Category: Pop (Page 186 of 216)

Notes from the Orphanage, Part I

October 18, 2006 /

When I graduated from college, the joke that was written about me by my staffmates at the Ohio University Post was that “I’ll follow my heart…and the free CD’s.” It’s funny, because it’s true. I definitely followed my heart, and then after landing some writing gigs, I was pleased as punch when the free CD’s started rolling in.

These days, they’re stacked in piles next to my laptop like an unfinished Jenga game.

Yeah, I know: nice problem to have, right? Sure, but still a problem just the same, since I invariably under-deliver to someone in terms of a timely review. This column looks to rectify that. And so, let us begin the first installment of Notes from the Orphanage.

Phil Aiken: It’s Always the Quiet Ones (TGRC)
If Billy Corgan did an album of piano-driven pop, it’d sound like this. Actually, that’s not exactly true; Corgan’s attempt probably wouldn’t be this good. Check out the title track. It has a spooky vibe to it, as in the Classics IV song “Spooky.” He even covers a Pete Shelley song (“What Do I Get?”) and recruits Tanya Donelly to sing backup on a song. Good stuff.

Dan Wallace: Neon and Gold (Torito Bravo)
This Chicago native wisely leads with the album’s best song, the Kinks-style ditty “Fell.” From there things take a much different path, more into Rufus Wainwright territory pre-Want One. He’s clearly picked some good role models in Wainwright, Ray Davies and the Divine Comedy (“The Lizard and the Cat” is soooo Neil Hannon), but he doesn’t quite rise above his influences. Not this time, anyway.

Max Sedgley: From the Roots to the Shoots (Sunday Best)
A little Daft Punk, a little Chic. The album sports block rocking beats by the pound, but the opening track, “Happy,” clearly does not know when it has worn out its welcome. When this disc hits a groove, like they do on “Celebrity,” the disc is quite fun. A little editing, though, would have gone a long way.

Skye: Mind How You Go (Cordless)
You know, I was wondering what Patrick Leonard had been up to. The man who helmed Madonna’s best records from the ‘80s is behind the boards for his London siren. Dido crossed with Morcheeba is how I’d pitch this if I were in Hollywood. It also brings to mind Tasmin Archer, who had one fabulous hit in 1993 with a song called “Sleeping Satellite.” Man, that was a great song.

Here’s that lost song, for anyone who doesn’t remember it. Think Seal, as a girl.

I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness: Fear Is on Our Side (Secretly Canadian)
Best band name since Eagles of Death Metal, and Ministry’s Paul Barker is behind the boards. But this is no thrash-fest. Hypnotic grooves circa late-period Talk Talk, and darkly danceable rock like the Sisters of Mercy or maybe New Order. If I gave this record more time, they might become my new favorite band.

Golem: Fresh off Boat (JDub)
Jewish gypsy punks. There, I said it.

Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep (Rhino)
How about this for a challenging assignment: when do you listen to a disc like Bedtime Beats, something that’s specifically designed to knock you out? As you’re going to bed? Then you won’t hear the whole thing. While you’re working? Then you’ll fall asleep at your desk. I’m definitely not listening to this in the car; the disc even has a warning instructing me not to. So I put this off for weeks, but here goes nothing…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….

Wow. This thing really works. Get this for the insomniac in your life, stat.

Artists, Pop, Rock, Songs

Cover version I’d like to hear: Simply Red doing “I Won’t Let You Down”

October 12, 2006 /

In 1989, I was listening to either the Psychedelic Furs or the Smiths, I don’t remember which. Out of nowhere, I had a random thought: I would love to hear the Furs cover “How Soon Is Now?” That vocal requires a unique vocalist, and they don’t come much more unique than Richard Butler.

Seven years later, Richard Butler, along with his band Love Spit Love, covered “How Soon Is Now?”, thus confirming that I have magical powers. Very, very slow working magical powers.

But I don’t want to wait seven years for this one. This song, which was a smash hit for synth-pop band PhD, is perfect for Mick Hucknall. Singer Jim Diamond even has the fiery shock of red hair and the odd facial structures (a nice way of saying that he’s funny looking). Simply Red could have some great fun with the reggae beat pulsating underneath the synthesizers, and the melody is right in Hucknall’s wheelhouse.

