Tell me why

The Mavericks - Trampoline (1998) ***

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Dance the Night Away

A few years ago, I bought a copy of this on CD from a charity shop for $1 based on the clever video for their Tex Mex influenced Dance the Night Away - a catchy enough song. I was hoping that the album would match or better that bright song. And it kinda did.

Although that song is the most commercial thing on the album, the first six songs on side one swing by in very enjoyable fashion - with a succession of songs inducing toe tapping, body swaying, head nodding and dad dancing!

Yes, things go pretty well for six songs with a succession of Roy Orbison inspired vocals. I love Roy's vocals, and although I prefer the real thing, Raul Malo (The Mav's main man) has a great country/rock and roll/Tex Mex/pop/Americana voice.

Actually, if you squint, at times it almost sounds like The Traveling Wilburys with some Tijuana Brass drafted in for texture. 

Almost.

I Should Know is a clear example as it blends Beatle sounds into another great horn led mixture of styles. Someone Should Tell Her is another excellent song.  

But then we hit Fool #1 which slows the pace and starts the meh-o-meter ticking. The needle moves into the amber with the instrumental Melbourne Mambo.

After that somewhat pointless instrumental, the album loses focus, wobbles, falls over, and lies on the ground with its legs in the air thanks to Dolores (skipped that one on subsequent plays).

All up, a tale of two halves. First side kicks it and has me enjoying the ride, but then the profusion of styles on side two leaves me on the curbside.

As is where is

 

Bill Lake and the Right Mistake - As Is Where Is (2017) ****

Nominated by: KS

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: World Upside Down

Bill Lake is a new one on me. One of the joys of the music club is Kevy's huge knowledge of NZ music. He's come up with a pearler this time out with Bill Lake.

As Is Where Is is one of those albums that quickly allows a listener to relax because we know we are in good hands. Bill's confidence is infectious; it means we can just let the music take over. 

He has a lovely, well worn vocal style - he's lived some (that's important for blues singers), and he brings a quiet gravitas to his songs.

Highlights: first track, Grown Out Of The Blues, has some wonderful harmonica and simple guitar from Bill (I guess - I'm not sure who makes up The Right Mistake). It sets the template for the album well.

Juliet and Romeo adds some additional instruments to great effect. It's recorded well, sung well, and the interesting lyrics make this one a highlight.

Grandma's Music adds some tasteful mandolin which gives it that old time Band feel. I can imagine Levon singing this one.

After that initial salvo and mood setting it's Bill doing what Bill does for a few tracks. Nothing to skip, no duds.

On the downhill now - World Upside Down has a Ry Cooder feel with that vocal and mandolin - always nice to hear, and another highlight. This one sounds like a standard, but it seems Bill wrote it. His best song on this set for me.

Suggestions - Walk In The Park is a cool instrumental but probably would have been better around the halfway mark.

Last song If You Can't Say No is for me the weakest song and not an ideal album closer, but that's just me.

Bottom line - loved listening to this - was excellent company on some cooler/ wet days this week.

Have fun

The Beautiful South - Blue is the Colour (1996) ****

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Don't Marry Her

The nineties decade is the least favoured by the three amigos, but there was some great music released between 1990 and 1999. The Beautiful South, a band that emerged from The Housemartins, is a band responsible for some of the brightest songs in the nineties.

After The Housemartins broke up, two members (Paul Heaton - lead singer/main lyricist, and vocalist Dave Hemingway) founded The Beautiful South. Blue is the Colour was their fifth album.

Let's get the rating over with now - four-stars because nearly every track is terrific but Liars' Bar with its Tom Waits style drawl does not work for me. That said, it's their best album for my money and a near five-star classic!  

Thank Paul Heaton's way with words, the strengths of three singers (Jacqui Abbot is a secret weapon), the sympathetic music, and the way the consistent melancholy mood still manages to be uplifting (Have Fun is dealing with material that is the opposite of having fun but it still allows me to nod my head and sway along with some beautiful vocals from Paul and Jacqui and great guitar from Dave Rotheray).

Actually, Nil Fun is also very talented in carrying off the same trick - part of Crowded House's appeal - the melancholy but with a light touch.

This is quality dreamy pop music by some gifted musicians. It also sounds terrific on headphones - great production by somebody.

Favourite tracks: Don't Marry Her; Rotterdam (Or Anywhere); Little Blue; Blackbird on a Wire; Foundations...actually I could list them all except for Liars' Bar.

Lighthouse Family and The Beautiful South! You're on a roll with some great mid-nineties UK pop, GK!

Colin Blunstone

Colin Blunstone - One Year (1971) ****

Nominated by: Tom Jnr

Music club: MNAC

MNAC playlist addition: Say You Don't Mind

As Lew pointed out, when The Zombies died (ho ho ho) Colin eventually embarked on a solo career and One Year was his first album.

Baroque pop. Is it a thing? Discuss. Or just play Misty Roses to unbelievers.

B.P.'s a fusion genre combining pop with elements of classical music and Colin may be seen as a poster boy for how it can be done well.

He's got that beautiful, breathy, close to the microphone, hushed vocal ability and he uses that strength well on One Year (it took a year to record). It has quite a melancholy sound thanks to his vocal style, plus a relationship break-up during that year, which obviously caused some angst.

I've heard One Year a few times over the years but never bought it, I guess because I prefer my melancholy presented in a more uplifting way (I was listening to The Beautiful South's Blue is the Colour just before One Year), but this is a beautiful sounding album, albeit a tad depressing. Clearly it was a labour of love (sorry). 

Although I'll be sticking to the more rock moves of The Zombies, thanks for giving me the chance to revisit this one, Lew.