If the only track you know from The Human League is Don't You Want Me (or Fascination or Love Action), you know nothing about The Human League.
This EP, the band's first, is a striking follow-up to the band's first single, Being Boiled. This is a bizarre, abstract, and purely electronic piece of music from a weird pseudo-pop band. The music is well ahead of its time and really experimental. The band makes use of the Roland System 100 synthesizer on every track. Just listen. It sounds nothing like the Human League you think you know. It's truly brilliant.
(Sadly, my copy of this 12" 45RPM single is lacking the flexidisc that was originally included).
Allmusic's description of How to Destroy Angels is perfect, except for one thing. They write: "Mixing industrial beats and dreamy
trip-hop-tinged vocals, How to Destroy Angels feature Trent Reznor, his
wife Mariqueen Maandig, and NIN producer Atticus Ross." [source] That should have read: "his gorgeous wife Mariqueen Maandig." Just do a google image search, if you want to be convinced. But, back to the record.
This is a fabulous record, but if you are expecting NIN, you will be disappointed. It's far quieter and measured, but I think it's really beautiful.
I will make the suggestion that Now That's What I Call Quite Good is really the only Housemartins collection anyone needs. It's a double LP of top album cuts, b-sides, and BBC sessions. It works very well as a collection, and it really means you don't need the first two releases, unless you feel strongly about the band.
I used to have a CD copy as well, but my then-girlfriend over-played it so much so that I swore I would never listen to it again, lest I decide to kill myself. That was one CD I was happy to leave behind. Somehow, I have the LP, and I have listened to it and managed not to kill myself.
Jesus hates him everyday
'cause Jesus gave and farmer took
A year after the first record, this Christian new wave band returned with it's second and last LP, The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death. That's quite an evocative title and the title track has good pace and I rather enjoy it. Me and the Farmer, Build, and a number of other tracks, are quite good too (I hope someone gets that "quite good" reference). The record sounds like the first, but with new songs, if that makes any sense at all. But, I have to say that I was finished with the band at this point. I did see the Beautiful South in concert a few years later, but I kind of forgot about this band, for the most part.
How interesting that this Christian new wave band managed to get the catalogue number GODX 13 for this EP. I wonder if that was intentional or lucky. Anyway, this record contains a new version of Think for a Minute along with I Smell Winter. The b-side has Who Needs the Limelight, Joy Joy Joy, and Rap Around the Clock. Now, Joy Joy Joy is a gospel tune, written, apparently, by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel. It stinks.
I got that
Joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
I got that
Joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay
I know the devil doesn't like it,
But, it's down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
I know the devil doesn't like it,
But, it's down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay
When my young child heard it, she asked what the debble was. I laughed and told her the devil is a mythical creature, just like the g-ds.
I hate the song Caravan of Love with a deep and abiding passion. The Housemartins did not write this song, though they recorded a very popular version of it the year after it was recorded by
Isley Jasper Isley. As I have mentioned in the past, I dislike a cappella music intensely, and this entire EP was recorded that way.
I suppose I ought to give the band credit for disparaging organized religion in the video--if that's really the correct interpretation, and I am not convinced that I agree with that argument--but even that doesn't blunt the religious overtones of the track, not to mention the other tracks on this EP, likeHeaven Help Us All (Sermonette) and When I First Met Jesus:
"Talk about Jesus
Talk about Jesus
I talk about Jesus
I talk about Jesus
I try to back Jesus
I try to back Jesus
I try to back Jesus
I try to back Jesus
I click about Jesus
I click about Jesus
I click about Jesus
I click about Jesus
I clap about Jesus
I clap about Jesus
I clap about Jesus
I clap about Jesus
I talk about Jesus
I talk about Jesus
I talk about Jesus
I talk about Jesus."
In fact, the five tracks as a whole comprise some sort of bizarre mini gospel effort.
So, here's the strangest story I have about about Caravan of Love. Years ago, I was hanging out with some people, and one couple in the group were planning to buy new speakers. Of course, when one auditions new audio gear, one wants to hear familiar music, but also music that touches on all of the ranges. You want to hear bass response, the higher end, and mid-ranges, and so, you may want more than one song or more than one style. Well, this couple decided that the one and only track they needed to hear was Caravan of Love, which they carted around on CD to the various stereo shops. I heard that song so many time, it almost made me made. I would have chosen Led Zeppelin.
