FDF Volume 2: Issue 106 - The Stereo MC's - Connected

Album - Connected
Artist - Stereo MC's
Key Players - Rob (Robert Birch), The Head (Nick Hallman) and Owen If (Ian Rossiter). Backing vocals by Cath Coffey, Verona Davis and Andrea Groves.
Produced By - Stereo MC's and Al Stone

Release Date - January 12, 1993


What caused me to blow off the dust? - I think it started when I read a review for their new cd and I, like many, said "they are still around eh?". I also mentioned them 1-2 FDFs ago in the Jesus Jones post.

Overview - Released late in 1992 (and then early 93 in the US) the Stereo MC's stuck a chord with audiences on this, their fourth release. The album would spawn four singles with "Connected" being the most widely known. The band would tour for the record and gather even more momentum. The band, a group of perfectionists and "not wanting to repeat themselves", would wait almost 10 years before their next studio album would be released. In 2000 the British magazine "Q" placed "Connected' at number 52 on its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums ever.


FDF Comments (aka the songs) - The lead off single and probably the most recognized Stereo MC's track "Connected" opens the record. There is really not a lot I can say that you probably don't already know. Opening with a "whistle" the track "Ground Level" gets rolling. A strong bass and sampled loop lay the foundation on the track. The female vocalist sign high parts and the lead vocal track is rolled from male to female for a nice touch. Each gets their own solid solo breakdown as well. Starting with low bass and a spoken word sample roll up "Everything". The female lead is very uptempo for the first minute or so of the track before the male lead takes a quick fast rap like route. There is actually a flute interlude (sampled or not) it fits really well on the solid break before verse two. The lyrics and overall feel are slower on "Sketch" while "Fade Away" has a strong bass groove to it. The lyrics here are quick with a lot of call and response going on from the female singers. They slow it down some once more on "All Night Long". There are a lot more percussion instruments with a big false ending placed at the right time before the loop grove comes back. A single keyboard line opens "Step It Up" with a strong horn sample. The bottom loop on this track is infectious. See for yourself in the download portion. We get an even deeper groove on "Playing With Fire" that gets a nice touch from the wah-wah guitar parts. The vocal delivery is slightly slower than other tracks giving it a soulful sound. Another track with a really strong back beat is "Pressure". There a few randomly strewn about keyboard notes over the top of the track. The track also has a more "live drummer" sound to it as well. "Chicken Shake" has another great groove to it although it keeps the heavy break beat sections. This track is totally instrumental. A lot of "oooh yeahs" start of "Creation" which is a return to form. The male/female vocals are given at a good clip and the flute portion returns once more. This track has the fastest vocal delivery of any track on the album. A hockey arena organ sound brings up an album stand out "Don't Let Up". The females sound great on this track and this is one of the true gems of the record. The album wraps up with the aptly titled "The End". It is a slower grove but still has a heavy bottom to it that even infuses a saxophone solo.


Where are they now? - The Stereo MCs are still active today both in the studio and as a live touring act. Their most recent full length album "Double Bubble" was released in July of 2008 in America.

FDF Personal Comments (aka the Live experience) - I did see the Stereo MC's live two times. In a headlining slot it was on July 16, 1993 at the Paradise in Boston. The band was terrific with their electronic vibe filling the room. The second time was as a support act for
Jesus Jones on the same "Connected' tour.

FDF Overall Take - If you are looking for a fun record that sort ot mixes Electronica, Pop, hip-hop as well as a few other genres this is a rewarding listen. Granted the band might rely a lot on samples in a live setting there are instruments played to fill the void. This band might not be for everyone, but the single, as well as other tracks are easily recognizable and easy to get you going. If it is not your thing, that is cool too.

Links
Their official site and myspace page are one in the same.

Curious? Check out some MUSIC!

mp3s have been removed. They were
Connected
Don't Let Up
Step Up

All the tracks are from "Connected" which you can buy here.


Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.

FDF Volume 2 Issue 105: Loose Fur - Loose Fur

Album - Loose Fur
Artist - Loose Fur
Key Players - Jim O'Rourke, .Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche
Produced By - Jim O'Rourke

Release Date - January 28, 2003

What caused me to blow off the dust? - I have been reading about some great Wilco shows on line as of late. I don't seem to stray too far from a Wilco cd but it had been a while since I had given this side projects debut a "once over".

Overview - Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy was working on a solo show when he began to work with Jim O'Rourke and Glenn Kotche. The sessions began in 2000 and this would eventually be released as their first album in 2000. This area of time would have profound implications on the band Wilco as this record re-focused Jeff both musically and lyrically. Wilco would also lose two members soon after because Jeff had such a change in direction. After some time the band would release a second record called "Born Again in the USA".


