Day 31: A real find...

Last day of the month and we break the 100 album mark! We're now 9.8% of the way through and roughly 15 albums ahead of schedule...


Album 100/1031

Röyksopp - Melody A.M. (2001)

All tracks written by Röyksopp, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"So Easy"	Röyksopp Burt Bacharach Hal David	3:44
2.	"Eple" (some versions contain a "hidden track" of talking in the pregap)		3:36
3.	"Sparks"	Röyksopp Anneli Drecker	5:23
4.	"In Space"		3:30
5.	"Poor Leno"	Röyksopp Erlend Øye	3:57
6.	"A Higher Place"		4:31
7.	"Röyksopp's Night Out"		7:30
8.	"Remind Me"	Röyksopp Øye	3:39
9.	"She's So"	Röyksopp Peter Thomas	5:23
10.	"40 Years Back\Come"	Röyksopp Michael Manring	4:45

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_A.M.

Golf's verdict: In 2001 the track Eple was so all-consuming that it seemingly featured on every TV programme, advert and trailer known to mankind. This debut has several others in a similar vein: Poor Leno and Röyksopp's Night Out the best of them. Very catchy electronica, but not an urgent addition to the household record collection (although, ironically, I do remember buying the CD when this came out),

Maire's verdict: Perfectly pleasant to listen to in the background but not something that excites me particularly. Seemed to merge into one in some places.

Album 101/1031

Fiona Apple - Tidal (1996)

All tracks written by Fiona Apple.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sleep to Dream"	4:08
2.	"Sullen Girl"	3:54
3.	"Shadowboxer"	5:24
4.	"Criminal"	5:41
5.	"Slow Like Honey"	5:56
6.	"The First Taste"	4:47
7.	"Never Is a Promise"	5:54
8.	"The Child Is Gone"	4:14
9.	"Pale September"	5:50
10.	"Carrion"	5:43

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_(album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Where has this been hiding for 20 years? Vaguely aware of her name, but had no idea how much I would enjoy this when I cued it up. Reminded me a little of PJ Harvey, but the scale and span of the styles and musical flourishes brought Kate Bush to mind too. Apparently she wrote this when she was 17. 6 of the 10 tracks were singles. That should give you a clue. Seek this one out, it is highly recommended.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM: I had no idea who this was when I started playing it but Golf had raved about it so (to be absolutely honest) I was slightly concerned that my expectations would be too high. I really enjoyed it - although possibly not quite a much as Golf - and will be searching out her other albums. 

Day 29: The Avalanches, some Cramps, Stevie's Talking Book and Simon & Garfunkel in the herb garden

Album 96/1031

The Avalanches - Since I Left You (2000)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Since I Left You"	Robbie Chater Tony Di Blasi Gordon McQuilten Darren Seltmann Edward Drennen Jeanne Salo Jimmy Webb[51][52]	4:22
2.	"Stay Another Season"	Chater Di Blasi McQuilten Seltmann Alan Bergman Marilyn Bergman Johnny Mandel Curtis Hudson Lisa Stevens[53][54]	2:18
3.	"Radio"	Chater Seltmann Claude Cave[55]	4:22
4.	"Two Hearts in 3/4 Time"	Chater Di Blasi McQuilten Seltmann John Cale Marlena Shaw[56][57]	3:23
5.	"Avalanche Rock"	Chater Seltmann[58]	0:22
6.	"Flight Tonight"	Chater Seltmann Henry Lawes Billy Rowe Paul Huston David Jolicoeur Vincent Mason Kelvin Mercer Lawrence Dermer Hubert Roberts Henry Stone Freddy Stonewall[59][60]	3:53
7.	"Close to You"	Chater, Seltmann August Darnell Ernest Isley Marvin Isley O'Kelly Isley, Jr. Ronald Isley Rudolph Isley Christopher Jasper[61][62]	3:54
8.	"Diners Only"	Chater Seltmann Saladine Wallace Salahadeen Wilds David Willis[63]	1:35
9.	"A Different Feeling"	Chater Di Blasi McQuilten Seltmann Raymond Evans Jay Livingston[64]	4:22
10.	"Electricity"	Chater Seltmann Willie Clarke Clarence Reid[65]	3:29
11.	"Tonight"	Chater Seltmann Donald Borzage Johnny Mercer[66]	2:20
12.	"Pablo's Cruise"	Chater Seltmann[67]	0:52
13.	"Frontier Psychiatrist"	Chater Di Blasi McQuilten Seltmann Dexter Fabay Bert Kaempfert Herbert Rehbein Carl Sigman[68][69]	4:47
14.	"Etoh"	Chater Seltmann[70]	5:02
15.	"Summer Crane"	Chater Seltmann Bobby Lee Trammell[71]	4:39
16.	"Little Journey"	Chater Seltmann Hudson Stevens John Phillips[72]	1:35
17.	"Live at Dominoes"	Chater Seltmann Frank Farian Fred Jay George Reyam[73]	5:39
18.	"Extra Kings"	Chater Seltmann Trammell Alan Osmond Merrill Osmond Wayne Osmond[74]	3:46

