Album Club Review - ????

[Durly]

OK, I have 3 or 4 in mind so will whittle it down and post shortly.

[Durly]

OK then. I have selected a couple of albums from the 80s. Hope that you enjoy them.

Faith Brothers - Eventide



and

Big Country - Steeltown



FAITH BROTHERS:

One of my favourite albums of the 80s (you'll see from my sig pic that I love them). If you could also bring yourselves to listen to Stranger On Home Ground and Fulham Court which were released on a 10" single just before the album but aren't on it you will hear (in my opinion) the two most criminally underrated songs of the 80s.

I wrote this retrospective review a while ago.

What to say about this album......I remember going to see U2 at MK Bowl in 1985 and seeing these open the bill. I was blown away by their energy. The band weren't hugely pleased with the production of this particular record from what I've read, as it didn't capture the energy of the live performances of the time but that is an extremely difficult feat to achieve. What it does do is bristle with political astuteness and great pop tunes. 'Daydreamer's Philosophy' and 'The Sleepwalker' are particularly great in this respect but the quieter, more reflective 'Tradesman's Entrance' gives a stark reminder of how manufacturing industry was being crippled at the time and the impact it had on individuals and community......while 'Easter Parade' (written from the perspective of an injured soldier returning from the Falklands when Thatcher arranged a victory parade and then banned anyone who had been maimed over there from attending) is one of the best anti-war songs I know and lines like "the mother of the nation cries 'rejoice'....and I can hardly shuffle...." still bring a lump to the throat.
The "rare as hens' teeth" double CD pack also features the 'Stranger On Home Ground' single (not on the original vinyl) which should have been a huge hit but, inexplicably wasn't, 'Country Of The Blind' and 'Fulham Court' a love song to the council estate where they grew up, which, had it been written by someone like Springsteen, would be considered a classic................err, as you can probably tell, I'm rather fond of this record.

BIG COUNTRY:
I suspect more of you will know this. It was their second record and doesn't seem to command as much misty-eyed nostalgia as their debut, The Crossing, primarily I think because the earlier record had the two big anthems "In A Big Country" and "Fields Of Fire". On reflection, however, despite loving The Crossing, I think Steeltown is the better record. Again, very much a product of the times - themes such as the cold war, poverty, the futility of conflict and unemployment dominate the record.
That said, it's a cracking piece of work and in my view, they deserve to be looked back on as one of the best acts of the decade.

The other thing to note is that these two incredible songwriters - Billy Franks and Stuart Adamson are both no longer with us - Stuart succumbing to the depression that consumed him following his battle with alcoholism in late 2001 and Billy sadly leaving us in 2016.
Both taken far too soon.

[Durly]

Here are the two non-album, Faith Brothers tracks (not compulsory but well worth a go, IMHO)

[1964white]

Thanks Durly

Two albums to get our teeth in

[Muppet the Cat]

Anymore reviews/ratings ?

Apologies 64, bit behind on thios thread. I did listen to these and in respect of THe Hold Steady I'm more at Hector's end of the scale.....................didn't like it, so only and a half I'm afraid

Placebo faired better with me

[Durly]

Can we change the thread title. Says "Faithless Brothers" currently. I won't get no sleep if it stays like that..........

[hector]

Can we change the thread title. Says "Faithless Brothers" currently. I won't get no sleep if it stays like that..........

Sorted for you mate...

[Durly]

Sorted for you mate...

Cheers Chief.

[hector]

You're welcome.

Never heard any faith(less) brothers so looking forward to that

never liked Big Country, since 1983 when their first album was blasted out every night by my prat of a shift commander whilst on night shift (5 months of it), but never heard this album so will give it a fair go.

[1964white]

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

5 Cat
5 Haighy
4 Ges
4 64
4 Sara
3 1304
2.5 Ian
1 Faaip
0 Rat

3.2 Average Rating

Manic Street Preachers - Lifeblood

4.5 Cat
4 64
3 Mrs 64
2.5 Ian
2 Faaip
2 1304
2 Sara

2.9 Average Rating

Ges's nominated albums

Pearl Jam 'Ten'

5 Ges
5 Faaip
3.5 Ian
3.5 Sara
3 64
2 Hector
1 Cat

3.3 Average Rating

Counting Crows 'August and Everything After'

