Ben Folds Five - Brick (CDS)

Another month off posting, sorry folks. However, during October I managed to get to Warminster and pick up a load of CD singles, so with any luck everything will be back to normal. So a post a month, rather than every six weeks...

So, this one. Killer tune. Killer. I was lucky enough to hear this when he played Bristol a little while back with an orchestra, and it was even more killer then. But you're not here for "Brick", are you? You're here for the orchestra and backing vocals, and harpy lushness of the live version of "Smoke", and the Japaneseness of "Song For The Dumped". And the Japanese version is superb, very entertaining.

If you're as much of a geek as I am you will want to know that the live one is from "Morning Becomes Eclectic", broadcast on KCRW Los Angeles, on July 17 1997.

I'm not usually a fan of this kind of thing on singles, as it always smacks a little of filler, but these ain't filler. Both we'll deserving of a listen, and I hope you like them.

1. Brick
2. Smoke (live)
3. Song For The Dumped (Japanese version)

Have it.

Cud - Oh No Won't Do 12"

One of my favourite Cud songs here, but I don't think it was ever on an album. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, of course, but the quality of the b-sides makes a lot more sense if this was an EP in the old-school sense. It's three really good Cud songs, and a cover. What more do you want?

Last track is an Everley Brothers tune, which was also covered (apparently famously) by Status Quo. Again my knowledge of music outside a very slim genre in a very narrow time period embarrasses me, but hopefully someone out there will be excited to hear it.

1. Oh No Won't Do
2. Profession
3. Ariel
4. Price Of Love

Enjoy.

Mercury Rev - Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp CDS (#2)

Back in the day, when men weren't men, etc. etc... CD2 of a 2 CD set usually had either pointless live tracks, or shit remixes. But did it stop you buying it? Of course not. Did it stop you keeping it after you'd moved house with it three times, found it in a box, and realised you'd only ever listened to it once? Of course it did.

That's where I come in. I scour my own collection for those little gems (I never got round to getting rid of them), but I also dig around the charity shops anywhere I happen to be. Yesterday it was Chippenham, which has more than its share of charity shops. And they themselves have far more than their share of rubbish vinyl. However, in one of them, I dug up this gem.

It does fall into the live b-sides category, but these ones are ace. Recorded for KCRW in 1998, there's a brilliant version of Holes off the 'Deserter's Songs' LP, as well as a Lennon track. I am no Lennon expert, and I'd never heard it before, but I like this a lot. It's listed as being written by the whole Lennon family (Julian and Sean included), which is a bit odd, but there you go.

Hope you like it.

Yer it is.

AC Acoustics - Hand Passes Plenty 12"

There I was, thinking I knew something about stuff, and then there's this!

I love this band, and have done ever since I first heard the 'Victory Parts' album. It remains one of my favourite LPs. This track, I thought, was a single from it, and so I had my usual excitement about checking out the b-sides etc... But wait! It's not off the album! That track is called 'Hand Passes Empty'!

Turns out that this is a kind of early version of the LP track, but released as a single about 3 years before. It's really, really, good, especially if you know the original. Also the first b-side is superb, really like that too.

This was the period of the ill-advised remix, and although the attempt at messing about with track 2 is alright, it's not great. Also side 2 of the single plays at 33, and side a at 45, which is annoying for those of use with lift-off-and-move-the-band turntables. The remix is by Larry Primrose (and the band). Can't tell you who that is. Anyone?

Fourth track (I LOVE 12" singles) isn't so great. But side 1. Man. It's like a single with a bonus a-side.

Brilliant stuff. Get to it.

1. Hand Passes Plenty
2. Love Lies Broken Pieces
3. Love Lies (Equamneno Mix)
4. Emily

It is here.

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - Rubbish 12"

This one is a dedication, of sorts. Just been to the UK leg of the wedding of a very good friend, who is a huge Carter fan. Couldn't help noticing a sad lack of any at the event itself, which is a disappointing oversight at any wedding, as I'm sure you'll agree.

Anyway, it was a lovely day, and it's a great shame that the happy couple live on a different continent to mine. Mat and Robyn, this is for you both. (Robyn, you don't have to listen to it.)

This single is bloody great. I think it's among my favourite Carter tracks. I heard it on the Steve Lamaq show the other day, and it reminded me that I had this lying around. First b-side is a Pet Shop Boys cover (really), with more edgy samples than I remember in the original. Second b-side also very good, excellent introduction.

