I'm one of those obsessive readers who carries her book everywhere despite the fact that I know I'll have no time to read it. When I go to work, I take it anyway, and it sits in the passenger seat of my car patiently waiting for a loving caress. There's a comfort in holding a world near, knowing you could plunge into it, sustained by story.
The same has been true of an album for the last week. I put it in my purse as I'm leaving the house, play it in the car, eject it from the car's cd player when I arrive, then put it back in my purse on the off chance that somehow I will find an excuse to play it while I work, or that I might be able to share a song or two with someone. It's a lovely feeling to be treating an album with the reverence I usually treat a book.
Eng-Rock forever! Electro-rock...¡que viva! Vinyl, you will be all mine'l!
This is what my molecules were screaming as my plane's wheels left the tarmac and I began my journey to London.
Many people plan trips to cities around seeing famous sites, but Ryan and I plan our visits around records stores. In my carry-on, I had a carefully researched list Ryan had compiled. He'd spent hours on that thing, researching and compiling a list of British vinyl, and because Ryan was holding down the fort stateside I felt a burden to deliver the goods.
My London hosts are kind, and though I was determined to avoid obsessing over records stores on their time, they made some special trips for me to Soho and the Notting Hill 'hood.
I was hoping against hope that my love of English bands would finally work in my favor...surely there must be an abundance of (affordable) Mancunian rock and Banshees records in London? Surely! And you know, maybe some Pulp...and...and...ok, probably not affordable for the early 90s goods.
The original Rough Trade- in the Basement! Notting Hill 'hood.
The first shot at record shopping I got was on a visit to the Notting Hill neighborhood (newsflash: there is no way that Hugh Grant's character in Notting Hill could afford to live in this neighborhood!!). We visited Portobello Market, had a bit of English style breakfast (eggs on toast! veg!) and meandered about. There's an awesome art display of vinyl records called the Portobello ReCollection there. It's quite a neat thing that no matter where you are going in London, you will accidentally discover something really interesting, unique, famous, or infamous. For example, I walked past houses of famous folk on many of our jaunts; places where Orwell, Hardy, and Ghandi had lived.
Wearing a weird facial expression: I pretend it's my punk face.
Like good music stores everywhere, Rough Trade opened at 10 AM (believe it or not, we were there early enough to have to wait around a bit). The BASEMENT was amazing. Right away I found Boomerang, by The Creatures. I spent about $12 getting a record that usually goes for upwards of $30. There was a massive Prince singles collection, a New Order "True Faith" remix lp I'd never seen but was immediately identifiable because of the leaf image.
The Original Single
12" Remix Single
Whilst there, Mark (one of my very patient hosts) took the opportunity to explain music categories I'd never seen before (Pub Rock and one I've forgotten the name of that was rock music for sport fans!), and to be shocked by all the bands I'd never heard about. It was neat to be shopping abroad and see categories for US New Wave, US Punk, US Rock, Surf Music, etc., a million categories for dance music, as well as the ever so un-PC category of Kraut Rock.
Music & Goods Exchange- Soho
Later in the week, on a Friday night as all the natural-born entertainers came out in Soho, Rae and Mark took me to a few more record shops. Music & Goods Exchange reminded me of CD/Game Exchange a bit, except things were reversed: this place had tons of cool records, and CDs were available in lesser quantity. These are neat stores because each branch specializes in something besides the music they sell. The branch in Soho specializes in comics (in the basement), which wasn't super interesting to me, but given the chance I would definitely visit other branches to check out their collections (one store has vintage clothes, another books, and one has films). My visit there was quite invigorating as I felt I was finally getting a true, English record fix with my purchases.
