My dad has a pretty impressive record collection, which he's always been annoyingly precious about. His paranoia meant that they were stashed in his cupboard since the dawn of the CD, only emerging once to be ripped onto the computer, then shoved away again. However, something must have changed, as I now have in my possession three boxes full of vinyls. So, whilst I'm here for three weeks, with plenty of time for music, I thought I'd have a bash at getting through the collection. I'm pretty sure I can't get through every single record, but I'll see what I can do, and pick it up somewhere down the line.
Some brief ground rules:
- I can't skip an album. However, when the same artist comes up twice in a row, I may flip a coin to postpone that record.
- I must listen to the album in its entirety. If I have to stop for whatever reason, I'll come back to the beginning of that side of that record, even if it was the last track.
- Exception to the skipping rule: comedy albums. Only music counts. However I can listen to the comedy albums if I really want.
SO: #1: Kate Bush - Hounds of Love.
I'd describe myself as a moderate Kate Bush fan. Not an enthusiast by any means; I can go for ages without fussing over hearing a song. But as I say, a fan. This is possibly the first time I've actually sat down and listened to a KB album from start to finish, at least by my own choice. Firstly, looking at her discography, she's clearly less than prolific. Without finding the wiki page again, it seemed she had like four or five albums before this one (1985), then very slowly released further LPs every couple of years. I'm pretty sure she still tours, but in terms of releases she's really dried up. Which really isn't a problem - her ouvre is pretty much free of genuine duds, which obviously is preferable to a, say, Morrisey style career (not really sure why I went for Morrisey there, but there are parallels I think). Hounds is an album of two halves, like Bowie's Berlin stuff - pop fun on side one, and a kind of spooky, Eno-esque suite on side two, full of floaty synths and an odd Irish breakdown bit. Overall, a good first record. The pop songs are at times stunning, and the second half has more than enough ideas and song craft to soothe the fears of anyone put off by the promise of an experimental B-side.
I'm going to give each record a score, and I'll try to be a little harsher than I ususally am, so:
SCORE: 72/100
Sunday 10 April 2011
The Simpsons #6 - "It means he gets results, you stupid chief!"
5.1 - 5.8
Season 5 opens with one of the best strings of episodes in Simpsons history (probably). The first four episodes are a non-stop barrage of classics - Barbershop, Cape Feare, Homer Goes to College and Rosebud, the Citizen Kane episode. Seasons four and three are often held in higher esteem, or at least used as the go-to examples for Simpsons perfection, but so far I've found this season to be more reliable - you're guaranteed some belly laughs in pretty much any episode. Even eps that I didn't really remember that well, or wasn't looking forward to, had some real in-stitches moments. For example, the quote above comes from "Bart's Inner Child", the second or third Albert Brooks episode, and certainly the Brooks character I remember least. Turns out, though, it's packed with gems - vintage McClure, "Tramampoline!" and the ending that contains that quote. The next episode up is the Mindy one, with Michelle Phiefer. As I recall, this is one of the episodes I've seen the most; I think I had it on video when I was younger. In fact I probably still have it somewhere. So it's not one of my most anticipated episodes. But based on the gag rate so far, I think there's probably a lot to look forward to.
As a side note, I own seasons 3-5 on DVD, so I've seen these episodes many times more than the average Golden Age episode. So after this season (up til 9, though I've seen 8's episodes about as many times as these ones), I'll be treated with vintage Simpsons that I may not have seen in years, which I'm honestly incredibly excited about.
