Day 0628 - Shadowland

k.d. lang "Shadowland" (1988)

Lang's previous work with the Reclines had raised eyebrows and left a few country fans unsure of what to make of its mix of styles occasional sense of humour, and Lang's own androgynous style.  Luckily it also attracted the attention of Patsy Cline's long-time producer Owen Bradley.  Bradley came out of retirement to take Lang under his wing and help her fashion her first solo album.

The album is still not a straight country album, "Busy being blue" lives up to its name.  "Black Coffee" also has a kind of jazzy blues to it.  There's the beautiful string-laden country of "Tears don't care who cries them" which recalls Roy Orbison (who Lang has also worked with).  Tracks like "Lock, stock and teardrops", "Sugar Moon" and "(Waltz me) once again around the dancefloor" though have a pleasingly straight-ahead honky tonk country sound to them.

Day 0612 - I'm Your Man

Leonard Cohen "I'm Your Man" (1988) - got it

Cohen moves away from live/organic instruments in favour of synths and drum machines.  A lot of people, even now, praise it as a giant leap forward, but personally it doesn't 'do it' for me.  Don't get me wrong, the songs on "I'm Your Man" are among Leonard's best, but having heard live versions of some of them using live band instrumentation, I just feel like the songs would have been better served that way.

That gripe aside, the album does have an interesting sound.  Leonard picked it as one where he was happiest with his vocals, which is odd as he seems to sing with much less melodic range here (though his voice does sound smooth).  The lyrics here are brilliant as usual, with the title track being a personal favourite of mine.

Day 0563 - Don't Stand Me Down

Dexys Midnight Runners "Don't Stand Me Down" (1985)

Described by the book as being the Pet Sounds of Northern Soul; and that seems pretty apt.  Some great vocals and with some sassy horns, but still with remnants of the strings that had peppered the band's previous release "Too-rye-ay".  Lush arrangements and occasional meanderings into spoken word passages make the music cinematic and a bit more interesting.

The album is not afraid to explore a few different sounds; to step on the accelerator in some places, but to ease off on it for others.  Apparently the album didn't fare well commercially on release, though it garnered some good reviews.  It went on to be revisited and re-evaluated by fans in later years.  I think it's bloody good, personally.