Maybe, but it sounds really good. And there's no way it could've been recorded ten years earlier (apologies for arguing with Geir).
― A brownish area with points (chap), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:01 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah Come Together could def. be one of the lazily-penned pastiche songs: didn't like Timothy Leary commission it and then didn't like it, or something like it?
― All Evil Begins as Flight from Pain (Drugs A. Money), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Geir on David Watts - completely crazy.
― sonofstan, Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:22 (thirteen years ago) link
Electric Ladyland begins with two totally shit songs, and then side two starts with a shit song too.
― Harrison Buttwhistle (NickB), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:26 (thirteen years ago) link
Still an unbelievably awesome album though.
― Harrison Buttwhistle (NickB), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:27 (thirteen years ago) link
nah man 'and the gods made love' is totally whacked-out cool shit you just don't see
― acoleuthic, Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:27 (thirteen years ago) link
also one of the better double-entendres in rock history
And there's no way it could've been recorded ten years earlier
Well, the bass and drums would have been been less powerful, but bass, drums and recording technique is of less importance than the actual tune, which could have been composed by Little Richard in 1955. Which means it was dated in 1969.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:32 (thirteen years ago) link
It sounds like Fat Harry White off Mark & Lard. xp
― Harrison Buttwhistle (NickB), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Electric Ladyland begins with two totally shit songs
They may be shit songs, but the production is amazing. The songs themselves on that album weren't all that good, but the production and his guitar playing alone make them worthy, even though I usually don't like bluesy music.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:33 (thirteen years ago) link
oh and Rainy Day, Dream Away is a vehicle for some goddamn poetic soloing ffs
― acoleuthic, Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:36 (thirteen years ago) link
First track on side two of the vinyl = Little Miss Strange
― Harrison Buttwhistle (NickB), Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:38 (thirteen years ago) link
oh hahahahahahahaha
I guess Geir's gonna defend that one - he'll be alone mind :D
― acoleuthic, Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:40 (thirteen years ago) link
the actual tune, which could have been composed by Little Richard in 1955.
It's not that good.
― sonofstan, Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:41 (thirteen years ago) link
Architecture & Morality - The New Stone Age suuucks
― MyFatherWillGuideMeUpARopeToYourMum (MaresNest), Friday, October 8, 2010 4:15 PM (2 days ago)
totally agree, idk wtf they were thinking putting that song on the album, it just doesn't fit at all.
i know i'm gonna get shit for this, but "Do the Strand" has always annoyed me. i love the rest of the album, but could never stand that song.
― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:43 (thirteen years ago) link
Got to make an apology about my post above, I'd remembered 'Emperor Tomato Ketchup' to be the opening track on the album. Metronomic Undergound is still a quality track though.
― Chewshabadoo, Sunday, 10 October 2010 21:52 (thirteen years ago) link
As a song, stripped off the production and guitar playing and vocals and all, this is actually among the better things on the album. Because it sounds (and is...) English.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 10 October 2010 22:22 (thirteen years ago) link
I love 'Country Life', but I never liked 'The Thrill Of It All'.
― zeus, Sunday, 10 October 2010 22:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Well, the bass and drums would have been been less powerful, but bass, drums and recording technique is of less importance than the actual tune . . .
They may be shit songs, but the production is amazing.
¯\(°_o)/¯
― not Morbius old, but still (Phil D.), Sunday, 10 October 2010 22:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Already stated, but this thread is really bringing out the crazy people.
― dlp9001, Sunday, 10 October 2010 23:17 (thirteen years ago) link
David Watts? Tom Violence? We Dance? Seriously, we can't find better examples...
― dlp9001, Sunday, 10 October 2010 23:18 (thirteen years ago) link
I bring this album up too much already, but "Amerykan Promise" is easily the worst song off of Nu Amerykah Part One.
