Siouxsie And The Banshees - Once Upon A Time/The Singles

Siouxsie And The Banshees were media darlings in the early stages of their career, with almost weekly updates on their activities in the New Musical Express and Sounds in the late 1970s. Like several bands of that era, I quite liked them, but not enough to buy an album, until the first collection of singles was released. 

Their first single, "Hong Kong Gardens", was their breakthrough, being an epic mix of punk with an oriental guitar riff, and written about their local Chinese takeaway. The subsequent follow-ups seemed to be mostly tuneless noise that magically broke out into memorable hooks, with "Playground Twist" perhaps being the best example.

As their career progressed, so did their musical development, moving away from being Sex Pistols inspired punks to Goths. "Christine" was almost mainstream, although the final three songs on this collection, whilst more polished and less abrasive, moved backed to their post-punk roots. 

The track selection for this compliation was slightly confusing as the "Mittageisen" single, a German language version of "Metal Postcard" from their debut album "The Scream" and which reached number 47 in the UK Chart was omitted, but album tracks "Mirage" and "Love In A Void" were included. Aside from this, the tracks were in chronological order.

"Hong Kong Garden" remains the song most commonly associated with early Siouxsie and the Banshees and remains their highest UK chart single apart from "Dear Prudence" in 1983. Not many punk songs had the intro played on a xylophone !

The excellent "Mirage" is next, which has perhaps the best tune of the Banshees early material. "My limbs are like palm trees swaying in the breeze, my body's an oasis to drink from as you please. I'm not seeing what I'm meant to believe in, your non-excuse for a human being". The word "being" was sung in the style of Johnny Rotten and the guitar reminds me of Public Image.

I loved the guitar riff and bass intro on "The Staircase ( Mystery )". It has a gentle plucked guitar middle break before the guitar riff returns, and there is some jerky piano near the end. "Slide down the banister, take the escalator".

"Playground Twist" is perhaps my favourite Bashees song with a grinding guitar, bells, a wailing vocal, a saxophone break and children's laughter at the end. "Roll the dice, you three blind mice. Do you ever see such a thing in your life ?" & "Hanging, hanging, hanging, Hanging out at party games, dancing in the shadows. Up and down on the see-saw, balancing the scales, Balancing the scales, you're drunk, you're drunk, Yet you're balancing the scales"

"Love In A Void" is perhaps their most punk song, with a shrill vocal. It was never a favourite of mine.

Side two opens with "Happy House", which has a slow intro but a memorable guitar motif, and whistling in the outro.

"Christine" has a strummed acoustic guitar and driving bass, and is another one of my favourite Banshees' songs. "Christine the strawberry girl, banana split lady"

"Israel" has an ethereal feel and a Welsh choir low down in the mix during the middle break. The guitar and drumming are nice but although apparently a popular track with Banshees' fans, it's not a great tune.

"Spellbound" has a slow, gentle intro but builds up into traditional Banshees beat.

"Arabian Nights" has fantastic Cure-like bass lines and an impressive guitar for the middle break with hup, hup, hup vocals. "I heard a rumour, what have you done to her ? Myriad lights, they said I'd be impressed. Arabian nights, at your primitive best"

Listening to this collection again, I was surprised by how good these songs were, they had clearly stood the test of time !

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Hong Kong Garden ( 1978 - No 7 )
2. Mirage 
3. The Staircase ( Mystery ) ( 1979 - No 24)
4. Playground Twist ( 1979 - No 28 )
5. Love In A Void 

Side Two :

1. Happy House ( 1980 - No 17 )
2. Christine ( 1980 - No 22 )
3. Israel ( 1980 - No 41 )
4. Spellbound ( 1981 - No 22 )
5. Arabian Nights ( 1981 - No 32 )
 

Released 1981
UK Chart Position : 21

 

Rush - Spirit Of Radio

 

This is not an album, but a 12 inch single !  I think I opted for the 12 inch as this was the full length album version at nearly 5 minutes, whereas the UK single had been edited down to barely 3 minutes.

