The Greatest Albums

that I have, that most people have never heard of

1. Belle and Sebastian- Tigermilk

   This album was originally released in 1996 as a student project with only 1000 copies, all vinyl. Before its re-release in 1999 on CD, copies were changing hands for hundreds of dollars a piece. The album is so good it might even have been worth the cash - and that's saying a lot for a person like myself, widely reputed to be stingy.

   
   

2. Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies

   This album is an all-around sensual experience, kind of an auditory expression of love and elation - well, go ahead and listen to it, I can't describe it.

   
   

3. In A Sense Compilation

   OK, this is something truly quite obscure. I usually don't like compilations too much because there are generally only a few songs that I like, but this one is different. I like the whole thing. And I got it, with postage, from Greece, for about $8.

   
   
4. Trembling Blue Stars - Alive to Every Smile

   It would be tough to find an album full of more honest and tender emotion and fine song-writing.

I was a little worried about buying 3 hours worth of love songs from one artist, afraid it might get repetitive. However, I found that I like almost all of the songs and can listen to the entire 3-album set without getting bored. There are many different styles of songs on here, and several different singers. Everyone should hear "The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side". For a sampling of songs from this box set, try this live set from KCRW. "Grand Canyon" sounds especially good here.

The Field Mice- Where'd You Learn To Kiss That Way

The Field Mice existed from about 1988 to 1991. Most of their songs were either about the bliss of being in love or the misery of being without it. This compilation includes most of the songs that they ever released and is especially poignant to listen to for anyone who's been in a long-distance relationship, because that topic is touched upon frequently.

Runners up - great local albums

From the Fargo/Moorhead region

Naturally I need to mention Darrell's band here, although they do not currently have an album out. I think they're great.

Greenhouse Blocking out Your Sun

I saw these guys live on numerous occasions - their shows were great fun, but their album is even better. Unfortunately they have since broken up. If you want the album you'll probably have to check out independent record shops in the Fargo area.

Margot Wagner Firefly

An excellent album, a lovely and versatile voice. It's hard to believe that Margot Wagner recorded this while still in her teens.

Rock gods that more people should worship

Bobby Wratten

The Field Mice, who got started back in 1988, made their songs largely prior to and during the beginning of his relationship with Annemari Davies, whom he hired as an additional singer. His next effort, Northern Picture Library, took place entirely during his relationship with Annemari. Then, when the couple and the band both broke up, he started his solo project, Trembling Blue Stars, which, in time for the release of their fourth album, became a wonderful full band with a new female singer, Beth Arzy. Now TBS are down to just Bobby and Beth. It could be argued that all the first three albums by TBS were about Bobby's breakup with Annemari and his missing her and his attempts to get her back. Some even say that all 4 albums, including the latest, Alive To Every Smile, are about her. So yes, it could be argued that someone who spends six years writing albums about the same doomed relationship should probably lighten up a bit.

The honesty of Wratten's lyrics is amazing, yet I think that it is just a frame of mind that he allows himself to enter during song-writing. I saw TBS live in Minneapolis in October 2001 and he seemed quite the normal, happy, well-adjusted person. (People who actually know the man rather than admiring him from afar say the same!) He seemed a little shy and bashful about applause and was very polite with the sound people. So what is wrong with writing lyrics to express tenderness and sorrow about a former relationship, in a world where anger is most of what you hear on the radio.

I found that TBS actually did make a stop in Fargo on 2001 tour, after I saw them in Minneapolis, and they had a meal at Mom's Kitchen, then took a picture for the cover of the EP Slow Soft Sighs while heading west through North Dakota on the interstate. So that's pretty exciting. I should have been in Mom's Kitchen so I could have made another attempt to say hi to Bobby and tell him how great he is. Ha ha, like I'd ever have the courage.

Update: I saw Trembling Blue Stars play for a second time, on 11/05/02 in Northfield, MN. The setlist was only 7 songs:

• Before We Know It
• Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruis
• Maybe After All
• Never Loved You More
• Ammunition
• Little Gunshots
• If I Handle You With Care

What was great is I got to say hi to Bobby as I was buying a tee shirt from him. I told him I was a big fan and had come all the way from Fargo. He said, "Oh God! Thanks for coming!" Aberdeen, which is Beth Arzy's band, was also playing, and I bought their CD while at the show.

Stuart Murdoch

Belle and Sebastian would not exist without Stuart Murdoch, and they are probably the most popular and widely-known of all the little-known bands in the world. What I mean is, I rarely ever come across anyone here in Fargo who has heard of them, and yet they are still hugely popular. They are endlessly talked-about in the music world. You can even find blurbs about them in many Columbia House mailings - which ought to mean they are mainstream, right?

