Cynthia Dall – Holland (1996)

Was just catching up on some recent music mags in front of the Second Test and was stunned to read a perfunctory obituary for Cynthia Dall (aka Cindy Dall) who died in April 2012 at the age of 41. Cause unstated and, possibly, unknown.

In the mid 1990s, she collaborated a lot with Smog who, along with Pavement and Sebadoh, were the best of all the classic American lo-fi indie bands of the early to mid 1990s. For a classic Smog track on the blog, check here.

In 1996, she released the first of her 2 LPs – literally titled “Untitled”.

This was always my favourite track off the LP and it features joint vocals from Smog’s Bill Callahan.

A suitably morbid piece.

Rest assured that this is not, as my many French followers might surmise, a quirky tribute to Francois Hollande

The Books – Motherless Bastard (2002)

A few folk seem to regard the opening to this track as rather “cute” and “amusing”.

However, by 23 seconds in, the tone takes a decisive turn for the worse … Not quite on the scale of Lou Reed’s “The Kids” from Berlin where the kids being recorded have allegedly just been told that their mother has been killed ….

Nonetheless, uncomfortable sounding. The instrumental itself is sublime ….. taken from The Books “Thought For Food” LP of 2002.

Ideal Husbands – Out Of The Factory, Into The Wood/Town Planning (1980)

This was one of my favourite records in the early 1980s.

A classic slice of wildly unpopular independent music championed by John Peel.

Inevitably, the B-Side (“Out of the Factory …”) was the better song but, on this occasion, the A-side was excellent as well.

I bought a copy of the 7-inch vinyl from the Notting Hill Record and Tape Exchange in the summer of 1982. Sleeve below.

And, unbelievably, Youtube has both sides of the single. There is someone out there I need to meet!

The B-52s – Give Me Back My Man (1980)

After a bit of a break, it’s time to resume the blog and what better way to do it than by returning to the relentless genre of which I am so fond.

Killer driving bass and drums with a wonderful twangy guitar riding on top. Cindy Wilson adds a shouty vocal that proves to be the missing link between 1960s bubblegum pop and the post punk new wave …..

A perfect pop single. How good were things in 1980?

All topped off by a wonderful video.

Talking Heads – Crosseyed and Painless (1980)

As I have developed this blog, it has become clearer and clearer that Talking Heads are my favourite band of all time.

It has also become apparent that “Remain in Light” is the best record ever made.

“Crosseyed and Painless” is another example why.

The LP version, then an unbelievable live version from New Jersey 1980! Then …. a euphoric version from Wembley Arena in 1982 and, finally, the version from Stop Making Sense!

Try not to dance.

Lost my shape

Trying to act casual

The Verlaines – Lying In State (1985)

Flying Nun Records of New Zealand have released some of the greatest records of the last 40 years.

The Clean, David Kilgour, The Tall Dwarfs, The Chills, The Bats, Bailter Space, The Gordons, John-Paul Sartre Experience, 3Ds, Skeptics, Straitjacket Fits, Phoenix Foundation, etc, etc make up one of the great rosters for any record label.

Another wonderful band are The Verlaines. I’ve previously posted their debut single (here). This track is taken from their debut LP “Hallelujah All the Way Home” released  in 1985. A few years later, Superchunk recorded a fantastic cover version of this but not sure it quite topped the original.

Well your cigarette’s burned down

And your eyes avoid mine

Well, you’re sitting, praying, hoping, waiting

Putting on your pained today face

You don’t talk, and what’s worse

You take your car keys out of your purse

Well did you see too much

Or did you shoot the horse

And then close the gate?

The Chameleons – In Shreds (1982)

The Chameleons were one of the most under appreciated bands of the early to mid 1980s.

Hailing from post Joy Division Manchester, the band released one all-time classic LP “Script of the Bridge” (1983) and one very very good follow up “What does Anything Mean? Basically” (1985).

“In Shreds” was their debut single and appeared as number 42 (with a bullet!) in John Peel’s Festive 50 of 1982.

The original single version then a killer live version from 1985. I saw them at The Ritz in Manchester in late 1984 and they were stupendous!

Husker Du – Hardly Getting Over It (1986)

Ah, Friday night, the quest for the most miserable record in history goes on …. this is right up there.

Pretty straightforward stuff in principle. A meditation on family death. Never gets any easier.

Twenty years ago, saw a friend was walking by

And I stopped him on the street to ask him, how it went and all he did was cry

And I looked him in the face, but I couldn’t see past his eyes

I asked him what the problem was, he says, here’s your disguise

Now he’s hardly getting over it

He’s hardly getting used to getting by

Now he’s hardly getting over it

He’s hardly getting used to getting by

Old man lays, down by the railroad tracks

Got no paper on his pocket, got no paper on his back

And I asked him what the time was, he says, hit the road now, Jack

Went back to see him next week, he died of a heart attack and died away

Now he’s hardly getting over it

He’s hardly getting used to getting by

He’s hardly getting over it

He’s hardly getting used to getting by

Grandma, she was sick, and she is gonna die

And grandpa had a seizure, moved into a hotel cell and died away

My parents, they just wonder

When they both are gonna die, and what’ll I do when they die?

Well, I’m hardly getting over it

Hardly getting used to getting by

Hardly getting over it

Hardly getting used to getting by

Hardly getting over it

The original Husker Du LP track from 1986 (click througfh to Youtube to see!) then a remarkable live version by Bob Mould and Dave Grohl from late last year.

The Modern Lovers – Hospital (1976)

The Modern Lovers’ debut LP of 1976 maybe the best record ever made.

I’ve already posted the peerless “Pablo Picasso” here and a day reading memoirs on familial death (Joan Didion and Rupert Thomson anyone?) in front of the Third Test match have prompted me to post this.

Most of the Modern Lovers LP was recorded in 1972 but this track, allegedly, was recorded in 1971. Confirming Jonathan Richman as a true genius and forging the missing link between the Velvet Underground and The Smiths (no, really) this track is a melancholic and sometimes tongue in cheek masterpiece.

I go to bakeries all day long

There’s a lack of sweetness in my life

And there’s pain inside

You can see it in my eyes

The LP version and then a live recording from a few years earlier.

Joy Division – Transmission (1979)

Pretty much every Joy Division track deserves a place on this blog, so why this one?

Apart from being one of the blueprints for all that is good in post-punk, alternative and indie music, it’s one of the few tracks that has been well captured live on TV.

I also have fond memories of my eldest lad, when aged 5 or 6, singing this song while waiting at the front door for me one day …

Dance. Dance. Dance. Dance. Dance …. to the radio

Three versions, live on “Something Else” in September 1979, a Playmobil stop motion animation version (no, really) and then the fantastic version taken from the John Peel session – unbelievable guitar and drums.