Day 7 - Punk, Metal and .... um, Bowie

Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Despite being into my metal, Black Sabbath are one band I have not really paid that much attention to. We're going way back to 1971 here with this one, and compared to some of the music I have listened to from around that era, this is pretty heavy stuff. The opening riff is that sort of riff that says, "Here we are, and we are going to rock", much copied, but this feels original and groundbreaking. Hard to believe this was done in 1971, as it sounds pretty fresh but with that warmth of 1970s production that I've alluded to before. This record is riff-tastic, and one that I will be keeping for listening to again I am sure. I can hear lots of Kings X in this record ... and that's a good thing.
Standout Tracks: Sweet Leaf, Orchid (some sweet guitar playing), Into The Void




Blondie - Parallel Lines
Debbie Harry - Well fit, innit. I suppose the best testimony to a good band is that 30 years later people are still playing their songs on the radio, and so it is with the first two tracks from this record (Hanging on the Telephone, One way or Another). It's essentially not my cup of tea, wishy washy guitar pop with a hint of a rebellious punk nature to it. Harry's voice is excellent though, I'm really liking that, but the rest of it, whilst bursting with energy and enthusiasm is not exactly floating my boat. Can't quite put my finger on why I'm not keen on it, the record certainly has me tapping my foot in places, and its a happy record - one for listening to with a beer in the garden in the summer ... there is just something about it that I dislike. Perhaps its familiarity breeding contempt - I've heard many of these songs many, many times before.
Standout Tracks: Fade Away (And Radiate) ..(for the dirty guitar noise), Pretty Baby (not sure why I like it .. but I do), Heart of Glass





David Bowie - Low I was looking forward to listening to this one, as Bowie is another one of those British icons that I have never paid that much attention to. I'm not surprised by the slightly odd nature to the record, but I am impressed with the feel of the music. Bowie's voice is unique, the sort that everyone knows and recognises, but its rather easy on the ear. Some of the guitars need thickening up a little bit, and some of the keyboard stuff is a little wierd, but to be honest, given Bowie's reputation, the album is not as oddball as I expected but rather more "listenable" if you like. Some of the songs are better than others, obviously, but I am finding it hard to pick a standout track or two (although Warszawa is coming close, a lot of depth and hidden lyrics in the synths). As the album wears on, it gets wierder and becomes a bit more like how I expected it to sound (listen to "Art Decade" to see what I mean). All in all, not bad, but not great, it might need another listen I suppose to understand what the album is trying to be, since it started off straightforward and got more oddball as it went on.
Standout Track: Warszawa, Subterraneans (Just for the wierdness)



On a final note - I started listening to an album by Bloc Party (A Weekend in the City), but didn't get very far before giving up:

Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City
Never heard of this lot (I don't think). A shame about this one really, they sound a lot like The Cure or some other morose indie band from the early 90s, which throws me back to my happy University days. However, the CD this selection of MP3's was borrowed from just skips all the time so I'll have to get another copy. As I said a shame, because I think I might have liked that one!