Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - Soft Cell (1982)
Synthpop was supposed to sound like this:
It was dance music for replicants. It wasn't supposed to show human emotion.
Marc Almond and Soft Cell changed all that with today's classic. This piece shows that machines really can enhance our humanity. The swirling analogue sounds give Mr. Almond an ample amount of paper to write out his thoughts on love lost. Like an electronic journal, this song aches in technicolor. We are almost thirty years removed from the heady days when synth duos ruled the UK and made an impact in America, but this song still moves, inspires and blows my mind.
The extended version featured here will really make you miss 12" singles. The clarinet solo is absolutely beautiful.
And the covers! Oh, the covers!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 271: Question
Question - The Moody Blues (1970)
It is with great sadness and trepidation that I confess to you all that until a few short years ago...... I took The Moody Blues for granted. I owned Days Of Future Passed, as every music nut should, but the rest of their work was foreign to me. What a surprise it has been in these recent times to discover how good this band really was. A classic album is one thing, but The Moody Blues actually released about 10 of them from 1965 until 1981, with some great eighties pop singles released later in that decade. A Question Of Balance, from the dawn of the seventies, would be the next disc I would tell the Moodies' novice to check out. It is a conglomeration of thoughts and worries, a protest album by an orchestral prog pop band. The leading single is today's choice, and it burns with acoustic strummed fire, asking what the hell we can do to fix this mess we call modern life. It is a call to arms that should become a public service announcement in these times as well. Listen to the song's doubt, its hopefulness and its anger as it begs for absolution in a world gone upside down and tell me its not a rallying cry for this already blighted new century as well.
It is with great sadness and trepidation that I confess to you all that until a few short years ago...... I took The Moody Blues for granted. I owned Days Of Future Passed, as every music nut should, but the rest of their work was foreign to me. What a surprise it has been in these recent times to discover how good this band really was. A classic album is one thing, but The Moody Blues actually released about 10 of them from 1965 until 1981, with some great eighties pop singles released later in that decade. A Question Of Balance, from the dawn of the seventies, would be the next disc I would tell the Moodies' novice to check out. It is a conglomeration of thoughts and worries, a protest album by an orchestral prog pop band. The leading single is today's choice, and it burns with acoustic strummed fire, asking what the hell we can do to fix this mess we call modern life. It is a call to arms that should become a public service announcement in these times as well. Listen to the song's doubt, its hopefulness and its anger as it begs for absolution in a world gone upside down and tell me its not a rallying cry for this already blighted new century as well.
Monday, February 7, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 270: Don't Take Your Guns To Town
Don't Take Your Guns To Town - Johnny Cash (1958)
No matter the deserved acclaim of Johnny Cash's American Recordings' series, The Man In Black never sounded better than when he was singing his own work. It's impossible for me to pick a favorite from such a body of work. So, to keep with the previous post's western theme, I give you a gunfighter ballad from an American master. Cash's coolness factor will shine brighter than any of his contemporaries, disciples or new converts for centuries to come.
Such an odd style to cover this song in, but damn if Bono doesn't make it work!
No matter the deserved acclaim of Johnny Cash's American Recordings' series, The Man In Black never sounded better than when he was singing his own work. It's impossible for me to pick a favorite from such a body of work. So, to keep with the previous post's western theme, I give you a gunfighter ballad from an American master. Cash's coolness factor will shine brighter than any of his contemporaries, disciples or new converts for centuries to come.
Such an odd style to cover this song in, but damn if Bono doesn't make it work!
JDIZZY's 365 # 269: I Hung My Head
I Hung My Head - Sting (1996)
Sting is beyond a guilty pleasure of mine because no artist that writes such perfectly crafted songs should ever be considered such. Across his first five solo albums,all co-produced with the genius Hugh Padgham it is near impossible to find a moment to be ashamed of. The storytelling streak that his muse has blessed him with since " Don't Stand So Close To Me" is given full fruition on this album track from 1996. It is a western murder ballad played in 9/8 time with a brass section. While that may sound wretched on paper, it wraps itself around the listener to the point where you don't even notice it. All you can see in your mind's eye is the tragic story. I have followed Sting from excursions into Classical lute playing through symphonic re-recordings of his classics on down to the best Christmas album I have heard in years. Gordon Sumner is a restless musical spirit, but each shaded glen he takes you down will enrich your sensibilities ad infinitum.
Then again, this could easily be the definitive version for most people, and I would not fault them one bit.
Sting is beyond a guilty pleasure of mine because no artist that writes such perfectly crafted songs should ever be considered such. Across his first five solo albums,all co-produced with the genius Hugh Padgham it is near impossible to find a moment to be ashamed of. The storytelling streak that his muse has blessed him with since " Don't Stand So Close To Me" is given full fruition on this album track from 1996. It is a western murder ballad played in 9/8 time with a brass section. While that may sound wretched on paper, it wraps itself around the listener to the point where you don't even notice it. All you can see in your mind's eye is the tragic story. I have followed Sting from excursions into Classical lute playing through symphonic re-recordings of his classics on down to the best Christmas album I have heard in years. Gordon Sumner is a restless musical spirit, but each shaded glen he takes you down will enrich your sensibilities ad infinitum.
