Easy Pieces - Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

In many ways my Dad and I have similar tastes in music. This became really evident when, in 1986, I decided to buy him this album for his birthday. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending upon your point of view, he'd already bought it for my birthday - which was two days earlier. At least I got given the CD version whilst I had only bought it on cassette!
This album has often been quoted as an example of the 'difficult second album syndrome' but whilst it does come a distant second to their debut, it contains some great pop gems. Obviously 'Lost Weekend' is a great single but 'Cut Me Down', 'Brand New Friend' and 'Pretty Gone' are worthy inclusions. Oh and check out the Beatles reference on the last verse of the opener 'Rich'.

Doppelgänger - Curve

This album will always remind of my time living in Hull and driving around the country lanes in my Mk III Ford Escort - the low thumping bass of this album was a great test for the newly fitted stereo system. I imagine people in the villages I passed through are still talking about 'the time of the curious earthquake'. Such was the power of my stereo when this album was played. 10W of pure power!
I came across Curve a year earlier when in 1991 they released three critically acclaimed EPs. Unfortunately these set such a high standard that the album could only be a disappointment. And it was - and that was when the backlash in the press started. One reviewer even likened that album sound to be more akin to a Sikorsky helicopter taking off than music. Garbage! Actually thinking about Garbage ripped off the Curve template and went on to be darlings of the indie press. Tschh!
Hearing it again for the first time in years I would agree that the the album is a little 'samey' but is certainly packs a punch in small doses, especially the stand out track and future single 'Fait Accompli' (although the single mix is much better than the album version).
I got to see Curve when they toured in 1992 and I don't think I have ever left a concert with my ears ringing so much. Surely the sign of a good gig! Toni Halliday was on top form that night as was Debbie Smith whose distorted guitar drive the songs forward.
I really enjoyed my 45 minutes in the shoe-gazing world of Curve, and if this is really what helicopters taking-off sound like then I will have to take another trip soon!

The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow

'How dare the Premier ignore my invitations?
He'll have to go
So, too, the bunch he luncheons with
It's second on my list of things to do'. Surely this is one of the best opening verses of an album? It certainly is an attention grabber.
This album will always remind me of visiting a friend in Gourock as this is where I heard it for the first time. In true 'me' style I largely ignored it. In my defence the passenger seat of a VW Golf is never the best place to audition an album, especially when there is stunning scenery to gawp at!
One of my musical regrets this year is that, due to a poor knowledge of midland geography, I missed their tour. I was away on a residential training course near Coventry and whilst there I saw a magazine advert for their tour. I was annoyed that I had missed them in Newcastle and considered my options. They were playing that very night in Birmingham but that was 'too far'. I wish I'd thought to look at a map because I could've comfortably got to Birmingham in 40 minutes. In my mind Birmingham was still several hours down the M1. Doh!
If they overlook Darlington the next time they tour I'll make sure to look at a road atlas!

Bring It On - Gomez

I first came across Gomez whilst living in Leeds. Well not actually in person but I was introduced to this album by a friend. He had heard some of it and, whilst visiting bought it from a CD seller in The Corn Exchange. He continued to harp on about it but as usual, the more someone recommends something, the more determined I am to avoid it. But I was worn down and won over by his continued praise, and the music I had heard whilst he was visiting. Since then I've not missed a single release.
I have been to many of their gigs but the most memorable is when a bunch of us went to see them play this album as part of its anniversary celebrations. One of the group, who shall remain nameless, so let's call him 'Blue', only decided to go at the last minute and asked that we pick him up from his house. It was a really bad sign that he was very drunk when he got into the car. I was an even worse sign when he continued to drink on the way to the gig..... 30 miles away.
By the time Gomez appeared and launched into the opening bars of 'Get Miles' he was outrageously drunk. Rather than stand up during the gig, he found a ledge to sit on which also gave him a superb view of the stage. Or at least he would've if he'd not promptly then fallen asleep. Unbelievable - one song in and he falls fast asleep. There was no waking despite the band cranking up the volume. When we woke him after the encore he grumpily climbed down off his ledge/bed, confirmed our suspicions that he'd not enjoyed the concert and then made his way to the exit in search of some food. Classic!

