JOHN LENNON: The Remaster/Reissue Campaign coming in October!

JOHN LENNON ALBUMS REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MIXES AND NEW COLLECTIONS COMPILED FOR GLOBAL GIMME SOME TRUTH CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING IN OCTOBER

 

THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ALBUM DOUBLE FANTASY WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE IN A NEWLY REMIXED 'STRIPPED DOWN' VERSION PRODUCED BY YOKO ONO AND JACK DOUGLAS

London, England – June 29, 2010 – Eight of John Lennon’s classic solo albums and other standout recordings have been digitally remastered from his original mixes for a global catalogue initiative commemorating the music legend’s 70th birthday, which falls on October 9.

Overseen by Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” campaign will launch on 4 October (5 October in North America) with the worldwide release of eight remastered studio albums and several newly-compiled titles.

Double Fantasy, 1980’s GRAMMY Award winner for Album of the Year, will be presented in a newly remixed 'Stripped Down' version remixed and produced by Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas, co-producers of the original mix with John Lennon. The new stripped down version of the album comes in an expanded 2CD and digital edition pairing the new version with Lennon’s original mix, remastered.

The campaign’s other new collections include:

• A hits compilation in two editions titled Power To The People: The Hits

• A 4CD set of themed discs titled Gimme Some Truth

• A deluxe 11CD collectors box with the remastered albums, rarities, and non-album singles, titled the John Lennon Signature Box

All of the remastered albums and collections will be available on CD and for download purchase from all major digital service providers

YOKO ONO said: “In this very special year, which would have seen my husband and life partner John reach the age of 70, I hope that this remastering / reissue programme will help bring his incredible music to a whole new audience. By remastering 121 tracks spanning his solo career, I hope also that those who are already familiar with John’s work will find renewed inspiration from his incredible gifts as a songwriter, musician and vocalist and from his power as a commentator on the human condition. His lyrics are as relevant today as they were when they were first written and I can think of no more apposite title for this campaign than those simple yet direct words 'Gimme Some Truth'.”

The albums have been digitally remastered from Lennon’s original mixes by Yoko Ono and a team of engineers led by Allan Rouse at EMI Music’s Abbey Road Studios in London and by George Marino at Avatar Studios in New York. All of the remastered titles will be packaged in digisleeves with replicated original album art and booklets with photos and new liner notes by noted British music journalist Paul Du Noyer. The albums to be reissued are:

• John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

• Imagine (1971)

• Some Time In New York City (1972)

• Mind Games (1973)

• Walls and Bridges (1974)

• Rock ‘n’ Roll (1975)

• Double Fantasy Stripped Down (2010) / Double Fantasy (1980)

• Milk and Honey (1984)

YOKO ONO added: “Double Fantasy Stripped Down really allows us to focus our attention on John’s amazing vocals. Technology has advanced so much that, conversely, I wanted to use new techniques to really frame these amazing songs and John's voice as simply as possible. By stripping down some of the instrumentation the power of the songs shines through with an enhanced clarity. Double Fantasy Stripped Down will be complemented by the original album in the 2CD format. It was whilst working on the new version of this album that I was hit hardest emotionally, as this was the last album John released before his passing."

Power To The People: The Hits gathers 15 of Lennon’s most popular songs, and will be available as a 15-track single-disc and digital package, and as an Experience Edition with additional content. Both versions will be packaged in digisleeves with booklets including a new liner note essay by Du Noyer.

Gimme Some Truth, to be packaged in a slipcase with rare photos and a new liner notes essays by respected American music journalist and author, Anthony DeCurtis, presents 72 of Lennon’s solo recordings on four themed CDs.

The John Lennon Signature Box is a deluxe 11CD and digital collection of the eight remastered albums, a disc of rare and previously unreleased recordings, and an EP of Lennon’s non-album singles. The CDs will be housed in digisleeves within a deluxe box including a collectible limited edition John Lennon art print and a hardbound book featuring rare photos, artwork, collages, poetry, and new liner notes by DeCurtis.

One of the world’s most celebrated songwriters and performers of all time, John Lennon was killed at the age of 40 on December 8, 1980. Lennon has been posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award and two special BRIT Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him in the Top 5 of the magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time” list.

In celebration of his 70th birthday on 9 October, 2010, John Lennon’s life and music will be specially feted with a variety of commemorative releases and events around the world. Please visit http://www.johnlennon.com/ for official announcements and updates.

