Tag: Iceland

  • Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (aka Security), 1982 on Charisma

    Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (aka Security), 1982 on Charisma

    The fourth in Peter Gabriel’s self-titled set of albums, this one was labelled Security in some regions, and sometimes is referred to as Peter Gabriel 4. I love this whole quartet of albums, from 1977 to 1982 – this one includes “Shock The Monkey” as well as “They Rhythm of the Heat” and “San Jacinto”…

  • Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, 1988 on Geffen

    Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, 1988 on Geffen

    This was an inescapable album in 1988 – not that I was trying to escape it. It was their studio debut and came out of nowhere to go 2x platinum. You could argue they were one-hit wonders with “What I Am,” with its ear-worm chorus (“What I am is what I am / are you…

  • Gram Parsons, GP, 1973 on Reprise

    Gram Parsons, GP, 1973 on Reprise

    It’s hard to overstate the importance of Gram Parsons’ two solo albums: GP and (posthumously) Grievous Angel. This was his solo debut though he is joined by Emmylou Harris (with whom he was touring) on two duets. It was recorded Sept-Oct on 1972 and produced by Ric Grech from Blind Faith. My copy (via Reykjavik…

  • Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1967 on Verve

    Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1967 on Verve

    This album originally came out in ’67 as Nico’s solo debut, in the same year as the release of The Velvet Underground and Nico on which she sang three songs. I absolutely love these versions of Jackson Browne’s “These Days” and Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Keep It With Mine” My copy is a 2017 reissue by…

  • Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend,  2008 on XL Recordings.

    Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend, 2008 on XL Recordings.

    Debut album from Vampire Weekend, including Oxford Comma and Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. How could I not love a band with grooves like this and references to punctuation? For the English major (and PhD) to have an indie rock band come out of Columbia with a pedigree involving Dirty Projectors and touring with The Shins…

  • Various Artists, Ruby Trax: The NME’s Roaring Forty, 1992 on New Musical Express.

    Various Artists, Ruby Trax: The NME’s Roaring Forty, 1992 on New Musical Express.

    This was a 3xLP box set issued to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the New Musical Express – which ran in print from 1952 to 2018 when it went digital-only (though it is said to be coming back). The compilation was full of contemporary artists covering songs that had been covered in the NME during…

  • Reykjavík, Iceland

    Reykjavík, Iceland

    In Iceland this week with the 10up team – sharing some random photos. Also found time to hit up a few record stores (all in Reykjavik): These were closed when I tried to visit, so didn’t get to them:

  • Sigur Rós, Ágætis Byrjun, 1999 on Smekkleysa.

    Sigur Rós, Ágætis Byrjun, 1999 on Smekkleysa.

    Sigur Rós, Ágætis Byrjun,  1999 on Smekkleysa. Originally released in Iceland in 1999, in Europe in 2000, and in the US in 2001. My copy is the Vinyl Me, Please reissue 2022. Title translates to “A Good Beginning” – it was their breakthrough second album. Maybe my favorite “post rock” album