The Fish wrote:Mix from Bhoywonder which lived up to expectations. It wouldn't be a Bhoy mix without at least something I could do a hatchet job on,but in fairness I have to say that the stand out tracks were very good indeed.
I thought I’d try you with some newish bits I thought you’d maybe not like all of, as well as some things I was pretty confident on.
The Fish wrote:1. The band seem to be making as much of a racket as they can to disguise the fact that the song itself is quite boring. All frantic drums and guitar, but ultimately something and nothing.
Making as much of a racket as you can is a pretty good thing in my eyes! These are San Francisco psych-rockers Thee Oh Sees. I like the way they sound.
The Fish wrote:2. This is not much better. Trippy hippy Lennonesque vocals over an overproduced backing with some horrible muddy thudding drums. Unkike the firsttrack though there is a half decent song in here somewhere trying to get out.
This one grew and grew on me until I couldn’t get it out of my head for about a month. Australia’s Tame Impala (see above for more) with a piece psychedelic pop (with gorgeous-sounding drums) called Feels Like We Only Go Backwards from their superb 2011 Lonerism album. Stick with it.
The Fish wrote:3. But this is more like it. I love Mariachi El Bronx and if this isn’t them it sounds just like them.
It is, with the fabulous Revolution Girl from their second album. Jumper K introduced me to their pleasures, and I had a great time with him seeing them in a small club in Cardiff.
The Fish wrote:4. This was great for about a minute. Strong vocal over a simple subdued backing. Reminded me of Terry Reid’s Rich Kid Blues. Unfortunately it then descended into a horrible metal jam of the worst kind
Metal jam?! Ha! You silly old fool
This is the sensational Cursed Diamond by the Black Crowes. It’s a towering performance, an incredible arrangement, stunning musicianship and a brilliant song. It builds to a climax, it soars, then it crashes. It has tenderness, glory, power, anxiety and passion. Metal jam? Oh dear, Paul
The Fish wrote:5. Bob, although here he sounds like the smelly old tramp that rogered Lianne ITV senseless (God that thread still makes me laugh). Actually I’m a real sucker for this kind of maudlin drunken balladry in the style of Tom Waits and Shane MacGowan.
I’m not sure I follow the Lianne ITV reference, but yes, it’s Bob, and yes, it is rather good, isn’t it? It’s from this year’s Shadows in the Night album of Sinatra covers, all performed live with no overdubs. A great late night whisky record.
The Fish wrote:6. Some good playing here, especially the guitar. The vocalist for the most part is fine. Unfortunately the song itself is a very ordinary blues by numbers, and she is definitely out of her comfort zone when straying into “blues mama” territory.
It was the playing that appealed to me too, and what I thought you might like. The song and vocal are average, as you saying, but the playing is worth putting up with that for, I think. It’s Susan Tedeschi with Just Won’t Burn.
The Fish wrote:7. This could have been a perfectly serviceable (at least) version of When Will I See You Again. Unfortunately, even though I have a higher tolerance than most for cod reggae, that plinky plink chakka chakka riff when it’s as relentless as this turns into Chinese water torture after about 20 seconds.
Ha! I’m not sure Marcia Griffiths has ever been called ‘cod reggae’ before. Studio One’s Marcia Griffiths, the Queen of Reggae. Have a word with yourself.
The Fish wrote:8. So just when it seemed that this review was starting to look like “T Willy Rye’s revenge” the good stuff comes along and I liked pretty much everything from here on in. Starting with Jackie Wilson and Rags To Riches. Sublime.
Billy Ward and His Dominoes, what a group! Didn’t Jackie replace Clyde McPhatter? That’s got to be pone of the best subs in music history, hasn’t it?
The Fish wrote:9. It would be easy to dismiss stuff like this as anodyne when compared to the dirtier end of the rock and roll spectrum, but it is still paints a wonderful picture of more innocent times. You’d need to be a joyless bastard not to lap this up.
I think doowop is may be my favourite type of pop music. I’ve loved this stuff since I was about 7 years old and it makes me feel like a kid today. It’s perfect, I think, and everything since has been trying to improve on it. This is the Timetones with In My Heart, released on Times Square Records in 19 and 61.
The Fish wrote:10. A bit of fiddle yee hah, unusually with electric guitar rather than banjo or mandolin. A good guitarist too. Fine picking style.
Neat, isn’t it? Hank Garland with the Sugarfoot Rag. You may know Hank from playing with Johnny Cash, Elvis, Patsy Cline, etc. Sugarfoot Rag was a million-seller in 1949. Jerry Reed also had a minor hit with it in the late 70s.