FRANK SIDEBOTTOM: Rest in peace (same goes for you CHRIS SIEVEY!)

Veteran musician CHRIS SIEVEY passes away at the age of 54

CHRIS SIEVEY, the man who stood in front of THE FRESHIES and lurked beneath the papier mache head as FRANK SIDEBOTTOM, has died of cancer. 

While his musical career stretches all the way back to the early '70s, Sievey didn't achieve proper fame and notoriety until he donned an oversized papier mache head and created his alter ego, Frank Sidebottom.  His song parodies, original tunes and excessive use of the word 'fantastic' may not have been enough to capture the hearts and minds of the American public, but his success in the UK and Europe helped ensure that Sievey remained a busy man up until his death. 

The best way to describe Frank's is like the British equivalent of Wesley Willis minus the schizophrenia, with better tunes and far more silly!

While British comedians like Eddie Izzard and Russel Brand have managed to carve out a career in the U.S., Sidebottom was a uniquely British character who most Americans just didn't 'get'.  Why did he have this big fake head?  Why did he talk like his nose was plugged up?  Why did he SING like his nose was plugged up?  Why did he always sing about football and Timperley?  Where the hell is Timperley

I don't have answers for these questions, nor do I want to know.  While I may not understand what he's going on about, I certainly 'get' it.  Sidebottom is a character that you don't need an explanation for. You either find him entertaining of you don't.  I happen to love him.... but it could be that I absolutely loved what Sievey did in the late '70s and early '80s as the brains behind Power Pop/New Wave band THE FRESHIES.  

The Freshies may not have released any album during their brief existence, the Cherry Red label did release a fantastic collection that features loads of great Pop tunes that should have been big hits. The Very Very Best Of: Some Long & Short Titles is not the only place to get all of their hits on one CD, it is also their only CD!  So, it's essential either way!

After the Freshies, Sievey donned the papier mache head full time and began recording and making TV appearances galore.  Things really began to take off during the late '80s and early '90s and the Frank Sidebottom character became an honest to goodness celebrity, allowing Sievey to remain fully anonymous while his creation became loved and ridiculed in equal measures.

Towards the end of the '90s, Cherry Red issued FRANK SIDEBOTTOM'S ABC&D: The Best Of, which neatly compiled many of his unique reinterpretations/cover versions, original tunes and unique sense of humor. This collection is silly yet oddly compelling.  If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of a Pop musician creating music that is supposed to be goofy, but never strays too far from Sievey's pop roots.  Charming and stupid, Frank Sidebottom is worth your while. 

EFG&H: The Best Of Volume Two is more of the same, which roughly translates into: you have to own this in order to get the full picture of Sidebottom and his fancy pop tunes. While there does seem to be some crossover from the previous comp, there's still plenty of top tunes here to wrap your head around.  Does he get annoying?  Maybe. Is he entertaining?  Definitely.   As usual, there are plenty of reinterpretations/covers, some great original tunes and more. 

While there are probably hundreds of unreleased Sidebottom tunes that cane be released posthumously, it's a shame that Chris won't be around to create new music.

And that's a shame.

You know it is. It really is.

Thank you.

Stephen SPAZ Schnee

Limited edition MADNESS reissues on 10" vinyl!

CAPTAIN OI presents

Digitally remastered and expanded double 10" vinyl editions of the first three 

MADNESS

albums!!!

ONE STEP BEYOND

ABSOLUTELY

and

7

"HEY YOU!  DON'T READ THAT, READ THIS.....!"

 

One of the greatest labels ever, CAPTAIN OI, are reissuing the MADNESS back catalog on vinyl, my friends!  But these are not your ordinary twelve inch vinyl LP repressings, NO!   Captain Oi are stepping out and reissuing these titles as limited edition double 10" vinyl sets containing the entire albums plus select bonus tracks!  Not only are these going to be extremely rare.... they are going to be absolutely beautiful works of art that you can listen to and display on your favorite shelf!

Click HERE to read my overview of MADNESS on my previous Discussions blog post.