FDF Comments (aka the songs) - The floor tom lead "Laminated Cat" opens the record. A cast off Wilco track that never really got to Tweedys liking builds with more guitar and bass. There is a pretty good guitar solo but it is not a flashy solo. "Elegant Transaction" has the lyrics brought right up. The acoustic guitar works well with the simple verse swapping. The song later gets some banjo fills and gets more uptempo as it continues. The focus throughout remains on the acoustic guitar and it sort of has a looping, repeating section over and over, but it doesn't really seem to bother the listener. The longest, and most experimental track "So Long" is next. Right out of the gate the song feels like it lacks any focus. The guitar sort of plods along, almost hitting bad and botched notes, but it really is not. A smattering of various percussion instruments chime at various times while the guitar continues to remain unfocused. This is a taxing listen that is for sure. Making up for it is then the shortest track on the album "You Were Wrong". The piano and guitar on this track is wonderful. The instrumental track "Liquidation Totale" follows. According to various sources the album was put together with very few overdubs or "takes". The guitars have a good buzz to them and it may sound odd to report the banjo part is quite good. The guitars don't seem to hold things back. The pretty solo acoustic guitar brings up the album closer "Chinese Apple". The track slowly builds to a wonderful "chime' in the guitar(s). It almost blurs the lines into 12 sting guitars..and it could be. A great album closer


Where are they now? - Jeff and Glenn are active members in Wilco who still write and perform live. O'Rourke who was a member of Sonic Youth until 2005 has continued to write and perform as a solo artist and collaborator, who has worked with Wilco.

FDF Personal Comments (aka the Live experience) - Loose Fur is a side project and the band has toured just one time doing two shows in New York City. They have not toured since.

FDF Overall Take - For fans of Wilco and Sonic Youth there are some parts that will satisfy you. It is nice to hear artists do something out of their comfort zone, but still remaining in the realm that got you to take notice of them the first time. These records won't come out at a fast pace, and this might not be a record you put on to get a party started but the end result is reward enough.

Links -
The label's sitehere

Curious? Check out some MUSIC!

the mp3s have been removed. They were
Elegant Transaction and Chinese Apple


Tracks taken from the debut album which you can buy
here

Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.

FDF Volume 2 Issue 104: Jesus Jones - Doubt

Album - Doubt
Artist - Jesus Jones
Key Players - Mike Edwards - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Jerry De Borg - Backing Vocals, Guitar, Iain Baker - Keyboards, Alan Doughty - Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar, Tony Arthy - Drums

Produced By - Jesus Jones

Release Date - January 29, 1991

What caused me to blow off the dust? - No specific thing got me to grab this record and give it that "one more spin".

Overview - Topping the UK charts with this, their second full length album Jesus Jones would become more widely known in America as the album would have two good charting singles. The end result would be Jesus Jones cracking the billboard top 200 albums and reaching number 25. The subsequent follow up sold moderate but never reached the same heights at the predecessor. The band would then go on a hiatus only to then be parted with their label.

FDF Comments (aka the songs) - A spoken word sample opens up "Trust Me" before hard driving drums come in. The band uses a lot of click drum tracks and swooping keyboards. This follows suit to some of the harder things they were doing on their debut album "Liquidizer". The subtle into on "Who? Where? Why?" quickly lapses in to an almost tribal feeling drum track. One of the singles to modern rock radio "International Bright Young Thing" has a punchier bass line and has a very techno pop feel to it based off the keyboard line. The looping bass line riff was used for one scene in the John Candy film "Uncle Buck". The semi' 'droning' keyboard intro to "I'm Burning" is nothing like the prior track. This changes and a chiming guitar is brought out more. It is a little more laid back that some of the earlier tracks, but still has that pop feel. Used in everything from a KMart ad to Hillary Clintons campaign song "Right Here, Right Now" is easily identifiable. The stop, break beat guitar and bass line are the tracks trademark. Machine gun drums and sort of buried spoken word vocals are found on "Nothing To Hold Me". Another modern rock radio track was "Real, Real, Real". Again, this follows suit with the bouncing keyboard and drum lines. The drums get a little more clicky on the intro to "Welcome Back Victoria" which has a single guitar come along with it. It has smooth bass lines but once more it is a little on the "drone" side of things. We go back to more up tempo and fun on "Are You Satisfied?". The chorus on this track is particularly catchy. Heaviness ensues on "Two And Two" as the drums really have more of a crunch. The techno sound is prominent throughout as well. Sounding like a Ministry cast off for the intro "Stripped" really gets going. Lyrics are pushed harder and there is a strong instrumental breakdown after the first chorus. The album closes with a deep keyboard groove on "Blissed". The guitar is playful over the top then the guitar sort of plays chords with some delay and single strong keyboard notes.


