The Verve:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forth_(album)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_1_(album)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Come_Down

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Hymns
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Northern_Soul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Storm_in_Heaven
I won't intend to direct my personal opinion on this band, but people like me - 40-somethings who believe that music for the most part entered a vast wasteland at some hard-to-pin-down date, but it was sometime in the late 70s, and early 80's Sure, you'll occasionally find a little something that keeps your interest, but nothing compares to the music of your youth. Well, i was proved completely wrong when i first heard the debut album "A Storm in Heaven" this gave me much hope in the early 90's that music would still give me so much pleasure..this album became an obsession, in my listening habits but the CD is still a treasured thing to me, a work of finely crafted beauty. Every track, and they range from dreamy, sensual ballads to trippy psychedelia to bluesy hard-driving rock and roll, is genius, Ashcroft's vocals move the listener from tortured to anguished to hopeful, but they're always beautiful. McCabe's guitar work has to be heard to be believed, but all the music is incredible, in my own personal opinion...The only other album which had the same affect on me was Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here", which to be honest i ate my words about them,because i always thought of them as a far-out pompous old hippy music band..it just goes to show you don't knock something until you've tried it!..I consider this album one of the finest from The Verve..even though around the time it was released, most people i knew let it pass them by..theysaid it's another curtains haircut band who want to make a fast profit..so wrong they where!...after this release the rest was history..need i have say anymore.

I recommend all The verve release's..yes even "Forth"deserve's a listen even though, the band reformed to publicise Mr. ashcroft's solo career and most importantly for the devious money making music industry to make a quick killing!..it didn't work in my opinion, they should never have reformed, and left the music listener to remember them, when The Verve shined with brilliance..

Note: another album which is amongst my faves is "No Come Down" the live version of "gravity Grave" (live at Glastonbury 1993) is well worth checking out..stunning stuff folks...enjoy

Portishead

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_(Portishead_album)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portishead_(Band)#Roseland_NYC_Live_.281998.29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portishead_(album)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portishead_(Band)#Dummy_.281994.29

One night in 1994 i was listening to John Peel (uk radio Dj) RIP..the best ever, and he played a track called "Glory box"..and ended it by saying that was Portishead, to my bewilderment i thought he said he was in session from Portishead, my Hearing isn't the best at times so the following weekend i went into our local record/cd supplier and ask them if they knew a song in the charts called 'Glory box'..at first i got a vacant stare then this customer who was waiting in the queue behind me said the track is by a band called Portishead..to my amazement they had "Dummy" in stock.,which i snatched up straight away, went home opened up the cd, which in them days, most of my music collection was on Vinyl, compact discs where still new to me,..anyway i opened the draw to my cd machine inserted the disc..and what happened next, i will never forget was for the next hour or so i was transfixed by this outstandingly hypnotic beautiful music....

Portishead i consider a English treasure, for the simple reason they have always believed in themselves and haven't just churned out album after album to make a few quid for themselves..it's always been in my opinion quality music at it's best..

It's hard to imagine if most open minded music listeners havent heard this wonderful band, they must have been living in a cave surrounded by wild beasts!..what more can i say?..apart from here's some links to show you how much i highly recommend this English treasure of a band....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czq2RrscmQc

and the rest:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=portishead+roseland+nyc+hq&search_type=&aq=f

Enjoy.

Nick Cave and the Bad seeds :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dig,_Lazarus,_Dig!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_More_Shall_We_Part
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boatman's_Call
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_Ballads

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_Love_In_(Nick_Cave_and_the_Bad_Seeds_album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry's_Dream

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Son_(album)
This band have gave me so much pleasure over the years it's hard to recommend one album to describe the sheer genius of nick cave's songwriting brilliance. the above albums which i recommend contain in my own personal opinion some of the best lyrics ever written to this date, quite a statement i agree, but so very very true..

Note* let me state these are my personal favourites among the Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds releases..if i had to pick a favourite it would be "The boatman's Call" but saying that i love all the above equally.

If you've not introduced yourself to Nick cave and the bad seeds yet, don't take my word for it listen to them..you'll kick yourself for the lyrical songwriting you've missed for years.

Enjoy the experience music lovers.

The Chameleons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Call_It_Anything%3F
http://www.thechameleons.com/releases/sleevenotes.php?recording=5
http://www.thechameleons.com/releases/sleevenotes.php?recording=3
http://www.thechameleons.com/releases/sleevenotes.php?recording=1

it's been a while since i last added to my musical diversity..my absent-mindedness or is it dementia, is getting worse!(:-)...anyway back to this posting..The Chameleons have been a favourite of mine since the 80's when they first appeared on the indie scene..a totally underestimated band of the time, who where overshadowed by the more popular bands from that era..it's hard to believe that this band never made it big, because from the first recording to the last, they have always sounded fresh,even 25 years on they haven't gone stale, or sound dated..the above albums are among my person favourites.

if you want a wonderful slice of 80's/early 90's indie brilliance then give these boys a try, you'll be pleasantly suprised.enjoy....

