PEARL JAM (ABO #276)

PEARL JAM
IT'S EVOLUTION, BABY!

Back in a time when spandex was king appeared a tribe of shaggy rockers that cared more about their music than their look. And those crazy chaps didn't even pretend to be the future of rock'n'roll or write songs about cars, booze and their amazing sexual prowesses. In an age when MTV was the defining element weither a band would be successful or not, they just wrote songs that meant something to them in the crazy hope that it might mean something to others.
Amazingly, when everything pointed at failure and homeless life, it worked and became the new criteria to the 90s American rock scene. Many of those lads, which came from a place where the sun seldom shone, disappeared in the next few years not without leaving their mark in many teenagers minds. Long gone now are the Nirvanas and Soundgardens but Pearl Jam, the most stubborn of them all, are still here today and still playing their heavy rock thingy. They even established themselves as one of the biggest selling act in the U.S.A. and around the world.
Since they have released yet another album, the happy Backspacer, it was time for the anthropologists of Baistophe to take a closer look at this peculiar tribe.

My PEARL JAM Top 3
1 - Yield (1998)
2 - No Code (1996)
3 - Ten (1991)

My PEARL JAM Bottom 3
1 - Riot Act (2002)
2 - Binaural (2000)
3 - Vs (1993)

RIYL:
Soundgarden, Neil Young, Stone Temple Pilots

MAN (ABO#275)

MAN

CREATED GOD IN HIS OWN IMAGE

(1968-2009)

Man is one of those band you easily admit to know at least by the name but uneasily mention any of their songs. It was my case until a couple of years before. I first heard a Man note when I dropped on the "Back Into The Future" LP. I first listen to a few seconds of each tracks and didn't really liked it much. Not enough paid attention, I guess. Some years later, I bought a compilation called Rock Buster (1971) (you know, that one with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the cover). There are so many great bands on that compilation, including Man with the song "Sudden Life" (extract below). I liked it so much that it gave me back interest to the band. So I decided to go further and as I listened to them, I found that really good. In fact, Man was a band who never lacked creativity.
For that baistophe, I thought it would have been easy to compil their albums, just because I thought their discography had ended in 1976. Huge mistake as I discovered they came back in 1983 for a serie of quite great albums from the 1992 "The Twang Dynasty" to their very last "Kingdom Of Noise" (2009). The large gap between "The Welsh Connection" (1976) and the "Twang Dynasty" is also a large gap artistically : While the 70s part of the band was much more psychedelic and nearly progressive (may we say it?), the post-come-back is much more basic blues-rock with some kind of their Welsh traditional culture in it.

My Man TOP3 :

1. Do You Like It Here And Now, Are You Settling In? (1971)

2. Maximum Darkness (1976) / Live At Padger Penearth (1972)

3. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (1969)

My Man BOTTOM3 :

1. The Twang Dynasty (1992)

2. Rhinos Winos And Lunatics (1974)

3. Call Down The Moon (1996)

EMILIE SIMON (ABO #274)

EMILIE SIMON
CHANSONS DE TOILE

Can you imagine what a mix of Kate Bush, Björk and Allison Goldfrapp would sound like? Well, that's about what you'll hear with Emilie Simon's music. Of course, she's a lot more than just a copycat act, she has a sound of her own and being French probably is a defining element and being a skilled composer and arranger certainly is another. This compilation spans her four studio albums so that you can witness her grace and talent before buying her whole catalogue. Yes, Emilie's that good.

My EMILIE SIMON's List
1 - Végétal (2006)
2 - Emilie Simon (2003)
3 - The Big Machine (2009)
4 - La Marche de l'Empereur (2005)
5 - A L'Olympia (2007)

RIYL:
Kate Bush, Björk, Goldfrapp

IF (ABO#273)

IF

UNUSUAL SUSPECT

(1970-1975)