The Trinity Session - Cowboy Junkies

This is such a hauntingly beautiful album. Recorded live in a church in Toronto using just one microphone the album is dripping with ambience as Margo Timmins ethereal voice delivers a set of blues and country standards, as well as some of their own compositions. Oddly, for such a quiet album, it benefits from being played as loud as possible as it helps bring out the background 'breathing' of the space it was recorded in.
It has been said that the Cowboy Junkies have only two speeds; slow and slower. On the basis of this recording that is true but later releases would find them experimenting occasionally with a more rockier blues sound.
I was lucky to catch them playing this album live at The Sage in Gateshead a few years back and I can honestly say that it was a magical evening. As I had unfortunately missed them when they came to the UK in 1990 (and played the Redcar Bowl of all places) finally seeing them live fulfilled one of my life's ambitions. Now if we could only get Kate Bush to tour I'd be sorted!

Little Creatures - Talking Heads

I'd like to pretend to be über cool and say I first got into Talking Heads through their earlier punkier albums..... But it wouldn't be true.
Nope, instead it was the single 'Road to Nowhere' that first alerted me to their existence - a song that David Byrne was so ashamed of its simplicity that he felt he should add the opening choral segment.
But it did make an impression and I went on to become a big fan and soon started purchasing their back catalogue.
It is as close to a pop album as The Heads got as their usual polyrhythmic beats are absent as are the choppy, angular guitar riffs. Instead we get simple pop songs, country ballads and pedal steel.
Perhaps my fondest memory of this album is camping in the Lake District with school friends. We were walking back to the campsite in the rain when me and Micky, who was equally fond of the album, started singing 'Walk It Down'. As we got into our stride our confidence grew and the singing got louder. And louder. I think somewhere around Dungeon Ghyll the melody got left behind and the words became mangled. Thankfully there were only sheep and the surrounding hills to witness the cacophony.
Hearing this album again took me straight back to that soggy day in 1987 and I couldn't help but sing along. This time there were no sheep to hear me sing (although the neighbours dog probably won't be the same again!).

Confessions On A Dancefloor - Madonna

.....ok so I lied. There is one Madonna album worth playing loud, 'Confessions On A Dancefloor'.
Like most teenage boys in the early 80s I went through a Madonna phase. For a brief period I was infatuated and collected the LPs, had posters on my bedroom wall and kept clippings from 'Smash Hits'. It did not last long, however, as my attention was soon grabbed by guitar based rock/pop.
I suppose this album is one of my guilty pleasures as it is incongruous with the rest of my collection. But I love it. I love the fact that it opens with an ABBA riff, I love the seamless nature the tracks. I love the way it mixes ethnic beats with New York disco. I love the unashamed kitsch moments and I love the songs. Glorious, big, bold disco beats. As guilty pleasures go it's hard to beat.

Violator - Depeche Mode

I mentioned a few blogs ago that I 'accidentally' assimilated one of my Dad's CDs into my collection. This, I'm ashamed to say, was not an isolated incident.
When I moved down to Hull in 1991 I 'accidentally' took with me my sister's 'Immaculate Collection' by Madonna. I don't really know why I had it but there it was in my box of CDs.
My house mate Alan had 'Violator' and had played it so much that he was getting bored of it. I loved the album so offered him a swap of any CD in my collection. He happened to chose the only CD that was technically not mine. Not wanting to let simple legalities get in the way of a good deal the swap took place. As far as I was concerned it was a win-win situation - not sure my sister would've seen it that way though!
For such a great album there is one glaring fault - the track sequencing is awful. Why is 'Sweetest Perfection' the second track? It doesn't fit. The correct running list should be 1 - 4 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 2 - 7 - 8 - 9. Just try it. Much better.
Apart from that the album is a great, dark and brooding synth driven album that really benefits from being played at a loud volume. Not sure I could say the same about Madonna..... perhaps.