I remember a concert review in the New Musical Express, possibly in 1978, when the journalist was puzzled as to how a little known Canadian band had sold out a large venue in Manchester. Speaking to some of those at the gig, he was surprised to be frequently told Rush were the best rock band in the world. This also came as a surprise to this reader, as Rush were never played on the radio, had never appeared on the few music programmes on TV in the 1970s, nor previously been mentioned in the UK music press, which at the time was focused on punk or new wave acts.I had never heard of Rush.

The article also called the band fascists, based on a couple of their songs being inspired by writer Ayn Rand, who at the time was incorrectly labelled as a proponent of anarchism. The band were apparently furious at this description.  

By 1980, Rush had released their "Permanent Waves" album, and embarked on another sell-out tour of the UK, and in support, released "Spirit Of Radio" as a single, which became their first ( and only ) UK Top 20 hit. I was blown away when I first heard it !

The introductory guitar riff is a standard Rock n' Roll one, but the song then launches into a different, glorious riff for the main theme. Towards, the end of the song is a short reggae style section, entwined with the return of the opening riff, before launching into a searching guitar solo. It's still an absolutely brilliant song !

Of the other songs, "The Trees" was from their 1978 album "Hemispheres", which lyrically describes the struggle of maple trees to get more sunlight but the oaks are too tall. In the end "all trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe and saw". The song begins with acoustic guitar for the intro and first verse, giving it a "Stairway To Heaven" vibe, before turning into a mainstream rock song for the second verse. The middle section has a soft synthesized break after which there's a tasteful guitar solo. Overall, it reminded me a little of Yes, partly as Geddy Lee's singing here has Jon Anderson like qualities.

"Working Man" comes from Rush's 1974 eponymous debut album and is the bonus track on the 12 inch single, not being on the 7 inch single, and is over 7 minutes long. It sounds a lot like Led Zeppelin, especially with Geddy Lee's voice also being similar to Robert Plant's, but there is a Richie Blackmore/Deep Purple/Rainbow style extended guitar solo for over three minutes before the song returns back to Led Zep style verse and chorus, and a big dramatic finish. It's not really my kind of music. 

Track Listing :

1. Spirit Of Radio
2. Trees
3. Working Man

Released 1980
UK Chart Position : 13  

 

Todd Rundgren - Hermit Of Mink Hollow

 

I was aware of Todd Rundgren's 1972 hit "I Saw The Light" but when I started buying the Music Papers in the mid-to late 1970s, Rundgren would typically be criticised for the self-indulgent Utopia albums and concerts. However, the reviews of his "Hermit Of Mink Hollow" album all appeared to be favourable, using phrases like "a return to form", "his most accessible work in ages" etc

When I saw the album in my local record store I took a chance a bought it, and I thought it was a very good album. Rundgren played all the instruments on the album, which was recorded at his home in Mink Hollow Road, New York State, hence the title.

The track listing on the back sleeve is very different to that on the disc. Apparently there was a late change to appease US record label executives to have an Easy Side and a Difficult Side, although that seems to refer to the topic of the lyrics rather than the music.

My memory was that I thought there wasn't a bad track on the LP, although the only song I could now remember was "Can We Still Be Friends", which was a hit in the US but wasn't released in the UK. The song was subsequently covered by Robert Palmer and Rod Stewart amongst others. 

Listening to the record now was a slight disappointment, as it wasn't quite as good as I thought it would be. Overall, it is mostly pleasant Middle Of The Road music, there are four piano ballads, but a few of the songs lack a killer hook or something memorable. They are harmless, inoffensive background music. That said there are four tracks I would classify as very good, and apart from perhaps the quirky Onamatopoeia there still isn't a bad song here.

Starting with the positives, the opening song "All The Children Sing" is a joyous upbeat number with a singalong chorus and wouldn't be out of place in a high school musical. It is infectiously happy, and given the title there are some children backing vocals, although it wouldn't be a surprise to learn that was actually Todd singing, as he had done everything else on the album ! 

The song starts with an organ and saxophone intro before the bouncy verse. Lyrically the song is about having an epiphany. "And a bell in her head will ring" & "The sun and moon collide, isn't gravity a funny thing. The universe explodes apart, all the children sing"

The US hit "Can We Still Be Friends" is a Carole King style piano ballad with Eagles style backing vocals and a beautiful middle break, whilst "Determination" is bright power pop. The album closer "Fade Away" is an uplifting and dreamy power ballad with a pleasant Cocteau Twins guitar sound and soul backing vocals. "In a hundred million years, when the planet disappears. You and I will stay, and watch the world fade away".