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Since_I_Left_You

Golf's verdict: Uses 100s of samples and some cleverness to produce 18 reasonably eclectic tunes, but it ultimately leaves me pretty cold. Seems a bit soul-less. Frontier Psychiatrist is the one you'd recognise.

Maire's verdict: Blah, blah, blah.  Not interested.

Album 97/1031

The Cramps - Songs The Lord Taught Us (1980)

All tracks written by Lux Interior and Ivy Rorschach; except where indicated.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"TV Set"		3:12
2.	"Rock on the Moon"	Jimmy Stewart	1:53
3.	"Garbageman"		3:37
4.	"I Was a Teenage Werewolf"		3:03
5.	"Sunglasses After Dark"	Dwight Pullen, F.L. Wray, Sr., Interior, Rorschach	3:47
6.	"The Mad Daddy"		3:48

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Mystery Plane"		2:43
2.	"Zombie Dance"		1:55
3.	"What's Behind the Mask"		2:05
4.	"Strychnine"	Gerry Roslie	2:24
5.	"I'm Cramped"	The Cramps	2:37
6.	"Tear It Up"	Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette, Paul Burlison	2:32
7.	"Fever"	John Davenport, Eddie Cooley	4:17

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_the_Lord_Taught_Us

Golf's verdict: Suffers from poor production but great fun. They turned their gothabilly sound and look into a 30 year career off the back of this.


Maire: If I think about it I probably haven't listened to The Cramps as I thought I disliked them. Not sure why. In fact I thoroughly enjoyed this album (despite some dodgy production) and will now seek out more.

Album 98/1031

Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966)

All tracks written by Paul Simon except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recorded	Length
1.	"Scarborough Fair/Canticle"	Traditional, arr. by Simon, Art Garfunkel	July 26, 1966	3:10
2.	"Patterns"		June 8, 1966	2:42
3.	"Cloudy"	Simon, Bruce Woodley	June 10, 1966	2:10
4.	"Homeward Bound"		December 14, 1965	2:30
5.	"The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine"		June 15, 1966	2:44
6.	"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"		August 16, 1966	1:43

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recorded	Length
7.	"The Dangling Conversation"		June 21, 1966	2:37
8.	"Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall"		December 22, 1965	2:10
9.	"A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)"		June 13, 1966	2:12
10.	"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her"		August 22, 1966	2:04
11.	"A Poem on the Underground Wall"		June 13, 1966	1:52
12.	"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night"	Josef Mohr, Franz Gruber	August 22, 1966	2:01

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley,_Sage,_Rosemary_and_Thyme

Golf's verdict: Full of beautiful harmonising and 3 or 4 of their classic tunes. Very pleasant to listen to but no Bridge Over Troubled Water.


Maire: Some beautiful songs but not sure I would buy. Probably more of 'Best Of' listener. 


