What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS "Nathaniel rafteliff and the night sweats" cd, 2015

this album stats........#17 US
singles:
"s.o.b"....................#7 US Alt Charts

Nat has recorded several albums previously but this is the first under the name 'night sweats"....
its recorded on the old Stax label and the sound matches that....
some deep bluesy, rootsy r+b/soul on this one...
Bobby 'blue' Bland, Sam Cooke and Sam And Dave come straight to mind when I hear this one,
maybe The Band's "big pink" also....
all up a very very good album from these guys who I had not heard of until a couple of months ago...

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: thank you
best track: S.O.B

[video=youtube;2_pqOJt7gE8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_pqOJt7gE8[/video]

tracks:

1...I need never get old ***
2...howling at nothing ***
3...trying so hard not to know ***
4...ive been falling **
5...S.O.B ***
6...wasting time **
7...thank you **
8...look it here ***
9...shake ***
10.i'd be waiting **
11.mellow out **

3s=6
2s=5
1s=0

rating: 2.6

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN "songs to learn and sing" cd, 1985

career stats:
studio albums..............12
singles........................30

this album...................#6 UK...#25 NZ...#158 US

a compilation of singles from their first four albums from this UK "new wave" band...
these guys were always a bit more intelligent than a lot of their counterparts/peers from that scene...
I guess you could probably put them alongside OMD and even Japan....
I never liked their studio albums much(I own their debut on vinyl and heard a couple of others, lots of filler IMO....
so this compilation of their so called classic years is pretty good and worth owning, either way, its even better when
I remember it cost me $3 in a discount bin....

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: seven seas
best track: do it clean

[video=youtube;Zg5xvDoQOhA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5xvDoQOhA[/video]

tracks:

1...rescue **
2...the puppet **
3...do it clean ***
4...a promise **
5...the back of love **
6...the cutter ***
7...never stop **
8...the killing moon ***
9...silver **
10.seven seas *
11.bring on the dancing horses **

3s=3
2s=7
1s=1

rating: 2.1

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE NEW BASEMENT TAPES "lost on the river" cd, 2015

album stats.................#23 US...#69 AU

an album of unearthed and unfinished Bob Dylan lyrics put to music by the likes of Elvis Costello, Jim James(my morning jacket), Marcus Mumford(Mumford & Sons)amongst others...
Elvis gets the nod for the best and worst tracks on this album also...
the songs are very average IMO, they aren't a patch on the Guthrie ones that Billy Bragg & Wilco did on their "mermaid avenue" set of albums...
all up, a disappointing effort from Elvis Costello and Co...

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: married to my hack
best track: lost on the river #12

[video=youtube;fDwx_tFfSGw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDwx_tFfSGw[/video]

tracks:

1...down on the bottom *
2...married to my hack *
3...Kansas city **
4...Spanish mary **
5...liberty street **
6...nothing to it **
7...when I get my hands on you *
8...Duncan and jimmy **
9...lost on the river #12 **
10.florida key **
11.hidee hidee ho *
12.stranger **
13.card shark **
14.six months in Kansas city **
15.lost on the river #20

3s=0
2s=10
1s=5

rating: 1.6

[CRAZY-HORSE]

FATHER JOHN MISTY "i love you honeybear" cd, 2015

solo career stats:
studio albums................2
singles..........................4

this album.................#17 US...#14 UK...#38 AU
singles:
"i love you honeybear"....no chart action
"chateau #4".................no chart action
"bored in the USA".........no chart action

FJM's second album under that name...
was/is drummer for Fleet Foxes....
album is very dreamy,almost ethereal in places...
lovely harmonies that are as smooth and serene as Beach Boys...
tracks are sort of alt-folk I guess(for want of a better description)...
only problem I really have with this is that he drops a couple of f-bombs...totally unnecessary IMO.
album is pretty good but not quite as good as the first one entitled "fear fun", if only for the fact
that the music/songs are still very similar...
worst track on here for me sounds like Ben folds(hinted sarcasm) and BF's melody, and im no fan of his material...
other than that...if you liked the first album, you will no doubt like this one.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: bored in the USA
best track: chateau lobby #4(in "C" for two virgins)

