As I reported last year, it is traditional for me with a group of friends to exchange CD's containing what we each consider to be among the best music of the year. The discs are now burned and exchanged and you can see my selection below.
1. None The Wiser - Chris Wood
2. No Destruction - Foxygen
3. Another Small Thing In Her Favour - Richard Thompson
4. Burnin' it Down - Steve Earle
5. The Bell - Villagers
6. Different Day - Jason Isbell
7. Ever Loved Once - Blitzen Trapper
8. Fragment Two - These New Puritans
9. Take The Night Off - Laura Marling
10. Scared To Live - Gov't Mule (with Toots Hibbert)
11. Early Days - Paul McCartney
12. Lament - Mount Moriah
13. Sufferer (Love My Conquerer) - Hiss Golden Messenger
14. Another One (Oh Maybelline) - Pere Ubu
15. Tam Lin - Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer
16. We No Who UR - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
17. The Raven That Refused To Sing - Steven Wilson
That done, it just remains for me to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2014.
I hope to see you back here early in the New Year.
Monday 30 December 2013
Monday 23 December 2013
Best Albums of 2013 - My Top Six
It has been quite a difficult task coming up with my absolute favourite albums of 2013; it truly has been a wonderful year for new (and reissued) music. Now it has finally come to the point where tradition dictates I should name the ones that come top of the pile, the deciding criteria being which new albums have occupied most of my listening time this year. In the end it comes down to the following six.
To place these six albums into some kind of order is also difficult for I am sure that whatever sequence I come up with today, I may disagree with tomorrow and to quote David Bowie, 'and the next day and the day after that'.
Anyway, this is the White Room top six (in reverse order) for 2013.
6. 'Haw' by Hiss Golden Messenger.
I wrote about this album in May and you can read my thoughts here.
5. '[Awayland]' by The Villagers.
This was written about way back in January and my prediction that it would feature among my favourites was accurate. Read my thoughts here.
4. 'We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic' by Foxygen.
My thoughts on this work appeared on these pages in July. Read them here.
3. 'VII' by Blitzen Trapper.
One of my favourite bands of the past ten years didn't disappoint with this offering. Yes, of course you can read my opinions here.
2. 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)' by Steven Wilson.
It was a very close run thing for first place this year. I love this album and on any other day it may have clinched the top spot. If you wish, feel free to read more here.
1. 'Field Of Reeds' by These New Puritans.
I don't see this album finishing top of any other list this year, though to be fair it has featured in the lower extremes of some magazine lists. There is no doubt that this is less accessible than other albums in my own list, yet it is for that very reason that I have decided to award it first prize this year. The band are not seeking any commercial route to stardom but are bravely ploughing their own furrow, creating music which is challenging yet immensely rewarding for those prepared to stick with it. This is an album that will stick with me for many years and which one day may be looked back on as a true classic.
You can of course read my original thoughts here.
That's all until after Christmas but here's wishing you a very happy holiday.
Cheers!
To place these six albums into some kind of order is also difficult for I am sure that whatever sequence I come up with today, I may disagree with tomorrow and to quote David Bowie, 'and the next day and the day after that'.
Anyway, this is the White Room top six (in reverse order) for 2013.
6. 'Haw' by Hiss Golden Messenger.
I wrote about this album in May and you can read my thoughts here.
5. '[Awayland]' by The Villagers.
This was written about way back in January and my prediction that it would feature among my favourites was accurate. Read my thoughts here.
4. 'We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic' by Foxygen.
My thoughts on this work appeared on these pages in July. Read them here.
3. 'VII' by Blitzen Trapper.
One of my favourite bands of the past ten years didn't disappoint with this offering. Yes, of course you can read my opinions here.
2. 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)' by Steven Wilson.
It was a very close run thing for first place this year. I love this album and on any other day it may have clinched the top spot. If you wish, feel free to read more here.
1. 'Field Of Reeds' by These New Puritans.
I don't see this album finishing top of any other list this year, though to be fair it has featured in the lower extremes of some magazine lists. There is no doubt that this is less accessible than other albums in my own list, yet it is for that very reason that I have decided to award it first prize this year. The band are not seeking any commercial route to stardom but are bravely ploughing their own furrow, creating music which is challenging yet immensely rewarding for those prepared to stick with it. This is an album that will stick with me for many years and which one day may be looked back on as a true classic.
