Nina Nastasia - The Blackened Air

This week's critical junction is a little left of field, and well perhaps an artist few of you will have heard of let alone the album.

So first things first I suppose, who is Nina Nastasia? Nina is a New York based singer songwriter, who has released 5 albums all of which have been produced by the worlds best non-producing producer, Steve Albini. Blackened Air is her second album and was released in 2002. The late great BBC DJ, John Peel was a huge fan and had her record six sessions for the BBC. Her song Ugle Face, from Blackened Air made it to number 4 on Peel's annual festive 50 in 2002!

So Blackened Air, why is it included in our little corner of musical criticism? Well we guess its something of a personal choice, but it is an achingly beautiful album worthy of our and many others praise. The folk infused album is filled with tracks that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. Nina's coutry twinged voice and delicate guitar are the driving force of this album. Short songs like All For You achieve more in 1:42 seconds that most artist accomplish in a lifetime! Compared this to the more forceful song In The Graveyard, which despite its despairing lyrics is filled with a redemption not often found in ballads of loss. Perhaps the finest moment on this astonishing collection of songs is This Is What It Is, which blends chamber music, country and folk into something rarely heard, new music!

If you haven't heard of Nina, or heard her music, then this is the place to start, Blackened Air and Nina Nastasia are gaining momentum, get on board and go to wherever her music takes you.


Track Listing

1. "Run, All You…"
2. "I Go With Him"
3. "This Is What It Is"
4. "Oh, My Stars"
5. "All for You"
6. "So Little"
7. "Desert Fly"
8. "Ugly Face"
9. "In the Graveyard"
10. "Ocean"
11. "Rosemary"
12. "The Same Day"
13. "Been So Long"
14. "The Very Next Day"
15. "Little Angel"
16. "That's All There Is"

Louder Than Bomnbs - The Smiths

Ok, so Smiths fans will be shaking their heads at us this week, at the very idea of us putting a compilation album up as a critical junction, but, and this is a genuine but, the songs on this album, albeit compiled, are truly magical and this also means we can play way more tracks on the show, so without further half hearted apologies which the previous 67 odd words are actually supposed to be, we will get down to the nitty gritty.

Originally released in the US as a counterpart to the UK album The World Won't Listen, Louder Than Bombs consisted of all the singles and pretty much all the b-sides that had not been available in the US to the point, however since the album conatined Sheila Take a Bow and so many B-Sides that fans of the band started buying it as an import. The Smiths record label Rough Trade, were not about to loose some easy cash, decided to release it in the UK.

The album cover was designed by Morrissey and has a photo of Shelagh Delaney, a Manchester playwright whose début play inspired Morrissey greatly.

The music on this compilation is actually pretty breathtaking From Sheila Take a bow, Panic, Ask, the sublime Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now to the aching Asleep the album is not only a document of how essential The Smiths are to British musical history but to the fact that they practically single handedly save 1980's music in the UK from being a void of plastic disposable pop rubbish.

Track Listing

1. "Is It Really So Strange?" - 2:42 (John Peel session)
2. "Sheila Take a Bow" - 3:02
3. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" - 2:58
4. "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" - 3:33 (John Peel session)
5. "Half a Person" 3:36
6. "London" 2:08#
7. "Panic" - 2:20
8. "Girl Afraid" - 2:49
9. "Shakespeare's Sister" - 2:08
10. "William, It Was Really Nothing" - 2:11
11. "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (alternate mix)* - 3:33
12. "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" - 3:34
13. "Ask" - 3:12
14. "Golden Lights" - 2:43
15. "Oscillate Wildly" - 3:25
16. "These Things Take Time"* - 2:23
17. "Rubber Ring" - 3:48
18. "Back to the Old House"* - 3:04
19. "Hand in Glove" (single version) - 3:15
20. "Stretch Out and Wait"* - 2:46
21. " Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" - 1:52
22. "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" (John Peel session) 3:40
23. "Unloveable" - 3:56
24. "Asleep" - 4:11

The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

Ok so this has been coming for a long time so here it is. One of the most influential albums ever produced, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Amazingly this was The Beatles eight studio album, took 129 days to record, was produced by George Martin and a host of engineers and was released on June 1st 1967.

By the time they began recording the album the Beatles had decided that they would no longer tour.The idea behind Sergeant Peppers was to create and album that could tour for them, thus the creation of a fictitious group Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The theme is a bit loose it must be admitted, as the only Sgt. Peppers band bits are the introduction and With A little Help With My Friends both of which are sung by Ringo Starr aka band leader Billy Shears. The rest of the album albeit astounding is not really connected to any overarching concept, but who cares!

The use of state of the art recording technology and innovations in the use of this equipment was far ahead of its time, but then again they had free reign in the studio for 129 days. Even on the album itself there are loads of little quirks, such as in the run-out groove the band put in some playful sounds, there is a high pitch tone that was put there to annoy peoples dogs and instead of the record just repeatedly winding at the end there is laughter and gibbersh.