Of the other piano ballads, "Hurting For You" has a screeching guitar solo which felt it belonged in another song and "Bag Lady", a song about a homeless lady, is melancholic, has a Gerry Rafferty saxophone solo, a short spoken vocal reminiscent of David Bowie's "Sweet Thing", and more Eagles style backing vocals. "Lucky Guy" has a Queen 1975 style guitar break but the melody is very similar to the New Zealand National Anthem !

"Out Of Control" is an attempt at heavy rockwhere Todd again channels his inner Brian May in the guitar solo, and "You Cried Wolf" is uptempo toe-tapping catchy pop rock with a mad sax solo and a hint of Rock N' Roll piano.

"Too Far Gone"  has a slightly funky samba beat drumming in the verses but a smooth chorus, whereas "Bread" has a guitar sound and chorus like something from Boston but overall the song reminded me a little of Jackson Browne.

The outlier "Onamatopoeia" is a fast paced, almost circus act music which is supposed to be childish fun but the novelty wears off.

A lot of "Hermit OF Mink Hollow" reminded me of other songs I had heard before but couldn't quite place, although maybe that was just me remembering them from when I first played the album way back when ! 

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. All The Children Sing
2. Can We Still Be Friends
3. Hurting For You
4. Too Far Gone
5. Onamatopoeia
6. Determination

Side Two :

1. Bread
2. Bag Lady
3. You Cried Wolf
4. Lucky Guy
5. Out Of Control
6. Fade Away

Released 1978
UK Chart Position : 42  

Tom Robinson Band - TRB2

 

TRB2 was the highly anticipated follow-up to the outstanding debut album "Power In The Darkness" and was released just 10 months later. However, drummer Dolphin Taylor and keyboard player Mark Ambler had left the band shortly before the recording sessions began and the band split four months after its release.

I don't remember when I purchased the album, but the sticker on the cover shows I paid £1.99 in W.H Smith for my copy, suggesting the store was having a fire sale to get rid of excess stock. I was disappointed with the record and after the first few plays, only played two or three songs from the album.

American singer/songwriter Todd Rundgren was a surprising choice as producer and smoothed out a lot of TRB's rawness. Apart from the death of Liddell Towers whilst in Police custody, which is the subject of "Blue Murder", it sounded like Tom had mostly run out of things to campaign against. The sharp, witty lyrics, slogans and fiery protest anthems were mostly absent without leave, although "Blue Murder" and "Law And Order" were honourable exceptions.

Looking at the track listing before playing again, I could only recognise three of the songs, whereas I could remember every single song on "Power In The Darkness".

The album begins with "All Right All Night" which bounces along, but with a lame vocal low down in the mix you can't really tell what Tom is singing about. There is a half decent chorus but overall its underwhelming. There is a Rock' N  Roll organ solo, which is just about the only time the guitar can be heard.

"Why Should I Mind" is a very bland song but with more Rock N' Roll organ playing

 "Black Angel" has a Chas N' Dave style piano and girly gospel backing vocals but is forgettable, although things improve a little with "Let My People Be" which features swirling organ, a decent chorus and a guitar solo !

 "Blue Murder" closes side one and one of the highlights of TRB2. A slow protest song about police brutality, a death in the cells and the subsequent silence at the inquiry, it has a shouty singalong chorus and a tender guitar solo. "Well they kicked him far and they kicked him wide, he was kicked outdoors, he was kicked inside. Kicked in the front and the back and the side, it really was a hell of a fight. Said he screamed blue murder in the cell that night, but he must have been wrong 'cause they all deny it. Gateshead station - police and quiet. Liddley-die...".

"Bully For You" co-written with Peter Gabriel, opens side two and has a decent guitar riff. Unfortunately the vocal is awful and chorus is virtually unlistenable. It was an odd choice for the first single from the album, and unsurprisingly it failed to chart. The "We don't need any aggravation " singing at the end allegedly inspired the "We don't need no education" line from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall".

"Crossing The Road" has some jazz funk piano and could be a Chas N' Dave song.

