16th July - The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Artist – Album: The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Released:  16^th July 2002

Sounds Like:  Childlike wonder, sagelike wisdom

Alright, so it is a travesty that I’ve not plumped for Neil Young’s On the Beach for today’s album. Just who do I think I am? I despair at me. But I was on such a good roll with albums from 2002 – yesterday’s Idlewild album and the Vines’ from the day before were also released that year – that I found it impossible to resist. Also, whilst On the Beach is (probably) superior to Yoshimi..., it is really, really depressing; an accusation you can’t level at this little curiosity.

The Flaming Lips had struck upon gold with their previous album, the timeless The Soft Bulletin, and quite sensibly they chose not to alter the formula too much with this one. They continued to combine childlike wonder (the toy fight of near title track duo ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots parts 1 & 2’) with sagelike wisdom (‘Do You Realize??’), and continued to produce songs that were experimental and original but remained within the confines of accessible indie rock. Songs such as ‘Flight Test’ and ‘Yoshimi... Pt. 1’ have a more instant impact than anything on the preceding masterpiece, whilst ‘In the Morning of the Magicians’, with its twitching hi-hat and waves of applause and laughter, is beautiful captivating.  

Following the crazy concept of the amazing Zaireeka (an album that came with four discs, to be played simulateously), The Flaming Lips hit up on a rich seam of form that has yet to run out. Yoshimi... is one of their best, and makes the inevitable comparisons to the similarly psychedelic Pink Floyd wholly warranted.

Albumaday... rating: 8/10

1.       Fight Test – 4:14

2.       One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21 – 4:59

3.       Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1 – 4:45

4.       Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2 – 2:57

5.       In the Morning of the Magicians – 6:18

6.       Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell – 4:34

7.       Are You a Hypnotist?? – 4:44

8.       It’s Summertime – 4:20

9.       Do You Realize?? – 3:33

10.   All We Have Is Now – 3:53

11.   Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia) – 3:09

Listen to ‘In the Morning of the Magicians ‘: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWui3la2VZM

Also released on the 16^th July:

1974: Neil Young – On the Beach

16th May - The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds

Artist – Album: The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Released:  16^th May 1966

Sounds Like:  Quite possibly the greatest of them all

Well, I suppose I couldn’t avoid the discussion forever – just what is the greatest album of all time? Way back when, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was the default answer. Today though, experts are just as likely to plump for Revolver as their go-to The Beatles answer.  Modern(ish) music fans might be more likely to cite Nirvana’s Nevermind or Radiohead’s OK Computer, whilst the uncouth amongst you may well just say Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. Snuggling up to that top bracket there’s also Elvis Presley, London Calling and Dark Side of the Moon. And sitting squarely in the midst of this gallery of greats is Pet Sounds, today’s choice.

Today’s ‘also released’ could feasibly have been up for contention, as Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde is also one of the finest records of the sixties. But honestly Pet Sounds just blows it out of the water.

Bursting straight in to things with the exuberant ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, the listener is swiftly pummelled into sweet submission. The pace is slackened on ‘You Still Believe In Me’ but the track stands as a good study in the Boy’s strengths – interesting, beautiful harmonies; naive, charming lyrics; and captivating, lush orchestration. The rest of the album continues to flit between the two styles – joyous, up-tempo romps and slow, gorgeous ballads. There’s not a dud note to be found. And right smack in the middle is ‘God Only Knows’, very likely to be the greatest two minutes fifty ever recorded. It is simply without equal.

I think, for me, the same can be said for the album as a whole. It is unequalled. Although... we are only 137 days in, I wonder what the next 198 days hold in stock...

p.s. possible contender for the worst album cover of all time??

Albumaday... rating: 10/10

1.       Wouldn’t It Be Nice – 2:25

2.       You Still Believe in Me – 2:31

3.       That’s Not Me – 2:28

4.       Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) – 2:53

5.       I’m Waiting for the Day – 3:05

6.       Let’s Go Away for Awhile – 2:18

7.       Sloop John B – 2:58

8.       God Only Knows – 2:51

9.       I Know There’s an Answer – 3:09

10.   Here Today – 2:54

11.   I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times – 3:12

12.   Pet Sounds – 2:22

13.   Caroline, No – 2:51

Listen to ‘I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times ‘: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR7_TbMIVnA

Also released on the 16^th May:

1966: Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde

19th April - The Zombies' Odessey and Oracle

Artist – Album: The Zombies – Odessey & Oracle

Released:  19^th April 1968

Sounds Like: Everything you want a great 60's album to sound like

From the goofy misspelt title to the eye sore of the album cover, there’s much on first glance at this Zombies record that doesn’t work. Indeed, a first spin of the opening song ‘Care of Cell 44’ may confirm your worst suspicions that this is the nothing more than typical flower power fluff of the late 60’s, like the aural equivalent of the original Batman TV series, or Austin Powers.

Repeated listens of that first song though reveal it to be way more than a real life version of Spinal Tap’s ‘We Are the Flower People’. With an intriguing premise (written as a letter to a soon-to-be released inmate from their love back home), playful song structure – check out that middle choral harmony break, as good as anything the Beach Boys put together – and a catchy, if insanely happy, tune. Its excellent blend of simplicity and depth has seen it covered by many, including important modern(ish) artists such as Elliott Smith and Of Montreal. Likewise, the entire album is on one level a light hearted romp through the psychedelic pop, but packed to the brim with hidden subtleties and nuances that prevent it from ever going stale.