Season 5 opens with one of the best strings of episodes in Simpsons history (probably). The first four episodes are a non-stop barrage of classics - Barbershop, Cape Feare, Homer Goes to College and Rosebud, the Citizen Kane episode. Seasons four and three are often held in higher esteem, or at least used as the go-to examples for Simpsons perfection, but so far I've found this season to be more reliable - you're guaranteed some belly laughs in pretty much any episode. Even eps that I didn't really remember that well, or wasn't looking forward to, had some real in-stitches moments. For example, the quote above comes from "Bart's Inner Child", the second or third Albert Brooks episode, and certainly the Brooks character I remember least. Turns out, though, it's packed with gems - vintage McClure, "Tramampoline!" and the ending that contains that quote. The next episode up is the Mindy one, with Michelle Phiefer. As I recall, this is one of the episodes I've seen the most; I think I had it on video when I was younger. In fact I probably still have it somewhere. So it's not one of my most anticipated episodes. But based on the gag rate so far, I think there's probably a lot to look forward to.
As a side note, I own seasons 3-5 on DVD, so I've seen these episodes many times more than the average Golden Age episode. So after this season (up til 9, though I've seen 8's episodes about as many times as these ones), I'll be treated with vintage Simpsons that I may not have seen in years, which I'm honestly incredibly excited about.
Tuesday 5 April 2011
The Simpsons #5
4.1-4.2
Season Three boasts a number of exceptional episodes, the most surprising of which being "Colonel Homer", written by Groening himself (the only epsiode?). I remembered the story well, but not quite how funny it was. It's a slow starter, but once it starts, the gags (mostly Homer related) come thick and fast, and deliver well. The best is a genuine joke ("You bitter?" "Yup. Bit him too") which generated a literal LOL. It's constructed like my most favourite joke ever ("Jamaica?") and I wasn't waiting for it like most great Simpsons jokes, but it's really stuck in my head. Season Three is such a jump from the quality of two, and I'm pretty thrilled with the knowledge that this pace and quality keeps up for some time.
So on to four, which opens with "Kamp Krusty", a great episode. The trivia is interesting with this one - this is the episode that James L Brooks(?) thought could extend to a feature. I see why he'd pick this one - it's got to be the richest concept they'd tackled so far. You couldn't stretch out a "Homer At The Bat" any further than it went, nor a "Bart The Daredevil". At this point, the supporting characters weren't massively fleshed out. There'd been quite a bit of Burns, and vintage Burns at that, and Krusty himself had made a fair few appearances, but the characters I think the Simpsons really focussed on later (Moe, Flanders) weren't quite solidified yet, and they were yet to really explore Sideshow Bob, whose greatest episodes are yet to come. So conceptually, this episode makes perfect sense. It's a truly great episode, with brilliant pacing and a nice B story that takes up minimal time but breezes by and is very fun. Highlights: "Mr Black", Homer's fireworks. In this season I've still got Monorail and "Lisa needs braces" episodes to look forward to; this is Simpsons at its very best.
Season Three boasts a number of exceptional episodes, the most surprising of which being "Colonel Homer", written by Groening himself (the only epsiode?). I remembered the story well, but not quite how funny it was. It's a slow starter, but once it starts, the gags (mostly Homer related) come thick and fast, and deliver well. The best is a genuine joke ("You bitter?" "Yup. Bit him too") which generated a literal LOL. It's constructed like my most favourite joke ever ("Jamaica?") and I wasn't waiting for it like most great Simpsons jokes, but it's really stuck in my head. Season Three is such a jump from the quality of two, and I'm pretty thrilled with the knowledge that this pace and quality keeps up for some time.
So on to four, which opens with "Kamp Krusty", a great episode. The trivia is interesting with this one - this is the episode that James L Brooks(?) thought could extend to a feature. I see why he'd pick this one - it's got to be the richest concept they'd tackled so far. You couldn't stretch out a "Homer At The Bat" any further than it went, nor a "Bart The Daredevil". At this point, the supporting characters weren't massively fleshed out. There'd been quite a bit of Burns, and vintage Burns at that, and Krusty himself had made a fair few appearances, but the characters I think the Simpsons really focussed on later (Moe, Flanders) weren't quite solidified yet, and they were yet to really explore Sideshow Bob, whose greatest episodes are yet to come. So conceptually, this episode makes perfect sense. It's a truly great episode, with brilliant pacing and a nice B story that takes up minimal time but breezes by and is very fun. Highlights: "Mr Black", Homer's fireworks. In this season I've still got Monorail and "Lisa needs braces" episodes to look forward to; this is Simpsons at its very best.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
The Simpsons #4
3.1-3.3
I'm now very close to the generally accepted "golden age" of The Simpsons. Firstly, I'm surprised by how good in parts Season 2 was. The last episode ("Blood Feud") and the episode with the comic book especially have some genuine belly laughs (Comic Book Guy's first appearances, particularly laughing at the squabbling kids). But they really did step up their game with Season 3, which doesn't start off as strong as it ends up - the softball episode approaches, and I would consider that one of the funniest 20 mins of TV).
