Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

[vovat]

I got this music thing from jenhime:

Random 10:
1. The dB's - Spitting In The Wind
2. The Mountain Goats - Alpha Rats Nest
3. James Kochalka Superstar - Kitty In A Coma
4. They Might Be Giants - Cabbagetown (demo)
5. Andy Partridge - Smalltown (demo)
6. Andy Partridge (yes, again) - This Is The End
7. Belle and Sebastian - Cover (Version)
8. Monks of Doom - The Insect God
9. Frank Black and the Catholics - New House Of The Pope
10. Ben Folds Five: One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
It looks like 5177 songs, and 15.1 GB. I've been putting on a lot of CDs as of late.

2.The last CD you bought is:
Fastbacks - Win, Lose, or Both

3.What is the song you last listened to before this message?
Well, I was listening to a few Neko Case songs before starting the random thing. Right now, I'm listening to "Port Moody," by Carolyn Mark.

4. Write down five songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.
(This is a combination of both categories.)
TMBG - It's Not My Birthday (my perpetual favorite TMBG song, for several reasons)
Neko Case - Guided By Wire (I've been listening to that one a lot recently. Not quite sure why that song in particular.)
Fastbacks - Old Address Of The Unknown (This song just really grabbed me about a month ago)
XTC - Outside World (because knowing what's going on in the world makes me kind of depressed)
Pixies - Velouria (I heard this the other day and remembered how much I love it. One of my favorite songs of all time.)

5. Who are you gonna pass this stick to (three persons and why)?
Oh, I want everyone on my friends list to do this. Because I like to be a trendsetter, rather than a follower. Wait, I AM following someone. Oh, well.

Comments

[jenhime.livejournal.com]

I've never gotten into Neko Case, although I feel that I should have. Maybe I'm just not listening to the right stuff... any suggestions?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...I'm not sure. What have you heard? My favorite album of hers is Furnace Room Lullaby. It was bethje who got me into her music in the first place.

[revme.livejournal.com]

Random 10 [From iTunes Party Shuffle]:
Strawberry Sleighride -Pizzicato Five
River Of Orchids -XTC
Burning The Boats-Madness
Head On-Pixies
Noises for the Leg-Bonzo Dog Band
Tears You Can't Hide-Madness
Sport (The Odd Boy)-Bonzo Dog Band
Spinal Meningitus-Ween
That Letter-The Young Fresh Fellows
Gratitude-Oingo Boingo [Well, technically Danny Elfman, since it showed up on So-Lo, but that was a Boingo Album of songs that didn't fit on Boingo Records, and Boingo's playing on it, so...]

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
7814 songs, 20:03:37:42, 35.26 GB.

2.The last CD you bought is:
Gary Numan & Tubeway Army - The Plan.

3.What is the song you last listened to before this message?
Before I started, "Letter To Memphis" from Pixies At The BBC.

4. Write down five songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.
(This is a combination of both categories.)
"This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads
"No Children" - Mountain Goats
"Rock'n'Roll Pest Control" - YFF
"All of A Sudden (It's Too Late)" - XTC
"Michael Caine" - Madness


5. Who are you gonna pass this stick to (three persons and why)?
Well, probably no one, really. Anyone who reads this comment, but that hardly counts since if they read this comment they've read your post, so...

[vovat.livejournal.com]

"No Children" is a cool song, and I think it might have been the first thing I heard by the Mountain Goats. I've heard a couple other songs since then (mostly from eMusic, plus the one song on your mix), but that's still my favorite.

"All Of A Sudden" was never really a favorite of mine. It's pretty good, but, I don't know, a little slow or something. On the other hand, I've always been rather fond of "Knuckle Down," and I can't recall anyone else saying much in favor of that one.

