Day 0689 - Peggy Suicide

Julian Cope "Peggy Suicide" (1991) 

  An album from Cope's band Teardrop Explodes features earlier in this list and I did quite enjoy it; likewise, the double-album "Peggy Suicide" is a goodie.  It does suffer from that old double-album affliction of 'track fatigue', and not every song is memorable, but the sheer breadth of musical ground covered is impressive.  

I love artists who (particularly when they go solo) take the approach of just throwing everything at the wall, rather than limiting themselves musically, particularly if they have the ability to do so.

I'll say what I said with Teardrop Explodes: if another album by Cope pops up on the list, I won't be unhappy.

Day 0629 - California

American Music Club "California" (1988)

The book outlines this as being an 'Americana' album before that was really established as a genre.  There is certainly a very American mix of genres here, with country featuring prominently, along with alt-country, rock, and a touch of what is almost psychobilly ("Bad Liquor"). 

The band had been compared (by themselves too) to R.E.M. so they were a little surprised to see that band take off mainstream while they themselves did not.  They resolved to record in a different, more mellow style this time around.

Really quite enjoyed this album, nice mix of styles: "Western Sky" almost has a Smiths kind of thing going on.  "Jenny" (much like my wife, with the same name) is gorgeous.  A delicate, sombre acoustic ballad.  "Somewhere" has a bit of a Springsteen flavour to it... maybe Springsteen-meets-REM.

The album is mostly low-key, mellow, with production geared to create mood around the sparse arrangements.   A few livelier tracks keep things spicy.

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.