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Friday, March 22, 2002
Azalia Snail "Deep Motif" (Candy Floss, 1996): There's some really interesting and lovely experimental stuff on this. I kind of get the sense that she was learning as she went along here, which is totally cool, though I can't help but feel that this could really be outstanding if she just tightened up her focus a bit. Then again, that probably isn't the point, so what do I know.
The Belltower "Popdropper" (EastWest, 1992): This is sooo 1992, and I mean that in a loving way. Actually, let me be more specific: this is sooo 1992 anglophile/4AD/shoegazer. The stylistic influences are apparent (Cocteaus, Lush, a smidge of MBV), but it doesn't sound derivative and the material is solid. Plus, according to Janice, the singer was Jem, as in "and the Holograms"! And she now backs up skeezy Dean Wareham in Luna.
Bettie Serveert "Dust Bunnies" (Matador/Capitol, 1997): One disadvantage to listening while I'm working is that sometimes I just can't concentrate on the lyrics, which was the case here, but I did go back and read them off the insert afterward and they're wry and moving, which is great. Go Carol (Van Dijk, singer/lyricist), go. This will definitely merit return listens. This is a band that likes to rock and rock they do...in a laid-back, Dutch kind of way.
Blake Babies "Sunburn" (Mammoth, 1990): Actually, we bought this last year at Half Price Books for $2. I have to admit a prejudice against Juliana Hatfield--I was always kind of grossed out by the emphasis on her personal life in the press and how she seemed to feed into it. Evan Dando this, virgin that...so embarrassing. I don't know, maybe it wasn't really her fault, but unfortunately it did color my listening experience here. Which is a shame, because the songs are really nice and would probably have a lot more universal appeal without all that baggage. Also, it's kind of funny how their song "Train" sounds so similar to their other song (not on this album) "Rain".
Autour de Lucie "Autour de Lucie" (Nettwerk, 1996) & "Immobile" (Nettwerk, 1998): If this band was from America instead of France, they'd probably be as successful here as Ivy (an American band with a singer from France) or Luna, since they're easily as good as either of those bands (better than Luna, actually; old Dean's been stuck in a songwriting rut for years). Come to think of it, maybe that's not such a good thing, since both Ivy and Luna were dumped by their major labels a couple years ago. On the other hand, they do retain their strong, loyal fanbases. Anyhoo, I hope AdL is huge in their native country, because both these albums are just great.
The Beatles "Anthology 1-3" (Apple/Capitol 1995-96): This was some heavy-duty listening, and again, being at work was a bit of a handicap. This was such an interesting listening experience because it's not just music, it's like an audio-verite documentary, with "narration" from the booklets which accompany each set. Listening to all these work-in-progress versions of their songs gave me the same feeling that I get when I read about the development of "Star Wars" (e.g. the early script drafts and behind-the-scenes stuff)--both SW and The Beatles have been ingrained in my consciousness since early childhood. It's so interesting how learning more about something you love can deepen the fascination instead of killing it.
posted by mike baehr 12:21 AM
Bennett "So You're Not Coming Over?" (Win, 1996): OK, writing and recording a solo album is a lot of work and anyone who does it deserves a lot of credit. Stylistically this is all over the map but musically speaking there are some pop nuggets here. The main thing is, her vocals sound so bored and/or tentative, even when the music is energetic, that she's not really selling me on the songs. If she doesn't seem invested in her own songs, then why should I be, you know?
Bunnygrunt "Jen-Fi" (No Life, 1997): There's nothing wrong with playing simplistic, cutesy, shambolic pop, as long as you have some personality to back it up: see Blast Off Country Style, Jad Fair, the B-52s, Beat Happening etc. I don't know, maybe Bunnygrunt had some charisma in a live setting, but it doesn't come across in these recordings. Perhaps they just weren't comfortable in the studio or something. Great song titles, though.
Henry Mancini "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (RCA, 1961): "Ah, Mancini--a mascot's best friend." Mancini might seem "kitschy" or whatever but I challenge anyone to really listen to listen to his music without being impressed by his compositions, arrangements, and innovative use of sounds and instruments. I mean, faux-Japanese jazz with a banjo solo? Come on! That takes imagination and guts.
The Cardigans "Life" (Minty Fresh, 1996): I would only recommend listening to this album if you're completely happy with life and don't have a care in the world. If you're troubled about anything at all, you might want to skip to track 13, which is, oddly, a Black Sabbath cover, done pop style but still carrying some good healthy angst. Actually, the track before that has a little vinegar too. Apart from that, it's sugar sugar sugar. I kept waiting for the ironic twist in each song, but it never came. I'm sure if you're in the right mood, this is like the perfect album.
Chimera "Earth Loop" (Grass, 1996): I must confess to having had preconceptions about this based on the band name and album title. Is that bad of me? What we have here is a crunchy/sweet combo of distorted guitars (which I expected) and melodic, classically-trained-sounding soprano vocals with upbeat lyrics (which I did not expect). To use the tired-yet-handy equation formula, they're like the Sundays plus distortion pedals minus the bitter lyrics. Something like this is much better cheer-up music than the Cardigans because it kind of suckers you with the dark-sounding music, but then the vocals kick in and you're like, "hey..."
posted by mike baehr 10:22 AM