Album 99/1031

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)

Side one[edit]

1. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Wonder) – 2:58
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums
   • Jim Gilstrap – first lead vocal, background vocal
   • Lani Groves – second lead vocal, background vocal
   • Gloria Barley – background vocal
   • Scott Edwards – electric bass
   • Daniel Ben Zebulon – congas
2. "Maybe Your Baby" (Wonder) – 6:51
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
   • Ray Parker Jr. – electric guitar
3. "You and I (We Can Conquer the World)" (Wonder) – 4:39
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, piano, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer, Moog bass
4. "Tuesday Heartbreak" (Wonder) – 3:02
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
   • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
   • Deniece Williams – background vocal
   • Shirley Brewer – background vocal
5. "You've Got It Bad Girl" (Wonder, Yvonne Wright) – 4:56
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums, Moog bass, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
   • Jim Gilstrap – background vocal
   • Lani Groves – background vocal
   • Daniel Ben Zebulon – congas

Side two[edit]

1. "Superstition" (Wonder) – 4:26
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
   • Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone
   • Steve Madaio – trumpet
2. "Big Brother" (Wonder) – 3:34
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, Hohner clavinet, drums, harmonica, Moog bass
3. "Blame It on the Sun" (Wonder, Syreeta Wright) – 3:26
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, piano, drums, Moog bass, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
   • Jim Gilstrap – background vocal
   • Lani Groves – background vocal
   • Uncredited – guitar
4. "Lookin' for Another Pure Love" (Wonder, S. Wright) – 4:44
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums, Moog bass
   • Debra Wilson – background vocal
   • Shirley Brewer – background vocal
   • Loris Harvin (Delores Harvin) – background vocal
   • Jeff Beck – electric guitar
   • Buzz Feiten (Howard "Buzz" Feiten) – electric guitar
5. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (Wonder, Y. Wright) – 4:51
   • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, piano, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Book

Golf's verdict: I completely disagree with Maire on this one. It's all killer and ends with one of the greatest love songs of all time. Fans of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity (especially the film) will love it.

Maire: This is probably going to be slightly controversial..... I thought this was a good album with some classic songs but, again, I'd probably go for the 'Best Of' album (I'm now waiting for Golf to explode as he has yet to write his review.....)

Day 30: We take a day off to go to the cricket...

It was a lovely sunny day for the Black Caps vs Australia at Eden Park for the first ODI. NZ won by a whisker in one of the closest finishes of all time.

No time for any listening today, so instead, as we near the end of our first month here we thought we'd share what our Top 50 (Maire) and Top 100 (Golf) albums from the 1031 are in January 2017. We'll do this again at the end of the challenge and see what's different...

There are plenty (100s!!) of albums in the list neither of us have heard and some of the new ones will be making their way onto these by the end of the year, we're sure.

Maire's List (in alphabetical order) of her Top 50 Albums from the 1031:

The Arctic Monkeys	Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
The Auteurs	New Wave
Bauhaus	Mask
The Beach Boys	Pet Sounds
The Beatles	Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Blondie	Parallel Lines
Blur	Parklife
David Bowie	Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Solomon Burke	Rock ‘n’ Soul
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds	Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds	Henry’s Dream
The Cure	Disintegration
The Cure	Pornography
The Cure	Seventeen Seconds
Depeche Mode	Violator
Divine Comedy	A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy	Casanova
The Doors	Doors (1st Album)
Fleetwood Mac	Rumours
Joy Division	Closer
Joy Division	Unknown Pleasures
The Killers	Hot Fuss
Love	Forever Changes
Madonna	Ray of Light
Morrissey	You Are the Quarry
Nine Inch Nails	Downward Spiral
Sinead O’Connor	I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
Oasis	(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
The Only Ones	Only Ones (1st Album)
Pink Floyd	Wall, the
Pink Floyd	Wish You Were Here
Pixies	Bossanova
Pixies	Doolittle
Pixies	Surfer Rosa
Prince	Purple Rain
Prince	Sign ‘O’ the Times
Pulp	Different Class
Pulp	This is Hardcore
The Sisters of Mercy	Floodland
The Smiths	Strangeways Here We Come
The Stone Roses	Stone Roses (1st Album)
U2	Joshua Tree
U2	War
The Violent Femmes	Violent Femmes (1st Album)
Rufus Wainwright	Want One
Rufus Wainwright	Want Two
The White Stripes	Elephant
Robbie Williams	Life Thru a Lens
Neil Young	After the Gold Rush
Neil Young	Harvest