Upon approaching the counter to purchase the records at this store, I had a couple of realizations. This was the second store I had purchased records from, and I had noticed that they stored the vinyl behind the counter so shoppers would have to bring the sleeves up for what they wanted to buy. I thought that it might perhaps be a space issue-- the shops are pretty small-- or a thievery issue. But, like the first time I had purchased records, the clerk asked me to look at the quality of the vinyl before buying-- he didn't ask me if I wanted to, he expected me to do it. I adore this practice! How cool is it that record store folks in England are concerned about this on a customary basis? It would be considered odd NOT to look at the condition of vinyl before buying.
Sister Ray in Soho- you should visit!
The same thing happened when I purchased records at Sister Ray, just down the street. This was especially exciting because the shop had multiple copies of the Siouxsie & the Banshees singles I was purchasing, and I got to select the best copies. Even cooler, I
got to select from multiple gatefold, limited, clear vinyl editions of one of "The Killing Jar"; I ended up with pressing #13. I loved this store...they had so many records I wanted that I had to put things back. This is highly unusual for me!
Overall, I did pretty well for only purchasing records from a few stores, and I felt very satisfied. I did see quite a few awesome records I couldn't afford to buy, but I also got a fair price on Cure, Banshees, New Order, Prince, U2, James, and Kate Bush records (I got those last couple at an Oxfam in Shaftesbury, but that is a different story).
The weight of my carry-on as I lugged it around Heathrow, JFK, and PDX on my way home was extremely satisfying. The look on Ryan's face as he pulled out all his treats was even better.
For the last five or six years I've documented the prior year of music
listening on a mix CD. The rules I impose on
myself:
-One song max. from each album, and one song max. from each artist.
-Has to fit on one CD.
-Must mix well. I often end up with less than a CD's worth of material because of this rule.
There's no limitation on the year it was created; the song does not have to be from 2011.
Peculiar challenges this year:
-too many slow songs on my list of things to cram onto the CD! Usually I have the opposite problem.
-in my haste I left off an OMD song. See note on track 8.
The complete playlist is embedded at the end of this post.
1. "The Time it is Today" by The Association from Birthday
As a kid, I used to grab The Association's greatest hits LP from my parents collection and play it on my orange and tan Fischer Price record player. It's part of family legend how my dad used to play "Cherish" and pine away over his high school crush, and "Never My Love" is a classic. This year it is the pop/psychedelic track "The Time it is Today" that caught my attention. Some lines are uttered in irony, but there's not mistaking the defiance in this stanza:
They're lying, killing, they're pushing their rules
They tell you the prophets all are just fools
But I know different and I won't be used
It's they that are lost, it's they are confused
I simply cannot say enough good things about this album (follow the link above to see my review of Let England Shake). Here is a masterwork equivalent to any feat of rock 'n' roll storytelling brilliance. Harvey is always great, but her lyric work on this album, her vision and dedication to her theme make this album a classic.
3. "Love Etc." by The Pet Shop Boys from Yes
I refuse to feel guilty about my appreciation for PSB, and this song shows why. I find the video very enjoyable, as well!
4. "Are You Experienced" by Patti Smith from Twelve
Living in Eugene has caused me to rebellious in some of the only ways I know how: I don't own Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, or Pink Floyd albums. I only have burned copies of Bob Marley, and I refuse to attend the Oregon Country Fair. Yes, in Eugene, this is like being a turncoat. I do own Bob Dylan records though, so I think I'm allowed to stay.
Basically, the first time I ever appreciated a number of songs from the 70s (like "Are You Experienced") is when I heard them on Patti's album Twelve. Patti is a great cover artist because she really understands what the music is about, and gets inside it. (Her cover of U2's "Until the End of the World" is stellar.)
5. "Out to Get You" by James from Laid
I went through a James obsession in the early '00s. About the middle of last school year I got discouraged and downtrodden due to the ever increasing craziness of what it means to be an educator in today's culture (less money, less personnel, more expectations, larger class sizes, etc.). I returned to the warm nesting place that is this album; it was like a vitamin B shot to get me to a positive place for the students.
Insecure, what you gonna do?
Feel so small, they could step on you.
