Synth Pop September?

 

Maybe next September  . . . maybe.

#SynthPopSeptember 

Maybe . . . just maybe

I'm tempted. Really tempted. Is the blog ready for me to once again recycle the same 30-40 songs from 1981-84? Same jokes, same patter, the same half-arsed anecdotes? 

Found this music challenge on twitter (Kiss my arse with your 'X-bollocks', Musk.) Is September a particularly synthy month? I have no idea. It would, however, be nice to breath some much needed life into the blog.

#SynthPopSeptember 

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 10)

Day 10 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate JD Thank you for nominating me MR

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

In three week period in the Summer of '85, I bought this album, Prefab Sprout's 'Steve McQueen' and Colourbox's self-titled album. I knew my musical onions back then.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 9)

Day 9 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate SW Thank you for nominating me MR

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Roddy Frame was only about 17 when he wrote the songs for this debut album . . .  bastard.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 8)

Day 8 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate JM Thank you for nominating me MR

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

In an alternative universe, Colourbox is one of the biggest bands in the world.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 7)

Day 7 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate ET Thank you for nominating me MR.

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Bought one lunchtime in Our Price, and back to school (late) to look at the sleeve notes during a Maths lesson with Mr. Goodwin.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 6)

Day 6 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate AY Thank you for nominating me MR

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Listened to this again recently. It really, REALLY holds up. At times in '87 and '88 I listened to some really bad music - not really my fault, it was a fallow period for pop music - but thankfully I would occasionally listen to some good stuff back in the day. A perfect marriage of melodic music and barbwire lyrics.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 5)

Day 5 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate PC Thank you for nominating me MR . . .

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Total bullshit, of course. My early love for Shalamar meant that I didn't fall into that snot-nosed trap of sneering at dance music as not relevant, not deep and not, quite simply. fucking wonderful.

It also helped that Jody Watley was drop dead fucking gorgeous.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 4)

Day 4 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate MF Thank you for nominating me MR . . .

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Total bullshit, of course. Quite simply, this compilation album opened my eyes and ears to left of centre music that never get near Saturday morning kids TV in a million and a half years. Bought on vinyl for a knock down price in Watford Market many, many years ago.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 3)

Day 3 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate JL Thank you for nominating me MR . . . 

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Total bullshit, of course.  I think I loved Heartland a bit too much when I was a kid. I'm guessing I was about 14 or 15 when this came out, and I probably did think the revolution was just one catchy three minute single away.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 2)

Day 2 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate RW Thank you for nominating me MR . . . 

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

Total bullshit, of course. What hides behind what is possibly the crappiest album cover in the history of music is an absolutely wonderful compilation, and if you don't fall in love with The Byrds after listening to it, someone supply me with your name and address and I will forward on your death certificate. (Poor taste in times like these? Of course.)

Bought it on cassette in Hemel back in 88 or 89, and I played it to death when I first went to University. So many great tracks on there that I refuse to single any of them out. Being an old geezer, I can't remember if I bought this or Johnny Rogan's book on The Byrds, 'Timeless Flight' (bought in a bookshop on my one trip to Aylesbury) first. It must have been this compilation.

Check it out, blogging bots.

The shit I post on Facebook . . . musical edition (Day 1)

Day 1 of my task, to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. No explanations, no reviews, just album covers. Every day I will ask someone else to do the same... today I nominate JC Thank you for nominating me MR . . . 

"No explanations, no reviews, just album covers . .  ."

What total bullshit. Of course, I can't stop myself from explaining, ranting and reviewing in the comments:

• "Of course they will all be from when I was 12 or 13. Such a fucking cliche."
• " I was a bit young for this when it first came out, and I only found it after buying Luxury Gap. I'm sure I bought both cassettes within days of each other in '83. (Got the badges as well, of course. ;-) ) I love Luxury Gap as well, but this was the album of theirs that I played again and again and again. Listened to it again just a couple of days ago, and there's only one track that stops it from being an absolutely perfect album."
• "Just noticed I'm being a total hypocrite in the comments section by going into extensive detail about why I love the album listed. Total wanker. Oh, well." (Some self-awareness, thank christ.)