[revme.livejournal.com]

With "No Children", I sort of flipped a coin as to whether or not to put that or "Palmcorder Yajna". (Both of these also almost made it instead of "Best Ever Death Metal Band..." on the mix, actually. "Palmcorder" didn't make it because it was 4 minutes long. I think "No Children" didn't, just because it's proably one of the ones most people have heard, of the select few who've heard the Mountain Goats.) I think "No Children" won out because it was one that had more listens on my Audioscrobbler page.

"All Of A Sudden" is one that somehow really clicks with me. There's something about it that just makes me want to listen to it on repeat. Which is weird, because there's parts of the song that I simultaneously don't really like and like. (Like the way Andy does the sorta whine/warble on "iiiiiiiiiiiiiit's toooooo late".) For some reason, though, I think the clicking moment can be placed when I first saw the music video for it. Which is odd, considering that it's not even that good of a video. (Though it's one of the better XTC music videos, but that says more about their other videos, heh.)

And, yeah, "Knuckle Down" will get no love from me. In fact, when I burned my mom a copy of English Settlement, I removed the 3rd side (Melt the Guns; Leisure, It's Nearly Africa; Knuckle Down, if you've never seen the vinyl and, you know, couldn't guess that it's the 3rd quarter of the album.), moved up the 4th side and added the B-sides from Rag And Bone, basically in the order they appear on R&BB. (Starting with "Over Rusty Water" which REALLY WORKS, so... yeah.) It both Fills Up A CD Almost Exactly, and Really Works As An Album. If only there was a remastered version of an R&BB-type compilation...

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I remember hearing that Settlement was originally released in the States as a single LP, with some of the songs cut out. I know they took off "Leisure" and "Down In The Cockpit," and maybe something else as well. I actually like "Leisure" pretty well, except for the saxophone solo. I'm pretty neutral on "Cockpit," but, interestingly enough, my Research Writing professor loved it. (That's the only time I know of when I had a professor who liked one of my favorite bands, although I guess it's possible that it just never came up with other ones.) As for "Knuckle Down," the message is pretty simplistic, but I like the sound. It's one of the most upbeat songs on the album, so I think that makes it stand out for me.

[revme.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- I've actually seen the one LP version, too. I think it had more songs than you'd expect on it (and as such, lower sound quality), but I remember them cutting some really good stuff too (I _think_ Snowman was cut, which is odd, because a) Great closer for the album and b) Great song). IIRC, the Chalkhills discography has the songlist on it, though.

With Leisure, I'd like it much more without the sax. The alto sax is one of my least favorite instruments, and even more so when not played well, heh. (It's too squeaky for me. I am fine with people not knowing how to play other instruments, but not alto sax.) Cockpit's OK. It's got a pretty good groove on it, though (I can see why they did the Dance Mixture, even though I'm pretty sure that was a complete joke, heh, as I can't really see much dancing being done to that mix.) As for the third side, sometimes I listen to "Melt The Guns" (I really like the bridge on it with the distorted "I'm speaking to the Justice League of America" part and the scat-outro's OK) and sometimes It's Nearly Africa (Again, the bridge on this one makes it OK), and I pretty much always skip Leisure (stupid sax...) and Knuckle Down (just sorta... I dunno. Phoned In I Guess. But it did enrage a Klansman, so it does get credit for that.).

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Aren't there a few other songs where Andy plays the sax? I think he does on at least one song on Go 2. I'm not sure if it's him on "Toys." Regardless, I think it's the most out-of-place on "Leisure," because that's a pretty melodic song, and sticking in a bad sax solo kind of ruins the sound.

I can see why they did the Dance Mixture, even though I'm pretty sure that was a complete joke, heh, as I can't really see much dancing being done to that mix.

Have you ever read Song Stories? There's quite a bit in there about Andy wanting to come up with a dance hit, which resulted in songs like "Traffic Light Rock" and "Neon Shuffle," and some of the Dub Experiments ("Cairo" and "The Rotary," for instance). It might have been somewhat exaggerated for comic effect, though.

I'd never heard about "Knuckle Down" enraging a Klansman.

