Entertainment For Lively Minds
The gulf between sublime and just a bit whatever
The second CD I ever bought was a Motorhead compilation called No Remorse. To this day it still gets played. I like them but I didn't think they were worth exploring any further by buying their albums. Fopp had a 5CD Motorhead box set for £10. So I bought it. And I started to play it on my iPod this morning after my newly created Pixies playlist had ended. I got onto song three before quitting. The problem was that there are only two types of Motorhead songs, brilliant ones and so-so ones. And I couldn't think of any reason why I should be listening to the so-so tracks when my No Remorse compilation is back to back killer songs.
The Pixies are the same. It's comically easy to make a 1CD best of from their four albums and one EP because the quality difference between the good and the so-so is massive.
I'm not a big AC/DC fan but to me their only satisfying release is their Live album from 1992 which is jam packed with great songs (Money Talks is an overlooked gem). Their albums inspire nothing but indifference in me. And I think the problem is again that the quality difference is too extreme between the songs. It's either killer or filler (decent filler maybe, but still standing in the shadows of the better songs).
Any other bands with such clear cut great songs that are so easily picked out among a catalogue of so-so songs?
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Queen.
Greatest hits only, please!
AC/DC live albums
The 1992 live album is a pale shadow of the first live album "If You Want Blood..."
Not on Spotify yet but here's a sample
Are you sure it's a compo?
I bought their album of the same title (on green vinyl!!!!) in 1979 & as far as I know it was all new material.
I think Jeff Buckley's Grace sufferes from the same problem, 5 or 6 classics (which is a pretty good strike rate for your first album)& then sub-Police/Doors/Led Zep dross.
Sorry
No Remorse is the correct title.
No Remorse was a 1984 compilation
of Motorhead's years with Bronze (i.e. the popular, hit-filled years).
I've never seen an earlier album called No Remorse - sure you're not thinking of On Parole? I seem to remember having that on green vinyl.
It's a comp. Not an album.
I mistitled it Overkill. My mistake was pointed out and I changed Overkill to No Remorse.
Put simply,
There is no filler on any HMV album released between '76 and '80. Most of what followed is strictly for the fans, and largely pony.
Johnny Cash - American Recordings
I'm ripping CDs to my iPod at present and I've got up to the 'C's. I couldn't help but notice that Johnny Cash's Rick Rubin albums are like the little girl, who had a little curl. When they're good ... etc. (Except for Volume 3, which is pony from start to finish).
Quality control problems
Yes, they are very variable. I have to disagree though on 3 which is the best of them. One and Mercy Seat are amazing.
My bad
I must be thinking of 2 - I know there's one from which I didn't rip a single track!
2?!? Are you having a laugh?
Etc.
Nirvana...
Personally I think the singles are great. But seriously, who listens to "Frances Farmer Will...", "Lounge Act" or "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" on repeat??
No one with ears, that's for sure.
By the way, I do mean the American Nirvana. All I have heard of the British True Nirvana, I love. "Rainbow Chaser", "Girl In The Park", "Christopher Lucifer" and "Pentecost Hotel" are all epic. Particularly underrated.
FFWHHROS...
...is my favourite Nirvana track. It's probably the one I'd play if someone wanted to know what the fuss was about.
Takes all sorts, eh?
The Jam....
...and probably Hawkwind (I have a budget collection called "IronStrike", it's all quite splendid, but I can't think of a single of their LPs that I'd want to listen to all the way through)
Elvis.
Elvis.