Where are they now? - The band is still active today both as Jesus Jones as well as with various side projects. According to the bands official site Mike Edwards has released an ep and has been working on "other projects" that are mostly songwriter/recording based. Jerry De Borg and Tony Arthy play shows in London from time to time with the band Sum Demeana. Tony has a second project with the band "Louder than Bombs". Iain Baker has a radio show on XFM. Alan Doughty is working with the Waco Brothers. The band will do two support shows for the Wonder Stuff in October 2008 in the UK.

FDF Personal Comments (aka the Live experience) - I have seen the band live on two occasions. One of them (date for sure) was October 10, 1991 at the Orpheum in Boston. The show was pretty good, but the opener was Ned's Atomic Dustbin (fdf) which brought me and my friends to spend the money on the double bill. The second time (or it could have been first time) was from what I can gather April 22 1991 at the Rocky Point Palladium in Rhode Island. My friend was working for a college radio station and he got us tickets. The Stereo MC's opened up the show and we had a pretty good time. After the show we had meet and greet passes. We get backstage with about 30-40 more people into this average sized room. There is food in the corner a few tables. People sit down and wait for the band to arrive. My friend and I take the last two seats at one table where nobody else was, but on the seats was jackets indicating someone planned or hoped to sit there. After a few minutes the band sort of begins to trickle in and it just so happens we are at the same table as the band. They all sit down and start chatting with us, telling us to get food and drink and hang out. For a good 15-20 minutes the whole room sort of waited their turn to say hi to the band. My buddy and I had a pretty good conversation with them all, they were all very nice.


FDF Overall Take - Some of this has aged pretty well considering. It is hard to "not" hear Right Here Right Now, but some of the other tracks on this record are worthy of tossing on the mp3 player. Not sure I'd load the whole thing, but a few will get added. Of the three Jesus Jones cds I own this is probably the easiest for the casual fan to get interested in.


Links
Official site

Curious? Check out some MUSIC!

the mp3's have been removed. they were:

Right Here Right Now
International Bright Young Thing
Are you Satisfied

Tracks were taken from "Doubt" which is really not hard to find for cheap money..but
here is a start

Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.

FDF Volume 2 Issue 103: Michael Hutchence

Album - Michael Hutchence
Artist - Michael Hutchence
Key Players - Michael Hutchence - vocals. Various other artists like Joe Stummer and Kenny Arnoff etc.
Produced By - Andy Gill, Michael Hutchence and Danny Saber

Release Date - February 22, 2000

What caused me to blow off the dust? - I am convinced that I have never listened to this cd all the way through. It was a given to me when I worked at the radio station and we were playing a track from it. It has been listened to for 6+ years at least. A true candidate.

Overview - Work for this solo record began in 1995 but the final collection would not be released until after Michael Hutchence passing. This would be the only solo effort Hutchence would release and while he will be best know and the front man from INXS this was a diversion from what that band created for so many years. The record was finally released in 1999 and was a flop, mostly due to the lack of promotion for the album. Even guest appearances from Bono couldn't get fans to buy the record.


FDF Comments (aka the songs) The album opens with sort of a heavy almost grunge sounding "Let Me Show You". Joe Strummer offers up some backing vocals on the track and its unlike anything that INXS had ever done. Off to a good start perhaps since a solo effort should break you from the mold. Rumor has it Michael recorded the next track "Possibilities" as close to three days before his death. The track is a mellow affair with a lot of strings and almost has a sort of "lounge" feel to to. "Get on the Inside" is the polar opposite as it has a more techno feel while "Fear" has a lot of punch on the guitar and drum tracks. As odd as it sounds Fear seems to bring the vocals more to the front that the prior tracks. Having a "world music drum feel" "All I'm Saying" opens with a strong bass line to compliment it. The chorus is a lot more gruff than other tracks. A slapping drum intro brings up "A Straight Line". This track has a strong soul feel to it with a lot of horns and soulful backing singers. Keeping with sort of a funky feel "Baby It's Alright" is next. The guitar gets pushed up with some wah wah riffs but seems to fall back quickly to the techno feeling drum beat. Having more of an INXS "feel" the track "Don't Save Me from Myself" follows. The track has a heavier electronic drum feel to it once more. The vocals are distorted on "She Flirts for England" and flows right in to another dark track "Flesh and Blood". F+Blood has more keyboards and the vocals are hushed more of a tight drum track. We get a little more uptempo with "Put the Pieces Back Together". The vocals are given at a quicker pace and the chorus gets really urgent as well. The fuzzy guitar gets a work out on "Breathe". The album closes with "Slide Away" that features Bono from U2. The track was actually incomplete and Bono and the producers worked together to get it completed for the record. It was released as a single from the record but created little buzz. The sound is familiar to what U2 was doing at the time of Pop so it has a techno feel with hushed vocals but the harmonies added by Bono add a nice touch and as noted he takes over whole verses at a time.


Where are they now? - Michael Hutchence died on November 22, 1997 at age 37 of an apparent suicide.

