Day 186: Pretending not to see his gun, I said let's go out and have some fun...

Album 624/1031

Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver (1980)

All songs written by Steve Winwood & Will Jennings except where noted.

Side one

1. "While You See a Chance" – 5:12
2. "Arc of a Diver" (Winwood, Vivian Stanshall) – 5:28
3. "Second-Hand Woman" (Winwood, George Fleming) – 3:41
4. "Slowdown Sundown" – 5:27

Side two

5. "Spanish Dancer" – 5:58
6. "Night Train" – 7:51
7. "Dust" (Winwood, Fleming) – 6:20

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

Golf's verdict: Steve has an amazing voice. He famously sounded like Ray Charles when still a teenager in the Spencer Davis Group. This solo offering from 1980 sounds very dated in its production though and I was not immediately won over.

Maire's verdict: Sounds dated.

Album 625/1031

Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup (1996)

All tracks written by Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, except where indicated.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Metronomic Underground"	7:55
2.	"Cybele's Reverie"	4:42
3.	"Percolator" (Tim Gane, Lætitia Sadier, Sean O'Hagan)	3:47
4.	"Les Yper-Sound"	4:05
5.	"Spark Plug"	2:29
6.	"OLV 26"	5:42
7.	"The Noise of Carpet"	3:05
8.	"Tomorrow Is Already Here"	4:56
9.	"Emperor Tomato Ketchup"	4:37
10.	"Monstre Sacre"	3:44
11.	"Motoroller Scalatron"	3:48
12.	"Slow Fast Hazel"	3:53
13.	"Anonymous Collective"	4:32

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

Golf's verdict: I like Laetitia's voice and rather bored vocal style of delivery, but there was not a lot of memorable tunes on this strangely titled album.

Maire's verdict: Boring. Not a fan.

Album 626/1031

Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack (1963)

Side 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Back at the Chicken Shack"	Jimmy Smith	8:01
2.	"When I Grow Too Old to Dream"	Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg	9:54

Side 2
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
3.	"Minor Chant"	Stanley Turrentine	7:30
4.	"Messy Bessie"	Smith	12:25

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

Golf's verdict: Funky hammond organ jazzy workouts. Rather enjoyed it.

Maire's verdict: It wasn't as bad as some albums we've had to listen to over the course of this challenge.... but that's not saying much.

Album 627/1031

New Order - Low Life (1985)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Love Vigilantes"	4:16
2.	"The Perfect Kiss"	4:51
3.	"This Time of Night"	4:45
4.	"Sunrise"	6:01
5.	"Elegia"	4:56
6.	"Sooner Than You Think"	5:12
7.	"Sub-culture"	4:58
8.	"Face Up"	5:02

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-Life

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! This more or less invented the New Order sound: a glorious mashup of post-punk aesthetics with electronica that only New Order have ever improved upon since, despite attracting many disciples. 

Maire's verdict: Finally, a decent album today! I prefer Joy Division but this is still recommended.