The Housemartins only produced two real records plus a bunch of compilations. Paul Heaton went on to form The Beautiful South, but by that time, I had mostly lost interest. This LP commences with one of the more enduring Housemartins tunes, Happy Hour. Even casual fans will recognize a few other tunes from this LP, like Sheep, Think for Minute, Lean on Me, We're Not Deep, etc.
And now for the weird news. The band used its platform to preach about about Christianity, albeit sometimes in somewhat subtle ways. The back cover of this LP, for example, contains this perplexing statement which is full of cognitive dissonance:
"Take Jesus – Take Marx – Take Hope"
Wow, that's Jesus and Marx together in one package, all thrown in with hope, no less. I can't imagine anything less hopeful than Marxism or Jesus. Moreover, Karl would not have approved. Bizarrely, that statement seems to stand in contrast to the sentiments dispensed in the song, Sheep:
"And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against"
Aren't congregations referred to as sheep? Aren't sheep those people who can't think for themselves and follow superstitions blindly? I realize that the band might be saying that people are sheep in reference to a whole host of issues, like voting and politics in general, but how can you exempt religion from that argument? If people are sheepish idiots, people are sheepish idiots, as the song so rightly says:
"They've never questioned anything, they've never disagreed
Sometimes I think they must have wool in their ears"
I would apply the above statements to the huge numbers of people who blindly follow ancient superstitions. Despite that, I would call this a fun and happy record, though one that hasn't aged as well as I might have thought.
Sometimes, a strong indication of how much I like a band is reflected in whether I own any CDs. I have no Housemartins CDs.
Oh, and on a final note, it rankles me when people favourably compare the Housemartins to the Smiths. The Smiths were a top-shelf band; the Housemartins were not.
This release was limited to 400 copies: 300 on black vinyl and 100 on gold vinyl. My copy is on gold vinyl. Both were pressed in the US. I suppose you might label this music as experimental or electronic. Originally, he was the other half of the duo that made up the groups Mountains, a kind of droneish affair.
The record company posted this, about this record:
Three plush, extended synthdrone compositions orbiting in new age and kosmische spheres with a really blissed out feel
"Liquid Light Forms focuses almost entirely on electronic pieces utilizing predominantly voltage controlled modular synthesizers and sequencers. Liquid Light Forms radiates with pulsating, dense rhythmic patterns that morph and emerge as they compound on themselves. The result is a hypnotic and truly psychedelic listening experience that proves to be one of Koen's most captivating recordings yet."[source]
Sadly, there was never a volume two. That's such a shame because this was a really great experiment. Who would have thought that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (formerly of Led Zeppelin) could team up with Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, et al., and produce such an unexpected and interesting record? The other sad thing is that this is only an EP, with a mere six tracks.
It's a terrific collection of oldies: I Get A Thrill, Sea Of Love, I Got A Woman, Young Boy Blues, Rockin' At Midnight. The most famous of these tracks was Sea of Love, but the other songs are really great too. Even if you hated Zep, you will like this record.
This is awesome. I love this band. And, they are Canadian! From the Wikipedia:
The band uses live instrumentation and miscellaneous instruments and non-instruments (including a 35 mm film synchronizer, toy keyboards and toy phaser guns) to achieve electronic-sounding effects without the use of laptops or programmed backing tracks.[2] According to Pitchfork Media, "The band was formed with the intent of creating the equivalent of modern electronic music without actually using the techniques—looping, splicing, programming and the like—of that music." [source]
The sole solo album by former Talk Talk frontman Mark Hollis, released on January 26, 1998. Despite being released as a solo album by Hollis, it was originally intended to be credited to Talk Talk, under the name "Mountains of the Moon."
According to release information in Discogs, the first LP was pressed in 2003 in Europe. A US pressing followed 2011. I have the most recent pressing, a European Version from 2019.
