Showing posts with label Chops CD Roulette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chops CD Roulette. Show all posts
Friday, 15 November 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - B2 "Leisure" by Blur
My CD rack has 11 rows of occupied shelves and approximately 68 slots from left to right. If you pick a letter (from A at the top to K at the bottom) and a number between 1 and 68, I play that CD and blog (or tweet) about it. What could be simpler? #chopscdroulette
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - A6 "Let There Be Rock" by AC/DC
My CD rack has 11 rows of occupied shelves and approximately 68 slots from left to right. If you pick a letter (from A at the top to K at the bottom) and a number between 1 and 68, I play that CD and blog (or tweet) about it. What could be simpler? #chopscdroulette #chopscdrH33
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - H33 "The Presidents of The United States of America" by The Presidents of The United States of America
My CD rack has 11 rows of occupied shelves and approximately 68 slots from left to right. If you pick a letter (from A at the top to K at the bottom) and a number between 1 and 68, I play that CD and blog (or tweet) about it. What could be simpler? #chopscdroulette #chopscdrH33
Thursday, 6 June 2013
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Friday, 17 May 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - "Winter Words - Hits & Rareties" by All About Eve
The next entry in the Chop's CD Roulette series is exactly the type of album I was hoping to find. Something I've not listened to for ages, and if I'm honest am not entirely sure why I bought.
@Sidaway1 selected A9 which corresponded to Winter Words - Hits & Rareties by All About Eve (1992)
Winter Words is a compilation released by record label Mercury shortly after an acrimonious split with the band. It features all the bands best known singles from their first three (and most succesful albums) along with a number of rare and unreleased tracks. I'd been a big All About Eve fan up to that point and probably had most of this stuff already but clearly felt there was something essential I was missing. My music purchases are more varied these days, I'm certainly less completist about bands that I like. I suppose All About Eve appealed to the folk element of my musical taste. I also had a bit of a thing for Julianne Regan.
I tweeted this listen live, which was fun and provided some useful interaction along the way.
The first track is Our Summer, an odd choice for an opener as it's an unreleased version, possibly a demo. I vaguely remember it being a live fave but it gets this compilation off to a wonky start. It's a bit of a stodgy mix which doesn't help and is a little underwhelming if I'm honest. All About Eve had recently split with their original record company, Phonogram, so this was a cash in spitefully released to coincide with the band's fourth album, and first for MCA, Ultraviolet.
Track 2 is much more like it. Flowers In Our Hair was the last of the band's four self released singles and is subtly different to the version that made it on to their debut album. Though if I'm honest I didn't notice and only found out thanks to the help of Wikipedia. In The Clouds continues in much the same vein. This is one of their better tunes with a booming bass line and multi-tracked Julianne vocals. Lovely.
I'm trying to work out why I was so into All About Eve. They had a bit of a Goth connection, Julianne singing on an early Mission single and Tim Bricheno eventually leaving the band to play guitar with Sisters of Mercy, but I wasn't into those bands at all. If anything I guess between 1988 and 1992 I was going through something of a transition from Heavy Metal kid through Indie to all stops Alternative. Things got a mixed up as I discovered lots of new music and didn't always filter out the crap.
Ah, Martha's Harbour, pretty sure this is the tune that really won me over. A delicate acoustic guitar melody and a really pretty vocal from Julianne Regan. This was All About Eve at their most folky and definitely their biggest hit. You might remember them performing it on Top Of The Pops when they failed to hear their cue and ended up standing still looking silly while the song played. Think they got to go back the following week to do it properly.
Every Angel sounds a bit more rocky. Definitely one of my favourites from their live shows. Tim giving it some on the Guitar and a nice vocal from Juilianne. I think, if I'm honest, the main attraction to All About Eve for me was Julianne Regan.
I'm so shallow.
On Twitter @substandardnerd recommended Julianne Regan's other band Mice. They released one album in 1996 called "... Because I Can". I've a feeling someone lent me a copy of this ages ago and I never got round to playing it, so will try and dig it out.
