Boomania - Betty Boo

I'm in a party mood today so there is only really one choice when it comes to a cartoon pop pick-me-up. Boomania was released in 1990 and it was, along with Deee-lite, the soundtrack for that summer.
It was a great summer and one in which we had a number of house parties - but being sensible I made sure that none were at our house! Each party got a little bigger than the previous and eventually, at PW's house it got a little out of hand. Too much alcohol and too many people. The party ground to a halt when objects started to get broken and someone was sick in the bath. Yuk!
But apart from that it was a fun summer with indie pop in full swing and feel-good music such as 'Where Are You Baby?' filling the airwaves. This album is guaranteed to make you smile and it has put me in good cheer as I head out for the football. Have a great New Year and I'll see you in 2012.

Choke - The Beautiful South

I got this album for Christmas in 1990, along with the sheet music. I was learning to play the guitar at the time and this helped me pick up the songs. I think I only got as far a learning the opening track 'Tonight I Fancy Myself', or at least that was the only song I properly learnt.
The Beautiful South are not everyone's cup of tea but they did for a while appeal to a wide audience. This was probably due to a heady mixture of pop, social comment and humour - continuing the great British tradition of writing acerbic lyrics and accompanying them with pop tunes. There are some great expels of this on this album perhaps none better than their No.1 hit 'A Little Time'. Beneath these songs are bitter and dark undercurrents.
They got too good at it and ended up forgetting to write the memorable tunes to go with the sharp lyrics; disbanding in 2007.

Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins

I might have mentioned once or twice that I am rather fond of Rilo Kiley and in particular Jenny Lewis? I'm sure I have. 'Rabbit Fur Coat' is Jenny Lewis' first solo outing. Well sort of, as it is helped along by the wonderful harmonies of The Watson Twins. For an album of country tinged pop there is none finer.
In particular the lyrics are well worth listening to - witty, soulful and meaningful in equal measures. 'Rise Up With Fists!!!' in particular is worth a listen - it has become one of my favourite songs since I first heard it.
For any drummers reading check out the fade out in 'Born Secular'. Brill without being too showy.
In short, I love this album as you can probably tell. Right I'm off back inside - we're having broadband issues and I've had to write this in the street! Brrr. Now that's dedication to the cause!

Galore - The Primitives

There aren't many indie bands that are as melodic and, if I may, pop-tastic as The Primitives. Chiming guitar riffs, pop hooks and Tracy Tracy's bubble gum vocals. Super.
'Galore' is their third and final album and was criminally ignored upon release. It's very difficult to find these days but if you can try 'Lead Me Astray' or 'Slip Away' for starters. Great pop songs.
The Primitives came into view with their hit single 'Crash'; a song that will always remind me of a memorable event.....
In 1988 most of us were, one-by-one, passing our driving tests. One such day MJ had passed his and to celebrate had borrowed his Dad's car. So within no more than an hour of passing his test we were off in The Johnsons' car for a celebratory drive. The celebrations did not last long though. We were travelling a little fast down Clavering bank with the sharp corner looming far too quickly. Each of MJ's passengers slowly took up the brace position. Clearly this went unnoticed by the confident driver as no attempt was made to slow down. Well that was until we left the road and started travelling towards a row of houses. Brakes were finally applied and we managed to 'stay' on the grass verge. The next obstacle was a row of saplings. Surely we would hit these. I've no idea what happened next as we hit a number of them and came to an eventual stop. We straightened out from our brace position, shaken and shocked but in one piece. MJ then turned to us - his glasses were wonky from the impact..... and that was enough to set us off. We started howling with laughter. The howling intensified when we got out of the car and saw tyre tracks either side if the row of trees - which were still standing. How in earth had he done that? And the song on the stereo that accompanied us on our collision course? 'Crash' by The Primitives. I kid you not! What a hoot.
I don't think his Dad saw the funny side though.....

Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan

Remember the advert for Maxell tapes in the 80s? You know - the one where a bloke stands in the middle of the street and holds up cue cards with the wrong lyrics? Well even though the song used was not a Dylan one, the advert was heavily influenced by him; being based upon the promo clip for 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' and being funny in the process.
....and this succinctly demonstrates how much influence Dylan has had on popular music. It is so engrained that many won't even realise that this is the case.
For the casual admirer, such as myself, I recognise the influence and the craft of the songwriting but can't quite connect as well as I should. And it is not through a want of trying.
This album was one that I used to play when I lived at home - and when my Dad was out. After all I wouldn't want to admit to an aficionado that I had a secret admiration for Bob! It's a great album with classic Dylan tracks such as 'Mr. Tambourine Man', 'It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)' and 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue'. A great album to start cultivating an appreciation...but I got no further, other than a greatest hits album.
My Dad and I saw him perform in Manchester a while ago and it struck me how mixed the audience was - young and old, male and female in approximately equal measures; highlighting the widespread appeal of Dylan.
On the strength of listening to this album today I have bought 'Blonde On Blonde'. Time to have another crack at becoming more of a Dylan fan......wish me luck!

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin

This must be the best soul album ever recorded; which is quite a claim given the sheer number of classic recordings in this genre. A simple scan, however, over the track listing should be enough to prove this bold statement.
'Respect', 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man' and 'Dr Feelgood' to name but three. The rest are equally good, if slightly less well known.
Being brought up in the 70s and 80s, it would be very easy to dismiss her contribution to music as her most notable hits were duets or guest performances.... but dip into her back catalogue and you will get the full picture.
I've never had the opportunity to see Aretha live, but from the TV performances I have seen she is one of those artists who is gifted with a seemingly effortless voice. Magic.

Midwinter Graces - Tori Amos

I struggle with the concept of Christmas or winter themed albums. Why would an artist put a whole load of effort into something that has a limited shelf life? The best they can hope for us about one month of play time. Or am I being uncharitable? Maybe.
As Tori Amos is one of the most original artists, whilst it is surprising that she elected to create a festive album, it is only natural that she has created something a little different. In giving the traditional carols a baroque, almost gothic twist, it has infused the music with a freshness. They sound as if Tori Amos had written these traditional songs. The same goes for her original compositions - these don't sound out of place and have surely bolstered the festive music catalogue. It is a lovely album to play in the festive period and is arguably the best contemporary Christmas album..... I'm in a real festive mood now! Happy Christmas.

Hymns Of The 49th Parallel - k.d. lang

Elvis is alive and her name is k.d. lang. Or at least so said Madonna. She wasn't far off the mark.
k.d. lang has the most wonderful voice; powerful, resonant, warm and pure. Whilst it sounds great on her recordings it is even better live. In auditoriums her voice fills the space, grows in power and I can honestly say I've yet to hear a better live voice or a more powerful singer.
This album, despite it being mainly covers, is one of her best. Maybe the best? There was a sudden rash of cover version albums a while ago. Everyone seemed to be at it. Mostly with mixed results is has to be said.
'Hymns of the 49th Parallel', however, succeeds where others failed because k.d. makes the songs her own, has selected songs that suit her style and they are performed beautifully. Stand out tracks are Neil Young's 'After The Gold Rush' and Leonard Cohen's 'Bird On A Wire'; both showcasing k.d.'s powerful voice.
Not a party album, but one that I return to time-after-time to bathe in its warm waters. Perfect for a cold winter morning
.

Expecting To Fly - The Bluetones

My introduction to The Bluetones bugged the hell out of me. Why? Well I kept catching snippets of this great sounding song on the radio but each time either missed the DJ giving out any details or, even more annoyingly, it wasn't given at all. In the days before apps such as Shazam, I was finding almost impossible to catch the name of either the song title or the band..... until one day I was in HMV and decided to pick up the headphones on one of their listening posts. UREKA! By sheer chance I had picked up the debut album by The Bluetones.... and now knew that the song was called 'Slight Return'. I was getting somewhere....
The debut album is great - a true whole band performance. Very memorable songs, great jangly guitar riffs, excellent drumming and solid and precise bass. One of those albums that you imagine was recorded with minimal fuss and overdubs. For those new to this album try 'A Parting Gesture'. If defy you not to like it.
Unfortunately, due to their timing of coming into prominence, they were tagged as a Britpop band. Whilst this may have helped initially, I can't help but think that this labelling stymied the growth of their long term popularity. A truly underrated band. Album sales would decrease as the music got more inventive. Ah well.
At least it meant that we got to see them play in a small club in Darlington. Yes Darlington! And they were excellent, playing the debut album in its entirety along with other Bluetones 'hits'. A great gig indeed - and we could stagger home in less than 10 minutes!

