LADIES : B (VAC#035)

VARIOUS ARTISTS

LADIES : B

Second of my Ladies serie, the letter B was much harder for me. I first find it hard to have songs which only contain a first name. This was so often Oh Barbara or For Brenda, etc... This wasn't in my first contract so I had to dig deeper. Fortunately, B songs are not rare, but I think this will be much harder for some other letters like Q or X... I'm quite happy of what this compilation sounds like because it is not particularly the same profile as its predecessor. This one contains some folkier, jazzier songs. But you'll also find lots of rocking songs too.

AN PIERLÉ (ABO #338)

AN PIERLÉ
ANYTIME YOU LEAVE

Perhaps best likened to a Belgian Tori Amos, An Pierlé created a similarly theatrical and operatic brand of piano-based art-pop. Born in 1974, Pierlé embraced music, acting, and dance as a toddler and briefly studied classical piano before enrolling at Antwerp's Studio Herman Teirlinck Art School at age 17. During her third year she headlined her first solo program of original material, an event further distinguished by the transparent ergonomic ball she sat upon instead of a traditional piano stool, a component of her live performances from that point forward. In 1996 Pierlé entered her demo tape in the annual Humo's Rock Rally competition, ascending to the final round on the strength of her jury-favorite rendition of Gary Numan and Tubeway Army's synth pop classic "Are Friends Electric?" The song also emerged as a Belgian radio hit, but Pierlé shied away from the attendant hype, instead spending close to two years as a member of the touring company behind the theatrical production Bernadetje. A handful of solo concerts nevertheless kept her on the radar of pop music executives and fans, and in early 1998 Pierlé finally signed to Warner Music Benelux to begin sessions for her debut LP, Mud Stories, issued the following year. Composer and arranger Koen Gisen emerged as Pierlé's collaborator for her sophomore release, 2002's Brian Eno-influenced Helium Sunset. A subsequent tour featured a full backing band and orchestra, additions that also shaped 2006's White Velvet.

RIYL:
CocoRosie, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos

STATUS QUO (ABO#337)

STATUS QUO

FREEDOM

(1967-2007)

Making the Quo's Baistophe is not necessary a walkover. Status Quo's music does not particularly includes too many diversification. As a boogie band, Status Quo almost never went off their beaten tracks. But in a way some of their songs kept the audience attention and even typical boogie songs were worth the interest. With 28 albums, it would have been a surprise not to finish a good Quo compilation. To my big surprise, even 2 CDs were hardly wide enough to keep all the best songs I had chosen, and I think/hope that even this almost 160 minute Baistophe won't bore too many people.

My Status Quo TOP3 :

1. Dog Of Two Head (1971)

2. Quo (1974)

3. Heavy Traffic (2002)

My Status Quo BOTTOM3 :

1. Thirsty Works (1994)

2. In The Army Now (1986)

3. In Search Of The Fourth Chord (2007)

THE FINE ART OF LAZINESS IN POPULAR MUSIC (VAC #034)

THE FINE ART OF
L.A.Z.I.N.E.S.S
IN POPULAR MUSIC

The paradox of this compilation is that it took quite some work to put it together while it's about laziness. Sure, there's been many "lazy" songs in the history of popular music and I had to let go of some very popular ones but I wanted something that brought both timeless classics and rare gems. Listening to the 2 cds, I've got to say I'm quite happy with it especially since it was a subject the other baistophe's boss (our dear Aya) chose for me. I think I came up with something both varied and entertaining but it's up to you to decide. I'm eagerly waiting for you comments and your suggestions for a second volume. Enjoy.

DIMMU BORGIR (ABO #336)

DIMMU BORGIR
HOMO RIDICULE INSANUS

I'm not going to lie , when news came in that a Baistophe's collaborator was to do a Dimmu Borgir compilation, I was a little suspicious at what the result might me. Don't get me wrong, I like a little Black Metal now and then but what I've heard of the band never really blew me away and I feared that, even if he managed to find some good tunes, a 78 minutes long compilation would be a little boring. And I was wrong. So, okay, those who don't enjoy that kind of music will not cry with joy at listenning to Diod's selection, still, those, like me, who like their metal will find something particularily tasty. Yes, it might sometimes sound raw and noisy to the unaccustomed ears but it has enough ideas and catchy melodies (of the majestic, almost symphonic kind) so that it'll satisfy the metalheads roaming the blogosphere and a few people usually unlikely to stomach extreme metal. Well done Diod.

DIMMU BORGIR's Top 3
1 - Death Cult Armageddon (2003)
2 - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
3 - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)

RIYL:
Behemoth, Satyricon, Old Man's Child

FRENCH TV (ABO#335)

FRENCH TV

WHOOF!!

(1984-2006)

Don't be afraid. Just don't be afraid... French TV, contrary to what their name may signify, is an american band. Their is absolutely nothing in common with France, at the exception of a "French Medley on their 2004 album Pardon Our French. Especially in that track you may understand how not french they are!

