Brutal Youth!
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Brutal Youth!
I've read about "Get Happy!!!" being great and to the point and without a down moment.
I've read about "Trust" being underrated and Elvis's best album despite its lack of hits.
I even just read that "Blood and Chocolate" is, in a person's opinion... the end of Elvis's Golden Age(to that person- I'm not trying to be an asshole to you, just trying to make a rather unimportant point).
However... the only opinions I've heard on Brutal Youth is that it has been mismarketed as the return of the Attractions with Elvis.
The "trip trip trip trip" at the end of "You Tripped At Every Step" is the golden age of Elvis.
--- after that set up, I am hoping I will get replies from people exclaiming their love and faithfullness to Brutal Youth... but I understand if you disagree.
Elvis, in my opinion, is at his vocal best on Brutal Youth. There are notes of his that I call his "brutal youth notes"... you know, the notes where his voice is almost fake(the end of "Pony Street" for example), and the Attractions(despite Steve Nieve's lack of solos, and the fact that Nick Lowe played bass on a lot of the album) execute beautifully.
I, to this day, could never really listen to "My Science Fiction Twin" in its entirety, but Brutal Youth has remained one of my top 3 Elvis albums for its gems. "This Is Hell", "Sulky Girl", "20% Amnesia", "London's Brilliant Parade", and "Kinder Murder" are timeless classics. Oh I adore this cd.
I know there are a few of you here who are itching for a new Brutal Youth discussion. I try my best to satisfy.
<3,
s.
I've read about "Trust" being underrated and Elvis's best album despite its lack of hits.
I even just read that "Blood and Chocolate" is, in a person's opinion... the end of Elvis's Golden Age(to that person- I'm not trying to be an asshole to you, just trying to make a rather unimportant point).
However... the only opinions I've heard on Brutal Youth is that it has been mismarketed as the return of the Attractions with Elvis.
The "trip trip trip trip" at the end of "You Tripped At Every Step" is the golden age of Elvis.
--- after that set up, I am hoping I will get replies from people exclaiming their love and faithfullness to Brutal Youth... but I understand if you disagree.
Elvis, in my opinion, is at his vocal best on Brutal Youth. There are notes of his that I call his "brutal youth notes"... you know, the notes where his voice is almost fake(the end of "Pony Street" for example), and the Attractions(despite Steve Nieve's lack of solos, and the fact that Nick Lowe played bass on a lot of the album) execute beautifully.
I, to this day, could never really listen to "My Science Fiction Twin" in its entirety, but Brutal Youth has remained one of my top 3 Elvis albums for its gems. "This Is Hell", "Sulky Girl", "20% Amnesia", "London's Brilliant Parade", and "Kinder Murder" are timeless classics. Oh I adore this cd.
I know there are a few of you here who are itching for a new Brutal Youth discussion. I try my best to satisfy.
<3,
s.
In my wildest dreams, I would never want to denigrate the brilliance of Brutal Youth. But it fell in after a prolonged misadventurous period ;(Spike and MLAR).
It IS the record everyone credited WIWC of being. I even enjoy My Science Fiction Twin, and the whole nine yards. I just think that the period from TYM thru B and C will never be eclipsed by another single songwriter in my lifetime. (Elliott Smith might have if he wouldn't have gone and stuck a steak knife in my heart.)
It IS the record everyone credited WIWC of being. I even enjoy My Science Fiction Twin, and the whole nine yards. I just think that the period from TYM thru B and C will never be eclipsed by another single songwriter in my lifetime. (Elliott Smith might have if he wouldn't have gone and stuck a steak knife in my heart.)
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I don't think there's anyone here who doesn't like BY....
Sulky Girl
Clown Strike
London's Brilliant Parade
some good examples of wordsmithery...
My Science Fiction Twin
20% Amnesia
13 Steps Lead Down
all good examples of 'rock out' Elvis.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is his most 'hard rock guitar' album...
Sulky Girl
Clown Strike
London's Brilliant Parade
some good examples of wordsmithery...
My Science Fiction Twin
20% Amnesia
13 Steps Lead Down
all good examples of 'rock out' Elvis.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is his most 'hard rock guitar' album...
It's a brilliant album, Elvis applying the narrative and some times even compassionate songwriting he'd explored on the Wendy James and Juliet projects to the band. The band rise to it, bringing something new, an overall trebley sound with the snare drum really tight. The combo playing is exceptional, with everyone (even Steve!) quite reined in and in full control (witness the impecable changes to and from the loud bridge they let rip in Rocking Horse Road). They're down on the next page of the forum by now I think, but I wrote two threads analysing London's Brilliant Parade and You Tripped at Every Step that should let you know how great those songs are.
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Yeah, I'm not sure about the weak vocals/songwriting argument, and especially production. I like the fact that it's so raw, with Elvis often playing guitar and bass, with Pete Thomas on drums.
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
- mood swung
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I think it starts strong, ends with a wallop, but the some of the middle is kind of namby-pamby. 20% just gets on my nerves with all the 'thesia' rhymes. But, as is usually the case, there's way more good stuff than bad and the bad isn't really bad. sometimes bad is bad. but not here. ok, shutting up now.
