Day 26: Gothic-Hair-Folk-Rock day

Album 85/1031

Boston - Boston (1976)

All songs written and composed by Tom Scholz, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"More Than a Feeling"	4:46
2.	"Peace of Mind"	5:02
3.	"Foreplay/Long Time"	7:47

Side two
No.	Title	Length
4.	"Rock & Roll Band"	3:00
5.	"Smokin'" (Brad Delp, Scholz)	4:22
6.	"Hitch a Ride"	4:12
7.	"Something About You"	3:48
8.	"Let Me Take You Home Tonight" (Brad Delp)	4:44

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

Golf's verdict: 'More Than a Feeling' is an absolute classic and a fantastic Karaoke tune. Not heard much else by them before and a lot of it was a bit more proggy than I was expecting ('Foreplay/Long Time' especially), but none the worse for it.

Maire's verdict: Classic hair rock. Certainly a bit of toe-tapping during the easily recognisable tracks but not something I’d listen to on a regular basis or as a whole album.

Album 86/1031

Incredible String Band - The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968)

All tracks written by Robin Williamson, except tracks 4, 5 and 9 by Mike Heron.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Koeeoaddi There"	4:49
2.	"The Minotaur's Song"	3:22
3.	"Witches Hat"	2:33
4.	"A Very Cellular Song"	13:09
5.	"Mercy I Cry City"	2:46
6.	"Waltz of the New Moon"	5:10
7.	"The Water Song"	2:50
8.	"Three Is a Green Crown"	7:46
9.	"Swift As the Wind"	4:53
10.	"Nightfall"	2:33

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hangman's_Beautiful_Daughter

Golf's verdict: My reaction to it was not quite as extreme as Maire's, but I would be lying if I said I enjoyed it. Not sure there is such a thing as 'psychedelic folk' and if there IS, then not sure it should be allowed. Simply putting some sitar over largely traditional folk tunes certainly does not make for anything particularly memorable or enjoyable to me.

Maire's verdict: This has to be the longest album known to man (although that may be because I have to pause after each song to build up my resilience to another one). I find it incredible that this made it onto the list. Bloody awful.

Album 87/1031

David Ackles - American Gothic (1972)

All tracks composed by David Ackles.

1. "American Gothic"
2. "Love's Enough"
3. "Ballad of the Ship of State"
4. "One Night Stand"
5. "Oh, California!"
6. "Another Friday Night"
7. "Family Band"
8. "Midnight Carousel"
9. "Waiting for the Moving Van"
10. "Blues for Billy Whitecloud"
11. "Montana Song"

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

Golf's verdict: Never heard of this guy, but apparently he is lauded no higher by the likes of Bernie Taupin and Elton John, as well as Van Morrison and others. Another record that sold nothing, but has since been reassessed as a classic. I think I will give it another few listens as the first did not necessarily deliver all of its charms to me.

Maire's verdict: Definitely better than the shite I had to listen to earlier but not really something I would choose to put on.

Album 88/1031

The Cure - Seventeen Seconds (1980)

All lyrics written by Robert Smith; all music composed by The Cure (Smith, Matthieu Hartley, Simon Gallup and Lol Tolhurst).

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Reflection"	2:12
2.	"Play for Today"	3:40
3.	"Secrets"	3:20
4.	"In Your House"	4:07
5.	"Three"	2:36

Side B
No.	Title	Length
6.	"The Final Sound"	0:52
7.	"A Forest"	5:55
8.	"M"	3:04
9.	"At Night"	5:54
10.	"Seventeen Seconds"	4:00

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

Golf's verdict: Maire's a big Pornography fan (calm yourselves, I mean The Cure's 4th Album) but, of their early stuff, I am much more wedded to this and the album that came after, Faith. Rarely has being miserable been so successfully wedded to such great tunes. 'Play for Today', 'M' and 'Seventeen Seconds' are stand outs, but it's dominated by the mighty ' A Forest', which sometimes lasted 20 minutes or more in their '90s live sets.

Maire's verdict: I made the executive decision around midday to add a (deliberately chosen) 4^th album to clear my head. The Cure are a favourite band and much needed after the ‘Incredible’ rubbish I struggled through earlier. To be honest, this is one of their lesser listened to albums for me but still wonderful. I thought I should keep ‘Pornography’ and ‘Disintegration’ for what I’m assuming could be some truly dark days ahead ;0).