Days 145 - 147: French Road Trip

A five week excursion back to Europe has caused a bit of a backlog in both listening and posting. Decent wifi has been hard to come by!

Normal service will be resumed shortly, but in the meantime there will be a few 'bumper catch-up editions' of the blog, starting with this one which soundtracked a 4 day road trip around the Languedoc in France...

That's Carcassonne in the background!

Album 455/1031

Basement Jaxx – Remedy (1999)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rendez-Vu"	Felix Buxton Simon Ratcliffe	5:45
2.	"Yo-Yo"	Buxton Ratcliffe	4:29
3.	"Jump n' Shout"	Buxton M. James Ratcliffe	4:42
4.	"U Can't Stop Me"	Buxton Ratcliffe	3:40
5.	"Jaxxalude"		0:35
6.	"Red Alert"	Buxton Ratcliffe	4:17
7.	"Jazzalude"		0:23
8.	"Always Be There"	Buxton Ratcliffe	6:24
9.	"Sneakalude"		0:11
10.	"Same Old Show"	Buxton Ratcliffe	5:55
11.	"Bingo Bango"	Buxton Ratcliffe	5:58
12.	"Gemilude"		0:47
13.	"Stop 4 Love"	Buxton Ratcliffe	4:53
14.	"Don't Give Up"	Buxton Ratcliffe	5:15
15.	"Being with U"	Buxton Ratcliffe	3:49

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remedy_(Basement_Jaxx_album)

Golf’s verdict: Good for dancing to and features a number of familiar tunes, but seems to go on for AGES.

Maire’s verdict: Got boring quite quickly.

Album 456/1031

The White Stripes – Elephant (2003)

All tracks written by Jack White, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Seven Nation Army"	3:52
2.	"Black Math"	3:04
3.	"There's No Home for You Here"	3:44
4.	"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David)	2:46
5.	"In the Cold, Cold Night"	2:58
6.	"I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart"	3:21
7.	"You've Got Her in Your Pocket"	3:40
8.	"Ball and Biscuit"	7:19
9.	"The Hardest Button to Button"	3:32
10.	"Little Acorns" (White, Mort Crim)	4:09
11.	"Hypnotize"	1:48
12.	"The Air Near My Fingers"	3:40
13.	"Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine"	3:18
14.	"Well It's True That We Love One Another"	2:43

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

Golf’s verdict: HIDDEN GEM! I am most fond of its predecessor (White Blood Cells), but Meg and Jack were in the middle of a phenomenal purple patch when they came up with this. ‘Seven Nation Army’ and ‘The Hardest Button to Button’ being the great dancefloor fillers on this fourth LP.

Maire’s verdict: Not my go-to album of theirs, but some great tracks make it a good listen.

Album 457/1031

The Carpenters – Close to You (1970)

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead singer(s)	Length
1.	"We've Only Just Begun"	Roger Nichols, Paul Williams	Karen Carpenter; brief lines by Richard Carpenter	3:04
2.	"Love Is Surrender"	Ralph Carmichael	Karen & Richard Carpenter	1:59
3.	"Maybe It's You"	John Bettis, Richard Carpenter	Karen Carpenter	3:09
4.	"Reason to Believe"	Tim Hardin	Karen Carpenter	3:02
5.	"Help"	John Lennon, Paul McCartney	Karen Carpenter	3:02
6.	"(They Long to Be) Close to You"	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	Karen Carpenter	4:34

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead singer(s)	Length
7.	"Baby It's You"	Bacharach, Mack David, Barney Williams	Karen Carpenter	2:50
8.	"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"	Bacharach, H. David	Karen Carpenter	2:56
9.	"Crescent Noon"	Bettis, Carpenter	Karen Carpenter	4:09
10.	"Mr. Guder"	Bettis, Carpenter	Karen Carpenter	3:17
11.	"I Kept On Loving You"	Nichols, P. Williams	Richard Carpenter	2:13
12.	"Another Song"	Bettis, Carpenter	Karen Carpenter	4:22

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_to_You_(The_Carpenters_album)

Golf’s verdict: She certainly had the voice of an angel, but this is a little bit too easy listening for my liking. Much preferred the later stuff when Richard starts to wig out a bit more (‘Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft’ also being amongst the best song titles of all time.)

Maire’s verdict: I thought I knew a lot of their songs, but obviously only their greatest hits. Karen Carpenter had a gorgeous voice, but there was quite a lot of filler on this album and far too much jazz flute on a couple of tracks.

Album 458/1031

ACDC – Highway to Hell (1979)

All tracks written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott. Published by Edward B. Marks Music Corporation, BMI.

Side One
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Highway to Hell"	3:29
2.	"Girls Got Rhythm"	3:24
3.	"Walk All Over You"	5:10
4.	"Touch Too Much"	4:28
5.	"Beating Around the Bush"	3:57

Side Two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shot Down in Flames"	3:23
2.	"Get It Hot"	2:35
3.	"If You Want Blood (You've Got It)"	4:38
4.	"Love Hungry Man"	4:18
5.	"Night Prowler"	6:18

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

Golf’s verdict: Bon’s final album before his untimely demise in the back seat of a mini. By this stage the formula was well established and they have seen no reason to mess with it in the 40 years since. It’s straight-ahead rock and boogie with lyrics that would grace the back of any teenage boys school exercise book. In other words, it’s great.

Maire’s verdict: They were great when we saw them live, but the album just merged into one track.

Album 459/1031

Queen – A Night at the Opera (1975)

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)"	Freddie Mercury	3:43
2.	"Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon"	Mercury	1:08
3.	"I'm in Love with My Car"	Roger Taylor	3:05
4.	"You're My Best Friend"	John Deacon	2:50
5.	"'39"	Brian May	3:30
6.	"Sweet Lady"	May	4:01
7.	"Seaside Rendezvous"	Mercury	2:13

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"The Prophet's Song"	May	8:21
9.	"Love of My Life"	Mercury	3:38
10.	"Good Company"	May	3:26
11.	"Bohemian Rhapsody"	Mercury	5:57
12.	"God Save the Queen" (Instrumental)	Traditional, arr. by May	1:11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Night_at_the_Opera_(Queen_album)

Golf’s verdict: Widely eclectic and wholly dominated by Bohemian Rhapsody. Maire and our road-trip friends hated it, but I am quite partial to it. Features Roger Taylor’s ‘I’m in Love with my Car’ and John Deacon’s ‘You’re My Best Friend’ – showing how broadly their sound was based around all four members of the band.

Maire’s verdict: Apart from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ I was bored.

Album 460/1031

Tina Turner – Private Dancer (1984)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Might Have Been Queen"	Jeanette Obstoj, Rupert Hine, Jamie West-Oram	4:10
2.	"What's Love Got to Do with It"	Terry Britten, Graham Lyle	3:48
3.	"Show Some Respect"	Britten, Sue Shifrin	3:18
4.	"I Can't Stand the Rain"	Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Bernard Miller	3:41
5.	"Private Dancer"	Mark Knopfler	7:11
6.	"Let's Stay Together"	Willie Mitchell, Al Green, Al Jackson, Jr.	5:16
7.	"Better Be Good to Me"	Holly Knight, Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman	5:11
8.	"Steel Claw"	Paul Brady	3:48
9.	"Help!"	John Lennon, Paul McCartney	4:30
10.	"1984"	David Bowie	3:09

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

Golf’s verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Known largely because my Mum owned it on cassette, I had not heard this in years. It's an absolute cracker. Her cover of 'Let's Stay Together' is almost the equal of Al's.

Maire’s verdict: I only recognised some of the tracks but fun listening to loud whilst road-tripping around France for few days.

Album 461/1031

Manu Chao – Clandestino (1998)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Clandestino" (Spanish)	2:30
2.	"Desaparecido" (Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese)	3:47
3.	"Bongo Bong" (English)	2:38
4.	"Je ne t'aime plus" (French)	2:02
5.	"Mentira..." (Spanish)	4:37
6.	"Lágrimas de Oro" (Spanish)	2:57
7.	"Mama Call" (English)	2:21
8.	"Luna y Sol" (Spanish)	3:07
9.	"Por el Suelo" (Spanish)	2:21
10.	"Welcome to Tijuana" (Spanish and English)	4:04
11.	"Día Luna... Día Pena" (Spanish)	1:30
12.	"Malegría" (Spanish)	2:55
13.	"La vie à 2" (French)	3:00
14.	"Minha Galera" (Brazilian Portuguese)	2:21
15.	"La Despedida" (Spanish)	3:09
16.	"El Viento" (Spanish)	2:26

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

Golf’s verdict: I knew the name and have have seen him on festival line-ups for years. This was a fun listen - eclectic in styles and languages. Would go see him if he was on at a festival, but won't be buying any of his music.

Maire’s verdict: I like to be able to understand lyrics and sing along, so this didn’t really do it for me (as he sings in French, Spanish and Portuguese – as well as in English), although I liked the music.

Album 462/0131

Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

All tracks written by Noel Gallagher, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hello" (writers: Noel Gallagher, Gary Glitter, Mike Leander)	3:21
2.	"Roll with It"	3:59
3.	"Wonderwall"	4:18
4.	"Don't Look Back in Anger"	4:48
5.	"Hey Now!"	5:41
6.	Untitled (also known as "The Swamp Song — Excerpt 1")	0:44
7.	"Some Might Say"	5:29
8.	"Cast No Shadow"	4:51
9.	"She's Electric"	3:40
10.	"Morning Glory"	5:03
11.	Untitled (also known as "The Swamp Song — Excerpt 2")	0:40
12.	"Champagne Supernova"	7:27

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(What's_the_Story)_Morning_Glory%3F

Golf’s verdict: HIDDEN GEM! I think I prefer 'Definitely Maybe', their debut, but only by a Rizla's width. This one has most of the timeless anthems and several of the best songs that Lennon & McCartney never wrote. Whenever I hear 'Don't Look Back in Anger' I think of Geordie (Daniel Craig) walking across the Tyne Bridge at the end of 'Our Friends in the North' - anyone else?