:Cocteau Twins:

:Cocteau Twins:
You don't have to like the Cocteau Twins in order to appreciate their contribution & impact on
independent music,many a journalist & more than a few famous personalities (Madonna,Prince,Annie lennox,Robert plant,..plus many more') have expressed thier exasperation
over the Cocteau's unique & often overwhelming sounds.
Nevertheless,you'd be hard to find the average individual(including myself!).just what the hell you were talking about,if you stared discussing some of the cocteau's song titles..such as 'itchy glowbo-blows'!
But saying that people around the world know were talking about.Not only that,the amount of great bands that have been inspired by them,dispite this the Cocteau Twins continued to be obscure and yet quite sucessful(not to mention respected by artists around the world.
I myself first heard them on 'The John Peel show'..(bbc radio 1 broadcaster/dj)..a great man by the way if it wasn't for the great 'John peel' the great music & bands around today wouldn't have got any attention or air play..RIP JOHN PEEL!...
anyway back to the Cocteau twins..here's some of my personal favourite's by them.

Treasure:1983: 4AD









Victorialand:1986: 4AD







Blue bell Knoll:1988: 4AD









Heaven or las vegas:1990.4AD







Note* these albums are among my personal favourites..other albums i recommend are
Garlands,Head over Heels,The pink opaque,Four-calendar cafe,Milk&Kisses.
Elizabeth Fraser's voice is just totally unique and beautiful,drawing close comparison;it's been said with Maria Callas!...you can't just call them a 'Scottish indie band'..that wouldn't give them the musical credit the Cocteau twins so rightly deserve...a highly highly, recommended band...check them out, you'll be amazed! :)

This Mortal Coil: It'll end in tears: :1984:

This Mortal Coil: It'll end in tears: :1984:

The debut release of this indie superstar outfit shined! (and still does to this day) in it's glorious emotional beauty...just how can it be so beautiful?..the listener wonders.
The project was put together by 4AD guru Ivo Watts-Russell, which includes groundbreaking UK bands such as Cocteau Twins, Magazine,Dead Can Dance. Considering the Songs are from Musical legends,such as 'Tim Buckley'(the haunting 'song to the siren'),'Alex Chilton' of Big Star,
(the devastating 'Holocaust' and the heartbreakingly beautiful 'Kangaroo')..also Colin Newman of Wire ('not me')you're bound to come up with something that will be remembered& cherished by the 'old-school goths. Production of this album is amazing,the album in all ,is emotional,hypnotic and astonishingly beautifully crafted.
Track listing:
1.Kangaroo.
2.Song to the siren.
3.Holocaust.
4.Fyt.
5.Fond affections.
6.The last ray.
7.Another day.
8.Waves become wings.
9.Barramundi.
10.Dreams made flesh.
11.Not me.
12.A single wish.
Recommended tracks: Song to the siren, Kangaroo, Another day,Holocaust.
note* this album is a classic from the 80's which didn't get the attention that it so rightly deserved..if you want to hear a slice of the finest 80's indie brilliance..then this album is the one to check out.enjoy;)

Nick Drake: Five leaves left. :1969:

Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left.
I introduced myself to Nick Drake a few years back now,...Nick Drake has reached 'cult status' through his tragic death in 1974,,he went vitually un-noticed ,he only recorded three albums.
It's strange listening to a dead man's voice singing and playing in your ears,not that Nick's the only dead artist i listen to,but his music has a entrancing presence to it that i find totally warm hazy, & relaxing at the same time.
His fingerpicking style is just second to none,the way he put's his emotions and feelings on this album is genius..when ever i'm tired of hearing over produced over rated release's sometimes by the up coming artists,i just put this on to remind myself how a musician/songwriter use to be.
Five leaves Left i consider one of the best debut albums of it's time...i find it faultless,the songs have a sweet autumnal feeling to them...i know it sound's slightly 'hippyish man' but this really does capture that period of time in my own un-biased opinion.
If you haven't yet heard Nick Drake,then this is the one to start with.Buy it now!
Tracklisting:
1.Time has told me.
2.River man.
3.Three hours.
4.Way to blue.
5.Day is done.
6.'Cello song.
7.Thoughts of mary jane.
8.Man in a shed.
9.Fruit tree.
10.Saturday sun.
Recommended tracks: River man, Thoughts of mary jane, three hours,Day is done.
Note*Other albums are recommend to are Bryter layter,Pink moon, Time of no reply.(a compilation album) Enjoy:)