Another very broad genre thread to hopefully get some discussion going and bring the lurkers out.

I think you get the idea here. This thread could cover anything from Television to Wire to Echo & the Bunnymen to the Feelies and all points in between. Might as well put older goth-rock leaning bands here as well.

Looking forward to seeing some old favorites, stuff I've never heard of, and random obscurities.

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The Wild Swans - Incandescent 2xLP (Vinyl180)



The Wild Swans were an 80s guitar pop group formed by Paul Simpson, a former member of the Teardrop Explodes. The released one single on Zoo before disbanding, then later regrouping in the mid/late 80s. The main draw of this compilation are the tracks from the short-lived "Mark I" version of the band, which include the famous single, radio sessions, and live tracks. There are also some demo tracks from the "Mark II" version of the band, which are a lot less slick than the versions that ended up on "Bringing Home the Ashes". Although I really like that album, it's hard to deny the immediacy of these recordings compared to where they eventually ended up.

This 2xLP is basically a vinyl reissue of a CD comp. that appeared on the now seemingly defunct label Renascent back in 2002 or 2003. I missed out on that, and this is the only version of those recordings that appears to be in print on any format at all. Now, Vinyl180 doesn't have the best reputation as a reissue label for a number of reasons (dodgy sources, mediocre pressings, high prices), but I'm glad to have this.

I'm going to guess that the source was WAV files pulled from the CD version. The records themselves were pressed at GZ. I wouldn't say these are the best GZ LPs I've ever seen but they are not the worst by a longshot either. Reasonably quiet during playback, which is what I think people mainly want.

Another thing: the label released this as a very expensive "hardback book" format version, and what I've got is the "normal" one. Other than a 12 page booklet and fancy packaging on the more expensive one, the music and vinyl is exactly the same IIRC.





Wild Swans Wiki

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The Teardrop Explodes - Kiliminjaro LP (U.S.)



Funny story about this album. Getting ahold of it in the 90s was a huge ordeal, and I really wanted it because of the Bunnymen/Crucial Three connection. I ended up doing a special order at a local record store for the CD and got called 3-4 months later to come pick up it. When I first heard it, I remember being hugely disappointed. Too poppy and whimsical, I thought. Over the years I've gone back and forth on the album, but at this point I really like it and I don't think it will be leaving my collection. I've been listening to their follow-up "Wilder" a lot as well lately.

Nowadays Julian Cope is known more as a rock-writer (i.e. Krautrocksampler et. al) and for his Head Heritage site than anything else, but he made some great albums with the Teardrops back in the early 80s. I'm a lot less familiar with his solo career.

This copy is a U.S. pressing on Skyclad, which I think was some sort of budget "special markets" division of Warner during the 80s. Not sure. I found this sealed copy at a good price and it sounds great (nothing "budget" about it!). As good as the various CD versions I've had are, the rhythm section on this sounds MASSIVE so I prefer it on LP.

The U.S. version here features a shuffled tracklisting from the U.K. pressing, but I don't mind it at all. In fact, I prefer any version of this album that includes "Reward" since it was one of their best songs and was originally a single. "Suffocate" is also included here, which isn't on the Kiliminjaro CD reissue from 2000 and wasn't on the earlier Polydor CD either. There is a remixed version of that track on the Wilder CD version, not sure if it's the same one included here.

Teardrops Wiki

Teardrops Discogs Page

Crucial Three Wiki

Julian Cope

Head Heritage

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The Passions - Michael & Miranda LP



First album by this UK band, midway between spare guitar pop and post-punk. I really like the female singer's unpretentious vocals and the youthful enthusiasm of this LP. This came out on Fiction Records, which many of you may know as the Cure's original record label. Even though it is not as accomplished as their second album, I really like this one.

My copy has a bit of surface noise (lots of ticks and pops even though the record looks good), not sure what is going on with it. I've tried Spin Cleaning it multiple times and even a distilled water pressure wash to no avail. Frustrating. The previous owner or shady record shop I got it from awhile back from may have done something to it to damage the vinyl or else it's just a cheap/bad pressing. Note the 2.99 GBP stamp on the cover. I'm hesitant to try another copy because finding a good one isn't super cheap in the U.S. and I've also heard a rumor that the Stunn label pressings of this album are not good. Oh well.

Cherry Red is reissuing this album on CD soon. Hopefully they do a good job. I may just have to spring for that one when time/money allows.

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Killing Joke - Revelations LP

Played this a couple days ago, sounded great.



The Joke's third proper LP. Compared to their first two LPs this one seems underrated but is every bit as good as those. Produced by Conny Plank, if you can believe that, and his style actually fits well with the group. If you want to hear great post-punk, get this album and pass over most of those lame present-day revival type groups. My copy is a U.S. Pressing on EG. Sterling Mastering stamp in the deadwax.

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