Moon Safari - Air

This is my album of choice to relax to and I haven't heard it for quite a few months. Now you could easily assume that I must have had an easy time recently if I have had no need for 'Moon Safari'. Perhaps, or it could be that a daily blog consisting of only one album might be a little monotonous, or worse self-indulgent. You could equally assume that I must have been really tense to have been deprived of my relaxation aid all this time. If this were the case then I would not like to be the one who had to live with me! Either way I was due a listen.
This album is über-cool and very French. In fact, if this album were a person then it would, right now, be driving around in a convertible Citroen, sucking on Gitanes trying to impress the opposite sex with his air of sophistication. Hey! I might have struck upon a new game there - let's see if it works for other albums. 'Revolver' by The Beatles; young man in his mid twenties, black hair, leather jacket and works in a music shop. And another 'Graceland' by Paul Simon; Woman in her mid to late thirties, well dressed and travelled, currently working in advertising but dreams of running her own clothes design business..... It anyone reads this and it becomes a TV sensation I'll take 10%.
....where was I? Oh yes, 'Moon Safari'. For an electronic album, it manages to feel warm and soothing as well as sounding like nothing else. Very much like 'Equinoxe', it opens with rain fall and takes the listener on a journey through the cosmos. Or at least that is how it sounds to me. The only time the coolness threatens to slip is during 'Ce Martin-La' when for a brief moment it sounds like the theme tune from 'Last of the Summer Wine' is fading in. But it doesn't. Thankfully. Right that's me well relaxed now, time to face the shops and the pre-Christmas panic.

Reckless - Bryan Adams

You may not believe this, but there was a time when Bryan Adams was cool. Yes cool. It didn't last long though, probably about one or two albums but 'Reckless' is one of the classics.
I remember heated debates on the school yard about who was the better performer, Bryan or Bruce. At the time, Bryan was preferred over Bruce. His songs were catchier, had more guitar and sung about kids wanting to Rock. What was there not to like?
....but then, slowly but surely, Bryan Adams descended into AOR hell. By the time THAT single hit the airwaves his fate was sealed. And boy did it go on. And on. And on.......
But forget all that. 'Reckless' is a great no frills rock album; 'Run To You', 'Heaven', 'Summer of 69', 'One Night Love Affair', 'Somebody' and 'It's Only Love' are all rock standards and all came from 'Reckless'. You shouldn't need anymore evidence than that!

Keep Moving - Madness

I was quite late to the Madness party. Sure I had 'danced' to them many times at school discos, studiously watching my mate NR doing the Nutty Boy moves. I was a pale immitation by comparison. But then again most of us were.
Apart from a few wacky videos they pretty much passed me by. That was until I heard the single 'Michael Caine'. After all you can't beat a single with a catchphrase. So I bought the album and loved it! Lots!
I don't think NR apprecaited their change of direction. He can't have done because he started selling me his treasured Madness 7" picture discs. One at a time. We had come to an arrangement wherby I would buy one a week with my pocket money, slowly building up a collection of great Madness singles. It took a while but it was worth it. With each transaction I would take them home, carefully clean them and reinstert them into their plastic sleeves. They were definitely not for playing, or so at least I had been instructed!
I'm ashamed to say that, as the digital age moved in, I later sold them and I'm not sure that he has fogiven me for that. Listening to the album again today, I have a nagging feeling that he was right. Apart from 'Michael Caine', the rest of the album is a little...well....dull. Ironically, twenty-six years later, a more mature me prefers the less mature sound of their early music.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels - Dexys Midnight Runners

Now this is how to do a great pop album; hammond organs, brassy hooks, Northern Soul inspired bass lines and unique vocals. Nothing short of spectacular.
From the opening horn blast on 'Burn It Down' through 'Geno' to the closing 'There, There My Dear' this is a brass fuelled album. Even now, thirty years after it was recorded, it sounds fresh, vibrant and soulful. Not bad for a bunch of blokes from Birmingham!
Although I had heard 'Geno' on the radio, it was 'Come On Eileen' that really introduced me to Dexys Midnight Runners. It was a school disco favourite and all the lads would take to the floor when this song came on; keen to impress the girls with our stomping , intimate knowledge of the impenetrable lyrics - hands clasped behind our backs in proper Dexys style. I don't think they were impressed. Fortunately my forays onto the dance floor are less frequent but should this song come on, I'll be there, hands behind back, stomping and mumbling to words I still don't understand.