[video=youtube;A6NuYJ0RzRg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6NuYJ0RzRg[/video]

tracks:

1...I love you honeybear ***
2...chateau lobby #4 (in "C" for two virgins) ***
3...true affection *
4...the night josh tillman came to our Apt. **
5...when youre smiling and astride me **
6...nothing ever happens in the goddamn Thirsty Crew ***
7...strange encounter **
8...the ideal husband **
9...bored in the USA *
10.holy shit ***
11.i went to the store one day **

3s=4
2s=5
1s=2

rating: 2.2

[CRAZY-HORSE]

BACKYARD BABIES "4our bXy 4our" cd, 2015

career stats:
studio albums........7
singles.................18

this album............#2 Sweden...#17 Finland
singles:
"thirt3en or nothing"....no chart information available

seventh album from these alt rockers from Sweden...
I'd not heard of them until I posted a single of theirs a good six or seven weeks ago...
loved that track and bought the album as a new release...
lots of good rock on this one...
with influences like KISS and The Stooges you know its going to be catchy, sometimes heavy, punky and sometime a bit of grunge...
I also hear little bits of Oasis through this one, Oasis as Oasis on their debut album 'definitely maybe'(but not much, just a little bit here and there...
all up a very very good album and one worth getting if you like alt rock-cum-hard rock.
BTW...
the last track on the album only gets my 'worst track' nod because that's the end of the album and I didn't want it to end...LMAO

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: walls
best track: thirt3en or nothing

[video=youtube;skpBasc-Ed0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skpBasc-Ed0[/video]

tracks:

1...thirt3en or nothing ***
2...im on my way to save rock and roll ***
3...white light district **
4...blood tears ***
5...piracy ***
6...never finish anything ***
7...mirrors(shall be broken) **
8...wasted years **
9...walls **

3s=5
2s=4
1s=0

rating: 2.5

[CRAZY-HORSE]

BOY & BEAR "limit of love" cd, 2015

career stats:
studio albums..........3
singles....................6

this album....................#1 AU...#31 NZ
singles:
"walk the wire"............#121 AU

third album by these indi/folky alternative group from Australia...
loved their debut, liked their second, and initially I really liked this one, putting it somewhere between the first two...
lots of alt folk sounds on here, a tuch of radio friendly pop also...
melodies aren't as catchy as the first two albums, and this one's like value has actually decreased for me since since buying it...
love the jingle-jangle of the guitars throughout this one though...
nothing really memorable on here neither, just a steady collection of average tracks.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: foxhole
best track: walk the wire

[video=youtube;bz7Hxw5FFzU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz7Hxw5FFzU[/video]

tracks:

1...limit of love **
2...walk the wire **
3...where'd you go **
4...hollow ground **
5...breakdown slow **
6...showdown *
7...a thousand faces **
8...man alone **
9...ghost II **
10.just dumb *
11.foxhole *

3s=0
2s=8
1s=3

rating: 1.7

[SteveO]

I like this band! I can't find anything on YouTube...wanted to check out the album. :frown:

BACKYARD BABIES "4our bXy 4our" cd, 2015

career stats:
studio albums........7
singles.................18

this album............#2 Sweden...#17 Finland
singles:
"thirt3en or nothing"....no chart information available

seventh album from these alt rockers from Sweden...
I'd not heard of them until I posted a single of theirs a good six or seven weeks ago...
loved that track and bought the album as a new release...
lots of good rock on this one...
with influences like KISS and The Stooges you know its going to be catchy, sometimes heavy, punky and sometime a bit of grunge...
I also hear little bits of Oasis through this one, Oasis as Oasis on their debut album 'definitely maybe'(but not much, just a little bit here and there...
all up a very very good album and one worth getting if you like alt rock-cum-hard rock.
BTW...
the last track on the album only gets my 'worst track' nod because that's the end of the album and I didn't want it to end...LMAO

