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You'll probably recognize Morris as the lead singer of The Time and star of "Purple Rain". Believe it or not, Morris is still around and being just as funky today as he was back then. After The Time disbanded, Morris went on to launch a solo career. Like many former Prince associates from that time, he continued to release music based on the Minneapolis sound they'd become so famous for.
During this time in the 80's, there was glut of bands who were writing and trying to copy this sound. Morris may have had his roots in the movement, but on his own his music lacked a lot of the substance and soul of other artists working in this genre. His material can often sound somewhat generic and uninspired. That never stopped him from working though.
"Daydreaming" was his second solo effort and even though it was a vast improvement on his previous record, it didn't break any new ground for the singer. At least it didn't as far as I know. There is one significant difference between this record and "Color Of Success"... On this record, he enlisted the help of former Time members, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This duo had their own brand of Minneapolis funk and they'd used it to catapult artists like Janet Jackson and The Human League to superstar status. In all honesty, this is probably the best move he could've made. 'Fishnet', the Jam And Lewis track, was a huge hit for him and gave him his most popular single as a solo artist.
The two producers also worked on a second track on the disc, 'Love Is A Game'. If he'd been smart, Day would've hired the them to produce the entire record and worked with them while he was writing this material. They would've helped him put together a stronger, more solid piece of work.
I really like Morris and I want to see him do well. It's discouraging when an artist you like doesn't deliver the work you know they're capable of.
I'm not really into this disc beyond the two Jam & Lewis tracks. But I do have some memories of it. The first time I saw Morris and The Time live, he signed my copy of this CD. The second time I saw them, he pulled me up on stage to sing the hit single from this record, 'Fishnet' with him. I'll never forget that.
I wish I could recommend this disc but I don't think it has enough appeal. If you're a Morris Day fan, this is a must. If you're a Jam & Lewis fan, it's also a must. But for those of you who casually like to listen to some Minneapolis funk now and then, stream or download 'Fishnet' and be done with it.
My final words: A DISAPPOINTING FOLLOWUP FROM A DYNAMIC PERFORMER!
MORRIS DAY - DAYDREAMING
01. Daydreaming
02. Yo' Luv
03. Fishnet
04. A Man's Pride
05. Standing On The Line
06. Are You Ready
07. Love Is A Game
08. Moonlite (Passionlite)
09. Sally
"Du Riechst So Gut '98" is the second single for this song by Rammstein. Like other European singles, it comes in a slim case. And this one is packed to overflowing! There are 8 versions of the song on this disc along with a multimedia file with the music video for the track. Once again, Rammstein delivers the goods.
The first track is 'Du Riechst So Gut '98' This is an updated version of the "Herzeleid" track released during the promotion and touring for "Sehnsucht". The music video at the end of the disc is the original version. The first mix appearing on the disc is a remix by Faith No More. They sorta give you an orchestral acapella rendition of the song. Gunter Schulz of KMFDM provides two mixes on this single. The first of these is a hard rock minimalist version that explodes into a electronic frenzy when the chorus comes in. It's a fun mix. Schulz's bandmate, Sascha Konietzko is up next with a heavy techno mix of the song. This version is built up mostly around the drum patterns playing underneath. It's not bad, but it's not as full as the original.
Olav Bruhn from Bobo In White Wooden Houses delivers a super hard drumming version next. It's so intense, it's hard to listen to at times. Live, this version would certainly drive a crowd crazy, but here, it just overloads the senses. Sascha Moser also from Bobo In White Wooden Houses is up next with a remix I like. He uses some vocal distortion and uses a techno drum beat on the bottom end to create a tempo for the track.
Jacob Hellner and Marc Stagg mix the next track and stay largely faithful to the original just using effect patches and high hat crashes to change the sound slightly. Of the bunch, this one is easily my favorite. Gunter Schulz finishes the disc with a 'Migraine' remix. It's essentially an instrumental version of his first mix, with Till singing the chorus faintly a couple of times. The video for this cut is actually pretty cool.
I love me some Rammstein and I gotta say, this band never fails to pack their singles with lots of value. Part of the reason I enjoy them so much. My final words: A WHOMPING LIGHTNING STRIKE OF A SINGLE! LOADED WITH EXTRA GOODNESS TO MAKE YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE COMPLETE.