You can of course read my original thoughts here.
That's all until after Christmas but here's wishing you a very happy holiday.
Cheers!
Friday 20 December 2013
Books#8 - A Village Lost And Found by Brian May & Elena Vidal
As photography became more popular during the 19th century, so too did the development of what we today call 3D photographs. Back then, they were known simply as stereo pictures.
One exponent of that art was Thomas Richard (T.R.) Williams, who in the 1850's took a whole series of stereo photographs of one village. These were published as a series of cards, each card bearing two (almost) identical pictures which when viewed in a certain way, or more easily using a simple piece of equipment, brought the pictures together as a single 3D image.
A certain Brian May (yes that is the Queen guitarist) became passionate about these images as a child and has spent a lot of time trying to obtain a full set of these cards. As the name of the village was never disclosed by Williams, it also became something of an obsession for May to discover the location.
Through publishing a picture of the village church on the internet he uncovered a secret that had been kept for 150 years. The village in question was Hinton Waldrist in Oxfordshire though when the photographs were taken, it was part of Berkshire, the county boundaries having since changed.
Working together with photohistorian Elena Vidal, Brian May produced a book which like the images, is a thing of beauty.
Inside a sturdy cardboard slipcase is the book itself and another slim folder which houses the fold-away OWL stereoscope image viewer. Within the book, the authors present a detailed description and background to stereo photography, beautiful reproductions and details of each card in the series, a biography of T.R. Williams and details of how interested readers can take their own stereo pictures.
Having a passion for the English countryside and unspoiled villages, as well as a deep interest in all things historic, I find this book absolutely fascinating and working my way through the pages is a little like taking a step back in time and strolling through a typical English village seeing it as my great great grandparents might have.
The text that accompanies the pictures enhances the experience by highlighting and explaining details one might otherwise miss. For example, as the original photographs were taken using only one camera which after the exposure of the first frame was then moved a few inches to one side for the second frame, the time delay meant that all was not always quite the same in the second photo. Someone in the shot might move, or a gust of wind might cause movement in an item of clothing. Such occurrences make for some interesting features in some of the photographs. They are all part of the fun and enjoyment of this book and I recommend it very highly.
So highly do I regard this book, that having recently become aware of another similar book co-written by Brian May, I have placed my order. The subject of this latest book is Les Diableries, a rare and sensational series of visionary dioramas set in Hell. There will be more of that in these pages in due course I am sure.
Wednesday 18 December 2013
Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963
There have been rumblings in the press and online for several weeks but more recently the reports appear to have become confirmed. The Beatles were to release via iTunes, 59 recordings from 1963 which up to now had never been officially released in any format.
Of course we all know that this bit of subterfuge is simply to prevent these very same 50 year old recordings from falling into the public domain and thus being available for release by all and sundry. We weren't under any illusions, yet as Beatles fans, we were still excited at the prospect of being able to purchase these recordings legally and if rumours are to be believed, in improved sound quality.
And so yesterday (17th December) the day dawned when this 'official' bootleg album would be available for sale. I eagerly logged into iTunes and...... NOTHING!
It turns out that similar scenarios were being played out all around the world and consequently it was almost possible to follow the progress of the release through online message boards and news bulletins. There were rumours that it had briefly appeared earlier in the UK but had been taken down. Stories emanated that it was only available in New Zealand. And so it went on for several hours.
Then, at about 14.00 hours GMT, the recordings became available in the UK at the rather extortionate price of £34.99. This for recordings which have all been available for many years on various bootleg albums. Corporate greed strikes again!
Of course I realise now, that I should not have been surprised. After all it is this kind of callous marketing and total disregard of the requirements of the record buying public that have caused the bootleg industry to flourish. In recent years we have even witnessed the record industry catch on to this and begin to issue what they term, official bootlegs. A prime example obviously being the Bootleg Series of Bob Dylan recordings.