The arrangements on the album are also quite elaborate, and required a team of engineers and musicians. There was a clarinet ensemble on When I'm Sixty Four the George Harrison song song, Whithin You Without You is quiet long and features a group of Indian muscians and Harrison on sitar ad acoustic guitar. The John Lennon song Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
is made up of a sound collage recorded and pieced together by George Martin and his team of engineers. The explosion of orchestration on A Day In The Life is an unforgettable moment in pop history and somehting that had never been heard before by pop fans. For the nerds out there there are some clips of the recording of A Day in the Life right here on youtube, which was recorded as part of a planned for TV special that never came to fruition.

When Sgt. Peppers was released most people got it straight away, well the critics anyway. The New York Times called it "an over attended child". Frank Zappa thought the Beatles were cashing in on the flower power generation. Even without Mr Zappa's criticism it, of course went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic.

The front cover of the album has become part of rock iconography and has been imitated on a number of occasions. It was designed by Peter Blake, the packaging was created by Robert Fraser and all in close collaboration with Paul McCartney. as a means to divert your attention from a days work we have included a picture of the cover with all those involved named, for the lazy just click here for an interactive picture.

Sgt. Peppers is one of the most important records of all time, it is fun and exciting and part of the Zeitgeist at the time. It is also the last album where The Beatles actually sound like they are having fun.

Track Listing

Side 1

1. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" – 2:04
2. "With a Little Help from My Friends" – 2:46
3. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" – 3:30
4. "Getting Better" – 2:49
5. "Fixing a Hole" – 2:38
6. "She's Leaving Home" – 3:37
7. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" – 2:37

Side 2

1. "Within You Without You" (George Harrison) – 5:07
2. "When I'm Sixty-Four" – 2:37
3. "Lovely Rita" – 2:44
4. "Good Morning Good Morning" – 2:43
5. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)" – 1:20
6. "A Day in the Life" – 5:33

1. Sri Yukteswar Gigi (guru)
2. Aleister Crowley (dabbler in sex, drugs and magic)
3. Mae West (actress)
4. Lenny Bruce (comic)
5. Karlheinz Stockhausen (composer)
6. W.C. Fields (comic)
7. Carl Gustav Jung (psychologist)
8. Edgar Allen Poe (writer)
9. Fred Astaire (actor)
10. Richard Merkin (artist)
11. The Varga Girl (by artist Alberto Vargas)
12. *Leo Gorcey (Painted out because he requested a fee)
13. Huntz Hall (actor one of the Bowery Boys)
14. Simon Rodia (creator of Watts Towers)
15. Bob Dylan (musician)
16. Aubrey Beardsley (illustrator)
17. Sir Robert Peel (politician)
18. Aldous Huxley (writer)
19. Dylan Thomas (poet)
20. Terry Southern (writer)
21. Dion (di Mucci)(singer)
22. Tony Curtiss (actor)
23. Wallace Berman (artist)
24. Tommy Handley (comic)
25. Marilyn Monroe (actress)
26. William Burroughs (writer)
27. Sri Mahavatara Babaji(guru)
28. Stan Laurel (comic)
29. Richard Lindner (artist)
30. Oliver Hardy (comic)
31. Karl Marx (philosopher/socialist)
32. H.G. Wells (writer)
33. Sri Paramahansa Yogananda (guru)
34. Anonymous (wax hairdresser's dummy)
35. Stuart Sutcliffe (artist/former Beatle)
36. Anonymous (wax hairdresser's dummy)
37. Max Miller (comic)
38. The Pretty Girl (by artist George Petty)
39. Marlon Brando (actor)
40. Tom Mix (actor)
41. Oscar Wilde (writer)
42. Tyrone Power (actor)
43. Larry Bell (artist)
44. Dr. David Livingston (missionary/explorer)
45. Johnny Weissmuller (swimmer/actor)
46. Stephen Crane (writer)
47. Issy Bonn (comic)
48. George Bernard Shaw (writer)
49. H.C. Westermann (sculptor)
50. Albert Stubbins (soccer player)
51. Sri lahiri Mahasaya (guru)
52. Lewis Carrol (writer)
53. T.E. Lawrence (soldier, aka Lawrence of Arabia)
54. Sonny Liston (boxer)
55. The Pretty Girl (by artist George Petty)
56. Wax model of George Harrison
57. Wax model of John Lennon
58. Shirley Temple (child actress)
59. Wax model of Ringo Starr
60. Wax model of Paul McCartney
61. Albert Einstein (physicist)
62. John Lennnon, holding a french horn
63. Ringo Starr, holding a trumpet
64. Paul McCartney, holding a cor anglais
65. George Harrison, holding a flute
66. Bobby Breen (singer)
67. Marlene Dietrich (actress)
68. Mohandas Ghandi (painted out at the request of EMI)
69. Legionaire from the order of the Buffalos
70. Diana Dors (actress)
71. Shirley Temple (child actress)
72. Cloth grandmother-figure by Jann Haworth
73. Cloth figure of Shirley Temple by Haworth
74. Mexican candlestick
75. Television set
76. Stone figure of girl
77. Stone figure
78. Statue from John Lennon's house
79. Trophy
80. Four-armed Indian Doll
81. Drum skin, designed by Joe Ephgrave
82. Hookah (water tobacco-pipe)
83. Velvet snake
84. Japanese stone figure
85. Stone figure of Snow White
86. Garden gnome
87. Tuba