"Sorry Mr Harris" sung in posh, authoritarian voice is about an imaginary interrogation by the Army but is lightweight.. "You know I think it might be wiser if you told us, then you have my word of honour, you can go. I don't mean to twist your arm, we don't mean you any harm. but it's really quite important that we know"

"Law And Order" is sung by pianist Ian Parker in a heavy Scottish accent. With just the piano and voice, it is very much an outlier on the album and is in the best music hall tradition. It has the wittiest lyrics on TRB2. "My mommy held Tupperware parties, had acne when I was a boy. I headed out west, expanded my chest. Now they treat me like the real McCoy" and "But I know Uncle Sam would never settle for less.
Now the town's so damn clean, there ain't nobody left".

"Days Of Rage" is a lively number and one of the better tunes. The organ solo reminded me of Brinsley Schwarz. "Now I'm coming out in the open, I ain't about to step on the rail. Footsteps follow on the tube train. But God help the man on my tail"

"Hold Out" is a slow piano ballad with more gospel backing vocals and a rare guitar solo. It made be think of Carole King. "The kiss on your lips tastes of wormwood, so swing low, Iscariot, my friend. I'm promising you. I'm gonna see it right through. I'm gonna hold out to the bitterest end. Hold out... hold out".

 Power In The Darkness was dominated by Danny Kustow's searing guitar, which is mostly absent on TRB2. As a result, this album sounded more Pub Rock rather than punk and TRB had almost become a Chas N' Dave tribute act rather than successors to The Jam or Sex Pistols. 

The other problem with TRB2 is the quality of the songs, only "Hold Out" and "Blue Monday" are good enough to potentially be on "Power In The Darkness". 

Overall, TRB2 remains a disappointment.  

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. All Right All Night
2. Why Should I Mind
3. Black Angel
4. Let My People Be
5. Blue Murder

Side Two :

1. Bully For You
2. Crossing Over The Road
3. Sorry Mr Harris
4. Law And Order
5. Days of Rage
6. Hold Out

Released 1979
UK Chart Position : 18

Singles :

Bully For You ( - 1979 )
All Right All Night ( - 1979 )

 

Tom Robinson Band - Power In The Darkness

 

Even before signing with a record label, the Tom Robinson Band was receiving plenty of favourable reviews in the music press and building a reputation for campaigning for gay rights, anti-racism, civil liberties and other good causes. They were viewed as very much being part of the punk/new wave scene.

Their label, EMI, decided that the band's first single should perhaps be the most inoffensive song in their set, and "2-4-6-8 Motorway" stormed up the UK charts to reach number 5, helped no doubt by my purchase ! Ostensibly about a long distance all night truck driver, it is still rated as one of the best driving songs every recorded. 

The B-side was a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", with some lyrics altered and a completely new verse.

EMI were bolder with the follow-up, the Rising Free EP, which contained 4 songs including the anthem "(Sing If You're ) Glad To Gay". The BBC refused to play this song, instead playing one of the other songs, "Don't Take No For An Answer", although Capital Radio had no such qualms. "Glad To Be Gay" was an infuriatingly catchy singalong song, and a friend at school once admitted he was humming the tune on the bus, realised what he was doing and anxiously looked around to see if anyone had noticed ! Capital Radio also frequently played the song "Martin", a witty and charming Ian Drury/Music Hall style song about an elder brother and the scrapes they got into. I thought it was a tremendous song.

The EP reached number 18 in the charts and shortly after, the first album was released. Strangely, neither "2-4-6-8 Motorway" of "Glad To Be Gay" were included, and instead it contained 10 new songs. 

After hearing some of the songs on the radio I went out and bought the album, which I like immensely, especially the rousing protest anthems "Up Against The Wall", "The Winter of '79" and "Ain't Gonna Take It". I didn't think there was a bad song on the album, and with its sharp and witty lyrics, energetic rock and catchy hooks, I thought it was one of the albums of the year, reflecting the social anger of the times with accessible music.

One frequent misnomer though is that the causes TRB were fighting against were a result of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government, but in reality Maggie was only elected in 1979, and this album was recorded in 1978. It was actually Jim Callaghan's out of touch Labour Government running the country at the time, and the Winter of Discontent was just around the corner. 

