The Album Review Club - Week #192 (page 1292) - 3ft High & Rising - De La Soul

Never liked Simple Minds but I'm not sure now if this was mainly because my brother liked them. I'm a much more reasonable person nowadays and will give it a fair go. Fascinated to hear the cover of Street Hassle
 
mrbelfry said:
Ah Simple Minds. A band I decided decades ago I hated with a passion having listened to exactly 2 songs when i liked very different music. hate having to confront my own prejudices
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I am on record earlier in this thread demanding the introduction of negative scoring if Jim Kerr's pestiferous visage were to appear on these pages!

However, this was prompted by the aural waterboarding I was subjected to with one of their later more despicable albums so I am going to try my best to listen without prejudice and if needs be I'll resort to a form of Taize chanting to remind myself that at least it's not JBJ.
 
Love this album and just recently got the 5.1 bluray surround version along with new gold dream...both sound brilliant.

Imo this was the last great simple minds album and thought they missed Derek Forbes when he left even though John giblin was a great bass player too. Derek's bass playing was unique and suited this era SM to a tea and he's all over this album.

Up on the catwalk, book of brilliant things, East at Easter...pure class.

One thing I always think of with this album is I wish they hadn't had called Steve lillywhite at that point. Only because he had agreed to produce Grace under Pressure by Rush and pulled out last minute as SM were his favorite band and he always wanted to produce them.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
And since I’ve never understood what Chrissie Hynde could ever have seen in a dime store Bryan Ferry knock off like Jim Kerr, I’ve basically just pretended this is the only record Simple Minds ever released, though I admit there is some of “New Gold Dream” I play (infrequently).
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Chrissie Hynde once told my ex-business partner to fuck off and given he's a very mild mannered chap I've always been a bit suspicious that despite her excellent musical output she might be a bit hard work.

Of that ill fated couples total musical output I personally think you've opted for the wrong persons back catalogue but we'll see!
 
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threespires said:
Great opener from a great album, in fact a great way to start a career. Would probably be getting 9/10.

In fairness I'm on track three of this weeks pick and nothing's gone out the window yet so that's positive.
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CH/Pretenders is an artist whose records got steadily worse from beginning to end. You can almost exactly match order quality with release date. I have thought about nominating their debut but the stretch of Stop Your Sobbing, Kid and Private Life (all 6 1/2 minutes of it) is such a drag while everything else is so utterly brilliant it just bums me out. And two of those were the lead singles — why?? Brass in Pocket was the breakthrough here in the States. So to me it’s probably and 8/10 with most being 10 but the rest 5 or 6.

She married (?) Ray Davies too so maybe her taste in men should be questioned.
 
Interesting pick Foggy. I’ve been listening to a bit of my early days music the past couple of weeks from a similar era. Dreamtime by The Cult I think was the same year - yes I know, Ian Astbury is a ****. Also delved into a bit of Danse Society who I was really into for a while. I think they’d get pelters on here lol
 
Much prefer very early SM before they went all stadium. It's an album I own but haven't listened to in years. I had Empires and Dance on the other day...Great album. I Travel is still their best song in my book.

But Waterfront has a great opening...Will be nice to listen again.

Top pick!
 
GornikDaze said:
Interesting pick Foggy. I’ve been listening to a bit of my early days music the past couple of weeks from a similar era. Dreamtime by The Cult I think was the same year - yes I know, Ian Astbury is a ****. Also delved into a bit of Danse Society who I was really into for a while. I think they’d get pelters on here lol
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Not from me you wouldn't! Had Heaven Is Waiting on the other day.
 
GornikDaze said:
That’s probably my favourite - still got the 12inch version somewhere. Think I had most of their vinyl at one point.

The other blast from my past was Spear of Destiny who were great live. Happy times, if not a little dated when listened to now.
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Saw Kirk a few times in various guises over the years and always put on a good show, he's had a troubled time of it but apparently he's still going strong.

If I wanted to get pelters on here for something from that era, I'd probably go for Xmal Deutschland !
 
threespires said:
Saw Kirk a few times in various guises over the years and always put on a good show, he's had a troubled time of it but apparently he's still going strong.

If I wanted to get pelters on here for something from that era, I'd probably go for Xmal Deutschland !
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Oooooohhh now you’re talking. I’ve got Viva stashed away somewhere. Might have to give that a quick blast next time I’m on my own
 
threespires said:
Chrissie Hynde once told my ex-business partner to fuck off and given he's a very mild mannered chap I've always been a bit suspicious that despite her excellent musical output she might be a bit hard work.

Of that ill fated couples total musical output I personally think you've opted for the wrong persons back catalogue but we'll see!
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Jim Kerr then married Patsy Kensit who later married Gallagher Jr who later married an All Saint and is now with his business manager (I think). They're all mad.

Anyway, SM - Sparkle is ok but the start of the decline IMO. Some good songs but not a great album like New Gold Dream and the production was too bombastic for me. Forbes was edging himself out the band as he openly admits and was a huge part of their songwriting, but he thought he was Champagne Charlie Nicholas & Frankie "where's the birds" McAvennie combined.
 
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