Wild Hearted Woman and What Kind Of Fool round off the singles from their debut album. This compilation is helpfully in chronological order so next up are the singles from second album Scarlet & Other Stories. Road To Your Soul shows the bands sound maturing a little. Tim's guitar sounds warmer and they've taken advantage of the benefits of a plusher recording studio. Scarlet is a fine album though, I saw them play the Royal Albert Hall two nights in a row on this tour, which is a little hard to comprehend now. I had a a real cross section of friends who also liked them so went with people I probably didn't see many other bands with.
The title track Scarlet has a really nice semi-acoustic (I'm guessing) guitar intro. There's a bit of Spanish guitar too and a lovely vocal. Hints of Kate Bush which explains why at least one of my mates liked them (Hello Martyn!). December starts slowly but builds into quite a dramatic tune. There's a hint of Marillion in the guitar sound, believe it or not.
Tim Bricheno left the band after Scarlet (having split up with Julianne too). Marty Willson-Piper replaced him on guitar and Farewell Mr Sorrow was the first single from the new album Touched By Jesus. There's a fresh sound about this track, more of a pop sensibility perhaps. Marty's guitar sound is not massively different from Tim's sound, but does bring something a little different to the band. Strange Way is not quite as captivating and is the second song (and second single) written about Tim Bricheno. Ouch! Dreamer has a bit of fuzz pedal and indicates a slight shift in direction. I think Marty gave the band a new lease of life but unfortunately that wasn't reflected in sales.
We're into the rareties now which might have been the lure that coerced me into buying something with so much stuff I already owned. Paradise is up first but not hugely memorable. Candy Tree is a track that I think dates back to AAE's earliest days. I saw them play this live and was desperate to get a copy. Bit of a folk-rock vibe kicking off.
Somehow we still have four tracks to play. Drowning is first, it's got an echoey intro, quite atmospheric. Wild Flowers seems like an identikit AAE tune - Add a bit of acoustic, dig out a semi hippy lyric, get Julianne to sound wistful, job done. Ah, two "new" unreleased tracks close the album. Theft was apparently wrongly titled and should have been called If I Had You. That's blindingly obvious if you listen to the song. Then it's all over with Different Sky. Both tracks feature Wayne Hussey of The Mission on guitar, which kind of brings us full circle.
Not sure I'll be digging this out again in a hurry but it did bring back some nice memories. I suspect I've also used the word lovely more than any sane person really should.
@Sidaway1 selected A9 which corresponded to Winter Words - Hits & Rareties by All About Eve (1992)
Winter Words is a compilation released by record label Mercury shortly after an acrimonious split with the band. It features all the bands best known singles from their first three (and most succesful albums) along with a number of rare and unreleased tracks. I'd been a big All About Eve fan up to that point and probably had most of this stuff already but clearly felt there was something essential I was missing. My music purchases are more varied these days, I'm certainly less completist about bands that I like. I suppose All About Eve appealed to the folk element of my musical taste. I also had a bit of a thing for Julianne Regan.
I tweeted this listen live, which was fun and provided some useful interaction along the way.
The first track is Our Summer, an odd choice for an opener as it's an unreleased version, possibly a demo. I vaguely remember it being a live fave but it gets this compilation off to a wonky start. It's a bit of a stodgy mix which doesn't help and is a little underwhelming if I'm honest. All About Eve had recently split with their original record company, Phonogram, so this was a cash in spitefully released to coincide with the band's fourth album, and first for MCA, Ultraviolet.
Track 2 is much more like it. Flowers In Our Hair was the last of the band's four self released singles and is subtly different to the version that made it on to their debut album. Though if I'm honest I didn't notice and only found out thanks to the help of Wikipedia. In The Clouds continues in much the same vein. This is one of their better tunes with a booming bass line and multi-tracked Julianne vocals. Lovely.
I'm trying to work out why I was so into All About Eve. They had a bit of a Goth connection, Julianne singing on an early Mission single and Tim Bricheno eventually leaving the band to play guitar with Sisters of Mercy, but I wasn't into those bands at all. If anything I guess between 1988 and 1992 I was going through something of a transition from Heavy Metal kid through Indie to all stops Alternative. Things got a mixed up as I discovered lots of new music and didn't always filter out the crap.
