I was sitting on the train the other day and listening to this very album, you know the first thing that struck me was how 'NEW' it sounded people! That's right I said new. I am aware that this album had its release back in 1977, but it still sounds fresh, exciting and as angry as it did over 30 years ago. Tonight I am talking that Sex Pistols one and only classic, Never Mind The Bollocks.
Where do I begin with this album, I am hoping that the few people that actually read this have listened to this album before. I would be very surprised if you hadn't, even if it is just God Save The Queen or Anarchy In The UK, you would at some point have been subjected to this record. I honestly cant remember my first real experience with NMTB, (that's how I will refer to it further on) I know I would have been fairly young and probably naive, well no in fact definitely naive to how mind blowingly brilliant this album actually is.
Lets talk punk for a moment, now punk I like, punk i be honest is not my strongest point when it comes to genres. And i am talking about real punk not your Blink 182 or your Green Day people but real late 70s punk, because that is when punk was born and that's where punk died OK! Good got that out now, a few people will disagree with me on the whole punk died theory but its the truth! Punk is an attitude and a lifestyle, good old fashioned traditional punk went a long time ago. Sex Pistols were for me the leaders of that pack! Again I have to be so careful what i say now, because being born in 1983 I cant really comment on the 'true' nature of punk or what it did to a nation but i can only comment on the affect I am aware it had on people through what i have watched or read. Also I know a lot of people like The Clash, but i just prefer the Sex Pistols. That's that now out of the way, i am waffling lets get back to the record now!
The sound of this album comes from the fact that Chris Thomas, their producer took a different approach to recording the band. On most traditional punk records at the time it was all about the Raw and Live aspect of it, but Chris took a more technical approach. Using Overdubs lefts right and centre, allegedly having about 13 guitars on it at any one time! Apparently!! It was loud and raucous and overblown but sounded so tight! It was pure class what they managed to get out those boys. The Sex Pistols were probably not the most technical of bands, but what they did know they knew well and that came across on this record. Just listening to tracks like Bodies for example, that song literally spits at you from across the room and then punches you in the stomach to deliver a final blow with that almighty outro! Powerful and ever deadly its then best song on that album for me and defines that record as a whole. You have the obvious tracks on there like God Save The Queen and Anarchy In the UK, don't forget Pretty Vacant too, that's an understated record I think, pure class.
The bottom line is, i listen to this album a lot and never get bored of it. It screams at me, it fires me up but most of it makes me believe in British Rock n Roll every time! And that's the clincher for me. Long Live The Sex Pistols and may Never Mind The Bollocks fuck your mind!!!!
Friday, 13 February 2009
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Blue
Now this next album I know some people were quite surprised it was on my list. Not really an album I talk about much but certainly an album I hold very close to my heart. This album in question is 'Blue' by Joni Mitchell.
I'm not a massive joni mitchell fan really, not a fan of her jazz side anyways, but Blue is different for me and I am going to try explain why.
I first heard this album because of one song and that was River. I heard a version of it by Travis, which was ok but I knew it was a beautiful song, and hoped the original was much better, and for sure it was better than I could ever imagine. That song alone made me chase down this album. I remember buying it a number of years ago. It was not like anything I was listening too at the time. With its gentle rhythms and subtle tones it was the polar opposite to anything I was experiencing. But I made a connection. Everytime I listen to it it just clicks for me. Its a combination of Joni Mitchells playing and vocals that make this serene and the most beautiful thing put down on record.
Its full of the obvious themes of love and heartbreak and obviously being the 60s the revolving factors that affected it too. She has the knack of pulling heart strings and not even realising she is doing it.
Many people have tried to replicate her style and this album but have never come close. Listen to tracks like River, Blue, My Old Man and Little Green and just close your eyes and let her in to your heart. You will be beside yourself with emotion and you won't want to look back.
I'm not a massive joni mitchell fan really, not a fan of her jazz side anyways, but Blue is different for me and I am going to try explain why.
I first heard this album because of one song and that was River. I heard a version of it by Travis, which was ok but I knew it was a beautiful song, and hoped the original was much better, and for sure it was better than I could ever imagine. That song alone made me chase down this album. I remember buying it a number of years ago. It was not like anything I was listening too at the time. With its gentle rhythms and subtle tones it was the polar opposite to anything I was experiencing. But I made a connection. Everytime I listen to it it just clicks for me. Its a combination of Joni Mitchells playing and vocals that make this serene and the most beautiful thing put down on record.
Its full of the obvious themes of love and heartbreak and obviously being the 60s the revolving factors that affected it too. She has the knack of pulling heart strings and not even realising she is doing it.
Many people have tried to replicate her style and this album but have never come close. Listen to tracks like River, Blue, My Old Man and Little Green and just close your eyes and let her in to your heart. You will be beside yourself with emotion and you won't want to look back.
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