Grandaddy - The Broken Down Comforter Collection

Big Cat ABB1005692. 1999

Comprising the Machines Are Not She and A Pretty Mess By This One Band eps.

I prefer early Grandaddy like this and ...Freeway. It can't be just me that thinks everything they've done in the last five years sounds like one long boring record.

Nothing much to say really. Sorry. Not in a writing mood. Too much to do. I'll stop now.

Girls Against Boys - **House of GVSB**

Touch and Go TG149CD. 1996

Better, but nothing really stands out. It's all a bit samey. Yawn.

Girls Against Boys - Nineties vs Eighties

Adult Swim AS3CD. 1990

First three are canny (side A of orig. 12"). 4-6 suffer from eighties-itis. Annoying crappy samples. Could be deliberate (hence the name?), but why spoil what could have been perfectly decent songs?

Greg Ginn - Let It Burn (Because I don't live there anymore)

Cruz CRZ CD 036. 1994

If you can't say anything nice...

Genesis - Nursery Cryme

Charisma CASCD1052. 1985 (1971)

WHAT?!?!?!?!

It's Peter Gabriel era, right, so just fuck off.

Actually, scrub that. Gabriel or not, it's shite.

Grasshopper and the Golden Crickets - The Orbit of Eternal Grace

Beggars Banquet BBQCD 201. 1998

Decent effort from the Mercury Rev guitar chap. It's mosty MR-esque, apart from a few of moments of madness (the twisted head-nodder Univac Bug Track particularly).

Worthwhile.

Highlights: opener Silver Balloons, Univac Bug Track

Goldie - Angel (Single)

FFRR FCD266. 1995

The dreaded ad-nauseum female vocal sample.

The multiple 'mixes' of the same tune that all sound the same.

Not very good at all. Next.

Steve Gibbons - Short Stories / Stained Glass (2xCD)

Road Goes On Forever Records. RGF/SGDCD048. 2001

This is the first time I've listened to either of these disks. I only have this as I did the artwork for the CD reissue.

Short Stories - 1971. I wouldn't know what to describe this as. Dull. Mainstream. Nondescript RnB. Early seventies twaddle. There's nothing actually wrong with it, it just doesn't have anything at all on here that grabs my attention. Albert Lee plays on it, if that's any help.

Stained Glass - 1996. More mainstream nothingness. All of the above. His voice veers between Man Who Sold The World-era Bowie and seventies Dylan. I don't know how you can fail with Tom Waits' Looking for the heart of Saturday night, but he does.

Not for me. Sorry Steve. Cracking artwork though!

Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Fantasy FCD-8430-2. 1989

Pure brilliance. This is (mostly) lounge jazz perfection. VG has an exquisite touch on the piano. It sounds casual and effortless.

I defy anyone to suppress a smile during Linus and Lucy. All that's missing is Snoopy doing his mad little jig.

This is labelled as Children's Jazz on discogs.com, but forget the Charlie Brown thing and listen to this for what it is - great tunes.

Finished off with an out-there version of Fly Me To The Moon.

I

LOVE

IT

Groove Armada - Vertigo

Zomba Records 0523782. 1999

Not nearly so good as my memory would have it. Pleasant enough in the car but I wouldn't play it at home again. A couple of classic funky tunes (I see you baby / If everybody looked the same) and the mellow groove of At the river stand out.

Godflesh - Slavestate

Earache MOSH30CD. 1991

Just different enough to get away with it in a world that already had Big Black, Swans, Cop Shoot Cop, Skinny Puppy et al. Though if they weren't from the UK I doubt they'd have even raised an eyebrow with this.

Should have put a bit more thought into the shoddy synth bass bits though.

Godflesh - Pure

Earache MOSH32CD. 1992

The first 20 seconds of Avalance Master Song on Godflesh (1988) won me over. I saw them tour with God shortly after, and they were great. (I'm pretty sure Kevin Martin spent the entire God set cupping one hand to his ear and furiously pointing to a monitor. Really, the entire set.) I was inspired to buy a drum machine. I wish I could remember what kind it was. I stood in the tiny electronics department of (I think) Rock City in Newcastle, where I'd previously bought myself a Charvel Model 1 pointy headstock rock guitar, and said to the guy 'Will it go 'du-dum, du-dum, du-dum-du.... du... du'', mimicking those first few bars. He assured me it would, so I spent my cash. I think I sold it to NF a few years later, who it turned out had owned it before me. Bizarre.