London Calling - The Clash

Most double albums are rubbish. In some cases just generally poor, but more often than not, they are padded out single albums - albums that could be immeasurably improved by some careful pruning. Take The Beatles 'White Album' for example. In its released form it is patchy but with moments of brilliance. Prune out self indulgent tosh like 'Revolution #9' and twee clangers like 'Ob-la-Di Ob-la-Da' and you are left with a storming single album.
That rather lengthy introduction, therefore, is my way of saying that The Clash's 'London Calling' is not one of those. A rarity in popular music - a double album that is deservedly so. No fillers or embarrassingly self indulgent noodling here!
From its title track to the closer 'Train In Vain' the range if styles, quality of playing, particularly from drummer Topper Headon, and potent lyrics keeps the album fresh. Not once in the albums running length of 65 minutes does it feel like they were playing for time. A truly great album and deserved if the praise often heaped upon it.
Not convinced? Well apart from the title track, which is a rousing call to arms, try 'Rudie Can't Fail' or 'Tge Card Cheat'. Songs that couldn't be more different; the first a reggae tinged pop gem and the latter a piano driven rock classic. So come out of the cupboard you boys and girls - London's Calling!

Sound Affects - The Jam

Where are the current day equivalent of The Jam? I would've thought that in these trying times dissenting voices would filling the airwaves. Perhaps endless reality television loops has blunted and deadened our resolve? Maybe manufactured music is drowning out those who are shouting out or perhaps no one cares enough to write a three minute political pop song?
The Jam successfully mixed pop songs with political and social commentary. Try 'That's Entertainment', written in 1980 describing a life that should seem distant but resonates 30 years later. A depressing and sobering thought. 'I'm Different Now' manages to be harder, edgier and poppy at the same time. This was The Jam's strength; successfully mixing different types of message, concisely delivered within great pop songs.
So the Thatcher years gave rise to angry and political pop bands, like The Jam. I wonder who will rise to the challenge now?

Electric - The Cult

Against my better judgement, I was persuaded to listen to this tonight over their previous album 'Love'. Why? Well I have always preferred 'Love' to anything else in The Cult's repertoire. It's a matter of opinion. But I know I'm right!
But as I had not listened to this album in a long while giving 'Electric' a spin in my CD was more in keeping with this project.
And? Well this album rocks! Riffs-a-plenty, scorching solos and arguably one of the best voices in rock music. Not for the faint hearted but ideal for would be air guitarists!
I still prefer 'Love' but this album has gone up in my estimation - I used to think it had a couple of decent tracks, mostly the singles, but the rest were poor imitations - now I can appreciate it for what it is - a cracking straightforward rock album. And there is nothing wrong with that!

Under The Backlight - Rilo Kiley

Rilo Kiley are one of my best 'finds' but that probably says more about my lack of exposure to new music than their obscurity.
In December 2007 I plonked myself down in front of the TV to watch Later with Jools Holland. Whilst the programme had its usual excellent mix of artists there was nothing that really grabbed my attention. That was until Rilo Kiley appeared. I would like to think that it was the quality of the music that caught my attention, but it was more than likely due to the fact that the singer, Jenny Lewis, was wearing a black leotard and sparkly pants. Yes we blokes are that shallow!
But ultimately it is the sheer quality of the songwriting and inventiveness of the music that was to have a lasting effect. Following the show I immediately went out and bought this album, shortly followed by all of the others, naturally.
Although this album is their most mainstream, it's a musically diverse affair - almost as if they couldn't make their minds up which genre to play. Try 'The Angels Hung Around' (50s rock), 'Breakin Up' (80s pop) or 'Close Call' (Alt rock). Plus everything in between. 'Silver Lining' is the song that caught my attention on Jools so it is, and will probably remain, my favourite Rilo Kiley track.
Their other albums are more coherent but this one really does show that whatever musical style they turn their hands to, they make it sound like their own.
You will no doubt read about their other albums, and those by Ms Lewis, later in my blog but for the time being I recommend you seek out the footage of the Jools programme. Especially if you are partial to leotards and sparkly pants!

