U2 — The Unforgettable Fire

U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire

• Artist: U2
• Title: The Unforgettable Fire
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: When? Used at Plan 9 in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Do the hits getting any bigger? I don’t think so. Maybe that’s why I was already getting tired of these guys by their fourth LP. U2 was constantly on the radio at this point, especially “Pride (In the name of love).” Of course, there are some other hits from The Unforgettable Fire. My favorite is “Wire.” At this point their earnestness and Bono’s breathy vocals were wearing on me. I did go see them on this tour, even though I never bought the album, probably because all my friends were going. This time they were at an arena and I had to pay a whopping $12.50. I think Lone Justice opened up.

Pics: Front cover, dust sleeve, ticket stub

R.E.M. — Document

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Document
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

It’s taken me a while to give this a proper listen because I can’t stop listening to a new record that I’m very excited about. I’ll probably post that one next. Of course, this is a great album and it includes the mega-hits “Finest Worksong”, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”, and “The One I Love.” I can’t say I sit around the house playing R.E.M. records all the time, but I have to admit this is well-crafted music that is essentially timeless.

More about R.E.M.’s Document at Wikipedia.

The Leather Nun — Force of Habit

• Artist: The Leather Nun
• Title: Force of Habit
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

Yeah, I don’t really know much about The Leather Nun. I thought they were interesting back then because they had a hard rock edge when there wasn’t enough of that around. I would’ve guessed Force of Habit was their only album, but it’s not. If I remember correctly the pseudo-political “Pink House” was a college radio alterna-hit. I got to see them open for someone, can’t remember the headliner now, at the Richmond Mosque. Maybe I’m imagining the whole show.

Anyhow, Wikipedia describes the band as “Sweden’s dark answer to ABBA.” There’s even a cover of ABBA’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme” on side two. Singer Jonas Almqvist is really more of a talker, and the lyrics are… eh. The music is interesting, but I don’t think it’s a keeper. Is it?

Kinky — Reina

• Artist: Kinky
• Title: Reina
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Got it for Christmas!
• Keeper: Yes

Don’t read this yet. First go to the Kinky site, click on “music”, then treat yourself to “I Say Hey” from their new album Reina.

OK, glad you’re back. Just let the whole album play. Kinky has been one of my favorite bands for the last few years, and getting their albums as Christmas presents is becoming a tradition that I hope never ends. The first couple times I played Reina I didn’t like it as much as their other stuff. But now I’m feeling it! I won’t bother to explain their sound, since you’re listening for yourself, but I will say that all of their records make perfect party mixes by themselves. Skip all the work of picking out other music. Mary pointed out that they sound like they’re channeling Devo on “Again And So On.” Bonus!

When I say hey, hey, hey… haaa
When I say hey, hey, hey… haaa
When I say hey, hey,
You better look this way!

Beck — The Information

• Artist: Beck
• Title: The Information
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Yes

I haven’t read anything about Beck’s new record, The Information. I’m sure there are tons of intelligent and thoughtful reviews out there, but you won’t find that here. This is an excellent Beck record, with a little bit of everything and a whole lotta awesomeness. The moods and styles are typically eclectic, but there’s a certain laid back darkness to it. I like it.

Even the total package is interesting. The “Beck” label is a sticker on the case. The insert is a blank fold of graph paper. Inside, and pictured below, is a large sheet of stickers. And maybe best of all there is another disk: a DVD with a video for every song on the album! I’d say it looks like most of them were made the same day with about 30 friends, a couple hundred costumes, a rented mansion or palace, and some nutty video mixing.

You can download the album of course, and maybe even the videos, but where are you gonna get those cool stickers if you don’t buy the disk?

My favorite songs are “Cellphone’s Dead” and “We Dance Alone.” How can I not give this one a “10”?

Visit Beck.com.

XTC — Dear God

XTC -- Dear God

• Artist: XTC
• Title: Dear God
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Oh man, what was I saying before? So much for redoubling my posting frequency…

XTC created some minor controversy with their single “Dear God.” It seems it was originally a b-side for another single from the album Skylarking. It became such a hit that the album was repressed to include it. As a pop song, I think it’s solid, and certainly more interesting musically than most. The flipside on this is “Big Day” which has a much more psychedelic sound, but not as cartoonish as their stuff under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear. It’s decent but kind of boring.

And that concludes this pass through the 7 inch singles. We’re all out of Ys and Zs. For the next few posts I’ll put up some new stuff.

Weather Theatre — Bridge to Heaven

Weather Theatre -- Bridge to Heaven

• Artist: Weather Theatre
• Title: Bridge to Heaven
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

I know… It probably appears one of my new year’s resolutions was to maintain my slackness in posting records, but it’s not true. I’m going to try to do better than every other day.

But this record by Weather Theatre isn’t that motivating. Even their fancy pants spelling of “Theatre” is offputting. I don’t know anything about these guys. They are a higly mediocre “alternative” band with some mild Echo and The Bunnymen wannabe thing going on. There’s a fancy pants fold out record cover, and the songs included are “Bridge to Heaven” and “Great God’s Gift.” It’s hard to believe this band came out of Seattle in the late 1980s.

R.E.M. — It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Haven’t I already logged this song? Maybe it was 12 inch. Mary has a ton of singles and many of them are R.E.M. pieces. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” was, of course, a big hit. It’s hard to forget that one, but I can’t remember much about “Last Date” on the flipside. I played it a couple times before we left, and we’re still on the road. (One night to go!) I think it was an instrumental and I’m pretty sure I was digging it.

Sinead O’Connor — Mandinka

• Artist: Sinead O’Connor
• Title: Mandinka
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Dunno

“Mandinka” is pretty solid pop song, but if I never hear it again that’s OK. I worked at a record store with a friend, Robby Lloyd, when this came out and he played it so much that I think I’m set for life. “Drink Before the War” on the flipside is Sinead’s version of a metal power ballad, but with keyboards. I’m not kidding; this song builds like it was written by The Scorpions or something. One thing for sure, Sinead O’Connor has one good looking head. I’m jealous.

The Fall — Slang King

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: Slang King
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: She’s outta town…
• Keeper: Yes

OK, this was the “FREE 7 inch single” that I couldn’t find when I wrote about about the “Call For Escape Route” EP it was packaged with. (Sorry grammarians.) This single, “Slang King” by The Fall, is decent but I don’t care if I ever hear it again. The flipside has another version of “No Bulbs.” I think a rating of “6” is generous. Maybe I’m being hard on it because I’m feeling kinda sick. I had way too much to eat at Jerusalem Garden tonight with Ixa, Kellie and Grayson. Oof.