(Edit - my "fucking awful" comment was based on me, mistakenly, believing that it is Kate trying out a new style of singing on the first song. I have since heard the whole album and believe it to be worthy of another listen).
Bertie Bush
That would be Bertie Bush, I presume?
I liked her best when she made great Pop songs
most of which are collected on 'The Whole Story'. It's all very making dense, evolving albums full of atmosphere and texture but there's not going to be any Cloudbusting or Babooshka on this new one is there? See also D Bowie.
Thanks for the link to NPR Jo
After the track Snowflakes even my goosebumps had goosebumps. The track with Elton is rather good and is appropriate for my mood at the moment. The title track, with Mr Twitter, makes me wish there was only 5 words for snow and not 50.
Mr Twitter
I just described the LP down the phone to my friend who doesn't have a computer, except at work. I called him Mr Ubiquitous, but I think I prefer Mr Twitter.
Some of it sounded nice, but I didn't give it my full attention. Will do so next week when it comes out proper.
Yes indeed
Thank you JoLean. Just listened. First impressions are promising for me - like a Winter's version of Aerial. I will confess that I adore Aerial - the fact that it came out of the blue like it did was a big part of the pleasure of it. I guess this surprise element is absent this time round.
As much as I appreciate Hounds of Love, I think it's status is somewhat overrated. It's perhaps the dreaded 80's production sheen that spoils it for me a little. Still mighty though.
Yes
Aerial did come out of the blue, didn't it? I was really excited about it (and actually, I'm a bit excited about this one too). I too really, really like Aerial and some of it is among my favourite Kate, but do think it needs an edit.
I like some of what I've heard of this, and not other bits. There's no LP by Kate that I don't like at all and like has been said, I'm glad she's around.
The simple answer obviously, is no.
It's hard to be hard on Kate because we all love her so much and she has given us all amazing music to listen to and to treasure.It's enough.We free you Kate.
Not generally a fan
But I heard the new album on NPR last night. The first three tracks were stunning. Spare. Hints of Talk Talk and Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Xmas. Less impressed by Wildman and the Elton John duet-the Fry thing sounds like an in-joke gone wrong. Her lad has a very strong treble redolent of Aled Jones.
Not sure she should be whacking off Snowmen at her age, though.
Quite right
Anyone who's still whacking off snowmen after they've turned 40 needs to get a life!
Believe it or not
but there is actually going to be (an animated) video of that song.
Anyone of a nervous disposition might need to skip 0:18
The songs themselves these days ..
.. are a lot better in essence than the Production and some of the musicianship. In particular the drum sounds and over-processed feel of a lot of it. There's something annoying about it. I imagine this may be the fault of some collaborator. But that's the mistake she is making. It was clearly the case on Aerial and it's also the case from what I've heard on the new one.
listened to the new one on NPR too
it's fucking stunning..Nice one Kate..have her and Les Feist been chomping on the same stuff.."Metals" is brilliant too!
Has it really been 26 years since Hounds of Love?
Where the hell did that go? Just read that particular nugget in a review. I didn't believe it and had to google to check. In my mind time stood still and it seems like just a few years ago when she was on Wogan actually performing from the record.
Wot? Like this, you mean?
That's the one.
Surely that wasn't that long ago! God, I was only half my current age then.
A one off similar performance on a modern day equivalent show, from "50 Words for Snow" would (I suspect) be enough to give her the Christmas No1.
This is what she's done instead:
This is a great performance
And I remember seeing this on Razzamatazz and thinking how bonkers it was. And that's the beauty of Kate.
A TV special where she could do the new album
and then do a medley of her old hits. maybe something like this
I don't care how good the new album is
She was a lot more fun here:
Amen!
One of the best Christmas songs ever. Tried to get a legit copy last year. Wasn't available via any download then. Maybe this year.
Are you sure?
It's on every xmas comp going.
still struggling
Nothing on iTunes or amazon.(downloads)
Sexiest Xmas song
ever. Even beats Santa Baby.
However,
She wouldn't be allowed to do that on my furniture.
Ye gods
She can come and do that to my sofa, anyday she feels like it!
Better quality:
Oh, and this isn't the single version released in 1980, and on the 'This Woman's Work' anthology. This is known as the 'bongos version' (natch) and is only available on a compilation CD from 1991, 'Here is Christmas'
The very first version is from the 1979 TV Special 'Kate' and is a lovely example of her live work:
Falling Into
the Aerial was amazing camp, best since HoL.
After four listens 50 Words has equally stunning moments. Cannot get on with the title track and the Elton John duet seems like some warmed-up leftover from Andrew Lloyd-Webber's worst musical nightmare.
Is she as good as she once was?
No. But then again, neither am I.
She's still fab though.
Play Misty for me...
I've been giving Kate's new one some time over the past few days.'Misty' is the standout track for me but I wish that Steve Gadd had given it some welly towards the end with Kate following suit"Going out on the ledge".Just fuckin'gorgeous this one.Now if only she had a producer to task her for equal quality."Sorry Kate that's not good enough.Get back in there and no Silk Cut untill you do!" What a talent.