Bruce Springsteen, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

Bruce Springsteen, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973-Columbia)

The Boss has made some great music but I have to say this could well be one of his best. As a debut goes it is pretty much solid. Great tunes and a really cool mix of music from all out rock to a more folk/country style. But near half the album was recorded just Bruce and a guitar and rest was the full band. But it all seems to mix in so well and that is where the Boss gets his name.

This album has sold well now but I feel many record collections may have this to complete an artist. I do the same my self, it is more an OCD sort of thing. But it really is an amazing album.

Recorded on a shoestring budget the idea of the acoustic tracks is more from having no choice as their was no budget. Here is when pressure makes someone write better.

Single "Blinded by the Light" was not a hit or even played on radio but I can see why it is a little too loose for the pop market and I mean loose in a fun way. It is a little bit of a mixed song is it country or rock. Some blues and that saxophone is digging it as well. It really is a song for all radios and I bet record shops in 1973 had no clue what section to put it in. Classic live Springsteen and a style he will use forever.

One of my favourite songs by Bruce is "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" So simple and catchy I think he wrote it more as a kids song at the start but it really does catch your imagination as all children's music should. You are living this song, a bus ride in NY in the early 70s is not much of a subject. But I feel the song is a kind of positive intro to "Lost in the Flood" and again he really can pen a tune. Amazing lyrics and his voice is so clear and concise here giving the picture of the songs contents perfectly. Back in 73 songs of Vietnam war veteran was simply not the sort of thing that would be ok in the mainstream. But he got away with it and again he crafts it into something so much bigger and better than the cheap studio ever provided.

All out rock track "Spirit in the Night" gives the listener a chance to look back at times when they were young as a very loose story of some kids goofing off and enjoying being teenagers. I think finding the right musicians was key in this album. Three of the musicians here went on to be in the E Street Band forever.

The album had a tune for everyone and I mean everyone with the inclusion of a classic ballad song in "The Angel" some old school rockers may not be into a ballad but this one has a nice auto mobile theme to it that I bet would get the presenters on Top Gear sniffing about wondering who it was.

As first albums go for me it is near perfect and I think made his career as failure needs to happen for someone to truly get it. Selling only 25,000 units in a year the record label would have been very much licking their wounds. But as bad as the labels can be they did stick by him. A rare album in my blog a second by one artist but as I say people may well have overlooked this gem and with the reissues and live tour all ongoing it is well worth a listen again.

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Cobalt, Eater of Birds

Cobalt, Eater of Birds, (2007-profound lore records)

Had a good listen to this bands two albums, first in this album and the second in near matching in quality "Gin" from 2009 and I have to say I am shocked upon looking at the net near no real coverage of the band at all.

So here we have another entry to the band that should have gigantic but is not. But here we have a problem the band consists of two people. Yup so no real live presence at all and also they seem to really keep themselves to themselves. But in music world and more so music fans that really does not matter. Remember PIL in the 1980s with the Album, Single, 12" stuff they done many fans had no idea who was on the tracks at all.

Much like PIL this is pretty much as far from Top of the Pops as you will go, the band are in the Black Metal area of the shops but I feel it can be listened to by many alt music fans. Yes it is heavy and at times very much making the filling rattle but the feel of the music is so amazing. When the first track 'When Serpents Return' really puts this album where it is happy. Starting out with an all out BM blast of drums vocals and guitars so much so my lunch is moving with the music due to how loud I have it.

But that is why I have it here it is so well done the riffs are here and grab you like the first track bounds into a very repetitive style of riffs much like a punk band would do. Little bits of lead guitar sweep over the two speakers to move the music about. It is not so much a metal feel but a punk maxed out sludge sound.

Second track has that great into blast beat drum start but the band love to speed up and it seems to move into a kind of old school metal feel near like Iron Maiden when they do the galloping feel in their older stuff. Heavier and louder of course.

It is not all out metal and 'Witherer' finds the band in a kind of ambient mood, with the drummer used as a kind of orchestra conductor dictating where it all should go. It really is amazing stuff. And we are not at my personal highlight yet. 'Androids, Automatons and Nihilists' the track mixes acoustic and electric guitars really well with haunting vocals from Jarboe of Swans fame. This really is a stand out track it has to be heard, only Jarboe could make the album come into this area of real scary music the mixture of acoustic and the heavy distorted guitar has been done so many times but she really makes this her own.


Prepare to look over your shoulder.

The band ends pretty much as it started in all out excessive noise but all fitting in the right way to make the listener want more. Many heavy albums can really be hard to listen to more so when they are 40m or so but this is shear pleasure, it really does show what the style of music can provide and as I say where does it fit in? It is metal but it is punk and for me it is art. Much as PIL made Album and have people scratch their heads as to its content... this is the same.


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Oh I must say the album has bits of Phil McSorley's 29 minute long acoustic/ambient song "Ritual Use of Fire." This song is available in its entirety on the Landfill Breastmilk Beast EP

Lush, Split

Lush, Split (4AD-1994)

Album number two for Lush and for me my favourite, a little bit of a step forward from the previous album and I think it is due to the relentless touring and promotion of previous releases. The album for me is a proper album production where the album is made to fit well together. Similar sound and feel throughout the album.

I remember reading their was some trouble in recording this album as the band were not happy with how it was all working out. I wonder how they like it now as it really does sound great and due to the top end production the album is crystal clear and sounds fantastic. I swear the guitar sound here was stolen by Oasis and used on their first two albums. That slight buzz distortion noise that is non stop in Oasis is used here to give a more visual feel tot he music. Not so much an art music but it has so much more going for it than a typical 90s chart band.

This is a very personal album with love, life and relationship issues big part of the album. The lyrics sound way more direct and unlike last album Spooky (1992) where many of the lyrics were pronounced and made longer this is way shorter and clear for the listener to gain access quicker to what is being sung. It is a brave move as it really changes the bands sound, kind of making it more pop and radio friendly. I also think the older material had some studio effects to the vocals as well as Miki and Emma sounds so much real here briefly going back to the long strung out vocals style on 2nd single "Desire Lines" a classic shoegaze song clocking in at over seven minutes it builds up with nice guitar picking to head nodding heavy middle then back to the classic vocals. needless to say it would never have got on radio one as single of the week. And here may well be where things went wrong for this album as two different songs were released as singles on the same day. Crazy even today to do something like that but both songs were very strong and showcased both sides of the band as the other single "Hypocrite" has a more ballsy rock feel to it not a million miles away from the britpop sound that was just about to come in.

