Do something

Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999) ***

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Caligula

This was Macy Gray's debut album and it was a big deal back in 1999. It's pretty remarkable that it was her first effort - she's one of those artists that seems fully formed right from the start. Maybe she'd been performing for years without recording anything - not sure.

Obviously, her distinctive vocal style is her biggest asset, but the jazz infused style is not one I generally gravitate towards. Billie Holiday style vocals are usually a turn off for me, but Macy adds some nice rough textures in a more R'n'B/soul style that I quite like.

One of the main appeals of On How Life Is lies in the nineties post hip-hop R'n'B production ticks. Boyz II Men and PM Dawn utilised this approach with a lot of success and their sound hooked me in during the nineties. That's the reason I've opted for Caligula - it's a loopy song but for some reason it's the one I kept going back to for repeat listens.

The big hit from the album was I Try, but it's overfamiliarity meant I tended to skip it. The one song I'm not that keen on is the Prince like Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak. It's a jarring presence on an otherwise cohesive album. The sexed up Prince role doesn't seem to work for her (as it doesn't work for Prince on many of his songs).

Aside from all that, I actually enjoyed listening to the album as a whole. I never bought a copy (as I've said - the female jazz vocal genre has never been my jam), but I'm glad I have had the introduction 25 years later. Chur GK.

Urges

Thomas Dolby - The Golden Age of Wireless (1982) ***

Nominated by: Tom  

Music club: MNAC

MNAC playlist addition: Airwaves

In 1982 I was at Teacher's Training College in Auckland. For the only time in my life, I spent the year living alone nearby in a flat that my parents owned. It was a great year - I worked at Marbecks Records in my holidays (took my pay in records), and spent time doing teaching practicums in Hastings (NZ was at the FIFA World Cup and I stayed with a Scottish family) and Kerikeri (on a farm). Idyllic!

I was aware of Thomas Dolby of course, thanks to She Blinded Me With Science. It was hard to ignore - along with the radio coverage, the music video was all over TV's Radio With Pictures. 

There was a lot of late seventies/ early eighties synth-pop that I'd enjoyed (and bought) such as Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Yazoo, A-ha, Thompson Twins, Tears For Fears, Devo, New Order, Gary Numan, and even The Buggles. Blinded Me With Science though didn't do it for me.

Having listened to his parent album 43 years later, I wish I could report otherwise - that I now love The Golden Age of Wireless, that I totally reverse my aversion to drum machines, and eighties production techniques. But, to thine own self be true.

Rather than dwell on what I still don't get, here is some good news: I enjoyed Airwaves, and his singing in general has appeal. At times he reminded me of Robyn Hitchcock who I love.

Aside from the self-indulgence I mentioned earlier, I'm not nostalgic for the eighties, so, while I can appreciate the appeal for those who may be, and while it was good to briefly revisit 1982 in my head, The Golden Age of Wireless is not really my cup of tea.

Thanks for sharing this one Tom. I'm keen to hear/read what Alex and Tom Jr make of it.

Elemental

Fly My Pretties      Elemental (2025) *** 

Nominated by: KS

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Share Your Luv

To this point, Fly My Pretties have flown under the radar for me (see what I did there). I guess because their profile isn't as strong as other Kiwi bands working in the same soul groove streams, or maybe the lower profile's because of the huge number of musicians involved - hard to establish momentum. 

So, Elemental is my first FMP album (although I've also had a listen to a selection of their popular songs on Spotify). 

I was kind of surprised how it was all a bit underwhelming initially, and the music is a bit overcooked. Maybe that's a natural thing when you involve so many people in the process. The reason I like a lot of Fat Freddy's Drop and L.A.B material is because they sound comparatively organic/ natural. 

Elemental took a while to get going for me, but it gradually built some momentum (today's word) with Aie (track 4). From then on it sounded pleasant and even old skool at times: Take My Hand is pretty cliched with a load of aphorisms strung together, and See Me Flying had me thinking of Bunny Walters, of all people.

The lack of a clear focus on a lead singer becomes an issue as the album progresses. Each time I put it on, I wondered if Spotify had moved to shuffle of other bands/genres. Red Flags, for instance, sounds like smooth jazz. Elsewhere I hear soul, chill, R'n'B, even pop. 

Speaking of which, Share Your Luv is a nice modern pop song, but apart from that one, nothing much got its hooks in me.

That said, although they are not quite my cup of tea, I'm glad I finally got to hear Fly My Pretties.