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An Alternative History of "Pop" Music: Part 3, 2004 -

Started by jamiefairlie, October 25, 2021, 04:39:14 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

jamiefairlie

Greg Laswell-The One I love

https://youtu.be/9Qr2pYd2yWg




This is taken from his third album "Three Flights From Alto Nido"

"There are emotional epiphanies aplenty, and sprightly piano and sparkling acoustic guitar dip and swell cinematically."

Brundle-Fly

Bazooka Mirror - Major Parkinson. Released on Degaton in 2008.





MP clearly wear their influences on their sleeve: Sparks, Robert Fripp, Split Enz, Oingo Boingo but none more so than Cardiacs as demonstrated in this backstage snap above. You can really see the sheer adoration they have for Tim Smith here.

Major Parkinson are a Norwegian eclectic progressive rock band founded in Bergen, Norway in 2003. "Somewhere in between pop and psychosis, somber poetry and dark rock, you will find Major Parkinson. A fearless and distinctly different band, with a fresh and unconventional approach to the art of writing music."


Ballad of Ballard Berkley

Kevin Ayers - Baby Come Home




I'm cheating a bit here, as this song was originally released in 2007 on what turned out to be Ayers final album (he died in 2013). But it was released as a single in 2008, so I reckon it just about deserves a placing.

It's a duet with his old friend Bridget St John, whose early '70s albums on John Peel's Dandelion label are well worth checking out.

QuoteKevin Ayers was an English singer-songwriter who was active in the English psychedelic music movement. He was a founding member of Soft Machine in the mid-'60s, and was closely associated with the Canterbury scene.

He recorded a series of albums as a solo artist and over the years worked with Brian Eno, Syd Barrett, Bridget St John, John Cale, Elton John, Robert Wyatt, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Nico and Ollie Halsall among others.

After living for many years in Deià, Majorca, he returned to the United Kingdom in the mid-'90s before moving to the south of France. His last album, The Unfairground, was released in 2007. The British rock journalist Nick Kent wrote: "Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett were the two most important people in British pop music. Everything that came after came from them."


jamiefairlie

Harrys Gym - Top of the Hill

https://youtu.be/NIwIwk3j-jw




Norwegian band formed in 2006 in Bergen.

This is taken from their self-titled debut album.

"The progressive pop/electro indie sound and Anne Lise Frokedal's chilling, eerie vocals, produced by this Norwegian group provide a unique, despairing sound that can break your heart."

jamiefairlie

Idaho - Scrawny

https://youtu.be/-9nke9Vx73M




American indie rock/Slowcore band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles, California.

This is taken from the compilation album "The Forbidden EP ~ Alas: Special Edition"

"Whether you are unnaturally blissed out or weeping on a rainy night, this album is the perfect sonic companion."


jamiefairlie

James Yorkston - Midnight Feast

https://youtu.be/6p6oCJWZuU0



Scottish folk musician, born on 21-Dec-1971 in Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland

This is taken from his third album "When The Haar Rolls In"


"When the Haar Rolls In is as remarkable, understated, and truly authentic as anything else he's done, and in many ways, sets a new high-water mark for his originality and songwriting prowess."

Brundle-Fly

Quote from: Ballad of Ballard Berkley on January 20, 2022, 06:06:36 PMKevin Ayers - Baby Come Home
I'm cheating a bit here, as this song was originally released in 2007 on what turned out to be Ayers final album (he died in 2013). But it was released as a single in 2008, so I reckon it just about deserves a placing.

It's a duet with his old friend Bridget St John, whose early '70s albums on John Peel's Dandelion label are well worth checking out.



Good lord! Was Unfairground that long ago?

DrGreggles


jamiefairlie

Kara Keith - Kick This City

https://youtu.be/-SHjZCH5nLQ



A Canadian singer/songwriter who is based out of Calgary

This is from her only release, a self-titled EP

"If Neko Case made a solo album wearing her New Pornographers hat this is what it might sound like."


jamiefairlie

Kelli Ali — Dancing bears

https://youtu.be/SDQsFKw0GyY



British singer, songwriter, guitarist, and artist, born: 30 June 1974 in Birmingham

This is from her third album "Rocking Horse"

"A large and daring leap away from her dance and rock solo roots, Kelli Ali discovers medieval folk on her latest and third album, Rocking Horse."


jamiefairlie

Luluc - Little Suitcase

https://youtu.be/nLPHVTCOyQw



An Australian band, consisting of Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett, currently based in Brooklyn, New York.


