Thursday 30 April 2009

Teenage Fanclub - I Need Direction



I know. But this is the last Teenage Fanclub for a bit, until I find whatever box the Scotland On Sunday CD is in... I love this song - the 'ba ba ba baaaas' are great. You'll find out. Both b-sides are also killer, yet another brilliant Raymond song and a very good Pixies cover.

I can't remember why, but I also have the b-sides of the other single on my computer, so for completeness I'm sticking them up too. They're labelled 2 and 6 for some reason. There's a Gerry Love song (although not one of his best, for what my opinion's worth) and an acoustic version of the a-side. Enjoy!

CD1
1. I Need Direction
2. I Lied
3. Here Comes Your Man

CD2
2. On This Good Night
6. I Need Direction (acoustic)

CD1 is here, and the b-sides of CD2 are here.

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Portishead - Over



I'm guessing that this single must have come out between the second LP and the live LP/DVD from Roseland Ballroom NYC, because both of the b-sides are straight off the live recording. 'Humming' is about 20 seconds shorter, but you can't fool me.

If you don't have the live album then they're worth a listen, and if you don't have the a-side then it's definitely worth hearing. If you don't know them at all, perhaps you weren't near a radio or a westcountry in the mid-90s.

John Peel always called them Porti-shed.

1. Over
2. Half Day Closing (live)
3. Humming (live)

Over here.

Sunday 26 April 2009

Spiritualized - Electricity (CD1)



Along with the double a-side thing, with a few exceptions, the other thing I'm not too keen on is live versions of stuff as b-sides. It always seems like a bit of a cop-out to me, but in this case they are awesome. Spiritualized have always been so good live that it's nice to hear it come over on recordings as good as these, and they're such good songs too.

This is off Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, which is one of my favourite albums. I have a friend who bought it in the limited CD pack when it came out, where each track was on an individual 3" CD in a blister pack, like pills. The whole thing is packaged like medicine, with advice on dosage etc. He bought it on normal CD too, as he couldn't bring himself to pop any of the CDs out of the special packaging. I wonder what it's worth now...

1. Electricity (Radio Edit)
2. Take Your Time (Live)
3. All Of My Tears (Live)
4. Cool Waves (Instrumental)

It's here (tm).

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Teenage Fanclub - Start Again (CD2)



Ah come on... It's been well over a week, so here's some more Teenage Fanclub. 'Start Again' is one of their finest tracks, I think, and I hope you agree. The covers from this single are both good, particularly the Pastels one. The Pastels hold a special place in my heart, partly for Truckload of Trouble, but also because I saw them in Bristol many, many years ago, and Gerry Love was playing bass. Chatted to him afterwards about how The King isn't very good, and they recorded it in a drunken night to get out of a record deal...

1. Start Again
2. How Many More Years? (originally by Half Japanese, written by Jad Fair and Don Fleming)
3. Nothing To Be Done (originally by the Pastels)

Start Again is here.

Monday 20 April 2009

Pavement - Carrot Rope (CDs 1 & 2)

Now here's a band who really put the hours in for singles. I reckon that the b-sides, for CD1 at least, are better than the single itself (particularly 'Harness Your Hopes'), but I'll leave you to judge. CD2 gets a bit more rambling - that said, they do ramble better than most. It's no surprise that they're working their way through the back catalogue with 'deluxe editions', which normally reek of cash-in, but in their case are more than justified.

Great stuff, this. Do yourselves a favour...



CD1:
1. Carrot Rope
2. Harness Your Hopes
3. Roll With The Wind


CD2:
1. Carrot Rope
2. The Porpoise And The Hand Grenade
3. Rooftop Gambler

CD1 is here, and CD2 is here.

Friday 17 April 2009

Tripping Daisy - I Got A Girl



You know what? I'm not sure how much I like this. I know I used to, and listening to it again... Well. Dunno. The a-side is good, but it's very much of its time, if you know what I mean. The cover is great, though, and for that alone it earns its place. Have a listen, see what you think.

Actually, on second 2009 listen (as opposed to many, many 199...5? listens) it's definitely worth an ear. Give it a go. The interesting thing about this lot, which I'd like to pretend to know, but just found out on Wikipedia (so it must be true) is that the singer, bass player and two drummers went on to found the Polyphonic Spree, while a guitarist started The Secret Machines.

1. I Got A Girl
2. Noose
3. Cause Tomb Shop
4. Margarita Tropendzando

Hear here.

Thursday 16 April 2009

Travis - More Than Us E.P.



In true music-snob style, I was only really into these guys' first album (which I own on tape), and so here's a single off it. The main track is alright, if you like that kind of thing, but this one's all about the b-sides. 'Give Me Some Truth' is a storming verson of the Lennon song, 'All I Want To Do Is Rock' features Noel Gallagher on geetar, and 'Funny Thing' brings you Tim Simenon from Bomb The Bass.

This single cost £1.99 from the Virgin Megastore, back in the day.

1. More Than Us
2. Give Me Some Truth
3. All I Want To Do Is Rock
4. Funny Thing

Here you go.

