NATURAL DISASTERS (VAC#049)

N.A.T.U.R.A.L
DISASTERS

Let me explain how the idea for this VAC (Various Artist Compilation) came. I was listening to Pendulum's album "In Silico" and just loved their Tempest song. I thought that it would fit nicely with some (mostly) recent songs from indie, sludge, prog and metal bands which happened to also have songs with a word in the title evoking... a Natural Disaster!
And so, with the exception of the first track (a classy, almost fusion, instrumental from Gary Moore's 1979 album, Back on the Streets) which is an obvious homage to the sadly departed northern-Irish axeman, all the songs featured here are pretty recent.
I hope you'll enjoy this selection and especially its final track witch I "remixed" myself.

GANG OF FOUR (ABO #374)

GANG OF FOUR
DAMAGED GOODS

Of the many bands which appeared in the punk/post-punk British wave, Gang of Four is probably – with The Clash – the most influential of all. Often cited by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea as a major influence, Gang of Four has also been stated to have pre-defined the sound of Rap Metal. In today’s music, bands such as The Rapture, Liars, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Dead 60s and many more owe a lot to their sound which they only slightly modernized.
Did they sell many albums? No they did not. They probably were too radical and too avant-gardist for their own good but their music remains a crucial component to today’s indie sound and, thus, deserved to be rewarded with their compilation on “Baistophe.” Actually, their first two albums (1979’s Entertainment! and 1981’s Solid Gold) are must have for anyone even mildly interested in (post) punk or indie rock.

My GANG OF FOUR Top Three
1 – Entertainment! (1979)
2 – Solid Gold (1981)
3 – Hard (1983)

RIYL:
Mission of Burma, Talking Heads, Bloc Party, Fugazi

SPARKLEHORSE (ABO #350)

SPARKLEHORSE
GOODBYES

Though the death of Mark Linkous didn't really took me by surprise, his history of chronic depression was a strong hint as how disastrous his future could be, it really pained me. Mark was a great songwriter and, from what I get, an honest human being. The music of his band, Sparklehorse, basically the vehicle for his genius and obsessions, demonstrated that he could write songs which possessed both meaning and grace. In that, he wasn't far from another singer/songwriter with whom he shared a great sense of melody and, now, the same demise: Elliott Smith.
This compilation was already in the works when news came that Mark had commited suicide leaving us short of a terrific songwriter. You don't find one like him under a horse's hoofs. R.I.P.

RIYL:
The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Elliott Smith

SOUL ASYLUM (ABO #346)

SOUL ASYLUM
RUNAWAY SONGS: THE BEST OF

Mostly known for his worldwide hit Runaway Train, Minneapolis band Soul Asylum startet as a postpunk band bearing the influence of Hüsker Dü while they were produced by Dü's leader Bob Mould. They slowly evolved into some sort of an hybrid of alternative rock and folk slowly gaining big audiences. It's with the Grave Dancers Union album that they reached their peak in popularity before slowly falling into oblivion to finally split after their 1998 album (Candy from a Stranger). Dave Pirner got the band back together for 2006's The Silver Ling which is a fine album but shows close to no influences from their early years.
This 23 tracks compilations is not about the hits but about telling the history of a band that, however they never quite became a major attraction, knew (and knows) how to craft entertaining rock songs. Enjoy.

My SOUL ASYLUM Top Three
1 - And the Horse They Rode On in (1990)
2 - Grave Dancers Union (1992)
3 - Hang Time (1988)

My SOUL ASYLUM Bottom Three
1 - Candy from a Stranger (1998)
2 - Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995)
3 - While You Were Out (1986)

RIYL:
R.E.M., Hüsker Dü, The Replacements

KARATE (ABO #306)

KARATE
SEVER
(1993-2005)

Karate is a band unlike anything you've ever heard. That, actually, was what made a small number of people praise their unique sound but also the curse which kept them from having the success they deserved.
Hastily labeled slocore, emo or indie jazz/blues they were their own breed with Geoff Farina's awesome guitar playing (reminescent of jazz and blues but not just that) and his clear vocals. These two elements, coupled with a precise and skilled rhythm section, defined Karate's sonic identity, one that will evolve throughout their career while still remaining true to their roots. Not the kind of band to use sonic fireworks, Karate is, above everything else, a songwriting marvel.
6 studio albums, a live album and a bunch of Ep's and split singles later, Karate called it quits probably because too few people cared. A real shame if you ask me. Fortunately, the music remains.
Initially, I wanted to do a double disc before changing my mind and packing a 79 minutes set that will either serve as an introduction for those who don't know them yet or a reminder for the others.
Be curious, embarck on the Karate baistophe, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

My KARATE List
(full length studio albums only)
1 - Some Boots (2002)
2 - The Bed Is the Ocean (1998)
3 - Unsolved (2000)
4 - In Place of Real Insight (1997)
5 - Pockets (2004)
6 - Karate (1996)

Other releases worth trying: "595 (Live)" (2007), "In the Fishtank EP" (2005), "Cancel/Sing EP" (2003), Concerte Al Barchessone Vecchio (2002).

