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Post by Jeff on Nov 12, 2005 15:04:42 GMT -5
One of the benefits of getting older is rediscovering the things you’ve forgotten that you own. Maybe we could all share a CD every month or so that we still like but don’t talk about anymore. My pick for November is Heaven or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins. The vocals are mesmerizing and the guitar work is both subtle and accomplished. I remember when Justin began to listen to The Sundays; I could never fully appreciate their work because I was always distracted by the influence of Cocteau Twins on it. I don’t know anyone who listens to CT for the individual songs. I only remember their names because they are so strange, e.g., “Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires” or “Spooning Good Singing Gum.” Rather, CT delivers a kind of mood, and just as Autograph told us that “Things go better with Rock” certain moments just go better with CT playing quietly in the background. Here are three things in my life that were improved by CT: 1. Rick and I listened to a lot of feminine music back in the day, and I don’t mean straightforwardly gay (he he) acts like Erasure and Bronski Beat—though we played them, too—but bands like CT, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Enya, Susanne Vega, and Sinead O’Connor. I remember having lots of thoughtful conversations with Rick listening to Heaven or Las Vegas. He liked the CD quite a bit and would often play it while we chatted over coffee. 2. When I was in college I learned quickly what CDs I could play while writing my papers. You want something interesting enough to keep you awake, but gentle enough not to disrupt a developing thought. Heaven or Las Vegas is just such a CD. (BTW: I know that many of you don’t like classical music much, but there is a wonderful 2-CD set of choral music that I used to use for the same purpose—in fact, I associate Heaven or Las Vegas with it for some unconscious reason. It’s on EMI’s Seraphim label and it’s called simply Sacred Classics ( www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000UWF/qid=1131827665/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7934510-6306208?v=glance&s=music&n=507846 ). CD 1 is best; I played it so much that I eventually lost it.) 3. Some people might prefer Marvin Gaye or the deep and smooth sounds of Barry White, but for me the sexiest music to make out to is Cocteau Twins. Even if you think the band’s work is mostly treacle-laden fluff you might have some use for the sweetness in your Pour-Some-Sugar-on-Me moments. Jeff PS What do you guys think is the best music to make out to? |
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Post by Betterout on Nov 12, 2005 17:33:52 GMT -5
I remember not liking this album shortly after you and Rick discovered it, for some reason. Later, at OSSM, my friend Todd York reintroduced me to them by way of this album and Blue Bell Knoll, I think it was called. I liked it much better the second time around. Afterwards, I went through a bit of a dream-pop/shoegazer phase wherein acts like the Sundays, Lush, Slowdive, Curve, and of course Cocteau Twins really lit my teenage fire. I also remember liking a bizarre act called Miranda Sex Garden, although I doubt I'd like them very much nowadays. After years of listening to these sorts of acts, I found that only the Sundays continued to do anything for me, principally because Dave Gavurin's guitar work is probably the closest thing out there resembling my own guitar style. Furthermore, I got really into Smashing Pumpkins heavier bridge between that sound and flat out rock & roll. I just sorta abandoned that whole vibe (sans the Sundays, of course). But I still find myself humming the melody for Wolf at the Breast from time to time.
As for make out music, I've tried to put on albums from time to time for such a purpose, but it completely kills the mood. It suddenly becomes the silliest thing imaginable, and it's sooooo not conducive to the lovin' experience to pop out of the moment long enough to switch out albums. It's a similar situation when I see a movie love scene in which a couple is gettin' it on with, like, a thousand lit candles all over the room. I'm always like, "Okay, that's total b.s. It would have taken you guys half an hour or more to find and light all those things. And what were you talking about during that time? 'Oh, baby, I'm really turned on by the way you use that Bic...'" That said, there's a particular Chris Isaak album that used to mysteriously find its way into the CD changer sometimes before the mood got all hot and bothered, as well as Disintegration every so often.
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Post by Betterout on Nov 30, 2005 15:00:05 GMT -5
I'm very interested in seeing what you'll pick for December, bro. And what about everybody else? What forgotten gems do you have in your collections?