The singles aside there are some real great tacks on here with my favorites being the album opener "Light from a Dead Star" it has a nice slow start to it very artistic in a kind of into feel to it. And album closer "When I Die" is almost just a simple acoustic track, very direct and very personal lyrics. This track for me ends the album well as it has a similar sound found on the next bands album "Lovelife" and funnily the name is a track on this album, also one of my favorites. The sort of track that made sure Lush was not going to be flung onto the same pile of CDs as many others in the mid 90s a proper dream pop style song.

One thing about this album I think in 1994 it would be hard to fit it in anywhere as the new Britpop explosion really was not the band also just not the style of pop that was selling well then (much of the chart pop was one hit wonders in the 90s)

But again mainstreams loss is our gain, a great album by a bad who really did end too soon as the suicide of drummer  Chris Acland shocked the band members to the core and felt best to call it a day. Thankfully the will come back for a few gigs in 2016 and I feel people will start talking about them as their music really could do great on radio today.

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Sons and Daughters, This Gift

Sons and Daughters, This Gift (Domino-2008)

Glasgow based indie/rock band Sons and Daughters were onto album number three here. For me their was enough hard work done in the last two albums for the band to have a shot at something more.

I am not too sure why they never made it further with this album as it is back to back great music. Catchy poppy rock tunes that would make a radio melt with fun. The mixture of male and female voices on the singing really does catch the ear along with some nice harmonies it could get the worst karaoke singer grabbing a comb for a sing song in the toilet.

One thing I have to say is this really is not an all out pop album it has some very nice rock touches with nice riffs here and their in a kind of old school rock n roll style and first song 'Gift Complex' starts out with a fine example. With some nice production and the song opens up after the riff. Also some nice and loud bass lines here that are great for catching someone's ear and made for the radio.

The first few songs really are fantastic as is the production. 'Split Lips' and 'The Nest' really make you wonder who is working on this album and the name is very much familiar to most in Bernard Butler. he is ideal for this band.

One of the rare albums in the 00's that has that hit single feel to it and the tunes keep coming with 'Rebel with the Ghost' and 'Chains' making me wonder not where these songs fit on the radio but how often. Only two singles were put out with the second being a double A side with 'This Gift/Darling' sadly scraping in at the low end of the chart. A real shame as each song gives a a little bit of a different feel to the band all out pop song 'This Gift' being a classic A side and 'Darling' having a more rock feel to it.

The music here and the quality of the delivery would have stood out on Top of the Pops but this may well be where this band missed out as that show was cancelled in 2006 (two years before the album). I am not sure if the record label was right for this band as they really could have been big if the promotion was right.

But Again I am not blaming the label I am blaming you lot for not digging a little. Why not make up for it and get a copy of this album.

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Stampin' Ground, Carved From Empty Words

Stampin' Ground, Carved From Empty Words (Century Media-2000)

Back in the 90's there was a great underground music scene in the UK. Many outsiders looking in would simply see a more loud style of punk and they are kind of right but the fans had a title for it in UKHC (United Kingdom Hard Core) Mixing elements of punk and metal this album is a great example of a cross over band that nailed it. And believe me there were many more.

I have chosen this album as it really did help define the style and move it into the 00's. The album production is pristine and clear as a bell. Drums and bass sound fantastic all adding to much head banning. First track "Officer Down" is a ferocious attack to new ears may well be a mess of guitars but it is in fact quite a slow song. Vocals are again in your face but listen to it. The song and the whole album has riff that still 15 years later make much of the so called extreme metal bands look like they should should do photo shoots with a bunch of flowers.

The whole band seem to blend as one big riff machine and evidence is so blindly there in track three "The Symmetrie Of Hatred" the intro builds up nicely with drums playing all over the shop and into a vocal style that to me sounds like a riff as well. Back in the UKHC days bands would book a pub and have say six bands on one bill the music was fast and loose the fans would just want music to jump about to and this is what this album has in all songs.

"Bathe My Wounds" again brings in the fantastic rhythm build up and shows the band have moved on to the point vocals are not needed all the time. Again music like this is falsely looked at as very fast, not on this track it is a slow head nodding tune and I have seen myself in the window of the bus nodding to the beat.

Produced by Dave Chang he was the go to guy in the 90's for any style of metal music and always does a fantastic job. This for me is one of his highlights as after seeing the band a few times he has captured all the energy so well. Guitars sound big but not so out there vocals really do mean something on this album it all works great. Later track "Mid-Death Crisis" is the classic sound of what UKHC sounds like in the basement of a pub and feel nostalgic to me but to new ears may well open some doors.

The band were on Century Media so never going to conquer the world with this style but they may well have done so much better now with the amount of metal festivals in Europe and America I think they would have done way more sales if people saw them live. But back then there really were non of the smaller festivals for metal music. They went on to do one more album before splitting up at the last show as the first band on the new Donington festival (now Download). If you are a metal fan check out this album but alt music fans who like the likes of Converge will love this album to bits.

Still available at Amazon 

Warren Zevon, Sentimental Hygiene

Warren Zevon, Sentimental Hygiene (Virgin-1987)

This is an artist I never really knew much about and to be honest I rarely had a chance to hear his music, but I can see why as his career has been rather unusual. He initially came to light in the very late 60s and the album "Wanted Dead or Alive" this album by his counts was a total disaster and he ten decided to leave behind his solo dream and took a job with the Every Brothers.

This job got him working with many in the music business and by 76 he got a second attempt at solo fame. But by his fourth (or 5th inc album in 69) album in 1982 the wheels had came off and drink took over his life. Rehab and then again working for others leads to this album. And I think it is his best work. And again another shot at a solo career was offered.