Live 2010/2011 - Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls

I've been a fan of Miles Hunt and The Wonder Stuff since the late 80s and have been lucky enough to see them live on many occasions. Almost too many to count.
One particular favourite of these was when we went to see Miles and Erica perform at the Old Courthouse in Thirsk on the 12 December 2008. This was a tiny venue, holding no more than 50 people, so made for an intimate, cosy gig. Also thankfully we weren't driving so it allowed us to drink copious amounts of red wine - bottles of which could be bought from a small table in the corridor that could only be accessed by walking over the stage area.
Playing a mixture of Wonder Stuff and solo songs the evening was truly memorable with our table singing along joyously with Miles. I hope he didn't mind! We were a little rough the next day but it was worth it.
This album captures one of Miles' and Erica's concerts from last year - the songs and banter are all present as are the fantastic guitar and violin playing.
I'm sure that we'll get to see them again soon, but in the meantime this album helps bring an intimate concert into the comfort of your living room. Give it a go just don't drink too much red wine!

Different Light - The Bangles

Christmas 1986. I was lucky to get a red Sharp Ghettoblaster (with a back to back dual tape mechanism!), 'Labyrinth' for the Commodore 64 and a copy of this album on cassette. I played this album over and over until the tape must have been all but worn out. It must've drove my parents mad!
Listening to this again, now on CD, it struck me just how well written and played the songs are; jangling guitars, harmonies and pop hooks. Sure they didn't write all the songs, perhaps most famously Prince who wrote their hit 'Manic Monday', but the cover versions sit perfectly next to their own compositions. Great examples are 'Following' and 'Return Post'
Their next album, particularly 'Eternal Flame', would take them into more commercial territory but 'Different Light' captures them in sparkling guitar pop form.

Achtung Baby - U2

Twenty years ago today U2 released their new single 'The Fly' onto an unsuspecting public. It didn't make sense, was industrial, had a hard guitar sound and definitely was not the U2 everyone knew.
If 'The Fly' had been a surprise then the subsequent album would be a huge shock. A reboot. Yes there had been rumours leaking from the Hansa Studios in Berlin that a new sound was being crafted but no-one could have predicted the dark, edgy sound of 'Achtung Baby'.
The tour that was to follow was equally groundbreaking and one that I was privileged to witness. A group of us were picked up from outside 'Churchhill's' in Hartlepool and we travelled in a transit van to Roundhay Park in Leeds. The transit van was exactly that - no seats in the back and a bag of tools for company.
The scale of the show was breathtaking; huge TVs, Trabants, handycams and belly dancers. I'll never forget the entrance of Bono as The Fly- rising up on a platform, smoking and kicking to the opening fuzz of 'Zoo Station'.
We left the show and got back into the van tired but buzzing from what we'd just witnessed. Most of us fell asleep and woke several hours later.... still in the car park! The place was jammed.
In making this album U2 had reinvigorated themselves and produced a blueprint for others to follow. I would not last of course as they soon gave in to their earnest rock DNA. But for an brief moment in the early 90s U2 had captured the zeitgeist.

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Ian Brown once said "It's not where you're from that matters but where you're at", or something along those lines. Being brought up in Hartlepool there was not much of a local music scene, but what it lacked in opportunity it made up for it in enthusiasm.
The biggest night of the week was Thursday when we would all head down to The Gemini for the 'alternative' night.
Although I never got to see The Stone Roses live, when 'I Am The Resurrection' got played, usually towards the end of the night, it felt like a little piece of Manchester had been imported into 'Pool. The dance floor would fill with baggy masses and the latest Bez style moves would be put on show for all to see. Manchester was all the rage.
We even went on a day trip to Manchester to soak up the atmosphere and ended up playing football outside Strangeways prison..... but that is a story for another time.

Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush

I was seven years old when I saw Kate Bush perform 'Wuthering Heights' on Top Of The Pops and it scared me. I didn't understand it, she looked strange and quite frankly, for someone used to the soothing tones of ABBA, the vocal performance was the equivalent of finger nails being dragged down a blackboard. It seemed to be No.1 for an eternity even though it was only there for four weeks. What on earth did the music buying public heat in it? I really hated it. As the years passed and her singles were played on the radio and TV my resolve softened and I became more inquisitive. 'Hounds Of Love' was to be her and my tipping point; either I or mainstream music had matured enough to accept her unique style.
This truly is a classic album and, although recorded between 1983 and 1985 it has not dated at all. This shows just how original, well written and produced it is - other 'classic' albums from that era have not faired as well.
It is impossible to pick out a favourite track but I can pick favourite moments; the way when she sings 'everytime it rains' in 'Cloudbusting' the reverb on her voice makes the sentence dissolve into the silence, the choir interludes on 'Hello Earth', the broken and chopped voice on 'Waking The Witch'. I could go on....
It is over 25 years since I first heard the album and I am still totally hooked.......just please don't ask me to listen to 'Wuthering Heights'

