Unknown Soldier

Crap journal....I was more of a Sounds man myself, as they used to cover more of the stuff that I was into in the 1980s. Anyway I'm sure to find something in here that I'm going to like and a great idea for a journal.

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Trollheart

Well, to be totally fair, Urban's journals make all of ours look like balls....

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Urban Hat€monger ?

5. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps

I've been aware of Neil Young for a long long time now. In fact the first time I had ever heard of him was in the early 90s just after the release of Freedom & Ragged Glory when they started playing the singles off those albums on Headbangers Ball. That's right, my introduction to Neil Young was on a TV show that was supposed to cover metal. At first my reaction to him was pretty much 'Who the hell is this old fossil?'. But then later as I became more aware of him, especially with his next release being Harvest Moon, the sequel to his massively popular Harvest album, so there were plenty of history lessons about him being written in the music press at the time, plus this whole ridiculous 'Godfather of Grunge' label that seemed to become attached to the poor sod sometime around 1992. But really it was me becoming more aware of his wilder side when I filed away a note in my head to check him out at some point. I ended up buying After The Gold Rush & Weld and although I quite liked them they didn't really blow me away.

The real point came very slowly, not until 6 or 7 years ago when I acquired his work through the beauty of the internet. I discovered that I preferred the stuff he did with Crazy Horse more, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Zuma, Re-ac-tor. For some reason Rust Never Sleeps got lost somewhere, so I guess it's time to fix that.

I like the way 'Hey Hey My My' sandwiches both the beginning and end of the album. I like it when bands do this. It's almost like hearing the beginning again at the end somehow rewards you for listening to the whole album.
I wish more bands would do stuff like this. You have the nice acoustic one at the beginning and you have the grimy electric version at the end of the album. And when I say grimy I mean really f*cking grimy. I thought the guitar sound on Funhouse were something, this takes it to another level of dirt & filth.

Listening to the first half of this album for me was rather something of a disappointment. Knowing the reputation of this album & seeing so many songs on this album on many best of albums & live albums after the first 4 songs I was really beginning to wonder when the hell this thing was going to kick in. Why have I just heard 3 rather dull acoustic songs in a row? Why have I not heard hardly anything of Crazy Horse, what the hell is going on here?

Things pick up a bit halfway through the album with Sail Away which is a pretty good acoustic country ballad but it has a bit of extra oomph!! to it in the same way that Gram Parsons & The Rolling Stones would make a country ballad.

Where things really pick up is on Side 2 of the album. 'Powerfinger', 'Welfare Mothers','Sedan Delivery' & Hey Hey My My (Into The Black). It's like a Neil Young greatest hits album and he really rocks on this half of the album. Powderfinger sounds like an electrified version of something you'd find on the first half of the album, but that extra energy in the song gives this album the lift it needs and suddenly you feel refreshed, almost as if you're listening to a different album. 'Welfare Mothers' is just fantastic, I'm not sure if its' supposed to be a nod to or a parody of Frank Zappa but this song has got Zappa style written all over it and young pulls it off effortlessly.

Sedan Delivery is Neil Young doing punk and is 4.40 of nasty sounding guitars pounding away at you. It almost a shame there's nothing like this earlier on in the album.
That finally takes us into the reprise of Hey Hey My My, this time with those nasty guitars and all it's mentions of John Lydon in the lyrics.

A strange album this one, I'm going to use an old footballing cliché & say this is very much a game of two halves. It's the second half that really grabs you & draws you in, but I think with repeated listens I could begin to appreciate the first half a lot more.
A really enjoyable album if you stick with it.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

I'm not old enough to remember Sounds, that was long gone by the time I started buying them

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Goofle

Did you decide against the journal where people discussed albums you sent to them? I really liked that Poison Idea record, although my copy had every song titled the same.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

I got a couple back and I still have them but I also got ill as well so I didn't really follow it up.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

6. The Undertones - The Undertones

I always thought of The Undertones as a singles band. it never really occurred to me that they might have albums out, but they do (4 of them in fact), and here for my listening pleasure is their debut album.