RAMMSTEIN - DU RIECHST SO GUT '98
01. Du Riechst So Gut '98
02. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Faith No More)
03. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Gunter Schulz-KMFDM & Hiwatt Marshall)
04. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Sascha Konietzko-KMFDM)
05. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Olav Bruhn-Bobo In White Wooden Houses)
06. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Sascha Moser-Bobo In White Wooden Houses)
07. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Jacob Hellner/Marc Stagg)
08. Du Riechst So Gut ('Migraine' - RMX By Gunter Schulz-KMFDM)
09. Du Riechst So Gut '95 (Multimedia Originalvideo)
fDeluxe made all of our dreams come true when they released this little gem! Sold exclusively through their website, this disc is a live show recorded for your listening pleasure and let me tell you, they don't disappoint. This is one jamming concert!
I've had the pleasure of seeing fDeluxe live before and nothing can quite prepare you for this band. Although they were a creation of Prince as a vehicle for his material and as a favor to various band members, the group has continued to progress musically and returned a few years ago with a stunning follow-up. Getting a live release was like a cherry on top of an fDeluxe sundae. Sweet and perfect.
All of your favorites are here. From the original Prince tracks he wrote for the band, to their own compositions, you get it all in one heaping serving. It's nice to know a band you like can cut it live and this CD certainly shows the strength of the group as a unit.
Basically, you won't go wrong if you add this delightful disc to your collection. I can't encourage you enough to pick it up. It's just... Wow! My final words: fDELUXE PROVE ONCE AGAIN THEY'RE WORTH YOUR TIME AND MONEY! BUT THIS RECORD!
fDELUXE - LIVE & TIGHT AS A FUNK FIENDS' FIX.
01. High Fashion
02. Gaslight
03. Sanctified
04. Screams Of Passion
05. Nothing Compares 2 U
06. Leeds Line
07. You Got What You Wanted
08. Desire
09. Lover
10. River Run Dry
11. @8
12. Drummers And Healers
13. Mutiny
I first became aware of Gabriel when his album "So" was all over the place. I was young and going through that period where I thought only the music I loved was worth hearing. I remember thinking some of his stuff was catchy, but just hearing he had a history in rock music with Genesis turned me off to him. I hated Genesis. So I never gave him a real chance.
Even then, his music was always around. You couldn't pay attention to the charts and not be aware of him. And quite frankly, some of his stuff did filter through to my hard candy center.
It was while I was living in Europe that I really developed an appreciation for him. During that time, whenever I was missing home or my family and friends, there was one song I could play that would bolster my spirits and help me endure. 'Don't Give Up' featured Gabriel singing with one of my favorite musicians, Kate Bush. That powerful message made me feel less alone when I really needed a friend. I bought this CD while I was living there just because I needed to have a copy of that song. It was through this compilation that I discovered what a true talent this man is.
The great Gabriel tracks are here. And although I admit, I like his chart toppers, it's the stuff that doesn't get the huge attention that I respond to the most. Right off the bat, you get 'Solsbury Hill' and 'Sledgehammer'. But for me, the meat of the record starts with 'Mercy Street'. There's something in the way Gabriel composes mood music. They seemed to be packed with emotion. The sounds of the instruments reflect the feelings these songs stir inside the heart of the listener. 'Mercy Street' feels like an emotional salvation falling like snow on a hopeless soul. When he sings, "...in your daddy's arms" you feel that softening comfort flooding your body and making you long for a brief moment to let yourself be weak and be assured by your dad. Just let yourself be hugged and for a split second, feel safe. It's truly moving. 'Don't Give Up' is another tune that creates this incredible connection with the listener. There appears to be two stories happening in this song. Gabriel sings a song of despair and the desperate search for purpose. When Bush comes in, she sings a song about encouragement and hope. The two themes juxtapose each other to mirror a sense of hopelessness and hope at the same time. This is one of the few songs I have deeply internalized in my life. Even now, when I feel horribly alone, I can put this song on and find comfort.
'San Jacinto' starts off sounding like the tinkling of rain and moves into an emotive track that ends with Gabriel repeating the phrase, "Hold the line...". It's followed by another beautifully written number called 'Here Comes The Flood'. Delivered almost as a prayer, he uses the music to create a lull... A calm before the storm. There's whimsy, nostalgia and sadness pouring out of him. In so many ways, I think Gabriel captures the soul of the American working class in tunes like this. It seems like he's telling you to accept the inevitable and find a way to survive. To move on afterward. This trilogy of songs sees its fulfillment in 'Red Rain'. A massive downpour of sound surrounds you when it explodes from your speakers. 'Red Rain' has a huge organic build that absolutely swamps you as it washes the room. I love these three tracks together and I think they're absolutely brilliant.
