Beck — Guerolito

Author: tracysigler | Posted: May 5th, 2008 | | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Beck -- Guerolito

I like Beck’s thinking on this project more than the outcome. As you can see from the track listing there are some big names involved, but overall Guerolito is less enjoyable than Guero. I suppose that’s what you should expect with remixes.

Track listing from Wikipedia:

All songs were written by Beck Hansen and The Dust Brothers, except where noted.

  1. “Ghost Range” (Hansen, Dust Brothers, Beastie Boys) – 4:24
    • E-Pro” remix by Homelife
  2. “Qué Onda Guero” – 2:29
  3. Girl” – 3:53
    • Octet remix
    • Originally released in the special edition CD/DVD package of Guero
  4. “Heaven Hammer” (Hansen, Dust Brothers, Marcos Vinicius de Moraes, Carlos Eduardo Lyra) – 4:54
    • “Missing” remix by Air
  5. “Shake Shake Tambourine” (Hansen, Dust Brothers, Eugene Blacknell) – 3:37
    • “Black Tambourine” remix by Ad-Rock
  6. “Terremoto Tempo” (Hansen, Dust Brothers, Mark Adams, Steve Washington, Daniel Webster, Mark Hicks) – 3:47
    • “Earthquake Weather” remix by Mario C
  7. “Ghettochip Malfunction” – 2:39
    • “Hell Yes” remix by 8-Bit
  8. “Broken Drum” (Hansen) – 5:36
    • Boards of Canada remix
    • Originally released in the special edition CD/DVD package of Guero
  9. “Scarecrow” – 4:37
  10. “Wish Coin” (Hansen, Dust Brothers, Jack White) – 3:44
    • “Go It Alone” remix by Diplo
  11. “Farewell Ride” (Hansen) – 4:51
  12. “Rental Car” – 2:59
  13. “Emergency Exit” – 3:18
  14. “Clap Hands” – 3:19
    • Originally released in the special edition CD/DVD package of Guero

PJ Harvey — White Chalk

Author: tracysigler | Posted: October 22nd, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

PJ Harvey -- White Chalk

  • Artist: PJ Harvey
  • Title: White Chalk
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Rating (1-10): 9
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: Mary got it for me.
  • Keeper: Yes

Here’s some new music…

This is one quiet and dark album. I am huge PJ Harvey fan, and I just got this album. At first I was disappointed how quiet and low key these songs are, all of them. Drums and percussion are virtually non-existent, and no song rocks out the way PJ always seems to, eventually. But there’s a different kind of power here. According to PJ, see the documentary below, she was determined not to repeat herself. I have probably listened to the entire album 10 times in the last 24 hours and each time it gets better.

White Chalk is being release in a limited edition vinyl version, which tragically I do not have. But the CD is packaged in a more earth-friendly way, similar to a real record, with a cardboard jacket and separate liner. Handsome.

White Chalk Documentary Part 1


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — The Mercy Seat

Author: tracysigler | Posted: October 5th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds -- The Mercy Seat

  • Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  • Title: The Mercy Seat
  • Year: 1988
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 9
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1988 – At our store, RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
  • Keeper: Yes

“The Mercy Seat” is possibly the greatest song by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. This 12 inch has a “full length” version which seems longer than the one on the LP, and a “video mix” version. There is also “New Day”, a sort of Nick Cave style gospel number. It’s another great one. Nick Cave is my girl’s favorite music artist of all time. It’s probable that we have more records by Nick Cave than any other artist, and if you include The Boys Next Door and Birthday Party it is a certainty.

And speaking of birthday parties, today is Mary’s birthday. So, today’s artist has to be Nick Cave. Like Nick, Mary marches to her own beat. It’s just one of many reasons I’m in love with her. We’ve been together a long time now, and she remains completely punk rock. Don’t change a thing baby!

Happy Birthday!


Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — Tender Prey

Author: tracysigler | Posted: July 27th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds -- Tender Prey

  • Artist: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
  • Title: Tender Prey
  • Year: 1988
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 8
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: ?
  • Keeper: Yes

We (Mary) have so many Nick Cave records I feel like we’re never going to get through them all and move on to the other “C” artists. But Tender Prey is a really good one and I suppose I shouldn’t complain. The usual Bad Seeds suspects are here including Kid Congo Powers who was in another band I really liked, The Gun Club. The biggest hit is “The Mercy Seat” and if you haven’t heard Johnny Cash’s version check it out. He makes the lyrics sound even more grim. Another “hit” is “Deanna,” which I really like, but my favorite may be “City of Refuge.”

Mary and I went to see Nick on tour for Tender Prey at the 9:30 Club in D.C. I remember digging the show, and seeing Blixa in person was very cool. But the most salient moment for me is when Nick first walked out on stage in his trim dark suit with a bottle of water and exclaimed with a big smile “I feel great!” Not the first thing I expected Nick Cave to say.

Some facts about Tender Prey.