As we were tired of being messed about yesterday, some friends and I decided to strike back. Rather than all of us fork out our cash to feed the coffers of those who are already wealthy, we agreed that one of us would purchase the album download and the rest of us would pay a proportionate amount for our own copy.
The little man strikes back!
Of course we all know that this bit of subterfuge is simply to prevent these very same 50 year old recordings from falling into the public domain and thus being available for release by all and sundry. We weren't under any illusions, yet as Beatles fans, we were still excited at the prospect of being able to purchase these recordings legally and if rumours are to be believed, in improved sound quality.And so yesterday (17th December) the day dawned when this 'official' bootleg album would be available for sale. I eagerly logged into iTunes and...... NOTHING!
It turns out that similar scenarios were being played out all around the world and consequently it was almost possible to follow the progress of the release through online message boards and news bulletins. There were rumours that it had briefly appeared earlier in the UK but had been taken down. Stories emanated that it was only available in New Zealand. And so it went on for several hours.
Then, at about 14.00 hours GMT, the recordings became available in the UK at the rather extortionate price of £34.99. This for recordings which have all been available for many years on various bootleg albums. Corporate greed strikes again!
Of course I realise now, that I should not have been surprised. After all it is this kind of callous marketing and total disregard of the requirements of the record buying public that have caused the bootleg industry to flourish. In recent years we have even witnessed the record industry catch on to this and begin to issue what they term, official bootlegs. A prime example obviously being the Bootleg Series of Bob Dylan recordings.
As we were tired of being messed about yesterday, some friends and I decided to strike back. Rather than all of us fork out our cash to feed the coffers of those who are already wealthy, we agreed that one of us would purchase the album download and the rest of us would pay a proportionate amount for our own copy.
The little man strikes back!
Monday 16 December 2013
Best Albums of 2013 - The Contenders
I have said it in earlier posts this year, but I really do believe that 2013 has been an exceptional year for new music. Consequently making my decisions as to the best (ie my favourite) albums of the year has been particularly difficult. For me the year began on a high note with the release of 'Lady From Shanghai' by Pere Ubu and 'Electric' by Richard Thompson. and my enjoyment of both albums was enhanced by seeing both of these acts live in the first half of the year.
You can read my thoughts on the Richard Thompson album here and on Pere Ubu here.
The prolific Nick Cave maintained his own high standards with 'Push The Sky Away' while David Bowie surprised everyone, myself included, by returning to the studios and treating us all to 'The Next Day' an album which quite rightly is appearing in many 'Best Of' lists this year. Another of my long time favourites, Steve Earle, took us on a tour of an American landscape with which he appeared to be less than enamoured. The result was 'The Low Highway'. Yet another favourite in the so-called Americana genre is Jason Isbell and he didn't disappoint with 'Southeastern'.
Last year the prize for White Room favourite went to Anais Mitchell for her marvellous album 'Young Man in America'. This year in collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, Ms Mitchell delved into the murky past of British folk music with a small sample of 'Child Ballads'. These songs have been performed and recorded by hundreds of artists, yet rarely I feel, with such beauty and tenderness.
I was intrigued to find out how Midlake would adapt to the loss of their lead singer and songwriter, Tim Smith. For me they have never been able to reproduce the brilliance of their second album, 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'. With 'Antiphon' they have delivered something of a slow burner which possibly explains why it has not made my top six. It is still working it's way into my psyche and is an album that I may find easier to evaluate in six months time.
There was obviously a huge amount of expectation (and hype) surrounding the release of 'Reflektor' by The Arcade Fire. They have now become one of the world's biggest bands, able to sell out large arenas at the drop of a hat. And perhaps for me, that is the problem as I have a tendency to drift away from acts as soon as they are on the brink of mega-stardom. Nevertheless I was eagerly anticipating this year's release and don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the album. Yet, it doesn't quite hit the spot that their early releases did when I found them to be fresh and exciting. That might say more about me, but whatever the reason, they have not made it into the White Room top six.
