I'll give you that. That should have read "other people might think they're a bit cheesy", I adore that album. I still play bass guitar and I play Alison regularly. The band I mentioned, think our first gig we played four lemonheads covers, and we carried on playing Alison, and Luka (their version of the Suzanne Vega song) right till the end. Fucking good times.Great stuff. Thats the power of music mate.
Got tickets for them at Ritz in August.
i don't think the album is ,cheesy', more just simple love songs with great lyrics and catchy tunes. almost classic 'pop' if you like.
The first and only time I smoked weed was in Southern Cemetery when I was probably about 15. My sister's boyfriend's brother was a little younger than me but he had bigger brothers so I imagine he stole it from their stash. I didn't know what I was doing but I do remember it being a disappointing experience. But my first exposure to weed was at my dad's 40th birthday where I think someone had gifted him a joint. The kids at school who had access to drugs were all cooler than me and I didn't have a social group I mixed with outside school. Looking back but much to the disagreement of my mum I was the school tramp. My uniform was always in disarray, my teeth are a disaster and my hair resembled what would subsequently be known as Boris Johnson dragged through a hedge and then cut with a strimmer.
I don't really even drink since I realised at 17 it was not a good look for me. I was in Poland drinking cherry vodka trying to impress on my parents that Leonard Cohen was a musical genius. Drinking made me over confident in my own ability and knowledge. I am pretentious enough sober. Drunk I am largely insufferable. I also don't trust myself. It's a family joke that at every family gathering I will eventually try and argue that the Nazis were misunderstood and that's me sober. I enjoy being contrarian and provocative sometimes and add that to the drink I'm worried I might discover I'm a natural reform voter.
In any event I'm largely unimpressed by excess and substance abuse. One of the threads that weaves losely through my reviews is how stupid I think idolizing rock stars is. Substance use and excess is often used as substitute for personality and a vanguard against trying hard and failing.
Now I'm also aware that I'm probably contrarian and provocative because I feel largely insignificant and vanilla and my anti drug stance may just be lack of opportunity. Cool people take drugs and I am not cool so no one has offered me drugs. Screw you drugs. For reference it's that lack of opportunity that doesn't make me feel superior to crack heads. I've been married for 26 years and never even kissed another woman but that does not by extension make me a good or virtuous husband. Literally no one other than my wife has ever shown any interest in having sex with for 26 years. I'd like to think I'm a good and virtuous husband but it's never been tested. I might be a serial cheat. I dunno
Case in point - It's a Shame About Ray by the Lemonheads is an album about taking drugs. And in some ways it's using this as shorthand to demonstrate that the Lemonheads are cool despite their music being bland and unfinished. Frustratingly it works and against my better instincts this album won me over. I can't really explain why - this is the power of drug.
This is an album that is ultimately flavoured water. It is minimalist; not in the sense that someone has worked hard to remove all the unnecessary bits and boiled it down to the essentials but I'm the sense that someone thought "yeah this is good enough now. Let's go get drug". You could make the argument that it's no frills song writing without any gimmicks but I'd argue it's deliberately and ultimately charmingly unambitious.
Take for example Bit Part which is probably my favourite song. It doesn't want to be your first and last and everything it just wants to be a cameo. Like this album. It doesn't want to be your favourite and best album it just wants a place in your cd collection. Possibly my second favourite song is Alison's Starting to Happen which is again is pretty passive - something is happening to Dando rather than him being an active participant in his own life.
At this point the review is longer than the actual album. I did feel I wanted to give the guitarist a different amp or overdrive pedal, I also wished there was more backing harmonies on it and on my latest listen I did notice that I didn't like the reverb on It's A Shame About Ray (the same thing happens a little on My Drug Buddy) but there wasn't a song that I'd skip (possibly because that would require more effort than the band put in). I also think one of the reasons why The Lemonheads have had such a large turnover of musicians is because the songs are pretty boring to play BUT there is a charm to its smallness of ambition that isn't just a product of 'classic songwriting' but is perhaps a consequence of a drug inspired doing the minimum - this is an attitude I can get behind as long as it doesn't require much effort. I like the minimum because i'm lazy and not because of drug but i guess the result is the same. I'm not motivated to excel and neither is this so it's 7 out of 10 because game recognises game.
