The Divine Comedy - The Frog Princess

Here's a band that, whenever I listen to them, I wish I knew a bit more of their stuff. I've just never really got round to it, apart from singles, and watching a live DVD once. They (he, really) are very, very good though. Great lyrics, and great tunes too. This one is a prime example, as are the b-sides. The 'demo' b-side is a great example of what you can do with a Casio and some talent... 'Tonight We Fly' is a fine song too.

If you like this, or even if you don't, you should check out The Duckworth Lewis Method album. It's all about cricket, which we English are right back into since Sunday (even while I'm in Tokyo, where just two bars in a city about 15 times bigger than London were showing it).

Anyway, enough of this. Enjoy Mr Hannon at his very finest.

1. The Frog Princess
2. Something Before The Weekend (Demo)
3. Neptune's Daughter
4. Tonight We Fly

Fact into doubt won't go.

Garbage - Stupid Girl

I started buying the 7"s by these guys just after they released the last one which is still worth a fortune. I think I have one in a cardboard cover with a kind of hologram on the front, but it was the early ones which you can sell for a bucketload of money. Or you used to be able to, for sure.

Anyway, this is a good track, and I was reminded how good when I listened to it earlier this evening. The b-sides are good too, especially the Red Snapper mix, which is great, and highly recommended. If you like either of the bands you'll enjoy it. 'Driving Lesson' does, I'd have to say, sound a little like it wouldn't have made an album, but the mixes are cool. If you don't know the band at all then 'Stupid Girl' is quite a good introduction, you should check out the first LP if you like it.

1. Stupid Girl
2. Driving Lesson
3. Dog New Tricks (The Pal Mix)
4. Stupid Girl (Red Snapper Mix)

Here you go.

Placebo - Teenage Angst

Given that this is my second Placebo post, it must give the impression I'm a big fan. I'm not, to be honest, but I was really into their first LP a few years back, so have got various singles off it.

This one wins its place because it was a two-7" set, which went into its own gatefold sleeve. Sweet. I don't have long to tell you about it, but essentially it's of interest to Placebo fans, b-side wise, until you get to the last track - 'H.K. Farewell' - which is great. The rest aren't so good (but if you like the band you'll enjoy hearing them).

The single itself was the first track I ever heard by them, on a John Peel show many years ago, and loved it. It's still a killer tune, but my God those lyrics should have warned me about the rest of their career...

7" one:
1. Teenage Angst
2. Been Smoking Too Long
3. Hug Bubble

7" two:
1. Teenage Angst (Amsterdam V.P.R.O. Session)
2. Flesh Mechanic (Demo)
3. H.K. Farewell

First 7" is here, second is here. Enjoy! (And sorry about the crappy vinyl!)

The Pastels - Worlds Of Possibility

Hey hey. Sorry for the delay, but I've been having all kinds of trouble sorting out the internet in Japan, the home of modern technology... Masters of hardware, but not of software. Teenage Fanclub were playing a festival in Tokyo tonight, but I checked ticket prices and they clocked in at over £120 just for today. Goddamnit. I did see Lee Ranaldo near a record shop in Shibuya yesterday, though.

So, this is The Pastels, who were (are?) one of Scotland's finest under-rated bands, along with The BMX Bandits and others. This track is off 'Mobile Safari', which is an awesome record, and if you like this you'll love that album. And you'll love 'Truckload Of Trouble' even more. The single is great, and is reprised at the end of track 4 - a hidden track on a single, how cool is that? The first two b-sides are classic Pastels, especially track 3's singing, and track 4 is a cover, but I don't know who did the original. Anyone..?

1. Worlds Of Possibility
2. Photogram
3. Ever Far
4. Love It's Getting Better

Here.

Royal Trux - Map Of The City

This reminded me how good these guys could be. It's a great track on the a-side, and the b-side went from dreadful (on first listen) to amazing (on third), so give it a chance! It's a blues/Hammond/rock/production masterpiece. I saw them years ago supporting Teenage Fanclub, which was a pretty weird combination, and then picked this up on purple tie-dyed 7"... Those were the days.

If you like it, and it may be a bit of an acquired taste, I would recommend the albums 'Thank You' and 'Accelerator'. I only say this because they're the only two I know, mind, but I have a feeling that they didn't always manage to match the quality of those two. Give them a go...

1. Map Of The City
2. National Mother

They're heeeeeere.

I'm off to Tokyo for six weeks or so, so I have no idea whether I'll be able to post anything for a while. I will if I can. If I can't, then please come back in September and normal (patchy) service will be resumed...