Songs like 'Shock The Monkey' and 'Games Without Frontiers' are brilliant in their own right. They're interesting and show Gabriel's ability to build songs using unconventional sounds. The percussion work on these tracks is quite interesting and compelling. 'I Have The Touch' is simply ahead of its time. I think it would've sounded much better if he'd recorded it later with a larger more fleshed out sound. Still, I think it's one of those tunes you never forget. It's too catchy.
'Big Time' is probably the first song by Gabriel I actually heard. 'Biko' is the one track I have a problem with. It reminds me too heavily of Phil Collins' solo material and I'm not a huge fan of his sound.
This compilation certainly sparked my imagination and made me interested in Peter Gabriel. I've since picked up additional material to check out more of his work. I think he's a master of emotive music and has the ability to tap into some primal feelings. This is one of the best compilation discs ever put together and if you don't have any of his albums, you should buy this. My final words: EXPRESSIVE, TOUCHING, BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE.
PETER GABRIEL - SHAKING THE TREE: SIXTEEN GOLDEN GREATS
01. Solsbury Hill
02. I Don't Remember
03. Sledgehammer
04. Family Snapshot
05. Mercy Street
06. Shaking The Tree
07. Don't Give Up
08. San Jacinto
09. Here Comes The Flood
10. Red Rain
11. Games Without Frontiers
12. Shock The Monkey
13. I Have The Touch
14. Big Time
15. Zaar
16. Biko
Pretenders are a band I always liked but never followed. Back in the 80's, I remember really digging their stuff, but for some reason, I never felt motivated to pick up any of their albums. I'm not sure if that was a smart idea or not. I found this CD in a clearance bin at a pawn shop. I bought it for $1 and I was thrilled because I would finally own so many of the songs I loved by this group.
However, as I listened to the record, I wasn't nearly as impressed with some of the songs I didn't know compared to the ones I was familiar with. I think Pretenders are a group I like on a song by song basis.
The first song on the collection I love is 'Brass In Pocket'. This is one of the most rockin' seduction songs ever written. It's confident, aggressive and clearly written for someone lead singer, Chrissie Hynde was into at the time. 'Talk Of The Town' is another track I enjoy.
Pretenders are an amalgam of rock sounds and there's a lot of punk simplicity to many of their songs like 'Message Of Love' and 'Middle Of The Road'. I generally love all the songs on this record. Even some of the lesser known singles like 'Thin Line Between Love And Hate' (a cover of the track by The Persuaders) and '2000 Miles'. My favorite song is probably 'Back On The Chain Gang' though 'Show Me' is a close second. I'm also a big fan of 'Don't Get Me Wrong' which is probably the song the group is most famous for. I think it was their highest charting single, but I could be wrong. It's also fun to see the inclusion of 'I Got You Babe', the Sonny & Cher cover she performs with UB40.
Hynde is an excellent vocalist with a unique sound. Any song she tackles is transformed into something made for her. Just through her incredible voice. As a song-writer, she is challenging and quite blunt at times. I find her lyrical voice refreshing and interesting. During a time when a lot of female performers were prancing about in their underwear or singing nursery rhyme sounding sex pop, Hynde was bringing it to the masses in the form of a self-confident, strong, expressive woman. She can hold the stage with any guy at any time.
Although I suspect my tastes in their music runs more to the later albums as opposed to their earlier work, they're a group I do feel inspired to hear more from. I've streamed some of their albums and eventually, I plan on buying the ones I really like. In the meantime, I'll be happy with this awesome collection of some remarkable music! My final words: ONE PERFECT COLLECTION FROM AN AUTHENTIC VOICE IN ROCK MUSIC!
PRETENDERS - THE SINGLES
01. Stop Your Sobbing
02. Kid
03. Brass In Pocket
04. Talk Of The Town
05. I Go To Sleep
06. Day After Day
07. Message Of Love
08. Back On The Chain Gang
09. Middle Of The Road
10. 2000 Miles
11. Show Me
12. Thin Line Between Love And Hate
13. Don't Get Me Wrong
14. Hymn To Her
15. My Baby
16. I Got You Babe
Carole Davis was on my radar because she received a song writing credit on Prince's "Sign 'O' The Times" album. She co-wrote 'Slow Love'. I have no idea how they met or how this collaboration came about, but it was enough to make me aware of her. I stumbled across this record while I was living in Europe. I picked it up because it was cheap, used and 'Slow Love' was listed as a track. I initially assumed Prince had worked with her, recording the song for her album and then using it on his own. However, her album was actually released two years after his.
