Take good care of it (The Verlaines)

The Verlaines - Bird Dog (1987) *****

Nominated by: KS

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Just Mum

When I think of Flying Nun bands I instantly think of The Verlaines. They are synonymous. Hand in glove. Get me?

Their early albums, and Bird Dog was their second, capture everything that was glorious about NZ indie stuff released on the iconic Flying Nun label. I'm talking about complicated music that sounds simple and effortless. That is quite a trick. Amateur hour this is not, but it still has that unpretentious whiff about it. Sums up Nu Zild in many ways.

The vocals by main man Graeme Downs always remind me a bit of Chills main man Martin Phillipps - same vaguely erudite delivery; same thoughtful lyrics that reward repeat listens. There are depths to these dudes, maan.

Speaking of resonances, the guitar often reminds me of early REM and there's also a hint of The Cure about proceedings. Still, the combined sounds are entirely Verlaines. The busy drum sound is something peculiar to them. It's of the time and suits their style.

Bird Dog never puts a foot wrong and constantly surprises. The first couple of times I heard Slow Sad Love Song I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. It builds extraordinarily and ends in a orgiastic howl. It's not indulgent in the slightest though and is a clear stand out although it's difficult to listen to in the same way as John Lennon/ Plastic Ono Band is a demanding album to listen to. Both share a kind of cathartic primal scream quality.

The rest of the album has many highlights, I've nominated Just Mum as my playlist addition, but it could just have easily 3 or 4 others.

A five-star classic - no duds, no skippers. All killer, no filler!

A red head albino

The Delines - Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom (2025) **

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom

As I have mentioned before: I'm a daaay person. The Delines trade in doom and depression and there will be audience for this low life world view (it's a reality for many - I get that) but it can be depressing subject matter over the course of a whole album. 

The darkness left me cold: missing persons, missing teeth and missing fingers; pimps and darkness; abandoned people in life's margins. And poor Lorraine (she cops it on this album). Not a lot of light at the end of the Deline tunnel.

Enough already! 

Although, musically, I had a lot to admire. The genre is either alt country (her voice positions them here) or Americana (the music is a folk/country/tex-mex hybrid). Genres that appeal to me generally, although I'm more of a country rock kind of guy. The brass is used judiciously throughout, and the pace is easy on the ear, albeit mournful on occasion. 

It also has an excellent cover.

I can't think of too much to say really. GK loves this stuff and good on him! I'm sure he won't mind if I sit this one out.

Tell my sister

Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Kate & Anna McGarrigle (1976) ****

Nominated by: Lewis

Music club: MNAC

MNAC playlist addition: Foolish Me

These two Canadian sisters really started with a high bar album back in the mid-seventies. I remember at the time, reading about this album in Sounds and there was quite the hullabaloo around it - I think because of the association with Loudon Wainwright III (then husband to Kate), producer Joe Boyd and Lowell George's involvement as well as the gentle harmonies from the siblings.

Mid-seventies though I was locked into heavy metal, Beatles pop, blues rock etc - so it's only now - 50 years later that I'm listening to this for the first time. I can now appreciate the nuances.  

Speaking of 'locked in' - their voices don't appear to be locked in like the Everly's, but they offset each other's voices perfectly throughout most of the songs. I'm a sucker for harmony and there is something about siblings.

Standouts for me are Anna's beautiful Heart Like a Wheel - covered by Linda Ronstadt and many others, Complainte pour Ste-Catherine, Foolish You (sounds effortless), Swimming Song killed me every time, and Talk To Me of Mendocino has some lovely harmonising going on.

Actually, 'lovely' sums up the album well. As a whole it covers a lot of ground expertly - country, folk, rock and whatever Complainte is (jaunty Canadian/Cajun rock?). 

Pretty remarkable that this was their debut!

Hey thank you

The Stereo Bus - Brand New (1999) *****

Nominated by: Kevy

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Birthday

After successive listens, my initial reaction to this album still stands! OH HELL YES!!! By the time four tracks have sped by I'm having one of those rare musical epiphanies - these guys are the bizness. New Zealand's Big Star!! All distorted guitars, ripper choruses and full on power pop commitment. 

Then they turn all shoe-gazey on us for the second half, starting with Brand New and my interest remains high despite the sound still being derivative. Gadzooks! Main man David Yetton clearly has some Kevin Shields stuff in his collection. 

Why haven't I heard this before? It's great. A five-star classic for me Kevy - no duds, no skippers - just one terrific song after another the last track is the weakest, but still a goodie). Actually, I'm hard pressed to choose a highlight. It came down to either Birthday or Nova Scotia. 

I'm off to explore how to grab a physical copy of this and to listen to their earlier album and The Jean Paul Sartre Experience - a band I've heard of, but I've not previously heard any of their material.

Loved this one! Exciting to come across a new album and subsequent rabbit hole to head down. Chur bro!