Muse — Black Holes and Revelations

• Artist: Muse
• Title: Black Holes and Revelations
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary/Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – No place special, Target maybe.

This is post number 200 in the “record” collection category. I’m celebrating with something special, something new for you kids and grups out there — “Black Holes and Revelations” by Muse.

This band is so musically ambitious and perfectly weird I can think of few, if any, meaningful comparisons. Despite that, or possibly because of it, their last two records have been big commercial successes, even in the US. Their music is metallic, operatic, funky, melodic, pop and everything else you can think of, and somehow it never sounds diluted. Again, this stuff is ambitious, not the output of a few dudes getting together and just jamming out some verses and choruses. And their timing is impeccable. Just before things get too weird for too long they pull out some colossal riff, drop the hammer, and perform another hard rock burnout.

The last song, “Knights of Cydonia”, is probably my favorite. This piece has everything in it from an Ennio Morricone-sounding spaghetti western guitar, to space alien electronica, to anthemic choruses. Just after the four minute mark something extra special happens that on first hearing was so unexpected, and every time thereafter so anticipated, that I break out in goosebumps. More about Muse.

U2 — New Year’s Day / Two Hearts Beat as One

U2 -- New Year's Day / Two Hearts Beat as One

• Artist: U2
• Title: New Year’s Day / Two Hearts Beat as One
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: “Who knows?”
• Keeper: Maybe

This is another record to set aside for our ’80s dance night party coming soon to a club near you. Of course we like U2, and of course “New Year’s Day” and “Two Hearts Beat as One” are great songs. François Kevorkian remixed these hits for the US market. I like to call them the “Dr. Death Dance Mixes”, but maybe that was a different Kevorkian. Anyhow, they’re neither offensive or special.

Talking Heads — True Stories

Talking Heads -- True Stories

• Artist: Talking Heads
• Title: True Stories
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary?
• Acquired: 1986 – I probably got it for her when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.

“True Stories” by Talking Heads is one happy-sounding album. I don’t care if I ever hear the hit “Wild Wild Life” again, but I really like “Puzzlin’ Evidence.” I’m a sucker for anything with a gospel choir in it. Another song on this record is “Radio Head” and where the band Radiohead got their name.

The front and back of the cover are shown correctly oriented. The third pic is a handsome photo of the band on one side of the liner. There is an article about “True Stories” at Wikipedia.

Kim Salmon and The Surrealists – Hit Me With the Surreal Feel

• Artist: Kim Salmon and The Surrealists
• Title: Hit Me With the Surreal Feel
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.

Look, I know you probably think I waste too much time on these pictures, maybe this whole blog is a waste of time, but these album covers are a big part of why vinyl is so great, so superior in almost every way. And anyway it’s my blog. Look at the third pic below, which is one side of the liner. Now that is just quality silliness. I wish I had thought of it. And that eyeball album label is cool too.

I wanted this record because I was big fan of The Scientists; we’ll get to those records eventually. Of Kim Salmon’s various bands, that I know of, Kim Salmon and The Surrealists (Wikipedia) is my least favorite. I only got their first record, “Hit Me With the Surreal Feel.” I realize it’s supposed to be a raw, minimalist sound, but to me it just sounds lazy, like they were just joking around instead of trying to make something really interesting. Many fans seem to disagree with me. Only 1000 copies were made; maybe I can find it a good home.

R.E.M. — S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

This R.E.M. 12 inch is an import, made in Holland, but with UK licensing stuff on it. Anyhow, I’ve always liked “S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” and I think this is the album version. On the flipside is “Voice of Harold” which is some sort of strange rework of “7 Chinese Brothers”, I think, and their version of Lou Reed’s/Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes.” There is an article about it at Wikipedia, but it doesn’t explain what “Voice of Harold” is all about. They’re all good, but I like “Pale Blue Eyes” the best.

Pere Ubu — Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection

• Artist: Pere Ubu
• Title: Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.

I’m not cool enough, or maybe just not old enough, to have bought Pere Ubu’s early records when they came out, but I did get “Terminal Tower – An Archival Collection” when I was 19 or so. They make some pretty interesting music that’s not easy to describe, but someone at Wikipedia did a good job with this article about the band.

I saw them live at the Town & Country Club in London way back in 1987, or maybe ’86. The opening acts were Ut, followed by The Mekons. For the most part, it seemed like a Mekons crowd. That said, Pere Ubu put on a great, but abbreviated show that most people seemed to enjoy.

Unfortunately, some folks expressed their gratitude by throwing crap on the stage or even at the musicians. At one point Pere Ubu singer David Thomas made it clear that if there was any further silliness that they would walk off the stage. Sure enough, some bonehead had to throw something and Mr. Thomas immediately walked off in a huff. I can’t say I blame him. The rest of the band tried to carry on for a bit but it was clear he wasn’t coming back. The other band members eventually walked off too, looking rather frustrated. I’m not sure if Thomas, the crowd, or both were the source of that frustration.

Orb — Asylum

• Artist: Orb
• Title: Asylum
• Year: 1997
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2000 ? – I think my brother Grayson handed this down to me

The best part of this Orb 12 inch is the sleeve. Though it is a bit mechanical, antiseptic even, in its design. Which matches the four extremely different remixes of “Asylum” that are on this record. I often find mechanical sounds musical in their own way, I rarely listen to music in the car for instance because I like the sounds of the car itself. But music this mechanized can sometimes get a little boring, like today.

My favorite mix is also the least danceable, and the least frenetic, “A.1” by Thomas Fehlmann. Now dance sucka!

New Order — Ceremony

Both of these New Order songs, “Ceremony” and “In a Lonely Place”, were written when the band was still Joy Division. This was the first single by the new band. I didn’t recognize “Ceremony.” Mary says it because I “didn’t go to enough dance nights” at the clubs. Anyhow, it sounds like New Order to me, while “In a Lonely Place” sounds a lot darker, slower.

Etched in the margins:

• Side A: “How I Wish We Were Here With You Now”
• Side B: “Watching Love Grow — Forever”

Wikipedia has an article with a lot of trivia about this single. It seems we have the original pressing of this 12 inch.

Madonna — Madonna

• Artist: Madonna
• Title: Madonna
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

I gotta remember to check the inner sleeves when I take these pics. There’s a large pic of Madonna on the inside cover sporting a look that screams 1980s, a look she popularized as much as anyone I can think of.

If you haven’t heard this in a good while you might be surprised how nasal her voice is on this self-titled debut record. Speaking of surprises, this album has only eight songs, but some of them are on the long side. I’m not a huge fan a Madonna, but as is often the case the world doesn’t agree with me. I will say that it’s solid pop, and come on, who doesn’t like “Holiday”?

Laughing Hyenas — You Can’t Pray a Lie

• Artist: Laughing Hyenas
• Title: You Can’t Pray a Lie
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Promo at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

I guess I used to like pretty much everything off-center. Nowadays I don’t seem to have much patience for noise, unless it’s really special, and I don’t think this is. “You Can’t Pray a Lie” is the only Laughing Hyenas record I have and I didn’t buy it, but I did decide to keep it at some point. There are a couple songs that interest me, maybe I didn’t give it a fair listen because it was a busy day, but I don’t plan to keep this one now. When I think of the label that put this out, Touch and Go Records, I think “noise.” I do like a lot of their bands, but not all noise is created equal.

Good ol’ Trouser Press has a long article about the Laughing Hyenas.