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Post by Jeff on Nov 30, 2005 15:16:13 GMT -5
I think it's going to be one of the following CDs. I've spun them all in the last few weeks: Xanadu Soundtrack, Sting's Nothing Like the Sun, or Sinead O’Connor's The Lion and the Cobra. Probably the last, since I've listened to it twice in the last week and because of Jerusalem.
No time for a write up at present, though; I am swamped with work! What is your pick for December?
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Post by Betterout on Nov 30, 2005 15:51:07 GMT -5
I dunno if I have a pick, yet. But I do like all three of those albums a great deal, with the possible exception of the Xanadu Soundtrack; If memory serves, I absolutely adore half of it, and don't care for the other half. As for Nada Como El Sol, I've not heard it in years, since most of my tapes got stolen almost a decade ago. Although it's my least favorite of his amazing 1-2-3 punch of Blue Turtles, Nothing Like, and Soul Cages, it's still a really great album. Tons of great stuff on it: Rock Steady, We'll Be Together, Englishman in New York, They Dance Alone... They're practically all classics. Hey, that reminds me of when we saw him in Norman so long ago, and his final encore consisted simply of Fragile. Cah-reepy. Lion & the Cobra is great. It took me years to get into it, though. I just didn't recognize what she was trying to do with her music when I was younger... I still don't, but now I think enough time has passed that I can appreciate it more. I copied off L&C from Tyler's CD when he was living with us back in 1998, and I've loved it ever since then. Just Call Me Joe is probably my favorite track. And what a strange way to end a debut album: "I feel as if I'm drowning."
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Post by Jeff on Nov 30, 2005 16:25:04 GMT -5
Of course I recognize the 1-2-3 punch. And of course Dream is the best. But we've always disagreed about the relative worth of Sun vs Cages. I think the latter is too tame, and at times unfocused.
L&C is a strange bird. What the hell is she doing? I still don't know, but the raw power of her performance is what always entralled me about her. Then she got all weepy on the Prince song and lost her groove. I like the piss and vinegar O'Connor. Anyway, if I do the write up I'll talk about listening to this CD with various people and getting their response. Kim Johnson was pretty much repelled by it. I bought that one and NO's Substance at the same time, and she would mostly only let me play the latter.
More later...
PS Fragile is my favorite song from NLtS
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Post by Jeff on Nov 30, 2005 16:46:12 GMT -5
Heck, I’ll write up L&C, tonight if I get the chance. To that end, here is the Psalm that gives the album its title (vs 13).
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
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Post by lonniemarie on Nov 30, 2005 17:39:31 GMT -5
OMG...there is such a thing as make out music???...After being married for almost 15 yrs...I don't think I really know what that is...*grin*. However as a teenager...I used to make up cassette tapes with different songs on it for the sole purpose of "making out"...(Did I just say cassette tape???...How old am I getting here???)..."love bites" by Def Leppard used to be my fave song for that particular past time...
I have to ask, Justin...is the half of the Xandau soundtrack that you liked the ELO half?...I used to have the vinyl before our trailer burnt down in '93 and I always found that to be the stronger half of the album. But it has been a long time since I heard the music...and L&C is a great choice...I remember watching Nightmare on Elm Street 4 and hearing "I Want Your (hands on me)" and being in shock that Sinead O'Conner had been included. (yes, I just brought up the NES series...I watch too many movies)
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Post by Guest Justin on Nov 30, 2005 18:37:30 GMT -5
Of course, the ELO side is awesome. Jeff Lynne is da man.
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Post by chris on Nov 30, 2005 19:08:41 GMT -5
I've never had success finding make-out music. I tend to like to be able to hear the sighs and moans and other fun sounds girls make when making out.
When considering my CD collection, I really am pretty damn boring. Most of what I have is stuff I still like, and that which isn't were things that I never really liked too much back when. Alas.
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Post by Tyler on Nov 30, 2005 20:15:10 GMT -5
There is an equation to make out music. It is an exact science and not something that one can hope to sucessfully dabble in. It depends on where you are going to be making out, what stereo you are using, and how many people are involved. An example: When getting it on in a small room (10x10) that's got hard walls and is enclosed, as long as there is some light (a black-light is best as it helps the girl feel better about her imperfections), and just two people, then the best music would be Stumbling Toward Ecstacy by Sarah McLachlan. Drop the temperature some and add some scant sunlight, then Enigma's MCMXC A.D. is best. Add a third person, and it changes to Jane's Addiction, Ritual De Lo Habitual, but you have to skip Been Caught Stealing, so it's best to have a programmable player. Move it back to around 2 am with a long-term 3 way relationship after a hard day at work, and Depeche Mode's Violator is the album of choice. On that one, you can put on almost any of the song on repeat and it'll take the festivites right into the realm of sleepy oblivion.