Don't be afraid too with this artwork. French TV is one of those bands who have the ugliest artworks. We couldn't have betrayed their tradition.

To be honest, French TV's music is also a terrible mess, so that's why this very first expression, don't be afraid, really fits with them.

Listening to any of those songs may require a hard effort of concetration. But if you successfully digest this, you may find it very interesting.

It's up to you to decide.

My French TV TOP3 :

1. The Violence Of Amateurs (1999)

2. Intestinal Fortitude (1995)

3. Yoo-Hoo (1997)

My French TV BOTTOM3 :

1. The Case Against Art (2001)

2. After A Lengthy Silence (1987)

3. Virtue In Futility (1991)

WINTERSONGS (VAC #033)

WINTERSONGS
SOUNDS FOR THE COLD SEASON

Continuing our series of seasonal compilation, "Wintersongs: Sounds for the Cold Season" brings you a diverse and versatile selection. From jazz to stoner metal, from tango to bluegrass, from progressive rock to post-hardcore, electronic and more, there are many sounds to be found here. Sounds from yesterday and today, sounds to move or entertain you. I hope you'll enjoy the selection
See you in a few months for the final installment which will cover spring.

LES INNOCENTS (ABO #334)

LES INNOCENTS
DE TOUTES LES COULEURS

One of France's best kept secrets, Les Innocents were, above all, a fantastic pop band one could compare with pop era's XTC or New Zeland's Crowded House. Yes, they were that good.
Actually, it took quite some time for the band to define its trademark sound. Their first two singles in 1985 and 1987, though they sold quite well in France, were too typically 80s mainstream pop for their own good and even their debut album, though it had good songwriting, suffered from a production that didn't really gave the songs what they needed.
It all came into place with their second album, Fous à Lier, where their love for Lennon, McCartney and pop music in general finally showed the way it was supposed to. That doesn't mean Les Innocents were just copycats, something definitely French in their sound set them apart from the multitude of anglo-saxon pop formations earning them an identity unlike any other band.
All this leads to this 19 songs compilation displaying the finest of Les Innocents' repertoire. Something that, no doubt about it, will please the pop lovers from all over the world even if they don't understand the French language.
Enjoy "De Toutes les Couleurs", I'm sure it'll leave you hungry for more.

My LES INNOCENTS List
1 - Les Innocents (1999)
2 - Fous à Lier (1992)
3 - Post-Partum (1995)
4 - Cent Mètres au Paradis (1989)

RIYL:
XTC, L'Affaire Louis Trio, Crowded House

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (ABO#333)

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

SEA OF LOVE

(1998-2008)

QotSA Is one of those rare bands that we couldn't expect to still exist today. There old school hard rock music has though a very actual sound. Founded by ex-Kyuss member Josh Homme by the end of the 90s, QotSA plays a very similar music from the former band. The particular sound of the bass guitar is one of the band's identity. It sometimes sounds like Felix Papalardi's one, but ti very often sounds much heavier as you can witness with the extract chosen to introduce you that great band.

I discovered them a bit late but truly became something like a fan rapidly as this music finally really looks like me.

Queens of the stone age - Sick Sick Sick live canal+ 2007
envoyé par Fafael51. - Regardez d'autres vidéos de musique.

My QotSA TOP :

1. Song For The Deaf (2002)

2. Era Vulgaris (2008)

3. Rated R (2000)

4. Queens Of The Stone Age (1998)

5. Lullabies For The Paralize (2005)

THE RESIDENTS (ABO #332)

THE RESIDENTS
BACH IS DEAD

Over the course of a recording career spanning several decades, the Residents remained a riddle of Sphinx-like proportions; cloaking their lives and music in a haze of willful obscurity, the band's members never identified themselves by name, always appearing in public in disguise — usually tuxedos, top hats and giant eyeball masks — and refusing to grant media interviews. Drawing inspiration from the likes of fellow innovators including Harry Partch, Sun Ra, and Captain Beefheart, the Residents channeled the breadth of American music into their idiosyncratic, satiric vision, their mercurial blend of electronics, distortion, avant-jazz, classical symphonies and gratingly nasal vocals reinterpreting everyone from John Philip Sousa to James Brown while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of theatrical performance and multimedia interaction.
Here's a double cd displaying some of The Residents most breathtaking material, a perfect introduction to this weird but essential band cooked by our collaborator Diod.

THE RESIDENTS Top 3
1 - God in Three Persons (1988)
2 - Eskimo (1979)
3 - Wormwood: Curious Stories from the Bible (1998)

THE REDIDENTS Bottom 3
1 - The King and Eye (1989)
2 - The Tunes of Two Cities (1982)
3 - Our Finest Flowers (1992)

RIYL:
Captain Beefheart, Snakefinger, Tuxedomoon