Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Bob Mould: Beauty & Ruin (2014)

I wonder if Bob Mould wants to break into film. His acting isn't bad.

"Although this opens with the slow, grinding "Low Season" and eventually winds its way to the bright, open "Forgiveness," most of this record is devoted to turmoil, as Mould comes to terms with his impending mortality -- hanging over him through both the passing of his dad and his own middle-age -- by drawing sustenance from his signature combination of crystalline pop and molten noise." [source]

This record is excellent.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Bob Mould: Silver Age (2012)

And just like that, Mould comes back with an album that reminds me of Sugar, though with a video for the lead-off track that leaves much to be desired.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Bob Mould: Life and Times (2009)

I missed Sugar during these Bob Mould solo years. I loved everything Sugar did, and his post-Sugar output was great, but I missed Sugar. To me, Sugar was better than Bob Mould's solo works. But, I really really like everything that Mould ever did, including this one. Oh, I have all of these Bob Mould records on CD too, up to this point.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Bob Mould: District Line (2008)


District Line is the seventh solo record from Bob. If you like Bob, you will like this. It's a solid effort with some great tracks. Somewhere around this time, Bob came out of the closet. I can't remember if I was surprised or not.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Bob Mould: Body of Song (2005)

This is a fantastic record. I don't even mind the voice treatment he uses on some tracks. There's nothing left to say. Just listen to it. I have a copy of this album on CD as well.

Thursday, November 08, 2018

Bob Mould: Black Sheets Of Rain (1990)


Since this was released in 1990, my first copy was on CD. I ended up with the 2015 vinyl repress from Demon records. This record was a return to heavier music. I like it; Allmusic does not:

A scalding, monolithic collection of soul-baring lyrics and primal guitars, Black Sheets of Rain is extremely powerful musically, but is also slightly monotonous. Nevertheless, the record features several inspired songs from Mould, including the catchy single "It's Too Late." [source]
Look how young Bob looks here:


Bob Mould: Workbook (1989)

The debut solo record from former Hüsker Dü front man, Bob Mould, was a true surprise. There is a real change of sound. He mellowed, I guess, though not entirely.
"Instead of relying on raging guitars, Mould explores a wide variety of styles, from pure pop ("See a Little Light") to reflective folk laced with cellos. It's an astonishing array of styles, and the songs are among Mould's finest." [source]
I did see Bob in concert, though only once. It was a short concert, but he played with amazing intensity and energy. I assumed that he would have been completely exhausted by the end of the show.

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Elton Motello: Jet Boy Jet Girl (1979)

So, Elton Motello is somehow the name of the singer and the band. I guess that's like Alice Cooper, though that really became his name. The singer - Elton Motello - is Alan Ward. The first single was Pogo Pogo (1977) though that was later changed to the flip side (1978), Jet Boy Jet Girl, and then that later morphed into a single with Jet Boy Jet Girl on the a-side, and Jet Boy Jet Girl on the a-side and Apocalipstic on the b-side (1979). I have a later 12" pressing without Pogo Pogo.

Anyway, Jet Boy Jet Girl is awesome. I'd never really heard such explicit lyrics:
Can you tell what's on my mind?
She's with him, it drives me wild
I'd like to hit him on the head
Until he's dead
The sight of blood is such a high
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
He gives me head

We made it on a ballroom blitz
I took his arm and kissed his lips
He looked at me with such a smile
My face turned red
We booked a room into the Ritz
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
He gives me head

Jet boy, jet girl
Gonna take you 'round the world
Jet boy I'm gonna make him penetrate
I'm gonna make you be a girl
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
Jet boy jet girl

And though I'm only just fifteen
I like to kick, I like to scream
And even if I have a kick or two in bed
When I'm with him it's just a dream
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
He gives me head
But, this tune was apparently the first openly gay punk song. Anyway, the backing track was taken from Ça plane pour moi, a track by Plastic Bertrand.

But, check out this lame comment from a user review on Allmusic:
Elton was one of the first rock artists to openly express his homosexuality through music, but likely did the cause more harm than good with the release of his cheesy debut disc "Victims of Time", which prominently featured the crass and tasteless gay anthem "Jet Boy Jet Girl". [source]
I cannot agree with that statement.

Monday, November 05, 2018

Elton Motello: Victim of Time (1978)

I can't believe I skipped Elton! Here it is, out of order. 

My Canadian pressing of this release dates to 1979, rather than 1978. I guess it took a year to make it across the ocean. The only other countries to press this LP were Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Yugoslavia, and Australia. This records contains the aforementioned Jet Boy Jet Girl. This is a damn cool record.

Thursday, November 01, 2018

The Motors: Greatest Hits (1981)

Untitled
This record is either titled Greatest Hits or The Motors Greatest Hits. I prefer the former because the latter should be The Motors' Greatest Hits or The Motors's Greatest Hits. Oddly, Virgin released a CD compilation in 1995 called the Airport: Motor's Greatest Hits. Nice try.

Anyway, the record collects the greatest hits of The Motors.