Oh yea... Ridin' the pony... feelin' the flow...
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Post by Jeff on Nov 30, 2005 21:13:38 GMT -5
"Barry can pick out the exact right flavor of ice cream to follow any meal. Go ahead. Challenge him."
"Challenge him?"
"Go on."
"Franks and beans."
"Scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla. Don't waste my time. Come on. Push me."
"Sea bass."
"Grilled?"
"Sauteed."
"I'm with you."
"Potatoes au gratin. Asparagus."
"Rum raisin. WOOF!"
~ City Slickers
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Post by lonniemarie on Dec 1, 2005 8:45:16 GMT -5
First I have to agree with Justin...Jeff Lynne is the "da man"...I used to listen to ELO when I was younger and jam out to "don't bring me down"...(I just keep dating myself *sigh*). 2nd...Tyler...if I ever find myself in any of those situations...I will try to remember your suggestions...  I have to admit most of my cd collection is the general greatest hits of different artists...ie...Queen, The Stones, Madonna, Duran Duran, Fleetwood Mac, Meatloaf, etc...with the occasional "bought for only one song" cd...Modern English and Soft Cell. However, the cd that gets listen to the most in my collection is "Still in Hollywood" by Concrete Blonde...Have had to buy it three times because I keep wearing it out...the same with Sarah McLachlan's "Mirrorball". |
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Post by Betterout on Dec 1, 2005 10:42:13 GMT -5
However, the cd that gets listen to the most in my collection is "Still in Hollywood" by Concrete Blonde...Have had to buy it three times because I keep wearing it out...the same with Sarah McLachlan's "Mirrorball". Wow, I thought I was the only one who suffered from this affliction! I have the exact same problems with XTC's "Nonsvch," Depeche Mode's "Violator," Camper Van Beethoven's "Key Lime Pie," and the Built to Spill albums "There's Nothing Wrong with Love" and "Keep It Like a Secret." I've bought all of these albums multiple times. And I think I've bought the first two maybe four or five times apiece! |
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Post by lonniemarie on Dec 1, 2005 16:53:16 GMT -5
Well, I'm glad to know there are others like me, Justin...of course, I keep thinking I need to put the CD's on my comp so I just burn them off when one gets worn out...but at the same time...I don't mind spending the dough....
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Post by Jeff on Dec 2, 2005 23:19:54 GMT -5
I picked Sinead O’Connor’s The Lion and the Cobra as my hidden gem for December. I had a lighthearted write up that I was working on…then I decided that I’d do something a little more thoughtful…
Do you remember what it was like to wake up from childhood? We Americans deprive ourselves of the full experience of it because we encourage our children to grow up selfishly fixated on their own subjective world. But there was once a time when a child would awaken—if she ever did—out of a kind of collective dream. The dream was not just or merciful but it was deep and powerful, so powerful that those who never awakened were mostly excusable. Coming to self in this deep sea was not a recovery, but a loss, perhaps redeemable through art. Such artistic sacrifice collects the symbols and depth of what is given up while seeking the emotional intensity of the new world of self. Above all, the self is kindled by an authoritative sense of self-loathing. The self is seen as untried in terms of the world it seeks to develop and as a sin against the world it has rejected.
This makes for interesting art. The Kierkegaardian choice of self over community, now over past and future, spiritual over ethical can only be articulated in the categories it rejects even as it transcends them. When one is young at the head of such a course the chief things to admire are power, courage, a sense of adventure, and a genuine love for what is lost. These are the virtues of Sinead O’Connor’s first CD. Here are some of my favorite tracks from it:
Jackie—A song about a ghost who prowls the shores in search of her lost love. More than anything it sounds like Edgar Allen Poe doing rock and roll. The ghost refuses to give up her passion even after it has proven futile and useless. This refusal grants ghostly immortality. I’ve always thought that this is the most the passionate can ever hope for: to yearn forever. The Buddhists have the myth of the hungry ghost as a kind of existence for those who cannot relinquish their attachments. This creature is created and fueled by its desire to consume but has no mouth. For eternity.