One Step Beyond was the band's 1979 debut album... and what an impact it made! Along with The Specials and The (English) Beat, Madness were one of the main players in the Ska/2-Tone movement that took the UK by storm at the tail end of the '70s.  While their debut single, "The Prince", was an homage to Jamaican Ska legend Prince Buster, One Step Beyond (the album) used Ska as a starting point and took off in several different directions. While hits like "One Step Beyond" and "Night Boat To Cairo" remain Ska classics, there are moments on the album that show that the band was already out-growing the genre. "Bed And Breakfast Man" is pure '60s influenced pop with no sign of Jamaican influences within earshot. "My Girl" is gorgeous pop that just happens to have a Ska beat. "In The Middle Of The Night" (about an underwear thief!) is a glorious throwback to British music hall wrestling with classic '60s pop.  Each and every song is a triumph as this young band tackles musical styles that artists twice their age would have difficulty attempting.  Not only is the album musically diverse, it's as fun as hell!  They don't call them Madness for nothing! Oh, and production from Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley is stunning and timeless.

Sides 1-3 feature all tracks from the original album while Side 4 contains a selection of non-album tracks!

Absolutely essential for music fans in general, but certainly more-so for Madness fans!

A year after their debut, Absolutely hit the streets in 1980.  While Ska was still part of their sound, Madness were not relying on one musical trend in order to get their musical point across.  Yes, they were still extremely fun, energetic and upbeat but the songs were even better than those on One Step Beyond! That debut album remains a classic, but Absolutely is damn near brilliant.  The band not only avoided the 'sophomore slump', they defied all expectations and became bona-fide Pop stars when all of their contemporaries were falling away, unable to break out of the Ska mould.  Absolutely is filled with great pop tunes that still sound exciting and timeless, due to top-notch songwriting and Langer & Winstanley's production.  Tracks like "Embarrassment", "E.R.N.I.E.", "Baggy Trousers" and "Disappear" are some of the band's finest cuts, but the whole album is filled with wonderful surprises.  Madness had successfully broken away from the shackles of Ska and created their own unique sound.  Madness had truly arrived.

Sides 1-3 feature all tracks from the original album while Side 4 contains a selection of non-album tracks!

Yes, absolutely essential. No pun intended.

While Madness were still the most fun you could have with your clothes on, their third album, 7, showed a side of the band that we had not seen before.  On the surface, the album contained their usual jovial and fun approach to music, yet, lyrically, it pointed in a far more somber direction. The single "Grey Day" was a dub-laden and lyrically depressing come-down after the party the band had on the first two albums... and it was brilliant. "Mrs. Hutchinson" deals with the impending death of a certain hospital patient. "Cardiac Arrest" describes a heart attack brought on by stress.  "Shut Up" is sung from the point of view of a career criminal caught in an uncompromising position.  Well, OK, so it may not be the 'woe is me' crap that Emo bands have given us in recent years, but for Madness, this was serious stuff.  That is not to say that the album isn't fun, because it is. "Benny Bullfrog" is a gem of a tune, no matter how close it gets to novelty.  More musically diverse than Absolutely, 7 is a stunning and mature album that this writer feels is one of their best albums, if not their best.  Ska fans were sorely disappointed by the lack of skanking tunes, but Madness had grown up and this albums remains a fantastic platter of Pop gems. Once again, Langer & Winstanley's production is flawless.  NOTE: While "It Must Be Love" was NOT included on the album, it was released as a single shortly after this album's release and can be found on the bonus disc.  One of their all-time finest singles, "It Must Be Love" was a brilliant re-invention of the classic Labi Sifre tune, succeeding on all levels.  In fact, many folks think it's a Madness original... and they definitely turn it into a song they can nearly claim as their own.

Sides 1-3 feature all tracks from the original album while Side 4 contains a selection of non-album tracks!

All I can say is "WOW!" This is a truly essential album. But it's Madness, so what did you expect?


You're welcome,
Stephen SPAZ Schnee

SPAZ reviews MADNESS reissues!

SALVO MUSIC presents

Digitally remastered and expanded double CD editions of the first three 

MADNESS

albums!!!

ONE STEP BEYOND

ABSOLUTELY

and

7

"HEY YOU!  DON'T READ THAT, READ THIS.....!"

Like the Kinks before them and Blur a decade or so later, MADNESS were (and remain) one of the  best and most quintessential British bands of the Rock era.  They came from London, lived in London, sang about London and celebrated life in London. Yet, many of their finest tunes held universal appeal, reaching out across different countries and having a profound effect on listeners around the world.