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?



Nothing much needs to be said here. Right now, perhaps my favourite artist. Stunning band, great lyrics... Everything is good. This is from The Boatman's Call, which incidentally has the greatest opening song (with the greatest opening line) I think I've ever heard.

If you have the b-sides and rarities set which came out a few years back, you'll have all of these tracks. If you don't, you're missing out. If you don't know any of his stuff, you're missing out big time and need to get yourself out right now and buy the back catalogue. Now.

1. (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?
2. Come Into My Sleep
3. Black Hair (Band Version)
4. Babe, I Got You Bad

NC&TBS is right here.

The Folk Implosion - Natural One (CD2)



As you can see, it's from the Kids soundtrack, a film which (among most other good films) I'm ashamed not to have seen. One day. I did watch King Of Comedy recently, though, which is brilliant.

Anyhew, this is Lou Barlow of Sebadoh/Sentridoh/etc., doing some groovy toons which y'all will love. Most of the tracks on Folk Implosion albums I've heard have been similar to this, and it's still more proof that a great songwriter often writes better with other musicians around...

1. Natural One (Original Mix)
2. Cabride
3. Nothing Gonna Stop
4. Simean Groove

More buff Lou Barlow.

The Bluetones - Cut Some Rug



Hey hey. Double a-side, this. But 'Castle Rock' isn't on the first LP, so dunno what's up there. I thought it was. Should have been.

Anyway, much as I don't like double a-sides (except on 7" when it's Careful/Rebound by Sebadoh or Faster/PCP by the Manics), I guess if you don't release the second a-side anywhere else then it's alright. B-side's very good too, as most of the stuff by this band was/is.

1. Cut Some Rug
2. Castle Rock
3. The Devil Behind My Smile.

Here they are.

Monday 13 April 2009

Teenage Fanclub - I Don't Want Control of You (CD2)



My first special request, and a chance to make it look like I have a complete collection of anything you could possibly want. As it is, for some unknown reason I only bought one of the CD singles of this, but fortunately it is the one with 'He'd Be A Diamond'. YankeeBoy - it's all yours...

1. I Don't Want Control Of You
2. He'd Be A Diamond
3. Live My Life

Here it is.

Sunday 12 April 2009

Teenage Fanclub - Ain't That Enough (CDs 1 & 2)



I'd feel as if I was letting everyone down; you, me, my family, my friends if I didn't put some Teenage Fanclub up every, say, couple of days. Here's today's treat, and it's 110% magic...

If you ask me, Songs From Northern Britain is the best Fannies LP. That said, if you ask me tomorrow I may have changed my mind again. Whatever, this single is amazing, and the b-sides are equal to it - one Velvet Underground, one Alex Chilton on one CD, and two non-LP tracks on the other. Super.

1. Ain't That Enough
2. Femme Fatale
3. Jesus Christ

Here's CD1



Here's CD2. In truth I don't know which is 1 and 2, and suspect they may be the other way round, but this seems as good an order as any. Kickabout was used (I think) by Radio 5Live for a while, or for a tournament.

The cover is a nuclear power plant in Scotland somewhere.

1. Ain't That Enough
2. Kickabout
3. Broken

Flying Saucer Attack - Sally Free and Easy



You'll just have to take it from me that the inlay is on really nice paper. I know this isn't quite in the classic Indie vein, but FSA's tunes (when they had them) were never far away from a lot of the stuff I'm putting up here, so that's why they've made it. They also covered a Suede song on their first LP, which is worth looking out for.

I have a lot of time for this band. If you don't know them, give this single a try as a taster.

1. Sally Free And Easy
2. Three Seas

Here 'tis.

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Catatonia - Sweet Catatonia



Sweet stuff from Ms Matthews and Co., who incidentally also got their tour food from the cafe in Cardiff I mentioned in the SFA post. You can't argue with fact.

Anyway, one of the good ones from a band who (in my opinion) went downhill as soon as they got famous with Molder & Scully. But who am I to judge? This tune's a toon and no mistake.

1. Sweet Catatonia
2. Acapulco Gold
3. Cut You Inside (Demo)

Enjoy.

The Lightning Seeds - Ready Or Not (CDs 1 & 2)



I'm sure you don't need reminding of the genius of Ian Broudie's song-writing, but in case it's slipped your mind for some reason, here's a little something to bring it all back home. The covers on the b-sides were the first times I'd ever heard 'Another Girl Another Planet' or 'Outdoor Miner', so these two CDs were quite important for me, educationally. I also remember buying a Flying Saucer Attack single very soon after which also had 'Outdoor Miner' on it, which was a strange comparison.

'Whole Wide World' is a great track. The guy fits more choruses into one song than most people do in a career.

CD1
1. Ready Or Not
2. Another Girl Another Planet
3. Whole Wide World

CD2
1. Ready Or Not
2. Punch & Judy (Electric '96 Version)
3. Outdoor Miner

They're both here for your convenience.

