Revisiting old albums

[sycophantia]

The Real Thing was miles better.

Absolutely, "you to me are everything" was a banger

 

[nimrod]

dirty - sonic youth
30 years old today - great album
100%, drunken butterfly, wish fulfilment, youth against fascism amongst the tracks

 

[lemonjelly]

Jamiroquai – Emergency on Planet Earth

This album takes me back. An old friend of mine, who I have sadly lost touch with absolutely loved this album, and it was certainly a big part in our soundtrack to summer 1993.
It seems to be an album that I forget about, but in many summers spot, put on and enjoy for a couple of weeks, then gets forgotten again, or not listened to again for a while.
It’s quite a holistic album, it has it’s themes and links, threads weaved through the album, linking tracks together.
The acid jazz vibe is nice, funky without being overstated, and the brass and strings add depth. It’s very soulful, and earnest.
Indeed, it feels like an exceptionally organic album, feeling quite free and easy.
Blow your mind is still an absolute classic too.
Stands the test of time. Which is nice, as a number of other jamiroquai albums sounded better on first hearing, yet in my opinion haven’t dated as well.

 

[Keef]

The fast show Jeremy Kwee sketch takes the piss hugely and spot on as well

 

[Alan]

My only exposure to Jamiroquai to this point has been that the Game Grumps love them.

Guess this is a good enough excuse to give 'em a spin.

 

[lemonjelly]

Ministry – Psalm 69 The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs

Jesus Built My Hotrod, and NWO especially were staples of my youth. The development of what has become known as Industrial music was, at the time, phenomenally exciting, clashing cultures and sonics in some brilliant, and also sometimes terrible ways.
However it lead to some exciting times for music at the time.
Unsure why I ceased listening to this, I think a lot of albums I love fit into a particular time of my life where I listen to them incessantly, but I move on quite a lot, discovering something new. I seem to recall a mate introduced me to NOW, and I got the album based on that.
You have to be in the mood to listen to this album. Elements of it can be tortuous, as it is admittedly dark in nature, as well as appearance. So it is a good album for parties, night time listening, or bizarrely sunny days in a car going pretty fast.

 

[lemonjelly]

The Strokes – Is This It

Coming out of new York in 2001, the strokes were the next big thing, gonna be huge etc.
I did love this album at the time – the cd was a leaving gift from colleagues at a previous place of work (I was glad to be leaving there tbh).
The album is short, punchy, quite to the point.
However, it’s also very samey. There’s little variety, and in a way it’s a bit like the status quo joke, it’s the same 3 chords played in a slightly different order.
It’s not bad, but in a way I feel the label bland is worse tbh. It’s ok, but feels a bit like a fast food version of music, ok while on, but then feels a bit instantly forgettable.
The singles are the definite high points, and if you’ve heard them, the album won’t astound you, or be anything new or electric.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

The Strokes – Is This It

Coming out of new York in 2001, the strokes were the next big thing, gonna be huge etc.
I did love this album at the time – the cd was a leaving gift from colleagues at a previous place of work (I was glad to be leaving there tbh).
The album is short, punchy, quite to the point.
However, it’s also very samey. There’s little variety, and in a way it’s a bit like the status quo joke, it’s the same 3 chords played in a slightly different order.
It’s not bad, but in a way I feel the label bland is worse tbh. It’s ok, but feels a bit like a fast food version of music, ok while on, but then feels a bit instantly forgettable.
The singles are the definite high points, and if you’ve heard them, the album won’t astound you, or be anything new or electric.

Hard to Explain was the pick of that album for me.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Nice to hear someone else not totally won over by this album. I think I had this when it came out but didn't think too much of it at the time and there was certainly better stuff around that I was listening to, although I did like the singles.

Fast forward 20 years and its near constant inclusion in every top 20 album compilations I see (also lauded as best debut album ) made me give it another go to see if I was missing anything first time round (This is certainly not an unknown phenomena)

I mean its decent enough in places but like you I guess its just a bit to samey for me

 

[Tredman]

The Strokes – Is This It

Coming out of new York in 2001, the strokes were the next big thing, gonna be huge etc.
I did love this album at the time – the cd was a leaving gift from colleagues at a previous place of work (I was glad to be leaving there tbh).
The album is short, punchy, quite to the point.
However, it’s also very samey. There’s little variety, and in a way it’s a bit like the status quo joke, it’s the same 3 chords played in a slightly different order.
It’s not bad, but in a way I feel the label bland is worse tbh. It’s ok, but feels a bit like a fast food version of music, ok while on, but then feels a bit instantly forgettable.
The singles are the definite high points, and if you’ve heard them, the album won’t astound you, or be anything new or electric.

