In which we are reminded that way back when (1980-81 to be specific) U2 were still pretty much complete unknowns. But one listen to something like Another Time Another Place and you knew that wasn’t going to last. Because this outfit was like Joy Division with the doom removed, rhythm like runaway horses, guitar like great sheets of illuminating light, big voice, epiphanies by the minute.
“1981 was a pretty brilliant year if you were an open-minded Clash fan. Between London Calling and Sandinista, they’d just released ten sides of genre bending, ever expanding, often superlative vinyl in barely more than a year. So when Radio Clash (the single) appeared in four different versions, all dubbed up and dance floor ready, there was no reason to doubt what was being promised. Hell yeah! Their next move would be to launch a pirate satellite so the world would finally have all cool radio All The Time. If you dropped enough of the ole lysergic, it felt very possible. Maybe even likely.” (Philip Random)
“As I heard it put once, The Posies were the Seattle band of the early 90s that didn’t get mentioned much during all the grunge hype because they didn’t play to type, being more about big rich melodies and smart pop finesse than roaring chest rock. My friend Mike says they sound like the early 1970s Hollies taking on Led Zeppelin here. I’ll take his word for it. Epic and not unsweet.” (Philip Random)
For all their pomp and fantasy, Queen could also take things down to earth every now and then as Drowse makes clear. Like something Brian Wilson and David Bowie might’ve come up with if they’d ever written a song together. Because it’s eternally true. Teenagers spend vast chunks of their time alone in their rooms frustrated and confused, bored to rages of tears, or maybe just on the drowse.
The red part of the Red Guitars‘ moniker concerns more than just the colour of their stringed weapons. These guys were serious about their left-side politics which likely explains their overall lack of market penetration back in the 80s. You certainly can’t fault a song like Good Technology for lacking hooks, melody, overall sarcastic pop smarts.
Donovan’s gotten a raw deal over the years, oft dismissed as that hippie-dippy lightweight who got his ass handed to him by Bob Dylan in that movie. But actually listen to the music, particularly some of the non radio hits, and a fuller picture emerges of a guy that was onto something uniquely his own, both musically (working the psychedelic edges with some very hot players) and lyrically: go looking for a good girl, end up at the edge of Hades, facing down the legions of Lucifer himself. Such are the blues. Just ask Bert.
Randophonic 