Biggest laugh of the season so far - Homer's infatuation with Reader Digest ending as soon as it disappoints him just once. That looks like it doesn't translate well, but Homer's reaction really tickled me. "Bart the Murderer", the first Fat Tony episode is up next, which I recall being excellent, though I think I might be forgetting parts of it in favour of the episode with the chowder.
I'm now very close to the generally accepted "golden age" of The Simpsons. Firstly, I'm surprised by how good in parts Season 2 was. The last episode ("Blood Feud") and the episode with the comic book especially have some genuine belly laughs (Comic Book Guy's first appearances, particularly laughing at the squabbling kids). But they really did step up their game with Season 3, which doesn't start off as strong as it ends up - the softball episode approaches, and I would consider that one of the funniest 20 mins of TV).
Biggest laugh of the season so far - Homer's infatuation with Reader Digest ending as soon as it disappoints him just once. That looks like it doesn't translate well, but Homer's reaction really tickled me. "Bart the Murderer", the first Fat Tony episode is up next, which I recall being excellent, though I think I might be forgetting parts of it in favour of the episode with the chowder.
Friday 18 March 2011
The Simpsons #3
1.11-1.13
Marge's behaviour in Season 1 is at times downright unreasonable. She seems far more willing to forgive herself than to forgive Homer - as I recall this changes later as Homer becomes less put upon and more jerkish. But by the end of Season 1, we've been given at least two episodes in which Marge flies off the handle for some of Homer's milder antics. Case in point - the Bellydancer episode in which Homer boogies with a dancer at his friend's bachelor party. ONE episode prior, Marge genuinely considered cheating on Homer, and actually began the journey to he cuckolder's apartment before changing her mind at a convenient crossroads. Maybe it's her guilt over this earlier incident that leads her to react so strongly to a pretty innocent act on Homer's part, or maybe she just holds Homer to higher standards than she does himself. Maybe she thinks Homer is so lucky to have her that he shouldn't even consider a glance at another woman. In the last episode of the season (and one of the best), she is easily swayed by Dr Marvin Monroe that Homer is the cause of all of her woes, and is all ready to ball him out when he gets home - but for what? Season One Homer is nothing but a doting father, husband and mild buffoon.
I'm about to start Season Two. Looking at the episodes, it contains some pretty great Early Simpsons, including the one where Bart, Milhouse and Martin buy the comic book together and the Ringo Starr cameo. It's really not too long until Classic Simpsons territory now. I was trying to think of the golden age episodes I was most looking forward to, and at the moment the fear of flying episode tops the list, if mostly for the Homer-centric opening act, and the Cheers cameos.
Marge's behaviour in Season 1 is at times downright unreasonable. She seems far more willing to forgive herself than to forgive Homer - as I recall this changes later as Homer becomes less put upon and more jerkish. But by the end of Season 1, we've been given at least two episodes in which Marge flies off the handle for some of Homer's milder antics. Case in point - the Bellydancer episode in which Homer boogies with a dancer at his friend's bachelor party. ONE episode prior, Marge genuinely considered cheating on Homer, and actually began the journey to he cuckolder's apartment before changing her mind at a convenient crossroads. Maybe it's her guilt over this earlier incident that leads her to react so strongly to a pretty innocent act on Homer's part, or maybe she just holds Homer to higher standards than she does himself. Maybe she thinks Homer is so lucky to have her that he shouldn't even consider a glance at another woman. In the last episode of the season (and one of the best), she is easily swayed by Dr Marvin Monroe that Homer is the cause of all of her woes, and is all ready to ball him out when he gets home - but for what? Season One Homer is nothing but a doting father, husband and mild buffoon.
