Even Miles Davis was harmed by the 80s... who's next?!

I recently started purchasing vinyl records with a view to getting a record player some day soon (that day was today in fact). I'm not quite sure why I want to buy records as almost all logic points to the fact I shouldn't, but for whatever reason it is, I do.

One thing that appeals (although I think this is thinking a few years ahead, as I strangely sometimes do with my purchases) is the idea of going into the spare room that has my music, sticking on a relaxing jazz/blues record and chilling out to it. Of course, I could easily stick on a CD or MP3, but it just wouldn't be the same.

With this in mind I thought it would be a good idea to own a Miles Davis record. So, when I spotted one for a tenner whilst browsing a record fair at the Glastonbury Festival, I figured why not. I was already buying a Pixies record so one way or another I was going to have to get a record home. So I picked up an album of his called Decoy. Usually when I purchase an album by someone I'm unsure of, I check out the year it was recorded and try to buy one from a time the artist was at their peak. Now I don't know much about Miles Davis, but if I were thinking straight I'd probably aim for the 50s/60s. What I would have made sure I did was NOT buy something from the 80s, because very few things that come from that decade (be it a Bob Dylan, Neil Young or Johnny Cash album) are any good (with the exception of that Pixies album I mentioned earlier). And that's exactly what I did.. 1984 in fact.

And as if I needed any more convicing that the 80s were shite, this record confirms it. I'm not one to dismiss music out of hand - and I'm open to the idea that this may well become an enjoyable record for me in time - but when all the good things about jazz (such as the sax) are replacing with all things that are evil about the 80s (such as the synthesiser), I'm left with little choice but to dismiss it. It's still playing as I type (in fact I just made the effort to stand up and flip the disc), so I suppose I can take some confort in the fact it's not been stopped yet, and I do aim to hear it again, but it's going to be some tricky listening.

A Solid Selection of Music

Usually the music I'm listening to is all over the place, but these past couple weeks it's been mainly focussed on the same set of artists. This is slightly driven by Glastonbury but also by the fact that they are all really good albums that deserve some attention. They are:

Rufus Wainwright - Release The Stars
I have this on as I type and I'm just starting to appreciate how good it is (in fact I've just sent a text to my brother to say how good it is). I saw him at Pilton (I'm local, so it's almost an unwritten law that I refer to Glasto as 'Pilton') a few years back. The first track he played was superb and was enough to stop going to where ever it was I was going and sit down and listen. Sadly the rest of the set was dull. However, his latest album promises a lot more with some real stand-out tracks on there. I look foward to see him playing this year in-spite of my previous experience.

Standout track: Going To A Town

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Although I could see it was a good album from the start, it was never really a threat to their previous album - until now. It's starting to sound fantastic and I'm glad I've kept at it.

Standout track: My Body Is A Cage

The National - Boxer
If ever there were a band who write slow burners, it's these. On first listen the songs sound pleasant enough, but never truly grab you. Their previous album, Alligator was a fine example of this. Boxer has yet to completely grab me, but it's darn close, I can tell! Gutted these are not playing Glasto as I think they'd be fantastic live. Oddly enough, when I saw Marrillion on Friday, I thought that if you ignore their wailing lead singer you had a good band there, sounding a fair bit like The National.

Standout track: Fake Empire

Pixies - Doolittle
I absolutely love this album. So many great songs on there. If I can just avoid murderning it I think it might well turn out to be one of my top 10 albums. Before I purchased it I was already familiar with Monkey Gone to Heaven and the strangely great Hey. A favourite track that I was not aware of is Mr. Grieves. Kicking off with a dub-like beat, Black Francis stutters his way through the lines "Hope everything is all right..". A line or two later and it's bounces into the chorus. So many ideas going on in one song. Great.

Standout track: Mr. Grieves

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Believe the hype. It's a great album. I don't think it has as many stand-out tracks as their debut, but it's probably a more consistently good album. And - like their debut - the final track is a corker.

Standout track: 12 - 505

Of Montreal - Icons, Abstract Thee (EP)
I love EPs. Long enough to get into, but not to long as to get the fidgets and move on to the next artist. This is a solid EP, although there isn't one track on there that is better than any tracks on their latest album 'Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?'. Don't let that put you off though, it just so happens that their latest album is (alongside Modest Mouse's latest) probably the best album I've heard this year.

Standout track: No Conclusion (note: I'd be lying if I didn't admit that this is partially down to the fact it contains the lyrics "cock-sucking blues". A very 00s take on a roots tradition.)

Albums that haven't grabbed me, probably should have and no doubt will...

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
Make no mistake about it, it's a great album that I know I'll listen to during the coming months - its just so far, apart from the first couple tracks, there are no stand-out tracks.. yet. Talking about the opening track though, what an opening track! I've never heard rythmn guitar sound so good as it does as it kicks in early on in this track.

Bright Eyes - Cassadanga
As with The Shins, the first two songs on this album are also brilliant. With the opening track 'Clairaudients (Kill Or Be Killed)' reminding me of Atom Heart Mother era Floyd and the second track 'Four Winds' sounding like Desire era Dylan. After that though, much like The Shins again, there are no tracks that stand-out. Much like The Shins though, I expect this to change (especially after seeing him/them live at Pilton soon).

Mr Biffo

Why waste your time reading this blog when you could be reading Mr Biffo's, who actually has something to say and has a funny way of saying it.

Glastonbury 2007

Well, the line-up has been announced.

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/lineups.php?hits_seen=0&Year=2007&FestID=1175

Headliner wise I don't think it's all that special, but in terms of the line-up having bands I'm either in to or interested by, it's a corker. The big one for me is Modest Mouse with Arcade Fire a close second. Anyway, for those who are interested (or at the very least wouldn't mind an idea of the sort of music I'm in to) here's what I plan to see:

Must See

Gogol Bordello
Arcade Fire
Bright Eyes
Modest Mouse
The Little Ones
Liam Frost

Want to See

Arctic Monkeys
The Earlies
Guillemots
Bjork
Rufus Wainwright
Super Furry Animals
The Cribs
The Long Blondes
Chemical Brothers
Cold War Kids
Amp Fiddler
Tokyo Police Club
The Hours
Mr Scruff
Charlotte Hatherley
Cherry Ghost
Duke Special

If there is nothing else on, then I'd very happily go to:

Amy Winehouse
The Who
Damian Marley
Editors
Babyshambles
Mika
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
The Go! Team
Hot Chip
Mumm-Ra
Tiny Dancers
The Noisettes
Infadels
Annie Nightingale
The Cat Empire
The Broken Family Band
3 Daft Monkeys
Beans on Toast (Only because it's a brilliant band name)
The Electric Soft Parade