Tag: Bull Moose Records
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Giant Sand, Returns To Valley of Rain, 2018 on Fire Records
Howe Gelb and company (on this record that’s Scott Garber, Winston Watson, Gabriel Sullivan, and Annie Dolan plus guests) return to (and re-record) the material from their debut Valley of Rain (1985). Great alt-country / Americana / punk from Tuscon AZ. Worth picking up whether you had (and loved) the original or are new to…
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Tavares, The Best of Tavares, 1977 on Capitol
Wonderful collection of disco/soul/funk from the mid-seventies, including their biggest hits “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” and “It Only Takes a Minute.” They ended up on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, doing “More Than A Woman.” But even if you don’t like disco, they are well worth checking out. They were from New Bedford…
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El Perro Del Mar, Love is Not Pop, 2009 on Control Group
3rd studio album from Sarah Assbring’s musical project from Sweden. (Yes, the name literally translates as “The Dog of the Sea,” and yes, her name is Assbring). Lots of reviewers called this a breakup record, which I guess it is – but it’s also a wonderful album reflecting the evolution of her/their sound. Co-produced and…
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Elvis Costello, Hey Clockface, 2020 on Concord Records
Elvis Costello’s 31st studio LP out in 2020 on Concord. There are a couple of different recording sessions here with different bands, but Steve Nieve, Bill Frisell, and Nels Cline all make appearances here. “Hatty O’Hara Confidential” was a highlight when I saw Costello and Nieve at the Cabot last year. My copy—via Bull Moose…
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Nicolet, Hochelaga, 2017 on Chivi Chivi
Nicolet is the project of Etienne Hamel, a Quebecois multi-instrumentalist – Hochelaga is the debut full length under that moniker. The name refers to a neighborhood in Montreal, on the St. Lawrence river near Mount Royal. Great francophone indie rock. Unfortunately it’s also the name of a stoner metal album by Dopethrone. I ended up…
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Jens Lekman, When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog, 2004 on Secretly Canadian
I’m a big fan of Jens Lekman – this was his debut album, though some of the tracks had been released independently. Can you imagine in 2003 seeing Jens Lekman and José González together at Goteborg Concert Hall? Banner year for Swedish indie music. My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH—is the Secretly Canadian…
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The Replacements; Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash; 1981 on Twin/Tone
This was the debut album of Minneapolis’ own The Replacements, in all its ragged glory. Somehow – likely because of how I acquired them – I’d always thought that Stink! (the EP) came out before Sorry, Ma – but it was the other way ’round. I don’t usually by CDs these days, but this reissue…
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Rush, Exit . . . Stage Left, 1981 on Mercury
Like many, I found Rush as teen (or maybe pre-teen?) and was immediately hooked by the aggressive musicality and complexity and the allusive nature of Peart’s lyrics. Even the album title here is a reference to Snagglepuss (as well as a reference back to All The World’s a Stage?). Still holds up as an amazing…
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Ry Cooder, Borderline, 1980 on Warner Bros.
Cooder’s 9th studio solo LP, with John Hiatt, Jim Keltner, Jesse Harms, George Pierre, Bobby King, Willie Green Jr., Reggie McBride, and Tim Drummond. Produced by Cooder with Leslie Morris. Personally I don’t quite love this one as much as 1978’s Jazz, but it is a really sold album including a cover of John Hiatt’s…
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Ry Cooder, The Slide Area, 1982 on Warner Bros.
Ry Cooder is a long time favorite who still has a tendency to fly a bit under the popular radar (though musicians do tend to love him). This 1982 album I guess you’d call sort of mid-career though he’s still active so hard to say what that means – his 10th full length LP. Includes…
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Dire Straits, Alchemy – Dire Straits Live, 1984 on Warner Brothers
Wonderful 2xLP live album of early 80s Dire Straits. Recorded in London at the Hammersmith Odeon over two nights in July 1983. Great versions of “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sultans of Swing.” There was also an accompanying film (on VHS, later reissued on DVD and Blu-Ray). My copy – hype stickered as being on Quiex…
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Simon & Garfunkel, The Concert In Central Park, 1982 on Warner Bros
One of the best live albums from one of my favorite duos. Good variety of tempos and tunes, enough stage banter to feel live but no so much that you feel the need to skip ahead. Wikipedia correctly recognizes it as “the” concert in central park – recorded in front of a half million people…
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Depeche Mode, Some Great Reward, 1984 on Sire
I’ve not shared many Depeche Mode records here, mostly because I’m sharing new additions to my collection and I don’t find many DM records I don’t already have, but also because my collection is very 80s heavy, and I’m trying to rotate through decades. That said, I have been a massive Depeche Mode fan from…
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Commodores, All the Great Hits, 1982 on Motown
Wonderful collection of Commodores songs – their second compilation of hits, with many more to follow. “Lady.” “Sail On,” “Brick House,” “Easy,” and “Three Times a Lady” are each worth the price of admission. Solid find as I don’t have any of their original records from the 70s or 80s. My copy, via Bull Moose…
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Screaming Blue Messiahs, Bikini Red, 1987 on Elektra
Bill Carter and the Screaming Blue Messiahs put out four major label studio albums in the 80s – this was the third, in 1987. Some great and funny songwriting here: “I Wanna Be a Flinstone” and “Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge” as well as “I Can Speak American.” Power rock trio of Carter on guitar…
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The Romantics, The Romantics, 1980 on Nemperor / Epic
“What I like about you, you hold me tight / tell me I’m the only one / wanna come over tonight” The Romantics were a Detroit power-pop / new wave band formed in the late 70s: Wally Palmer, Rich Cole, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos. “That’s What I Like About You” made a top 50…
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Butterfield Blues Band, Live, 1970 on Elektra
Paul Butterfield and band (sometimes labelled as The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, here just last name) live at the Troubador in Los Angeles, produced by Todd Rundgren, engineered by Rundgren and Ray Thompson. Great live blues album – Chicago Blues with a horn section and more jazz foundations mixed in. The lineup here does not…
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Stephane Grappelli, Uptown Dance, 1978 on Columbia
Only available on vinyl, cassette, and 8-track, Grappelli is joined here by two different bands – one with Jimmy Rowles, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, and Jay Berliner and the other with Richard Tee, Anthony Jackson, Steve Gadd, Hugh McCracken, and Rubens Bassini. For my ears, this album veers at times into easy listening / fusion,…