The main producer is Nile Rodgers and for the most part sounds a lot like the pop music at the time. It actaully sounds a couple years outdated, but typical. Davis could be lumped in the same sort of category as Paula Abdul and female groups like En Vogue. I would go as far as to suggest she would be in the same style of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany. Most of the music is somewhat juvenile and trivial. Prince had a habit of writing songs for women that sounded a bit shallow. And apparently, so does Nile Rodgers. Coming from a grown woman, the material sounds a bit "Junior High", but oh well... She landed a recording contract, so that's more than most people get. The bulk of the music straddles teeny-bopper pop and Hip Hop. She's got a couple rappers appearing throughout, but I'm not sure I've heard of any of them.
There are bits and pieces of musical genius on this disc, but they're only elements of songs and get overwhelmed by the mediocrity of the rest of the tune. I think there are some great ideas... just not enough to make her stand out in a crowd of pop singers. It's enjoyable to listen to, but not enough to survive repeated plays over a long period of time.
Her version of 'Slow Love' is a bit more energetic than Prince's, however, she doesn't sound as soulful or as genuine in her delivery. I would say I like the music on her version more, but the truth is, I've never really been a fan of the track and both versions leave a lot to be desired. However, I've heard some live versions by Prince that were simply outstanding... So I would say the track isn't a total wash.
Unfortunately, this album is. I wish I could recommend it, but I sorta regret picking it up. I'm indifferent to it. Since downloads came into fashion, I think this would be one album and track I would skip buying a physical copy of and stick with a download.
My final words: AN UNEVENTFUL START TO A SINGING CAREER THAT NEVER REALLY TOOK OFF.
CAROLE DAVIS - HEART OF GOLD
01. It's In My Genes
02. Dissin' Jerome (Girl Talk)
03. When My Money's Gone
04. Serious Money
05. The Thigh's The Limit
06. Sexual Favors
07. Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
08. Sticky Situation
09. Antonio Was A Gigolo
10. A Frown Is Just A Smile Upside Down
11. Slow Love
Recoil is the project Alan Wilder from Depeche Mode started on the side. Eventually, he left Depeche Mode and dedicated himself to Recoil. This CD is the single for the track 'Faith Healer' from the "Bloodline" album. The cut is a cover by a band from the 70's called The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. I don't know anything about them and I haven't heard the original version. This single is a typical UK release coming in a slim case. If this single had a multiple release, I'm not aware of it. To date, this is the only version of the single I've run across. It includes 7 tracks, six of which are mixes.
Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb fame steps in to take lead vocals on this track. He's performed on later Recoil tracks as well, making himself the one vocalist who seems to be a regular on the band's releases.
The first track is the album version of the song and from there the disc launches you into a weird collection of odd religious chanting and bizarre samples. It reminds me heavily of Recoil's first release and the strange fanatical worship they sampled and included on there. The mixes sometimes seem manic and rushed. There are certain ones I quite like. The Disbeliever Mix is deep and funky. It starts off with a heavy beat and pulsing synth sounds vibrating all around. It eventually breaks down into some odd sounding drum beats with old Atari computer game blips and bleeps sounding in the background. I really like it.
The Barracuda Mix is the other mix I find groovy. It mixes some piano over a slower mix that would feel right at home in a Vegas lounge late on a Friday night. The mix is punctuated by a female vocalist who moans and grunts her way through the song.
Quite honestly, these mixes and the song itself create a marvelous tension in the listener. It's sometimes hard to listen to just because everything seems to be going at once. But in a way, that's the mania Wilder intended to create with the track. He sees the music as an expression of the subject matter and takes special care to use sound to augment or create feelings you don't expect to have. I think he's rather genius. My final words: A RARE SINGLE FROM AN UNDER-RATED AND MISUNDERSTOOD BAND.
RECOIL - FAITH HEALER
01. Faith Healer (LP Version)
02. Faith Healer (Trance Mix)
03. Faith Healer (Conspiracy Theory)
04. Faith Healer (Disbeliever Mix)
05. Faith Healer (Deformity)
06. Faith Healer (Barracuda Mix)
07. Faith Healer (Conspiracy 'Double Bullet' Theory)