I listened to it loads at the time, put it on a few weeks ago and other than the singles it didn't really grab me. Still good to reminisce and at the time the change from boring UK music with them and the White Stripes was fantastic

 

[nimrod]

happy birthday Script!

 

[lemonjelly]

Inspired by chats with @Newbridge Wolf Leftfield – Leftism

I got into leftfield a little late, I didn’t jump on the instant bandwagon when they released this album, though must have got into it/them prior to Rhythm and Stealth (which I also still love).
This album is one that has simply been intensely crafted. I cannot help but think/feel the attention to detail that has gone into this album is phenomenal. It is properly crafted. There isn’t a single sound or note on this album that has not been thought about, and I get the distinct impression that this album took years to make and develop before the band were happy with it.
It's an album full of moments, but still works seamlessly in so many ways. And it retains it’s intensity.
Release the Pressure and Afro Left open the album sublimely. Though both tracks have been used in ads, they are in no way lessened in their impact.
Melt has always been loved by me, simply a studding piece of music.
Song of Life became a pinnacle track for me when lucky enough to see leftfield live in 2000. The drumming and intensity of the song live is really something!
Original – controversial point, but the weak spot of the album for me, and a track that, ever since day one I have always skipped. I didn’t on this listen, & feel it is the vocals that are weak for me.
It’s then a tour de force to the end, Black Flute, Space Shanty, Inspection (Check One) and Storm 3000 are simply epic, and such a great build up into Open Up, with Lydon really suiting the leftfield style. 21st Century poem is a smart closing track and I expected it to cut out halfway through because for years I listened to it on a tdkc90, and the album is just over 45 minutes long!

Essential album that has grown on me more in places as time has passed. Wonderful. Quite possibly a masterpiece.
Must dig out Rhythm & Stealth, and the greatest hits collection, which includes their brilliant Shallow Grave theme, Snakeblood from the Beach, A Final Hit from Trainspotting, plus Not Forgotten and also More Than I Know

 

[Alan]

The Strokes – Is This It

Coming out of new York in 2001, the strokes were the next big thing, gonna be huge etc.
I did love this album at the time – the cd was a leaving gift from colleagues at a previous place of work (I was glad to be leaving there tbh).
The album is short, punchy, quite to the point.
However, it’s also very samey. There’s little variety, and in a way it’s a bit like the status quo joke, it’s the same 3 chords played in a slightly different order.
It’s not bad, but in a way I feel the label bland is worse tbh. It’s ok, but feels a bit like a fast food version of music, ok while on, but then feels a bit instantly forgettable.
The singles are the definite high points, and if you’ve heard them, the album won’t astound you, or be anything new or electric.

This particular movement of alt-punk was the deathknell for rock on the radio, at least in the US.

Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, The Killers... For two or three years they were inescapable over here, and then practically overnight the hype was completely gone.

 

[lemonjelly]

Sigur Ros – Takk

I’ve listened to a lot of other Sigur Ros albums in recent years, but left this one to one side. Possibly because the planet earth/Hoppipolla over exposure meant I risked getting fed up of it. And I didn’t want that to happen, because it (and they) are so good!
And like the leftfield album, this is a properly crafted album. Gets off to a relatively slow start, and obviously Hoppipola is so anthemic and widely known that it builds, but for me, it’s actually after this the album gets going.
Se Lest is 8 mins of wonder an beauty, and then saeglopur has such lovely intensity and contrast between heaviness and gentleness. Such a well composed track (with some phenomenal drumming!)
Milano and Gong are proper stories of tracks, and then my personal favourite, Andvari. It’s an odd choice for a favourite song, as the first 3 mins are the main part of the song, with the last 3 mins essentially being a refrain, but being repeated. But it works and has such and intensity that I can really lose myself in it!
It's a fine, fine album. Indeed, part of me feels it really needs to be acquired on vinyl. Perhaps one day!