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: walls
best track: thirt3en or nothing

[video=youtube;skpBasc-Ed0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skpBasc-Ed0[/video]

tracks:

1...thirt3en or nothing ***
2...im on my way to save rock and roll ***
3...white light district **
4...blood tears ***
5...piracy ***
6...never finish anything ***
7...mirrors(shall be broken) **
8...wasted years **
9...walls **

3s=5
2s=4
1s=0

rating: 2.5

[CRAZY-HORSE]

MANIC STREET PREACHERS "know your enemy" cd,2001

career stats:
studio albums..........12
singles....................21

this album...................#2 UK...#14 AU...#45 CAN
singles:
"found that soul"..........#9 UK
"ocean spray".............#15 UK
"so why...so sad".........#8 UK
"let Robeson sing".......#19 UK

sixth album from these guys from Wales....
I actually just presumed they were American for some reason until last week,
then I mentioned them to MH on Skype and he said he'd never heard of them...
that cut out the US origin straight away for me...
so,
Alt Rock band from Wales just like the brilliant Stereophonics....
songs on this album have a bit of a Stereophonics sound happening,
but I also hear little bits of Verve, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller and touches of Oasis...
a very good album, albeit a lengthy one...contains seventeen tracks with only a couple I don't like...
I guess in the old vinyl days this would have been what we called a "double album"...
I only own two of their albums, this one is definitely my favourite(the next one is up for posting tomorrow)...

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: so why....so sad
best track: found that soul

[video=youtube;SjG3IJOLSCw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjG3IJOLSCw[/video]

tracks:

1...found that soul ***
2...ocean spray **
3...intraveneous agnostic **
4...so why....so sad *
5...let Robeson sing ***
6...the year of purification **
7...Wattsville blues **
8...miss Europa disco dancer **
9...dead martyrs ***
10.his last painting *
11.my Guernica **
12.the convalescent **
13.royal correspondent **
14.epicentre **
15.baby Elian **
16.freedom of speech wont feed my children ***
17.the masses against the classes ***

3s=5
2s=10
1s=2

rating: 2.2

[CRAZY-HORSE]

MANIC STREET PREACHERS "lifeblood" cd, 2004

career stats:
studio albums..........12
singles....................21

this album..............#13 UK
singles:
"the love of Richard Nixon".....#2 UK
"empty souls".......................#2 UK

album number seven for these guys, i only own two....
definite Stereophonics influences here and still a bit of Verve also...
not as good as the "know your enemy" album for me as this one does venture off into pop
territory and almost disco at times...
songs aren't as strong neither musically or lyrically IMO...
i still find it strange that an album that spawned two UK #2 hits failed to crack the top10 on the album charts???
not a bad album.makes the grade but only just....

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: to repel ghosts
best track: the love of Richard Nixon

[video=youtube;K_G_R_1gMfc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_G_R_1gMfc[/video]

tracks:

1...1985 **
2...the love of Richard Nixon **
3...empty souls **
4...a song for departure **
5...i like to fall asleep **
6...to repel ghosts *
7...Emily **
8...Glasnost **
9...always/never **
10.solitude sometimes is **
11.fragments *
12.Cardiff afterlife **

3s=0
2s=10
1s=2

rating: 1.8

[Music Head]

I have the bands first 2 albums





guess I gave up after that
looks like everyone else did too
these are the 2 best selling of their 7 album catalogue
most recent was in 2012 which did not chart
these 2 are from '97 and '99 and charted at #19 and #6 here
only maybe 2 or 3 tracks from each album that I like

this is their highest charting single at #4

[video=youtube;L_jWHffIx5E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_jWHffIx5E[/video]