― All Evil Begins as Flight from Pain (Drugs A. Money), Sunday, 10 October 2010 23:30 (thirteen years ago) link
the only one listed that I can agree with ITT far is Beach Boy's "The Girl from New York City". it doesn't sonically resemble much of anything on the rest of the album, sets no tone, does not have a memorable melody, and is mostly forgettable.
― THE SOMEWHAT COMPETENT RANDY (San Te), Monday, 11 October 2010 00:35 (thirteen years ago) link
Well, the bass and drums would have been been less powerful, but bass, drums and recording technique is of less importance than the actual tune . . .They may be shit songs, but the production is amazing.¯\(°_o)/¯
I might have liked "Come Together" too if it was crowded with electronic sound effects, weird stereo effects with guitars wandering from left to right to left to right and lots of phasing.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Monday, 11 October 2010 01:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Split Enz: True Colours ("Shark Attack" is this really fast and furious song that stylistically is a perfect opening track. The problem being, it sucked...)
The version I had (US release) had "I Got You" as the opener, which was easily the best track on the album. That said, I don't rank that album as a classic. Not bad, but not a classic.
XTC: Apple Venus ("River Of Orchids" returns to their earlier mishabit of starting albums with an ugly, dissonant track)
No, "River of Orchids" sets the mood perfectly. "We've got an orchestra, we're gonna use it, and we're gonna use it to expand our sonic palette beyond anything you've ever heard from us." The arrangement on that song is gorgeous.
"Precious" off The Pretenders' self-titled
I'll second that. Meh track, topped by almost everything after it. For my money, the rule of thumb with that album is that every track is better than the one preceding it.
My additions to the list:"Absolutely Cuckoo" from Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs (though I guess it made sense to start the album with a seeming throwaway, the throwaways were sort of the point)"I'm Gonna See You" from that dog's Retreat from the Sun (maybe the best power-pop album of the '90s, there I said it; the opener does not help this claim)"Big in Japan" from Tom Waits' Mule Variations (most of the songs sound timeless and/or eternal; that one does not)"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" from Talking Heads' Remain in Light (every song on that album is an object lesson in using studio mixing to create coherence, except that track, where it only creates incoherence)
― Dodo Lurker (Slim and Slam), Monday, 11 October 2010 03:38 (thirteen years ago) link
"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" from Talking Heads' Remain in Light (every song on that album is an object lesson in using studio mixing to create coherence, except that track, where it only creates incoherence)
― Dodo Lurker (Slim and Slam), Sunday, October 10, 2010 11:38 PM (Yesterday)
i don't even know what to say to this.
― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Monday, 11 October 2010 04:11 (thirteen years ago) link
"Big in Japan", though -- I'm down with that as a good example.
― ok we are pals (Eazy), Monday, 11 October 2010 05:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Using an orchestra is OK, but the arrangement is just too dissonant in places, not least in the intro. "Ballet For a Rainy Day" is my least favourite track on "Skylarking" too, for the same reason (you see, they had done that dissonent orchestra thing before!)
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Monday, 11 October 2010 09:15 (thirteen years ago) link
but geir the middle-eight of BFARD is one of the most melodically triumphant things they ever did!
― acoleuthic, Monday, 11 October 2010 09:17 (thirteen years ago) link
It's OK. The rest of "Skylarking" is perfect though, so it doesn't take much dissonance to become my least favourite track on such a wonderful and cohesive album. :)
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Monday, 11 October 2010 09:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Geir you should find a better word to describe what you don't like about the orchestral arrangements than 'dissonant'. Maybe the brass in ROO is creating tension a little, but I'm certain there's nothing unstable about Ballet's arrangement.
― MyFatherWillGuideMeUpARopeToYourMum (MaresNest), Monday, 11 October 2010 09:23 (thirteen years ago) link
Mind you AP's vocals on ROO are pretty crazy in parts. :)
― MyFatherWillGuideMeUpARopeToYourMum (MaresNest), Monday, 11 October 2010 09:24 (thirteen years ago) link
"Floppy Boot Stomp" is my least favourite track on "Shiny Beast" but I'm aware I might be alone in this belief
― Tom A. (Tom B.) (Tom C.) (Tom D.), Monday, 11 October 2010 11:44 (thirteen years ago) link
^I agree with you actually.