This is from their debut album "Dear Hamlyn"


"Even at their most melancholic, a spring-like wistfulness imbues Luluc's gently melodies and sweet harmonies. Their music never broods, but merely notes the passage of time, the workings of nature (human and otherwise), and the heartbreaks and joys that occur within these confines."

Ballad of Ballard Berkley

The Advisory Circle - Civil Defence is Common Sense




I think it's been a while since we've spooked up the thread with a bit of hauntology, so...

QuoteThe Advisory Circle is an alias of English electronic musician Cate Brooks along with King of Woolworths. Her releases as The Advisory Circle are on the Ghost Box music label.

An extensive feature in The Wire explored Brooks' fascination with public information films from the 1970s. They describe their sound as "Everything's fine, but there is something not quite right about it."

Cate Brooks also releases music under her own name and a variety of alter-egos, with similar musical influences (such as soundtrack music and library music), emotional atmospheres, and conceptual themes to The Advisory Circle material.

DrGreggles

Nearly a week into 2008 and no Ladytron?!
Better resolve that...


Ladytron - Ghosts

[Aroyo/Hunt/Marnie/Wu] {Nettwerk}
(from the album Velocifero)



Lead single from Velocifero, Ladytron's 4th album.
Only reached #106 in the singles' chart because the British public are idiots.

jamiefairlie

Quote from: DrGreggles on January 22, 2022, 08:22:19 PMNearly a week into 2008 and no Ladytron?!
Better resolve that...


Ladytron - Ghosts

[Aroyo/Hunt/Marnie/Wu] {Nettwerk}
(from the album Velocifero)



Lead single from Velocifero, Ladytron's 4th album.
Only reached #106 in the singles' chart because the British public are idiots.

But be thankful that they are or it wouldn't have been allowed in here 😃

jamiefairlie

M83 - Too Late

https://youtu.be/JEEOuF1zfNQ



Electronica & Shoegaze band from Antibes, located in the South of France. Formed in 1999 and active since 2001.

This is from their fifth album "Saturdays = Youth"

"After a pair of impossibly huge, overpowering records, M83's Anthony Gonzalez changes up his sound, ditching maximalism for beauty and drama. His new album is dense with 1980s new wave tropes and teenage memories, reflecting the soft-focused mythology of eternal summers and young love."

jamiefairlie

Malcolm Middleton - Marguerita Red

https://youtu.be/hyKn1QtLnZ4




From his fourth album "Sleight Of Heart"

"a markedly organic album, centered on Middleton's acoustic guitar throughout, albeit with frequent reinforcement by way of Barry Burns's piano and the violin of Jenny Reeves. Thankfully though, the textures here are tender and inviting as often as they are bare and bleak, even when Middleton is exposing his old wounds."


jamiefairlie

Mogwai - Devil Rides

https://youtu.be/J8utoYl7LLo



Taken from the Batcat EP and featuring amazing vocals from Roky Erickson of 13th Floor Elevators

"A sonically cinematic experience that will leave the listener feeling at once elated and emotionally drained"

Barry Lynn- Loving Dub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URbwYFc_2k8


A lovely mix of crashing breakbeat cymbals, reggae vocal samples and horns audible through sea mist. Barry Lynn from Northern Ireland was known around this time mostly for his dubstep productions as Boxcutter, this is from his first LP under his own name which is a bit of a variety pack of styles.

DrGreggles


MGMT - The Youth

[VanWyngarden/Goldwasser] {Columbia}
(from the album Oracular Spectacular)



Non-single album track on Oracular Spectacular, the first LP by MGMT.
Can't find any specific details, but The Youth has almost certainly been used in a film or TV show somewhere.

DrGreggles


Mike Patton - A Perfect Twist

[Patton] {Columbia}
(from the album A Perfect Place)



Taken from the soundtrack to A Perfect Place, a short film by Derrick Scocchera, the album represents one of the few Mike Patton solo projects released under his own name.
Patton essentially wrote, performed and produced the whole album by himself and, with a running length of 35 minutes, it's 10 minutes longer than the film.

DrGreggles


Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines

[Shelf] {Jagjaguwar}
(UK single, did not chart)



Taken from The Stand Ins, the 5th album by Okkervil River.

