Sweetheart Of The Rodeo [Remastered] - Byrds (The)

Advantages: inteligent varied original
Disadvantages: their last record as a group

...Some are born great,as the saying goes ,others have greatness thrust upon them,and in the case of The Specials it seems not only did they achieve greatness with their debut album "Specials",but had even more greatness thrust upon them by an over expectant music press and ravenous fan base all eager for more of their punk/ska riotous rapture ,however in the spirit of true greatness and wanton defiance they delivered "More Specials" in the autumn of 1980,and in direct conflict to its title could well have been called "Less Specials " In the twelve months which had elapsed between their debut and this daring follow up the musical landscape had changed a great deal ,the fury of punk which gave rise to the groups foundations was now a fading memory as new sounds and movements splinterd into a varied buffet of sounds and movements... Read review

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Advantages: Jeff's final musical journey of excellence
Disadvantages: Not finished in places.

...intact . And with this they set off to record new material for "My sweetheart the drunk". To begin with the band recorded a session with Tom Veraline (a former punk lead man from the band "Television") (this appears on the first disk of the album). These are all fully mixed and studio recorded, but Buckley was displeased with them (which is why it wasn't released as an album). The second disk consist's mainly of the 4 track demo's he made in his house away from the band whilst spending time on his own and contemplating the album. It also has 2 unmixed versions of songs from the Veraline saessions and the song with which his memorial ended. Disk 1 track listing- (credits are in brackets where the whole thing wasn't Buckley) "The Sky Is a Landfill" (Jeff Buckley, Michael Tighe) - 5:09 "Everybody Here Wants You" - 4:46 "Opened... Read review

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Advantages: interesting very very interesting
Disadvantages: too "interesting" in places

...production, and is mostly of its time ,but its influential blueprint echoed for many a year on the likes of Depeche Mode and The Pet Shop Boys ,that small production i mentioned couldnt be better suited for a truly epic rendition of "Youve lost that Loving Feeling ",the song is stripped to its ragged underwear as the songs sentiments become all too apparent ,leaving it to shiver in the cold and despair of a love gone bad ,for a second it might be that Mr Oakey,s joking ,but no, he,s feeling it for real ,a masterstoke of song choice and possibly the best version ever . As far as the re-mastering goes its a case of gaps being filled for fans and collectors ,but very well presented and chosen,especially the long losr early single "The Dignity of Labour "in all its 4 part glory ,at time ,s sounding like a synthesiser in the microwave... Read review

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