A mini-review of the LP Special View
A great blast of new wave energy is to be found here. Featuring the classic Another Girl, Another Planet, Britain's The Only Ones rocked many rock fans' worlds when they they came to public attention during the late 70s punk explosion. Listening to them, you hear in them a sort of a glam/pre-punk feel, not unlike Lou Reed and the New York Dolls. In fact, I suggest listening to them along with Lou and the Dolls, perhaps on a CD spinner. Their respective sounds are quite complimentary.
Back to the Only Ones; here is what Jim Walsh of Spin says about them: "Live, the band's leopard skin vests, furs, pink top hats, sharkskin smoking jackets, and shades had more in common with glam than punk." Walsh also describes lead singer Peter Perrett's songs as "suggestive, flowery, mystical, debauched," and his voice as "sheated in sorrow, decay, and bliss - nothing short of hypnotic." Ira Robbins of Trouser Press refers to Perrett's "romanticism and artfully decadent stylings."
It's no wonder Peter Perrett and Johnny Thunders hit it off.
Next up, the Talking Heads, with a focus on More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)
This is one of those records I associate with a time when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life; it was 1980, and I was just out of high school and taking a writing class at the New School, hoping to learn to observe the world around me and to write well about it. Around this time, the music world, too, was trying to figure out its own direction. Mainstream music felt so bloated and lifeless. Nevertheless, there were various forms of life bubbling underneath. The Talking Heads were one such form. On this, a record from 1978 (punk rock's sophomore year) the band combines the jittery vocals and non ironic observational lyrics of lead singer David Byrne, the minimalist funk-based(particularly on Found a Job) playing of rhythm section Chris and Tina, and a variety of inputs from newest member Jerry Harrison. More Songs then adds something very special to the mix - the production treatment of avant-garde rocker Brian Eno, who helped them to find a newer, perhaps better, sound with which to present their music. It allows them to present their very unique take on Al Green's Take Me To The River, as well as the epic in scope song The Big Country (not to be confused with the song In A Big Country by the band named, what else, Big Country). The Talking Heads song is much more subtle.
One other personal association. I also associate this record and this band, in particular,with the world of lower Manhattan, particularly the area of the East Village/St. Mark's Place, where I was spending an increasing amount of time, going to book stores and record shops and developing a deep appreciation for new ideas and for various alternative cultures/cultural underground. This would be a place I enjoyed observing things going on, a place to inspire writing, and a place with a lot of interesting music and culture, all of which helped me to think.
Turning to the Clean, a band from New Zealand and a leader of the indie rock scene there.
The LP Getaway represents one of my beloved bands playing on a really fine record. While better produced than some of their earlier work, this on again, off again trio continues, over and over again, to deliver music that is a joy to listen to. Combining folkish Velvet Underground-ish three chord rock with various indie rock sonic experiments, including some cuts that remind me of My Bloody Valentine at their most danceable, and featuring the fine accompanying playing of Yo La Tengo's Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan on two tracks, some mighty infectious grooves abound on this, a wonderfully warm, enjoyable recording by a legendary group.
Next up, Scotland's Pastels.
On the recording Mobile Safari, Glasgow, Scotland's Pastels really shine, particularly on the song "Yoga," which sounds something like what the Velvet Underground might have produced had they, like the Archies, had their own Saturday morning cartoon. In fact, the Pastels move beyond the "shambolic," an adjective frequently used to describe their sound and demonstrate why they are, in fact, one of the great unsung rock bands of our day. Long may they continue to shine and to make joyous guitar pop like they do here.
Finally, the band Luna.
On the recording Mobile Safari, Glasgow, Scotland's Pastels really shine, particularly on the song "Yoga," which sounds something like what the Velvet Underground might have produced had they, like the Archies, had their own Saturday morning cartoon. In fact, the Pastels move beyond the "shambolic," an adjective frequently used to describe their sound and demonstrate why they are, in fact, one of the great unsung rock bands of our day. Long may they continue to shine and to make joyous guitar pop like they do here.
Finally, the band Luna.
Luna, now no longer, were, like all of the bands above, a beloved cult band, but one uniquely influenced by one Velvet Underground LP in particular, their last recording with Lou Reed, Loaded. Their record Bewitched offers a consistent interpretation of Loaded, but not an a derivative way; rather, Luna managed to take a great sound and to bring it forward.
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