RIYL:
Faraquet, Pele, The Dismemberment Plan
(though Karate is hardly comparable to any other band)

CRANES (ABO #302)

CRANES
JUST LET THE PRESSURE GO

Cranes were one of the major trance-pop/shoegaze groups of the early '90s, combining ethereal vocals and melodies with loud, droning guitars. Cranes were formed by brother and sister Jim (drums) and Alison Shaw (vocals) in 1988 in Portsmouth, England; guitarist Mark Francombe and bassist Matt Cope joined the band two years later. The group independently released its first album, Fuse, on cassette in 1990; a small local label released Self-Non-Self the same year to good reviews. Both sets of music led to a record contract with Dedicated, an English record label. Later that year, they released their first EP for the label, Inescapable, which earned them a lot of attention, including a Melody Maker cover story; a second EP, Espero, also earned positive reviews, including a Melody Maker Single of the Week. The following year, the band released its first album on Dedicated, Wings of Joy, which received favorable reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as earning the band a sizable cult following, including the Cure's Robert Smith; Smith picked Cranes to open for the Cure on their 1992 world tour, which earned them a larger audience. Forever, the group's second album, was released in 1993. It expanded their cult slightly, yet 1994's Loved found the band in a holding pattern commercially. After releasing the limited-edition Tragedy of Orestes and Electra in late 1996, Cranes returned with Population 4, which was greeted with mixed reviews and found the group's cult shrinking. A reissue of Self-Non-Self followed the next year, but a new studio album didn't arrive until 2001 with Future Songs — a relatively straightforward departure from their former material, with Alison Shaw's vocals higher in the mix than before. Particles & Waves (2004) and Cranes (2008) incorporated electronics with sparse arrangements to good effect. (allmusic)
[selection, artwork, rip & upload by DIOD]

RIYL:
Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, This Mortal Coil

SUPERGRASS (ABO #296)

SUPERGRASS
ROOTS AND BRANCHES

Like many other British bands of the '90s, Supergrass' musical roots lie in the infectiously catchy punk-pop of the Buzzcocks and the Jam, as well as the post-punk pop of Madness and the traditional Brit-pop of the Kinks and Small Faces. Perhaps because of its age — two of the trio were still in their teens when they recorded their debut single — the band also brings in elements of decidedly unhip groups like Elton John, as well as classic rockers like David Bowie, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. With an exuberant, youthful enthusiasm, Supergrass tied all of their influences together in new surprising ways, where a Buzzcocks riff could slam into three-part harmonies out of "Crocodile Rock," or have a galloping music hall rhythm stutter like the best moments of the Who.
This compilation, covering their six studio albums, does not contain all their singles but it does have the band's finest moments. I hope you'll enjoy it.

My SUPERGRASS List
1 - In It For The Money (1997)
2 - Road to Rouen (2005)
3 - I Should Coco (1995)
4 - Supergrass (1999)
5 - Life on Other Planets (2002)
6 - Diamond Hoo Ha (2008)

RIYL:
The Buzzcocks, The Who, The Kinks

HÜSKER DÜ (ABO #262)

HÜSKER DÜ
DIVIDE & CONQUER

Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart. Hüsker Dü never achieved mainstream success, but attained an influence far larger than their modest sales figures would indicate. Following a series of successful albums, including Zen Arcade (1984) and New Day Rising (1985), the band signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1986, becoming one of the first American underground rock bands to sign with a major record label.
Hüsker Dü first gained notice as a hardcore punk band with thrashing tempos and screamed vocals. The band developed a more melodic musical style as they drifted away from their early sound, helping to develop the early alternative rock sound in the process. Mould and Hart split the songwriting and singing duties; Mould's lyrics were known for being more soul-searching and intense than the often whimsical and cryptic ones of Hart.
Hüsker Dü broke up in 1987 without having achieved a popular breakthrough. Mould formed another band, Sugar, in the early 1990s and has embarked on a sporadic solo career; Hart and Norton have been less active since Hüsker Dü's demise. Although never experiencing commercial success, Hüsker Dü influenced a number of later pop punk and alternative rock bands, such as Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Superchunk, Green Day, Nirvana, and Foo Fighters, and Justin Broadrick of Godflesh cites them as 'one of the most important bands of all time.' (source: Wikipedia)

My HÜSKER DÜ List
1 - Candy Apple Grey (1986)
2 - New Day Rising (1985)
3 - Zen Arcade (1984)
4 - Flip Your Wig (1985)
5 - Warehouse: Songs and Stories (1987)
6 - Everything Falls Apart (1982)
7 - Land Speed Record (1981)

OINGO BOINGO (ABO #260)

OINGO BOINGO
SO YOU CAME FOR THE PARTY?