The La's - The La's

....and predictably, here is the other one.
As debuts go, this must be up there with those by the Stone Roses and The Smiths, amongst others. It is energetic, immediate and raw yet melodic at the same time. It is a wonder, therefore, why it was famously rubbished by Lee Mavers, the lead singer of the band. He stated that he couldn't get an authentic 60s sound - which is surprising considering that he allegedly sourced some 60s valve amplifiers with authentic dust on them! Now that is finicky. In fact he was so disillusioned by the whole thing that he had not recorded anything else since, officially at least.
Whilst most people on the planet will know 'There She Goes', there are other equally memorable and better tunes on the album. In my humble opinion 'Feelin' is one such superior track but I suppose that is the aural equivalent of comparing one Picasso to another. 1:45 of pop perfection. Listen, smile and enjoy.

All Change - Cast

Cast arose out of the ashes of The La's and, despite John Powers' former band only releasing one album, it was such a revered debut that some doubted whether they could escape unfavourable comparisons.
Within seconds of hearing the opening bars of 'Finetime' I don't think this was ever in doubt. It's a storming single and set the scene for the rest of the album.
For me though, of the two debuts, The La's album edges it. But only just. if I have one criticism of the album, it's that it has a 'hidden' track. I don't think they are in vogue at the moment but they were a right pain in the ass during the mid nineties onwards. Even more so with music being converted into MP3s as the unwanted silence takes up storage space. And it mucks up playlists. Whoever thought this was a good idea should be taken and......[takes deep breath]........sorry where was I?
I have only managed to see Cast once and that was as a support band to U2 at Roundhay Park in Leeds in 1997. It was not a good experience as the heavens opened, despite it being August, and we all got drenched. Not idea viewing conditions or, for that matter, playing conditions.
So, courtesy of a spare ticket from NR, I'm off to see Cast again later this week. With a new album on the horizon and a stellar back catalogue it'll hopefully be a top night out. And being indoors I should stay dry!

Green Mind - Dinosaur Jr.

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I've never listened to this album before. Not once in over 16 years.
Near our first house we were lucky to have numerous essential amenities; cinema, chip shop, pubs and most importantly an ace record shop called Polar Bear Records. Anyway I was browsing in there one Saturday afternoon after popping out of the house, probably on the pretence of 'going for some milk'. Well one thing led to another and I bought a stack of secondhand bargain CDs, this being one of them. I bought this CD on the basis of 'Freak Scene' - an excellent single from a few years earlier and a fave at the Gemini Club in H'Pool.
In usual fashion, they got catalogued and filed ready for selection at some future date. This one never had its day in the spotlight! Until now that is.
I was sure that I wasn't going to like the album but I was wrong. Instead of the expected noise pollution, the songs are given room, particularly on tracks like 'Muck' and 'Green Mind' where the funk guitar gives the songs a kind of Chili Peppers feel.
Pleasantly surprised, I'm off now to see what else is lurking unlistened to and unloved in my collection.....

Blast The Human Flower - Danielle Dax

To mark the second month of my odyssey into my music collection I though that I would delve into another obscure title.
In pre-Internet and YouTube days, it was difficult to discover new music. One of the few outlets was a BBC TV programme called 'Juke Box Jury'. It's heyday was in the 1960s but it had been resurrected on several occasions by the Beeb and one particular episode in 1990 showed a clip of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by Danielle Dax. At the time I was in the full grip of Indie Dance music and this song, being a Beatles cover, added a new dimension - the Fab Four! I can't recall whether the panel rated it as a hit or a miss. But the alt-dance-pop version of a Beatles song (It is not as bad as it sounds - honest!) was a hit with me so I went out and bought the album.
At the time it was rarely off my CD player and then one day I just stopped playing it. I moved on. This must happen to other people - being obsessed by a particular record, playing it daily and then just stopping. It is not a conscious decision but something else appears over the horizon and diverts interest long enough to forget about the obsession......
According to my iTunes library, I've never played this since it was converted into a digital format and I can well believe that this is true. Actually I was pleasantly surprised as this album has not fared to badly. The first track 'The ID Parade' tries a bit too hard and comes over like a 'Sieg Sieg Sputnik' clone. Fortunately the album soon settles down and there are some genuinely fine songs on it such as 'Bayou' or 'The Living And Their Stillborn'. Sure its early 1990s roots are obvious but with a bit of tweaking it wouldn't sound out of place today - imagine 'Bat For Lashes' crossed with  'Lady Ga-Ga' and you might be close-ish.

