Some other release dates for THE SUN CAME OUT (thanks Miss C)

Europe- Aug 31st
Japan Oct 21st
Canada-Sept 29th

Gryph

Three more sleeps!

You enjoying the new cd, Bogue? Roxanne and I picked it up on the 29th but I've only heard it once the whole way through (Rox has it in her car ).

First of all, what a great thing all these musicians - our Neil in particular - did for a very worthy cause!

Musically, my feeling about the double disc seems to run counter to most in that I much prefer the second disc.

On disc 1, I like Tweedy's and Liam's contributions, and also "Black Silk Ribbon" and "Bodisattva Blues". "Reptile" kinda slid under my radar; probably a grower.

I have to say, "Too Blue" and the other Marr tune do nothing for me.

As for "Little By Little", I love the sentiment but not the song. I am going against popular opinion by also giving a pass to "Ties That Bind Us" (although I kinda like Selway's "Witching Hour" on disc 2).

From disc 1, the only thing that really made me sit up and say alright! was "Girl Make Your Own Mind Up". Damn... if I were younger and on the ball, I would've invested in a couple of Don McGlashan CDs by now.

But then we get to disc 2 and everything changes. kaboom!! I love "All Comedians Suffer". Classic Neil (i.e., in a different league). Rox and I had to play it 3 or 4 times before moving on.

And then, a couple more gems: "Duxton Blues" (where did that come from?) and "Hazel Black" are superb pop songs. The latter should have been the albums lead-off single IMO.

Disc 2 continues on with some real high points (that I can't wait to hear again). "Over And Done", "A Change Of Heart", and "Long Time Gone" all sound really good. And Sebastian Steinberg's "The Water", with the intimacy of Daniel Lanois at his solo best, is the perfect closer!

Who else votes for disc 2?

quote:

Originally posted by Ross Breithaupt :-

I am going against popular opinion by also giving a pass to "Ties That Bind Us

- if a 'shrinker' is the opposite of a 'grower', then this is a prime example. Get's zapped everytime now! Sorry, Phil!

Also, anyone else think that immediately after 'the family man running through me' lyric, the song should go into the musical refrain from Greg Lake's I Believe in Father Christmas. Gets me every time I hear it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqOfXumI18A

Oh and I also drift off into Floyd's 'Goodbye Blue Sky' in other parts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0v07InoFiU

yeah... maybe Phil should stick to the drums, at which he is amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by Ross Breithaupt:
I am going against popular opinion by also giving a pass to "Ties That Bind Us".

Who else votes for disc 2?

As I think I wrote in another thread, Ties That Bind Us sounds to my jaundiced ears like a track by Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnell worked up for a Nick Drake tribute album. But now that Bart mentions it, perhaps it's really Nigel Tufnell worshipping at the altar of Emerson Lake and Palmer.

I am veering towards Disc 2 as well. Hazel Black is brilliant, even though its chords are a knock-off of the Dukes of Stratosphear's Vanishing Girl. Duxton Blues is a grower, as is Over and Done. I like Don McG's Long Time Gone, but I do I prefer Girl Make Your Own Mind Up from Disc 1. The surprise treat for me is Elroy's The Cobbler. I want to hear more from him.

Being a (HUGE) Radiohead fan, I still love Phil's songs but you're right. He should really stick to the drums.

quote:

From disc 1, the only thing that really made me sit up and say alright! was "Girl Make Your Own Mind Up". Damn... if I were younger and on the ball, I would've invested in a couple of Don McGlashan CDs by now.

I so agree with you. One of my favorites as well.

I just heard about the new 7 worlds collide cd on our local NPR station last weekend. Where have I been? I must have had my head in the sand.

I am ordering it from Amazon right now and actually listening to it on reverbnation as we speak.

yay!

Here is my take on "The Sun Came Out", moved by all the lovers of the second disc to contribute to this conversation. I do feel that is tough to review a charity album given its purpose so I have tried to say something nice about each song:

Phil's songs do not move me, but I haven't skipped them. The harmonies probably keep me from turning the page.

Don McGlashan's songs have captured me to no end, especially "Girl ....". He just has that classic vibe, the songs feel lived in, and you wonder if these are the long lost tapes of Harry Nilsson. His lyrics can be so dense and complex in "Long Time Gone" but then he has that anthemic release. As a budding lyricist, Don's word stylings can be overwhelming and intimidating.