Jerusalem—I’ve never discovered a coherent story to tell about the lyrics. But what I always see is the quest to ground the fury and intensity of the verse in this religious symbol and ongoing source of strife. Perhaps she is talking about warring senses of sexuality and comparing these to warring religions.
Troy—“There is no other Troy for you to burn…” I’ve always loved this lyric. The idea is that we have to destroy something, and sometimes the objects of our destruction are preordained.
Just Call Me Joe—The song ends "...listen to what i'm not saying over and over...I feel as if some traveller returned."
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Post by Jeff on Dec 3, 2005 12:09:50 GMT -5
Speaking of ELO--I always thought their 1981 album "Time" got a bad rap. In the fall of 1988, when I finally bought the cassette, I played it till it wore out. I just listened to the song Twilight and I still think it is one of the best ELO songs. Of course it is overproduced, but everything this band does is. Either you can warm up to that or you can't. If you can, this one is an overlooked gem. Besides Twilight other highlights from "Time" are...well, heck the whole thing is pretty great. I think Time is one of the best albums from the 1980s. ELO's greatest hits collections are all pretty good, but if you were just going to buy one striaght up ELO album, this is the one I'd recommend. ELO Time track listing 1. Prologue 2. Twilight 3. Yours Truly, 2095 4. Ticket To The Moon 5. The Way Life's Meant To Be 6. Another Heart Breaks 7. Rain Is Falling 8. From The End Of The World 9. The Lights Go Down 10. Here Is The News 11. 21st Century Man 12. Hold On Tight 13. Epilogue PS. My favorite ELO greatest hits collection is an import called The Very Best of ELO: www.amazon.com/gp/product/samples/B000059RJ4/102-3084163-6241711?%5Fencoding=UTF8#disc_1Justin has a three CD greatest hits collection (Afterglow?), but the track listing seemed a little uneven to me. Maybe he would be so kind as to comment... |
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Post by lonniemarie on Dec 7, 2005 21:14:27 GMT -5
On my way back from McAlester today, I was listening to 94.1 (which plays a lot of classics...which only means songs I grew up with...) and about that time I realize the DJ is talking about ELO...and "Strange Magic" began to play...so I did the only two things I could think to do...I cranked it up and sang at the top of my lungs...
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Post by Jeff on Dec 8, 2005 2:03:29 GMT -5
I think I will be off the road next semester. So far while I have been in McAllen I've driven about 250 miles a week, but they cut the mileage check, so I am giving up driving. My favorite part has always been listening to music at volumes way too high for Jenn and the girls. Often I would get out of the car crying or ready to get drunk only to have to teach a class in truth tables or the categorical imperative.
The ELO songs that I like to sing the most are Turn to Stone (among the best verse chord progressions ever written), Twilight, Telephone Line, Don't Walk Away, I'm Alive, and Mr. Blue Sky, of course. I'll miss my hours on the road next semester.
Jeff
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Post by lonniemarie on Dec 8, 2005 8:15:33 GMT -5
I work for Talking Leaves Job Corps (will be 4 yrs on the 3rd of Dec...not that I'm keeping count or anything)...On July 1st, they transferred me to the Sallisaw Office...which is about 47 miles away...so lucky me...I get to travel there and back on an almost daily basis...thank goodness I get to use a Gov't Vehicle and I'm not putting the miles on my own car...There are days I hit jackpot and have good radio days. I love Jim Croce and one morning, I was lucky enough to hear "Operator", "Photographs and Memories", "Have to Say I Love You in a Song". Good morning on that day. I also carry CD's that I've burned and lately I have "NYC Weather Report" by Five For Fighting playing quite a bit along with Ryan Adams "La Cienga Just Smiled". If I'm in a bad mood when I leave the house, I try to locate my CD that has The Eels "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" and Flaming Lips "Bad Days". For some reason, singing these songs at a very high volume seems to put a smile upon my face.
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