I'm not sure if summer listening is exactly a theme to this post, but I've been on a recent re-issue kick for two groups/artists.
First off, the recent Japan reissues, of which I got Quiet Life, Gentlemen Take Polaroids, and Tin Drum, which reminded me how awsome Japan could be (also got the most recent Sylvian, which I haven't spent enough time with to have an opinion). There's a lot of Roxy in this music, but there's a whole lot of other wonderful grace notes as well.
The other re-issues are the first four Eno albums with songs/lyrics (Discreet Music doesn't really count in this) and I'm listening to Here Come the Warm Jets as we speak. DAMN! What a wonderful album. I'm going to work my through to my favorite (also the first Eno album I bought) Before and After Science.
I'm not much for Japan, but early Eno is almost beyond compare.
Nice Newsradio list, Joe. I'm in awe at the intersections of your encyclopedic knowledge.
The other re-issues are the first four Eno albums with songs/lyrics (Discreet Music doesn't really count in this) and I'm listening to Here Come the Warm Jets as we speak. DAMN! What a wonderful album. I'm going to work my through to my favorite (also the first Eno album I bought) Before and After Science.
Cool! I've been looking for early Eno CDs, with no luck. I think Before and After Science was my first Eno album too. That is, if I don't count My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (the Eno/Byrne album).
Y'know, I don't think it's fair of me to discount Japan so easily. I've only heard a few tracks, none of which I found particularly gripping, but it may have had to do with a number of factors, including the mostly awful mix they were on (which, fwiw, was a technopop mix from years back that seemed designed to highlight the worst of each artist; I've since come around to appreciation for some of the other artists on that mix).
Edit - I overexplain just because.
Do folks who love early solo Eno also like the first two Roxy Music albums? (Eno was in Roxy for those two albums.) 'Cuz they are good and stuff.
I love Roxy in all its incarnations. I think the first album has higher highs, but For Your Pleasure is the more consistently good of the two Eno albums. I don't think Roxy hit its peak, though, until Country Life/Siren.
Hayden, I wouldn't say Japan is for everybody - very delicate and precise, but they don't sound dated in any way. Give Quiet Life a listen, because it's much less precious than the other two (and has some kick-ass guitar that later got phased out of the band's sound). I will admit that Sylvian's vocals are like a more mannered Bryan Ferry's, but he's got a different edge - as a reviewer said shy rather than dissipated or jaded.
I'd also HIGHLY recommend the Fripp/Sylvian collaboration The First Day, but I'm a total Crim head, so take that with whatever grains of salt you will.
Totally with you on the early Eno, though. The man had something going on. Whether how it changed was for the better or for the worse, I don't want to get into (because I like a lot of his ambient stuff), but those four "conventional" albums are SUBLIME.
I should probably check it out again. Hey, I listened to King Crimson's Red the other day for the first time in about 12 years. Gotta say, it was pretty damn good.
hayden, I'm listening to Calexico's Feast of Wire on your recommendation. It's freaking amazing, and I love it.
Next up, Lambchop.
Hey, I listened to King Crimson's Red the other day for the first time in about 12 years. Gotta say, it was pretty damn good.
Oh HELL YES!!!! If you haven't heard any of their recent releases (THRAK, The Power to Believe), I recommend them highly. Also, if they play anywhere near you, go see them. I've seen them four times, and outside of Tom Waits, I can't think of anyone who's been a more transformative experience live.