The first thing I notice is that the two Undertones songs I am the most familiar with are not on this album (Teenage Kicks & My Perfect Cousin). It does however have two other of their singles I do seem to recall hearing at some point in Jimmy Jimmy & Here Comes The Summer. I'm actually glad that I don't have to hear Teenage Kicks for the millionth time. It's a good pop song don't get me wrong, but it's not THAT good. No better than hundreds of other great catchy pop songs I've heard over the years. Still, I guess that it's John Peel's fault it's so overplayed, not theirs.

To be honest I found a lot of this album rather dull. Most of the songs are the same tempo, have virtually the same riffs and just repeat the title of the song over & over again in the chorus. I'm sure I would have loved this when I was 15 with all it's energy, bounciness and singalong choruses but now I've heard this stuff so much I want a little more than this and as I don't have any history listening to this album in the past I don't even have the nostalgia factor in letting me enjoy it.

That's not to say I hated all of the album, I nodded my head enthusiastically to Jimmy Jimmy & Here Comes The Summer. Male Model sounds like a decent stab at punk rock and at least has a bit of grit into it. As for True Confessions, Imagine if Joy Division had little brothers high on Ritalin, they would probably sound something like this.

Amazingly Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures didn't even get in their top 20 for this year. This album did. Don't ask me how.

The most frustrating aspect of this album is the final song Casbah Rock (Nothing to do with the Clash song of a similar name). It's 50 seconds of dirty garage rock that sounds like it was recorded in one. I'm listening to it thinking 'This is great, why doesn't more of their stuff sound like this?'

Everything about this album seems rather lightweight and non threatening, even the album cover looks like a lightweight non threatening version of the Ramones first album. I'm reminded of Harry Enfield & Paul Whitehouse's Smashie & Nicey The End Of An Era TV show from a few years ago when Mike Smash decided to start making 'nice' punk records, in his chunky sweater with 'I'm a Punky Monkey' spray painted on it.



It's interesting to note that just before I heard that song I was thinking to myself that I think Feargal Sharkey has a great voice yet it's totally wasted on this record. I would have loved to hear him doing some wild punk fuelled R&B inspired stuff in the vein of Jon Spencer and possibly The White Stripes. Yet this cleanly produced pop with a very diluted hint of punk doesn't really do it any justice at all. Neither did his rather bland solo career later on.

Before I heard this album I thought of The Undertones as a singles band.
This album has done nothing for me to change my mind.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

THE LISTS

Key
ORANGE = Albums Reviewed
RED = Albums Owned
BLACK = Albums Not Owned


1979
1. Fear Of Music - Talking Heads
2. Bop Till You Drop - Ry Cooder
3. Entertainment - Gang Of Four
4. Forces Of Victory - Linton Kwesi Johnson
5. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young
6. The Undertones - The Undertones
7. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
8. I Am - Earth, Wind & Fire
9. Metal Box - PIL
10. London Calling - The Clash
11. The Original Sin - Cowboys International
12. Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker
13. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
14. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello
15. Tom Verlaine - Tom Verlaine
16. 154 - Wire
17. Drums And Wires - XTC
18. Exposure - Robert Fripp
19. Rock On - Raydio
20. Bad Girls - Donna Summer

1980
1. Remain In Light - Talking Heads
• Get Happy - Elvis Costello
• Pretenders - The Pretenders
• Vienna - Ultravox
• Searching For The Young Soul Rebels - Dexy's Midnight Runners
• Crocodiles - Echo & The Bunneymen
• Closer - Joy Division
• Scary Monsters - David Bowie
• Boy - U2
• Empires & Dance - Simple Minds
• Kings Of The Wild Frontier - Adam And The Ants
• Sandinista - The Clash
• Absolutely - Madness

1981
1. Penthouse And Pavement - Heaven 17
2. Trust - Elvis Costello
3. Almost Blue - Elvis Costello
4. East Side Story - Squeeze
5. Ghost In The Machine - The Police
• Dare - Human League
• Movement - New Order
• Non Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
• Journeys To Glory - Spandau Ballet
• My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts - Brian Eno, David Byrne
• Nightclubbing - Grace Jones
• Stray Cats - The Stray Cats

