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What an absolute masterpiece of a record. Before hearing this, I was only familiar with his late ‘60s solo material, but honestly, though I like that stuff a lot, I prefer this. It’s some of the darkest, starkest music I’ve ever heard. It scares the hell out of me yet I’m attracted to its heart of darkness. This is a truly emotionally compelling work.
MILES DAVIS once said something to the effect that he aimed to make music that shook your entire body and that got underneath you. I can’t think of anything that I’ve heard lately that would fit that description except for this. Listen to it on headphones late at night for the full effect.This comes out on Tuesday and it’s one of my favorite albums of the year so far, so I’m putting it on the list again.
For a record that’s described as her “country” record, this is really a great indie-pop record in disguise. Although I hear similarities between this and the recent NEKO CASE and JENNY LEWIS solo albums, to me it more resembles the lo-fi indie-pop of early ‘90s bands like THE SPINNANES. Plus, there’s an atmospheric element here that’s a nod to Millan’s professed love of BRIAN ENO.
Regardless, I like it a lot.
I never even knew about this CD until I saw it for sale in a used bin at Sounds a few weeks ago and promptly bought it. It turns out that it’s a Father’s Day promotion for Hallmark (you can buy it only in their Gold Crown stores). While I definitely wouldn’t recommend this for most people, it’s a must for hardcore fans as it has the first official release of BRIAN WILSON’s “The Spirit of Rock and Roll”, which was originally recorded for the unreleased album Sweet Insanity back in 1990. The two other new tracks (solo songs by MIKE LOVE and AL JARDINE) are of less interest and the other songs consist of live tracks recorded in 1989 which are notable only for Mike Love’s cheesy stage banter and the addition of RICKY FATAAR (a key member on 1972’s Carl and the Passions: So Tough and 1973’s Holland, two of their best albums) in the touring band at that time.
As the name implies, Little Deuce Coupe was a concept album with virtually every song involving cars in one way, shape or form. The standouts include the title track, “409,” “Shut Down” and the inferior album version of “Be True to Your School” (fortunately one of the CD bonus tracks is the much better single version).
All Summer Long was a major step forward and its standouts include such classics as “I Get Around,” “Little Honda” and “Wendy”, which was memorably covered by THE DESCENDENTS on their Enjoy Lp from 1986.
In anticipation of their show Sunday night at Maxwells, I’m putting this record on here again.
Backed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Costello sang his heart out for two hours, covering both well-known material like “Alison,” “She” and “Veronica” with decidedly more obscure fare like “Upon a Veil of Midnight Blue,” “The Birds Will Still Be Singing” and “All This Useless Beauty”.
The version of “Can You Be True” from 2003’s North is alone worth the price of admission here. However, this excellent set recorded with a Dutch orchestra in 2004 is full of gems, not to mention excellent singing and beautiful backing.
After his most recent backing band hitched a flight back home after their recent show in Phoenix, it looked like their entire U.S. tour would be cancelled. However, Narnack labelmaters CAIRO GANG have taken over as Fall leader MARK E. SMITH and wife/keyboardist ELENA POULOU trek on. Hopefully they’ll make it through several more weeks before they play their two sold-out shows in New York.
I pulled out both this record and its follow-up, 1984’s Spring Hill Fair, earlier this week as I’ve been continuously listening to The Go-Betweens since the tragic death of GRANT MCLENNAN several weeks ago. Of those two excellent albums, this is the stronger one. This 1982 set is not only the first great album that The Go-Betweens made, it’s one of the best of their entire career. Notably, it features McLennan’s 11/4 masterpiece “Cattle and Cane” and well as “Dusty in Here”, a tribute to his father, who also passed away at a young age.