R.E.M. - E-Bow The Letter

Here's some more R.E.M., again from 'New Adventures In HiFi'. If you ask me (and maybe they should have) it's a weird choice for first single off an album, but it worked in the UK where this was, apparently, their highest-placing single up to that point. It was also their lowest-placing US single for ten years. I'm sure that tells you something, but I have no idea what. Maybe you folks in the States don't like Patti Smith (for she sings backing).

'Tricycle' is a kind of rockabilly number, instrumental, twangy. The sound-check version of 'Departure' is kind of sparse, but with a load more organ (and more rocking drums) than on the album. I like it. There's also a cover of Richard Thompson's 'Wall Of Death', which is very well worth hearing. Give it a go.

I liked the cover of this, so scanned both sides in full. Something seems to have gone wrong putting them up here, though (they're kind of pixelated), but you get the idea. I have another R.E.M. one ready for sometime soon.




1. E-Bow The Letter
2. Tricycle
3. Departure (Rome Soundcheck)
4. Wall Of Death

The bearded lady is here.

Dinosaur Jr - Take A Run At The Sun

Sorry for the delay, but I can assure you it's been worth the wait...

Firstly, just look at that cover. Great, eh? Now, if you don't know Dinosaur Jr then you should be aware that this isn't typical of them at all. If you do know them then the same applies, I guess. Either way, you should go out and buy Farm, which has just come out and is very very well worth a listen.

This is off the soundtrack for a film I've never seen called 'Grace Of My Heart". Unless that's a windup on the sleeve notes. Has anyone seen it? It has Matt Dillon in it, playing (it says here) "a guy-who-is-similar-to-but-definitely-not-Brian-Wilson", and the a-side is veeeeeery Beach Boys. Track 2 is his attempt to recover the lost innocence of his earlier life, and 3 is his drugged-out weird phase. Nice jew's harp in this one.

All you really need to know is that 'Take A Run At The Sun' is just superb. Give it a listen.

1. Take A Run At The Sun
2. Don't You Think It's Time
3. The Pickle Song

It's time.

Inspiral Carpets - Bitches Brew (CDs 1 & 2)

Great stuff this. I guarantee this will take you back... Here's a band which seem to have been a little forgotten in the grand scheme of things, but they had some brilliant songs. This EP is a good place to start if you don't know them, as it's stuffed with live 'best of' b-sides (and a killer a-side), so I hope you like it. Them. I hope you like them.

They did a track with Mark E Smith on a later album, which is well worth seeking out. I'm now desperately trying to recall what it was (Saturn 5? Certainly on the same album), but perhaps one of you folks can remind me? Anyway, if you like this I recommend finding some more. If you don't, well, I'll send the Clint Boon Experience round your house to duff you up.

CD1:
1. Bitches Brew
2. Mermaid (live)
3. Born Yesterday (live)
4. Sleep Well Tonight (live)



CD2:
1. Bitches Brew (Fortran 5 Horse Mix)
2. Dragging You Down (live)
3. Smoking Her Clothes (live)
4. Fire (live)

One is here, two is here.

Pure Morning - All The Guests Smile So Sweetly

I know, I know. You feel let down, rejected, unloved and unwanted. I have rather neglected you folks this month, and so to make up for it you get not one, not two but THREE singles today. And this one, which is (again) Pure Morning - the band who became Clinic - is worth £44 on 7", which is what you have right here. I don't believe that for a second, but I like to think that I'm saving you guys a fortune.

What you get is a great a-side, a great b-side (both of those are a little dependent on whether you like this band), and a song I LOVE as the third track. I lost this single for ages, and was very excited to find it again. The track is 'Dress Up', and perhaps it's just nostalgia, but I think it's brilliant. Hope you do too.

1. All The Guests Smile So Sweetly
2. Severed Cuts Up
3. Dress Up

Heeeeeere!

China Drum - Can't Stop These Things 7"

I haven't scanned the little sticker which is on the front of the plastic sleeve for this record, but if I had then you would see the thrilling words "Includes Wuthering Heights". It says this because this single includes Wuthering Heights. I had never heard the Kate Bush song before I heard their version, and so her original came as something of a surprise. I suspect you folks are more musically educated than I was then, so hopefully you'll find this version something of a surprise. I think it's great.

Saw this band in a tiny venue in Bristol called The Lousiana, and they were brilliant. Singing drummer and all. The LP this single is taken from (good single it is too) is called Goose Fair, and worth seeking out. They had another one later which isn't all that.

1. Can't Stop These Things
2. Wuthering Heights

Newcastle's finest are here.