DrGreggles


Paul Heaton - God Bless Texas

[Heaton] {W14 Music}
(from the album The Cross Eyed Rambler)



Taken from The Cross Eyed Rambler, Paul Heaton's first album following The Beautiful South splitting up ("for musical similarities").
Heaton had been writing new songs while on a trip across the southern states of America and the album had a country feel to it as a result.

DrGreggles


Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha Man

[Coombes/Coombes/Goffey/Quinn] {Parlophone}
(Limited Edition UK single, did not chart)



Farewell then, Supergrass.
This song, taken from their 6th and final album Diamond Hoo Ha, was essentially their last hoorah.
It was released shortly before the album only as a limited edition 7" vinyl.
When Supergrass reunited in 2020 for a series of shows to celebrate the 25th anniversary of I Should Coco, Diamond Hoo Ha Man was one of the few songs from the 2nd half of their career to make the setlist.

Brundle-Fly

Camp-Fire - Starling Electric Released on Bar None in 2008.



Really nice album but *cough* High Llamas! Not a problem with me.

Starling Electric was originally the solo project of singer/songwriter Caleb Dillon; a decade's worth of lineup changes has yielded the dynamic live five-piece of today: Caleb on lead vocals; John Fossum on drums; Christian Blackmore Anderson on bass; Ben Collins on guitar; and Aaron Diehl on guitar and keyboards.

The group is a melting pot of '60s and '70s influences - the melodic harmonies of the Beatles, Beach Boys, Zombies, and Byrds; the prog and art-rock exploration of Yes, 10cc, Genesis, and Elton John; the baroque craftsmanship of the Left Banke and Love; and the pomposity and swagger of The Who, Queen, and ELO.


DrGreggles


They Might Be Giants - Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go to Work)

[They Might Be Giants] {Idlewild}
(from the album Here Come the 123s)



Taken from Here Come the 123s, the 3rd children's album by They Might Be Giants.
Be warned: this earworm may never leave you.

Ballad of Ballard Berkley

#595
The Explorers Club - Do You Love Me?




More Beach Boys-flavoured goodness. This is pretty much a straight-up pastiche, albeit one clearly sculpted with love.

QuoteThe Explorers Club are an American pop-rock band. They feature a rotating cast of musicians led by Jason Brewer. Their first album is heavily influenced by the vocal harmony styles and production of The Beach Boys. They are also influenced by classic rock and roll arrangements as made popular by The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Phil Spector, The Zombies, The Monkees and The Byrds.

Their second album shows more influences of artists such as Burt Bacharach and Glen Campbell. Their third album features contributions from members of Brian Wilson's touring band.

#596
Young Knives - Turn Tail


Young Knives are from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, and at this point consisted of brothers Henry and Thomas Dartnall, and Oliver Askew. This track is from their second album Superabundance, released in 2008, and has a sweeping, epic style, in contrast to the band's more usual angular, new wave style. I was sure there was another version of this with a more optimistic final verse, but I haven't been able to find any trace of this anywhere. Having previously troubled the fringes of the Top 40, this track was released as the third single from the album and apparently reached number 148 in the UK singles chart, a number so low that I didn't realise they compiled charts so far down.

Blitzen Trapper - Furr


Blitzen Trapper are a folk/country/rock band from Portland, Oregon. This is the title track from their fourth album - an everyday tale of a boy who becomes a wolf after joining a wolf pack, and then meets a girl and turns back into a human. Or something like that. It's a pretty tune anyway.

jamiefairlie

Musée Mécanique - Two Friends Like Us

https://youtu.be/pua3IoYCZnE



Portland, Ore., is lousy with folk acts, but Musée Mécanique distinguish themselves from the throng by ignoring Americana influences and infusing their brand of intimate melancholia with lush arrangements and electronic underpinnings.

This is from their debut album "Hold This Ghost"


"dreams in sepia tones, combining acoustic guitar, singing saw, accordion, and organ to evoke an antique setting befitting their haunted songs."

jamiefairlie

Neil Halstead - A Gentle Heart

https://youtu.be/KkFmODGmOh8



This is from his second album "Oh! Mighty Engine"

With his shoegazing days in Slowdive far behind him and things still quiet on the Mojave 3 front, Neil Halstead has nestled back into the folds of the twilight folk he first discovered with debut solo album Sleeping On Roads.