I found myself presented with a few opportunities where I couldn't focus on the music like I normally do. When I opted to listen to a playlist I'd created that mixed things up just a tiny bit by throwing in two b-sides to mirror the tracklisting of the vinyl version of the album, I realized that all of the songs were powerful and beautiful. That little change created a new terrain out of the familiar, somehow, and I could hear the album anew. The clouds parted, as they say, the light shone down from above, and the haze cleared, illuminating what is a powerful collection of songs dealing with love, death, and the state of the world.
We can argue if we want about whether they're truly Crowded House songs or "just" more Neil Finn songs. That's what some are doing. But in the end, does it matter? I'll take more of either.
Rush - Snakes & Arrows: While it may not quite be the wild and crazy effort that producer Nick Raskulinecz promised, it is a solid, enjoyable album. If anything, it suffers mainly from the band's attempts at covering so much ground. Where they had formerly been so focused on a "sound" for each album, this album is all over the place, picking bits and pieces from all over their catalog. It makes for a fun listen, but not an especially focused one when you're in a particular mood. What I respond to on this album, more than many other Rush albums, are drummer Neil Peart's lyrics, which seem to be misunderstood by many as the words of a very bitter man about a very cold world, rather than what I believe them to be. Which is one man attemping to show that while there are terrible events of every kind taking place, there is beauty and belief and justice to be found if we would just trust in each other. A unified message of hope ties an album of loose ends together in a fantastic way.
Radiohead - In Rainbows: Even after only a few months with this album, it's hard for me not to look back on their catalog and think of the high points as OK Computer, Kid A, and In Rainbows. Somehow, after years of really doing their own thing, going their own way, which kind of means that they had a bit of a "Spinal Tap Jazz Odyssey for a new generation" thing going on. Here, they veered back to territory closer to OK Computer and the prettier parts of Kid A and made a bunch of really beautiful songs. Sure, there are lots of bits of experimentation here and there, but where it used to take the front seat, it's now more background, with melody upfront. Part of me wants more of the weird, angular, gritty stuff, because I loved that. But when they make music this compellingly lovely, it's impossible to deny wanting more.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
...and were happy to have you on board Mr. Johnson. Just try to remember, brevity my man, brevity... ;>p
-Glen
2 - Pico
Good job, TJ, it looks like a well-thought out list and you stated your case well. And not just because 4 or 5 of those albums are on my list, too ;&)
Hope we get to see your handiwork more again before too long.
3 - Glen Boyd
Me too Pico.
-Glen
P.S. In the meantime, I'm all bout gettin' me some PT, Blackfield, Adams, and Wilco...
4 - Tom Johnson
Glen: what, this isn't brief enough? ;-)
Pico: this has been sitting in my queue on my site for well over a month. I've been adding bits to it as they came to me. It's literally been slaved-over. I try to just write and publish - the queue is a black hole. Many things disappear into my queue, but not so many survive. This one is lucky.
5 - JC Mosquito
I thought the Crowded House was good as it was, so I'm curious to hear those b sides you mentioned - where could I find them?
Silent House - an allusion to Paul Hester, I'd guess. A sad, yet beautiful song.
6 - Tom Johnson
They're on this version of the "Don't Stop Now" single. The songs are "Stare Me Out" and "Lost Island" - both are good enough to have been on the album. I think they made a mistake not putting them on and just making an epic out of this album - they fit perfectly.
To make the vinyl tracklisting, this is the order:
Disc One
1. Nobody Wants To
2. Don't Stop Now
3. She Called Up
4. Say That Again
5. Pour Le Monde
6. Even A Child
7. Heaven That I'm Making
8. Stare Me Out*
9. A Sigh
10. Silent House
11. English Trees
12. Lost Island*
13. Walked Her Way Down
14. Transit Lounge
15. You Are The One To Make Me Cry
16. People Are Like Suns
There's also a single out for "She Called Up" with another non-album track, "So Dramatic," but I haven't heard it yet (just placed my order, in fact.)
7 - Mat Brewster
Man, I've got to check out that Prezens thing. It is on too many lists to not give it a chance.
8 - MauRiCe
The Rush CD was disapointing. I have been their long term fan, but it was worth the purchase. My girlfriend is all ga-ga about Teddy Brent and his CD so she wants me to purchase that too next week...im gonna be poor due to music purchases
-poor but happy music lovr
9 - Joh
"Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau - Quartet" was awesome. Pat always puts out good music.
Maurice, dont feel bad bro. I live in Detroit and there is only store you can get it at (for Teddy Brent's CD). Anyhow they were sold out when we got there...spent an hour n the ice and cold exc and exc...
10 - Andy723
Maurice and Joh...i got the Fashionable CD on Itunes today after hearing it played over and over and over...how many times can they play 'Vanity' before you hate the song???
11 - Shelly In Burbs
Josh...i waited in line in Ann Arbor for two hours to get a CD and they are all out....
12 - Angela Johnson
Pat Metheny *sigh*. I love that man. I will pick up that Teddy Brent one this week...I heard about it this week from a friend.
13 - Tom Johnson
I think we just got spammed about this TB (no spelling - I don't want it coming up in search engines) guy. Four comments in 20 minutes about some dude I've never even heard of, one of which claims they stood in line for two hours to buy a CD that turned out to be sold out? Uh-huh.