The Fish wrote:11. A heavy heady mix of blues and soul but transcending either genre, like the bastard son of Hendrix, with a dollop of Shuggie Otis style psych thrown in. Terrific.
Believe it or not, this is Muddy Waters, from Electric Mud, which he made in 1968 with Rotary Connection. The song is called Tom Cat. Interesting, isn’t it? If a little bizarre.
The Fish wrote:12. Recorded in a retro Harry Smith/Alan Lomax style, but has to be more recent as it’s a Laura Nyro song. It actually works quite well in this arrangement
Watermelon Slim And The Workers are probably one of the best current blues bands. I saw them play in Memphis and interviewed Watermelon Slim, who was resplendent in a lime green zoot suit, with matching lime green fedora, and alligator-skin boots. I felt somewhat underdressed in jeans, trainers and tshirt. This is his version of And When I Die and it’s from their 2008 album No Paid Holidays.
The Fish wrote:13. This is miserable as fuck. Thankfully I love miserable as fuck. That folk violin drone sound can be a bit much at times, but is the perfect accompaniment here, particularly as the song doesn’t outstay its welcome. Rather lovely.
I’m really glad you like this. It’s by this great young(ish) Irish singer-songwriter called Seamus Fogarty. I’ve been lucky enough to play on the same bill as him on a few gigs and at a couple of festivals, and grew to absolutely love his music (as well as his company as a drinking buddy). This is the title track from his debut album God Damn You Mountain, which is available on Lost Map records. He has a new EP just out now, which is amazing, I think, and a new album due soon. He’s on tour. Go see him and you’ll love it. He’s playing a free festival in London next weekend.
http://seamusfogarty.com/The Fish wrote:14. I like this and I’m sure I recognize the voice here, Lambchop ?
Yeah, Lambchop, to keep the cheer up! This is The Gettysburg Address from the Decline Of The Country & Western Civilization. An amazing band, really, even if not one I can play often. The music comes from very deep inside.
The Fish wrote:15. Classic Nina
From probably my all-time favourite live album, 1974’s It Is Finished, this is a gorgeous version of I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl.
The Fish wrote:16. I love that Flaming Lips/My Morning Jacket kind of sound. This is great
Another I’m glad you liked. And you’re right – it is great. This is Bon Iver, with Re: Stacks from his/their amazing 2007 debut For Emma, Forever Ago. This album is one of my favourites ever, and one of the shows I saw from them was as good as any band I’ve seen in the last 20 years. Get the album, Paul. If you like this then you’re going to really enjoy it, I’m sure. I thought you would. The second album is also great.
The Fish wrote:17. A bit of Spanish guitar style noodling. Simple but rather engaging.
Ha – I tricked you into enjoying something from Paul McCartney. Sort of. This is from his 1966 soundtrack to the Boulting Brothers film the Family Way, which is a lovely wee movie, but a really overlooked soundtracked.
The Fish wrote:18. You gotta love Wilie. He might not often make you go Wow how great is this, but there’s always a real honesty to everything he does. One of the good guys.
I saw him about 15 years ago and was amazed by him. His voice has such authority, such tenacity and real integrity. One of the good guys indeed. This is He Was A Friend Of Mine from the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack. I’ve not seen the film, but the record’s good.
The Fish wrote:Thanks mate.
You’re most welcome, I’m gladyou enjoyed chunks of it, and don’t mind you hating some other stuff. That’s part of it, right? Hope you get to check out more from Seamus and Bon Iver. And if you see Seamus, do tell him bhoywonder sent you!
1. Putrifiers II -
Thee Oh Sees2. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards -
Tame Impala3. Revolution Girls -
Mariachi El Bronx4. Cursed Diamond -
The Black Crowes5. What'll I Do -
Bob Dylan6. Just Won't Burn -
Susan Tedeschi7. When Will I See You Again -
Marcia Griffiths8. Rags To Riches -
Billy Ward & His Dominoes9. In My Heart -
The Timetones10. Sugarfoot Rag -
Hank Garland11. Tom Cat -
Muddy Waters12. And When I Die -
Watermelon Slim And The Workers13. God Damn You Mountain -
Seamus Fogarty14. The Gettysburg Address -
Lambchop15. I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl -
Nina Simone16. Re: Stacks -
Bon Iver17. Variation Concertantes Opus 1 - IV -
The Claudel String Quartet18. He Was A Friend Of Mine -
Willie Nelson