Some Cities - Doves

Seeing Doves perform at Twickenham Stadium in June 2005 reminded me of what a crappy job being a support band is. They were, in this instance, one of the support acts for U2. It was broad daylight, the stadium was mostly empty and the sound was atrocious. Even though I knew the songs I couldn't distinguish them from one another. They seemed to echo around the hollow stadium.
Listening to this album again, it doesn't surprise me that the music got lost in the rafters that day. It is much too subtle to fill a stadium - even with perfect sound the Manchester trio would've had problems. They are not U2 so hadn't designed their music on a stadium-filling agenda.
That is not, however, to say that the songs aren't epic - they are - epic, atmospheric, moody and beautiful.
Check out 'The Storm' which takes a Sakamoto orchestral piece and mixes it with a laid back dub loop. Epic but not fit for a stadium. Somehow I just can't see U2 ever being this brave, but when were U2 last a support band; playing to a handful of people in a huge but empty stadium in broad daylight?

Suede - Suede

I was going to start this blog by saying something controversial like, "if you imagine The Smiths and then take away the humour, wit and tongue in cheek lyrics you would end up with Suede". But I won't... Doh! Actually that is probably a bit harsh, but I never really got Suede. They seemed a little but...well...posh.
This album, however is a cracker. At the time of its release in 1993 it was acclaimed mostly for Brett Anderson's soaring voice and androgynous lyrics, but this album really belongs to guitarist Bernard Butler. It is a tour-de-force in pop and rock guitar. From the opening reverse-strummed chord of 'So Young' to the last note of 'The Next Life' it is a master class in how a guitar should drive a record. Just check out 'Pantomime Horse' and you'll see what I mean. Give it time, though, as it's a builder. Every track is infused with chiming guitars, overdriven chords, soaring solos or pop riffs.
It is often quoted as kick-starting the Britpop music scene. I'm not sure about that, and (in my opinion) better bands would follow but it did form an essential part of the musical backdrop to my final year at Poly.

Greatest Hits - ABBA

Firstly, I have to own up and admit that I have a soft spot for ABBA. Not that I am a huge fan or anything, but every time I hear one of their songs I can't help but smile.
Secondly, this is a little bit of a cheat as I don't actually own this CD - instead I have compiled a playlist from the albums that I have. Why cheat? Well this album was my absolute favourite when I was 5 or 6 years old and it's fair to say that I was obsessed with it. The biggest mistake my parents made was buying me a Philips portable cassette player. It now meant that I could listen to ABBA's Greatest Hits wherever I went, particularly in the car. I used to sit in the back of the Mini and play this tape on journeys long or short. This was in the days before proper car stereos you understand so there was no alternative. It must've drove my parents and sister barmy. I can only apologise to them wholeheartedly!
But what classic songs they are. Even though this album was released in 1975, well before the big hits started rolling in, it still shows just how inventive and skilled they were as song writers....and this wasn't even their native language.
The peak of my ABBA-mania would arrive in 1977 when I got 'The Name Of The Game' 7"single for Christmas. With its bright orange paper sleeve (on the Epic label) has became, and remains, one of my favourite songs.
I think everyone, whether they admit to it or not, has a fondness for at least one ABBA song. Admit it, go and download it, listen to it and I guarantee you will feel better!

Liquidizer - Jesus Jones

Anyone who has seen Jesus Jones live will know that they make for an entertaining spectacle. Loud, rowdy and energetic.

In particular the keyboard player Iain Baker, who seems to treat his instrument with disdain, hammering the keys as if he is punishing it for some past misdemeanour, flinging it around (it rarely rests on the stand) and standing as far away from it as his outstretched arms will allow.

And then there is frontman Mike Edwards. You'd be hard pressed to find a less likely frontman. Tall and gangly he looks less like a pop star and more like a pole jumper who took a wrong turn in the corridor and has inexplicably ended up on stage.

Yes they are a great live act and brim full of enthusiasm and energy, rattling through their sings like their life depended upon it....

