Wild Frank

One band I never got at the time but, as of the past month or so, love are the Pixies. Can't believe I didn't get it at the time.

Another one is the Replacements. In the 80s I was all about Prog whereas in the 90s it was Wilco/Jayhawks/Black Crowes and Grant lee Buffalo. Now, looking back, I've realised how great Pixies/Replacements were.

_{If there are any Grant Lee Buffalo fans kicking around they have a new live album out on their website, recorded on their 2012 tour. Its a great little reminder of how good this band were back in the day. I still have the Buffalondon Live EP somewhere which I used to love.}

_{My favourite Live Albums:}

_{Genesis: Seconds Out}

_{My Morning Jacket: Okonokos}

_{Neil Young: Time Fades Away and Arc-Weld}

_{Aerosmith: Live Bootleg (I know, I know....but it holds great memories for me)}

_{Bob Dylan: Hard Rain}

_{New NMH tour dates announced. It also look like they will be visiting the UK some time later in the year which will be something to catch.}

Album of the year so far for me. Consistantly good and the whole album works really well. I love 'Mermaids'. A great song and a great set of lyrics:

"She was a catch, We were a match I was the match that would fire up her snatch"

Fair enough.

Would be pleasantly surprised if I heard a better album than this in 2013.

Listened to the album for a month or so and it is frustrating. My problem with it is one that every artist seems to be guilty of these days. Just because a CD can hold 70 mins of music doesn't mean you have to fill the time!!. I've have taken about six songs off this and works far better as an album. Its just too long and has too much filler on it.

With a few notably exceptions most good albums don't exceed 45 mins (or two sides of vinyl).

Finally got 'round to listening to the new album and it is really good. Song for Zula is the highlight for me but everything this guy puts out is pretty top notch. Loved his performance on Fallon too.

Anyone heard anymore on the upcoming volume of the Bootleg Series. Rumours were that we would get both Volumes 10 and 11 this year. I think Volume 10 is focusing on the Self Portraight sessions whcih could be interesting. That is such a strage album but there are half a dozen good songs on there so it could be interesting re-visiting these sessions.

I saw the single off the album last night. A great track. Nile Rodgers on guitar and, I think, the chap from N.E.R.D on vocals.

Saw William Tyler last night (opening for a band in Boston) and he blew me away.  What a talent.  I bought both of his CDs and chatted with him a bit.

Tyler's new album, The Impossible Truth, is a great album. Its out on Merge I think and has been gathering some very positive reviews.

I'm still enjoying the latest Lambchop record. A really strong set of songs.

On the subject of Fleetwood Mac has anyone heard the new 4 track EP they released this week?

Lambchop: Nixon and Damaged

John Coltrane: A Love Supreme

Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Tom Waits: Rain Dogs

Mercury Rev: See You on the Other Side

David Bowie: Scary Monsters and Super Creeps

Van Morrison: Veedon Fleece

Sparklehorse: Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot

Talk Talk: Colour of Spring and Spirit of Eden

Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah Um

Grant Lee Buffalo: Mighty Joe Moon

The Black Crowes: Southern Harmony

Massive Attack: Blue Lines

and

Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime!!

In this day and age it is staggering that he has kept this under wraps. I have a lot of time for Bowies 90's output like 'Black Tie', 'Outside' and 'Earthling'. Hopefully he can produce the goods this time. This could be something similar to Dylan's 'Time Out of Mind'; a comeback that addresses issues of age and death. Just speculating but Bowie's recent health scares might have inspired a new set of songs.

Bottom line is whether the album is great or not is the chance to see him live again.

Wow. New Bowie track appeared this morning. New album also due. Classy. Remains silent for years and then out of nowhere...boom. Great tune. Proper legend.

He has a new record out in February. There is a track from it streaming now, via pitchfork. Pretty nice tune. I liked the Grinderman work as well as 'Dig Lazuarus Dig'. Looking forward to this in the new year. For those with more disposable income than myself there is the obligatory super deluxe edition of the new album to pre-order.

I am curious about Neil's current tour. I have seen him once before back in 1996. Was going to go to a show in NY soon. Saw his recent setlist He only playes 14 songs??? Is this true?

A 14 song set for Neil and Crazy Horse could still last about a week if the latest album an anything to go by. Expect full-on jams with endless feedback.

Their current lineup formed around the time they released Painful. But I think most fans agree that their albums started shining around May I Sing With Me and Fakebook. Most people regard I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One and And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out as their masterpiece albums. Autumn Sweater, You Can Have It All, Sugarcube, and Our Way To Fall have seen high numbers of listen according to Last.fm if you're looking for singles and songs.

 

If you have the time, start from the beginning and just work chronologically. If you need a litmus test, go with I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One. If you're willing to take risks, just start at their concerts. Good luck.

Thanks for that. I have picked up I Can Hear The Heart so I'll see how I go.

It's a song where Neil's recent lyrical style works well. It's quite poignent and moving. However, the lyrics to Driftin Back really grate on me. I think Neil should have combined the two Crazy Horse releases this year and we would have had one great album. Ramada Inn, Walk Like a Giant, She's Always Dancing along with tracks like Oh Susanna and High Flyin Bird etc.

As for the book. I thought it was shocking. I got so frustrated with the endless chatter about sound quality and his mission to save music. There were some touching moments in it but the negatives outweighed the positives. The comparable book I suppose is Dylans Chronicles which, in contrast, was a work of genius and really well crafted. Raging Heavy Peace was sloppy and slap-dash.

If someone wanted to get into Yo La Tengo where would they start? Any advice much appreciated.

Has anyone heard the new Donald Fagen record?

'Ramada Inn' is a great song.

_{The two that spring to mind are more mid-career than post.}

_{Marvin Gaye was pretty close to a career in the NFL..}

_{Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickenson who is also a pilot.}

_{I think Bryan Adams is now a well respected photographer.}

Lambchop: Mr. M

Jason Lytle: Dept of Disapearance

Micah P. Hinson: Micah P. Hinson and the Junior Arts Collective (Only available in spain but well worth hunting down)

My favourite purchases of 2012 is/was the vinly re-issues of the Talk Talk albums 'Colour of spring' and 'Spirit of Eden' along with the Sparklehorse vinyl re-issues of 'it's a Wonderful Life' and 'Dreamt for Light Years'.

Side one of 'Spirit of Eden' by Talk Talk. Those three songs need to be listened to as a single piece.

Side one of 'In the Aeroplane' by NMH. Again, seemless and genius. 'Holland 1945' may be the best song ever.

Genesis: You can't listen to 'Horizons' without having 'Suppers Ready' follow it.

Wilco: 'Pot Kettle Black' and 'Poor Places'

Side two of Neil Young's 'On the Beach': The title track and 'Ambulance blues' with 'Motion Pictures' slotted in between. Great stuff.

Grandaddy: 'Now It's On' and 'I'm on Standby' from the 'Sumday' record.

for any Hip-Hop fans out there I would strongly recommend the new 'Tribe Called Quest' documentary 'Beats, Rhymes and Life' which is a truly great piece of work. In a similar field I would also recommend the 'Dave Chapelle Block Party' Documentary from a a few years back.

Although not a music documentary the 'Zindane' (Mad French football genius) movie is amazing and is worth watching for the great Mogwai soundtrack throughout.

Loving this new track. Better than 90% of the tracks off the last two MMJ records.