XTC — The Big Express

XTC -- The Big Express

• Artist: XTC
• Title: The Big Express
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? Looks like she got it used…
• Keeper: Yes

Uh… I never really know what to say about XTC. Some of their stuff is exciting and some is, as the kids say, “meh.” For me, The Big Express is somewhere in between. I’ve played it a few times in the last couple days. Now, I don’t want to play it ever again despite that a couple songs are stuck in my head. I’m sure Mary wants to keep it…

Second pic is from the liner, not the back of the record cover which is sorta meh.

U2 — Sunday Bloody Sunday 12 inch

U2 -- Sunday Bloody Sunday 12 inch

• Artist: U2
• Title: Sunday Bloody Sunday 12 inch
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Who knows where she gets all these 12 inches?
• Keeper: Yes

Another one of Mary’s U2 12 inch records. It seems like we’ll never get through them, and I think there are even more 7 inch singles on the shelves. Of course, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is great song, I can’t tell what is different about the mix. The remixes of “New Year’s Day” and “Two Hearts Beat as One” are more obvious and sound interesting, I guess. I mentioned before that I got to see them on this tour, and before War had become a huge hit. This time I found my ticket stub for the show at Chrysler Hall. The place only holds 2500 people and I’m glad I got to see them in such a small and great-sounding venue. And check out the price on the ticket, $8.50!

Talking Heads — (Nothing But) Flowers

Talking Heads -- (Nothing But) Flowers

• Artist: Talking Heads
• Title: (Nothing But) Flowers
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy ?
• Acquired: Not sure, maybe as promo at our store…

I like Talking Heads and I like the song “(Nothing But) Flowers”, but there’s not much to say about this record. It’s in a plain Sire Records promo sleeve, with the LP version of the song on one side and a “radio edit” version on the other. Uh… we don’t need to keep this one.

A little sumpin’ sumpin’ about “(Nothing But) Flowers” the song and video at Wikipedia.

The Fall — Call For Escape Route

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: Call For Escape Route
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?

The songs on Call For Escape Route are pretty catchy for a band that’s pretty arty. The Fall released this three song EP in 1984. Most people would call a three song record a 12 inch single and name it after the lead song. Call For Escape Route is merely a title for this package that contains the songs:

“Draygo’s Guilt”
“Clear Off!”
“No Bulbs”

The sticker on front cover says that there’s a free 7″ included, but I’m not seeing it. Maybe it’s been filed with the other 7 inchers.

Echo And The Bunnymen — Echo And The Bunnymen

• Artist: Echo And The Bunnymen
• Title: Echo And The Bunnymen
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary, if she’ll claim it
• Acquired: I’m not gonna ask
• Keeper: Maybe

Oh man this album is lame, for Echo And The Bunnymen that is. Now I remember why they were dead to me, DEAD I tell you!, by the time this record came out. Maybe I didn’t give it a fair listen, but I’m not playing it again. If I was right the first time I’ll just suffer again for nothing. The hits “Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” and “Lips Like Sugar” are probably the best songs on Echo And The Bunnymen.

Flushing my head now with some Wolfmother. Heavy riffs, take me away…

Gorillaz — G Sides

• Artist: Gorillaz
• Title: G Sides
• Year: 2002
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mars
• Acquired: July 2006 – with his allowance from the local Barnes and Noble
• Keeper: Yes

This is the first CD I bought with my own money. It was a lot of money but the Gorillaz are my favorite band and I didn’t wanna wait another minute to listen to it. I play it so much that my parents get bored of hearing it.

If you’re looking for a good beat this is the album for you. My favorite songs are “The Sounder”, which is mostly rap, and “Faust”, a slower song with good female and male vocals at the end. I also like “Ghost Train”, which has a strong beat.

I think the Gorillaz are the best band ever.

XTC — Waxworks and Beeswax Compilations

XTC -- Waxworks and Beeswax Compilations

• Artist: XTC
• Title: Waxworks and Beeswax Compilations
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Used, somewhere far from here, sometime long ago.

It’s a thoroughly ’80s evening. Mary is watching 200 Cigarettes and laughing about how Dave Chappelle’s character Disco Cabbie reminds her of me. (?) I have to say that at least he’s the coolest cat in the movie, with the best lines. This movie was made in 1999 but takes place in 1981. Of course it’s chockablock with some of our favorite music. One year later, 1982, these XTC compilations were released. It’s hard to believe they started so long ago.

XTC’s “Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982” (Wikipedia) and “Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977-1982” were originally released together, but I think they later became separate albums. I have them pushed together in the picture below, but they are in fact physically separate records, not gatefold covers. I’ve never been a huge fan, but I do appreciate their music and have bought some of their records. My favorite song from both records is “Generals and Majors.”

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.