collection of written miscellany
“Just a few drinks.”
If I drink to fit in, did I ever fit in to begin with? Everyone thinks I'm so funny when I'm drunk; yet they're confused the morning after, “why are you so quiet,man?”
“I only drink to be social.”
“Inanimate glass bottles and tin cans do not control my behavior.”
“I am in control of my own destiny.”
Does alcohol unlock aspects of you or seal them away to be imbibed later?
DEBATER 1: “And, you know, we knock on wood, wherever we may have wood, that I’m in very good health. I just won two club championships, not even senior, two regular club championships. To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way. And I do it. He doesn’t do it. He can’t hit a ball 50 yards. He challenged me to a golf match. He can’t hit a ball 50 yards.”
DEBATER 2: “Well, anyway, that’s – anyway, just take a look at what he says he is and take a look at what he is. Look, I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him. I got my handicap, which, when I was vice president, down to a 6. And by the way, I told you before I’m happy to play golf if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?”
DEBATER 1: “That’s the biggest lie that he’s a 6 handicap, of all.”
DEBATER 2: “I was 8 handicap.”
DEBATER 1: “Yeah.”
DEBATER 2: “Eight, but I have – you know how many…”
DEBATER 1: “I’ve seen your swing, I know your swing.”
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
Felt's “Poem of the River” is the follow up album to “Forever Breathes the Lonely Word”. It's pretty, shimmering, and slow... and I mean really slow. Out of the six songs on this album there's not one that instantly catches my attention, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a nice album to play while you're doing other things, very peaceful and soothing... but that's the most I can say about it.
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
If you haven't noticed, Felt is one of my favorite bands... that explains why I'm uploading every Felt album (besides The Splendour of Fear, because I bought it off iTunes and can't find it anywhere else.) With that being said... on with the review of The Pictorial Jackson Review. To make it short and sweet, The Pictorial Jackson Review is a great album. I can listen to it all the way through, hum the lyrics, and even occasionally dance along with it while playing air guitar or air keyboard. In my opinion, this album is the definition of a pop album. Lawrence obviously aimed to make a pop album with this one, and since Lawrence is so quirky, he even added two completely instrumental tracks at the end of the album (one being twelve minutes long) just to fuck with our heads. In addition to that, just to add, the guitar in the song Don't Die On My Doorstep* sounds eerily similar to the guitar in the song Centerfold by the J Geils Band, I don't know if anyone else noticed that. In conclusion, The Pictorial Jackson Review is a great poppy record... it's quirky, witty, funny at times, and overall very upbeat (if you ignore the last two tracks, which aren't bad, but they're just not exactly 'upbeat'.) To me, the record records Felt evolving from the music they once made (Strange Idols, Ignite, Forever Breathes, etc.) A Felt fan can probably tell that Lawrence (and the rest of the band, I suppose) tried to take a different approach to song writing this time around, and although it's not altogether perfect, it's still a stellar record. The last two tracks foreshadow what Felt's next album (Trains Above the City) would sound like, and the rest of the album foreshadows what Felt's final album (Me and a Monkey on the Moon) would sound like. Also, Lawrence sings a bit more melodically on this album, making him sound sort of like a young Lou Reed... or an older Lou Reed impersonator.
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
I guess Lawrence was just bored, or maybe he was working on other things… but Train Above the City is entirely not composed by Lawrence. I suppose Martin Duffy composed the music, since it seems that Martin Duffy is perhaps the only musician who played on this album. The funny thing is, Lawrence named all of the songs, and brilliantly I might add: Press Softly on the Breaks Holly, Teargardens, Book of Swords, etc. Firstly, the music is mediocre at best. I'm not going to lie and say “best Felt album!” just because Lawrence declared it his favorite in some lo-fi interview. The whole album is instrumental; every song is a little piano ditty that makes you feel like you're in a bar full of old hipsters drinking martinis and what not. Perhaps Lawrence just thought that releasing this album would have been a clever thing to do. I mean, it's obvious that Lawrence was trying to maintain indie stardom… and perhaps “Forever Breathes the Lonely Word” and “The Pictorial Jackson Review” was making Felt a little bit too popular for his liking…
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
I know this album, at least for me, was impossible to find on any blog out there, so I’m being nice and uploading it on mine. It’s not my favorite Associates album [Sulk is], but it’s very ambitious. Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine set a very high bar when making this album that might be hard to overcome when making future albums. The sound is far more post-punkesque, whatever that means, than their later albums, which eventually evolve into synth-pop music.
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
Sulk is by far The Associates best album. It shows the band molding itself from a post-punk band into a band that fuses post-punk influences and synth-pop influences into something beautiful. The album features some extremely upbeat songs, and also some extremely gloomy songs. Compositionally the album is extremely mature, we can thank Alan Rankine for that, who plays the guitars, keyboards, and various other instruments. On top of the complexity, Billy Mackenzie's voice makes the album quite the spectacle, turning otherwise typical synth-pop sounding music into something powerful and operatic. This album is full of poppy hits, including “Party Fears Two”, which is arguably The Associates most renowned song. “18 Carat Love Affair” is another highlight from the album, the keyboards are beautiful and Billy's voice really shines, working it's way perfectly within the blasting synth, funky bassline, and pounding drums. Sulk really shows The Associates at their best, no doubt in my mind about that. [Side note: I think the version of “Sulk” that I uploaded has a sort of strange track-listing, below is the list of tracks on the album... I think it might be a combination of the original UK release and the 2000 reissue of the album. Either way, every song from the album is on it, plus extras.]
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
Certainly a cult classic. Teenage Fanclub went out on a limb here to create one fuck of a brilliant power-pop record. Inspired by Big Star, Dinosaur Jr, and the likes, this album showcases Teenage Fanclub at their best. Far more commercial friendly than “A Catholic Education” (though, that remains my favorite Teenage Fanclub album). Overall, this is a great fucking album. Pure power-pop from start to finish. The highlights include What You Do to Me, The Concept, I Don't Know, and Star Sign. If you're just getting into Teenage Fanclub, this is a great place to start.
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
All I can say about this album is that it's brilliant. Produced by John Cale of The Velvet Underground, excellently. Very amateur and charming, most of the songs being about girlfriends or wanting a girlfriend. Roadrunner starts off the album, a fast tempo garage rock song that makes you feel like you're right in front of the band experiencing their energy. I'm Straight and Pablo Picasso will make you grin, while Government Center and Old World will make you dance.
Download (Still up!)
(Note: This article was written in 2008 for an old Blogspot music blog that I managed (flyingairplane.blogspot.com); meaning, I was 18 years old when I wrote this. The blog's format was such that each article contained a short “review” of an album and a download link to the full album (usually through Mediafire). Blogspot was a go-to source for obscure music back in 2008, with many blogs like this popping up with download links, and I wanted to be part of the illegal-music-download literati myself. Unfortunately, this blatant violation of copyright eventually caught up with the blog (and most others of its ilk) and got it removed from the Blogspot service entirely; however, the first page of the blog remains archived through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.)
The amazingly titled second album by Stereolab, “Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements” is a collage of chord trances and subtle synth that will undoubtedly leave you intrigued. While the album is not immediately catchy, it is an extremely interesting listen, and will gradually become catchier as you become more familiar with it. Tone Burst and I’m Going Out of My Way are two highlights from the album, which feature quick tempos and The Velvet Underground sounding chord sequences. The music itself is very alien, something that can’t really be defined with words. It’s simple, yet something entirely original emerges from the simplicity. Stereolab has their own sound, it's far out, it's melodic, it's beautiful, it's hypnotic, it's like nothing you've ever heard before.