Entertainment For Lively Minds
What To Buy?
Posted by David Wright on 29 April 2009 - 4:26pm.
With pay day nearly upon us and after a few weeks of listening to a lot of music on Spotify, I intend to actually buy a couple of CDS this weekend. At the moment I’m considering purchasing the following.
Kingdom Of Rust-Doves
Fork In The Road-Neil Young
Together Through Life-Bob Dylan
(Some Motown too, but not sure where to start?)
I’ve read quite a few bad reviews of Young’s new album, so not sure about that yet. Any other recommendations most welcome. I’m open to most musical genres.
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the doves lp is great
as to motown they do whole series or best of so take your choice. You shouldn't over look the hits there's a reason they are popular.
I like the school of seven bells lp and recently got all the byrds cd's (as discussed elsewhere).
Oh and Aaron copelands silent city!
School of Seven Bells
Totally with you on the 7 Bells album. Its one of the bravest albums ive heard in ages - totally uncategorisable. Its like when the first Portishead album came out and you went "What the hell is this?".
Really loving those vocal effects that sound like My Bloody Valentine.
Ta
Thanks, may just buy a Motown best of, to start off with. Copeland's Appalachian Sping is one of my favourite classical pieces.
3 for 15
If you're into your classical stuff, the Classic FM albums (the ones that are priced at £5.99 in HMV are going into the 3 for £15 sales next week.
Do what you gotta do
Some say - Motown Chartbusters Vol.3. For me its Vol.4
Because it has this on it
http://open.spotify.com/track/6qobOdMdrqVL8J4yp1Spre
Jimmy Webb's tenderest lyric and Levi Stubbs' at his most affecting. Magnanimity in the face of heartbreak
£2.98 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motown-Chartbusters-Vol-Various-Artists/dp/B0000...
and look at the tracklisting. That‘s insane. Dip your bread David.
Motown Magic
That really is value for money, I can see a cash transaction taking place later. Thanks for the link Richard.
Best value for money
Couple of years ago I picked up volumes 1 to 6 for £10 in Tesco. Thats £10 for 6 CDs, not each. I don't think I've ever had better value.
Somehow I doubt
whether *anyone's* ever had better value.
Really didn't like the Doves album
I found it really over-produced and dull but if you've Spotified it (from the recently created verb, to Spotify), you know whether you like it or not!
In the new albums world, I'd heartily recommend the latest from both Super Furry Animals (despite the not particularly enthusiastic review in Word) and Camera Obscura.
the doves lp is more of the same
Sorry. I love Doves especially the first album but they seem to have moved into half baked album territory. Half of the songs are great (the Outsidersis fricking ace) the other half could appear on any current mainstream/indie acts album. And I really like Doves.
I've haven't had a proper listen to the Seven Bells LP yet. What I have heard sounds a bit like Secret Machines without the drums but with sweeter melodies. That's a bad and good thing.
Brakes' Touchdown is ace as it's short and gives me sunshine fuzz Decemberists relief.
Frankly I've been floored by The Hazards Of Love for the past three weeks. First listen was "pah, nothing much there" quickly replaced by intrigue and then repeat play once I got to The Rakes Song.
The Motown Chartbusters comps are available in two sets with 6 volumes on each. The first is well worth £20 on Amazon. As is teh second.
Yeah agreed, The Doves have
Yeah agreed, The Doves have never matched their first album, which I really love. They've had their moments since on other albums, but nothing matches the brooding atmosphere of "Lost Souls". I do love to hear "Black And White Town" in a disco though, really uplifting stuff as is "The Pounding".
Try HMV
If it's Motown you're after, HMV were recently selling a few different box sets for less than a tenner. I'm not sure whether the offer is still on, but it's worth a look.
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
An utterly marvelous pop album. Listened to it non-stop all last week and loved it reservedly, constantly making comparisons to Let's get out of this Country, their last, ridiculously fine record. Gave it a break over the weekend, returned to it on Monday and now love it unreservedly. It's a gem. Promise.