As always you are very kind. I'm not smart enough to create a persona but if I could I'm not sure id channel Morrisey but my wife was a fan when we met so I've possibly picked up something whilst trying to impress her. He has a way with words I'm far from grasping.You have, and I don't say this lightly, outdone yourself here in multiple ways. Whether that's an unequivocally good thing I am not quite sure.
Though I don't believe your last sentence I do think it's a fantastic line. Even if it transpires it's a quote you have lazily ripped off thereby proving your point, then there's a degree of excellence in doing that which you would not be able to deny.
Your mention of hanging out at Southern and this review does make me wonder if Mr Belfry isn't a cleverly constructed persona based in part on the protagonist in Cemetery Gates. In fact given your way with words, sometimes demeanor and mention of Reform I'm now beginning to wonder if you aren't actually Morrissey?
Either way, and though I read some of it through my fingers, that's a highly entertaining and imo accurate review.
Excellent.The first and only time I smoked weed was in Southern Cemetery when I was probably about 15. My sister's boyfriend's brother was a little younger than me but he had bigger brothers so I imagine he stole it from their stash. I didn't know what I was doing but I do remember it being a disappointing experience. But my first exposure to weed was at my dad's 40th birthday where I think someone had gifted him a joint. The kids at school who had access to drugs were all cooler than me and I didn't have a social group I mixed with outside school. Looking back but much to the disagreement of my mum I was the school tramp. My uniform was always in disarray, my teeth are a disaster and my hair resembled what would subsequently be known as Boris Johnson dragged through a hedge and then cut with a strimmer.
I don't really even drink since I realised at 17 it was not a good look for me. I was in Poland drinking cherry vodka trying to impress on my parents that Leonard Cohen was a musical genius. Drinking made me over confident in my own ability and knowledge. I am pretentious enough sober. Drunk I am largely insufferable. I also don't trust myself. It's a family joke that at every family gathering I will eventually try and argue that the Nazis were misunderstood and that's me sober. I enjoy being contrarian and provocative sometimes and add that to the drink I'm worried I might discover I'm a natural reform voter.
In any event I'm largely unimpressed by excess and substance abuse. One of the threads that weaves losely through my reviews is how stupid I think idolizing rock stars is. Substance use and excess is often used as substitute for personality and a vanguard against trying hard and failing.
Now I'm also aware that I'm probably contrarian and provocative because I feel largely insignificant and vanilla and my anti drug stance may just be lack of opportunity. Cool people take drugs and I am not cool so no one has offered me drugs. Screw you drugs. For reference it's that lack of opportunity that doesn't make me feel superior to crack heads. I've been married for 26 years and never even kissed another woman but that does not by extension make me a good or virtuous husband. Literally no one other than my wife has ever shown any interest in having sex with for 26 years. I'd like to think I'm a good and virtuous husband but it's never been tested. I might be a serial cheat. I dunno
Case in point - It's a Shame About Ray by the Lemonheads is an album about taking drugs. And in some ways it's using this as shorthand to demonstrate that the Lemonheads are cool despite their music being bland and unfinished. Frustratingly it works and against my better instincts this album won me over. I can't really explain why - this is the power of drug.
This is an album that is ultimately flavoured water. It is minimalist; not in the sense that someone has worked hard to remove all the unnecessary bits and boiled it down to the essentials but I'm the sense that someone thought "yeah this is good enough now. Let's go get drug". You could make the argument that it's no frills song writing without any gimmicks but I'd argue it's deliberately and ultimately charmingly unambitious.
Take for example Bit Part which is probably my favourite song. It doesn't want to be your first and last and everything it just wants to be a cameo. Like this album. It doesn't want to be your favourite and best album it just wants a place in your cd collection. Possibly my second favourite song is Alison's Starting to Happen which is again is pretty passive - something is happening to Dando rather than him being an active participant in his own life.