I was lucky enough to see them live in Chicago on May 11th, 2002. Actually luck has very little to do with it. I drove 600 miles for the privilege. They played to a packed theater - in contrast to the sadly under-appreicated TBS, who played to about thirty people in a tiny bar. It was a great show - click here for my review and setlist. Also, you can hear a full 55 minute real audio concert from September 13, 2001 in Vancouver by clicking here. This sounds remarkably good even if you only have a regular 56 k modem. From where I was standing, Stuart appeared about the size of a bug. It can be hard to find decent pictures of him online, but I have collected some of the best and clearest for your viewing pleasure. Click for a larger image.

Jason Pierce

I've never seen Spiritualized play (nor Spacemen 3) but I did see Spectrum doing what was billed as a Spacemen 3 tribute show. Actually they were the headliners for the Trembling Blue Stars show in Minneapolis. They weren't bad but I still prefer Spiritualized. Incidentally, I hear from a fairly reliable source that Bobby Wratten once named his dog Kembra, after Pete Kember.

Adrian Crowley

I discovered Adrian Crowley through listening to WFMU. He sounds kind of like Nick Drake. I have his album A Strange Kind on which he plays many instruments including the rabada, which is a neat-sounding Indian instrument.

Rob Dickinson

Rob Dickinson, the singer for Catherine Wheel, originally had no intention of being a singer. His other bandmates reportedly couldn't sing at all, however, so he was stuck with the job. And I'd say he has a pretty good voice for it! My favorite albums by Catherine Wheel are Adam and Eve and Cats and Dogs. The band seems to have broken up quite some time ago, however. Incidentally, before breaking up, Catherine Wheel seem to have changed their name to The Catherine Wheel.

If you care about the preceding sentence you should definitely e-mail me because you are the kind of weirdo I'd like to talk to!

No good radio stations in your town? Try these

• WFMU out of Jersey City: No matter how large your music collection, I think if you listen to this station long enough you'll hear two things: 1. Something great you've never heard of before, and 2. Plenty of stuff you've never heard of before and don't care to hear again. Anyhow, it is a freeform station and varies a great deal from one DJ to the next. A couple of DJs that I like are Irene Trudel and Joe Belock. As much as the actual music, I enjoy listening to the enthusiasm of the DJs. I believe they are all volunteers and simply want to share their love of music with others.

• KEXP out of Seattle: This is another non-commercial station. You'll hear a lot more repeats on this station, but then again you'll also hear a lot more stuff that can definitely be classified as music as opposed to experimental noise. Due to this station, I got to hear some of the songs off Belle and Sebastian's new album Dear Catastrophe Waitress before it was released. They saved me from the indignity of not being one of the cool people who got a copy ahead of time...

• KCRW out of Santa Monica: A lot of cool artists play live on their Morning Becomes Eclectic show. As for their regular programming, I can't really comment because I haven't listened much.
  

Where possible, I have included remote links to sound clips of the song in question. These sounds are not on my site, therefore if they are on the web illegally it is not my fault. The addresses of these songs seem to change a great deal so I apologize for any broken links!

• Best song of all time: Dirty Dream #2 by Belle and Sebastian, off The Boy With the Arab Strap
  • full video (poor quality)
  • sound clip of ending of song (better quality)

• Best slow-dance song: Doo-Wop Music by Trembling Blue Stars, off Lights on a Darkening Shore (various artists) Here is a live version of the song - the recorded version has electronic sounds and is sung much better.

• Best fast-dance song: Complicated by Poi Dog Pondering, off Pomegranate

• Best love song: Set Me Free / I've Got the Key by Spacemen 3, off Recurring. Actually all of songs 2-5 on this album are excellent for mushy lovey-dovieness.

• Best silly party song: King of Spain by Moxy Fruvous, off Bargainville. Here is a video of a different and apparently older version than what's on the album since it says "Hey Bush, Hey Yeltsin" instead of "Hey Clinton, Hey Yeltsin". Here is a clip of the album version.

• Best song with the word "Jesus" in it: Walking with Jesus by Spiritualized, off Royal Albert Hall Ocober 10 1997 Live.

• Best sad song: Well it's kind of a tie among many different Bobby Wratten songs, but this one's been making me shiver recently: Before We Know It by Trembilng Blue Stars off the Ghost of an Unkissed Kiss EP.

• Best indie Christmas carol: Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas by the Eels off the It's a Cool, Cool Christmas compilation. Oh yes, that one has the word Jesus in it, also. I seem to like an unnatural number of songs like that. "Baby Jesus, born to Rock!"

My Favorite Bands

that people actually have heard of

• Radiohead - especially The Bends

• Tori Amos - especially Little Earthquakes and Boys for Pele

• Everclear

• The Monkees

• The Beach Boys - no they didn't just play surf music. Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, and Wild Honey are all great. The title track off Wild Honey, for instance, is a great one to baffle your friends with. The singing style seems more like James Brown or someone than like what many people would expect of the Beach Boys. Listen here and you'll see what I mean.

• Simon and Garfunkel

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