Another misnomer was that all the band members were gay, whereas it was just singer/songwriter/bass player Tom Robinson. Guitarist Danny Kustow, keyboard player Mark Ambler and drummer Dolphin Taylor were all straight. 

"Up Against The Wall" is considered to be a punk classic and its intro was described by one scribe in the Music Press as "Keef" chords ie something you would expect Keith Richards to play ! A protest song against urban decay and social disorder, with the solution being to line politicians, local councillors and civil servants up against the wall and shoot them. Its a fast paced song with a great guitar solo and fantastic drumming, although the tempo slows for third verse before speeding back up for a return of the chorus. It is chock-a-block with great lyrics, "High wire fencing on the playground, high rise housing all around. High rise prices on the high street, high time to pull it all down !" & "Consternation in Brixton. rioting in Notting Hill Gate. Fascists marching on the high street, carving up the welfare state".

The politics take a back seat with "Grey Cortina", another TRB motoring song that name checks Bruce Springsteen, blazing on an eight track machine. It has a jazzy piano intro but is essentially a routine punk thrash. "Wish I had a grey Cortina, whiplash aerial, racing trim. Cortina owner - no one meaner, wish that I could be like him".

The mood mellows a little with the blues/funk "Too Good To Be True", dominated by Steely Dan style keyboards and the notable absence of any electric guitar until a tasteful solo in middle break. "I've given up reading the papers, I've given up watching TV. Hope in hell I'm able to tell, whatever's happened to me"

It's back to frantic punk for "Ain't Gonna Take It", another protest song with a rousing chorus. The middle section sounds similar to The Ruts "Babylon's Burning". "But we ain't gonna take it ( Ain't gonna take it ). They're keeping us under but we ain't gonna take it no more"

Side one closes with "Long Hot Summer" with the keyboards again to the fore over a driving beat. There is a manic guitar solo for the outro, followed by Emerson Lake and Palmer style keyboards. 

The side two opener "The Winter of '79" is actually a forward looking prediction of the future decay of UK society and is not be confused with the Springsteen-esque "Spirit of '76"  by The Alarm which also had a powerful mix of frustration, bitterness, sadness and determination.This song has a great guitar riff and a nice keyboard line, and there is a sad, melancholic guitar solo. There are so many good lyrics.  "All you kids who just sit and whine, you should have been there in 1979", "Spurs beat Arsenal, what a game. The blood was running in the drains", "It was us poor bastards took the chop, when the tubes gone up and the buses stopped. The top folks still come out on top. The government never resigned", and "When all the gay geezers were put inside, and coloured kids were getting crucified. A few fought back and a few folks died, in the winter of '79".

"Man You Never Saw" is another frantic punk song with a manic guitar solo. "Don't repeat this conversation, don't let on we've met before. Try and make like I'm a stranger, I'm a man you never saw"

"Better Decided Which Side You're On" is a return to blues/funk but with faster beat that Too Good To Be True", and then accelerates into a toe-tapping chorus. Against there are plenty of clever lyrics "If left is right then right is wrong", "pretty soon there'll be no room for sitting on the fence" & "Too bad for the gay revolution, this is as far as you get. And if you think you're free, well listen to me, you ain't seen nothing yet. We're all gonna feel the backlash, of puritanical power, and kicking us down while we're on the ground, gonna be their finest hour".

"You Gotta Decide" is another funky song with a tasteful guitar lick. "Every single house has been looted, every single city's been burned. Every can of food has been opened, every single stone has been turned".

"Power In The Darkness" has a percussion intro, before the organ and then the bass come in with a funky beat. The middle section has a spoof BBC News Radio reading during an organ solo, then spoken words by Tom giving a supposed right-wing rant reminiscent to Pink Floyd's " In The Flesh" on "The Wall". "Freedom from the reds and the blacks and the criminals, prostitutes, pansies and punks. Football hooligans, juvenile delinquents, lesbians and left wing scum. Freedom from the niggers and the Pakis and the unions, Freedom from the Gipsies and the Jews. Freedom from long-haired layabouts and students. Freedom from the likes of you !" It wouldn't be allowed today !!

"Power In The Darkness" remains a great listen whilst being a powerful commentary on the times in which it was written. Whilst some of the themes are a little dated now, many of them are still relevant today.

