What Are You Listening To? February 2018

[Zeeba Neighba]

Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)

Good revisiting this. What does a group do when their first album is hailed early among the great albums ever and their third album is hailed as its year's best album (and hey, don't forget Neon Bible, not too shabby). Often a group with shift style, and now I appreciate that more than back in 2013 when this album's shift to more dance rhythms (influenced by Jamaican rara/festival music) seemed quite jarring. In reality, the album's second half does not seem too far removed from the directions they took on The Suburbs. At 90 minutes, I'm not sure they sustain quality here as some songs are forgettable. Still overall, enjoying this more than 4+yrs ago.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Queenadreena - Drink Me (2002)



British alternative rock band I'd never heard of. Lead singer Katie Jane Garside has been compared to Courtney Love.

 

[Pops]

Toner Low - s/t

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Pat Benatar's Greatest/"Best Shots" because...why not

Now on to Hall & Oates' Greatest Hits

 

[Pops]

Hemelbestormer - Aether

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Cocteau Twins - Garlands (1982)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lost & Found - The Deal (1987)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels (1983)

 

[Nickyboy]

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels (1983)

How did I ever miss that one? I thought I owned everything they ever produced except their last two.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Lost & Found - The Deal (1987)

The band's first album released after the local Glamour Shots franchise closed up.

 

[Nickyboy]

Various Artists- Cafe de Paris (1930-41) (1996)



A really good collection if you are thinking of dipping your toes into the bal musette. It doesn't hurt to put on a beret and say "hon! hon! hon!" while listening either.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

How did I ever miss that one? I thought I owned everything they ever produced except their last two.

You may have it with a different album cover.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (1956)

 

[Ojai Sam]

The Lovin' Spoonful - Everything Playing (1967)

The last album with John Sebastian on board is a mixed blessing. Turmoil within the group and the trend toward elaborate production combined to propel the good time boys to the brink of confusion. But the highs here still outweigh the lows. "Six O'Clock" may not have sold as many singles as "Summer In The City" but is every bit as good artistically, maybe better.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

R.E.M. - Reckoning (1984)

 

[Ojai Sam]

John Simon - Legacy (Muse 1996)

John (David) Simon, who plays a mean sax, is not to be confused with rock producer John (NMI) Simon. This album from the dying days of Muse Records offered an unusual trio with organist Don Patterson and drummer Greg McDonald, sans bass. The results are consistently excellent. Both Simon and Patterson have big, fat, funky sounds that completely fill the bottom end, leaving McDonald free to skate around the beat rather than just keep time.

I am offering this one for trade over at Music Boomerang.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)

 

[Pops]

3rd Bass - The Cactus Album

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet - Landfall (2018)



This is surprisingly the first album collaboration between Anderson and the Quartet. It is inspired by her experience of going through Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Machine - Shadow Of The Machine (2007)