Ah, Martha's Harbour, pretty sure this is the tune that really won me over. A delicate acoustic guitar melody and a really pretty vocal from Julianne Regan. This was All About Eve at their most folky and definitely their biggest hit. You might remember them performing it on Top Of The Pops when they failed to hear their cue and ended up standing still looking silly while the song played. Think they got to go back the following week to do it properly.
Every Angel sounds a bit more rocky. Definitely one of my favourites from their live shows. Tim giving it some on the Guitar and a nice vocal from Juilianne. I think, if I'm honest, the main attraction to All About Eve for me was Julianne Regan.
I'm so shallow.
On Twitter @substandardnerd recommended Julianne Regan's other band Mice. They released one album in 1996 called "... Because I Can". I've a feeling someone lent me a copy of this ages ago and I never got round to playing it, so will try and dig it out.
Wild Hearted Woman and What Kind Of Fool round off the singles from their debut album. This compilation is helpfully in chronological order so next up are the singles from second album Scarlet & Other Stories. Road To Your Soul shows the bands sound maturing a little. Tim's guitar sounds warmer and they've taken advantage of the benefits of a plusher recording studio. Scarlet is a fine album though, I saw them play the Royal Albert Hall two nights in a row on this tour, which is a little hard to comprehend now. I had a a real cross section of friends who also liked them so went with people I probably didn't see many other bands with.
The title track Scarlet has a really nice semi-acoustic (I'm guessing) guitar intro. There's a bit of Spanish guitar too and a lovely vocal. Hints of Kate Bush which explains why at least one of my mates liked them (Hello Martyn!). December starts slowly but builds into quite a dramatic tune. There's a hint of Marillion in the guitar sound, believe it or not.
Tim Bricheno left the band after Scarlet (having split up with Julianne too). Marty Willson-Piper replaced him on guitar and Farewell Mr Sorrow was the first single from the new album Touched By Jesus. There's a fresh sound about this track, more of a pop sensibility perhaps. Marty's guitar sound is not massively different from Tim's sound, but does bring something a little different to the band. Strange Way is not quite as captivating and is the second song (and second single) written about Tim Bricheno. Ouch! Dreamer has a bit of fuzz pedal and indicates a slight shift in direction. I think Marty gave the band a new lease of life but unfortunately that wasn't reflected in sales.
We're into the rareties now which might have been the lure that coerced me into buying something with so much stuff I already owned. Paradise is up first but not hugely memorable. Candy Tree is a track that I think dates back to AAE's earliest days. I saw them play this live and was desperate to get a copy. Bit of a folk-rock vibe kicking off.
Somehow we still have four tracks to play. Drowning is first, it's got an echoey intro, quite atmospheric. Wild Flowers seems like an identikit AAE tune - Add a bit of acoustic, dig out a semi hippy lyric, get Julianne to sound wistful, job done. Ah, two "new" unreleased tracks close the album. Theft was apparently wrongly titled and should have been called If I Had You. That's blindingly obvious if you listen to the song. Then it's all over with Different Sky. Both tracks feature Wayne Hussey of The Mission on guitar, which kind of brings us full circle.
Not sure I'll be digging this out again in a hurry but it did bring back some nice memories. I suspect I've also used the word lovely more than any sane person really should.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - "The Black Light" by Calexico
Next up on Chop's CD Roulette is the second album by "desert noir" maestros Calexico. A concept album about the desert of Arizona and northern Mexico that displays touches of Americana, Indie and Tex-Mex influences.
@sonikkicks selected B25 which corresponded to The Black Light by Calexico (1998)
Calexico were effectively a duo at this point, by the next album I think they had expanded into a full band, but this album still features several contributions from other musicians. Joey Burns and John Convertino had been original members of Friends of Dean Martinez before joining up with Howe Gelb's Giant Sand. They became something of a rhythm section for hire (they are both brilliant on their default instruments) and formed Calexico as a means to unleash their multi-instrumental talents. I got into them in 1999 around the same time I was discovering Lambchop and beginning to get interested in Americana.
The album kicks off with Gypsy's Curse which has a wonderful twanging double bass line intro that sets the scene perfectly. Convertino's brushed drums and the swirl of accordion help build this instrumental, evoking the dusty streets of a Mexi-Cal border town. This feels like a largely instrumental album (though playing it back made me realise how many tracks do have vocals) and Fake Fur continues the theme. More double bass but with percussion provided by maracas and marimba to give it a more latin tempo. The guitar is reminiscent of a Ry Cooder soundtrack.