If ever a band epitomised the spirit of Jazz-Rock - it was. Born of the early Seventies, this highly popular and innovative British band created an exciting new blend of musical influences. The founder members were all top rated jazz musicians, but with youth on their side, they were readily accepted in the world of pop and rock. Most jazz music relied heavily on open ended jamming on familiar, well worn standard tunes. By the late Sixties this just wasn't good enough as progressive rook bands were proving much more adventurous than their jazz counterparts. The birth of jazz-rock was sparked by the success of American pioneers Blood, Sweat & Tears andChicago who brought a new clarity and blues power back to big band jazz. In 1969 If was born and the new band began to develop their own sound and approach. They used tightly written sax and guitar arrangements, deployed to back a powerful young lead singer. This new concept provided the way ahead for many musicians who might have languished on the under-funded, under-publicised jazz club circuit. If recorded a succession of albums, toured extensively throughout Europe and America and played to large, appreciative audiences. They also enjoyed all the fringe benefits of the rock life style. When several members of If held a reunion meeting in March 1997, they laughed long and loud at their shared memories of the good old days.[source : alexgitlin.com]

My IF TOP :

1. If (1970)

2. If3 (1971)

3. If4 / Waterfall (1972)

4. If² (1970)

5. Tea Break Over, Back On Your 'Eads (1975)

6. Double Diamond (1973)

7. Just Another Bunch Of Pretty Faces (1974)

THE CULT (ABO #272)

THE CULT
SUN KINGS

The Cult are an English rock band, formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk and gothic rock band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love Removal Machine". The band fuses a "heavy metal revivalist" sound with the mysticism of The Doors, the guitar-orchestrations of Led Zeppelin, and the three-chord crunch of AC/DC, while adding touches of post-punk goth rock". Since their earliest form in Bradford during 1981, the band has had various line-ups, and the longest serving members are vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, the band's two songwriters.
This baistophe covers their 8 studio albums adding it two non-album tracks (B'side Resurrection Joe and Painted on My Heart from the "Gone in 60 Seconds" soundtrack). Enjoy.

My CULT List
1 - Love (1985)
2 - Sonic Temple (1989)
3 - Dreamtime (1984)
4 - Born Into This (2007)
5 - Electric (1987)
6 - The Cult (1994)
7 - Ceremony (1991)
8 - Beyond Good & Evil (2001)

RIYL:
AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, U2

PINK FLOYD (ABO #271)

PINK FLOYD

TOGETHER WE STAND...

(a live selection)

(1968-1994)

Here's the big piece! You must have noticed with the Pink Floyd Cover Project, that I'm a big fan of the Floyd. Very few compilations have been made of that band and even if Echoes has the cleverness to mention both Roger Waters' periode (Animals to Final Cut) and David Gilmour's one (since A Momentary Lapse Of Reason), that compilation lacks songs of the golden era (from More, 1969 ; to Meddle, 1971)... maybe too unconventional. I decided to do my own PF baistophe. One thing I really wanted is a great part of live recording. Live albums are indeed much too rare in their official discography. Many of their songs are then much more pleasant and great than the original studio recording. To be able to make a good live selection, I had not enough material with the only 4 live albums which are officially available so the decision has been taken to also look after bootlegs... Fortunately, you can find mostly whatever you want in the Pink Floyd Roio discography. Some even should have been officially released if some Pink Floyd Members had wanted to...

One Year, One Live (official or not...)

1968- VPRO, Live In Rome

1969- The Man And The Journey

1970- Montreux Casino

1971- The Heart Of The Sun

1972- Time Ends (Rainbow concert)

1973- Live For A Friend

1974- BBC Archives

1975- Echoes Of The Stage

1977- Prog Kings

1980-1981- Is There Anybody Out There?

1987- A Delicate Sound Of Thunder

1990- Knebworth Festival

1994- P.UL.S.E.

PINK FLOYD

DIVIDED WE FALL

(a studio selection)

(1967-1994)

To be as complete as possible, those studio songs make a second compilation which, on its own would not be my best studio baistophe but I had to exclude songs i would have chosen that are already on the live selection. Some hardcore Pink Floyd fans will burn me down in flame as I have taken very few Barrett era songs. Also will you find no Momentary Lapse Of Reason song on any of the two baistophes for the simple reason of 'no enough place' On The Turning Away had to be on the live selection but has been removed at the very end. Else, I must say that this compilation is much more homogenic than the official one.

One more thing that can be interesting is the presence of rare tracks without what this compilation would have no ... interest.

