World Wide Woozle episode #476

Me again. Let's dive straight in.

I finished off the album I postponed last week from the "100 albums you should own on vinyl". I also had a good listen to another two even though I was very familiar with them both. The act of listening to albums without skipping songs takes me back to the time when cassettes and vinyl were what we had and song order mattered.

Album 18/100 - Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile (1999)

I didn't like this album at all. And at almost 104 minutes long, giving it a few listens was really quite challenging. Some other reviewers commented that it was NIN's version of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" but I really don't hear that. There's no doubt that this is a dark, broody and generally depressing listen but not in a good way. There are a few faster songs but I feel that the band have found one sound and a formula and are sticking to it here, albeit while taking a long time to get anywhere. If you enjoyed NIN's first album, "The Downward Spiral", then this release has the potential to frustrate you. In short, I thought that, as a whole, "The Fragile" was pretty boring. Of course, your listening experience will vary and I usually give an album with a really bad review a spin...you should too.

Album 19/100 - Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)

This is another album that's already had more than enough written about it. It's regarded as being extremely influential and it's easy to see why. The punk sound was new in 1977 and the band, their delivery and their lyrics were a real punch in the face to the establishment in general. Sex Pistols only recorded one studio album and this is it. All these years later it still brims with malice and contempt. You should listen to this one without a shadow of a doubt whether it's for Steve Jones' massive guitar sound (using an amp heisted from Bob Marley's band) or Johnny Rottens' caustic singing.

Sex Pistols - Bodies (1977) - https://youtu.be/yzFFtBsl5ps

Sex Pistols - Holidays In The Sun (1977) - https://youtu.be/2Ah1JM9mf60

Album 20/100 - Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (1982)

I've written about this album before. I've also, along with George and Brownie, performed it in its entirety. 

Bruce Springsteen recorded this himself on a 4-track cassette recorder. When he tried to get his band to record versions of the songs it just didn't click. The album was mixed and mastered from the tape that had been in his pocket for a few weeks. Whether this means it should be essential to own on vinyl I'm not sure but it's a fantastic record nonetheless. What you get is ten tracks, almost all acoustic, that are sparse and haunting both musically and lyrically. This isn't Bruce in his classic American sing-along rock and roll mode. It's songs of despair and real life complete with grit, grime and soul. As with some other albums I've reviewed, this is really good as a collection of songs, not just single tracks. I've listened to, and like, a lot of Springteen's music and this is his best in my opinion.

Bruce Springsteen - Used Cars - https://youtu.be/67dYxOXPtfQ

Bruce Springsteen - Highway Patrolman - https://youtu.be/7EVCO7ZKVDs

I also listened to some music by the great Melbourne group Painters & Dockers this week. I discovered one of their tracks buried at the end of a double DVD set of Countdown performances from the 70s and 80s. Painters & Dockers were a lot of fun and if you care to listen, they've usually got something to say. They can also be pretty funny. Dock on!

Painters & Dockers - Soul Child (live 1986) - https://youtu.be/FG9TkQK3tok

The next track is one I heard playing on a TV show I was watching. At the time I couldn't quite put my finger on who it was but as soon as I hit Google I remembered. A fun song indeed, see what you think.

Ace Frehely - New York Groove (1978) - https://youtu.be/LKdHy18rZcI

I've been struggling a bit with my cycling since I pinched the nerve in my back. Some of my foot and leg are still a bit numb (they are slowly improving). The result is that some days on the bike are better than others. I've got some time tomorrow though so I have a longer expedition in mind. I guess patience is not my strongest suit!

Chickenfoot - Highway Star (live 2012 - Deep Purple cover) - https://youtu.be/GQVTtpE9J7s

Oh, and on the Countdown DVD I mentioned earlier I also found this little gem. This song holds a special place in my heart!

Laura Branigan - Gloria - https://youtu.be/355Fk8drgZE

DJ SAB put me onto the next band. Generally they play Heavy Metal with a bit of theatre and opera thrown in. It's good stuff. This was at the end of their latest album though and, given that I just played Laura Branigan, it fits in quite nicely!

Avantasia - Maniac (2019) - https://youtu.be/rxCtD4Dc-yY

That's probably enough for this week. Enjoy your weekend when it arrives!

Rob

"He got no sense but he got money
He got no sense but he got overnight success", Wide Boy, Nik Kershaw, 1984