Anyone who has been a regular or even an occasional reader of these pages will not have failed to notice that I am a HUGE fan of The Beatles. Yet, I have never been much of a fan of the solo work of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison or Starr. Paul McCartney has of course written some fine songs yet there has always been a side to his songwriting that I have found rather twee. This remains the case with his latest album 'New', however there is enough very good material for me to make the claim that I think this might just possibly be his best solo work ever. The number of people of his generation who can continue to write songs and produce albums of this standard, is sadly dwindling. Macca deserves credit for having the energy and the ability to produce this sort of stuff after 50 years (and counting).
Other 2013 albums which are also worthy of mention are:-
'None The Wiser' by Chris Wood
'Shout!' by Gov't Mule
'Til Yor River Runs Dry' by Eric Burdon
'Mount Moriah' by Mount Moriah
'MCII' by Mikal Cronin
'II' by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
'Magpie & The Dandelion' by The Avett Brothers
'Man & Myth' by Roy Harper
'Monomania' by Deerhunter
'Once I Was An Eagle' by Laura Marling
'The Terror' by The Flaming Lips.
Phew! I told you it had been a great year.
Still the White Room Top Six to be announced. Yes I did say SIX. These are the albums which for me deserve special mention this year. Watch this space.
You can read my thoughts on the Richard Thompson album here and on Pere Ubu here.
The prolific Nick Cave maintained his own high standards with 'Push The Sky Away' while David Bowie surprised everyone, myself included, by returning to the studios and treating us all to 'The Next Day' an album which quite rightly is appearing in many 'Best Of' lists this year. Another of my long time favourites, Steve Earle, took us on a tour of an American landscape with which he appeared to be less than enamoured. The result was 'The Low Highway'. Yet another favourite in the so-called Americana genre is Jason Isbell and he didn't disappoint with 'Southeastern'.
Last year the prize for White Room favourite went to Anais Mitchell for her marvellous album 'Young Man in America'. This year in collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, Ms Mitchell delved into the murky past of British folk music with a small sample of 'Child Ballads'. These songs have been performed and recorded by hundreds of artists, yet rarely I feel, with such beauty and tenderness.
I was intrigued to find out how Midlake would adapt to the loss of their lead singer and songwriter, Tim Smith. For me they have never been able to reproduce the brilliance of their second album, 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'. With 'Antiphon' they have delivered something of a slow burner which possibly explains why it has not made my top six. It is still working it's way into my psyche and is an album that I may find easier to evaluate in six months time.
Anyone who has been a regular or even an occasional reader of these pages will not have failed to notice that I am a HUGE fan of The Beatles. Yet, I have never been much of a fan of the solo work of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison or Starr. Paul McCartney has of course written some fine songs yet there has always been a side to his songwriting that I have found rather twee. This remains the case with his latest album 'New', however there is enough very good material for me to make the claim that I think this might just possibly be his best solo work ever. The number of people of his generation who can continue to write songs and produce albums of this standard, is sadly dwindling. Macca deserves credit for having the energy and the ability to produce this sort of stuff after 50 years (and counting).
Other 2013 albums which are also worthy of mention are:-
'None The Wiser' by Chris Wood
'Shout!' by Gov't Mule
'Til Yor River Runs Dry' by Eric Burdon
'Mount Moriah' by Mount Moriah
'MCII' by Mikal Cronin
'II' by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
'Magpie & The Dandelion' by The Avett Brothers
'Man & Myth' by Roy Harper
'Monomania' by Deerhunter
'Once I Was An Eagle' by Laura Marling
'The Terror' by The Flaming Lips.
Phew! I told you it had been a great year.
Still the White Room Top Six to be announced. Yes I did say SIX. These are the albums which for me deserve special mention this year. Watch this space.
Monday 9 December 2013
The Best Album Re-Releases of 2013
Well, here we are in December already. Where has this bloody year gone I wonder?
It is therefore time to turn my attention to what I consider the best album releases of the year, but the White Room rules clearly state that I can only include new albums, not reissues regardless of how well they have been remixed, remastered or repackaged. So the following represent those albums that cannot feature in my final 'best of 2013' list.
It has been a great year for new albums but likewise it has been pretty wonderful for reissues also.
Early in the year, Family marked their 40th anniversary live reunion with a boxed set of all of their seven studio albums plus a live album from 1970, three singles and two CD's of alternate versions and studio outtakes. All nicely packaged with a 70 odd page book.
