Day 12 - From rap to post punk

The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge
No idea what I expected when I opened up this album. According to sources The Chameleons are "post punk", whatever that means. Well, I looked it up - after the first wave of punk, bands started getting creative and writing more technical music but with the punk edge to it. Well I suppose that's what we have here. There are some gorgeous guitar parts on this record, and the vocalist is truly haunting. The guitars alternate between atmospheric mush and old fashioned riffs, and the influence that this form of music had on the indie bands of the later 80s and 90s is obvious for all to see. I actually quite enjoyed this record, with its guitar driven melodies and atmosphere, and the less than perfect, but perfectly suuited, vocals. Reminded me of what New Order might sound like if they substituted their keyboards for guitars, and of that room mate I mentioned in the Cure review earlier yesterday. And on a side note, I now know more about post punk, alternative rock, indie, and post punk revivalists than I ever thought I would.
Standout Tracks: Monkeyland, Second Skin, Up the Down Escalator, Pleasure and Pain, Thursdays Child



Culture - Two Sevens Clash
These songs are labelled reggae, and reggae they certainly are. Steel drums everywhere, Jamaican accents in the vocals, off beat syncopation with the guitars. It's all very nice and happy ... I think. A quick check on Wikipedia has informed me that this is "roots reggae", where the emphasis is on praise of God, but also social issues, and that there are many many different types of reggae. The album is nice enough I supposed, but reggae is not really something I have ever paid attention to (except the odd Bob Marley record heard on the radio). That said, it's very easy on the ears, and foot tapping is certainly going on under the desk, but more than likely not something I would return to. I think I prefer the latin sounds of central and south America to Caribbean music. I learned one thing while listening though, what the term "skanking" means.
Standout Tracks: Hard to say ... Get Ready to Ride the Lion to Zion




Daft Punk - Discovery
Well I er ... expected punk, but that's not exactly what I got. Instead I'm being treated to synthesiser pop music. Change your name lads, it confuses people. I actually know the first song - hard to avoid it really, "One More Time". The heavily synthesised vocals are really off putting, sounds like a keyboard would sound if it could sing. Keyboards pretending to be guitars also does very little for the integrity of my ears. I imagine if you like synth pop / dance, then this could be considered quite innovative. It's a very well polished dance album, but seriously, all the excessive auto-tuning on the vocals is making my ears bleed! Looking ahead in the track list the final song is called "Too Long" and is 10 minutes in duration! No kidding ... they should have called the album "Too Long" to discourage listeners from playing it. I suppose the best thing you could say about Daft Punk is ... that they aren't punk.
Standout Tracks: One More Time, Hard Better Faster Stronger, Something about us, Short Circuit (for the nice 80s feel)




David Crosby - If I could only remember my name
Of Crosby, Stills and Nash fame I assume (confirmed with a quick Wiki). If you are a fan of 1970s music and particularly guitar based cool rock, then you will like this. I am unsure, I think I like it! The songs are repetitive, and sound an awful lot like a jam session one might have with a band ... guitarists noodling away over the top of a repeated chord progression. Still, I do like this style of music, reminds me of a less technically complex John Martyn record, and the fact that the guitars are the forefront of the music is great for a guitarist like me. This is a good record, which apparently was widely panned at the time but is still in print today having matured over time like a fine wine. The record is simultaneously light and airy and tense in places, a good work.
Standout Tracks: Cowboy Movie, What are their names





De La Soul - Three Feet High and Rising
Well this is okay. The music is pretty upbeat and funky, but I am less than keen on the silly samples in between songs. I like the phat beats that underline the samples, and the rapping style is easy on the ears and not at all harsh like some rap acts that switch me off to the genre. Pretty laid back music, and very easy to listen to, but I get the feeling that I'll have forgotten this album almost as soon as its finished. The album bounces between funky rhythm and plain silliness, there really is no need for all the daft samples in between what are half decent songs ... gets annoying after a while.
Standout Tracks: The Magic Number, Eye Know, Potholes in my Lawn, Me Myself and I (obviously)






Deep Purple - Machine Head
I have a friend here who is a rather enthusiastic Purple fan, but the band are not one I have ever been that into. I've heard Highway Star before of course, and it kicks off this album in fine style, and finally, a band with proper guitar players! You can hear the influence all over this record that the music would have on all metal from 1972 onwards - like Sabbath, its hard to believe this music is as old as I am, but perhaps that is because its influence is heard everywhere in rock and metal today. I love the riffing in "Maybe I'm a Leo", and the bass solo in Pictures of Home came as a surprise, but a pleasant one. It was all going really well until Smoke on the Water. Seriously, does anyone listen to that song anymore? Or maybe it's just I'm scarred by that part of my working life spent manning a guitar shop .... but in the end, this album is great stuff (anyone that writes a 7:22 song deserves a pat on the back).
Standout Tracks: Maybe I'm a Leo, Lazy, Space Truckin' was kinda cool also ...