La Sera - La Sera

[18 Oct 2011] Whilst listening to this album this morning I started to wonder how did a relatively unknown musician from New York record some music that ended up entertaining me on my journey to work? For anyone who is an avid listener of music perhaps this is a familiar tale.
It all started with Jools Holland show on BBC 2. On this show were a band called Rilo Kiley who were showcasing songs from their new album 'Under The Backlight'.
Rather impressed by this I bought the new album and, like any self-respecting music aficionado, I began collecting their back catalogue. When this was complete I then started collecting the output from the individual band members including their lead singer Jenny Lewis. After an album with The Watson Twins and a solo release under her own name, both of which I bought, she released an album with Jonathan Rice, called 'I'm Having Fun Now'. To promote this album they announced a small UK tour and so it was on a wintry November night last year, in a little club in Newcastle, that we saw Jenny & Johnny. The support act that night was, you guessed it, La Sera. Being particularly impressed by this small three piece band I bought their debut single and the whole process started again....buying the album and looking into their previous bands musical allegiances. The work of a music collector is never really done!
Anyway the debut album takes 50s style rock 'n roll and puts it through a West Coast Beach Boys style filter. 12 songs lasting only 27 minutes might not sound like value for money but when they are this much fun who cares!

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic - The Sundays

Gig going in the early days was difficult, to say the least, as living in Hartlepool meant that everything was a car drive away. But that didn't deter us as we normally bought the tickets first and worried about logistics later. So that was the situation when we had bought tickets to see The Sundays on the 1st February 1990 at The Riverside in Newcastle. Due to a disastrous experience following a 'Texas' concert the previous year, we dared not ask for a lift from one of our parents. Instead our brilliant plan was to stay over in student digs in Sunderland. It would be no problem getting a bus from Newcastle to Sunderland once the gig had finished. Or so we thought.
Unfortunately we did not factor in the scarcity of late night buses or the fact that the gig might over-run. Faced with either sleeping on a bench in Newcastle in February or leaving the gig early we did the only rock 'n roll thing and..... left early. On the plus side we did get to see Galaxie 500 who were the support that night.
The Sundays and in particular 'Reading, Writing and Arithmetic' are surely one of the most underrated artists and albums of that era. With chiming guitars and Harriet Wheeler's crystal clear voice, the album is a gem of melodic indie pop. Just one listen to 'I Kicked A Boy' will confirm this.
Thankfully, gig going got a little easier with the arrival of our own transport but often the effort involved in those early days gave the gigs a more triumphant feel.

Dancing With Strangers - Chris Rea

Many people have said that Chris Rea is the UK's answer to Bruce Springsteen. I'm not too sure about that but in 1987 he was certainly my answer for the seemingly AWOL Dire Straits.
Since the release of Brothers In Arms I had become a huge Dire Straits fan and started to take music seriously, perhaps a little too seriously. Frustrated at the lack of a new album I turned to the gravel voiced Teessider Chris Rea and in particular this album.
Chris Rea can only have come from Middlesbrough; his music is littered with north eastern references and his vocal style is rough yet warm. Listening to the 'Dancing With Strangers' album again I was surprised just how varied the musical styles are. Straight forward pop songs sit next to celtic instrumentals; rock ballads are followed by blues based folk songs. Stand out tracks are the opener 'The Joys of Christmas' and 'The Curse of the Traveller', the former being a blues riff about being out of work, on the dole and fighting in pubs. Doubt it gets played much at Christmas parties.
It would be 1991 by the time Dire Straits released another album but by then I had moved on to other things - I was at University and in the grip of indie music.......