If you're sitting there, thinking "What's he going on about?  Madness were a goofy Ska band!", then you weren't paying attention, apart from maybe a track or two from their first album!  Madness may have risen from the late '70s Ska movement, but by their second album in 1980, they had matured a great deal and naturally progressed beyond any particular genre.  For some reason, it annoys ME a great deal when people call them a Ska band, but that's just because I love these guys so much.  Yes, I LOVE Madness.  Get over it!

The band had a slew of great singles spanning their initial six year career (1979-1985), and they've been referred to as the best singles band of the '80s.  While I agree with that wholeheartedly, I'll also have to call them one of the best album bands of the '80s as well.  There was never any filler on a Madness album. The only time that the band got close to putting out sub-par material was a few b-sides towards the end of their career, but that was it. The rest of the band's output is absolutely stunning.

One of the things that made Madness exceptional was that they were always an ordinary bunch of blokes who just happened to be extraordinarily talented.  From their early days up through Pop stardom and beyond, Madness never lost sight of who they were, what they meant to their fans and what their fans meant to them. Madness were just like you and me.  Except more popular, more talented and way cooler.

Madness were originally six members (Suggs, Chris Foreman, Mark Bedford, Lee Thompson, Mike Barson and Daniel Woodgate) but Carl Smythe (Chas Smash) made such an impression during the recording of their debut that he became a full-time member. And the mixture of these seven members made Madness one of the most amazing hit machines of our generation. 

Before writing this review, I sat down and looked at many of their contemporaries that I've loved throughout the years and compared them to Madness. From The Clash and The Undertones to Ultravox and A Flock Of Seagulls (and everyone in between), none of them can touch Madness' brilliant back catalog.  And trust me, I love those other bands with a passion.... but Madness were not just any band.  They were a fucking extraordinary band!  The only three bands that I feel equaled Madness' brilliance were The jam, Squeeze and Split Enz. But those are different blog postings for a different day...

If you want to read some of my Madness memories, check out this blog post from last year!

While all of Madness' albums have received the remaster treatment on CD, the extra love and attention that they deserved was missing... until Salvo began their Madness reissue campaign late last year with the release of One Step Beyond. Since then, both Absolutely and 7 have been given the same treatment and, just around the corner are deluxe double CD editions of The Rise And Fall and Keep Moving.  As I anxiously await the release of the deluxe double disc versions of those two fine albums, I'm going to take a look back at the three titles that have already hit the shelves and are ready for you to purchase the moment you get a chance!  Credit cards were made for moments like this!

One Step Beyond was the band's 1979 debut album... and what an impact it made! Along with The Specials and The (English) Beat, Madness were one of the main players in the Ska/2-Tone movement that took the UK by storm at the tail end of the '70s.  While their debut single, "The Prince", was an homage to Jamaican Ska legend Prince Buster, One Step Beyond (the album) used Ska as a starting point and took off in several different directions. While hits like "One Step Beyond" and "Night Boat To Cairo" remain Ska classics, there are moments on the album that show that the band was already out-growing the genre. "Bed And Breakfast Man" is pure '60s influenced pop with no sign of Jamaican influences within earshot. "My Girl" is gorgeous pop that just happens to have a Ska beat. "In The Middle Of The Night" (about an underwear thief!) is a glorious throwback to British music hall wrestling with classic '60s pop.  Each and every song is a triumph as this young band tackles musical styles that artists twice their age would have difficulty attempting.  Not only is the album musically diverse, it's as fun as hell!  They don't call them Madness for nothing! Oh, and production from Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley is stunning and timeless.

Disc One features the original 15 track album plus five enhanced videos!

Disc Two contains four Peel Sessions plus an additional 14 b-sides, edits, alternate versions and live tracks.

Absolutely essential for music fans in general, but certainly more-so for Madness fans!

A year after their debut, Absolutely hit the streets in 1980.  While Ska was still part of their sound, Madness were not relying on one musical trend in order to get their musical point across.  Yes, they were still extremely fun, energetic and upbeat but the songs were even better than those on One Step Beyond! That debut album remains a classic, but Absolutely is damn near brilliant.  The band not only avoided the 'sophomore slump', they defied all expectations and became bona-fide Pop stars when all of their contemporaries were falling away, unable to break out of the Ska mould.  Absolutely is filled with great pop tunes that still sound exciting and timeless, due to top-notch songwriting and Langer & Winstanley's production.  Tracks like "Embarrassment", "E.R.N.I.E.", "Baggy Trousers" and "Disappear" are some of the band's finest cuts, but the whole album is filled with wonderful surprises.  Madness had successfully broken away from the shackles of Ska and created their own unique sound.  Madness had truly arrived.

