Day 0749 - Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers

Wu-Tang Clan "Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers" (1993)

 

Cousins Robert Diggs, Gary Grice and Russell Jones formed a group called 'Force of the Imperial Master'.  The members ended up being signed to separate record labels for a time, but were eventually dropped from these contracts.   They re-focussed their efforts on making music together, with new names (RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard) as Wu-Tang Clan.

The group recorded their debut in a small studio on a limited budget.   RZA made the MCs battle each other to see who would rhyme over his beats.  The competition helped create some great music.   The mix of the different MCs' vocal styles, the various kung fu sound samples, and GZA's magpie-like approach to music production created a blueprint for the group and its myriad off-shoots and solo albums.   Really Wu-Tang is more than just a group, it's like a movement or organisation!

Day 0712 - Your Arsenal

Morrissey "Your Arsenal" (1992)

Morrissey has become a bit of an embarrassment in recent years, cancelling gigs and tours left right and centre, and seeming to espouse isolationist, extreme rightwing ideas.    Back in the 90s though, he was still better known for his music.

With "Your Arsenal" he had a band together and enlisted the help of David Bowie collaborator Mick Ronson to produce this album.   Ronson worked with Bowie on his 70s glammy albums, and he is clearly the right person to helm this album, as Morrissey turns down his indie side and cranks up the glam rock a bit.  His lyrics had already started to hint at the kind of controversy he now gladly courts, with a song titled "The National Front Disco" which included the chant "England for the English".  People were a bit uncomfortable with this, not finding it clear if he was being tongue-in-cheek or not.

Musically though, it's an enjoyable album.  Despite the rockier, 'ballsier' sound, my favourite track is the gentle, atmospheric "Seasick, yet still docked".

Day 0571 - Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg "Talking With the Taxman About Poetry" (1986)

The book talks about Bragg's ability to find the personal in politics and the political in the personal.  As is often the case, I didn't really pay much attention to the lyrics so I didn't really pick up on that so much, but I did enjoy the album musically.

Bragg's reverb drenched guitar manages to accentuate a variety of styles, from rockabilly, folk, pop and country.  I didn't even realise the first time I listened to the album, but there's little-to-no drumming in it, and the songs don't suffer at all as a result.  One or two tracks have limited percussion but that's it.

The album also features contributions from the Smiths' Johnny Marr, and Kirsty MacColl (of 'fairytale of New York' fame.