Seventh Tree - Goldfrapp

Jim Kerr once sang 'I couldn't sleep a wink last night...' and that was why I found myself listening to Goldfrapp at 3am this morning. I woke up for no particular reason and try as I might I couldn't get back to sleep. Goldfrapp was the answer!
I've not heard this for a while so had forgotten just how wonderful this album was. Normally known for their heavy electronic based dance music, this album is was a marked departure for the band.
There is still a lot of use of electronic instruments but they are used to create a pastoral, warm sound rather than hard edged dance music. The album does have upbeat moments but these are soft edged pop rather than stomping disco beats. A perfect choice for a impromptu, dead of night album audition!
Thankfully I just managed to hear the whole album through as by the time the last bars of 'Monster Love' were being played I was slipping into sleep.....

Strangeways Here We Come - The Smiths

I really didn't like The Smiths. Not at all. I mean what was the point? I suppose the music was alright but who was that bloke croning over the top and spoiling it all? I was not convinced. My dad even offered to take me and a friend to see them live for my 16th birthday. Much to my friends annoyance I turned down the offer.......then my dad bought this album and slowly and begrudgingly I started to appreciate them more and more.
It started with the jaunty 'Girlfriend In A Coma' when it became really obvious to me that here was a lyricist with a dry sense of humour. In 1993, when I moved out the CD 'accidentally' ended up in one of my boxes.
I think this is, perhaps controversially, a better album than 'The Queen Is Dead' and remains one of my favourites. One day I will buy my own copy and might even get around to returning my Dad's CD!

Technique - New Order

Like a lot of people I was introduced to New Order by the single 'Blue Monday' except I was about four years behind!
I first heard the track on Annie Nightingale's request show on Radio 1 around 1987. Despite being behind the times as soon as I heard the then current single 'True Faith' I was hooked (no pun intended!)
'Technique' was released in February 1989 which at the time seemed odd; the album is drenched in disco beats and feels very much like a summer album. I was never keen on the lead single 'Fine Time' but the rest of the album is pure indie pop at its best. Whether they intended to nick almost an entire Cure track for 'All The Way' is irrelevant as the album joyfully bounds from one track to the next.
It was certainly a welcome distraction from my 'A' level studies, which were in their final year, and brought a bit of Spanish sun into a cold north-east winter.

Revolver - The Beatles

I suppose this is where it all started - my love of music and in particular guitar driven pop/rock.

Although The Beatles had long since split up, in the late 1970s I was introduced to this album by my dad who was a keen record collector. I would often hear this playing downstairs and come down to listen to it - I began to believe that it had medicinal properties as it cured stomach aches and banished bad moods. More than likely though was that my Dad had realised that it would cheer me up and make me forget my imagined illness! Despite being only 8 years old, I was eventually given responsibility for looking after this record. I used to lie in my bed and pour over the sleeve whilst listening to the combined talents of the Fab Four, mesmerised by the depth of the music. To my horror and shame I accidentally scratched side two only weeks after becoming custodian. Thankfully it did not affect the playing of the record so I never owned up!

Released in August 1966 this is very much a watershed album for The Beatles. It combined driving guitar riffs with melodic bass playing, added samples, backward tape loops and orchestral instruments. They even managed to sandwich a nursery rhyme into the middle in the form of 'Yellow Submarine'. Every track is special but my particular favourite is 'She Said She Said' with a great opening riff and fantastic vocal harmonies.

Pop music would never be the same as The Beatles set sail for pepperland and beyond, a glimpse of which could be heard in the closing track 'Tomorrow Never Knows'.

As a 8 year old this record was truly magical. As a 41 year old it has lost none of its appeal and I still hear new things in it every time I listen to it.

Automatic For The People - R.E.M.

Released in October 1992 this was another landmark for R.E.M. I remember wandering around Woolworths in Hartlepool the weekend before the release the following Monday when I noticed that they had already put it on the shelves! Unbelievable. Grabbing a copy I rushed home to listen to what would become one of my favourite albums. Not a single duff track from the moody opener 'Drive' to the sublime 'Find A River'.

I went on to see R.E.M. a number of times over the years, even travelling to Munich and blagging a spot in the VIP section. I am really glad I made the effort to see them as they announced their split earlier this year.

I am sure that other, if not all, of their albums will be listened to as part of this experiment but Automatic For The People is a perfect album to start my year in music.

Ready to go?

I think I have got this set up right. Just need to decide which album to kick it off with..... I have until Tuesday to decide.