― scaruffi kaleidoscope (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 11 October 2010 12:07 (thirteen years ago) link
(xp to comment way upthread)
it's hardly the best track on the album, but ain't got you is a good table-setter for the sound and theme of tunnel-of-love. i like how it announces that this disc wil be a stark departure from born-in-the-usa, and it's (relatively) light, upbeat lyrics ease me into a very dark album.
― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 11 October 2010 13:06 (thirteen years ago) link
The Times' "Pirate Playlist 66" has a whole album's worth of classic sort-of-britpop which was put out with minimal fanfare dring Creation Records' last months, with a load of spurious song titles... Anyway, the first track "Heart of Steel" or whatever wacky title it got, is um, one.
― Mark G, Monday, 11 October 2010 13:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Well... He sings a bit too fast at times, but misses the notes no less than he always does (on purpose). :)
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Monday, 11 October 2010 20:23 (thirteen years ago) link
no more, I mean
wow, looking at Geir's post from above is pure WTF, I disagree with nearly everything there.
my picks:
Nick Lowe, Jesus of Cool: Music for Money - boring and one note, nothing like the rest
The Police, Ghost in the Machine: Spirits in the Material World - never liked this tune because it's basically a callback to their old stuff but without the guitar. the rest of the album is surprisingly great though!
― frogbs, Thursday, 12 January 2012 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
The Who, Quadrophenia - "I Am The Sea."
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 13 January 2012 00:10 (twelve years ago) link
"Love Vigilantes" off New Order's 'Low Life' (my favorite album of theirs fwiw).
― Lawanda Pageboy (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 13 January 2012 00:54 (twelve years ago) link
Here's one instance where U.S. record company meddling actually improved things--it's sequenced so much better:
U.K. - "Jesus of Cool"Music for MoneyI Love the Sound of Breaking GlassLittle HitlerShake and PopTonightSo It GoesNo Reason36 Inches HighMarie ProvostNutted by RealityHeart of the City (live version)
U.S. - "Pure Pop for Now People"So It GoesI Love the Sound of Breaking GlassTonightMarie ProvostHeart of the City (studio version)Rollers ShowThey Call It Rock (rockin'-er version of "Shake and Pop")No ReasonLittle HitlerNutted by Reality36 Inches HighMusic for Money
"Music for Money" works as the final cut. And the studio version of "Heart of the City" kicks the live version in the balls.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 13 January 2012 04:14 (twelve years ago) link
I have the new version w/ the bonus tracks, that U.S. version does look so much better. I loved "They Call It Rock" (IMO "Shake and Pop" felt watered down every since I heard it) and never understood why "Rollers Show" wasnt on the album.
― frogbs, Friday, 13 January 2012 04:20 (twelve years ago) link
Always thought Armenia City in the Sky one of the weakest things on The Who Sellout, and an odd opener
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 13 January 2012 22:32 (twelve years ago) link
should be Armenia
I also think Rael at the end is a bit of a letdown too. That album's all about the middle, like a bell curve
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 13 January 2012 22:55 (twelve years ago) link
Dog Shit is fucking classic beyond classic beyond classic
― billstevejim, Friday, 13 January 2012 23:00 (twelve years ago) link
Armenia's one of the best songs on Sell Out.
Which is to say, it's one of the best songs.
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 13 January 2012 23:13 (twelve years ago) link
i always skip 'Love Is The Drug' on Siren.
― nerve_pylon, Friday, 13 January 2012 23:14 (twelve years ago) link
^ ? waht
― The Eyeball Of Hull (Colonel Poo), Friday, 13 January 2012 23:16 (twelve years ago) link