This album is really just a rock album but it has some little hints of folk and country. Some could even say it is more an alt rock album but essentially it is a great album.

The songs are nothing elaborate and I think that is how the album connects so well with me 'the Factory' a song about working for the boss six days a week catches anyone's attention as we have all done the crap min wage work. The song also has a nice touch in the harmonica is from Bob Dylan. This is not the only big name R.E.M. co write the song 'Even a Dog Can Shake Hands' and also provide vocals on the song 'Bad karma' again all done in the rock/folk style I feel is best suited to Warren.

My favourite track is 'Boom Boom Mancini' a song about the boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. It is as catchy as can be and a fantastic tribute as the boxer was involved in a match that killed his opponent, the death of Duk Koo Kim changed boxing forever as rules were changed to have less rounds and more medical involvement before the matches. Like Mancini, Warren has also had to rebuild his career after divorce and his label dropping him.

This album helped to re start his career and I feel it is his best album. He never got to the dizzy heights of 'Excitable Boy' (a 1978 Platinum seller) but it did gain him enough sales and respect to continue making albums all the way up to his death in 2003.

Warren Zevon managed to achieve a very rare thing in the music business and that is to last for five decades. His catalogue of 12 albums are all very good and for consistently never sell out to the hype of the time again another very rare thing indeed. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer his attention was on the music and in 2002 recorded 'the Wind' recognition came with three Grammy nominations and a win for best folk album.

This album was just under the radar a little I feel the inclusion of R.E.M. could have been a catalyst to help drive this album as they went global in 87 with the Document album. Virgin may well have dropped the ball but again another album for my list for us to enjoy.

Available as a re issue in 2003 here. 

Fish, Raingods with Zippos

Fish, Raingods with Zippos (1999-Roadrunner) 

The ex Marillion front man had done a few albums up to this albums release. And I do remember at the time he was having some trouble in the industry. I think that is why the album is on a metal label. Some sort of new start and well listening to the music he has definitely got full creative control here. 

This album is very much in the feel of what Fish has done before but I have to admit it is way more adventurous. Again I wonder if being on a metal label has made him step up a bit. It is not so much metal but his classic rock feel but there are many guest musicians on here and I think all have given this their best. The first track is fantastic and captures the fun of this album. No way pretentious or at trying to put people off, you will either get it right away or it is not for you. 

As the album goes on there is some fantastic studio work in here as well, with Fish himself helping with recording and production by Elliot Ness. This is easily one of the best sounding albums I have ever heard and I really mean that. There is so much going on, with Fish singing and sounding amazing here you have to listen close to all the little bits of guitar, percussion and keyboards. This is a prog fans wet dream, but as I say there is no pretentious music here and many styles are used and done so well you barley notice. 

Take the drum and bass ending 'Rites of Passage' and at times the distorted guitar is more sounding like a tribute to his past works. There are instruments and sounds all over the place, a small sample here and a spoken work passage there. Not one second of the album is filler or even lets you get board. The last track of the album is split into six separate names but really is one full song 'Plague of Ghosts' clocks in at about 25 minutes and I think it may have been split up to look better on the album track listing for the record label. I don't know but it is fantastic. 

With Fish always being associated with the neo-progressive rock style from Marillion many people may write off his music if they were not a fan of his previous work. But this album is a must listen if you like something a little bit different (more so the last track). It is still in his very much down to earth style with lyrics I am sure come direct from inside the man himself. You could read into all the songs so much more if you wanted as it is that deep but you can also take it as a great fun trip in music, for me it is more like a ride at Alton Towers where you get an experience unlike any other ride in any other park. A one off, and those are always worth waiting in a long line for. 

This was never that big a hit but I got it as the metal press had a soft spot for it and I think the metal label was a problem for many of the older fans who could have missed it. But you are now with the internet at the front of the queue, so why not give it a go?

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Raging Violence, Hirax

Hirax, Raging Violence (Metal Blade Records, 1985)

Here we have a missing part of history, with the big four of thrash bands going on to sell millions and make a great living from it. Here we have a band that could easily have slotted into the Anvil documentary as they seem to not get any breaks as well.

This album is the first by the band and what a great start, first up is it really is quite a different album than most thrash bands. Some like Metallica had a very mediocre singer where as say Slayer had a vocalist that really just talked. The closest to this band is Flotsam and Jetsam with a more operatic style vocal. The album is very much in the 80s metal area but for me one of the better examples of thrash metal about. Even more so for the time.

The speed and timing of the music is very different to other metal bands and has a great punk feel to it bit like the Ramones drumming the relentless hitting of the snare drums you could use as a metronome. But it does come over as fresh and with those vocals it hits the spot. The recording even now does sound good considering it was on Metal Blade I doubt there was much money for the bands debut. Near everything sounds clear but with that more live feel, you can even hear the bass guitar (something very unusual for thrash).

With fourteen tracks over 29 minutes I really am not bothering to review each track as it is kind of all the same but here and there are blistering all out solos, way more epic than the other bands of the time. Not so much trying to steal the show but prove they have it as well. Some of the music has that great groove feel you got in the late 80s with Pantera and Faith no More metalers in any rock pub would be happy to hear this album.

The reason I have it here is more a shock to me as I was looking at gigs coming up and there they were playing near me soon. As they only did this and a few EPs back in the 80s before splitting I did get last years album "Immortal Legacy" (and great it is too) thinking I would never see them. But it seems after many false re activations they have managed to finally get to the UK for the first time ever. So an album you may have missed and a live gig I have never had the chance of seeing in one post.

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Black Sabbath, Headless Cross

Black Sabbath, Headless Cross (IRS-1989)

As a big fan of this band I as all fans love the Ozzy stuff and for a great reason. But all those albums done very well and sold quite rightfully in their million is America and beyond.

Next singer was again a favorite in Ronnie James Dio. But again that was a very successful era in the band. After the second 'Dio' album many fans seem to slowly move on. Some may have felt the constant lineup changes making that once fantastic band seem a little corporate and well stale. But by the time the band got to the late 80s the band was very different. New deal with IRS was signed and a real idea for a change in direction.