The Ride (Part 2) is the first track to feature vocals. Though Joey's voice is understated and restrained. Another short instrumental follows, a melancholy violin led tune called Where Water Flows. Then the title track picks things up again. The Black Light is one of the album highlights for me, that trademark drum and double bass combo setting the tone again and a lyric about following a girl to the darkest edges of town - "Follow her hair to the dark end of the street ... Out past the border patrol ..."
Sideshow jazzes things up a little with it's "Roll up, Roll up" guitar line and fairground accordion. Similarly Chach ups the Latin ante with more maracas, a swell of horns & trumpet parping and a pretty piano coda. Missing is the longest track on the album. A slow and melancholy tune with an almost whispered vocal.
Minas de Cobre is probably my favourite track. It has some fine pedal steel guitar and a great riff. There's the tap tap sound of something wooden providing percussion, and then the horns kick in and are amazing. This sounds a little like a Mexican Tindersticks.
I'm starting to run out of words to describe each track. That's probably a sign I should find a different way to write these in future. Over Your Shoulder is a gentle guitar led tune that echoes some of what has gone before. The album continues in that vein with five sub-three minute tracks which help evoke the sense of this being a soundtrack to an imaginary film. These are mostly instrumental though Trigger has a vocal that talks of an accidental shooting. Stray has a nice bass led intro and talks of a man moving away after the death of his lover. There's some corking Trumpet parping on this one too. Old Man Waltz wraps up the run with an accordion led waltz following on from a screechy violin introduction that conjures images of silent comedies.
Bloodflow is the final installment of the story, continuing the theme of the man struggling to cope with the death of his and trying to "avoid the tap on the shoulder, from that one in the long black cape". It's an oblique lyric but it's possible the man commits suicide unable to cope with the grief. Don't hold me to that though, I'm rubbish at listening to lyrics. Whatever the truth the album ends on an upbeat note with the instrumental Frontera. It's got a booming back beat and some lovely brass melody and possibly hints at the desert remaining beyond the life of people and things. I could be reading too much into this. It's a wonderful final tune though and ends the album on a bit of a high.
.
@sonikkicks selected B25 which corresponded to The Black Light by Calexico (1998)
Calexico were effectively a duo at this point, by the next album I think they had expanded into a full band, but this album still features several contributions from other musicians. Joey Burns and John Convertino had been original members of Friends of Dean Martinez before joining up with Howe Gelb's Giant Sand. They became something of a rhythm section for hire (they are both brilliant on their default instruments) and formed Calexico as a means to unleash their multi-instrumental talents. I got into them in 1999 around the same time I was discovering Lambchop and beginning to get interested in Americana.
The album kicks off with Gypsy's Curse which has a wonderful twanging double bass line intro that sets the scene perfectly. Convertino's brushed drums and the swirl of accordion help build this instrumental, evoking the dusty streets of a Mexi-Cal border town. This feels like a largely instrumental album (though playing it back made me realise how many tracks do have vocals) and Fake Fur continues the theme. More double bass but with percussion provided by maracas and marimba to give it a more latin tempo. The guitar is reminiscent of a Ry Cooder soundtrack.
The Ride (Part 2) is the first track to feature vocals. Though Joey's voice is understated and restrained. Another short instrumental follows, a melancholy violin led tune called Where Water Flows. Then the title track picks things up again. The Black Light is one of the album highlights for me, that trademark drum and double bass combo setting the tone again and a lyric about following a girl to the darkest edges of town - "Follow her hair to the dark end of the street ... Out past the border patrol ..."
Sideshow jazzes things up a little with it's "Roll up, Roll up" guitar line and fairground accordion. Similarly Chach ups the Latin ante with more maracas, a swell of horns & trumpet parping and a pretty piano coda. Missing is the longest track on the album. A slow and melancholy tune with an almost whispered vocal.
Minas de Cobre is probably my favourite track. It has some fine pedal steel guitar and a great riff. There's the tap tap sound of something wooden providing percussion, and then the horns kick in and are amazing. This sounds a little like a Mexican Tindersticks.