Then hype sticker says:
Only solo album by Talk Talk frontman A genuine 'lost classic' reissued on heavyweight vinyl, re-mastered at Abbey Road
Allmusic says that the record is "quite possibly the most quiet and intimate record ever made." In truth, though I pave vinyl, this record is probably better in CD, given the space and ambiance.
As I keep saying, I am big fan of this band. Of course I picked this up as soon as I could. Of course I like it. I'd say that it is a bit better than Thrashing Thru The Passion. I ended up with a back vinyl copy, though there were some coloured versions.
This 10" record was a limited edition release (1,800 copies) for Record Store Day Black Friday 2019. It was evidently only sent to US stores, and I searched in vain for months before I finally found a copy, though I had to mail order it. I got it for a reasonable price from Canadian store with free shipping! The cheapest copy on Discogs was about $44 with shipping. I am a big fan of this band, so I am happy to have it.
Just got it, so I don't have much to say about it. I skipped the limited edition brown and clear coke bottle vinyl editions in favour of the plain black. I saved about $15 by making that choice. I wish there was a download card, but I guess you can't get everything you want.
Rags, I really love ya
I can't forget about ya
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, 'till you find your man
- Hard Luck Woman, KISS
This limited edition 10" EP contains five cover tunes, released via Pledge Music. It might be difficult to get a copy of this one. This record was released as a fundraiser for the family of 'Jersey' Mike Van Jura, who passed away unexpectedly. Each band member choose one track, leading to a rather odd collection. But, as a big fan of the band, I like this record.
I once saw a copy in a local shop for $30, but that was soon after it was released. I haven't seen any since then.
The tracks are:
1) All Through The City, the Dr. Feelgood track, written by Wilko Johnson
2) Closer To The Stars, the Soul Asylum track, written by David Pirner
3) Hard Luck Woman, the KISS tune, written by Paul Stanley
4) I Gotta Get Drunk, composed by Willie Nelson
5) The Last Thing I Ever Wanted Was To Show Up And Blow Your Mind, from Those Bastard Souls, written by David Shouse.
My favourite track from this EP is All Through The City, but I love the original too, so that makes sense. Also, I have to say that the band's version of Hard Luck Women is great, even if it a KISS song.
I absolutely hate the album cover. I simply cannot believe that the best rock band in America allowed this as the cover for its new record. Such a great band; such a horrifying cover.
Someone is trying to sell a copy of this LP on Amazon for $161.71. Copies of this record a readily available in many places for a fraction of the cost (I have even seen copies for $9.99 a few months back). I guess if you pay inflated prices, you have only yourself to blame. In any case, this is a great record. I read one bad review from some internet loser, but don't believe that guy. This is great. The whole record is great, and I would say it's a bit better than Heaven is Whenever.
The original album was released in 2010. In 2020, the record was rereleased as a limited edition with an additional record containing 9 tracks. As a big fan, I had to grab it. Both records are pressed on red marked vinyl. The sleeve is described and follows: Spot varnished sleeve with embossed title. The studio version of Ascension Blues appears on the bonus disc. Here's a live version of that track.
There are two pressings of this LP: 2010 and 2015. I have a copy from 2010. There were also a couple of limited edition releases for Record Store Day in 2015, one of which was on orange vinyl.
The first time I heard this record, I was a little disappointed, but what I was really feeling was the absence of Franz Nicolay, the band's keyboardist. I have adjusted to the change, and am happy to say that I can recommend this record without reservation. I saw this tour in Toronto when the band passed through. The Hold Steady is the best band in America, and currently my favourite band.
The original 2LP version was released in 2008, and this 10th anniversary edition came out in 2018. It has a bonus disc:10th Anniversary Reissue of Stay Positive on 3LP Triple Gatefold with Die Cut Jacket / cut at 45RPM for audiophiles. Includes original album, rarities, plus 3 never before released tracks.
Discogs goes on to say this:
The lyric sleeve for the second LP has a misprint; though the text reads "LP2 Side C / Side D", the lyrics for the songs on LP1 are reprinted.
However, this is not true in my case. Everything is correct.
The three bonus tracks (Ask Her For Adderall, Cheyenne Sunrise, and Two Handed Handshake!) appeared on the CD, which I have, but they were not on the 2008 LP, which I also have. But, we do get a number of other tracks, like:
