Day 253: The wintergreen, the juniper, the cornflower and the chicory...

Album 883/1031

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)

All tracks written by Nick Cave unless otherwise noted.

Disc one: Abattoir Blues
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Get Ready for Love"	Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey, Jim Sclavunos	5:05
2.	"Cannibal's Hymn"		4:54
3.	"Hiding All Away"		6:31
4.	"Messiah Ward"		5:14
5.	"There She Goes, My Beautiful World"		5:17
6.	"Nature Boy"	Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos	4:54
7.	"Abattoir Blues"	Cave, Ellis	3:58
8.	"Let the Bells Ring"	Cave, Ellis	4:26
9.	"Fable of the Brown Ape"		2:45
Total length:			43:05

Disc two: The Lyre of Orpheus
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Lyre of Orpheus"	Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos	5:36
2.	"Breathless"		3:13
3.	"Babe, You Turn Me On"		4:21
4.	"Easy Money"		6:43
5.	"Supernaturally"		4:37
6.	"Spell"	Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos	4:25
7.	"Carry Me"		3:37
8.	"O Children"		6:51
Total length:			39:25

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abattoir_Blues_/_The_Lyre_of_Orpheus

Golf's verdict: I am a much bigger fan of the first of this 'double' album - actually two very distinct records released together during a particularly purple-patch for Nick & Co. Abattoir Blues is a chip off the same block as Murder Ballads and Let Love In, whilst The Lyre is more reflective and Boatsman's Call-like. As with everything this band has ever released, it is well worth investing your time in.

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Not my go-to. To be honest, I haven’t listened to it the whole way through for years. Loved it.

Album 884/1031

The Boo Radleys - Giant Steps (1993)

Original release[edit]

1. "I Hang Suspended" – 3:57
2. "Upon 9th and Fairchild" – 4:50
3. "Wish I Was Skinny" – 3:37
4. "Leaves and Sand" – 4:25
5. "Butterfly McQueen" – 3:28
6. "Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce)" – 2:45
7. "Thinking of Ways" – 3:48
8. "Barney (...and Me)" – 4:42
9. "Spun Around" – 2:31
10. "If You Want It, Take It" – 2:47
11. "Best Lose the Fear" – 4:12
12. "Take the Time Around" – 4:07
13. "Lazarus" – 4:38
14. "One Is For" – 1:36
15. "Run My Way Runway" – 2:20
16. "I've Lost the Reason" – 5:17
17. "The White Noise Revisited" – 5:02

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Steps_(The_Boo_Radleys_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Quite possibly my favourite album of 1993. In a world of Longpigs and Bluetones, The Boo Radleys - particularly with this extraordinarily varied and creative album - stood particularly tall.

Máire's verdict: Enjoyable listening.

Album 885/1031

XTC - Apple Venus Vol. 1 (1999)

All tracks written by Andy Partridge, except where noted.

UK CD: COOKCD 172
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"River of Orchids"		5:53
2.	"I'd Like That"		3:50
3.	"Easter Theatre"		4:37
4.	"Knights in Shining Karma"		3:39
5.	"Frivolous Tonight"	Colin Moulding	3:10
6.	"Greenman"		6:17
7.	"Your Dictionary"		3:14
8.	"Fruit Nut"	Moulding	3:01
9.	"I Can't Own Her"		5:26
10.	"Harvest Festival"		4:15
11.	"The Last Balloon"		6:40

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Venus_Volume_1

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! XTC never made a bad record. 'I'd Like That' is the equal of "Making Plans for Nigel' or 'Sgt Rock' and the whole album still bursts with ideas, 25 years in.

Máire's verdict: An entertaining listen.

Album 886/1031

The Associates - Sulk (1982)

All songs written and composed by Alan Rankine and Billy Mackenzie, except where indicated.

Side A

1. "Arrogance Gave Him Up" – 2:57
2. "No" – 5:41
3. "Bap de la Bap" – 4:13
4. "Gloomy Sunday" (Rezső Seress, Sam M. Lewis) – 4:09
5. "Nude Spoons" – 4:15

Side B

1. "Skipping" (Rankine, Mackenzie, Michael Dempsey) – 3:57
2. "It's Better This Way" – 3:22
3. "Party Fears Two" – 4:52
4. "Club Country" – 5:29
5. "nothinginsomethingparticular" – 2:16

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Nowadays this would never happen. This great album's two best tracks and singles are almost hidden in the second half of side two. 'Party Fears Two' and 'Country Club' are two of the strangest records ever to make it onto Top of the Pops and the world is a less interesting place without Billy Mackenzie in it. Cure fans might be interested to hear that Michael Dempsey (the original 'third imaginary boy') was the bass player in The Associates when he left Robert & Lol to it.

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Great album. Highly recommended.