The well known hits like ‘This Will Be Our Year’ and ‘Time of the Season’ obviously sparkle, and if you’re not familiar with them then you’ve got some living to do, but the whole album is phenomenal. ‘Friends of Mine’ and ‘I Want Her, She Wants Me’ are delirious, infectious froth. ‘Maybe After He’s Gone’ and ‘Brief Candles’ are autumnal songs with a deep sense of longing; ‘Butcher’s Tale’ is a haunting war ballad, with a sombre verse but stunning chorus; and ‘Hung Up On a Dream’ is a pocket psychedelic symphony.

Before today, fifteen of the one hundred and eight albums reviewed on this blog had earned themselves that dreamt of score of ten out of ten. This is number sixteen. And, despite its flaws, it may be my favourite of the lot.

Albumaday... rating: 10/10

1.       Care of Cell 44 – 3:57

2.       A Rose for Emily – 2:19

3.       Maybe After He’s Gone – 2:34

4.       Beechwood Park – 2:44

5.       Brief Candles – 3:30

6.       Hung Up on a Dream – 3:02

7.       Changes – 3:20

8.       I Want Her, She Wants Me – 2:53

9.       This Will Be Our Year – 2:08

10.   Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914) – 2:48

11.   Friends of Mine – 2:18

12.   Time of the Season – 3:34

Listen to ‘This Will Be Our Year’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf7wRe4AUtU

Also released on the 19^th April:

1971: The Doors – L.A. Woman

Also released on the 19^th April:

2005: Eels – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations

31st March - Prince's Sign O' the Times

Artist – Album: Prince – Sign “O” the Times

Released:  31^st March 1987

Sounds Like: Well, er, a sign of the times, would you believe it?

 Happy Easter Sunday people! Hope you’ve all had healthy amounts of chocolate eggs and a good old bit of Christianity (if that’s what you’re in to).

Fittingly, today’s post is about that most Christian of artists: Prince. Actually, that should be the artist formerly known as Prince. And actually, he’s not Christian at all, I was totally joking. Prince, the little impish joker, sings here about drugs, sex and AIDS as though they were issues that were ten a penny back in the late 80’s. Which they may well have been. He certainly considers them a sign o’ the times.

The dark subject matter is actually downplayed by a double album that forays into a wide variety of music styles and fun experimentalism. From the vital pop of ‘I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man’ to the funky groove of the title track, Prince chameleons through the genres in a manner miles ahead of his 80’s peers Michael Jackson or Madonna. The sinister, psycho-sexual ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend’, the just plain sexual ‘It’, the fantasy of meeting another woman whilst being in a relationship covered in ‘The Ballad of Dorothy Parker’, the brilliance of a particularly beautiful woman in ‘U Got the Look’; many of Prince’s greatest moments on this album encompassed the same general  sexual theme, but the musical approach in each differed greatly and really his ability to mix it up.

I have begin to sound like something of a broken record on this blog, often extolling the virtues of keeping your albums short but sweet (or at least reasonable and cool), but double albums are always a slightly different kettle of ball fish. They often need to be viewed from a different standpoint, accounting for the massive ambition and foresight given to them. This one is ambitious and forward thinking, and you know what? It doesn’t even feel too long. Although it doesn't sound it, that is one hell of a compliment from me. Well done Prince. Or squiggle. Or whatever your name is. 

Albumaday... rating: 9/10

1.       Sign o’ the Times – 4:57

2.       Play in the Sunshine – 5:05

3.       Housequake – 4:42

4.       The Ballad of Dorothy Parker – 4:01

5.       It – 5:09

6.       Starfish and Coffee – 2:50

7.       Slow Love – 4:22

8.       Hot Thing – 5:39

9.       Forever in My Life – 3:30

10.   U Got the Look – 3:47

11.   If I Was Your Girlfriend – 5:01

12.   Strange Relationship – 4:01

13.    I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man – 6:29

14.   The Cross – 4:48

15.   It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night – 9:01

16.   Adore – 6:30

Listen to ‘The Ballad of Dorothy Parker ’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xi8A5OFhUI

Also released on the 31^st March:

1986: Prince – Parade

Also released on the 31^st March:

2008: Frank Turner – Love Ire & Song

Also released on the 31^st March:

2010: Jónsi - Go

10th Feb - Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Artist – Album: Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Released:  10^th February 1997    

Sounds Like: Impeccable indie

It is damn near impossible for any album to attain universal adoration from indie fans, more so than with any other type of genre. Annoyingly well-informed hipsters like to play at one-upmanship when discussing their favourite discoveries:

“Hey man, I’ve started to get into this new crab-core five piece called Tantric Antarctic, ever heard of them?”

“Obviously dude, they’re like a shit Chessington World of Adventures”

“Yeah, well they’re just a poor man’s Bowser and the Koopa Troops”

“They suck. You should listen to Garry and the Douches”

“You suck. You’re a douche”

Any group that starts to earn a fanbase will automatically be derided simply because somebody else has heard of them. These guys get more precious over their favourite obscure bands than Gollum with the one ring.

It’s testament, then, to the excellence of Neutral Milk Hotel’s second album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea that despite becoming increasingly well known and loved there’s not been any backlash from the enthusiasts. If anything, its stock has grown and since the turn of the millennium it has consistently shown up in best ever lists, even topping a few. If you haven’t heard it yet, do so immediately. You don’t even have to be a music geek to love it.

p.s. It's Chinese New Year today - Kung Hei Fatt Choi! I've been trying to think of ways to shoehorn that into this blog, but it was pretty difficult. Sneakily, I've just done it. You probably didn't even notice.

Albumaday... rating: 10/10

Also released on the 10^th February:

1971: Carole King - Tapestry

Also released on the 10^th February:

2004: Kanye West – The College Dropout

Also released on the 10^th February:

1997: Blur – Blur