Ghost Park Edition
I enjoy turkey, and when the lighted star on the hill behind my parents' house comes on the evening of Thanksgiving, the holidays feel like they are fully underway. With less than a month to go before said feast day, I'm struck by how much I have going on with family, friends, faith and fancy. This blog seems a luxury about luxuries. Is is wise to pursue, or do I just give thanks that I can?
This CD is subtitled "a series of nocturnes". It would is enjoyable in the fall; An October album, but it fell just after. Worth listening to, but not necessarily while you eat turkey and green-bean casserole. Maybe while you drive to visit relatives, as the sun sets under a desert sky. There is a whimsical, dreamy quality to the songs that wasn't present on Friction, Baby. However, "murder" returns as a theme, which makes me wonder about ever visiting New Orleans whence these boys hail.
Speaking of New Orleans and nightmares:
Monday, November 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Better Than Ezra: Friction, Baby
True Ninja Track Edition
As I said in my last post, I love this album. Of the three BTE albums I own, this is by far the best and my favorite
. It was introduced to me by Jay, who picked up the cassette at a roadside convenience store on a whim while taking a cross-country trip with some friends. A happy accident.
The production on this CD is great. I love the songs "R3wind", "Speeding Up to Slow Down" and "Long Lost". Just good pop. They'd just installed a new drummer, and I had the chance to meet him when I saw BTE at the late great 'Canes when they were touring for this album. I got in for free, because when I went down to buy the tix at the El Cajon Tower Records (RIP), the teller told me he had some that he wasn't going to use, and hooked me up, no charge. I don't remember the guy's name, but I was a frequent customer in those days. It was a good show, and one of my favorites at the time. Which is why I went back and bought Deluxe. Which was a mistake.
This CD also has a true hidden track, located in the negative space before the first track, "King of New Orleans". It's kinda jokey, and not really worth the effort to hold down the back button to find it if you've heard it once, but I like that it's there. Later pressings of the CD, I understand, just tacked the track onto the end of the disc. I guess the original placement was eventually too obtuse for even BTE's tastes.
As I said in my last post, I love this album. Of the three BTE albums I own, this is by far the best and my favorite
. It was introduced to me by Jay, who picked up the cassette at a roadside convenience store on a whim while taking a cross-country trip with some friends. A happy accident.The production on this CD is great. I love the songs "R3wind", "Speeding Up to Slow Down" and "Long Lost". Just good pop. They'd just installed a new drummer, and I had the chance to meet him when I saw BTE at the late great 'Canes when they were touring for this album. I got in for free, because when I went down to buy the tix at the El Cajon Tower Records (RIP), the teller told me he had some that he wasn't going to use, and hooked me up, no charge. I don't remember the guy's name, but I was a frequent customer in those days. It was a good show, and one of my favorites at the time. Which is why I went back and bought Deluxe. Which was a mistake.
This CD also has a true hidden track, located in the negative space before the first track, "King of New Orleans". It's kinda jokey, and not really worth the effort to hold down the back button to find it if you've heard it once, but I like that it's there. Later pressings of the CD, I understand, just tacked the track onto the end of the disc. I guess the original placement was eventually too obtuse for even BTE's tastes.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Better Than Ezra: Deluxe
Murder Pop Edition
From the song Porcelain
Well I wish I could kill you,
savor the sight.
Get in to my car, drive into the night.
Then lie as I scream to the heavens above.
That I was the last one you ever loved.
Yes, your skin is like porcelain.
Oh. Kay. BTW, this is not a Heavy Metal band.
You know, I'm not really a fan of this CD. It has their hit "Good" on it, and the first song, "In the Blood" is pretty OK. But there's something about the sound that is too sparse, too basic and bland. The cover is terrible. It looks far from professional. Certainly not a deal breaker, but it just suits the contents, sadly. I'm a huge fan of their second disc, and bought this one, hoping for more of the magic. Didn't happen. Could be the old drummer. Could be the garage-band production on songs that need more depth-of-field, so to speak. Could be the psycho lyrics.
There is a hidden track at the very end, where the lyrics are screamed in a heavy German accent; "Pork unt beans mit sauer krauten!" What in the world?!
Here they are with their "good" drummer.
From the song Porcelain
Well I wish I could kill you,
savor the sight.
Get in to my car, drive into the night.
Then lie as I scream to the heavens above.
That I was the last one you ever loved.
Yes, your skin is like porcelain.
Oh. Kay. BTW, this is not a Heavy Metal band.
You know, I'm not really a fan of this CD. It has their hit "Good" on it, and the first song, "In the Blood" is pretty OK. But there's something about the sound that is too sparse, too basic and bland. The cover is terrible. It looks far from professional. Certainly not a deal breaker, but it just suits the contents, sadly. I'm a huge fan of their second disc, and bought this one, hoping for more of the magic. Didn't happen. Could be the old drummer. Could be the garage-band production on songs that need more depth-of-field, so to speak. Could be the psycho lyrics.
There is a hidden track at the very end, where the lyrics are screamed in a heavy German accent; "Pork unt beans mit sauer krauten!" What in the world?!
Here they are with their "good" drummer.
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