Notes from Underground

Music Notes September 2021(A little late…)

October 12, 2021 at 11:27 pm (Uncategorized)

September’s Music Notes. Written in late September, but somehow didn’t get published.

1 The Beat – I Just Can’t Stop It
Typically on my drive to work, I catch Indie 88’s Josie Dye show, but after the 30 Second Song Challenge, I often switch to a CD. The Beat’s debut always puts me in a good mood (I can listen to “Sister Ray” in its entirety if I skip Josie, but then I’m unfit for work)

2 The Style Council – Long Hot Summer:The Story of the Style Council
A double CD set from a couple of years ago is a nice introduction to the band. All the hits and some choice cuts. I actually prefer listening to the albums rather than the singles as the mood and versatility of Weller’s vision really emerges. Not always successful, but never boring.

3 M(h)aol – Gender Studies EP
While the EP doesn’t drop until the end of October, the title track from Gender Studies is out now. Great feminist critique over a chugging riff. Sometimes deliberately political songs fail as politics and art – this works as both.

4 Jennifer Otter Bickerdike – Nico: You are Beautiful and You are Alone
Brilliant biography of Nico. If you are even a casual fan of her world or of the Warhol/Velvets scene and beyond, you’ll want to get this book.

5 Green Day – American Idiot
Oddly enough, I had never listened to the entire thing until a few weeks back.Two decades after its release, the album has aged very well. Punk, ballads and a few things that don’t quite fit into either group. Well done lads.

6 The Chap
I’ve had a subscription to this magazine for a couple of years and it’s always worth it. The new issue has an extensive interview with Ron and Russell Mael (AKA Sparks), a piece on the ye-ye girls movement, and a tribute to the sartorial elegance of Charlie Watts.

7 Marina Topley-Bird – Forever I Wait
Topley-Bird will likely always be known for her work with Tricky and Massive Attack. While not to understate the brilliance of that work, her solo work is equally impressive. The final cut of this album, “Rain” underscored by a simple string back is achingly beautiful. A great record.

8 The Felice Brothers – “To Do List”
A whimsical ode to the glory of the to-do list. Would that we could achieve it all.

9 Best Coast – Crazy For You
Put on this one the other day. Such a sweet summertime album, it always made me forget that we didn’t really have a summer this year either.

10 Various artists – I’ll Be Your Mirror
I know I plugged this last month, but the whole album is put now, and if you’re a Velvets fan, you’ll want to hear this. Some interesting takes (the St. Vincent and Michael Stipe cuts), and some as you’d expect (the Thurston Moore/Bobby Gillespie track), but all worth a listen. Currently digging King Princess’ version of “There She Goes Now”

Till next month.