Maire’s verdict: HIDDEN GEM! ‘Nuff said.

Album 463/1031

Taylor Swift – 1989 (2014)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producers	Length
1.	"Welcome to New York"	Taylor Swift Ryan Tedder	Tedder Noel Zancanella Swift	3:32
2.	"Blank Space"	Swift Max Martin Shellback	Martin Shellback	3:51
3.	"Style"	Swift Martin Shellback Ali Payami	Martin Shellback Payami	3:51
4.	"Out of the Woods"	Swift Jack Antonoff	Antonoff Swift Martin[a]	3:55
5.	"All You Had to Do Was Stay"	Swift Martin	Martin Shellback Mattman & Robin	3:13
6.	"Shake It Off"	Swift Martin Shellback	Martin Shellback	3:39
7.	"I Wish You Would"	Swift Antonoff	Antonoff Swift Greg Kurstin[b] Martin[a]	3:27
8.	"Bad Blood"	Swift Martin Shellback	Martin Shellback	3:31
9.	"Wildest Dreams"	Swift Martin Shellback	Martin Shellback	3:40
10.	"How You Get the Girl"	Swift Martin Shellback	Martin Shellback	4:07
11.	"This Love"	Swift	Nathan Chapman Swift	4:10
12.	"I Know Places"	Swift Tedder	Tedder Zancanella Swift	3:15
13.	"Clean"	Swift Imogen Heap	Heap Swift	4:30

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_(Taylor_Swift_album)

Golf’s verdict: Our travelling companions found it hard to believe that we had never knowingly heard Taylor Swift before today. Well, we do listen primarily to music we choose ourselves, don't really watch much TV except for boxsets and live in Auckland (it's all Lorde down in our neck of the woods!), so not TOO surprising. Anyway, this was good. It really reminded me of several other artists, none of whom clearly came to mind and I will probably never listen to it again, but I enjoyed it. Not surprised she's a megastar.

Maire’s verdict: I surprised myself by rather enjoying this. Will be listening again.

Album 464/1031

REM – Automatic for the People (1992)

All songs written by Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry.

Side one – "Drive side"

1. "Drive"  – 4:31
2. "Try Not to Breathe"  – 3:50
3. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"  – 4:06
4. "Everybody Hurts"  – 5:17
5. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1"  – 2:13
6. "Sweetness Follows"  – 4:19

Side two – "Ride side"

7. "Monty Got a Raw Deal"  – 3:17
8. "Ignoreland"  – 4:24
9. "Star Me Kitten"  – 3:15
10. "Man on the Moon"  – 5:13
11. "Nightswimming"  – 4:16
12. "Find the River"  – 3:50

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

Golf’s verdict: Features my favourite REM tune: 'Man on the Moon', as well as several other heartstring-pullers. A very fine album, but there is something missing from REM that has meant I've never truly warmed to them. Cannot quite put my finger on it...

Maire’s verdict: Probably the only REM album I actually like. ‘Everybody Hurts’ is gorgeous.

Album 465/1031

Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Californication (1999)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Around the World"		3:58
2.	"Parallel Universe"		4:30
3.	"Scar Tissue"		3:37
4.	"Otherside"		4:15
5.	"Get on Top"		3:18
6.	"Californication"		5:21
7.	"Easily"		3:51
8.	"Porcelain"		2:43
9.	"Emit Remmus"		4:00
10.	"I Like Dirt"		2:37
11.	"This Velvet Glove"		3:45
12.	"Savior"		4:52
13.	"Purple Stain"		4:13
14.	"Right on Time"		1:52
15.	"Road Trippin'"	Flea, Frusciante, Kiedis	3:25

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

Golf’s verdict: Could have sworn this went on for about 30 minutes more than it actually does. The schtick was starting to wear a little thing by this point and they're still at it nearly 20 years later! It has it's moments but could do with losing 4 or 5 of the weaker tracks.

Maire’s verdict: This was around the point I began getting bored with RHCP. Everything was sounding the same. Still a few good tunes on it though.

Album 466/1031

Blur – Park Life (1994)

All music by Blur and all lyrics by Albarn, except "Far Out" written by James.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Girls & Boys"	4:50
2.	"Tracy Jacks"	4:20
3.	"End of a Century"	2:46
4.	"Parklife" (featuring Phil Daniels)	3:05
5.	"Bank Holiday"	1:42
6.	"Badhead"	3:25
7.	"The Debt Collector" (instrumental)	2:10
8.	"Far Out"	1:41
9.	"To the End"	4:05
10.	"London Loves"	4:15
11.	"Trouble in the Message Centre"	4:09
12.	"Clover Over Dover"	3:22
13.	"Magic America"	3:38
14.	"Jubilee"	2:47
15.	"This Is a Low"	5:07
16.	"Lot 105"	1:17

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

Golf’s verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Chock full of absolute classics. Extraordinarily confident and eclectic, this was a soundtrack to some of my most formative years and likely to remain in my top 50 for the rest of my life.

Maire’s verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Reminds me of my uni days. Loved it then and love it now.