Graeme Downes (ex Verlaines) 'Hammers and Anvils'
Graeme Downes
Hammers and Anvils (Matador 2001)
This was (2001) the long awaited solo album from founding, (back in the early 80's) ,Verlaines singer/songwriter & without doubt one of the pioneers of the New Zealand pop/rock scene. Downes plays all the instruments (guitar, trumpet, clarinet etc) on this self titled debut. With strong lyrics throughout, this is somewhat a mixed release, nonetheless the finer moments are indeed quite brilliant & shows what this 'almost' legendary composer is capable of when at his best. In between the better tracks I suspect much is a matter of personal taste; some might say his music is sublime & at the other end others too mellow & quite boring. What also may be missing or at least different for past followers of Verlaines is the absence of a band & possibly the spontaneity that a groups presence provides.Given past achievements of Verlaines this is a fair addition for followers of Graeme Downes work & for those interested in New Zealand pop/rock generally, such as The Clean, The Chills etc.
Buy this album from Matador here or for those in Australasia via Flying Nun's preferred supplier here.
http://url2share.com/bf51f
posted by MoogPower @ Tuesday, October 03, 2006
13 comments
13 Comments:
Track List:
01. Hammers And Anvils
02. Cole Porter
03. Alright By Me
04. January Song
05. Cattle, Cars And Chainsaws
06. Day Of The Dead
07. Shoreleave
08. Song For A Hollywood Road Movie
09. Gucci
10. Getting Out Of It
11. Sunday's Kickaround
12. Rock 'N' Roll Hero
13. Mastercontrol
Do not forget Chris Know and the Tall Dwarfs :) !
Naturally, but I think that should read Chris Knox....Tall Dwarfs.
Like most Flying Nun releases I have a large collection on vinyl.
Cheers!
Good stuff.. The Verlaines 'Death & The Maiden' top NZ song of all time?
This reminds me a little of Paul Westerberg's solo records.
G'day Cap...That's a BIG call, but I'd have to say that wouldn't be far off the mark. Still it's very hard to single out just one track - that's not my forte.
I can hardly ever, (music, books etc) get things down to just one of something. Maybe a group of books or albums, but I always feel there are too many 'great' things to select just one.
That's me...possibly not very decisive!
Hhhmmm & I'd also have to agree with your assessment of this relating it back to Westerberg's solo efforts. Indeed I can see some similarities, but still vast differences.
I'm not afraid to suggest the idea of making a big call, but less confident of actually making it!
I'd put David Kilgour, Bailterspace and The Clean up there at the top with The Verlaines.
For this week, at least :-)
Cap...I hear what you're saying...
But I find your order, for 'this week' at least, somewhat confusing esp. given that David Kilgour is by in large The Clean. I suspect here you are separating his solo work from band work.
I liked him also in The Great Unwashed, although they were somewhat shortlived.
I agree about Verlaines; there was something more complex about them than let's say The Bats & I think lyrically they were on top of the heap. JPS Experience had there moments as did the Sneaky Feelings, but certainly were not The Verlaines!
The Chills however when at their best were the undisputed masters (in my opinion) of a magical pop song.
And I agree with 'our' anon friend above; The Tall Dwarfs were rather special. Whilst much of the early (especially) Flying Nun material was home recording style, it was Chris Knox who virtually invented the Lo-Fi genre, that has been copied over & over & made quite popular in relatively recent times with that entire Lo-Fi 'movement' (if you can call it that).
However, The Tall Dwarfs (Chris Knox) was rather eclectic from the outset & in the early 80's they/he was something totally 'out of the box' - Louis Likes his Daily Dip.
Bailter Space (who I did like), I'd put alongside The Gordons. Both of their first albums I thought were excellent, but they were doing something totally different to the above mentioned.
I will not forget putting The Gordons first album on (1981?) & hearing the first track 'Spik and Span'....so loud & powerful. It was something totally different to the 'New Wave', neo psych, or even some punk/hardcore bands I was mainly (but not exclusively) into back then.
Cheers!!
All great stuff.. we could wobble on endlessly about this. Must have a beer sometime!
Yep, I'm separating Kilgour from the Clean, chiefly because of the wonderfulness of two solo albums: 'Sugar Mouth' and 'Frozen Orange' - I love them both.
He, he...I'm sure we could go on endlessly; 'tis fun!
And I want you to drop back next week with a new order. :)
Hi,
Your blog is really great, both bucolic and musical, I should say.
I'm French and writing from Madrid, Spain, where Australia's and New Zealand's music is very much appreciated. I have just been hearing the Graeme Downes record and I am wondering if you could post the David McCOMB 'Love Of Will' CD as well as his 'Setting You Free' E.P. I loved the TRIFFIDS (and still do to this day!) and think David McComb was among the best songwriters from 'down under'. Too bad he left us...
Thanks for your great job!
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