Hot Fuss - The Killers

Hot Fuss is the debut album by post-punk band The Killers, released in June 2004. Who would have thought that the best British band to burst onto the scene in years would be American? The Killers’ music is based on British influences and on the music of the 1980s, particularly New Waveand according to lead singer Brandon Flowers, the band’s larger-than-life sound is down to “the influence of living in Las Vegas, a city where everything is about flash and who can top whom”.

The Las Vegas foursome introduce a perfectly tailored new wave-induced art rock sound on “Hot Fuss”. The eleven tracks span from first proper single release Somebody Told Me, the chunky-riffed song loaded with androgynous mystery which wooed MTV audiences and modern rock followers during the summer of 2004, to Mr Brightside, a tale of jealousy that depicts the moment in a relationship when you realise that your other half might be playing away and the fears and visualisations your imagination can then throw at you. On Top celebrates where Brandon feels the band is at, while Andy You’re A Star is a stalker’s story. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine and Mr. Brightside are equally as fiesty as the album’s first single, confirming that a formula is indeed in motion. The gospel rock of All These Things That I've Done, which saw Flowers realise his long-held dream of using a full-on gospel choir in the band’s recordings, fits strangely well with the Cure-inspired synths of Everything Will Be Alright and “Believe Me Natalie”, as well as with the dark-sounding “Midnight Show”.

The Killers’ “murder trilogy” has been much debated amongst fans and critics since the release of “Hot Fuss”, two thirds of the trilogy appearing on the album in the forms of Midnight Show (the act and attempted escape) and Jenny Was A Friend of Mine (the capture and questioning of the accused). A tale of the murder of a girl by her jealous boyfriend, the band themselves have mostly been silent about it, apart from Flowers saying cryptically in interviews that “there was water involved, although he didn’t drown her”. Part one of the trilogy, Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf, about the planning of and motive for the crime, makes an appearance on the 2007 B-sides and rarities compilation Sawdust.

One may say it’s premature to call Hot Fuss a classic album, but we think time will prove us right…

Track listing
1. Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
2. Mr. Brightside - (Thin White Duke remix)
3. Smile Like You Mean It
4. Somebody Told Me - (Josh Harris remix)
5. All These Things That I've Done
6. Andy, You're a Star
7. On Top
8. Change Your Mind
9. Believe Me Natalie
10. Midnight Show
11. Everything Will Be Alright

After the Gold Rush - Neil Young

Neil Young's After The Gold Rush was his third solo release, and one that came at a very prolific time for the young Canadian songwriter. Having written 3 solo albums and the Crosby Still Nash and Young album, Deja Vu in 3 years. After the gold Rush was released in 1970 climbing to number 8 in the US charts and is, as per usual on a Neil Young album packed with his trademark song craft.

Young intentionally tried to merge the sounds of Crazy Horse (His backing band) and Crosby Stills and Nash, helped in no small way by a 17 year old Nils Lofgren.

The album contains many of Young's best loves songs including, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can break Your Heart and Southern Man.

The Title track After The Gold Rush, is a call to arms for environmentalists, the Lyric "look at mother nature on the run in the 70's" seems to be a premonition to many of the major issues today. (Thom Yorke of Radiohead has often played the song live)

Only Love can Break Your Heart, is the third track on the album and one of his best known. Apparently the song was written for Graham Nash after he split with Joni Mitchell. It a simple ode to the troubles of love and the hurt that can be caused when it ends.

Oh Lonesome Me is the only cover on the album. It is an old Chet Atkins song written by Chet and Don Gibson in 1958. Young slows down the tempo of the song in his own version and creates a much more depressing mood than the original.

My favourite track on the album is the wonderful Southern Man. The Lyrics are directed towards racism in the American South. Apparently the song was written after Young was beaten up by a bunch of rednecks in a roadhouse bar because he had long hair. It i the first song to have upset Lynrad Skynard, but it wasn't until Young wrote Alabama that they were forced to write their response to him in Sweet Home Alabama.

