Press play at about 6.30pm. One of the last Canberra Saturday evenings we'll be able to sit outside without wearing several layers. Fix martinis (for those interested - for two - 120ml gin, about 20ml dry vermouth, a tsp of brine to dirty it a little, stir in ice and strain into two glasses. Two olives threaded on toothpicks for each glass).
Track 1: Slow Night, So Long. It's the energy that slaps you straight away. Especially compared to their 2010 album, Come Around Sundown (which despite poor reviews isn't bad, just not v exciting). Also that the rhythm guitar doesn't sit in the background. All four instruments are out the front, clamouring for our attention.
Liner notes say "Caleb: pipes; Nathan: skins; Jared: slaps; Matthew: licks". Boys being a bit silly. Having a bit of fun. And that's Aha Shake Heartbreak. Boys chasing girls. Dirty girls. Who put out. L says "I don't know whether these lyrics offend or inspire me". Bit of both. Because Taper Jean Girl is about skanky motel sex but a thousand listens later it still makes us both dance. Still regret we didn't have this as our bridal waltz.
A gin-soaked olive is not the best part of a martini, but eating it towards the end of a drink still feels like some kind of climax. Soft may not be the best song on the album but goddamn, it's fun. And it's about not being able to get it up because you're too pissed. Surprising there's not one hundred rock'n'roll songs about that. When Kings of Leon toured this album at the Big Day Out a few years ago, we found ourselves surrounded by kids waiting for the next set from Living End. As we screamed out "I'd pop myself in your body, I'd come into your party, but I'm soft", the kids looked bemused. Living End don't do songs about erectile dysfunction.
The genius of the album is it has a narrative arc about going out, getting drunk and getting loud. It closes with Rememo, which feels like stumbling to your back door, fumbling to stick the key in the lock, falling onto your bed fully clothed, and passing out in a warm, dizzy haze.
And as a postscript we replay Taper Jean Girl and dance under the pergola, in view of anyone walking past. But on this album the Kings didn't give a shit and neither do we.
I have a great visual image of confused Living End fans. Love it.
ReplyDeleteAlright, you were robbed the 4 points, but if we had come with our A game it would have been over by half time!! So given you're guys did so well I thought I would give you my top 5. Under normal circumstances London Calling by The Clash would be no1 (voted best album of the '80s by Rolling Stone Magazine - even though it was released in 1979 - in the UK that is), but given it is already in the basket I will leave it out. So here goes ...
ReplyDelete1. Painted Memory - Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach. This is an album in the true sense of the word, fantastic for that last drink at the end of the night when all the guests have gone home. There is something about the smooth melodies and Elvis' voice that just works.
2. Rain Dogs - Tom Waits. This is simply Tom at his best, he gets no better than this album - lyrics are brilliant. It signaled the end of the transition from Bar Fly cabaret to genius (Swordfish Trombones make the pigeon pair).
3. Great Sandy Devotional - The Triffids. If you have never been to WA and you want to know what it is like just put this album on. An exceptional band at their peak - not that well known at home they were very big in Europe - in 1985 they were supported (yes supported) by Midnight Oil on thier European tour.
4. Joshua Judges Ruth - Lyle Lovett. Lyle has to get a gig and I have gone for Joshua 'cause it is just so good - I must admit that I do like a little C&W but only if it is from Texas (Nanci Griffith/ Lyle/ Emmy Lou Harris). Julia was lucky to get the time with him she did, the fact she didn't like Chicken farms is her loss.
5. Human Frailty - Hunters and Collectors. You have to like a pub band with French Horns. The album is chocker block full of great songs starting with Say Goodbye with the classic line "I went snivellin', I went crawling around to my girlfriend's house, and she came down hard upon me and she ground her finger into my breastbone and she said she said 'you don't make me feel like I'm a woman anymore'.
So there you have it - the top five with apologies to The Pogues, WPA , Billy Bragg, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, the Bachelors from Prague,The Go Betweens, Nick Cave, the Oils, Lloyd Cole, and so on......