A great help for me in this album is Cozy Powell, what a fantastic drummer, he played on many other bands but notable for me Rainbow and on the 'Rising' album. He as ever plays a blinder on this album. And thanks to him a new singer was recruited in Tony Martin. The plan by Tony Iommi was to bring back Dio but Cozy suggested Tony Martin. The idea was to have him on rehearsals and well it all went so well this album was made with the three of them and like the old days all writing credits between the band.

There is an air of AOR on this album but it for me it is in that 80s feel, little bit of a hair metal sort of vibe. But those are all quickly trampled on with guitar from Toni Iommi, easily one of the geniuses of music. Great playing and some nice solos here. Not so much a big riff album but an all round classic rock structure.

The classic inro track really shows what this is all about, Occult and Satanic lyrics and references all over the album. There is also a nice mix of all out metal songs and the classic doom style the band invented in ‘Kill in the Spirit World'. one of the first things I heard about this album was the track ‘When Death Calls’ and I never knew the solo was by Brian May, again amazing stuff and it really expands on everything the band used to be but moving it forward to 1988. As I say the bands at the time were hair metal and slowly there was the grunge thing in the early 90s so it is a nice album in the middle of all that. There are some nice touches of keyboards that give the album that occult vibe from Geoff Nicholls and I think his best work with the band.

Produced by Powell and Iommi it shows how much creativity they had and I am glad that there was no others in the studio as the sound may well have been watered down for that 88 sound.
For me the best Sabbath albums are the first six then this one then the Dio stuff so there really is some great quality here. Well receved at the time by critics but on IRS it really never sold bundles or even got people buzzing at the band. If you are a fan of Sabbath or like many a big fans of the Ozzy/Dio era and and have not heard this it really is a cracking album and fully deserves to be in your collection.

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Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag

Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag (Columbia-1974)

Mr Cash had up till now some big selling albums. And one of them the 'At Folsom Prison' for me is one of the best live albums ever recorded. The live album was the second of live recordings from inside a prison. But those two albums were so successful I really can't put them in here so I have chosen this one. 

And a good choice I would think, this album was his first ever album where he wrote all the material himself. That is quite unusual for country back in 1974 and a kind of gutsy move. Not only that he did also have quite a political subjects included on the album. Again not the sort of thing you get that often in mainstream/radio music never mind country.

Title song 'Ragged Old Flag' is a spoken word tribute to patriotism. Released as a single it really shows how good a story teller he is. Back when he was young he would write poems and you can tell he loved a good story. Written during the Watergate scandal many Americans were questioning what they country had really done. 

Other songs have the classic man in back themes as he deals with working in jobs with long hours 'All I Do is Drive' and jobs where promotion offers very little in reward 'King of the Hill'. He delves into environmental subjects with ' Don't Go Near the Water' questioning where the fish are going and how clean the water may well be upon getting to the sea. Although the subjects for the songs can be regarded as being negative the album is helped with the inclusion of the Oak Ridge Boys. Mr Cash for me had one of the most unique voices in the world and on this album the crystal clear production does him justice but the Oak Ridge Boys give this some volume and wealth. 

This album is a great start for anyone who is just getting into Johnny Cash as it is a classic country album. Filled with messages and content and made more special as it is all his own (Bar 'I'm a Worried Man' co written with his wife June). The whole album is from his experiences and understanding. As I mentioned the two prison albums near the end of the album 'Please Don't Let Me Out' is about a prisoner who fears being released. Or does he simply think he has more freedom in prison? After all they then have to get a job and work for the man before dieing 'Pie in the Sky'. 

Many who are not used to country may dislike the title song but I love it, remember country music was the first style of music to really rebel like the punks did in the later 70s people had to break away from the so called proper way to play music. And like many punk bands this album is quite simple in structure but the content is what makes you think. As the pistols sang God Save the Queen a few years before Johnny had Ragged Old Flag out. Both to me are similar and can be taken by each of us differently. That to me is good songwriting.

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Whomp That Sucker, Sparks

Whomp That Sucker, Sparks (RCA-1981)

Most people into music know Sparks well due to the gold album Kimono My House but they did keep on going after that album and done some great albums. So much so it is hard for me to single one out.

But I have here is one I think could have done more in sales. Done at Musicland Studios in Germany the band seem to change the sound a little. Going back to a more rock sound and having Reinhold Mack producing is a great addition as he was now working with the likes of Queen and a great all round studio engineer and programmer. Ideal to now bring back a more rock sound to the brothers sound.

First track "Tips for Teens" you can't help but enjoy the all out pop tune and wonder why it was not on the radio every day all the time. It makes you want to buy dance shoes and give it a go. "Funny Face" also feels great and that rock sound is now here with the track showcasing some nice guitar work. Both songs were released as singles and done nothing much at all. Not sure why they seem to just miss the mainstream as they both would have fitted in well with the new wave sound that was hitting the airwaves in the early 80s.

"Upstairs" brings in that nice synthesizers sound that you have heard so many times before. The intro alone makes me pinpoint Musicland studios as I have heard it before. The music has always got some great lyrics from the Mael brothers. At times they come across as very repetitive and no real direction but listen closely.

"I Married a Martian" is a cracking song and so catchy again radio hit all over it and a great title so much so I can see why bass player Leslie Bohem went on to have a successful screen writing career. "Suzie Safety" sounds a bit like the theme tune to a kids show but again all those pop hooks keep the music fun. The album has a nice all rounded production and never sounds too polished. Last track "Wacky Women" should have been out as a single or at least had a crazy video made for it. Grab that comb and sing along to it before a night out. Plenty of drums and bass to keep the toes moving, I love this track!

So there you go I managed to choose a Sparks album and I fear in a few weeks (or seconds) I may change my mind but a great reason here is this album was released in the US under RCA but there was no other big deal in Europe or the UK so it was put out on other labels there. That could have been the mistake that stopped any real sales as the promotion of the band and album would have been hard to tie into each areas for selling. Still it did chart in America (Just) and done well in France where the band enjoyed a high level of success. But this album for me and in 1981 should have done very well in the UK and has Top of the Pops songs all over it. Remember those days you see an act on that show and instantly buy the single the next day? Well why not make up for missing it and give it a go now.