Saturday 4 April 2009

Sebadoh - Flame



Sebadoh with a shuffle on, this single. Flame is a great track, and the first b-side kind of matches it, stylistically. Third one is a bit slower, but they're all Lou songs (I think), so you will love them all... One question, though - why doesn't he age?

1. Flame (remix)
2. Crystal Crossed
3. Saltwater Garden

Buff Lou Barlow is here.

Super Furry Animals - Ice Hockey Hair E.P.



Hey.

Killer E.P. from a killer band. Some of their singles were the best things about them, I reckon, apart from their first LP, which was great throughout. Not heard their new one yet, mind, but heard good things about it. The cafe in Cardiff which does their tour food also does an awesome breakfast, and used to have a Playstation for you to play while you waited for a table. Sweet.

1. Smokin'
2. Ice Hockey Hair
3. Mu-Tron
4. Let's Quit Smoking

The man don't give one, here.

Friday 3 April 2009

Teenage Fanclub - Neil Jung (CDs 1 & 2)



So, as kind of promised, here's some more Teenage Fanclub for y'all. Has there ever been another band with such an abundance of good b-sides, covers and so on? Probably, come to think of it, but these guys are the kings of it, in my opinion.

First up is CD1, which has two quite brilliant b-sides ('Every Step Is A Way Through' is one of my favourite TFC songs), and one great one.

1. Neil Jung
2. My Life
3. Every Step Is A Way Through
4. The Shadows



And here's CD2, which has an alternative version of the title track, one not-so-great b-side, but a killer one in 'Hi-Fi'. Fourth track is a Yo La Tengo cover (a good one, too), clocking in at what must be a Teenage Fanclub record of sorts - 12:43...

1. Neil Jung (Alt. Version)
2. Traffic Jam
3. Hi-Fi
4. I Heard You Looking

CD1 is here, and CD2 is here. Somewhere I have the 7" with yet another b-side. One single - seven b-sides! Those were the days... If it turns up I'll stick it up.

While I'm at it, here's the Fannies doing something you probably haven't heard before - I hadn't until a couple of weeks back. Very entertaining...

Thursday 2 April 2009

The Charlatans - North Country Boy & Tellin' Stories



I don't need to tell you about The Charlatans, surely? The band that the phrase 'Indie stalwarts' was invented for. Couple of singles for you here. North Country Boy was a double a-side of sorts, with Area 51, which is an instrumental off the album (Tellin' Stories). This was at their commercial peak, and this single reached number 4 in the UK chart, back when that meant something. 'Don't Need A Gun' was a worthy b-side to this cracking a-side.

1. North Country Boy
2. Area 51
3. Don't Need A Gun



Next up is the title track from the album, which didn't chart quite so high, but has a couple more new songs on it. Again, a great single - I think better than 'North Country Boy', but it's a close call.

1. Tellin' Stories
2. Keep It To Yourself
3. Clean Up Kid
4. Thank You (Live at the Phoenix Festival)

Here's 'North Country Boy', and here's 'Tellin' Stories'.

Heavenly - Atta Girl
















Don't judge a CD by its cover... Well, in this case you can. This was a track I heard on John Peel (can't remember if it was 'Atta Girl' or 'P.U.N.K. Girl') and really liked, so off I went to Replay, down under the bus station in Bristol, and surrounded by the various 2nd hand crusty types, I proudly bought a single whose cover was clearly aimed at the under-8s. Anyhew... The first couple of tracks are great, in a 110% Indie way, and well worth a listen.

1. Atta Girl
2. P.U.N.K. Girl
3. Hearts & Crosses
4. Dig Your Own Grave
5. So?

Hear it here.

Backwater - Memory
















These guys were always associated with Mogwai and Urusei Yatsura for me, I guess because I saw them all together. I don't know much about them, except that I keep rediscovering their LP or finding a single lying around and remembering how much I enjoy it. It's got that wash of noise kind of production (as opposed to wall of sound), and probably didn't cost all that much, but it's all about the music, man. The tracks off this single are a bit Planet Recordsy, but crossed with The Pastels. Or something. Make your own mind up...

1. Memory
2. Silver Surfer
3. Explosions
4. Purgatory (I Think I've Just Seen The Light)

It's here.

Laptop - I'm So Happy You Failed, CDs 1 & 2















This is Jesse Hartman's second band (that I know of), after Sammy. Doesn't quite fit in with the mid-90s theme of the rest of the stuff here, but Sammy did, so I'm counting it. This is both the CDs of this single, 'cos I found it as a promo somewhere. It's not far off Beck, Mellow Gold period, both in the voice and the music. Although he sounds a lot more like Neil Hannon at time. The single itself is good (and what a great title), and the b-sides are all worth a listen.

"The Brazilians are happy! The Japanese are happy! The British are happy! The whole of North America is happy! Of course, the Germans are happy!"

1. I'm So Happy You Failed (single version)
2. The Reason
3. Generational Pattern
4. I'm So Happy You Failed (long version)
5. Wedding Band

Get happy.