Disc One contains the original 14 track album joined by seven non-album tracks (b-sides, live and rare recordings) PLUS three enhanced videos.

Disc Two is a great 21 track live set recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in December of 1980.  This excellent set features a nice mix of tracks from their first two albums.

Yes, absolutely essential. No pun intended.

While Madness were still the most fun you could have with your clothes on, their third album, 7, showed a side of the band that we had not seen before.  On the surface, the album contained their usual jovial and fun approach to music, yet, lyrically, it pointed in a far more somber direction. The single "Grey Day" was a dub-laden and lyrically depressing come-down after the party the band had on the first two albums... and it was brilliant. "Mrs. Hutchinson" deals with the impending death of a certain hospital patient. "Cardiac Arrest" describes a heart attack brought on by stress.  "Shut Up" is sung from the point of view of a career criminal caught in an uncompromising position.  Well, OK, so it may not be the 'woe is me' crap that Emo bands have given us in recent years, but for Madness, this was serious stuff.  That is not to say that the album isn't fun, because it is. "Benny Bullfrog" is a gem of a tune, no matter how close it gets to novelty.  More musically diverse than Absolutely, 7 is a stunning and mature album that this writer feels is one of their best albums, if not their best.  Ska fans were sorely disappointed by the lack of skanking tunes, but Madness had grown up and this albums remains a fantastic platter of Pop gems. Once again, Langer & Winstanley's production is flawless.  NOTE: While "It Must Be Love" was NOT included on the album, it was released as a single shortly after this album's release and can be found on the bonus disc.  One of their all-time finest singles, "It Must Be Love" was a brilliant re-invention of the classic Labi Sifre tune, succeeding on all levels.  In fact, many folks think it's a Madness original... and they definitely turn it into a song they can nearly claim as their own.

Disc One features the original 13 track album plus four enhanced videos.

Disc Two features three tracks from a Richard Skinner session (including "Tiptoes", which was later recorded for the band's following album, The Rise & Fall) plus eight additional non album tracks (including "It Must Be Love", "In The City" and even the very rare extended version of "Cardiac Arrest").

All I can say is "WOW!" This is a truly essential album. But it's Madness, so what did you expect?

Coming in July on Salvo: The Rise & Fall and Keep Moving.  I'll see you here the moment I get 'em! Don't mind me: I'm salivating now in anticipation!

You're welcome,
Stephen SPAZ Schnee

Spaz reviews the DURAN DURAN and ARCADIA reissues!

EMI proudly presents....

Digitally remastered and expanded three disc versions of classic DURAN DURAN albums: 

Duran Duran 

and 

Seven & The Ragged Tiger

plus

ARCADIA's So Red The Rose

OK, so what pops into your head when you think of DURAN DURAN?  Probably expensive videos, good looking men wearing lip gloss, a few catchy songs and silly '80s haircuts, right?  Well, while Duran Duran are guilty for being the leaders of the Excessive '80s Brigade, they are also unfairly overlooked when it comes to judging music from that glorious decade.  People might remember the bigger hits like "Hungry Like The Wolf", "Rio" and "Girls On Film", but there are many more gems in their catalog that are deserving of reappraisal, making these three reissues a timely look back at the core of what Duran Duran was all about: making great, memorable pop music. 

Instead of your standard single disc remasters (they've already done that), EMI has released a trio of amazing three disc (two CDs + DVD) sets that will have casual and hardcore DD fans dancing in the streets.  Not only do they offer up plenty of music and videos, they come in snazzy little boxes that include five postcards and a poster!

My personal fave DD album has always been their 1981 debut album, Duran Duran. While the band were part of the same New Romantic scene that gave birth to Spandau Ballet, Visage, Classic Nouveaux and other bands, the Durannies debut was more focused and immediate than any of their contemporaries' first albums.   With classics like "Girls On Film", "Planet Earth" and "Careless Memories", this album was as accomplished as it was wide-eyed and innocent. Here was a band inspired by Funk, Pop and fashion, creating songs that incorporated numerous styles into one seamless sound.  Apart from the aforementioned tracks (all singles, BTW), the album also features two of my all-time fave DD cuts: "Friends Of Mine" and "Anyone Out There".  While the former may not be as hook filled as other tracks, it's a shock that the latter was not released as a single!  There are moments where the album does seem a tad weak (especially the closing instrumental 'Tel Aviv'), but overall, this is where you should start your DD collection.