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Eddie And The Hot Rods - Life On The Line

Eddie And The Hot Rods - Life On The Line (1977-Island)

The Rods as this band were known as for their first and only top ten hit single and it is track one on this album. "Do Anything You Wanna Do" is an all-out classic punk anthem. With it coming out in the summer of 77 and a switch in sound from the rawer first album you could credit this song and album as the first real punk pop style music. Those bands that came out in the 90s were really just recreating this album for much of the time. But as the first track shows they just have something raw and inspiring in them.

But the single is no one off, as the album has a really nice production job and also was on a decent size record label in Island. Time in the studio is used well and can be heard in “Quit This Town” great riffy guitars and catchy vocals from the single continue, some melodies are even here to show you this band mean business. Unlike many punk bands of the time you really can hear the band play on this album and for me the drums are the winner. A sound like that really can stand tall after so many years and it makes this album sound great over 30 years later. “Telephone Girl” even lets you hear some clear bass lines, not quite at the level of some of the rock greats but it is a nice sound and one that reminds me there is more to playing in the right way.

“Life On The Line” is the title track and a great one with a nice screeching solo in the middle. I think even some AOR fans could switch to this album as there is so much on offer if they are happy to listen carefully. Not so much of the stage posing on offer as punk posturing in a way. It is a sound and feel of a pub rock band who know exactly how to turn a room of drinkers into fans. And that is a great skill, “(And) Don't Believe Your Eyes” feels like a bit of a slower song. More of a sing along song as the hit single was.

But remember how I say this is kind of the first punk pop style album? Well there is a great instrumental on here as well. As the album was released on vinal it was on the b side track one of the album and I am sure that was done for a reason. Make you double look to see if it is the same album? Joke aside “We Sing....The Cross” is a great track. “The Beginning Of The End” continues that negative style of the album and it is hard to ignore even the cover is a big statement. Not sure if it is to do with the record deal and music industry or just an off day. But it is again catchy with real lyrics and over 8 minutes the track on its own is more than most punk bands total output.

So why did the band not make it? I think it was over saturation of the punk market at the time and most really would not have seen much past a punk band here. Such a same as they are a great rock n roll band and this is a really catchy album with great tunes. It feels so much more mature and even now it is a shock to see it was made in 77. Took many punk bands into the post punk and early 80s to move the sound along and they done it in months.

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The Clash, Sandinista!

The Clash, Sandinista! (1980-CBS)

I was never a big fan of the Clash, I do like them and love the first album. I also have a lot of respect for the band as they really did include so many styles of music in every album they did. And that ties into this album in a big way.

The band made it big and way bigger than most punk bands collected together. But it never took away their punk mentality. Each album was full of great tunes and also very important political and every day subjects. This album has even been named after the troubles in Nicaragua taking the name of a political party in that country.

But the album is a first here and also something very rare in music. It is a triple album, and I do mean three LPs. The album fills up all six sides of the three slabs of plastic and I feel it is filled well. The story goes it was made three disks due to Bruce Springsteen putting out his the River album as a double and the music world creaming themselves over that. So a challenge in a way. Both artists really have no problems with each other and this reviewer looks at the River as one of the bosses top three so we all win here.

The album is no real departure from previous but one inclusion unique to it is all four member take lead vocals at some point. Also some tracks are there twice with the second being a Dub version. Sounds like some fillers here but it does seem to work. Now here is where respect is due, the band made a deal to have the album out at £5 so the punters could get it at the same price as other albums. This would have hit the bands finances and pretty much have robbed them of any royalties. So it was a big gamble and looking at sales it was a bad one for the band.

Only gaining a silver (60,000) units in the UK the album was certified gold in the US. So total sales in America must have been about 175,000 as the certification on multiple records in the US includes each disk as one sale. I feel it should have sold more and the marketing side of me sees it as a value for money buy as well. We have all purchased that soundtrack album in a supermarket as it has all the hit songs you like, cheaper than buying each individually eh?

Even the albums singles failed to do much "The Magnificent Seven" being the only top 40 hit in the UK. A great song and full of fun as was "Hitsville U.K." a great song that really shows how good the band were at writing pop music with a great world music feel. For me the album has the best sound out of all the bands albums, recorded and mixed by Bill Price he would have made sure all the music was recorded properly and that is not easy including multiple session players for things like trumpets, saxophones and harmonicas over two studios.

By todays standards artists think nothing of making an album run over 60 mins but back then a triple album was a real big thing and very rare. I hostly know of no band that done it successfully. The album has for some people filler tracks. Like "Career Opportunities" sung or rather worded by Mickey Gallagher's two sons, Luke and Ben it is an odd thing to do but it really shows how far punk had went from 76. Before the band would never have used valuable time in the studio like that but times changed in the punk world so fast.

The three disks do have a little different feel with the first full of the singles and fun, second and third feel similar but the last is way more experimental and it could have been a kind of side project in a way. But at the time the band sort of marketed the 3LP as a 2LP with a bonus 12" so looking at the last album as a bonus is a good thing. But still a cracking album and for me time has served it very well.

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David Bowie, Low, Heroes and Lodger (Berlin Trilogy)

David Bowie, Low, Heroes and Lodger (RCA-1977/79)

For me the best time in this mans career was in the 1970s. Album after album for me was fantastic and always sold well. But there were three albums that didn't sell as much due to the style of music contained on the album. Going from Art rock, experimental rock, krautrock, electronic, ambient and even pop over these three albums is just too much for many listeners. But time really should have changed your ears and tuned them into liking this music now.

For me "Low" is the easiest to get into, more electronic pop than anything. Ok you will not be able to start up the karaoke but there is music to move to here. "Sound And Vision" is a stand out track here on side one where as the second side really takes you on Bowie's trip through giving up cocaine. Brian Eno is a guest on the second side and this is where it really takes on the electronic synth style called krautrock. At the time it was totally new to most people as they had never heard the likes of Kraftwerk. Co produced with Tony Visconti he was a big part in the sound on the whole album and with Eno they labored more in the creative side than given credit.