My Pink Floyd studio TOP :

1- Atom Heart Mother (1970)

2- The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)

3- Wish You Were Here (1975)

4- Umma Gumma (1969)

5- Animals (1977)

6- Meddle (1971)

7- A Saucerful Of Secrets (1968)

8- The Final Cut (1983)

9- The Wall (1979)

10- More (1969)

11- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

12- Obscured By Clouds (1972)

13- The Division Bell (1994)

14- A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (1987)

MAX RICHTER (ABO #270)

MAX RICHTER
THE RICHTER VARIATIONS

It was not an easy task to sum up Neo-Classical/Ambient composer Max Richter's five album on one 80 minutes compilation. Not that his music is very diverse, just that the whole must pay a real tribute to the man's art. I think I've managed to give a full spectrum of what he showed as of today: quality neo-classical that is equally influenced by Philip Glass, Brian Eno and Arvo Pärt. But Richter's emotional soundscapes are more than the sum of their parts and I hope you will realize it while listening to the Richter Variations. Enjoy.

My MAX RICHTER List
1 - The Blue Notebooks (2004)
2 - Memoryhouse (2002)
3 - Waltz With Bashir (2009)
4 - Songs from Before (2006)
5 - 24 Postcards in Full Colour (2008)

RIYL:
Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Brian Eno

21st CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN (VAC#029)

VARIOUS ARTISTS

21st CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN

Here's another collection of tracks based around a song. This one is 21st Century Schizoid Man, originally by King Crimson. One point that is interesting with that song is that, although its low age (40 years), it has been widely covered. Let's forget the easy ones (by ELP, Ozzy Osbourne, ...) and focus on much clever ones. Many of those covers are completely different from the original version, beginning with Johnny G's version (folk) or Disparition's (Morricone-like).

Another selection which was worth featuring our VAC serie !

RASHANIM (ABO #269)

RASHANIM
PROPHECIES

Rashanim is a trio of guitar, bass and drums/percussion combining the power of rock with the spontaneity of improvisation, deep Middle Eastern grooves, and mystical Jewish melodies. The 'Jewish power trio' is led by Jon Madof on guitar and includes Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony Braxton) on bass and Mathias Künzli (Lauryn Hill, Moby) on drums and percussion. The band gets its name from the noisemakers used during the raucous Jewish holiday of Purim.
This compilation covers the 4 albums released on John Zorn's Tzadik either on the Rashanim name or on leader's John Madof (the first one, entitled Rashanim). Some of the compositions included are the work of John Zorn.
Lyrical and beautiful, Rashanim joyfully celebrates the Jewish experience with passion, lyricism, a profound sensitivity and a welcomed rockier edge making them one of the most exciting young bands exploring New Jewish Music.

RIYL:
John Zorn, Karate, Yoshie Fruchter

MOTT THE HOOPLE (ABO#268)

MOTT THE HOOPLE

NO MERE DUDES

(1969-1975)

First of all, I'd like to welcome new full-time contributor to this blog, the very documented TT who compiled this great BAISTOPHE.

Many will know Mott The Hoople for their David Bowie penned hit “ All The Young Dudes” but as the title suggests their was much more to the MoTT than their Glam period hit. Many hardcore fans would cite their pre-Bowie period on the Island label as their peak period, not me. I was a spotty wee Bowie fan when I was blown away but “All The Young Dudes” but it was the period that followed that for me is their best. Their “Mott” and “Hoople” albums still stand up today.
That said had Bowie a long time Mott fan not stepped in at that time, they would have broken up and we would never had those albums.
Unfortunately the break up was inevitable with first Mick Ralphs leaving to form Bad Company. Ian drafted in Mick Ronson but that line up only give us the one single, “ Saturday Gig” a tantalising glimpse of what might have been. The band struggled on without Ian as “Mott” for one album, Ian went on to a long solo career, with a new album just released.
And after 35 years, the original line-up will return to the stage for a sold out 5 nights at Hammersmith Apollo, where they appeared recorded their “Mott Live” album over three decades ago with someone called Queen ( whatever happened to them ?) [TT]

Mott The Hoople - All The Way From Memphis
envoyé par newcanadian. - Regardez la dernière sélection musicale.