I digress. I lost interest in GF with this release. Instead of the relentless, sludgy dirge they'd spewed out previously, they got a bit melodic here. Some of the riffs even sound a bit bluesy-rock. I'd put that down to the new presence of Robert Hampson (Loop) in the line-up, but a quick look at the track-list would indicate otherwise. He doesn't play on the rockity ones.

The production sounds a bit weak to me. Doesn't hurt the head like it should. Never mind.

Gwar - Scumdogs of the Universe

Master MAS CD001. 1990

My copy pre-dates the 'explicit lyrics' gumph on the cover. 

This is, frankly, fucking dreadful.

I think my ex must have bought it after the first time we saw them live. It was an outstandingly brilliant spectacle, which left us coloured pink for weeks from the torrent of fake blood. I remember walking around town the following weekend, you could tell who'd been to the gig. They weren't so good the second time around, but that could be down to us knowing what to expect. I had the hots for Slymentra Hymen pretty bad.

How do you hide money from a hippy? Hide it under the soap!

Genius/GZA featuring D'Angelo - Cold World (single)

Geffen GFSTD22114. 1995

I swear to whatever the atheist equivalent of god happens to be, I've NEVER heard this. Where do these things come from?

Again with the disk full of remixes of the same damn track. Three versions of the title track on here, when one would actually be too many.

The guy obviously is a genius if he's managing to get people to buy shit like this. Including me, apparently.

Rubén González - Introducing....

World Circuit WCD049. 1997

Oh, what the hell. I need something to take the taste of Diamanda Galas away...

Part of that whole Buena Vista Social Club thing that made Cuban music reet popular a few years back. This chap is pretty damn good with his joanna. 

I was in Havana in November 2003 to look at some artsy stuff, and while wandering the back streets at night the air is heaving with music like this. Literally every other bar has a live band belting out Cumbanchero.

Hang on, I've been through this in the BVSC entry. Sorry. 

Back to Rubén. Good stuff, but nothing to make it stand out from everything else BVSC-related.

Diamanda Galás - Plague Mass

Mute CDSTUMM83. 1991

Did I ever really like Diamanda Galas? Or did I just want to appear strange? 

Recorded live in NYC, 1990, this is all about the Aids n that. I'm not sure it could possibly be any more miserable and depressing to listen to. I was quite cheery earlier on. Now I'm on edge, have a headache and just want to go to the pub.

That's put me off listening to stuff for the rest of the day now.

Check it out!

The Goats - Tricks of the Shade

Columbia/Ruffhouse CK53027. 1992

Damn funky intelligent hip-hop. 

I programmed a 'favourites' setting on my old CD player for this to cut out every other track, as they've got an annoying story thing going on through the album in between the toons. Don't people listen to their records before releasing them? Surely they'd have realised it would boil the piss of even the most patient hippity-hopster to have to skip the skits every listen.

Just to reiterate - this is really, really good. And that's from a chap who wears clothes that actually fit.

Grooverider - Mysteries of Funk (2 x cd)

Higher Ground/Sony HIGH06CD. 1998

I used to love this, but I prefer my DnB a bit more straight forward. Less of the annoying 'atmospherics' samples, more.... well, drums and bass really.

This also suffers that cancer on the spleen of many a potentially good DnB record - those damn spurious female vocal snippets. Honestly chaps, leave them out!

It'll go on again, but with a finger poised on the FF button on the remote.

10 months in a Saudi jail is a bit much for a bit of dope the size of a mouse's tit in your pocket, mind you. Welcome home Groove. Hope you get your job back at the BBC.

The Go's (Genbaku Onanies) - On Time, Live At Open House

Alchemy ARCD019. 1991

Bought at Volume Records, Newcastle upon tyne, £8.49 (sale price).

Very playable three chord punk. Glitchy live recording, but fun enough to get past that. I haven't got a clue what they're singing as it's all in Japanese.

According to a scribbled note stuck in the case by one of the kindly staff of Volume (I'd imagine, being the kind of music this is, it'd be Lee or Has), the name translates as 'A-bomb Masturbations'. Fancy that. Come to think of it, I'd say this is the first time I've actually seen the front cover, as I'd never removed the note.

One of the more obscure items on my shelves, and there it shall stay.

That'll have to do for the moment....