The previous release in "Station to Station" was a big inspiration to the change in sound. As it was to be used for a film soundtrack this helped give Bowie some freedom in the writing of the album. That album has been given much praise from many bands in the area around punk in the 70s as it was capturing so much more than the typical AOR style that is always promoted by the labels.

Quickly the same year "Heroes" came out and with a similar sound but recorded in a more of an improvised way. Many first takes were used and again the album really can't be put into anything he done before. "Beauty and the Beast" provided a top 40 hit in the UK (only just at 39) the album was loved by music fans but really done nothing in America. Again the flip side provided a change from the other with "Sense of Doubt" and "Neuköln" being instrumentals and using that ambient style from his previous album. The album is less negative than the first as Bowie had moved to Berlin proper and recorded the whole album there.

With the first two albums having a kind of bi polar feel to them for most people you could easily love the first side and well... respect the second? But in 1979 "Lodger" may well be the one you like best. It is a far more straight forward release, that is in comparison to the other two. Still very much in an experimental style the album does not seem to suffer from any of his drug problems and at the time he was back to great writing. As with any good album travel is featured and tracks like "African Night Flight" and "Fantastic Voyage" get you thinking of booking a ticket abroad to get where he heard the influences for yourself.

The second side has tracks poking fun at our own culture. "Repetition" could be talking about other styles of music or even every day life, same job, same bus trip to work. And a top ten hit in the UK with "Boys Keep Swinging" gave this album much needed attention. Lyrics like "When you're a boy, other boys check you out" really shows he is thinking out loud and asking questions on gender, the video near the end had himself dressed in drag as three backing singers. In America the lead single was "Look Back in Anger" as the previous song was not considered due to the gender diverse topic that the song and video possess. This track was a nice rock track with some great guitar work from Carlos Alomar who provides guitar to tracks over all three albums.

As these albums were being recorded the music world was changing from punk to post punk and new wave bands all making it big. All challenging people to take on more diverse music. As his next album in "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" coming out in 1980 he needed to sell well and did all thanks to the build up of the three albums before as the fans of those were again buying more great new music.

The three albums here were all but ignored by America and as each came out even got less attention in the UK. After this was three massive selling albums. They were simply just out too early I feel. But saying that you really would not have sold much more even in the 80s I think. Many bands and artists owe a big thank you to these albums as they really did open the door. May take a few listens but they really are his best work.

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Burzum, Hvis Lyset Tar Oss

Burzum, Hvis Lyset Tar Oss (Misanthropy-1994)

Recorded in September of 1992 this album along with three others were recorded in just over a year. Each for me are well worth buying and highlighting “Filosofem” from 1996 as it really is two completely different sounding albums.

This album is a concept album and in English is called If the Light Takes Us. Much of the Black Metal world was all about volume and speed where this music rewound all that back. This is far more of an ambient album. But the influence is there.

"Det som en gang var" ("What Once Was") starts the album with a guitar sound that has been made to sound very empty owning to the concept of the album. He messes about with synthesizers and guitars multi tracking to make a sound I really do not think could be done live. Well up to a point where a full band sound kicks in and all the rock fans out there will recognize some classic elements of riffs and rhythm. All still played while there is a droning in the background. About now you are shocked that it is all done by one person, every instrument, mixing and production was all done by one person. I think this is the key here as most people would most likely get someone else to play drums due to not being good enough but on this album it really does work very well. The production is not crystal clear but that is the whole point as well.

What is new here is the mix of ambient and metal in the same songs and at the same time. None of this one minute intro of building music up to a big guitar blitz. This is all here at once. Fourteen and a half minutes fly by.

"Hvis lyset tar oss" ("If the Light Takes Us") brings us back to a style most would see as BM but again there is that droning guitar sound. Same goes for track three "Inn i slottet fra droemmen" ("Into the Castle from the Dream") this has more of a repetitive nature to it. Not that far away from a drum and bass sound. The screams and growls keep you where you want to be though. Saying that the vocal work on this album is really kept to a minimum and I think that is helpful to many new ears on the style of music. Track three has most of the vocals on the whole album. And to those like me who can’t speak Norwegian you will not know what he is singing. There are plenty of pages on the web with translation and the lyrics are really nothing amazing. First verse of track three is “Between misty vales, Between gloomy mountains, Under gray clouds, In the black night”

Lyrics are never this style of music’s strong point. Well it is one of those reasons it exists. Can’t sing well it is not needed. Same as in track four "Tomhet" ("Emptiness") why bother writing bass, guitar and drum parts when you can use a synthesizers to make the epic feeling of nothing. I have read some say this track is a filler track and for me they are wrong it is my stand out track. I once went to Norway and got the train from Oslo to Bergen and got off at a stop in-between and went for a walk in the mountains of Finse. With 2hr wait between the trains I had a good listen to this music and it really does sound right. There is more to the track as it builds up and it really catches you unaware. I won’t ruin it but is for me a fantastic track. Other times I listen to it is on long flights more so at the start of the flight just to settle me down a bit. It has that effect on you.

This blog is about albums that missed the big time. This could never have made it big but looking at the last few years of Black Metal and bands headlining 60,000+ festivals and making big money then yeah the payoff never happened. Can’t do this live and I would never want to see it live. But what a great album.

If you like this check out “Filosofem” as well.

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My trip to Norway in 2012 on Flickr

The Almighty, Crank

The Almighty, Crank (1994-Chrysalis)

For any rocks fans who read this you may have well heard this band. More likely you have heard of them as in the early 90s they were very popular.

Based in Glasgow, Scotland they were one of many bands to come from Glasgow in many years. But unlike the others the music was simply and strictly in the rock category. No stranger to the studio or even the charts this is album number four, but at the time it was released rock music was not in. Britpop had taken over and every record label was signing anything with three chords and a cheeky smile.

The album came out to mixed reviews more so from the fans as it was more aggressive and louder. More akin to a punk band than the classy intros and ballads of a rock band. The cover for me was simply stunning, done by Jamie Reid simply an angel throwing a Molotov cocktail at Earth. The album backs up the cover.