I'm about to start Season Two. Looking at the episodes, it contains some pretty great Early Simpsons, including the one where Bart, Milhouse and Martin buy the comic book together and the Ringo Starr cameo. It's really not too long until Classic Simpsons territory now. I was trying to think of the golden age episodes I was most looking forward to, and at the moment the fear of flying episode tops the list, if mostly for the Homer-centric opening act, and the Cheers cameos.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
The Simpsons #2
1.4-1.10
Surprisingly high quality already. The bowling episode (I forgot how close Marge gets to cheating on Homer) and the Statue of Jebadiah Springfield episode in particular are pretty funny in parts. Apart from the animation and odd voices, a lot of people complain that the early ones are generally light on laughs, and they're kind of right - the gag ratio really rockets in two seasons or so. But the thing is, and it's probably just because The Simpsons is so large a part of a lot people's youths, they're never not charming. I can pretty much happily watch any episode of the Simpsons. It's never a chore, an opinion that will hopefully last for the next 21 seasons.
Surprisingly high quality already. The bowling episode (I forgot how close Marge gets to cheating on Homer) and the Statue of Jebadiah Springfield episode in particular are pretty funny in parts. Apart from the animation and odd voices, a lot of people complain that the early ones are generally light on laughs, and they're kind of right - the gag ratio really rockets in two seasons or so. But the thing is, and it's probably just because The Simpsons is so large a part of a lot people's youths, they're never not charming. I can pretty much happily watch any episode of the Simpsons. It's never a chore, an opinion that will hopefully last for the next 21 seasons.
Tuesday 15 March 2011
The Simpsons #1
1.1-1.3
It's easy to forget after 22 seasons that in the third ever episode, Homer Simpson tries to kill himself. His character, along with Black Smithers, is probably what sets it apart from later, greater Simpsons episodes. Early Homer is already somewhat characterised - dumb, oafish, (incredibly) quick to anger - but is far more dialed back. His zaniest, most Classic Homer-like moments are offset by the recurring themes of dedication to his family and to being the breadwinner. He's far from lazy, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to causes. It's like someone along the way had concerns about the occasionally downright prickish Modern Homer being at all likeable, especially in the show's early days. In the first three episodes we don't see too much Bart, which is good because the early Bart episodes tend towards the supremely annoying; I can just see kids wanting to be this pretty obnoxious tearaway icon. I don't think I was one of them, but for all I know I could've been. It's also noteable that three episodes in, Lisa is essentially not a character. Every episode she'll say one clever thing to show what they're going for, but she's a sketch at this stage.
It's easy to forget after 22 seasons that in the third ever episode, Homer Simpson tries to kill himself. His character, along with Black Smithers, is probably what sets it apart from later, greater Simpsons episodes. Early Homer is already somewhat characterised - dumb, oafish, (incredibly) quick to anger - but is far more dialed back. His zaniest, most Classic Homer-like moments are offset by the recurring themes of dedication to his family and to being the breadwinner. He's far from lazy, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to causes. It's like someone along the way had concerns about the occasionally downright prickish Modern Homer being at all likeable, especially in the show's early days. In the first three episodes we don't see too much Bart, which is good because the early Bart episodes tend towards the supremely annoying; I can just see kids wanting to be this pretty obnoxious tearaway icon. I don't think I was one of them, but for all I know I could've been. It's also noteable that three episodes in, Lisa is essentially not a character. Every episode she'll say one clever thing to show what they're going for, but she's a sketch at this stage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)