Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence - ROBERT FRIPP.
Information is not knowledge;
knowledge is not wisdom;
wisdom is not truth;
truth is not beauty;
beauty is not love;
love is not music;
MUSIC IS THE BEST - FRANK ZAPPA.
I think we're a little happier when we have a little music in our lives - STEVE JOBS.
Music in the soul can be heard by the universe - LAO TZU.
Rock and Roll is fire, man. FIRE. - DAVID BRIGGS.
Music grips you, gets into your soul -
GEORGE MARTIN
Genre: Country Places I remember: HMV Oxford Street, London Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Six O'Clock news
Gear costume:Sweet Little Duck Active compensatory factors: Nick Hornby featured a song from this album in his 31 Songs collection of essays, and that probably resulted in scores of loyal readers following up, as I did, and buying the album. Turns out it's a good but not great country and western album (more western than country - whatever that means) and I've stuck with it. Which means it has a distinctive personality as an album, she's likeable as a singer/ story teller, doesn't outstay her welcome and the music rewards repeat listens.
Where do they all belong? Ultimately, I think I'll be sticking to my Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dixie Chicks and Taylor Swift albums, but I won't be getting rid of this CD either.
Ryan Adams and The CardinalsCold Roses(CD, Lost Highway, 2005) ***
Genre: Americana, Alt country, country rock Places I remember: The Warehouse, Hastings, NZ Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Easy Plateau
Gear costume:Dance All Night, Friends Active compensatory factors: An unusual one this - a double CD, even though all of the tracks could have fitted on a single CD. Hmmm. With 18 tracks, it's inevitable that it takes a while to get into the record and that some songs get lost in the sheer number of songs on offer. Still - the quality remains consistently good throughout. Unfortunately sexual misconduct charges in 2019 have kinda coloured Ryan and his music a tad (although I'm not up to date with events as far as that goes but where's there's smoke and so on). Never-the-less, this is quality country rock material without being outstanding country rock material.
Where do they all belong? Cold Roses is a kinda interesting album within the Adams canon. First with his band The Cardinals and the first of three in 2005. Hard to keep up!
Genre: ECM jazz Places I remember: Virgin Megastore (Dubai Mall) Fab, and all the other pimplyhyperboles/Gear costume: Astrakan Café (part 1)
Active compensatory factors: I prefer the trio album for it's quieter contemplation - it's very hymnal in approach, but Khomsa gets applause for trying something different - the accordian interplay lends a new way to enjoy Anouar's genius. He makes it look and sound so effortless - the mark of a master at work. If you are into mindfulness, this could easily complement your routines.
Where do they all belong? Couple more Brahem CDs to come - involving a black cat and Rita's eyes!
Genre: American pop/rock Places I remember: Kerryn Hope's CD collection donated to moi Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Sunshine (it's catchy with Alice In Wonderland references)
Gear costume:Just Push Play, Jaded Active compensatory factors: Apart from the crappy cover this is a superior Aerosmith album. Tyler sings like Tyler should sing, Perry plays guitar like he should play and so on... That said, I'm not a big fan of Aerosmith. I was gifted this CD and it's the only one of theirs I have. So, when I say 'superior', I'm kinda guessing as I don't have much context to compare it with. Why is that? Apart from being heavily derivative (the Jagger/Richards poses? Please), I think it's something to do with their brash musical style - not a lot of soul and feel - just glitch and decadent glamour - yer archetypal OTT American rockers. In hindsight, that cover absolutely sums them up.
Where do they all belong? I used to own Pump. That was okay, but I sold it. Maybe a Greatest Hits compilation is your best bet - but they all appear to be dodgy live collections. And do you really need Aerosmith in your collection?
Badly Drawn BoyBorn In the U.K.(CD, EMI, 2006) ***
Genre: UK pop/rock Places I remember: M Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Long Way Round
Gear costume:Born In The U.K., Promises, Journey From A To B Active compensatory factors: Damon Gough (a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy) is a Springsteen fanboy and this was a natural step for him - an album that channelled a Springsteen spirit of big themes, but in his own context - life in the U.K. It's kinda fun hearing some Springsteenian echoes in the lyrics and music - Promises and elsewhere have some great neo Roy Bittan piano and the car image is a nice vehicle (haha) for Gough's thoughts in Degrees Of Separation. The well thought out, expanded sound suits the 2006 BDB.
Where do they all belong? The About A Boy soundtrack casts a huge shadow on the BDB catalogue. Just saying!
Lawrence ArabiaAbsolute Truth(CD, Flying Nun Records, 2016) ****
Genre: New Zealand pop/rock Places I remember: JB HiFi (Palmerston North NZ) Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Palest Of them All
Gear costume:A Lake Active compensatory factors: There's an embarrassment of pop riches on this album and the thing I love about it the most is that it's a grower so its charms are slowly released over time. Each time I have a hankering for some new Nu Zild pop I gravitate towards James Milner and his alter-ego Lawrence Arabia.
Where do they all belong? I have two LA albums to collect - his first, and The Sparrow (and his duo album with Fabulous - Unlimited Buffet)