Disc One includes the entire album plus four excellent b-sides added as bonus tracks.  "Late Bar" and "Faster Than Light" are standouts.

Disc Two Features six excellent demos versions of album tracks, four BBC Session recordings and four extended mixes.  You know, I don't dance, but I've always loved the magic of a good extended remix.  You tend to hear little bits and riffs that you might miss on a single or album mix.  Duran Duran remixes are no exception and I've spent plenty of time with these cuts.

The DVD features videos of the album's singles (including the 'naughty' version of the "Girls On Film" video!!) plus television performances made during the promotion of the album.

Ah, an absolute delight and highly recommended with those of you who want to get in touch with your inner Duran!

By the time the Durannies released their third album, Seven & The Ragged Tiger, in 1983, they were international superstars... and teen idols to boot!  The innocence and charm of the first album were gone and the quintet had been transformed into arrogant, jet-setting Pop pin-ups who dated models and lived in high-rise apartments, no longer rubbing shoulders with the common man.  They went from approachable to unreachable.  Oh, and they had become pretentious to boot!  Oddly enough I mean this all as a compliment!

On Seven & The Ragged Tiger, DD had left their New Romantic Funk/Pop hybrid behind and replaced it with a smoother, Electronic Pop-based sound.  Colin Thurston, who had produced both their debut and the record-breaking Rio album, had been replaced by producer Alex Sadkin, who added a glossy sheen to their maturing sound.  While the album sounds exciting, it's difficult to hide the fact that the songs are just not there. In fact, it was painfully obvious that the band needed more time to put together a great batch of songs and they were NOT ready to make this album.  Yes, there are some great moments here ("New Moon On Monday" remains one of their finest tracks), it's painfully obvious that they were short on new ideas.  Tracks like "I Take The Dice", "Of Crime And Passion" and "Shadows On Your Side" regurgitate the same musical ideas that the band perfected on "Union Of The Snake" and "The Reflex".   While the album is far from worthless, its not on the top of any fans' 'favorite DD albums' list.

Disc One features the original album in all it's remastered glory

Disc Two features the absolutely glorious pre-album single "Is There Something I Should Know?", b-sides, remixes and much more.  In fact, this disc has received more spins around Spaz Central than the original album!  It perfectly compliments the album and is worth the price of admission alone!

The DVD features videos of the singles (including both the short and long clips for "New Moon On Monday"), TV performances and the live film As The Lights Go Down.

This set is essential for any hardcore fan and should be purchased at once!

 After the tour that followed Seven & The Ragged Tiger, DD took a break pursued other musical interests. Bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor formed Power Station with vocalist Robert Palmer. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes, vocalist Simon Le Bon and drummer Roger Taylor joined forces as Arcadia. While Roger was one-third of the band and was featured on the album, he had dropped out of the project by the time their videos were made and the band began promoting their 1985 debut album, So Red The Rose. 

While Simon has referred to So Red The Rose as 'the most pretentious album ever made', it has actually stood the test of time far more than Seven & The Ragged Tiger (boy, it does sound like I hate that album, doesn't it? But I don't!).   The songs on the album are focused, inventive and, while not always immediate, they possess melodies that are just as arresting as anything in the DD catalog.  "Election Day" was the album's big hit single but pales in comparison to other standout tracks like "The Promise", "Goodbye Is Forever" and "The Flame". While not dissimilar to the direction that DD were taking on their previous album, So Red The Rose has very few mis-steps ("Keep Me In The Dark") and even sounds exactly like DD in other places ("El Diablo").  The songs may go on a bit long, but this is one album that sounds extremely dated yet is all the more charming because of it!

Disc One features the complete album plus single mixes, non album tracks ("Say The Word' from the soundtrack to Playing For Keeps) and more.

Disc Two is a treasure trove of excellent (and sometimes rare) remixes, each of which is worthy of your attention).

The DVD features videos to the album's singles plus 'behind the scenes'  documentaries that focus on the making of each of those videos. 

Yes, this is yet another highly recommended must-have for any Duran fan... and for fans of complex '80s pop!   And damn, it's tasty, too!