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Up Against The Wall
2. Grey Cortina
3. Too Good To Be True
4. Ain't Gonna Take It
5. Long Hot Summer

Side Two :

1. The Winter of '79
2. Man You Never Saw
3. Better Decide Which Side You're On
4. You Gotta Survive
5. Power In The Darkness

Released 1978
UK Chart Position : 4

Singles :

Up Against The Wall ( No 33 - 1978 )
Too Good To Be True ( - 1978 )

 

 

R.E.M - Out Of Time

 

"Out of Time", the 7th album by R.E.M, was released over two years after their global breakthrough "Green". Four singles were released in the UK, all of which were Top 30 successful, and the album was their first to reach number 1, all of which helped to cement their position of one of the biggest bands on the planet at the time. 

In many ways "Out Of Time" followed the "Green" blueprint, whilst making improvements. For "World Leader Pretend" see "Losing My Religion", for "Stand" read "Shiny Happy People" and more bubblegum pop, for "Pop Song 89" read "Radio Song", and three were slow songs.

The B-52's Kate Pierson, also from Athens, Georgia, was in roped to add vocals to four tracks, which can never be a bad thing, and it sounded like R.E.M had been listening to The Beach Boys and INXS.

Being released in 1991, this might be the last vinyl LP I purchased. I liked the album when it was released but over time thought there were two great songs, three very good ones, but like "Green" looking at the track list now there were six songs I couldn't remember. I was surprised that "Losing My Religion" only reached number 19 in the UK, whereas I thought it was a monster hit. Even Mrs Fatbear knows it !

"Radio Song" opens the album, with spoken words and a jangly guitar intro but then moves on to a heavy beat before bursting into a nice chorus. There is a lot going on here, with strings, a "Hey, Hey, Hey" chant, and a rap outro by KRS-One. It made me think of INXS, and also "Turn You Inside Out" from "Green". Ironically, the song is unlikely to be played much on the radio !

"Losing My Religion" is the only mandolin dominated song on the album and became very popular despite Michael Stipe's unco style dancing in the accompanying video. It is apparently not a song about religion, but rather the phrase means I've lost my patience or composure. "That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight, losing my religion"..."Oh no I've said too much, I haven't said enough"

"Low" is the first slow song, with a bass intro, a sombre organ with the vocal, then strings. The tempo increases with the strummed guitars for chorus. "I skipped the part about love, it seemed so silly and low. Low, low, low"

The mood dramatically changes with"Near Wild Heaven", light and summery with a gorgeous melody. It is sung by bassist Mike Mills, with Stipe on the "ba ba ba ba" backing vocals and Beach Boys style harmonies on the final chorus. I saw the song described somewhere as ear candy, which I thought was an apt description.

Side one closes with the wordless "Endgame" which has a "Stairway To Heaven" type acoustic guitar intro, "da da da" vocals, and strings then a mellotron repeats the melody. Again there were Beach Boys harmonies towards the end, and the track might be described as lullaby music.

Slow strings start the side two opener "Shiny Happy People" until it bursts into the main melody. There is a nice gimmick with Mike Mills, Kate Pierson then Michael Stipe taking it in turns to sing the chorus refrain, and the video has a cheesy dance routine for the outro similar to the one in the video for Stand. The song also has a short waltz like string interlude in the middle break with an unexpected change in time signature, before a "here we go" return to the main structure. 

"Belong" has a bass intro, then a slow, spoken vocal over a picked electric guitar. The harmonies and piano in the wordless chorus feel quite spiritual.

"Half A World Away" is another highlight of the album, with its spiralling organ and strings, and the mandolin and harpsichord are also in the mix. It is a beautiful, but sad song. "This could be the saddest dusk I've ever seen"

"Texarkana" has a toe-tapping beat with pedal steel guitar to the fore, a growling bass line, and is the second song where Mills sings the lead vocal. It reminded me of the bridge section of "World Leader Pretend".

"Country Feedback" is another slow number and again features the pedal steel guitar. Part of it reminded me of Chicken Shack's "I'd Rather Go Blind". "I was central, I had control, I lost my head. I need this, I need this"

"Me In Honey" is the closing track with mid-tempo guitar riff and drums. Kate Pierson sings some backing vocals until Stipe's main vocal comes in. Essentially it is a filler and the weakest track on the album.