I'm starting to run out of words to describe each track. That's probably a sign I should find a different way to write these in future. Over Your Shoulder is a gentle guitar led tune that echoes some of what has gone before. The album continues in that vein with five sub-three minute tracks which help evoke the sense of this being a soundtrack to an imaginary film. These are mostly instrumental though Trigger has a vocal that talks of an accidental shooting. Stray has a nice bass led intro and talks of a man moving away after the death of his lover. There's some corking Trumpet parping on this one too. Old Man Waltz wraps up the run with an accordion led waltz following on from a screechy violin introduction that conjures images of silent comedies.
Bloodflow is the final installment of the story, continuing the theme of the man struggling to cope with the death of his and trying to "avoid the tap on the shoulder, from that one in the long black cape". It's an oblique lyric but it's possible the man commits suicide unable to cope with the grief. Don't hold me to that though, I'm rubbish at listening to lyrics. Whatever the truth the album ends on an upbeat note with the instrumental Frontera. It's got a booming back beat and some lovely brass melody and possibly hints at the desert remaining beyond the life of people and things. I could be reading too much into this. It's a wonderful final tune though and ends the album on a bit of a high.
.
Friday, 26 April 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - "Unchained" by Johnny Cash
Here's the first of an occasional post relating to the random selection of music from my CD collection. Read the introduction for full details but long story short, by picking a letter from A to K and a number from 1 to 68 you'll select a CD that I'll then play and blog about.
@maffrj selected B37 which corresponded to Unchained by Johnny Cash (1996)
Unchained is the second in the American Recordings series with producer Rick Rubin that revitalised his career and brought his work to a new audience (including me). I owned a Cash compilation but it was this series of albums that caught my attention and encouraged me to explore his catalogue in greater depth.
First track is Rowboat a cover of the Beck song originally on the intriguingly named Stereopathetic Soulmanure. I realise now that as much as I love this version I never got around to digging out Beck's version. Johnny's vocal is deep and rich and it's a great opener. Upbeat and catchy but with a nice country twang from the band that I believe was largely made up of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers.
More of the same follows with Sea of Heartbreak. There's a second voice in this that could be Tom Petty (it is, I just read the cover). It's another smashing tune with great lyrics that befit a song written by Hal David & Paul Hampton. More goodness from the sleeve notes, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood add acoustic guitar and percussion respectively.
OK, this is where things start to get interesting. Rusty Cage is a cover of a Soundgarden tune which has producer Rick Rubin's imprint all over it. It's a brilliant choice of tune with a deep chugging riff that hints at it's grunge origin whilst retaining the country feel. A dark country blues song.
The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart) is a bit of a come down after Rusty Cage. A Jimmie Rogers tune that's a bit too sentimental for my taste. It's quickly followed by Country Boy, a Cash original from the late fifties, which adds some pace and is a great little song.
Memories Are Made Of This is familiar, probably because of the hit Dean Martin had with it. This is a different arrangement that shakes the song free of any kitsch associations and really brings it to life. It's a little twee in places but Cash's voice is wonderful. At this point in his career he could probably sing the phone directory and make it sound meaningful.
Spiritual was written by Josh Haden for his band Spain, neither of whom I know anything about. It's a lovely track that resonates with Cash's tenor. Some lovely 12-string* guitar twanging brings out the melody. Flea of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers makes an appearance on Bass, though not sure I could tell if I'd not read the sleeve. Cash's religious faith adds gravitas to the words, I've no religious conviction but the raw emotion is plain to hear. It's the perfect lead in to The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea a Carter Family song that was recorded by The Louvin Brothers for their Satan is Real album.
Seems only fair that with them providing the music Cash also cover a Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers tune. Southern Accents is a goody too. Tom resists the urge to provide backing vocals on this and lets Johnny explore the full depth of his range. Which is pretty bloody deep.
Back to back Cash originals next. Mean Eyed Cat is a fast one that it's hard not to love. Meet Me in Heaven is a more sombre affair that I think was a new composition for this album. Cash already writing lyrics in 1996 that ponder death and what may be beyond it.