Camera Obscura
are a gem themselves. Most of the reviews I've read in relation to the album have been along the lines of "this band should be more popular than they are".
At the risk of sparking another heated debate ...
I really can recommend the new Dylan CD. Having ordered it for a Monday delivery I felt no shame in downloading it over the weekend and have been listeing to it ever since. If you liked any of his last three releases, this is for you, and more immediately likeable.*
* Other opinions may be available.
Shout out for the Super Furry Animals new one
Dark Days, Light Years (I think). A few so-so ones but a whole load of good tracks. Cardiff in the Sun is indeed blissful.
Seconded
Dark Days/Light Years is just fantastic. Their ninth album and their best - unprecedented, surely?
Diamond Dave
recommend's Coldplay's album in this month's mag.
David Lee Roth is writing for The Word now?
I have to say I'm surprised. I suppose when the high kicks start resulting in hernias it's time to swap the enormodome for the office.
He is actually..
a NYC paramedic too.
He is actually..
a NYC paramedic too.
Oh and I've also recently got
the Loney Dear cd which is really good sort big spooky pop from sweden and also the air france cd which is perfect for the summer
Young?
Anyone heard the new Young album then? Is it worth a tenner, or would I be better spending my cash on 4 pints of Tetley?
Don't Shoot Me..
I recommend the following artists:
Metric
King Creosote
Camera Obscura
Blue Roses
Lily Allen
I also, secretly, quite like:
The Saturdays' album.
Ta
Camera Obscura is looking to be a hot favourite at the moment and I've just ordered one of The Motown Chartbusters albums, thanks to the recommendations above. Sadly my local HMV is very poorly stocked for any Motown.
My local HMV
is increasingly poorly stocked for music.
His Masters Voice
My local HMV now seems to stock more DVDS than CDS. I try to avoid going in, shopping there on a Saturday afternoon is not a pleasant experience.
Another shout for
the Super Furry Animals.
I have 2 weeks until payday but I have already placed my order awaiting the send button being pressed for a cd that I just heard on Spotify which blew my head off. Nashville by Solomon Burke - I am amazed this isn't massive. The voice and the arrangements are sublime. Check it out. You can get it on Amazon for just over a fiver.
Solomon
It's the 3rd in a run of fabulous LPs from the big man. If you like Nashville, which proves yet again the thin-ness of the line between soul and country, you will love the Joe Henry produced Don't Give up on Me, one of the very very best discs I own
John Doe and the Sadies
this is a covers album of mainly 60's and 70's country, but the Sadies do such a great job with a peddle steel added to the line up.John Doe's voice is perfect for this album.If you liked the Waylon and Willie sound from the late 70's you will love this record.
I bought the new Neil Young and I have to say it is the hardest album to get to like, and I have bought everything he has released in the last 6 years
Of recent
Still playing:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
The Rakes - Klang!
Juan Maclean - The Future Will Come
Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight
Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/ Light Years
Dug out recently:
ABC - Lexicon Of Love
Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair
Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues
Wait until Monday and get:
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Peaches - I Feel Cream
Spotted in Fopp for £3 - the price of a coffee, ferchrissakes -And Therefore If You Don't Own Them, You Should Really Grab Them Now Or Just Buy Another Copy Of As Educational Gifts For Future Generations Of Your Family:
New Order - Substance
Prince - Purple Rain
Daft Punk - Homework
Fantastic Franz
I like Franz Ferdinand's latest album, despite the mainly mediocre to poor reviews. Great live show at Hammersmith too.
If you haven't already got it...
...I recommend The Phantom Band 'Checkmate Savage'. For me, it's the album of the year so far. They're fantastic live too, if you get the chance.
I recently saw Vyvienne Long
at a small venue in Limerick. If she isn't a huge star there's no justice.