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Deanna

Author: tracysigler | Posted: May 20th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds -- Deanna

  • Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  • Title: Deanna
  • Year: 1988
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 8
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1988 – RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
  • Keeper: Yes

I love the song “Deanna.” And it’s surprisingly sing-along for a song by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Despite it’s and fast tempo and upbeat feel the song’s lyrics come across as typically dark, for Mr. Cave, that is. I don’t know what it’s about, but “I’m not down for your love, I’m not down here for your money… I’m down here for your soul” sounds like this character is up to no good. “Girl at the Bottom of My Glass” on the flipside is very minimalist, but also very good.

Oh, Deanna… Oh, D-E-Anna…


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Kicking Against the Pricks

Author: tracysigler | Posted: March 1st, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds -- Kicking Against the Pricks

  • Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  • Title: Kicking Against the Pricks
  • Year: 1986
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 7
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
  • Keeper: Yes

Mr. Cave likes his covers. This is the third album by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and the first collection of cover songs, but not the last. Kicking Against the Pricks may sound like an offensive title to some but it’s part of a passage from the book of Acts in the Bible. So there. This is a very eclectic collection and on the whole more mellow than most of his records. My favorite song is “The Singer“, which was also on a 12 inch single previously posted here.


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — The Singer

Author: tracysigler | Posted: September 24th, 2006 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds -- The Singer

  • Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  • Title: The Singer
  • Year: 1986
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 8
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1986 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
  • Keeper: Yes

I do dig this 12 inch single by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. The main track “The Singer”, by Johnny Cash and originally titled “The Folk Singer” is perfect and Cave makes it his own, just like Cash does when he covers a song. The two songs on the flipside are also covers: “Running Scared” by Roy Orbison and “Black Betty” by Leadbelly. This recording of “Black Betty” is definitely the most minimalistic, primitive, and just plain spooky I’ve ever heard.

All three of these songs ended up on the full length album “Kicking Against the Pricks” which I think came out later in the same year. The production guru Flood helped shape the sound of this disk.


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — The Firstborn is Dead

Author: tracysigler | Posted: August 7th, 2006 | | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds -- The Firstborn is Dead

  • Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  • Title: The Firstborn is Dead
  • Year: 1985
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 7
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1985 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

I’ve listened to “The Firstborn is Dead” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds a couple times over the last few days. I’m not sure what I think about it. I’ve always loved the first song, “Tupelo”, and it’s still my favorite. Like most music by Mr. Cave it’s not the kind of thing you’re likely to put on the turntable when you’re having a party. That said, some of it definitely sticks in your head. Whether that’s a good thing is really up to you, but it will stick with you either way.

(And excuse my fuzzy reflection in that glossy black album cover.)


Nick Cave (Featuring The Bad Seeds) — From Her To Eternity

Author: tracysigler | Posted: June 25th, 2006 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Nick Cave (Featuring The Bad Seeds) -- From Her To Eternity

  • Artist: Nick Cave (Featuring The Bad Seeds)
  • Title: From Her To Eternity
  • Year: 1984
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 10
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1984 – Olsson’s in D.C.
  • Keeper: Yes

This is the first solo Nick Cave record. Most people would not recognize it as music. Of course, Mary and I do, but we’re not most people. “From Her To Eternity” is full of very original and very challenging music and lyrics, or stories. In many ways it sounds a lot like his work with Birthday Party. Mary can’t help but rate this a 10, even though she likes his later work more.

Below lies Black Paul
under the upper but
above and beyond the
surface flat-fall there.

* The original vinyl record had only seven songs. I see from this article about “From Her To Eternity” at Wikipedia that three more songs have been added.


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Your Funeral… My Trial

Author: Mary Earle-Sigler | Posted: May 21st, 2006 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds -- Your Funeral... My Trial

  • Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  • Title: Your Funeral… My Trial
  • Year: 1986
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 10
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 1986 – I have to go with Plan 9 Records and Tapes (tapes, hee hee) based on the release year. I always buy Nick Cave music ASAP.
  • Keeper: Yes

Yesterday when Tracy was playing this LP he let the word “boring” slip from his lips. I knew then that he was not up to the task of blogging Nick Cave. I am not as talented a writer as Tracy, but I own all the Bad Seeds LPs (and CDs). So, I’ll practice on these.

This is not the first Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album after the break up of The Birthday Party. Three EPs preceed “Your Funeral… My Trial” and they are all a bit louder. With this double EP the music calms down, but it isn’t boring. “The Carney” is surely the most memorable. It reminds me of a gory movie scene I would watch with one eye peeking between my fingers. I don’t want to see it, but I can’t stop watching it. I’m not the only one who can’t let that song go, “The Carney” reappears on “The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds” CD. “Stranger Than Kindness” is another song I’ll be humming the next few days and also makes the cut on the “Best Of” CD. I also really like the title track and “She Fell Away.” Well, I really like the entire double ep. And a double ep? Why not just one album? But the packaging is clever! It’s always two things playing off one another. Your funeral / my trial, eyes closed on the front cover / open on the back, right side up / upside down, and virgin / whore illustrations on the two liners.

Rating this is hard. When I compare it to all the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds material, it’s a 9. However, if there is ever a fire in the Sigler house, the entire Nick Cave discography will be saved right after the dog.

Read more about Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds at Wikipedia and check out the offical band site.