.... as next in the queue is Grooverider, The Go's, The Goats and Diamanda Galas. Can't cope with any of that right now.

Back when my head is better.

In the meantime, here's some music.........................

Galaxie 500 - On Fire

Rykodisc RCD10357. 1989

Recorded the year after Today (1989), again by Kramer at Noise New York, this follows the same basic formula of its predecessor. They've obviously been practising a bit, and they seem to be a little more forthright and confident in their delivery, especially the vocals. 

I must say I prefer the more delicate, almost apologetic presence of the first album, but this is still an absolute peach.

I really don't like people squawking away on harmonicas when they can't play them though. It ruins the start of Leave The Planet. 

Includes a nice version of Red Krayola's Victory Garden, a nice simple version of George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity, and shoegazing stroll through New Order's Ceremony that's most agreeable.

Galaxie 500 - Today

Ryko RCD10356. 1988

What a fortuitous spot to be at on the shelves, considering the state my head is in.

Some of the mellowest 3-chord jangle strum this side of Yo La Tengo. They can barely play their instruments, Dean Wareham can't sing, and it's lovely. This is where Kramer's production shows what it's worth. Ah, the late 80s.

I don't wanna go to your party, I don't wanna talk to your friends..... I wanna be a tugboat captain.

Yet another hefty break from the music....

I got a nasty concussion (amongst other ow-ies) in a car crash a few weeks ago, which meant I wasn't really up for listening to much music. The constant headache and fuzziness kind of takes the edge off the pleasure. Hence the break. It isn't fixed yet, but comes and goes, and it's mellow enough right now to play a few tunes. There's always something....

Various Artists - Filter... killing music

Filter FILT010CD. 1998

Inoffensive collection of DnB-ish technosity.

I think I'll start adding links to allmusic for entries from now on. Why not eh? From now on the catalogue no. and date will link to allmusic.com.

4hero - Creating Patterns

Talkin Loud. 2001

I kept hearing Les Fleur on the pub jukebox, and eventually got off my lazy arse to see what it was. So I went out and bought this (no, I didn't just download it! We're not all like that).

I wish I had. Apart from LF this doesn't do much for me. Nu-jazzsoul electronica in a similar style to some earlier mentioned Cinematic Orchestra.

I'm just not bothered.

NUMPTY

I accidently deleted a comment left on the Milestones entry instead of publishing it, but the general theme of it was that I'm obviously not a musician, I know nothing about music, and I should revist Miles Davis in 10 years when I grow up.

I'm pushing 40, I've played guitar for 22 years, I've had several records released (albeit noisy ones). I can appreciate talent and artistry. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I just don't really like much Miles Davis. Get over it.

I may be a dilettante (is that supposed to be an insult??!) but you, Mr Comment, are a prick.

Louis and Bebe Barron - Forbidden Planet (Original MGM Soundtrack)

GNP Crescendo GNP01. 1956

Super space sounds, but hard work in one sitting.

French Frith Kaiser Thompson - Live, Love, Larf & Loaf

Demon Records FIENDCD102. 1988

Diverse collection of controlled madness. Very listenable supergroup. A bit like Beefheart meet Primus fighting with Stump in a room full of Peter Hammill lookalikes.

Highlight: Fred Frith's frantic Where's The Money?

Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back And Forth (CD and DVD pack) (Single)

Domino RUG169DVD. 2004

Probably my favourite Four Tet moment. A gentle lullaby to sooth my blackened soul. 

Track 2 is anything but soothing, but still amongst his better efforts.

The rest is a bit ho-hum, even as a background to making roast sweet potato and squash soup.

F-Space - Preliminary Impact Report

Mobilization MOB501. 2003

I was camping with these guys at the 2004 Burning Man festival. They did a set every night, and were pretty good. Scot plays a self-built instrument called Volatile that shoots flames from each end and sounds like children screaming in a tin box, but you don't get any of that on CD.

It's pretty good though. Veers from dronescapesville to clanking guitar (thanks Ethan - Mr Savage Republic) and tribal drums (courtesy of Aleph). 

Buy it here: mobilization.com

Hey Scot J, hope you're well and all's cool in San Fran.

I just realised I'm wearing the same Vans polo shirt right now as I had on in some photos I was looking at the other day, taken in Death Valley just before heading up to Burning Man. Well whadayaknow?

Funkadelic - Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On

Westbound Records CDSEW040. 1974

...and the continued the good work here. Back to basics funk.

