How you doing (The Front Lawn) (LP 4315)

The Front Lawn  Songs From The Front Lawn (CD, Front Lawn Records, 1989) ****  

Genre: NZ Music, alt pop 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Andy

Gear costume: Claude Rains

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Let's start with the obvious stand out track - Andy. It's brilliant. One of the main reasons being that it stands up to repeat listens - it never gets old for me. That heart-felt slow reveal is without the kind of smart arse grinning cynicism that a few of the other Sinclair dominated songs have. Justifiably, it is seen as one of the greatest NZ songs ever.

Never fear - thanks to Don McGlashan's presence, there are a few other beauties on this debut. Notably Claude Rains, and Tomorrow Night.

I do find Harry Sinclair's delivery a bit smarmy so I'm less inclined to his material. Theme (from the lounge bar) is an example - the rinky dink music suits the idea of a lounge bar in the imagination but it ultimately feels rinky dink.

The idea for How Are You Doing? feels like a logical extension of some characters from Walkshort - a very cleverly filmed NZ short film The Front Lawn made a couple of years before. But it doesn't really work as a song.

The rest are so so as songs. The problem at times is the music is mixed down a lot, Harry's vocals are not as strong as Don's, and the actual songs feel like works in progress. But, hey! This was their debut, so some slack is called for here.

Where do they all belong? Overall, The Front Lawn are kiwi as - the vocal tics and the subject matter, that I can identify with as a kiwi, mark them out as a lovely little backwater bach that I visit from time to time.

Certainly, Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement were paying close attention to McGlashan and Sinclair. 

How to save a life (The Fray) (LP 4314)

The Fray  How to Save a Life (CD, Epic Records, 2005) ****  

Genre: Alt pop 

Places I remember: Virgin Megastore Dubai.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: How to Save a Life

Gear costume: Over My Head (Cable Car)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: This was the debut album by The Fray - a band from Denver Colorado. In my head I thought they were like Embrace - a band from England. 

I like both bands for their warm harmony rock approach. The album may not be wildly original but it does contain a delightful mix of mid-tempo piano-driven rock songs and a smattering of effective power ballads. 

Where do they all belong? This is my only album by The Fray but I'd certainly snap up any others if I come across them.

Revelate (The Frames) (LP 4313)

The Frames Longitude (CD, Anti- Records, 2015) ***  

Genre: Folk rock 

Places I remember: Fopp

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Revelate

Gear costume: Fitzcarraldo

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: This is a compilation celebrating 25 years of The Frames. They are an Irish band, known by me at least - as principally the band that includes Glen Hansard, of Once fame.

Once is where I was first aware of Glen's talent. The film itself was written and directed by The Frames former bassist, John Carney. They are a talented bunch.

The music on Longitude comprises the band's favourite songs in their first 25 years (they are still a going concern), so it serves as a good taster.

Where do they all belong? Fans should also seek out The Swell Season and Hansard solo albums, but you need to start with the Once soundtrack, which is sublime.

Nirvana (The 40 Watt Banana) (LP 4312)

The 40 Watt Banana  Peeled  (Vinyl, Pharaway Sounds Records, 2019) ****  

Genre: NZ Music, indo-afro psychedelic jazz-rock (you read that right)

Places I remember: Spellbound Wax Co.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Amanzi (not available on Spotify or YouTube as a single track)

Gear costume: Nirvana (YouTube)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: The 40 Watt Banana is a complete one-off that you won't find on Wikipedia or Spotify.

They formed in Wellington, 1968, and went about performing their own unique brand of   Indo-Afro psychedelic music. They only released one single, in 1971, so this album is made up of other material from old reel to reel tapes. It sounds amazing! No problem with sound quality - Spanish re-issue label, Pharaway Sounds, have done a great job. It also sounds amazingly of the moment. Fans of Nubya Garcia would love this!

 

The band with the oh so 1968 name were formed by the nucleus of Kevin Clark on trumpet and keyboards and Dave Parsons on Sitar, Sarod drums and percussion. 

There are elements of jazz, Indian and African music in their creations. Has to be experienced really.

Where do they all belong? A superb addition to my collection.

Rhythm of life (The Flower Kings) (LP 4311)

The Flower Kings  Retropolis  (CD, Foxtrot Records, 1996) ***  

Genre: Prog rock

Places I remember: Gift from Keegan

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Melting Pot

Gear costume: The Judas Kiss

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: I appreciate the talents of Roine Stolt's work (he formed The Flower Kings and is their guitarist and lead singer-songwriter) without being fully invested in the music of The Flower Kings. I have no idea why that's the case, but some things resonate, and some things don't.

This is pleasant Floyd/Yes inspired prog rock from the Swedish prog outfit led by Stolt, but I prefer the source material rather than nineties prog groups like The Flower Kings.

Where do they all belong? A pleasant album that doesn't get too many plays.

Crabfoot (The Flock) (LP 4310)

The Flock  Dinosaur Swamps (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1970) **  

Genre: Jazz rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles/ Gear costume: Big Bird

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Columbia had a few good jazz-rock outfits on their roster - Blood Sweat & Tears and Chicago principally. The Flock didn't sustain early promise and Dinosaur Swamp is a bit of a mess.

Jerry Goodman, on violin, soon was headhunted for The Mahavishnu Orchestra and The Flock fell apart shortly after this second album.

The songs tend to become bogged down with band members seemingly unaware of what their bandmates are playing.

Where do they all belong? I have no great desire to hunt down their debut (which is supposed to be much better) and this one is likely to be culled in the coming months.

Ego tripping at the gates of hell (The Flaming Lips) (LP 4309)

The Flaming Lips  Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 2002) ****  

Genre: Acid rock

Places I remember: Fives

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Yosmini Battles the Pink Robots Part 1

Gear costume: Do You Realize?? 

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Over the years, I've struggled to get The Flaming Lips schtick. The only time I've felt connected to them and their music is this album. Partly because it sits outside their usual psychedelic jive.

This was their tenth album. I bought the album based on contemporaneous reviews and hearing two songs - Do You Realize?? and Yosmini Battles the Pink Robots Part 1.  Their hooks got me, in the same way that 10CC's hooks got me, so, I was onboard for the album.

Where do they all belong? I also bought a copy of The Soft Bulletin but can't find it in my collection. Maybe I sold it? Anyway, I don't feel the need for other albums by them.