Littlebear

You never know, someone could tell me that the new album is totally different from Alligator. And it may also be interesting to see that *not everybody* digs the band.

The Velvet Underground & Nico : Femme fatale (moderator, feel free to delete it if we can't post these kind of links)

I saw an interview on the net where John Cale, who produced four albums of Nico (Chelsea Girl, The Marble Index, Desertshore, The End), said he admired her as an artist. At least when he started producing her. I wish I could remember where I saw that movie sample. Probably on one of Nico's web pages.

Lots of you mention The National. I haven't heard the new album, but I must say I didn't like Alligator. Not that it was bad, I'm even sure it's good, but it's really not my kind of music. It reminds me too much of that 80s new wave that bored me as a teenager. U2, The Smiths, REM, The Go-Betweens, etc Long live the Cramps!

No way I would take Reed or Cale's takes over Nico's one (concerning All Tomorrow's Parties). I like Nico's solo stuff a lot too. She's unique. What's funny on the other hand about the early demos of the Velvet Underground, it's that's awful. You would never guess it could lead to that perfect first album. On the other hand as well, some demos following that first album are extraordinary, such as the one of "Sister Ray", if I remember well.

Let's say... Bob Dylan meets Bryan Ferry, or Tom Waits meets David Bowie. Great singer, great lyricist, tasty musician and producer... I especially like his last four albums, Trampoline, Fuse, Scar and Tiny Voices.

The thing is that I don't like all the artfulness of the latter days. I enjoy stuff like "Happiness is a Warm Gun" immensely, but not stuff like "Honey Pie". Just to mention two examples. To me, nothing beats She Loves You, A Hard Day's Night, Ticket to Ride or Help! Their vibes are priceless. When talent and inspiration are combined to energy and youth, it's irresistible.

I'll start with my latest great surprise : Emily Haines & the Skeletons : Knives Don't Have Your Back It's beautiful, it's Emily's first solo project - she's from the Metric band ("Dead Disco", anyone knows that "hit"?) otherwise, the albums of Kristin Hersh, Eleni Mandell, Patty Griffin are especially good. and a French one : Daphn

First: Rachel Ries, Anny Celsi and Lisa Marr Also: Josh Rouse - Country Mouse, City House (this summer) The New Pornographers - Challengers Joe Henry - Civilians (in september) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love some that I've ordered and expect in the mail: Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars Nina Nastasia & Jim White - You Follow Me Loudon Wainwright III - Strange Weirdos Paul Curreri - The Velvet Rut

Here's my reply to Billy Childish : Sgt. Pepper certainly didn't signal the death of rock'n'roll: rock'n'roll never died (the Stooges came after, among many others). And Sgt. Pepper didn't mean to be a rock'n'roll album either. To some extent, you can also say that Rubber Soul and Revolver were taking the Fab Four away from their early rock'n'roll. It was getting more "arty" (in a good way) already. Sgt. Pepper isn't middle-of-the-road rock music either. The Beatles were far from being middle-of-the-road when they recorded this. To the contrary, they were going far. It was 1967, a special time

I don't get all this hate towards Billy Childish for what he said. His point is totally logical with the kind of music he's been doing for years. I'm pretty sure Lester Bangs said similar things about this album.

I found Billy Childish's take on Sgt. Pepper slightly exaggerated, but I totally understand what he means.

It's predictable to answer these kind of negative takes... but really, really, the most shocking I've read here concerns Television and the Velvet Underground. No way you can favor the Strokes to Television, nor the first Doors to the first Velvet Underground. NO. WAY. I ENJOY Marquee Moon from start to finish. That Ferdinand guy does miss something. He doesn't seem to understand the kind of tension that lives through this album. He doesn't seem to feel the urban poetry of the sound. It's not a view of the mind. It's right in your ears. It's unmistakable.

of course I was thinking of the first one with Syd Barrett... and the Yardbirds?

First time I heard "Time of the Season" (with O & O), it reminded me of a song from Grease (I think), I can't remember the title... At first I thought it was the least interesting song from Odessey, but upon several listens, it became my favourite, right after Hang up on a Dream O & O is a strong album, but also a bit too precious to me. And "Care of Cell" is a Beach Boys imitation, imo.

A few others are missing... The Small Faces, The Action, The Creation, The Move, Pink Floyd...

especially with Zumpano (his first band)

I think I used to have the 98 one (Big Beat UK), since I had purchased the newest version in 1999 or 2000. Hard to say if the sound is great since it's the only one I got. To me, it didn't sound perfect, but it was part of its charm. I don't think it ever sounded like Pet Sounds anyway.

Yeah. There's the incredible "Binding Twine" on that one... (not that it's Johnston's one, which is called "Harlan"). By the way, did anyone know Max is Michelle Shocked's brother?

I could name a hundred of others and I'm not sure I would even put Rickie Lee Jones among them.

The Boswell Sisters Peggy Lee - what's more cool than "Fever"? Sarah Vaughan Dionne Warwick The Ronettes Kate Pierson (B-52s) Poison Ivy

I second those who mentionned Freakwater... Each time I listen to them, I think it's one of the best country or alt.country bands ever.

Big Star and Chris Bell??? Please explain...

I think Gram Parsons just made country music, actually. At least in solo. He was more alternative with The Flying Burrito Brothers (which I may prefer to Gram and the Byrds, by the way). I have the latest GP and Grievous Angel reissues (as a splendid box), there's an interview among the bonus tracks, where Gram explains he doesn't understand the term "country-rock" (for example), that to him, he just makes country music. He also says that he doesn't mind of genres and that there is just good and bad music...