You can read my thoughts here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/box-sets-4-family-once-upon-time.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/family-once-upon-time-hands-on-verdict.html
Bob Dylan reissued what many consider one of his worst ever albums, yet 'Another Self Portrait' demonstrated that stripped of all the adornments that helped to ruin the original album, there were some very fine songs there. Additionally this package was boosted by the inclusion of some alternate versions of songs which later featured on 'New Morning'.
And speaking of Dylan, The Band brought out 'Live at The Academy of Music 1971' a four CD set which documented all of their performances at that venue in '71. If you can bear the repeated performances of various songs, there are some absolute gems in there.
In an earlier post which can be read here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/box-sets-7-john-martyn-island-years.html
I reported on the release of an 18 disc box set of all of John Martyn's recordings on the Island label. Plus an additional live DVD. Expensive but wonderful. (And I did grab myself a bit of a bargain with that one).
It has been a wonderful year for Beatles fans what with the voluminous 1st part of 'All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn (I am still working my way through the deluxe edition). Nineteen years after the release of 'Live at The BBC', the second volume, 'On Air' has been issued. While it may not be quite as essential as the first volume, it is still a fascinating piece of history and makes for some great listening. After all it is The Beatles!
However..... the absolute prize for the best reissue set of 2013 just HAS (in my opinion) to go to 'Hidden Masters' a six CD box set covering the career of Jess Roden. You can read my thoughts on that here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/jess-roden-hidden-masters.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/box-sets-6-hidden-masters-jess-roden.html
Look out soon for the White Room best albums of 2013.
See ya.
It is therefore time to turn my attention to what I consider the best album releases of the year, but the White Room rules clearly state that I can only include new albums, not reissues regardless of how well they have been remixed, remastered or repackaged. So the following represent those albums that cannot feature in my final 'best of 2013' list.
It has been a great year for new albums but likewise it has been pretty wonderful for reissues also.
Early in the year, Family marked their 40th anniversary live reunion with a boxed set of all of their seven studio albums plus a live album from 1970, three singles and two CD's of alternate versions and studio outtakes. All nicely packaged with a 70 odd page book.
You can read my thoughts here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/box-sets-4-family-once-upon-time.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/family-once-upon-time-hands-on-verdict.html
Bob Dylan reissued what many consider one of his worst ever albums, yet 'Another Self Portrait' demonstrated that stripped of all the adornments that helped to ruin the original album, there were some very fine songs there. Additionally this package was boosted by the inclusion of some alternate versions of songs which later featured on 'New Morning'.
And speaking of Dylan, The Band brought out 'Live at The Academy of Music 1971' a four CD set which documented all of their performances at that venue in '71. If you can bear the repeated performances of various songs, there are some absolute gems in there.
In an earlier post which can be read here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/box-sets-7-john-martyn-island-years.html
I reported on the release of an 18 disc box set of all of John Martyn's recordings on the Island label. Plus an additional live DVD. Expensive but wonderful. (And I did grab myself a bit of a bargain with that one).
It has been a wonderful year for Beatles fans what with the voluminous 1st part of 'All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn (I am still working my way through the deluxe edition). Nineteen years after the release of 'Live at The BBC', the second volume, 'On Air' has been issued. While it may not be quite as essential as the first volume, it is still a fascinating piece of history and makes for some great listening. After all it is The Beatles!
However..... the absolute prize for the best reissue set of 2013 just HAS (in my opinion) to go to 'Hidden Masters' a six CD box set covering the career of Jess Roden. You can read my thoughts on that here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/jess-roden-hidden-masters.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/box-sets-6-hidden-masters-jess-roden.html
Look out soon for the White Room best albums of 2013.
See ya.
Wednesday 4 December 2013
Gov't Mule - Shout!
Don't be fooled into thinking that this bonus CD is just a rehash of the original album with additional vocals. The songs have been completely re-recorded, some of the longer ones benefitting from being shortened slightly. The track sequence has been restructured and despite featuring the same songs, it sounds like a totally different album. So, two for the price of one. In these hard times, what more could you ask for?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)