FDF Personal Comments (aka the Live experience) - I never saw Michael as a solo performer but I was able to see INXS a few times. We will save those memories for an INXS entry in Forgotten Disc Friday


FDF Overall Take - Unless you are a die hard there is not a lot here. I am not bashing the "effort" but there is nothing that really hooks you in for long periods. It was a dark and deeply personal record by all accounts and that can prove a tough listen.

Links

A memorial site

Curious? Check out some MUSIC!

***mp3 has been removed***

Slide Away

The track was taken from the solo record you can buy here

Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.

FDF Volume 2 Issue 102: Ian McCulloch - Candleland

Album - Candleland
Artist - Iam McCulloch
Key Players - Ian McCulloch - vocals and guitar
Produced By - Ray Shulman

Release Date - September 17, 1989


What caused me to blow off the dust? - For some reason the last week or so I have been singing random songs from this record. When it came out I recall it getting hundreds of plays, usually a buddy of mine and I sat around at a party, and after most people left we'd put this on and just sort of chill out. Its been ages since this got the old back to back treatment so here goes.

Overview - Ian McCulloch fronted Echo & The Bunnymen and left the group to release this, his first solo album. The album would have moderate chart success overseas and just barely crack the Billboard Top 200. Ian would go on to release two additional solo records and, in the end, rejoin Echo and the Bunnymen.


FDF Comments (aka the songs) - The album opens with "The Flickering Wall", a track that has both strings and keyboards. Neither is "new" to the listener since Echo and the Bunnymen would often use them. The bass is strong and melodic. The guitar has a real "ring" to it and the track infuses a lot of the keyboard and guitar elements to provide a great opening track. The little more "electronic" feeling "The White Hotel" begins. There is a little guitar feedback, but nothing crazy before falling into that comfortable guitar sound. Ian repeats "Tonight" over and over in a low baritone as the song begins to fade and is complimented with a guitar solo. The first single from the record "Proud to Fall" is next. It is easy to understand why this was released as a first single as Bunnymen fans get all the elements they are used to, and liked in the band. There is some echo/delay on Ian's voice at times and the drums are really tight. More keyboard is heard in "The Cape" during the intro. The guitar has more of a crunch as the song progresses and coming off the chorus. There is a flashier guitar solo on the outtro with a lot of fuzz and compression on the guitar. The pretty "Candleland" follows. There is a lot of xylophone mixed with the haunting female vocals that were done by Elizabeth Fraser who made a name for herself in the Cocteau Twins. The sort of silly "Horse's Head" comes up with piano and strings. There is more a machine drum beat after the intro and the lyrics are a little silly but it is still a very catchy track. Ian is a little "breathy" on the track and does some neat harmonies with himself via studio overdubs. Another single from the album "Faith and Healing" begins with a synth pop intro. The lyrics are given a little quicker than other songs as well. We slow it down again for "I Know You Well" with a heavy dose of strings once more. The bass has a certain rumble to it throughout. It is a pretty song about relationships and would have the potential to be a wedding song for example barring the cryptic first verse that mentions killing and spilling blood. The "clicky" intro to "In Bloom" fades up with tambourine and drums. The guitar is very heavily compressed on the track and there is a long intro. The vocals are heavily delayed and the track, with a dark feel overall, is sung in short vocal bursts. Still, its one of my favorite tracks. The album ends with "Start Again" a slow track with a strong acoustic guitar base.


Where are they now? - Ian had released three solo records. The most recent "Sidiling" came out in 2003. Echo and the Bunnymen tour and record at a more casual pace. The band wll play one of their albums "Ocean Rain" in its entirety at Radio City Music Hall on October 1, 2008.


FDF Personal Comments (aka the Live experience) - I have never seen Ian perform solo, but I have been (at least in my mind) lucky enough to see Echo and the Bunnymen perform live. The earliest was August 18, 1987 on a triple bill that also featured New Order. This was at the (now) Comcast Center. That was the most "pure" version I saw. I saw the "re-formed" Bunnymen sans Ian at Axis in Boston June 30, 1992. In 1997 they were "reformed" when is saw them play Avalon on October 24th. There have been a few other chances here and there but I just haven't gotten my act together to see them once more.

**correction..i have seen Ian live solo. At the Living Room in Providence. I don't have a ticket stub..but it was for this tour. Ultra Vivid Scene opened the show for him.

FDF Overall Take - If you are/were a fan of Echo and the Bunnymen there is a good chance you probably liked Ian's voice to begin with. It has a certain warmth to it even if it is not very "accomplished". Fans of Echo probably own this while others may have had no idea who this was, but its a decent listen.

Links -

Ian on myspace
Echo and the Bunnymen official site.

Curious? Check out some MUSIC!

***mp3's have been removed***

All the tracks were taken from "Candleland" which you can buy here

Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.