If Music Could Talk

Flex wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 3:04pm

Tonight is definitely the worst, but in almost Cut the Crap-ish ways where the struggle for relevancy meshes up with a bizarre ineptitude that make it more interesting to listen to than, say, Hours. To extend the metaphor a bit, Hours is more like Megatop Phoenix, technically not the worst Clash-related product but pondering and tedious.

Wow! Megatop Phoenix is neither pondering or tedious. It's an album that's just gets better with each new listen. It's brave and adventurous.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

30 Jul 2020, 9:25am

Flex wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 3:04pm

Tonight is definitely the worst, but in almost Cut the Crap-ish ways where the struggle for relevancy meshes up with a bizarre ineptitude that make it more interesting to listen to than, say, Hours. To extend the metaphor a bit, Hours is more like Megatop Phoenix, technically not the worst Clash-related product but pondering and tedious.

Wow! Megatop Phoenix is neither pondering or tedious. It's an album that's just gets better with each new listen. It's brave and adventurous.

Totally agree. I would only mark it down for too many repeated choruses at the end of a few songs.

WestwayKid wrote: ↑

30 Jul 2020, 8:15am

Wolter wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 8:35pm

gkbill wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 7:25pm

Flex wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 3:04pm

Tonight is definitely the worst, but in almost Cut the Crap-ish ways where the struggle for relevancy meshes up with a bizarre ineptitude that make it more interesting to listen to than, say, Hours. To extend the metaphor a bit, Hours is more like Megatop Phoenix, technically not the worst Clash-related product but pondering and tedious.

Hello,

Cut the Crap doesn't have a Blue Jean.

Or even a Loving the Alien.

Though I would say that at least CTC is infuriating. Aside from those tracks, Tonight slides out of my mind in a sea of tired covers and cod reggae.

He apparently had more songs co-written with Iggy that he didn't finish for whatever reason. I have to imagine it would have been a better album if some of those songs had been included versus the covers that were.

One weird truism of mid-80s Bowie: most of his more fun/interesting work was movie soundtracks and outtakes.

Wolter wrote: ↑

30 Jul 2020, 1:39pm

WestwayKid wrote: ↑

30 Jul 2020, 8:15am

Wolter wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 8:35pm

gkbill wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 7:25pm

Flex wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 3:04pm

Tonight is definitely the worst, but in almost Cut the Crap-ish ways where the struggle for relevancy meshes up with a bizarre ineptitude that make it more interesting to listen to than, say, Hours. To extend the metaphor a bit, Hours is more like Megatop Phoenix, technically not the worst Clash-related product but pondering and tedious.

Hello,

Cut the Crap doesn't have a Blue Jean.

Or even a Loving the Alien.

Though I would say that at least CTC is infuriating. Aside from those tracks, Tonight slides out of my mind in a sea of tired covers and cod reggae.

He apparently had more songs co-written with Iggy that he didn't finish for whatever reason. I have to imagine it would have been a better album if some of those songs had been included versus the covers that were.

One weird truism of mid-80s Bowie: most of his more fun/interesting work was movie soundtracks and outtakes.

Yeah I'm down with this point of view.

Wolter wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 5:34pm

Kory wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 3:21pm

I can't add much to this since it's all true, but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned NLMD, which also is pretty down there. More than Hours, I think.

I kind of like NLMD in a weird clumsy way. It’s not good, but I can find joy. The new re-recording if it is...interesting?

Hours is definitely worse than NLMD because other than a few tracks that are ok in an adult contemporary sense, it’s a total retreat from the interesting things he had done under the radar for much of the 90s.

I enjoy it. Definitely better than the original, but then again it must be noted that it was done without Bowie's input. He did apparently handpick the musicians, but he was dead before they started the work. I appreciate the fact that a lot of the gloppy synths were taken out and replaced by actual instruments and I've always liked Reeves' guitar playing.

WestwayKid wrote: ↑

30 Jul 2020, 3:44pm

Wolter wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 5:34pm

Kory wrote: ↑

29 Jul 2020, 3:21pm

I can't add much to this since it's all true, but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned NLMD, which also is pretty down there. More than Hours, I think.

I kind of like NLMD in a weird clumsy way. It’s not good, but I can find joy. The new re-recording if it is...interesting?

Hours is definitely worse than NLMD because other than a few tracks that are ok in an adult contemporary sense, it’s a total retreat from the interesting things he had done under the radar for much of the 90s.

I enjoy it. Definitely better than the original, but then again it must be noted that it was done without Bowie's input. He did apparently handpick the musicians, but he was dead before they started the work. I appreciate the fact that a lot of the gloppy synths were taken out and replaced by actual instruments and I've always liked Reeves' guitar playing.

Now there's a similarity to Cut the Crap.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:14pm

https://thehardtimes.net/blog/we-brough ... him-again/

GOD DAMN IT, IT’S NOT EVEN THAT BAD AN ERA!

Wolter wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:32pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:14pm

https://thehardtimes.net/blog/we-brough ... him-again/

GOD DAMN IT, IT’S NOT EVEN THAT BAD AN ERA!

There's some decent stuff there.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

16 Aug 2020, 7:28pm

Wolter wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:32pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:14pm

https://thehardtimes.net/blog/we-brough ... him-again/

GOD DAMN IT, IT’S NOT EVEN THAT BAD AN ERA!

There's some decent stuff there.

It's not top notch but it's not nearly as embarrassing as the two preceding albums. Or for that matter, as dull as ...hours. It's a transitional period for him where he's trying to reconnect with actually making music he wanted to make, as opposed to attempting to stay on top of the charts.

still a funny headline tho

Wolter wrote: ↑

16 Aug 2020, 7:53pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

16 Aug 2020, 7:28pm

Wolter wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:32pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

15 Aug 2020, 3:14pm

https://thehardtimes.net/blog/we-brough ... him-again/

GOD DAMN IT, IT’S NOT EVEN THAT BAD AN ERA!

There's some decent stuff there.

It's not top notch but it's not nearly as embarrassing as the two preceding albums. Or for that matter, as dull as ...hours. It's a transitional period for him where he's trying to reconnect with actually making music he wanted to make, as opposed to attempting to stay on top of the charts.

Perfectly said.

my bar has an annual Bowie Birthday Bash (with Elvis on the coattails) and I'm feeling LOW (pun intended) since it's been suspended this year.

tepista wrote: ↑

08 Jan 2021, 9:56pm

my bar has an annual Bowie Birthday Bash (with Elvis on the coattails) and I'm feeling LOW (pun intended) since it's been suspended this year.

Swiggy Jardust and the Drinkers from Bars.

Bummer.