First track "Ultraviolent" is the start I was expecting and thankfully it has it all. Loud and bold, the band hammer out the bass and drums big time. This is not for radio one on a Monday morning at 9am! The bands sound really is not a million miles away from before but the attitude is. Only two singles were released from the album and they are like chalk and cheese in the tempo department but both strangely sound right. "Wrench" is the slower song, big drum sound intro at the start and the song builds up, it is like a Ramones song slowed down. Anyone could play along with this a few chords and great lyrics. "Jonestown Mind" is way faster, I mean way, way faster. A breakneck start to the song and you feel like you are being piledriven by a wrestler. First line is "You're the Jesus that didn't get nailed, Everyone loves a righteous cause" So no daytime radio for this then.

The album is here as I think it deserves more attention and also cause there is no filler there at all. "The Unreal Thing" is another cracker of a song. The same big sound throughout the album and I think a great single. But were the kids ready for this after blasting Oasis? It really does not sound like it fits in 1994 at all. Even the metal world was struggling. But the production to me is not far from Nirvana and the Nevermind album. Nothing wrong with having a great sounding album.

The album keeps it going "Move Right In" and "Crank And Deceit" are all out rockers and intent on making you jump about like a loon. "United State Of Apathy" is a tribute to Bill Hicks and for me one of the highlights of the album. Great Bill inspired lyrics with "Sit up straight eat your Jesus flakes" up there as my favorite on the album. Great chorus in "Welcome To Defiance" if they took of the big drum sound and calmed it down a bit there may have been a hit. But fuck that let it rock out.

Back in 1995 I really can't remember any press on this album and I sort of fell into it by accident. The Wildhearts were to play T in the Park put pulled out. The Almighty were asked to take the place. Back then as I say all festivals were a wash with britpop and this band stood out big time. The new material for me was great, loud and for me being in my teens what I wanted.

The sound on the album may well be familiar to you as it was mixed by Chris Sheldon, who would go on to do albums by the Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro. Who knows if britpop had not have started, if the record company pushed them more in America with a nice big promo video. But fuck it it is all done now, give it a listen and the next time you hear Monkey Wrench you can give this album a pat on the back.

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Pain, Rebirth

Pain, Rebirth (Stockholm-1999)

Remember Napster? This album for quite some time was only available in Sweden and the reason I got this was due to Napster. Back then you could talk to the people you shared music with. Got chatting to a death metal fan from Sweden who recommended this to me. So downloaded it (Well it was free).

A bit of background here as it is important. Peter Tägtgren was at the time well known within metal fans as the leader of death metal band Hypocrisy he was also used many times by bands as a producer. His own studio was used for many classic metal albums, his own band were still going but his desire to make other music was so strong this album came about. Well it is his second under the name Pain. All writing/instruments are by his so it really is as solo as you can ever get. It was nothing but a side project but the album had a two hit singles in Sweden. Not sure if that was ever expected as the deal was simply kept to Sweden, this is where Napster came in to a music fans help. Import copies were very expensive back then. So I only ever had this on MP3 till a few years ago. 

The hit singles in "On and On" and "End of the Line" are so much fun and a real mix of styles. industrial and rock are mixed well but the ending sound is very surprising, strangely it feels more like pop music. Not so far away than what could be in the dance clubs. It can get you dancing much like "On and On" as the music is very repetitive but the vocals are all clean. As I say Peter was a death metal vocalist so a real change of style for him. But it all works. "End of The Line" has some nice loops and guitar samples that really show how good he is in the studio. Again the vocals help keep a tune and the ears are interested.

One of the songs I always loved was "Crashed" an all out rock track but it has keyboards as the lead tune at the intro but still feels very rocking. The guitars on this album are there but with little distortion it helps the overall sound balance out and I think that is why many fans of dance music took notice. "Suicide Machine" is another song I like, a little bit heavier again but the electronic side is obvious, more mixing of the guitars and samples. It really should not work but you find yourself singing along with it.

One track that mixes the guitars into what I could only say is a beat is "Parallel to Ecstasy" it is very interesting as the riff side of the guitar sound feels like it is made faster and looped to feel like a dance beat but it is a distorted guitar. Great stuff, I could see this all being released in the UK as a white label promo (white label is where no info is on the disc making DJ/radio listen) and getting many people interested.

I really do wonder what would have happened if this was put out with a big label as at the time Stockholm Records was not as big as it was. More so outside of Sweden. Perfect label would have been Deconstruction. Give this a go it was listed at the time as industrial/electronic rock but it really is more than that. Very catchy I remember friends into dance music asking me for a copy of this in 99. Always loved how they were enjoying it so much but always adamant they don't like rock music.

Now easily available it has had many reprints so the cover may well be different.

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Frank Black and the Catholics, Frank Black and the Catholics

Frank Black and the Catholics, Frank Black and the Catholics (SpinART-1998)

Here is the worlds first album to be made available on the MP3 format. And fitting in that the low fi quality of the format fits so well with this album. Rumored to have been recorded on a two track and all played live. The record company at the time refused to release something so unpolished.

But Black Francis is not the sort of person to sit about and wait, he went on and done other work. This was almost slipped out to the public with no real fanfare. Shame as it is a really catchy album with amazing songs. It is simply a rock album, nothing fancy and with some nice slower acoustic numbers to help balance it all out. Where the Pixies could be for some a little to alt rock this is quite easy for all to like. More of a punk feel in some of the guitar work but that is due to the way it was recorded.

"All My Ghosts" kicks in with a great pop punk attitude, catchy lyrics that you instantly remember and sing along to. Some of the count ins are left in on the record 1, 2, 3, 4, "Back To Rome" shows how great at lyrics he can be. Keeping the music simple and the melody the main aspect in all songs it is one great tune after another. His voice suits it all perfectly. "Do You Feel Bad About It?" is my personal favorite, so easy to play and sing to. Even this crappy guitar player/none singer can have fun with this.

"Dog Gone" could have been a big hit if the record company had it there way. No need for a big producer and a 128 track machine. Few harmonies and an acoustic and the track sounds like five grand better than most pop acts.