Like me, the "g" is silent.
As a long time listener and someone who owns every album, most b-sides and lots of bootlegs, I have to say that my all-time favorite EC song is "You Tripped at Every Step" and so I have to give BY lots of big time snaps.
I was also lucky enough to see two shows on the tour, two nights apart (with the only downer being that Crash Test Dummies opened both shows- sorry Blue Chair, but that is one Canadian export I could live without!).
Another very overlooked song, but one that Elvis names as a favorite, is 'Favorite Hour'. Absolutely heartbreakingly lovely. Even if I haven't a clue as to what he's on about.
I also have soft spots for 'Pony Street' and 'Kinder Murder' (much discussed on the Narbawlz board). I find 'My Science Fiction Twin' going through my head quite often, and 'Clown Strike' has a great groove and sound.
The only song I never really cottoned to is probably 'Rocking Horse Road', which I know is a big board favorite (throw tomatos now).
And I can't believe I forgot to mention the beautiful Ray Davies tribute 'London's Brilliant Parade'. Ahhhhhhhhh
I was also lucky enough to see two shows on the tour, two nights apart (with the only downer being that Crash Test Dummies opened both shows- sorry Blue Chair, but that is one Canadian export I could live without!).
Another very overlooked song, but one that Elvis names as a favorite, is 'Favorite Hour'. Absolutely heartbreakingly lovely. Even if I haven't a clue as to what he's on about.
I also have soft spots for 'Pony Street' and 'Kinder Murder' (much discussed on the Narbawlz board). I find 'My Science Fiction Twin' going through my head quite often, and 'Clown Strike' has a great groove and sound.
The only song I never really cottoned to is probably 'Rocking Horse Road', which I know is a big board favorite (throw tomatos now).
And I can't believe I forgot to mention the beautiful Ray Davies tribute 'London's Brilliant Parade'. Ahhhhhhhhh
- Jackson Doofster
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Sorry Mood Swing, got to disagree with you on 20%. To me it's a lovely little viscous rant with lyrics by turns off hand (The word that she wanted was destination I suppose) to earth shakingly serious (the 'think back' verse).
I've a vested interest though: EC said the Gorbachev verse was inspired by his seeing the then Russian president at London's Royal Opera House for a performance of La Canderella (i.e. Cinderella). The irony, Elvis explained, being that Gorby was in London 'cap in hand' to appeal for aid at the G8 summit. He got only high minded words praising his democratic reforms and 'the rest is history' (or in Putin's case grisly current affairs). Whoever took him to that show, EC said, had a cruel sense of irony.
In actual fact the person who took Gorby to the performance was the Opera House's ex chief, Jeremy Isaacs (a great man who started our once excellent and radical Channel 4 TV station in the 80s and produced the masterly doc series The Second World War in the 70s). He used the evening to try to persuade Gorby to be interviewed for his new series The Cold War. Gorby was reluctant but acquiesed. I know this because someone who is now my wife did the interview. Not a lot of people, as they say, know that! Anyroad, as you can imagine, all this gives the song a special place in my heart...
I've a vested interest though: EC said the Gorbachev verse was inspired by his seeing the then Russian president at London's Royal Opera House for a performance of La Canderella (i.e. Cinderella). The irony, Elvis explained, being that Gorby was in London 'cap in hand' to appeal for aid at the G8 summit. He got only high minded words praising his democratic reforms and 'the rest is history' (or in Putin's case grisly current affairs). Whoever took him to that show, EC said, had a cruel sense of irony.
In actual fact the person who took Gorby to the performance was the Opera House's ex chief, Jeremy Isaacs (a great man who started our once excellent and radical Channel 4 TV station in the 80s and produced the masterly doc series The Second World War in the 70s). He used the evening to try to persuade Gorby to be interviewed for his new series The Cold War. Gorby was reluctant but acquiesed. I know this because someone who is now my wife did the interview. Not a lot of people, as they say, know that! Anyroad, as you can imagine, all this gives the song a special place in my heart...
- mood swung
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Brutal Youth definitely would have benefitted from a little more thought put into the song sequencing.
The songs were written and recorded very quickly and the production was rather plain, but in them there's an excitement revealed that I like, probably to so with the reacquainting himself after a while with some real rocking stuff while developing some expressive, slower tempo, more abstract songwriting, stuff to a new level -- there were these two ends of the spectrum on the album, a sort of: this is what I know, and this is what I'm learning. And EC's singing is tops, right on the ball.
No wonder the next logical step was to make the production more of a feature, with ATUB, which worked wonders.
I wonder if Nick Lowe will ever produce another EC album...
The songs were written and recorded very quickly and the production was rather plain, but in them there's an excitement revealed that I like, probably to so with the reacquainting himself after a while with some real rocking stuff while developing some expressive, slower tempo, more abstract songwriting, stuff to a new level -- there were these two ends of the spectrum on the album, a sort of: this is what I know, and this is what I'm learning. And EC's singing is tops, right on the ball.
No wonder the next logical step was to make the production more of a feature, with ATUB, which worked wonders.
I wonder if Nick Lowe will ever produce another EC album...