Great stuff.

Hey baby won't you be my dog and I'll be your tree and you can pee on me.

Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop

Westbound Records CDSEW035. 1973

They ditched all that string and horn shit for this one, and made their best album since Funkadelic.

Funkadelic - Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1970

Once they get the noisy shite out of the way for the first couple of minutes this funks.

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1971

Not as outright funky as Funkadelic, but ok.

Mother earth is pregnant for the third time - we have all knocked her up.

Funkadelic - Funkadelic

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1970

Now this is the funk.

I still play the riff from Mommy, what's a Funkadelic almost every time I pick up my guitar.

I used a slowed down version of the drums from I bet you as the backing for a Random Felch track, played just the once at our last ever gig.

If you will suck my soul I will lick your funky emotions.

Funkadelic - America Eats It's Young

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1972

I prefer slightly earlier Funkadelic stuff. There's way too much in the way of horns, strings and piano on here.

Some of this gets a bit Sesame Street, and some is just plain rubbish (Everybody is going to make it this time / We hurt too - shit the bed!)

Then they go and throw Loose Booty at ya! God bless the funk.

Mostly bloody awful this one.

Klaus Flouride - Light Is Flickering

Alternative Tentacles VIRUS95CD. 1991

I don't really get it, or like it.

Jad Fair and Yo La Tengo - Strange But True

Matador OLE309-2. 1998

Imagine Yo La Tengo in lazy/slightly silly mode with Jad Fair singing/talking.

I like Yo La Tengo. I'm starting to resent Jad Fair's presence in my music collection.

Did I mention Jad Fair stayed at my house? I should have took him out when I had the chance.

The Lucky Sperms (Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston) - Somewhat Humorous

Jagjaguwar JAG34. 2001

I picked this out of the rack as I have a great 7" by The Lucky Sperms (Ecstatic Peace, 1987). On closer inspection it's a different Lucky Sperms (t'other one being Sonic Youth and Mike Watt), but I bought it anyway since it's Jad and Daniel.

What a ghastly racket this is. Really, I don't care if the lyrics are funny or clever if they're sung over inept, cack-handed thrashing.

Jad Fair stayed at my house once, but I've already banged on about that here.

Family - The Peel Sessions

Strange Fruit SFPSCD061. 1973

Not too bad, though a bit more R'n'B than Doll's House.

I don't need to listen to this again.

Family - Music In A Doll's House

See For Miles SEECD100. 1968

I'd been putting off starting the next shelf as this was the first CD thereon. I remembered Roger Chapman's really annoying over-emphasised vocal vibrato and I just couldn't bare it. But it wasn't going to go away, and surely I've sat through worse over the last few months.

As it turns out, once we're past the first track he calms it down a bit and the rest of the album is actually quite good. Not nearly as proggy as I remember. Phew.

Another disk bought during NF's big CD clearout many years ago.

Duane Eddy - Bonnie Came Back / Movin' 'n' Groovin' 7"

London American Recordings 45-HLW9050. Can't see a date, but it says recordings first published 1958/9

A twaaang version of My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean???? Fair enough. B-side is a twangy 12-bar which is pleasant enough.

I've no idea where this came from, or any memory of having played it before.

Was I really drinking that heavily?

The Hard Ons - Surfin On My Face 7"

Waterfront DAMP34. 1987

Ramones meet the Beach Boys.

The other three tracks remain surf-free, and punk their thrash into your face.

The Hard Ons - Just Being With You / Growing Old 7"

Waterdront DaMP94. 1988

I think the guys must have found love by this release, as they get all mushy (in a noisy way).

Still good.

The Hard Ons - The Girl In The Sweater / I Heard her Call My Name 7"

Waterfront DAMP27. 1986

More Ramones-y output from the hirsute, unwashed antipodean thrash-monkeys.

It all gets a bit twee on Sweater, but it's alright.

Big Black - The Model / He's A Whore 7"

Blast First BFFP24. 1987

Both tracks are absolutely stupifyingly good. They've managed to take two great songs and make them both completely different but just the same, and just as good/possibly better in both cases.

Better than that, the cover is pretty funny too. You have to look twice to notice it isn't the originals. Only having three people in each image gives it away a bit, but it's a lovely touch, and the photoshoots probably cost more than the recording.

Big Black - Il Duce / Big Money 7"

Homestead Records HMS042. 1985

It's Big Black. It's great.