Musical reviews of stuff I downloaded for the big trip:
Jimmy Cliff, The Harder They Come: Classic. Everyone should own this album. Make room for it by burning the copy of Bob Marley's Legend you bought freshman year of college.
Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit: How many ways can you say "pop perfection" without sounding trite? The new album has far less of the self-concious ' 60s strictures than Dear Catastrophe Waitress and is by far the most upbeat B&S album to date. I'd consider it a plausable starter for the newbie in your life.
Liquid Liquid, s/t: They were an important link between the indie-disco and New Wave scenes in early '80s New York. The hook in "Cavern" later became Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines." Still, the lead singer (nameless because I have no idea who he is) is just too yelpy. Yes, there is such a thing.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones: Sorry folks, but this album sucks. Hard. Fever to Tell was such a good album because it was full of wild danger and uncontrolled power. Karen O & Co. put on such a great show and such a good album because they operated as if they were trying to squeeze an immense volume of energy through the tiny little nozzle afforded by the three-piece format. In the intervening years, it seems like they've all moved out to Long Island -- no time to rock, they have a mortgage to think about.
Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism: Yes, I'm the last person to listen to this album. Now I know why. Back when I was a miserable 17-year-old, we had The Bends. And we liked it!
Talking Heads, The Name of This Band is Talking Heads: Sure, I've had this live album for years, but listening to it in a relaxed tropical setting makes for the recognition of some new highlights. Whereas I used to favor "Crosseyed and Painless," "Found a Job" and "Not in Love," this trip really made me pay attention to "Drugs (Electricity)," "Air" and most of all, "The Big Country."
Leave a comment