I actually found it in a charity shop only a few months ago, in fact, so it's not a genuine 90s purchase, but it is from 1990. But as a bonus, someone had left a James 12" in the sleeve too, so when I get a chance I shall ensure that charity's oversight is your gain.

I hope you enjoy it.

1. Rubbish
2. Rent
3. Alternative Alf Garnett

Click HERE, Tim.

The Family Cat - Limited 7" with Furthest From The Sun

Something a bit different this time, and hopefully of interest to at least some of you. This is the 7" which came with initial pressings of The Family Cat's 1992 LP, "Furthest From The Sun". In my opinion their best record, although I like pretty much everything they did. Must hold the record for number of times I saw a band supporting someone else.

The first track is one of their own, and I can only imagine it didn't make the album because it's a bit too raucous. Sounds more like their earlier records in terms of energy, not as atmospheric as the album songs. It's really great, though, I like it a lot.

"Montague Terrace" I'm sure you know, but this was at the time the first version I'd ever heard of it, and I thought it was amazing. I still think it's pretty good - about as opposite in terms of instrumentation to the Scott Walker one as you can get.

Hope you like them.

1. Kolombus
2. Montague Terrace (In Blue)

Here.

Super Furry Animals - (Drawing) Rings Around The World (CDS)

So, what can I say? All we know for sure is that I haven't uploaded the video which is proudly advertised on the front of this CD case, and it cost £2.99 from the Virgin Megastore (on Oxford Street). Why there's been another huge gap between posts, why there was hail today... Who knows?

Brilliant single, with proper Furries b-sides (with proper titles/lyrics). I've always liked when bands release albums named after tracks which aren't on the album. This one uses lyrics from the first b-side as the basis for the other! Amazing stuff. I love this band. Both of the extra tracks are really good.

By the way, can I recommend the new Gruff Rhys LP, 'American Interiors'? It's awesome.

1. (Drawing) Rings Around The World
2. Edam Anchorman
3. All The Shit U Do

Here it's.

Earl Brutus - Come Taste My Mind (CDS)

Sorry all, that gap must be a record, even for me. Well, I'm back, and with a treat in the form of the always fantastic Earl Brutus, with their always fantastic record sleeves, and this one has a truly mental b-side.

The single itself is superb, noisy, killer chorus, the works. Tracks 2 and 3 are fairly standard b-side fodder, sound like they're enjoying themselves, but obviously not LP tracks. Track 4, however, is a William Reid remix of the single, and it's bloody great. Hope you like it.

On another note, I'm sorry I've had to change from Zippyshare, as I always find it's way quicker to download from there than anything else. Unfortunately something has broken with my connection, and whenever I click "upload" it shoots across to 100% and then says "i/o error" and doesn't upload. I'm giving Mega a shot, apologies if it's slow. That said I just tested it and it seems quick. Let me know.

1. Come Taste My Mind
2. Superstar
3. Nice Man In A Bubble
4. William, Taste My Mind

Bring it.

Cinerama - Kerry Kerry (CDS)

Hello again everyone. I'm afraid I've completely run out of anything Christmas-related for my Christmas post, so you'll have to make do with something great instead.

I can never decide whether I prefer The Wedding Present or Cinerama. I know, I know, but I really like Cinerama. And if you want to really find the way to a man's heart, as well you know, you put two b-sides on a single which are good enough to have been album tracks. This is your cue to tell me that actually they were and I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Excellent a-side, and two really, really good b-sides too. Enjoy this, enjoy Christmas, and happy new year to you all.

1. Kerry Kerry
2. Love
3. Au Pair

Happy Christmas!

Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream (Alternative Version) (CDS)

Wow. A long gap between posts, even for me. Just seen that it was September last time I put anything up, so time for a renewed effort.

Been trawling a few charity/second-hand shops recently, and there's some good stuff in the pile ready for your discerning ears. Before that, though, back to what we love most of all...

This single has some of my favourite TFC b-sides, and given Lou Reed's sad passing a few weeks back this one seems kind of appropriate too. The first b-side is a cover of (I see on Wikipedia) a band called The Creation, and it's great. A Raymond solo effort next, which I really like, although you can tell why it didn't make an LP, and then the Velvets tune.

Great stuff. Sorry for the long break, and I'll be back soon.

1. Sparky's Dream (Alternative Version)
2. Try And Stop Me
3. That's All I Need To Know
4. Who Loves The Sun

There you go.