Tags
Anuna, Bryan Ferry, Can, Kraftwerk, mini-reviews, Phil Manzanera, The Doors, The Jam, The Rolling Stones, The Stooges
Here’s something different. Since I haven’t had much time for the long review format but have been taking advantage of my new walkman to listen to CDs I’m not actually familiar with I thought I’d give out some “short” review, meant only to convey my first impressions of CDs I’ve either not heard or only heard once ages ago. As usual, YouTube is my friend. Whether I’m enamoured of the albums or not, here they are and here you go:
12 x 5 by The Rolling Stones: At its best the sheer sophistication of this album easily beats out what The Beatles were up to at the time (Congratulations and Time is on My Side, especially). The rest of tunes are pleasant but do not carve out so distinct a niche for themselves and therefore I am not transfixed by the Stones in this era. Three and a half stars.
Anuna by Anuna: A band mainly interested in recreating early polyphonic arrangements, yet they are somehow too serious on one hand and not traditional enough on the other. Sanctus, Silent O Moyle and Media Vita are the only tracks that took my breath away. Three stars.
Sound Affects by The Jam: I want to call this dream-punk music. Every song is a gem but songs like That’s Entertainment combine angry verses with a gorgeous chorus. Total classic. This one I will surely review sometime. Five stars.
Strange Days by The Doors: My first Doors album. I’m not really sure about it. The trouble, I suppose, is that I was promised “darkness” and what I mostly got was some reasonable psychedelic pop. Nick Cave has spoiled me. I think the CD might grow on me with further listens. Three and a half stars.
Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk: Totally groundbreaking, I suppose, but really boring. Europe Endless is rather interesting and The Hall of Mirrors has great atmosphere but after those first two tracks it gets formulaic. Where are the variations? Disappointing. Maybe further listens will reveal what I’ve missed? Two and a half stars.
Another Time, Another Place by Bryan Ferry: Laughable. Not as insulting as These Foolish Things but still relentlessly corny. You Are My Sunshine? And it’s six minutes long? An It Ain’t Me Babe shellacked into oblivion? (What a) Wonderful World? (Hint: it’s not the Louis Armstrong song). Ugh. And this was 1974, the year of Country Life. The mind reels. I’ll offer up the best track for you, however, complete with its fake Manzanera solo…. One star.
Now! by The Rolling Stones: More consistent than 12 x 5 and with a bluesier atmosphere. I didn’t take notice of any highlights other than Heart of Stone but none of the songs were trite this time round so I would say it’s the better of the two. Four stars.
The Stooges by The Stooges: We Will Fall is prime boredom material after the first three minutes. I Wanna Be Your Dog is the best VU imitation I’ve ever heard. Between these two extremes we get Iggy the teenage malcontent. It’s not a very interesting record overall, but they improved quickly so I’m lenient. Three stars.
Future Days by Can: One of the most sublimely beautiful instrumental CDs I’ve ever heard, bested only by Another Green World for its loveliness. I heard it years back but it didn’t so strongly affect me then. Five stars.
Primitive Guitars by Phil Manzanera: Some funky numbers, some with awesome Link Wray vibes. The slower stuff did not approach the same level of interest for me. Too much noodling, not enough melodicity. Three stars.
Those are the last ten. I will now set to work on some proper long reviews for your consideration…