(NOTE: The Arcadia 2CD/DVD release comes in a thick double CD jewelcase and does NOT include postcards or mini-poster like the two DD releases reviewed above. )

You're welcome!

Stephen SPAZ Schnee

CROWDED HOUSE/Intriguer: new studio album available July 13th, 2010!

CROWDED HOUSE

INTRIGUER

7.13.10

Following up on their 2007 release, Time On Earth – their first studio recording in fourteen years – New Zealand dream-pop auteurs Crowded House deliver Intriguer, scheduled for release on July 13th, 2010, on Fantasy Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The internationally acclaimed group begins a nationwide tour of the U.S. and Canada in support of the new album on Monday, July 12th. Also available that day will be the 2-disc Intriguer Deluxe Edition, featuring a special bonus live DVD.

Produced by Jim Scott (Wilco), Intriguer once again brings together singer/guitarist and chief songwriter Neil Finn with original Crowded House bassist Nick Seymour and keyboardist/guitarist Mark Hart, who’d been with the band from 1989 until its last days. Also on board is drummer Mark Sherrod, the relative newcomer to the family, having joined the band for the making of the aforementioned Time On Earth. Recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand, in the spring and summer of 2009, the album includes songs that “have been worked over on the road and transformed a few times, some all the way back to square one,” says Finn. “It’s a good place to return to from time to time.”

Intriguer opens with “Saturday Sun,” a track whose straightforward backbeat calls to mind the best elements of ‘60s pop. The follow-up track, “Archer’s Arrows,” takes a more ominous turn with the help of some carefully layered vocals and the violin work of Lisa Germano (who later reappears on the pensive “Even If”).

“Falling Dove” is both melancholy and defiant, while “Isolation” derives its dreamlike sensibility from a heavy dose of guitar tremolo and the dreamlike vocals of Finn’s wife, Sharon Dawn Johnson. Both of these tracks, positioned back-to-back in the sequence, benefit from the psychedelic guitar work of Liam Finn, Neil’s son and longtime collaborator in the studio and onstage.

“Twice If You’re Lucky” is a prime example of the aforementioned evolutionary process that left its mark on most of the songs on Intriguer. “We played an alternative version, more complex and mysterious on tour, then deconstructed back to the original, simple form in the last week of recording,” Finn explains. “I am inclined to circle songs, looking for any bit of advantage I can find – a verse, a chord or a word to change.”

“Elephants” is the wistful closer, driven by lush piano harmonies that seek to linger a while and take in the fleeting moment before the story comes to close.

“Intriguer is exotic in parts, traditional in origin,” says Finn. “Through many a twist and turn we fashioned some drama and intrigue. You will find some threads that go back through all that history and some new discoveries as well that will need to be followed up. Its part of the continuum and it may just be the best thing we’ve done…until the next one.”

2007’s Time On Earth, turned the band on to what Finn calls “the scent of something new.” Thankfully, for the rest of us, Intriguer proves the Crowded House story in many ways, is just beginning.

Don’t miss Crowded House on tour!

Mon Jul 12 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

Tue Jul 13 Montreal, QC Metropolis

Thu Jul 15 Ottawa, ON Lebreton Flats Park

Fri Jul 16 Buffalo, NY Erie Canal Harbor

Sat Jul 17 Boston, MA House of Blues

Mon Jul 19 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Tue Jul 20 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Wed Jul 21 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Fri Jul 23 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre

Sat Jul 24 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues

Mon Jul 26 Vienna, VA Wolftrap

Wed Jul 28 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

Thu Jul 29 Miami, FL Fillmore Miami Beach

Fri Jul 30 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live

Sun Aug 1 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle

Mon Aug 2 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

Wed Aug 4 Austin, TX Stubb’s Walker Creek

Thu Aug 5 Dallas, TX House of Blues

Fri Aug 20 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia

Sun Aug 22 San Diego, CA Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay

Mon Aug 23 San Francisco, CA Warfield

Tue Aug 24 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery

Thu Aug 26 Troutdale, OR Edgefield Amphitheater

Sat Aug 28 Seattle, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

Sun Aug 29 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Mon Aug 30 Victoria, BC Royal Theatre

Wed Sep 1 Edmonton, AB Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Thu Sep 2 Calgary, AB Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sat Sep 4 Apple Valley, MN Zoo Amphitheater

Sun Sep 5 Chicago, IL House of Blues

Crowded House - Saturday Sun from Crowded House on Vimeo.