At this point the review is longer than the actual album. I did feel I wanted to give the guitarist a different amp or overdrive pedal, I also wished there was more backing harmonies on it and on my latest listen I did notice that I didn't like the reverb on It's A Shame About Ray (the same thing happens a little on My Drug Buddy) but there wasn't a song that I'd skip (possibly because that would require more effort than the band put in). I also think one of the reasons why The Lemonheads have had such a large turnover of musicians is because the songs are pretty boring to play BUT there is a charm to its smallness of ambition that isn't just a product of 'classic songwriting' but is perhaps a consequence of a drug inspired doing the minimum - this is an attitude I can get behind as long as it doesn't require much effort. I like the minimum because i'm lazy and not because of drug but i guess the result is the same. I'm not motivated to excel and neither is this so it's 7 out of 10 because game recognises game.
As always you are very kind. I'm not smart enough to create a persona but if I could I'm not sure id channel Morrisey but my wife was a fan when we met so I've possibly picked up something whilst trying to impress her. He has a way with words I'm far from grasping.
Im quick to be hyperbolic but their is always a grain of truth under the exaggeration. I also think it's quite rare to be original so even if I think I've coined a phrase there is a good chance I've subconsciously ripped it from somewhere. For example Wikipedia has Lemonheads listed in the post punk and jangle pop genres. foggy mentioned their punkness. So it's easy to see how that came to mind. Whilst I do hope my reviews entertain I also try and make sure they represent my true feelings but bare in mind I'm a self confessed contrarian provocateur.
They are self indulgent claptrap at bestI do appreciate that whatever flights of fancy, provocation or self-analytical tangents etc you go on, there are always meaningful and astute observations about the material that has been placed before us.
I like Mr belfry’s “jangle punk” as a description too. Definitely a different feel than GD a B12 but again it’s the big evolutionary branch different from grunge I was trying to describe (not well I’m afraid!).Not sure I've ever heard the term before but imo it fits. I understand why Fog mentioned the likes of Green Day/Blink 182 but this has quite a different feel to it in comparison and 'jangle punk' sums those differences up quite well I think. There's a lightness to this, if not quite wistful then not far off despite still having a bit of an edge. Throw in a bit of melancholy and it sidesteps that deliberately juvenile sound which I think is why I much prefer it to the bits I've heard of those other two bands.
Others, who I can’t name for legal reasons, should take note of this!!At this point the review is longer than the actual album.
To use a well worn phrase on Blue Moon, I like you. :-)The first and only time I smoked weed was in Southern Cemetery when I was probably about 15. My sister's boyfriend's brother was a little younger than me but he had bigger brothers so I imagine he stole it from their stash. I didn't know what I was doing but I do remember it being a disappointing experience. But my first exposure to weed was at my dad's 40th birthday where I think someone had gifted him a joint. The kids at school who had access to drugs were all cooler than me and I didn't have a social group I mixed with outside school. Looking back but much to the disagreement of my mum I was the school tramp. My uniform was always in disarray, my teeth are a disaster and my hair resembled what would subsequently be known as Boris Johnson dragged through a hedge and then cut with a strimmer.
I don't really even drink since I realised at 17 it was not a good look for me. I was in Poland drinking cherry vodka trying to impress on my parents that Leonard Cohen was a musical genius. Drinking made me over confident in my own ability and knowledge. I am pretentious enough sober. Drunk I am largely insufferable. I also don't trust myself. It's a family joke that at every family gathering I will eventually try and argue that the Nazis were misunderstood and that's me sober. I enjoy being contrarian and provocative sometimes and add that to the drink I'm worried I might discover I'm a natural reform voter.
In any event I'm largely unimpressed by excess and substance abuse. One of the threads that weaves losely through my reviews is how stupid I think idolizing rock stars is. Substance use and excess is often used as substitute for personality and a vanguard against trying hard and failing.
Now I'm also aware that I'm probably contrarian and provocative because I feel largely insignificant and vanilla and my anti drug stance may just be lack of opportunity. Cool people take drugs and I am not cool so no one has offered me drugs. Screw you drugs. For reference it's that lack of opportunity that doesn't make me feel superior to crack heads. I've been married for 26 years and never even kissed another woman but that does not by extension make me a good or virtuous husband. Literally no one other than my wife has ever shown any interest in having sex with for 26 years. I'd like to think I'm a good and virtuous husband but it's never been tested. I might be a serial cheat. I dunno
Case in point - It's a Shame About Ray by the Lemonheads is an album about taking drugs. And in some ways it's using this as shorthand to demonstrate that the Lemonheads are cool despite their music being bland and unfinished. Frustratingly it works and against my better instincts this album won me over. I can't really explain why - this is the power of drug.