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Inspired by chats with @Newbridge Wolf Leftfield – Leftism

I got into leftfield a little late, I didn’t jump on the instant bandwagon when they released this album, though must have got into it/them prior to Rhythm and Stealth (which I also still love).
This album is one that has simply been intensely crafted. I cannot help but think/feel the attention to detail that has gone into this album is phenomenal. It is properly crafted. There isn’t a single sound or note on this album that has not been thought about, and I get the distinct impression that this album took years to make and develop before the band were happy with it.
It's an album full of moments, but still works seamlessly in so many ways. And it retains it’s intensity.
Release the Pressure and Afro Left open the album sublimely. Though both tracks have been used in ads, they are in no way lessened in their impact.
Melt has always been loved by me, simply a studding piece of music.
Song of Life became a pinnacle track for me when lucky enough to see leftfield live in 2000. The drumming and intensity of the song live is really something!
Original – controversial point, but the weak spot of the album for me, and a track that, ever since day one I have always skipped. I didn’t on this listen, & feel it is the vocals that are weak for me.
It’s then a tour de force to the end, Black Flute, Space Shanty, Inspection (Check One) and Storm 3000 are simply epic, and such a great build up into Open Up, with Lydon really suiting the leftfield style. 21st Century poem is a smart closing track and I expected it to cut out halfway through because for years I listened to it on a tdkc90, and the album is just over 45 minutes long!

Essential album that has grown on me more in places as time has passed. Wonderful. Quite possibly a masterpiece.
Must dig out Rhythm & Stealth, and the greatest hits collection, which includes their brilliant Shallow Grave theme, Snakeblood from the Beach, A Final Hit from Trainspotting, plus Not Forgotten and also More Than I Know

its an album that I have bought multiple times over multiple formats, not many that I can say that about other than RATM self titled track.

Its sound is still as fresh to me as when I heard it for the first time as a teenager on my journey of discovering Dance music. Loved it and the subsequent gigs I went to where the music and performance reached other levels.

 

[lemonjelly]

I actually wondered if you might throw rocks at me because I don't get the love for original!

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

I actually wondered if you might throw rocks at me because I don't get the love for original!

Ha, none of us are perfect

 

[Dire Wolf]

Inspired by chats with @Newbridge Wolf Leftfield – Leftism

I got into leftfield a little late, I didn’t jump on the instant bandwagon when they released this album, though must have got into it/them prior to Rhythm and Stealth (which I also still love).
This album is one that has simply been intensely crafted. I cannot help but think/feel the attention to detail that has gone into this album is phenomenal. It is properly crafted. There isn’t a single sound or note on this album that has not been thought about, and I get the distinct impression that this album took years to make and develop before the band were happy with it.
It's an album full of moments, but still works seamlessly in so many ways. And it retains it’s intensity.
Release the Pressure and Afro Left open the album sublimely. Though both tracks have been used in ads, they are in no way lessened in their impact.
Melt has always been loved by me, simply a studding piece of music.
Song of Life became a pinnacle track for me when lucky enough to see leftfield live in 2000. The drumming and intensity of the song live is really something!
Original – controversial point, but the weak spot of the album for me, and a track that, ever since day one I have always skipped. I didn’t on this listen, & feel it is the vocals that are weak for me.
It’s then a tour de force to the end, Black Flute, Space Shanty, Inspection (Check One) and Storm 3000 are simply epic, and such a great build up into Open Up, with Lydon really suiting the leftfield style. 21st Century poem is a smart closing track and I expected it to cut out halfway through because for years I listened to it on a tdkc90, and the album is just over 45 minutes long!

Essential album that has grown on me more in places as time has passed. Wonderful. Quite possibly a masterpiece.
Must dig out Rhythm & Stealth, and the greatest hits collection, which includes their brilliant Shallow Grave theme, Snakeblood from the Beach, A Final Hit from Trainspotting, plus Not Forgotten and also More Than I Know

No Afrika Shox!? One of the best music videos ever...

 

[lemonjelly]

That's on rhythm & stealth mate.

 

[lemonjelly]

Anthrax – Sound of White Noise

I accept I am likely in a minority with this view, but John Bush as Anthrax vocalist is waaay better than Joey Belladonna. His voice just suits.
Having seen Anthrax with belladonna a few times, Bush was also a much better live performer too. I recall being down the front at the civic in 1993, and it was a really good show.
Simply put, his voice suits the music and style so much better.
This album is pretty blistering in the start. Potters Field leads into Only, which has to be considered as a modern day classic imo. It’s absolutely epic.
What I had forgotten is how “side 1” of the album is so intensely strong. Room for One More, Packaged rebellion, indeed every single track up to black lodge is really fucking good.
Black lodge is a turning point on the album. It’s where it gets weaker (Sodium Penathol aside), as it, burst and this is not an exit seem a bit messier. Probably the sound of a band developing a newer style to be fair.
Given the ending of the album is a bit downhill kinda tempers the experience, which is a shame as tracks 1-7 are superb. Really fucking heavy, and led to much pogoing chez jelly (and a bit of angry shouting “WTF you doing you daft sod" from mrs jelly!) Swap 3 tracks on this with better, and you’d really have something.