Come on, Mick. The song was a #1 smash in 1982. A cover of it is long, long overdue, and you’re just the guy to do it. Let’s make it happen.

Pop, Songs, Videos

This Christmas, they’re giving you their heart…

October 12, 2006 /

…but it’s pretty likely that, on the very next day, they’ll take it away. Even so, many fans of ’80s British pop are giddy at the news that Wham! are set to reunite this Christmas, according to The Advocate.

No, I said THIS Christmas.

George Michael and Andrew Ridgley will perform as Wham! for a special concert this Christmas as part of Michael’s solo world tour. “George is thrilled that Andrew’s agreed to perform,” a source told Britain’s Sunday Mirror. “It was something George had thought about for a long time. He couldn’t be happier and can’t wait for the gig.” (Michael often squashed rumors of a potential reunion in the past due to Ridgley’s refusal to participate.) Michael and Ridgley have not performed together since Wham! staged its final concert at London’s Wembley Stadium in 1986.

I think the most surprising thing about this story is that Ridgley hasn’t been chomping at the bit for a reunion. If he’s getting back into music, fingers crossed that we’ll finally see that belated follow-up to Son of Albert…

Concerts, News, Pop

Deep Cuts: Duran Duran

October 11, 2006 /

Duran Duran has a lot more to their musical résumé than “The Reflex” and “The Wild Boys.” Indeed, if those songs were wiped off the face of the earth, I would be perfectly okay with that. There is also a considerable breadth of style on these albums as well. They weren’t just a synth-pop band. There are experiments in art rock, house music, Latin music, atmospheric pop, and funk. One thing’s for sure, they were not afraid to fail. And on more than one occasion, that’s exactly what they did. But they came back wiser every time.

The following list – a two-disc set, no less – contains my favorite Duran Duran songs, or in some cases remixes, that you may not have heard before. They’re listed in chronological order, since that’s important in understanding how the band’s sound has evolved over the years. Purists will surely take me to town for my omissions – I was never a big fan of the early B-sides like “Late Bar” and “Faster than Light” – but I stand by my choices…at least for the next five minutes, at which point I will surely want to replace five songs with five others. Enjoy.

“Sound of Thunder” – Duran Duran
What better way to start a Deep Cuts piece on Duran Duran than with a song that opens with a flanged keyboard riff similar to “Planet Earth,” the song that started it all. “Sound of Thunder,” though, isn’t nearly as sunny as “Planet Earth.” It still has a badass groove, and John shows his chops as a bassist for the first time, but the song is one of the moodiest dance songs you’re likely to find. There was talk about what it meant that the words “Earth,” “Memories” and “Thunder” appeared in bold type in the album’s artwork. The answer: absolutely nothing.

“Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” – The Singles Box 1986-1995
This originally appeared on the import 12” single for “The Reflex” (and made its CD debut on the soundtrack for the 1994 movie “Threesome”), but it was recorded in 1983 while the band was still touring in support of Rio. This Cockney Rebel #1 smash (with that band’s singer Steve Harley singing backing vocals here) gets an extreme makeover, turning the first verse and chorus into a torch song. At that point, the song positively explodes into dance rock heaven. Listening to Andy’s blistering solo, you can practically hear him saying to himself, “You know, I’d love to form a band where I could rock out all the time. I wonder if John would be interested…”

“Breath after Breath” – Duran Duran (a.k.a. The Wedding Album)
Stunning. Still one of my favorite Duran songs to date, this duet with Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento was a radical departure into Latin music for the band (unless you count Mark Berry’s remixes of “Meet El Presidente”), and it came, conveniently enough, at a time when there were no expectations of how Duran Duran should sound. They had finally outlasted the whole new wave/romantic thing, and that clearly liberated them. This was also the first real guest performance on a Duran track, and the band was smart enough to know not to upstage Nascimento and his sweet, sweet tenor.

To read the read of our choices for Duran Duran Deep Cuts, click here, and come back to ESDMusic to share your comments.

Deep Cuts, Lists, Pop, Rock, Songs

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