6. "Scarecrow" by Siouxsie and the Banshees from Peepshow
The Banshees were often inspired by film in their songwriting and "Scarecrow" sounds cinematic. The keyboard sounds are fantastic (I'm feeling a little programmable-analog-keyboard research coming on!), the bass line vaguely sinister, the guitar part compelling. Hearing the many colors of Siouxsie's voice in this song is like looking over a painter's shoulder to see their color palette, whispers, growls, and high"ohs" mixed across it. This is an irresistible song, and I'm dancing in my chair as I type these words.
7. "Mercy Street" by Peter Gabriel from So
There is a palpable sense of unrest and longing in "Mercy Street," with harmonies on the choruses that feel like mercy made audible. Pondering the oblique lyrics, it was neat to learn that this gentle, compassionate song is about the poet Anne Sexton, a woman whose poetry I admire, and who had difficulty with her mental health.
8. "Oh Berlin" by U2 from Achtung, Baby Sessions Bonus Tracks
or
"The Misunderstanding" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark from Organisation
My personal mix contains the song "Oh Berlin" by U2. I was bummed to discover that I couldn't find it online, so I figured the playlist of Year in Music- 2011 would just have to make the hop over it from "Mercy Street" to "The Upstairs Room." When I realized I'd forgotten OMD though-- !! -- well, it gave me the chance to make it right and include one of their numbers.
I've been listening to OMD a lot this winter, starting with the meager prior knowledge of just knowing "If You Leave," from Pretty in Pink. It's a good song, but I've been pleasantly surprised from the darker, less poppy edge of their work. It's a bit like art history, finding out who they were influenced by, what keyboards they started with, how they helped influence the sounds of other bands, and their connection to some of my Mancunian favorites (can I include Peter Saville in that?). I managed to listen to the first three records in 2011, and of them, Organisation is my favorite.
"The Misunderstanding" has some great sampled sounds, live drums alongside the keyboards, and my personal favorite...overwrought vocals! See lines like the following:
For as we get older we've become less aware
Security lies at the heart of our lives
Attaching ourselves to ourselves
We're extinguished but we're still alive
9. "The Upstairs Room" by the Cure from Japanese Whispers
Dance-y rock that gets my feet moving! "The Upstairs Room" features one of those guitar lines that I can't help but sing along with as well as a fantastic, vivid lyric.
Oh, the kiss!
So alcoholic and slow
10. "Too Late" by M83 from Saturdays = Youth
M83 is my Pandora find of the year. Of course I'm a bit behind as they've a whole new album out now, but this album is just SO good. Usually ballads aren't my territory, but this one takes my breath away, the woodblock at the beginning and the keyboards building into the chorus tickle my ears pink.
11. "Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution" by Cut Copy from Zonoscope
Feel good, sound good, musical revolution! My only complaint is that the video does not feature more of Dan Whitford. Just sayin.
If you are a keyboardist and lead in a band, go see Cut Copy live and take notes on Dan's moves. I have never seen a better lead singer for getting a crowd involved...and the man knows how to telegraph hand clapping and jumping to the crowd...all from behind a keyboard!!
12. "Suzanne and I" by Anna Calvi from Anna Calvi
It is fitting that Calvi's visual persona is that of a (male) flamenco dancer. Her music is dark, precise, and moody, filled with quietness and roaring passion. You can hear Jeff Buckley and Edith Piaf playing heavenly backup as her inspiration.
13. "Cuddle Up" by the Beach Boys from Carl & the Passions
Dennis Wilson...wow. When you think of folks writing heart-melting love songs, you don't think of drummers. This song was on my iPod when I went to England, and listening to it made me think of my boy. It's a warm note to go out on, 2011. You were a good year.
Below, for those of you who might prefer to listen to the mix as intended-- one song after another!-- a youtube playlist is embedded. The notable exception is track 8 ("Oh Berlin" from the Achtung, Baby Sessions); it has been replaced with OMD's "The Misunderstanding."