I Never Picked Cotton is one of favourite tunes on the album. Written by Bobby George and Charles Williams made famous by Roy Clark, there are hints of Cash's own family history. I'm not great at listening to lyrics but Cash is a brilliant story teller and the story unfolds perfectly. You can't help but be drawn in by the words.
The title track now, Unchained was written by singer-songwriter Jude Johnstone but hadn't been previously recorded. Jude did eventually get to recorded it herself on her debut LP in 2002.
I've Been Everywhere is a full on country ho-down as Cash reels off the names of places where he's been. It's a cracking list of American towns with a really tongue twisting lyric. The perfect up moment to end a fabulous record. I've played this a lot over the years and know it pretty well but it's nice to sit down and really listen, I probably don't do that enough. A fine start to this project and a highly recommended album.
@maffrj selected B37 which corresponded to Unchained by Johnny Cash (1996)
Unchained is the second in the American Recordings series with producer Rick Rubin that revitalised his career and brought his work to a new audience (including me). I owned a Cash compilation but it was this series of albums that caught my attention and encouraged me to explore his catalogue in greater depth.
First track is Rowboat a cover of the Beck song originally on the intriguingly named Stereopathetic Soulmanure. I realise now that as much as I love this version I never got around to digging out Beck's version. Johnny's vocal is deep and rich and it's a great opener. Upbeat and catchy but with a nice country twang from the band that I believe was largely made up of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers.
More of the same follows with Sea of Heartbreak. There's a second voice in this that could be Tom Petty (it is, I just read the cover). It's another smashing tune with great lyrics that befit a song written by Hal David & Paul Hampton. More goodness from the sleeve notes, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood add acoustic guitar and percussion respectively.
OK, this is where things start to get interesting. Rusty Cage is a cover of a Soundgarden tune which has producer Rick Rubin's imprint all over it. It's a brilliant choice of tune with a deep chugging riff that hints at it's grunge origin whilst retaining the country feel. A dark country blues song.
The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart) is a bit of a come down after Rusty Cage. A Jimmie Rogers tune that's a bit too sentimental for my taste. It's quickly followed by Country Boy, a Cash original from the late fifties, which adds some pace and is a great little song.
Memories Are Made Of This is familiar, probably because of the hit Dean Martin had with it. This is a different arrangement that shakes the song free of any kitsch associations and really brings it to life. It's a little twee in places but Cash's voice is wonderful. At this point in his career he could probably sing the phone directory and make it sound meaningful.
Spiritual was written by Josh Haden for his band Spain, neither of whom I know anything about. It's a lovely track that resonates with Cash's tenor. Some lovely 12-string* guitar twanging brings out the melody. Flea of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers makes an appearance on Bass, though not sure I could tell if I'd not read the sleeve. Cash's religious faith adds gravitas to the words, I've no religious conviction but the raw emotion is plain to hear. It's the perfect lead in to The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea a Carter Family song that was recorded by The Louvin Brothers for their Satan is Real album.
Seems only fair that with them providing the music Cash also cover a Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers tune. Southern Accents is a goody too. Tom resists the urge to provide backing vocals on this and lets Johnny explore the full depth of his range. Which is pretty bloody deep.
Back to back Cash originals next. Mean Eyed Cat is a fast one that it's hard not to love. Meet Me in Heaven is a more sombre affair that I think was a new composition for this album. Cash already writing lyrics in 1996 that ponder death and what may be beyond it.
I Never Picked Cotton is one of favourite tunes on the album. Written by Bobby George and Charles Williams made famous by Roy Clark, there are hints of Cash's own family history. I'm not great at listening to lyrics but Cash is a brilliant story teller and the story unfolds perfectly. You can't help but be drawn in by the words.
The title track now, Unchained was written by singer-songwriter Jude Johnstone but hadn't been previously recorded. Jude did eventually get to recorded it herself on her debut LP in 2002.
I've Been Everywhere is a full on country ho-down as Cash reels off the names of places where he's been. It's a cracking list of American towns with a really tongue twisting lyric. The perfect up moment to end a fabulous record. I've played this a lot over the years and know it pretty well but it's nice to sit down and really listen, I probably don't do that enough. A fine start to this project and a highly recommended album.