1982
• You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever - Orange Juice
• Fun Boy Three - Fun Boy Three
• Pornography - The Cure
• Pinky Blue - Altered Images
• Avalon - Roxy Music
• The Lexicon Of Love - ABC
• The Blasters - The Blasters
• Music Of Quality & Destinction - B.E.F.
• Rio - Duran Duran
• Sulk - The Associates
• Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy’s Midnight Runners
• Junkyard - The Birthday Party
• Upstairs At Eric’s - Yazoo
• Kissing To Be Clever - Culture Club -
• New Gold Dream - Simple Minds
• Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen
• Songs To Remember - Scritti Politti
• A Kiss In The Dreamhouse - Siouxie & The Banshees
• 1999 - Prince
• Music For A New Society - John Cale
• Thriller - Michael Jackson
• Midnight Love - Marvin Gaye

1983
1. Touch - Eurythmics
2. The Crossing - Big Country
3. Soul Mining - The The
4. Rhythm Of Life - Paul Haig
5. Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This - Eurythnics
6. Duck Rock - Malcolm Mclaren
7. Murmur - REM
8. Synchronicity - The Police
9. Porcupine - Echo & The Bunnymen
10. Synchro System - King Sunny Ade
• Power, Corruption & Lies - New Order
• The Hurting - Tears For Fears
• No Parlez - Paul Young
• Life's A Riot With Spy Vs Spy - Billy Bragg
• Colour By Numbers - Culture Club
• Swardfishtrombones - Tom Waits
• Fantastic - Wham!

1984
1. Ocean Rain - Echo & The Bunneymen
2. The Smiths - The Smiths
3. In The Studio - The Special AKA
4. Cypress - Lets Active
5. Hallowed Ground - Violent Femmes
6. Steeltown - Big Country
7. The Age Of Consent - Bronski Beat
8. The Unforgettable Fire - U2
9. Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen
10. Diamond Life - Sade
• Purple Rain - Prince
• Cafe Bleu - The Style Council
• Reckoning - REM
• Welcome To The Pleasuredome - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
• Like A Virgin - Madonna
• From Her To Eternity - Nick Cave

1985
1. The Head Of The Door - Cure
2. Rum, Sodomy & The Lash - Pogues
3. Cupid & Psyche ‘85 - Scritti Politti
4. A Secret Wish - Propaganda
5. Psychocandy - Jesus And Mary Chain
6. No Free Lunch - Green On Red
7. Meat Is Murder - Smiths
8. Fables Of The Reconstruction - R.E.M.
9. Stories Of Johnny - Marc Almond
10. Night Of A Thousand Candles - Men They Couldn’t Hang

1986
1. Licensed To Ill - Beastie Boys
2. Parade - Prince
3. Blood And Chocolate - Elvis Costello
4. Throwing Muses - Throwing Muses
5. King Of America - Elvis Costello
6. The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
7. Infected - The The
8. Life's Rich Pageant - REM
9. No 10 Upping Street - BAD
10. Word Up - Cameo
11. Back To The Old School - Just Ice
12. Raising Hell - Run DMC
13. Brotherhood - New Order
14. Radio - LL Cool J
15. Victoraland - The Cocteau Twins
16. Giant - The Woodentops
17. Kicking Against The Pricks - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
18. Gods Own Medicine - The Mission
19. London 0 Hull 4 - The Housemartins
20. Whiplash Smile - Billy Idol
21. Talking To The Taxman About Poetry - Billy Bragg
22. EVOL - Sonic Youth
23. Schoolly-D - Schoolly-D
24. The Occupied Europe Tour - Laibach
25. Please - Pet Shop Boys
26. Peter Case - Peter Case
27. Beat Happening - Beat Happening
28. Music - Mantronix
29. Born Sandy Devotional - The Triffids
30. The Album - Mantronix