5 Ges
5 Faaip
5 64
3 Sara
2 Ian
2 Cat
1 Hector

3.3 Average Rating

Hector's nominated albums

David Bowie 'Low'

5.0 Hector
5.0 64
4.0 Sara
3.5 Cat
3.0 Ges
2.5 Faaip
2.0 Ian

3.6 Average Rating

Sparks 'Kimono My House'

5.0 Hector
4.0 64
3.5 Ian
3.5 Sara
3.0 Cat
3.0 Ges
3.0 Faaip

3.6 Average Rating

Ian's nominated albums

Bruce Springsteen 'Darkness on the Edge of Town'

5.0 Billie
5.0 64
4.5 Ian
3.0 Faaip
3.0 Ges
2.5 Hector
2.0 Sara
2.0 Cat

Average rating 3.4

The Stone Roses 'The Stone Roses'

4.5 Cat
4.0 Ian
3.5 64
3.0 Ges
2.0 Faaip
2.0 Sara
2.0 Hector

Average rating 3.0

Sara's nominated albums

Talk Talk 'Spirit Of Eden'

5.0 Sara
5.0 64
5.0 Durly
4.0 Ges
4.0 Hector
4.0 Ian
4.0 Cat

4.4 Average Rating

Calexico 'Algiers

5.0 Sara
4.0 64
4.0 Faaip
3.5 Hector
3.5 Cat
3.0 Ges
2.0 Ian

3.6 Average Rating

Faaip's nominated albums

Without You I'm Nothing - Placebo

5.0 Faaip
5.0 Sara
5.0 1304
4.5 Ges
4.0 64
4.0 Durly
3.5 Hector
3.0 Cat

4.3 Average Rating

Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady

5.0 Faaip
5.0 64
4.0 1304
4.0 Durly
4.0 Ges
3.0 Sara
1.5 Cat
1.0 Hector

3.4 Average Rating

[Sara]

Did I not give a rating for Sparks? Think it was a 3.5.

[1964white]

Did I not give a rating for Sparks? Think it was a 3.5.

Will update accordingly Sara

[Durly]

Two albums from the 80s but exploring themes that are still relevant today, reflecting on the news coming out about British Steel today.
The title track from the Big Country album and 'Tradesman's Entrance' from 'Eventide' particularly strike a chord.

[1964white]

Enjoyed 'Eventide'

Now for a few plays of 'Steeltown'

[hector]

I also enjoyed Eventide
and was not overly pissed off with Steeltown..

both need another play at least

[1964white]

Faith Brothers 'Eventide'

Well this one surprised me, an album full of uplifting songs, beautiful harmonies fantastically sung accompanied with some fine musicians

FAVOURITE SONGS

Eventide
Easter Parade
Dust In The Soul



Big Country 'Steeltown

Never a massive fan of Big Country so I went into this album with trepidation.

FAVOURITE SONGS

Come Back To Me
Girl With Grey Eyes
Just A Shadow

There are two or three other decent songs on 'Steeltown including the title track however the whole album doesn't grab me. I don't love it but there again I don't dislike it !

[Durly]

Faith Brothers 'Eventide'

Well this one surprised me, an album full of uplifting songs, beautiful harmonies fantastically sung accompanied with some fine musicians

FAVOURITE SONGS

Eventide
Easter Parade
Dust In The Soul



Big Country 'Steeltown

Never a massive fan of Big Country so I went into this album with trepidation.

FAVOURITE SONGS

Come Back To Me
Girl With Grey Eyes
Just A Shadow

There are two or three other decent songs on 'Steeltown including the title track however the whole album doesn't grab me. I don't love it but there again I don't dislike it !

Really glad you've taken to the Faith Brothers album, mate. One of my favourites of the 80s, no question. Easter Parade is as good an anti-war song as I've ever heard.

[1964white]

Really glad you've taken to the Faith Brothers album, mate. One of my favourites of the 80s, no question. Easter Parade is as good an anti-war song as I've ever heard.

Always good to enjoy an album on initial listens even though it was recorded decades ago. Eventide sounds so fresh & gives me that feelgood feeling.

Thank you mate

[Durly]

Always good to enjoy an album on initial listens even though it was recorded decades ago. Eventide sounds so fresh & gives me that feelgood feeling.

Thank you mate

[1964white]

I'm hoping Billie, Cat, Faaip, Ges, Ian & Sara have given Durly's albums a spin.

I know Hector is lurking