Friday, 19 April 2013
Chop's CD Roulette - Introduction
One of my New Year Resolutions was to Blog a little less. It's not that I don't enjoy it but sometimes my demanding*1 one post a week regime means my posts aren't always*2 as well written as I'd like. I've hit that point in the year where I've not got any top fives ready to go and time is at a premium so I've had an idea for a new regular interactive post that might help fill the gaps. [*1 not demanding, *2 ever]
We decorated our front room over the Easter Holidays and that meant I had to empty my CD rack to move the shelves while we painted, then refill them afterwards. As I was tramping up and down the stairs, and repopulating my collection (in alphabetical order of course) I began to realise how much music I own that I've not played for ages. I figured I could get Chop's Top Five readers to pick a CD using the reference system below. I'll then play that CD and blog about it. What could be simpler?
Here's a picture of my CD shelving.
A is the top row.
K is the bottom row.
There are approximately 68 slots from left to right so number 1 is the left side and 68 the right side.
If you pick a letter from A to K and a number between 1 and 68 I'll play the CD that corresponds to.
Leave a comment on the blog, or contact me via Twitter or Facebook or down the pub and I'll let you know when I've posted you're selection.
There are some spaces (in a vain attempt to allow me to add CDs in order) but if you land on one of those I'll round it up or down to the next nearest album.
The narrow rack on the right isn't included. That's where Mrs Top Fives CDs live.
I should also probably point out there are some pretty big sections devoted to Marillion, Fish (out of Marillion) and Status Quo. You might want to avoid those.
Also the rack pretty much represents my CD buying years which roughly ran from 1987-2002. There's not much new stuff (those CDs sit in an unordered mess in my bedside cabinet) nor some of my earliest loves (which are on cassette or vinyl in the loft).
I mentioned this on Twitter the other day and already have five albums lined up. To give you a bit of a sighter here are the references and what they picked.
@Sidaway1 selected A9 - "Winter Words: Hits & Rarities" by All About Eve.
@sonikkicks selected B25 - "The Black Light" by Calexico
@maffrj selected B37 - "Unchained" by Johnny Cash
@iancpeacock selected G57 - "So Far ... The Best Of Sinead O'Conner" by Sinead O'Conner
@jhoburgh selected H33 - "Presidents of the United States of America" by Presidents of the United States of America
.
We decorated our front room over the Easter Holidays and that meant I had to empty my CD rack to move the shelves while we painted, then refill them afterwards. As I was tramping up and down the stairs, and repopulating my collection (in alphabetical order of course) I began to realise how much music I own that I've not played for ages. I figured I could get Chop's Top Five readers to pick a CD using the reference system below. I'll then play that CD and blog about it. What could be simpler?
Here's a picture of my CD shelving.
A is the top row.
K is the bottom row.
There are approximately 68 slots from left to right so number 1 is the left side and 68 the right side.
If you pick a letter from A to K and a number between 1 and 68 I'll play the CD that corresponds to.
Leave a comment on the blog, or contact me via Twitter or Facebook or down the pub and I'll let you know when I've posted you're selection.
There are some spaces (in a vain attempt to allow me to add CDs in order) but if you land on one of those I'll round it up or down to the next nearest album.
The narrow rack on the right isn't included. That's where Mrs Top Fives CDs live.
I should also probably point out there are some pretty big sections devoted to Marillion, Fish (out of Marillion) and Status Quo. You might want to avoid those.
Also the rack pretty much represents my CD buying years which roughly ran from 1987-2002. There's not much new stuff (those CDs sit in an unordered mess in my bedside cabinet) nor some of my earliest loves (which are on cassette or vinyl in the loft).
I mentioned this on Twitter the other day and already have five albums lined up. To give you a bit of a sighter here are the references and what they picked.
@Sidaway1 selected A9 - "Winter Words: Hits & Rarities" by All About Eve.
@sonikkicks selected B25 - "The Black Light" by Calexico
@maffrj selected B37 - "Unchained" by Johnny Cash
@iancpeacock selected G57 - "So Far ... The Best Of Sinead O'Conner" by Sinead O'Conner
@jhoburgh selected H33 - "Presidents of the United States of America" by Presidents of the United States of America
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