This is an album that is ultimately flavoured water. It is minimalist; not in the sense that someone has worked hard to remove all the unnecessary bits and boiled it down to the essentials but I'm the sense that someone thought "yeah this is good enough now. Let's go get drug". You could make the argument that it's no frills song writing without any gimmicks but I'd argue it's deliberately and ultimately charmingly unambitious.
Take for example Bit Part which is probably my favourite song. It doesn't want to be your first and last and everything it just wants to be a cameo. Like this album. It doesn't want to be your favourite and best album it just wants a place in your cd collection. Possibly my second favourite song is Alison's Starting to Happen which is again is pretty passive - something is happening to Dando rather than him being an active participant in his own life.
At this point the review is longer than the actual album. I did feel I wanted to give the guitarist a different amp or overdrive pedal, I also wished there was more backing harmonies on it and on my latest listen I did notice that I didn't like the reverb on It's A Shame About Ray (the same thing happens a little on My Drug Buddy) but there wasn't a song that I'd skip (possibly because that would require more effort than the band put in). I also think one of the reasons why The Lemonheads have had such a large turnover of musicians is because the songs are pretty boring to play BUT there is a charm to its smallness of ambition that isn't just a product of 'classic songwriting' but is perhaps a consequence of a drug inspired doing the minimum - this is an attitude I can get behind as long as it doesn't require much effort. I like the minimum because i'm lazy and not because of drug but i guess the result is the same. I'm not motivated to excel and neither is this so it's 7 out of 10 because game recognises game.
I resemble that remark :)Others, who I can’t name for legal reasons, should take note of this!!
What a great line haha ;)
They are self indulgent claptrap at best
Just because it came up earlier I am always surprised that Nevermind hasnt been nominated on this thread already. Is it because it's too obvious a pick?
I can neither confirm or deny that assumption ;)I resemble that remark :)
Dando was big mates with Oasis according to internet chatterFew beers in here but I’m listening to Oasis as I prepare for Heaton Park next week and also to the Lemonheads … well, it’s just complete chalk and cheese - one is a massive loud rock band that goes into so much care for the intro/chorus and outro and doesn’t hold back even on their B sides and the other is stripped down 2 mins a track in a garage ‘jangle punk’ , how can one prefer this sound to the big rock sound I have no idea.
Anyway, I’ll take the contrast out of my mind and review Lemonheads on its own merrit, so far I can listen easily and enjoy but I feel that’s part of the problem.
I have considered it and we have had several “obvious” picks — and I like obvious picks. Still one of my very favo(u)rite records. In my top ten or 20 of all time.Just because it came up earlier I am always surprised that Nevermind hasnt been nominated on this thread already. Is it because it's too obvious a pick?
I like both sounds. But I like lots of sounds. I listened to Pop Will Eat Itself and a Windham Hill sampler just yesterday!!Few beers in here but I’m listening to Oasis as I prepare for Heaton Park next week and also to the Lemonheads … well, it’s just complete chalk and cheese - one is a massive loud rock band that goes into so much care for the intro/chorus and outro and doesn’t hold back even on their B sides and the other is stripped down 2 mins a track in a garage ‘jangle punk’ , how can one prefer this sound to the big rock sound I have no idea.
Anyway, I’ll take the contrast out of my mind and review Lemonheads on its own merrit, so far I can listen easily and enjoy but I feel that’s part of the problem.
Maybe because it only has a couple of great songs on it.Just because it came up earlier I am always surprised that Nevermind hasnt been nominated on this thread already. Is it because it's too obvious a pick?
Haha all my favourite songs on Nevermind are actually on Incesticide. I remember going to Woolworths in Chorlton to buy In Utero on cassette tape when it came out. Was getting my haircut when I heard Cobain had died. MemoriesMaybe because it only has a couple of great songs on it.
In Utero on the other hand would be a far better pick.