And if you are up for it, that is exactly what you get on their debut album. All of the songs are excellent, from the hit single 'Info Freako' to the less well known 'Someone To Blame'. They are played at a loud and breakneck speed that is more akin to a live gig than a studio recording. Listening to the twelve songs in one sitting can be quite exhausting and is the nearest thing to hearing the real thing. And this is not an age thing either, before you make such a harsh comment, as I've always found this since buying the album in 1989.
But it is a blast and, providing you are in the right frame of mind and have the energy to match, a great pick me up.

Pretenders - The Pretenders

....following on from my theme of indecipherable lyrics, what on earth does Chrissie Hynde sing during 'Brass In Pocket'? Something like "Gonna Use My Style, Gonna Use My Sudsip". What? Anyway, that isn't the point of this particular blog.
Listening to early Pretenders songs always reminds me of the festive period. It is a tenuous link but a persistent one - The simple reason is that in 1987 I got 'The Singles' album for Christmas, this being a best of album by The Pretenders. S'Funny how things like that can just stick.
Our paths first crossed in 1979 when I was an avid listener of the Top 40. I would sit with my mono tape recorder in front of the radio and record the songs coming out of the speakers. Not very high tech and vulnerable to picking up shouts of my Mam telling me tea was ready! Tsscchh tell that to the kids of today and they'd have trouble believing that we were so primitive. During this period 'Brass In Pocket' was a huge No.1 hit and featured regularly on my recordings.
I didn't acquire the debut album until relatively recently and I wish it hadn't taken me so long. It is fab. All of my favourite ingredients are present; jangly guitars, bouncing bass, top drums and a unique voice. Probably one of the most distinctive voices in rock. Apart from the singles, if you are only going to listen to one track then pick 'Tattooed Love Boys' and tell me you don't hear the influence on numerous modern bands. A classic rock album.

Heaven Or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins

I swear down that when I first heard this album I though the lead vocalist was singing in a foreign language. Admittedly I had copied a mate's CD onto a cheap hissy C90 but even so.....
After several listens through I started to hear what I thought were proper words....but even then I wasn't sure. I'm still not. Even if you do manage to make out the odd word here or there, it still won't make sense. I don't think it is supposed to. I wish some bands that write bloody awful lyrics would take the same approach. Don't believe me? Take this recent example from pop sensation 'One Direction'... 'Baby you light up my world like nobody else. The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed'. Convinced? You should be. I could go on. But I'll spare you the anguish. If they had taken the Cocteau's approach and mixed the vocals way back in the mix I would've been spared the risky business of driving down the motorway whilst trying to stuff an empty Mars Bar wrappers into my ears. Yes I appreciate that I could've turned the radio off but that would've been admitting defeat.
I suppose I could, in this modern age go off and Google the lyrics to this album it. But I feel that might somehow spoil the fantastical feel of the album. Once you accept Liz Frasier's voice as just being another instrument, rather than straining to decipher the lyrics, you can let the music do the talking, as it were.
I've not heard anything else by the Cocteau Twins, either before or after this album, but I can't imagine them being able to top this album. Lovely chiming flanged guitars, double tracked vocals and melodic base lines give this album an ethereal feel. Listen to it and don't try and understand it and I promise you'll get on fine together.

Disintegration - The Cure

I think it's fair to say that 'Disintegration' is not a party album, unless of course you like to go to parties where the revellers shuffle around, stare at the floor and grumble to themselves about how miserable they feel. Maybe you do, in which case this is the very album you need to kick start your misery-fest.
Now before any Cure fans out there, and I'm thinking of one in particular, take umbrage at that, I have to say that I really like this album. A lot. In fact I would go as far as to say that it's magnificent, glorious, melacholic and feels very comfortable in its gloomy outlook. There are some lighter moments on the album, for example the lead single 'Lullaby' which reached number 5 in the singles charts, but even that talks about being eaten by The Spiderman. Somehow I just can't imagine that ever winning X-Factor!
Not all Cure albums are like this. In their poppier moments, you might even feel your feet start to move and the corners of your mouth start to lift. Don't worry, this is normal and you are not ill - it's called happiness.
Although I really like this album, I never really 'got' The Cure. Despite the efforts of the aforementioned Cure fan, who has played me most of their albums several times over the years, I've just failed to make that connection. I do like a lot of their albums but there just seems to be something missing for me. Maybe it was the hair or lipstick? Who knows.
Anyway, I've got to go and give this one more listen today. I am feeling far too happy and that just won't do!

