Sophisto
At Alfred's request, here are my blurbs for the recent Singles Jukebox extravaganza, mostly because I somehow sent Will the wrong copy of the file (I have no idea how this is even possible), and partly because we had just a ridiculous level of response - up to 12 blurbs for some songs.
ABC – When Smokey Sings: Okay, it's partly nostalgia (this is one of the few non-shit songs the local FM station would play when I was a kid) and partly a more recent appreciation for the work of ABC circa “Poison Arrow,” “The Look of Love” et al, but still: “When Smokey Sings” is unfuckwithable. When Martin Fry and his plethora of backing vocalists sing you may not hear violins but you do hear the very rare tribute song that is utterly compelling on its own grounds as well as a fitting tribute to its subject. [10]
Blow Monkeys – Digging Your Scene: The word “louche” (“Of questionable taste or morality; disreputable or indecent; dubious; shady.”) could apply in varying degrees to many of these vocalists, but Dr. Robert really takes the prize. He sounds kind of like Mick Hucknall if Hucknall hadn't gone so horribly, horribly wrong. He's also aided by an ably lush production, and surprisingly entertaining call-and-response backing vocalists. This is music for slowly getting very, very smashed in a fancy dinner club. [7]
Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams: You guys just blew my mind, because it's been literally about ten years since I've heard this song, and I never had any idea what it was called or who did it. This used to play at the dentist's office all the time when I was a kid! I guess some would consider that pretty damning, but with this genre of music if that's going to be your objection you might as well write the whole thing off now. As it is, “Shattered Dreams” has a nice percussive backing, slightly anodyne lead vocals, and one hell of a chorus. [7]
Living in a Box – Living in a Box: Okay, this is really fantastically odd. What sounds like a fancier/more spangled late eighties New Order track with a gruff vocalist who keeps asking us “Am I living in a box? / Am I living in a cardboard box?” and we never find out the answer. I want to know, dammit. [6]
Sade – Smooth Operator: Say what you will about her productivity, but at her best Sade offers exactly the kind of rarefied, unnaturally smooth pleasure that dandies the world over covet. This isn't a bad thing – as nice as it is for (some music) to have grit and muss and tangible, earthy roots, it's just as nice to have the occasional example of sleekly gleaming, untouchable artifice, and few songs hit those heights as strongly as “Smooth Operator.” [9]
The Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods: I certainly couldn't have told you that's Weller singing if I didn't already know. But like Aztec Camera it feels like he's still adjusting to this new style of music; unlike Roddy Frame, though, Weller is much more successful at it, and although honestly I'd like to see what the Jam would have done with this the Style Council version is pretty compelling too. [7]
In retrospect, the Blow Monkeys probably deserve an 8. And that Bryan Ferry song ("Don't Stop the Dance") is incredible, despite what everyone else thinks.
ABC – When Smokey Sings: Okay, it's partly nostalgia (this is one of the few non-shit songs the local FM station would play when I was a kid) and partly a more recent appreciation for the work of ABC circa “Poison Arrow,” “The Look of Love” et al, but still: “When Smokey Sings” is unfuckwithable. When Martin Fry and his plethora of backing vocalists sing you may not hear violins but you do hear the very rare tribute song that is utterly compelling on its own grounds as well as a fitting tribute to its subject. [10]
Blow Monkeys – Digging Your Scene: The word “louche” (“Of questionable taste or morality; disreputable or indecent; dubious; shady.”) could apply in varying degrees to many of these vocalists, but Dr. Robert really takes the prize. He sounds kind of like Mick Hucknall if Hucknall hadn't gone so horribly, horribly wrong. He's also aided by an ably lush production, and surprisingly entertaining call-and-response backing vocalists. This is music for slowly getting very, very smashed in a fancy dinner club. [7]
Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams: You guys just blew my mind, because it's been literally about ten years since I've heard this song, and I never had any idea what it was called or who did it. This used to play at the dentist's office all the time when I was a kid! I guess some would consider that pretty damning, but with this genre of music if that's going to be your objection you might as well write the whole thing off now. As it is, “Shattered Dreams” has a nice percussive backing, slightly anodyne lead vocals, and one hell of a chorus. [7]
Living in a Box – Living in a Box: Okay, this is really fantastically odd. What sounds like a fancier/more spangled late eighties New Order track with a gruff vocalist who keeps asking us “Am I living in a box? / Am I living in a cardboard box?” and we never find out the answer. I want to know, dammit. [6]
Sade – Smooth Operator: Say what you will about her productivity, but at her best Sade offers exactly the kind of rarefied, unnaturally smooth pleasure that dandies the world over covet. This isn't a bad thing – as nice as it is for (some music) to have grit and muss and tangible, earthy roots, it's just as nice to have the occasional example of sleekly gleaming, untouchable artifice, and few songs hit those heights as strongly as “Smooth Operator.” [9]
The Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods: I certainly couldn't have told you that's Weller singing if I didn't already know. But like Aztec Camera it feels like he's still adjusting to this new style of music; unlike Roddy Frame, though, Weller is much more successful at it, and although honestly I'd like to see what the Jam would have done with this the Style Council version is pretty compelling too. [7]
In retrospect, the Blow Monkeys probably deserve an 8. And that Bryan Ferry song ("Don't Stop the Dance") is incredible, despite what everyone else thinks.
