So Jefferson Airplane's second album from 1967 and a key release of early psychedelia and folk rock. Really it is good fun and unlike some "classics" lives up to the bill and still sounds fresh. "Somebody to love" and "White rabbit" are of course famous songs heavily played to this day, but still retain their urgency and invention.
Moving beyond these tracks "She has funny cars" is an enjoyable stomp, pretty garage-y. "Come back to me" is mellowness personified. "Today" is so beautiful and atmospheric. It was a hugely popular song during the Summer of Love and you can hear why. It sounds real. Man.
Well that was the year everything died, including our hopes and this blog. But we have returned for the traditional end of year lists...
Top 10 Artists of 2016
1: Mary Chapin Carpenter 2: St Lucia 3: Ladyhawke 4: Phases 5: Wolf Alice 6: Scarlet Soho 7: Flyying Colours 8: Lycia 9: Leitbur 10: Le Cassette
Top 10 Songs of 2016
1: solo KO - Scarlet Soho 2: wavy gravy - Flyying Colours 3: i need you - Leitbur 4: unprepared - The Ice Choir 5: long goodbye - Basia Bulat 6: physical - St Lucia 7: sweet fascination - Ladyhawke 8: run - The Northern Lights 9: a ghost ascends - Lycia 10: one eyed butterfly - Mood Robot
In case you don't know who these people are, well check out the A-Z of 2016 playlist. Happy New Year!
We're back (like ballroom dancing)! Also back are The Salient Braves with another EP of jangly pop goodness. Truthfully i listened to this while pretty flu-ed up, so this was some welcome medication. Did more good than paracetamol anyway.
While the title track is a highly enjoyable pop track my favourite is the slightly more off the wall "My alter ego" with lovely dual vocal interplay. Also to be commended is "Cynical old bastard" which for a start has a great title and also some great lyrics, for example rhyming "believe it" with "fleapit" and "Dick Dastard[ly]" with "old bastard"!
Its a great EP, its just what you need when you have a cold, or just anytime right now in this crazy world.
What is your favourite album ever? Its a common question to ask in musical circles, and it is a very difficult one to answer correctly. Its easy to throw in answers like the White Album or a Birdy Song Megamix but to truly say what is your favourite album EVAH and not just what is the current flavour of the month takes some thought. And i have given it a lot of thought, and this is it.
So why is it so good? The songs for a start. Accomplished and polished songs like "Quitting time", "Never had it so good", "This shirt". Great song writing and great production. The more you listen to it the more you find to enjoy about the album. Especially Carpenter's voice, to this day i've yet to find a singer whose vocals i like as much. I guess it also reminds me of my late teens when i first bought the album on vinyl back in 1989. And i've loved it, and her, ever since.