KT Tunstall's energy on "Hazel Black" is simply contagious. You can tell that she dug the whole project, was honored to participate, and worships at Neil's (plug in any Frenz familiar saying, Temple ...., feet ..., etc.) She's a fan like us, ... well ... minus the hundreds of forum postings. Her and Bic on "Black Silk Ribbon" is simply worth the price of admission alone.

The songs of Pat Sansone and especially John Stirrat make you realize how talented groups like Wilco go well beyond the lead singer. I have to check out Pat and John's side project, "Autumn Defense"

("Over and Done" is a hidden gem out of The Jayhawks-early Wilco Americana vibe with a mix of Neil in there)

Ok, Neil's All Comedians Suffer is amazing. To make the word "comedians" melodic without making it feel forced or contrived is not easy. I love his demonic rant backed by either Neil, Liam, or Jeff Tweedy's hot guitar licks. This is Neil annexing more space for his comfort zone.

Bodhisattva Blues, an Ed and Liam tune, is a fun, cathartic romp. Liam's Red Wine Bottle is drunkenly hypnotic but it seems incomplete as if the grapes were picked too soon. A good wine needs time to breathe but I'm not so sure that this bottle of wine will grow and mature well. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed the song but I wonder about its lifespan. More listens required.

If CSNY and Traffic jammed in a monastery under the influences of the wacky weed, Learning to Crawl would be born. Love the percussive beat. A classic headphone song!

Augie March is now on my list for new music to seek out. Glenn Richards "Duxton Blues" is a grower.

Now you either love Bic Runga or you don't. But if you do love Bic, you know your butter melts faster that your neighbor's when Bic's voice graces your stereo. I love Bic. "Black Silk Ribbon" and "A Change of Heart", her understated but tasteful representation of Americana music, do not change that love.

Sleeper Songs: The Water, Reptile, and The Cobbler. I would love to hear more from Sebastian, Lisa, and Elroy respectively.

Lisa's violin work on "Too Blue" is the catchiest part of that song and then the song loses weight and the vocals sink into a vacuum. Its parts are greater than the whole. I've actually preferred Neil's acoustic version performed on the BBC.

Wilco's You Never Know is a Beatles "Happy Just to Dance With You"-George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" homage as we know. I appreciate the song and having the Wilco (the album) version, I think I need to revisit the song to see if it has legs beyond the homage factor. I prefer Jeff Tweedy's "What Could Have Been". Very simple lyric but effective and heartfelt.

As for Tim's song, I like how the music mirrors how a wave builds up, but I'm not fond of the lyrics. Whereas, Tim's "The Conversation" is a masterpiece of an album with truly heartfelt lyrics, "Riding the Wave" is lyrically land locked. (I still love ya, Tim!)

I must also give some love to the Great Glenn Kotche. I love his work on Little by Little, a song that has great sentiment and a buoyancy that still keeps it afloat for me. "3 Worlds Collide" is an enjoyable listen.

"Run in the Dust" has seeped into my early waking hours. I don't know why because it is my least favorite song on the disc. But I do like the Church-like guitars at the end of the song so maybe my fondness for The Church is giving this Johnny Marr tune a break.

Still listening which is always a good sign ...

quote:

Originally posted by Ross Breithaupt:


But then we get to disc 2 and everything changes. kaboom!! I love "All Comedians Suffer". Classic Neil (i.e., in a different league). Rox and I had to play it 3 or 4 times before moving on.

The CD is still in the Subaru, and I'm still loving All Comedians Suffer. It was funny the way we both laughed the first time we heard the phrase, "Our Keys get left on the counter...." 'cause it was just so perfectly Neil.

The only problem with that song is, now when it plays back as a loop in my head, it has curiously morphed it into "All Canadians Suffer!" Go figure.

RR

quote:

Originally posted by Roxanne R:

The only problem with that song is, now when it plays back as a loop in my head, it has curiously morphed it into "All Canadians Suffer!" Go figure.

RR

When I whispered the song title to Martine for her set list at the first Largo show, she thought I was saying "Canadian". I still prefer that lyric.

quote:

Originally posted by GraceToo:

quote:

Originally posted by Roxanne R:

The only problem with that song is, now when it plays back as a loop in my head, it has curiously morphed it into "All Canadians Suffer!" Go figure.

RR

When I whispered the song title to Martine for her set list at the first Largo show, she thought I was saying "Canadian". I still prefer that lyric.

It fits, eh?

I'm not alone. The song morphed into Canadians for me as well. Must have been been the influence of those beer runs from Potsdam across the St. Lawrence!