Hup! - The Wonder Stuff

...and so from one of the most over-rated bands to one of the most under-rated.
So I was standing there in HMV in Middlesbrough, during a break between classes at Poly, starting at the cassette of the newly released Wonder Stuff album Hup! I had heard of some of the tracks from the previous album and really liked the single 'Don't Let Me Down Gently'. But would I like the album? Mmmm I really was not sure and wandered around the rest of the store deliberating. I paced up and down, looking at the racks and racks of cassettes and CDs absent mindedly. I was going to be late for the next class so I grabbed the cassette, rushed to the counter, bought the album and ran up Linthorpe Road to the Poly. Why was I so reticent? Absolutely no idea.
So after all that did I like the album? ...... well I've lost count of how many times I've seen The Wonder Stuff or Miles Hunt (and Erica Nockalls) live. I was there at Bescott Stadium in 1991 with 18,000 other fans, we saw them twice in one week in 1991, we were there at their 'farewell' gig at The Pheonix Festival, we were there for the reformation tour in 2000 and many times since. I have seen Miles Hunt in Leeds, York, Newcastle and Thirsk. Many times. I've bought pretty much their entire catalogue, including singles. Can't miss any B-sides can we!
....so it is safe to assume that I liked Hup! Poppy, funny, guitars a-plenty, great tunes and great to sing along to. The Groove Machine in full flow. So let's hear it for one of the great British bands. Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup!

MTV Unplugged In New York - Nirvana

Brace yourself - I'm about to make two controversial statements. Ready?

1/. Nirvana are probably one of the most over-rated bands of all time. Apart from a couple of decent albums what have they done? Not a lot and let's face it, part of their legacy is in no small part due to the fact that the lead singer committed suicide.

2/. Their so-called benchmark album, 'Nevermind' is average. How did stealing The Pixies blueprint and shouting a little bit louder make it such a revered recording? See item 1/. above. Perhaps.

Still with me? Good then I'll continue.
Now you might get the impression that I don't like Nirvana but you couldn't be further from the truth. Like any self respecting 20 year old, when grunge was at its peak I too had a checked shirt, torn jeans and plimsolls. (Ok so I didn't have the angst that I was supposed to carry around, but this was in short supply in Hartlepool). And I had the studio albums. They were good rock albums. No more, no less.
This MTV Unplugged album is, in my opinion, their best album by far. By removing the heavy guitars and drums the songs are allowed to breathe, becoming more emotional in the process. In between the songs the banter between band members (in particular Kurt Cobain) and the audience is genuinely light hearted. The acoustic setting makes for an intimate recording. This album is a real gem.

Definitely Maybe - Oasis

I owe a lot to this album, along with Blur's 'Parklife'. More of that later though.
I'd not been living in Leeds long when my Dad, who has always had his ear close to the ground musically, mentioned that there was this new group playing at a small venue in the town centre and perhaps I should check them out. I didn't - there must've been something good on telly that night! Anyway, as you might've guessed, that band were Oasis. Obviously they went on to sell quite a few records and become more than a little popular. I'd missed out big-time and have been kicking myself ever since. To catch them in their ascendency would've been amazing.
In fairness, I only really like this album and the follow up 'What's The Story (Morning Glory)?' as they became a cross between a Beatles tribute band and a pastiche of themselves. Eventually they would blot their copy book with me by pulling out of a support slot with R.E.M. They were too small to be anything but headlining acts, apparently.
So why do I owe a debt to this album? In 1994-1995 I went through a bit of a rough patch and had problems driving alone. It became a very stressful and nervous experience. The solution I found was to play this album at a loud volume; the sheer swagger and confidence of the songs giving me strength to get from A to B.
And what songs they are! Full on Rock 'n Roll. It is hard to pick a favourite track but if pressed on the matter I would have to say 'Columbia' tops then all - a driving rhythm, distorted guitars and great vocal make this Oasis' best song. The others are almost as good though.
Ignore their later albums, public squabbles, questionable ethics and overblown public image and listen to the first two albums. Fresh, vibrant, relevant and masterful. So let's hear it ........Shhhiiiinnne!