[revme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, although I think that's Barry on "Red" from Go 2. But yeah, the sax pops up a couple other times, but I'm not sure where off the top of my head. I think there's a couple tracks on Mummer, though nothing where it makes me skip because of the sax. (Though I skip stuff on Mummer for other reasons.)

I've read/got Song Stories, but it's been ages. I remember a little bit of the dance stuff, but I can't really see the Dance Mixture being an earnest attempt (or, rather, if it _is_, it's probably kinda why Andy didn't really have a dance hit, heh..). The drum track I think is a little too busy, but it _is_ cool to just basically pull out the bass riff. Perhaps that actually would make it danceable in spite of the drum track. But I don't know, I don't really dance, so..

Yeah -- in some interview, Andy mentions that he got this nasty letter about Knuckle Down from some Redneck Klansman Hick Asshole in the Southern US because it was all about how racism is bad and, Interracial Relationships Being A-OK. IIRC, the Klansman said it had a catchy beat, but if he ever saw Andy around Alabama (or wherever) he'd beat the shit out of him. IIRC, this actually pleased Andy. And I could see where it would, because I figure if you're pissing off trogolodytes like that, you're doing somethign right.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I think the Cockpit Dance Mixture came after Andy had pretty much given up trying to come up with a serious dance hit.

[revme.livejournal.com]

I got curious, so I looked it up, and this is the 1 LP Version:
Runaways
Ball and Chain
Senses Working Overtime
Jason and the Argonauts
Snowman
Melt the Guns
No Thugs in Our House
Yacht Dance
English Roundabout
All of a Sudden (It's Too Late).

[the Canada issue had a Canada-Only edit of "It's Nearly Africa" instead of "Yacht Dance". Apparently the normal edit of INA appeared on the US, South African(?!) and Korean (possible bootleg) issue, where Yacht Dance showed up on the European, Australian, Japanese and Israeli issues.).

So, that means, the cut tracks are:

Yacht Dance/It's Nearly Africa (pick one)
Leisure
It's Nearly Africa
Knuckle Down
Fly on the Wall
Down in the Cockpit

(And "Leisure" didn't show up on the UK/Japan inital CD issue... what's the deal with people all hatin' on English Settlement, yo?)

So yeah. Hm. Of these, the most surprised I am that were cut were "Fly on the Wall" and "Yacht Dance" -- those ones are really good and seem (at least "Yacht") to be fan favorites. Down in the Cockpit, I wouldn't have cut, but I could see someone deciding to. And, well, the other tracks from Side 3 I've already talked about, heh. So... yeah. Wiggy. I would hope the side division is on Snowman, but... that's so much less of a Side Closer as a Album Closer. Stupid record labels.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

It bugs me when record labels choose to rearrange an album, as if the band's original conception isn't good enough or something. I know bonus tracks are generally added to albums in some countries, and that's okay, but the whole "Every country gets a different track order!" thing is annoying. (I think they might do that just so collectors will feel obligated to buy every version. {g})

My version of Skylarking is one where "Dear God" replaces "Mermaid Smiled," but that was actually done with some care, with "Dear God" merging into "Dying." I actually think the reissued CD should have gone The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul/Mermaid Smiled/Dear God/Dying, instead of having "Dear God" stuck on at the end, but what do I know?

[revme.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- I don' t mind bonus tracks, but I hate what Geffen/Virgin did with jamming them between the A and B sides of the original albums. That was so stupid. But yeah.

As for Skylarking, I originally had the Dear God version of course, just because that's the one that's the most readily available in the US until recently; and I have the LP that does that too; but I tracked down a copy of the original Mermaid Smiled version, and... I think the Dear God version actually sounds much better, heh. I'll typically prefer the version that was intended, but I think this is one case where Andy's wrong. And, yeah, I don't get why they didn't, with the CD, put it on as Man/Mer/God/Die. That would have made the most sense, if you ask me, but... oh well.