Although the album was poorly received by Rolling Stone upon its original release it has since became one of its top 100 albums of all time ad why not. Even though the album was recorded in a mere two weeks the style of production seems more relevant today. This is helped by the fact that so many lo-fi bands have been influenced by Young.

After The Gold Rush is one of the finest American albums ever written and one of Neil Young's greatest releases. That's no small praise for a man of 63 currently on his 34th solo album (if you include all releases it's his 63rd) A fantastic critical junction from one of the all time greats

Cream - Disraeli Gears

Its been said many times about Cream, but it is essentially true, they were the first super group. Consisting of guitar legend Eric Clapton, bass virtuoso and vocalist Jack Bruce, and drumming meistro Ginger Baker. They had all played before in various guises, and were considered the cream of the crop of British musicians, thus the non egotistical name of Cream!

Their first album Fresh Crea,m was released in 1966 and went to number 6 in the UK charts and number 39 in the US. However, what came next is still considered to be there greatest album, Disraeli Gears.

Recorded in a mere 4 days, from May 11th to May 15th 1967 in Atlantic Studios New York. It was the album that broke them in America going to number 4 in the charts.

The title of the album is something of an in joke. When Cream were touring their first album Eric Clapton wanted to buy a racer bicycle. One of their roadies Mick Turner commented on the performance of "those Disraeli Gears" actually meaning "those derailleur gears". The band thought this was hilarious an decided that their next album would be called Disraeli Gears!

The opening track Strange Brew, sets the tone for the album, a blues psychedelic journey with 3 powerful musicians. It's short length, barely 3 minutes, is more in tune with how cream liked to write their songs, even if their live sets had 20 minute jams in them. Apparently if they did not play long jams people would leave gigs angry, asking for their money back.

Up next is Sunshine of your love, Creams best selling single and indeed Atlantic's best selling single to date! Believe it or not but Atlantic originally rejected the song and only that Booker T heard the song and insisted Atlantic release it!! From the moment the riff kicks it is instantly recognisable and has influenced everyone from Black Sabbath to Queens of the Stone Age.

The third track on the album, World Of Pain featuring both the vocals of Clapton and Bruce, it s best known for the tremolo effect used on the guitar and the unusual style Clapton adopts during the solo. It is followed by two of the weakest songs on the album, Dance the Night Away and Blue Condition, however calling a song weak on this album is probably somewhat unfair, but there you go.

The fantastic, Tales of Brave Ulysses is a 2 and a half minute masterpiece, the lyrics of which were written by poet Martin Sharp on the back of a beer mat for Eric Clapton after a chance meeting. It is inspired by Homers Odyssey and bears more than a passing resemblance to another Cream song, and one of my favourites White Room.

The album is packed with other fan favourites. We're going Wrong, (which features some rather nice drumming technique it has to be said and a haunting vocal performance by Bruce) Outside Woman Blues, SWLABR (pronounced Slobber) and Take it Back all shine in this album of gems.

Track Listing

1. Strange Brew
2. Sunshine of Your Love
3. World of Pain
4. Dance the Night Away
5. Blue Condition
6. Tales of Brave Ulysses
7. SWLABR
8. We're Going Wrong
9. Outside Woman Blues
10. Take It Back
11. Mother's Lament

Songs Of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen

Released in 1968 Leonard Cohen's début album, Songs of Leonard Cohen was an apt answer to the psychedelic albums of the summer of love. The Canadian had long been a poet and a novelist and had waited until he was 33 before releasing an album of his folk songs.

While the album was not immediately successful in the US (only going gold in 1989) it was a hit in the UK and Europe which embraced the style and the lyrical content of Cohen's songs.

The album begins with the classic Suzanne. The song details an encounter Cohen had with Suzanne Verdal, the wife of sculptor Armand Vaillancourt, in Montreal. Suzanne Verdal is now homeless living in her car in Venice Beach California. Cohen said he never had relations with her, only imagined what they would be like. The song is like most of the album, sparse and dream like. With Leonard's lyrics taking the listener's by the hand and leading us all to that river.

This whole album brings the listener to different places. It burrows its way into your conciousness and takes root. Songs like So Long Marianne, Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye, and The Sisters Of Mercy are the big hitters and are instantly recognisable. But hidden amongst the crowd of hits is the superb Masters Song and Teachers

This lonely album is filled with Cohen's personal stories, sometimes listening to this album makes you feel almost embarrassed to have such access to his personal life. All put so beautifully in Cohen's forceful yet minimalist style. An album to be enjoyed on your own with a bottle of wine.

Track Listing

1. "Suzanne" – 3:48
2. "Master Song" – 5:55
3. "Winter Lady" – 2:15
4. "The Stranger Song" – 5:00
5. "Sisters of Mercy" – 3:32
6. "So Long, Marianne" – 5:38
7. "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" – 2:55
8. "Stories of the Street" – 4:35
9. "Teachers" – 3:01
10. "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" – 4:23