She's only released an EP and single to date
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000T1B89M/ref=dm_dp_adp?ie=UTF8&qid=12...
but is better known as the cellist featured on Damien Rice's albums. I was blown away by her music. Intelligent quirky lyrics, a great line in covers, fantastic musicianship... Oh and she's stunning. But don't just believe me check these out.
and also
http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/2324010.smil
Her new album is due out soon and judging on the material showcased at the gig is going to be a cracker.
knew i recognised the name...
speaking of her great line in covers...there's this
the 'moment' at around 40 seconds in is great. For a cello, i mean!
Of the "newer" stuff out there...
I'd heartily recommdend the A Camp album, The Gaslight Anthem and, yes really, the new Depeche Mode one. All very good
Gaslight Anthem, here here
I was at my wits' end worrying about why there was nothing I had liked enough to buy for months - I only really average two new albums every year now, rely on buying old stuff in between.
But the Gaslight Anthem's two albums are feckin brilliant.
And no-one can fail to be an arm pumping, sentimental eejit full of happiness watching this.
Bill Callahan
Highly recommend the former Smog man Bill Callahan's new album, it of the great title 'I Wish We Were An Eagle'. For likers of Lambchop's 'AwCmon/NoYouCmon' or that kind of low-range vocal delivery of exquisite lyrics played over some languid but very lovely music. Includes the unforgettable line: 'I did some kind of dance/Jaunty as a bee'.
Bill Callahan
Highly recommend the former Smog man Bill Callahan's new album, it of the great title 'Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle'. For likers of Lambchop's 'AwCmon/NoYouCmon' or that kind of low-range vocal delivery of exquisite lyrics played over some languid but very lovely music. Includes the unforgettable line: 'I did some kind of dance/Jaunty as a bee'.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sometimes-Wish-We-Were-Eagle/dp/B001Q2EIXG/ref=s...
I'd second Bill Callahan
would also recommend from this year so far:
- Sara Watkins solo album(of Nickel Creek)
- It's Cool to Hate the Singer by Saturday Morning Pictures. it got a good review in Word a month or two back so tried it - great songs, bit Ben Folds-ish
- Milk and Honey Band - were on a cover CD - their Dog Eared Moonlight album is excellent.
Bon Iver
well documented already but worth a punt if you missed the acclaim.
I´m with you
One of the best albums of last year, it got somewhat lost with all the (also well deserved) Fleet Foxes hype. Could also recommend Anna Ternheim´s Leaving On A Mayday. This was the first single:
Or maybe this from Jenny Wilson:
Sleepy Sun
Their album "Embrace" is definitely worth a listen. Swampy Psychedelia with a My Bloody Valentine twist.
RE: Super Furry Animals. The review of their new album in The Word incensed me so much I haven't been able to look at the rest of the magazine this month.
That twat who wrote it shouldn't be allowed to critique his own bank statements.
I think the SFA review
was pretty much spot on. I think I like the idea of both SFA & Doves more than I actually like their music these days. It's all a bit....bland.
Thankfully Brakes have silenced the Decemberists this week. A heavily pregnant Mrs Leaf was getting a bit narked with the child murders.
The new Neko Case
cd Middle Cyclone is exceptional. I have a couple of her other cd's which are okay but that's all. This one is really good - great songs and great melodies. Warning though - last track is 31 minutes of seagull like noises - I know because i listened expecting something to happen. Nothing did. Why do artists do this? Frankly it pisses me off!!
I did the same..
"I wont turn it off, she's bound to start strumming gently, whilst singing a haunting, lovetorn lament".
Having said that, I haven't warmed to the album as much as I did to "Fox Confessor"
Grizzly Bear -
Saw them on Jools and decided to investigate ... got a copy of their 2006 "Yellow House" LP and really enjoyed it. Waiting for their 2009 release "Veckatimest"...it's standard lo-fi, multi-instrumentalist, quirky fair...some may say pretentious and self indulgent but it has some really nice study rhythms and a slight grittiness underpinning everything which makes it stand out a bit more from other 'Arty' offerings.
Be a teenager.
Rip the lot off a filesharing site.
Spend the money you've saved on cider.
Go to the park with your mates.