Golf's Top 100 (I could not restrict myself to 50, there are just too many great albums to choose from):

AC/DC	Back in Black
Air	Virgin Suicides: Original Motion Picture Score
The Arcade Fire	Funeral
The Arctic Monkeys	Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
The Auteurs	New Wave
Badly Drawn Boy	Hour of Bewilderbeast
The Beach Boys	Pet Sounds
The Beatles	Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Blondie	Parallel Lines
Blur	Parklife
The Boo Radleys	Giant Steps
David Bowie	Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Johnny Cash	American IV: Man Comes Around
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds	Henry’s Dream
The Cult	Electric
The Cure	Disintegration
The Damned	Machine Gun Etiquette
The Dead Kennedys	Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dexys Midnight Runners	Don’t Stand Me Down
Dinosaur Jr	Bug
The Divine Comedy	Casanova
The Doors	LA Woman
Doves	Lost Souls
Bob Dylan	Highway 61 Revisited
Echo & the Bunnymen	Ocean Rain
Faith No More	Real Thing
The Flaming Lips	Soft Bulletin
Fleetwood Mac	Rumours
Frankie Goes to Hollywood	Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Franz Ferdinand	Franz Ferdinand (1st Album)
Richard Hawley	Coles Corner
Hole	Celebrity Skin
The Human League	Dare
Michael Jackson	Thriller
Jane’s Addiction	Nothing’s Shocking
Jane’s Addiction	Ritual de lo Habitual
Japan	Quiet Life
The Killers	Hot Fuss
King Crimson	In the Court of the Crimson King
Kraftwerk	Man Machine
Led Zeppelin	III
Love	Forever Changes
Manic Street Preachers	Everything Must Go
The Mars Volta	Deloused in the Comatorium
John Martyn	Solid Air
Meat Loaf	Bat Out of Hell
Morrissey	You Are the Quarry
Muse	Black Holes & Revelations
My Bloody Valentine	Isn’t Anything
My Bloody Valentine	Loveless
New Order	Technique
Randy Newman	Sail Away
Nirvana	Nevermind
NWA	Straight Outta Compton
Sinead O’Connor	I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
Oasis	(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
Oasis	Definitely Maybe
The Only Ones	Only Ones (1st Album)
Orange Juice	Rip it Up
Pink Floyd	Wish You Were Here
Pixies	Doolittle
Pixies	Surfer Rosa
The Pogues	Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
Prince	Sign ‘O’ the Times
The Prodigy	Fat of the Land
Pulp	Different Class
Radiohead	OK Computer
Red Hot Chili Peppers	Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Les Rhymes Digitales	Darkdancer
Ride	Nowhere
Roxy Music	For Your Pleasure
Scissor Sisters	Scissor Sisters (1st Album)
The Sex Pistols	Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the…
Simple Minds	New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
The Sisters of Mercy	Floodland
The Smashing Pumpkins	Siamese Dream
The Smiths	Queen is Dead
The Smiths	Strangeways Here We Come
Sonic Youth	Daydream Nation
Sufjan Stevens	Come on Feel the Illinoise
The Stone Roses	Stone Roses (1st Album)
The Stooges	Stooges (1st Album)
The Strokes	Is This It
Suede	Dog Man Star
Super Furry Animals	Rings Around the World
Talking Heads	77
Television	Marquee Moon
Throwing Muses	Throwing Muses (1986)
U2	Joshua Tree
The Violent Femmes	Violent Femmes (1st Album)
Rufus Wainwright	Want One
Rufus Wainwright	Want Two
The White Stripes	White Blood Cells
The Who	Who’s Next
Wilco	Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Amy Winehouse	Back to Black
Robert Wyatt	Rock Bottom
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Fever to Tell
Neil Young	After the Gold Rush
Neil Young	Harvest