1987
1. The Young Gods - The Young Gods
2. Sign 'O' The Times - Prince
3. Yo! Bum Rush The Show - Public Enemy
4. The Fat Skier - Throwing Muses
5. Songs About Fucking - Big Black
6. Darklands - Jesus And Mary Chain
7. Substance - New Order
8. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me - The Cure
9. Bigger And Deffer - LL Cool J
10. Locust Abortion Technician - The Butthole Surfers
11. Mind The Perpetual Intercourse - Skinny Puppy
12. Strangeways, Here We Come - The Smiths
13. Document - REM
14. Pleased To Meet Me - The Replacements
15. Floodland - Sisters Of Mercy
16. In My Tribe - 10,000 Maniacs
17. Franks Wild Years - Tom Waits
18. Poetic Champions Compose - Van Morrison
19. Come On Pilgrim - The Pixies
20. Secrets Of The Beehive - David Sylvian
21. Warehouse - Songs And Stories - Husker Du
22. The World Of Echo - Arther Russell
23. This Is The Story - The Proclaimers
24. You're Living All Over Me - Dinosaur Jr
25. Happy Come Home - Victoria Williams
26. Heaven's End - Loop
27. Calenture - The Triffids
28. Squirrel And G-Man... - Happy Mondays
29. Oh! Tears Baby - Win
30. At My Window - Townes Van Zandt

1988
1. Surfer Rosa - The Pixies
2. Life's To Good - Sugercubes
3. Isn't Anything - My Bloody Valentine
4. Green - REM
5. 69 - AR Kane
6. Blue Bell Knoll - Cocteau Twins
7. Hairway To Steven - Butthole Surfers
8. All About Eve - All About Eve
9. Fisherman's Blues - The Waterboys
10. Bug - Dinosaur Jr.
11. The House Of Love - The House Of Love
12. Lovesexy - Prince
13. Vivisectvi - Skinny Puppy
14. Spirit Of Eden - Talk Talk
15. So Far So Good - Megadeath
16. The Walking - Jane Siberry
17. Tender Pray - Nick Cave
18. In The Spanish Cave - Thin White Rope
19. Live! You Goddamned Son Of A Bitch - Revolting Cocks
20. House Tornado - Throwing Muses
21. Miss America - Mary Margaret O'Hara
22. Shiva Burlesque - Shiva Burlesque
23. Provision - Scritti Politti
24. Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
25. Here Come The Snakes - Green On Red
26. The Eight Legged Groove Machine - The Wonder Stuff
27. California - American Music Club
28. It Takes A Nation Of Millions.. - Public Enemy
29. Dusted - Live Skull
30. 16 Lovers Lane - The Go Betweens

1989
1. Disintegration - The Cure
2. Doolittle - The Pixies
3. The Sensual World - Kate Bush
4. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
5. Freedom - Neil Young
6. New York - Lou Reed
7. L'eau Rouge - The Young Gods
8. Hats - The Blue Nile
9. Oh Mercy - Bob Dylan
10. 3 Feet High And Rising - De La Soul
11. The Trinity Sessions - The Cowboys Junkies
12. Technique - New Order
13. Club Classics Vol. I - Soul II Soul
14. United Kingdom - American Music Club
15. Automatic - Jesus And Mary Chain
16. Hope And Despair - Edwin Collins
17. Hup - The Wonder Stuff
18. I - AR Kane
19. Superfuzz Bigmuff - Mudhoney
20. Spike - Elvis Costello
21. Straight Outa Compton - NWA
22. Hunkpapa - Throwing Muses
23. Playing With Fire - Spaceman 3
24. Raw Like Sushi - Neneh Cherry
25. Scarlet And Other Stories - All About Eve
26. Bizarro - The Wedding Present
27. The Iceberg/Freedom Of Speech - Ice-T
28. The Only Ones Live - The Only Ones
29. Manic, Magic, Majestic - Band Of Holy Joy
30. Pump - Aerosmith

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Trollheart

I can help you with some of those if you like. Let me know. I think it's The The and All About Eve mostly, though there may be others.
TH

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018