Oingo Boingo (formerly known as the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo) is one of those rare genuinely cult bands from the USA, but mainly unknown to other countries. Maybe the name of their songwriter / guitarist / vocalist will shine a light : he is indeed Danny Elfman, the famous multi-awarded film score composer and Tim Burton's musical alter-ego. Younger brother of director Richard Elfman, Danny founded Oingo Boingo as a comedy troup in Southern France, gaining popularity when the band scored (and appeared into) Richard's first and never matched ultra-cult-movie Forbidden Zone. Coming back to the US, the band shortened its name to merely Oingo Boingo, and dropped some of the most theatrical-based gimmicks in favour of a blend of pop, punk and ska. Heavily based on synthesizers, goofy horn section and the one-of-its-kind weird guitar playing by Steve Bartek, Boingo released 4 albums in 5 years, becoming more and more pop, but without losing the quirkiness of Elfman's vocals.
They soon became one of US hidden treasures. Supported by a faithful audience, increasing popularity with their annual Halloween show, Boingo was also featured as a background or foreground soundtrack for many movies. Their 1985 album "Dead man's party", while disappointing some early fans for being a bit too mainstream, proved that Elfman was a hell of a great hit-maker. They conquered success with the soundtrack (very sadly not included here) from John Hughes's movie "Weird science" (later known as the series Codename Lisa), and Tobe Hooper used No-One Lives Forever as the beating track for the now famous bridge sequence opening Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
Elfman then became what he's mainly known for these days : a great "classical" composer, sailing between blockbusters (Darkman and Spiderman for his friend Sam Raimi) and more intimate movies (Dolores Claiborne, Nightbreed, Article 99), always teaming with genius Steve Bartek (now his official arranger) and never losing touch - if only once - with his longtime partner Tim Burton. But he didn't give up the Boingo at once : he gave birth to three more albums - the latter, being called just "Boingo", was a complete alien in the 1994 musical landscape, feeding from grunge and Elfman's orchestral works. Boingo also released in 1988 a double-"live in the studio" album, "Boingo alive", which is one of the very best records ever made that way. In 1995, partly because of the beginning of hearing loss after all these years of loud music, Elfman gave a farewell concert on the night of Halloween, ending Boingo's career on the highest note one could have dreamed of.

My BOINGO Top 3
1) Good for Your Soul (1983)
2) Boingo (1994)
3) Dead Man's Party (1985)
(...not counting Boingo Alive)

My BOINGO Bottom 3
1) Forbidden Zone (1980)
2) Dark at the End of the Tunnel (1990)
3) Oingo Boingo (1987)

(Thanks to Baker for the great "baistophe"!)

BLUR (ABO #238)

BLUR
FOR TOMORROW

One of the britpop's finest bands and one that was able to evolve into something arty, Blur is certainly a band that needs no introduction. Throughout their career, these London lads released 7 albums all of which have more ups than downs. While their third album, the very entertaining Parklife (1994), was the one launching their international stardom it was their self titled 1997's release which helped them break free of their britpop etiquette and allowed them to start experimenting on a whole other level. That was probably what caused their demise too as the limitation of the band ultimately lead Damon Albarn to want to pursue new projects of which Gorillaz is the most famous. True too that Graham Coxon, their guitarist, leaving the band didn't help and the mixed bag their final, to this day, album (2003's Think Tank) certainly suffered his lack of implication in the project. But that was 6 years ago and now the four men matured, patched up their differences and did a few concerts so to officially bury the hatchet. Let's hope it'll lead to a brand new album and that it'll be as good as the songs displayed on this compilation. I guess we'll have to wait and see and, meanwhile, enjoy Blur's baistophe.

Blur - Girls And Boys

Blur - Charmless Man mv

My BLUR List
1 - Parklife (1994)
2 - 13 (1999)
3 - The Great Escape (1995)
4 - Blur (1997)
5 - Modern Life is Rubbish (1993)
6 - Think Tank (2003)
7 - Leisure (1991)

SIGUR RÓS (ABO #226)

SIGUR RÓS
TENINGUR

SIGUR RÓS is not a Progressive Rock per se, I won't be denying it, but their aerial and cinematic qualities surely qualify them to be part of the progressive music scene.
Then what is SIGUR RÓS? A clever and witty mix of psychedelism and post rock which, with few pop undertones, became a reference not only in their homeland of Iceland but also worldwide.
Their will to experiment, evolve, certainly draws them close to the likes of Tortoise or Radiohead while still holding their own personality.
This "baistophe" covers their entire studio discography so that you can see what albums of theirs will be more fitting to your taste. I hope you'll like it.

My SIGUR RÓS Top
1 - Ágætis Byrjun (1999)
2 - Takk... (2005)
3 - () (2002)
4 - Hvarf/Heim (2007)
5 - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust (2008)
6 - Von (1997)