The band are happy to indulge in other styles and "Sis Sixty-six" has a nice country feel to it. You could be fooled into tapping that foot. "Steak 'n' Sabre" has some nice slide sounding guitar work, the band love to play. There are plenty of great tracks on this album and all get you as bigger and better than most albums that cost £100,000 to make.

You really do not notice the album was recorded in such a raw way and that is testament to the songwriting and the skills of the band. Music like this now would be massive as so many of the big popular rock bands on Radio 1 are missing that catchy tune or as we have here tunes. Black Francis really never sat still after the Pixies and many fans of the former band have missed this one.

The record company made a big balls up here, missing out on one amazing album, many bands that came and went during the britpop era could only dream of making music this fast and easy. If the album was out in 95 I may not have needed to put it here. The album was held back by the company hoping something would happen in the mainstream to fit this in. But the album is timeless. Some press and live TV could have made this sell a truck load. Failing that plenty of church goers may have got it as a mistake. And there reward is a great rock n roll album.

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Anathema, Judgement

Anathema, Judgement (Music for Nations-1999)

This band established a very good following from the previous years Alternative 4 album. New record label and album number five is todays entry for an album missed.

Sadly this band have never really been taken up in anywhere but the metal press. More so in the UK where the press are so obsessed with giving everything a title. This was classed as a metal band and much of that time was put into a similar area as extreme metal.

Sadly with press like that you will never get a chance and they did deserve it as the previous album was a fantastic offering. With the band changing style some what it was considered by fans as experimental. That is out the window on this so called second experimental album.

Album opener is a great introduction to what is going on here "Deep" has all the elements that will follow in later songs. A catchy intro, nice melodic guitars and a full on orchestral sound. The band really do mix classical music and rock music so well. There has to be one thing that makes two things come together. Much like the lost 5th Irish province of Meath it has been placed into the history books and ignored by all the people now.

But this is not much of a relic and 1999 was many years after the rock bands done it in the 70s. Track two "Pitiless" helps show the new ideas the band have. A much louder track and bringing with it distorted guitars and a full on drum sound. But as always the great voice of Vincent Cavanagh echoing out the song slows down and outros with acoustic guitars.

The album was out pretty much at the wrong time for any real chart success as the likes of Evanescence hitting worldwide success in 2003 the band were and still are leaps above that band. They were more of a gimmick to me and I feel this album is just way more serious. You can feel the hard work on the album and not just in the performance, the whole album sound utterly fantastic and if you have a nice sound set up this will be a real treat for those speakers.

Every track has amazing passages of music or you could call them thumbnails as the really have been scaled down to fit on a CD. It is like a 5 hour performance in a theater. "One Last Goodbye" even contains an all out ballad with that well known sound that Bon Jovi fans love so much. A very much simple track with acoustic guitars but without the cheese. This band make music sound £500 better.

Lee Douglas comes in to "Parisienne Moonlight" the song for me that steals the show. When you think of rock/metal bands that do the female to male vocals you think of Lacuna Coil, get that out of your head now. This is nothing but 110% performance. The build up on this song is astronomical, you will be on the edge of your seat.

Music for Nations does not exist and for the band it was over, but they have still plugged away and have completed many a European tour. They seem to go down well in many of those countries. All I can say is they must have taste. But there is also the fact the UK and America has to put all music in its own category. If you have a CD collection like that you may need a new category, call it the one that is never cool to love.


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Public Image LTD, First Issue

Public Image LTD, First Issue (Virgin-1978)

Many people including myself love the Sex Pistols. I even have them in this blog as I think they should have sold way more albums. History seemed to repeat itself here as the Pistols split up in America while on tour and this album was never released in America till last year. So if you are an American who has had this album on import then well done you.

As Lydon was on tour he would always write new material and some of it he simply could never take to the rest of the band. Listen to this album to find out why. One of my highlights is "Religion I" and "Religion II". The first is simply Mr Lydon reading out loud the lyrics to what is a full song with backing band on the second. His lyrics were taken to the band and instantly dismissed. The song was deemed to extreme for the Sex Pistols. I love the track and it makes me ask questions on many things, not just religion. The whole sound for the album is one that is pretty much as far away from the charts as you can get. For us now getting into the music from that era it is called Post Punk but I feel it is just rock n roll with more spite.

What I love about PIL and also this album is how slow the music is, many people take music that has some big statement or when it contains anything aggressive to be fast and loud and there for unalienable. Not here, nice slow thought out passages of music. "Theme" shows this with the very much simple but fun bass lines. Keith Levene's guitar work sounds complex but it is simply notes with some distortion and FX. As John Lydon comes in on vocals you know this will not be on BBC2.

The whole punk movement was built on showing that anyone can take to a stage and this album keeps it going. So what you can't sing like ABBA or play keyboards like Rick Wakeman. None of that matters and single "Public Image" shows this. It was quite catchy and the only real radio song here. The bass is simply an open E string on the intro and a few chords. Later Lydon explained the song is about how he was viewed in his past band.

"Low Life" has been talked about in being about the ex manager of the Pistols, Malcolm McLaren. The lyrics and the title track show you his thoughts. The song does have some nice melodic feel to it and can even be danced to with the nice bass lines and drumming.

Low Life

Low Life

Ego-maniac traitor

You never did understand

You fell in love with your ego

It did not fit into plan

The last track is one that stands out for me "Fodderstompf" seems like a piss take to me. The band were running out of time in the studio and had to get it done. I also think this song is what prompted the American label to want the album to be re recorded. As I said the album was never released in the US due to the label there saying the album was too uncommercial to go out. That was the point no? They missed it big time. Never less some re recording was done and still a strict no from the label. It is as if "Fodderstompf" was a song to see into the future. They were right.

Still the album sold well in the UK gaining Silver (60,000) award and a top 10 single in "Public Image". I wonder if America got this album what would have happened, imagine a promo of Religion going to stations? Fuck me! It would have made what the Pistols done look like an episode of Sesame Street.

Now available in the US via Light in the Attic Records and all over the world.

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