Listening again now, "Out Of Time" is a far better album than I remembered ! 

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Radio Song
2. Losing My Religion
3. Low
4. Near Wild Heaven
5. Endgame

Side Two :

1. Shiny Happy People
2. Belong
3. Half A World Away
4. Texarkana
5. Country Feedback
6. Me In Honey

Released 1991
UK Chart Position : 1

Singles :

Losing My Religion ( No 19 - 1991 )
Shiny Happy People ( No 6 - 1991 )
Near Wild Heaven ( No 27 - 1991 )
Radio Song ( No 28 - 1991 )

R.E.M - Green

 

R.E.M's sixth album Green" marked a move away from jangle pop/college rock towards the mainstream and "Orange Crush" became their first single to break the UK Top 30. Despite a delightfully cheesy dance routine in its video, "Stand" only reached number 48.

My clear favourite track was "World Leader Pretend", which I would play over and over, and in addition to the two singles, I liked "Pop Song 89" and "Get Up".

However, I had no recollection of the other 6 tracks, so re-playing "Green" now would almost be like playing the album for the first time.

There are a couple of oddities on the album sleeve, track 4 appears as R Stand rather than 4. Stand, and Untitled, track 5 on side 2, is not listed on either the cover nor on the disc. For an album titled "Green", the cover was orange !

The album begins with "Pop Song 89", a pop song about a pop song, in a similar vein to Wreckless Eric's "Pop Song", and I like the backward guitar riff.  The lyrics of the verses give a nod to The Doors "Hello, I Love You" but instead with "Hello, I saw you, I know you, I knew you. I think I can remember your name" whilst the chorus of "should we talk about the weather ? should we talk about the government ?" pokes fun at much of the lyrical themes in R.E.M's earlier songs. 

"Get Up" is jovial and has a staccato guitar riff. "Dreams they complicate my life"

"You Are The Everything" is the first of three songs featuring a mandolin, and this track also includes an accordion. The melody is beautiful in parts

"Stand" has a brief organ intro before the fun, bouncy beat, and it has a psychedelic guitar solo in the middle. "Stand in the place where you live, now then face north"

"World Leader Pretend" is an archetypal R.E.M tune and in some ways a precursor to "Losing My Religion". A steel guitar figures prominently in the bridge section, and a piano is played during the final verse and ending. There are even some castanets in the background. It remains my favourite song on the album. "This is my mistake, let me make it good. I raised the wall, and I will be the one to knock it down".

"The Wrong Child" has no intro and goes straight into the vocal and mandolin. Its gentle and melancholic. "I'm not supposed to be like this, but it's OK"

The power pop "Orange Crush" opens side two and is not a song about a fruit drink.but rather the toxic herbicide Agent Orange used during the Vietnam war, as referenced by sounds of army marching chants and a helicopter in the middle break. "Follow me, no follow me, I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush".

"Turn You Inside Out" is a mid-pace stomp with heavy drums but is a bit of a dirge. In parts it reminded me a little of INXS.

"Hairshirt" is another slow song and the third with the mandolin but the vocal is a bit annoying, and the tune is not memorable.

"I Remember California" has a slightly menacing guitar and bass, and a gloomy critique of The Golden State. "I remember traffic jams, motor boys and girls with tans. Nearly was and also rans. I remember this".

"Untitled" is a a fairly pretty but insubstantial pop song "I made a list, of things to say. But all I want to say. All I really want to say is"

"Green" is an eceletic album, containing two great political songs ( World Leader Pretend and Orange Crush ), some dumb, almost bubblegum songs ( Stand, Pop Song 89, & Get Up ), three pastoral folk songs ( You Are The Everything, The Wrong Child and Hairshirt ) and the rest being outliers.

Side One works much better, containing all the stronger material except for "Orange Crush", after which the album tails off. 

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Pop Song 89
2. Get Up
3. You Are The Everything
4. Stand
5. World Leader Pretend
6. The Wrong Child

Side Two :

1. Orange Crush
2. Turn You Inside Out
3. Hairshirt
4. I Remember California
5. Untitled

Released 1988
UK Chart Position : 27

Singles :

Orange Crush ( No 28 - 1988 )
Stand ( No 48 - 1989 )