Then again, this could easily be the definitive version for most people, and I would not fault them one bit.
JDIZZY's 365 # 268: Speechless
Speechless - Lady Gaga (2009)
Love her or hate her, Gaga is the biggest lightning rod in pop music since her musical mother Madonna. She has brought back the art of performance to rock and roll, keeping her audience guessing what her next live appearance will yield in terms of costume, set and medley. One song that featured heavily in all of the televised events she took part in around late '09-early'10 is today's throwback ballad. Coming off like what Queen and Bowie would have sounded like if they had joined forces in the seventies instead of the eighties, Gaga brings glam rock back to the pop charts. The feat is all the more incredible because of the diversity of the EP it is taken from, The Fame Monster, a perfect statement by the most perfect artist out there today in the thorny world of modern pop.
And now, a look at her non-stop creativity. Each live clip is completely different.
Love her or hate her, Gaga is the biggest lightning rod in pop music since her musical mother Madonna. She has brought back the art of performance to rock and roll, keeping her audience guessing what her next live appearance will yield in terms of costume, set and medley. One song that featured heavily in all of the televised events she took part in around late '09-early'10 is today's throwback ballad. Coming off like what Queen and Bowie would have sounded like if they had joined forces in the seventies instead of the eighties, Gaga brings glam rock back to the pop charts. The feat is all the more incredible because of the diversity of the EP it is taken from, The Fame Monster, a perfect statement by the most perfect artist out there today in the thorny world of modern pop.
And now, a look at her non-stop creativity. Each live clip is completely different.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 267: Itchycoo Park
Itchycoo Park - The Small Faces (1967)
Three things you should know about The Small Faces:
1.) They spawned the two kings of British pub rock, The Faces ( starring a young Rod Stewart ) and Humble Pie.
2.) They made one of the best albums you have never heard in Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, a concept album so English in nature that it gives this anglophile chills. Seriously, it's right up there with The Pretty Thing's S.F. Sorrow, which is a WHOLE 'nuther blog post!
3.) They gave us one of the greatest psychedelic RAWK songs of the late 60's in today's cut. It is a ballad, a stoner anthem, and a precursor for all the British hard rock bands of the 70's.
In a word, what you are about to hear is essential to our understanding of the progression of this music we all know and love. It even made a dent in America, piercing the top twenty at number 16. On a yucky winter morning here in the Northeast, this song will put a sunny summer day in your heart, I guarantee!
See, I told you, RAWK!!! This is surprisingly good. Are covers all Quiet Riot are known for?
Three things you should know about The Small Faces:
1.) They spawned the two kings of British pub rock, The Faces ( starring a young Rod Stewart ) and Humble Pie.
2.) They made one of the best albums you have never heard in Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, a concept album so English in nature that it gives this anglophile chills. Seriously, it's right up there with The Pretty Thing's S.F. Sorrow, which is a WHOLE 'nuther blog post!
3.) They gave us one of the greatest psychedelic RAWK songs of the late 60's in today's cut. It is a ballad, a stoner anthem, and a precursor for all the British hard rock bands of the 70's.
In a word, what you are about to hear is essential to our understanding of the progression of this music we all know and love. It even made a dent in America, piercing the top twenty at number 16. On a yucky winter morning here in the Northeast, this song will put a sunny summer day in your heart, I guarantee!
See, I told you, RAWK!!! This is surprisingly good. Are covers all Quiet Riot are known for?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 266: The Way I Am
The Way I Am - Eminem (2000)
Radio did play this jam Marshall, and basically everything you have produced since. It also marked quite a change. Before this track, you were silly little Slim Shady, spouting nonsense and non sequiturs like a Hip-Hop Monty Python. However,with this classic (and most of the other ones from The Marshall Mathers LP) you became the first singer/songwriter of rap. Today's track reads like a journal entry into your psyche. And I'll never forget that you took up for Marilyn Manson in this song, something no one else of your caliber had the balls to do. So I toast you Mr. Mathers, and what you have brought to the game:Picasso's Blue Period set to beats.
Radio did play this jam Marshall, and basically everything you have produced since. It also marked quite a change. Before this track, you were silly little Slim Shady, spouting nonsense and non sequiturs like a Hip-Hop Monty Python. However,with this classic (and most of the other ones from The Marshall Mathers LP) you became the first singer/songwriter of rap. Today's track reads like a journal entry into your psyche. And I'll never forget that you took up for Marilyn Manson in this song, something no one else of your caliber had the balls to do. So I toast you Mr. Mathers, and what you have brought to the game:Picasso's Blue Period set to beats.
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