Soul

Watched a DVD of Eurhythmics songs last night. I was surprised at how many of them I knew. And I realised I really like the stuff. I liked it when I was young and less discerning, listening to the Fox FM triple plays that they used to have before mainstream music got utterly, utterly crap. And I liked it when I went to see them in... 2000? And I like it even more now. I think what sets them aside from a lot of other 80's pop is the fair whack of soul they have in there, the solid song construction, and the actual talent and diversity with which they approach their songs. And their filmclips are glam and smooth and focus on Annie Lennox's gorgeous face. There's something not quite pretty about her - her lips are too thin and her eyes are too icy, but that makes her all the more exciting. She and Dave Stewart were together for a long while and then broke up - but I can't remember whether it got ugly or what happened there. Nevertheless, they look incredibly happy in the clip to the African marimba song where they're dressed up in cream suits and fur accessories. I think next time there's a dress-as-the-first-letter-of-your-name party I'll go as Annie Lennox in that outfit. And, Love Is A Stranger is probably my favourite Eurhythmics song.

This morning I'm listening to Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings' album Dap-Dippin'. Sharon Jones grew up singing in a church choir then moved to doing back-up vocals on various gospel and blues recordings. Then in the 80's she ended up as a prison warder in the Rykers Island jail. That prison has a fictional romanticism to it - someone in a novel has always just come out of Rykers or has a brother who's up there for a small crime. Anyway, she eventually met a producer who she clicked with and started recording. And it's cool stuff - pretty damn retro but recorded recently so you know people are *really* still playing this stuff. I bought it on recommendation from the guy at Northside Records in Gertrude St. I know next to nothing about soul and funk, really. I go to Blow-Up and enjoy the outfits and the difference in dancing and music, but really, I know nothing. So this is a good intro to what might be a whole music world waiting.

Neko Case and The Tremors

Bought some Neko Case, finally. I'd gone to Polyester Music to get a CD as a birthday gift for my cousin. Youth Group's Shadowlands album was playing. They seem to be getting more popular, espeically with their song being chosen for the OC soundtrack (of all things!). Kudos to them, although maybe they're wondering why it didn't 5 years ago with their first album. So I bought the Youth Group album for B but couldn't resist getting something for myself. I asked for Neko Case and the guy immediately handed me Blacklisted. When someone is that keen and clear about which album to choose you just take their advice. And it's a good album. The tinnitus I had from The Shine's gig the night before made her voice sound all the more piercing; there's some quality to it that falls just short of being physically uncomfortable and stays this side of beautiful. It's simultaneously hollow and full. There's a bit on her underconstructed website where she talks about deer in Washington State, and there are some deer on the album cover. That struck me. So, more Neko Case listening coming up. Maybe I'll also get the live album that features her cover of the Shangri-La's song Train from Kansas City.

D bought the Tremors, think the album is called Can I Get A Whiskey?, and it's pretty similar to that dirty tight jerky SixFtHick sound. It's good. The keyboardist Eleanor Logan sings riot-grrl style on some songs, which made me feel initially affronted by the yelling and then I realised it's actually OK to yell and she's also actually in tune despite the vocals. I never have had the attitude I guess. She also uses a Hammond organ to provide cheesy chords. Some of the vocal style also reminds me of Ian McKaye for some reason; maybe the dynamics.

Tunes at the desk

Listening to The Futureheads is making me happy. They remind me of bands I was too young to appreciate, and seem terribly British, in a good way. Karen Leng on RRR FM is a font of new music. I'm also feeding from the new album, Alligator, by The National; there's something sad and indie-film in the vocals. This new music thing is still accessible to me, I'm hanging on to a plank in the sea without letting my old tastes fall to the bottom.

Think I'll try and go see the Detroit Cobras next Tuesday, if only for the one song I've heard - I Want To Holler But The Town's Too Small. A mid-week night at the pub, stumble home afterwards.