Blur versus Oasis

Parklife versus Definitely Maybe

These 2 albums are probably the quintessential Britpop albums, both from the same year (1994 - separated by 4 months), and is pretty much where the media starting wetting itself about "it's The Beatles vs The Stones again".  No it wasn't it, it was 2 bands - one from the north, one from the south - releasing their statements which chimed with the times and the public lapped it up.
So ...

Blur started life as a bit of a baggy-copyist band riding on the wave of Happy Mondays-esques indie-dance stuff.  They scored a hit with "There's No Other Way" followed by a relatively disappointing album 'Leisure'.
In some debt, they released "Popscene" (the record where Britpop started?) followed by the album "Modern Life Is Rubbish" - an album bathed in the Britpop aesthetic and celebrating their culture in the face of Grunge.  Sadly for Blur, Nirvana and Pearl Jam proved to be slightly more popular, and "Modern Life ..." didn't do the business.
Still being in debt did not obviously dent Blur's creativity, and the next album was written and recorded relatively painlessly and relatively quickly - although record label boss Dave Balfe though it was an error, and not a great album.
The public obviously disagreed and 'Parklife' debuted at number one and hung around the consciousness for the best part of 2 years.

Meanwhile, somewhere up north ...

A small-time rehersal room band are joined by the singers older brother.
He's got a couple of songs for them to try, and a vision for how the band should operate.
They tag along with a friends band to Glasgow and blag their way onto the bill.  Alan McGee is in the audience that night and is impressed.
Their first recording (proper) was a white label demo of "Columbia" sent out to journalists and radio stations to some acclaim.
The lead single followed ("Supersonic") in April 1994 - just as 'Parklife' hit the shelves - and the album - 'Definitely Maybe' - came in August 1994.
Too much too quick?  Could they keep it up?
Fortuitously they had hit a rich seam of crowd-pleasing anthemic songs perfectly in tune with the collision of Britpop, Cool Britannia and Lad Culture.  This particular wave was going to be surfed ...



"Girls & Boys" vs "Rock n Roll Star"
"Girls & Boys" is really lightweight - it smacks of "there you go, the hit single you were asking for Mr Record Company".
"Rock n Roll Star" meanwhile comes storming out full of attitude, sneering and over enunciated lyrics, backed up with a wall of noise.
When Liam says: "Tonight, I'm a Rock n Roll Star" you believe him.
One Nil to the Mancs.
Blur 0 Oasis 1

"Tracy Jacks" vs "Shakermaker"
Like his (obvious?) influences in the Great Britsh songbook - Ray Davies, Paul Weller, Ian Dury ... - the storytelling-songwriter has a few "character" songs in their armoury, and this is one of Damon's finest.
"Shakermaker" contains a direct lift from The New Seekers, but is dripping with attitude.
But not enough attitude to beat the story of a middle-aged banker (with a girl's name) having a bit of a crisis.
Blur 1 Oasis 1

"End of a Century" vs "Live Forever"
The Blur track starts on a wistful acoustic type mood, and rises to an anthemic crowd pleaser - probably with one eye on continued use 6 years later to mark the millennium (sadly, they never really got the better of the popular media's obsession with Europe's 'The Final Countdown').
"Live Forever" screams as a hymn for current belief an immortality - "hope I die before I get old"?  not these boys.
Blur 1 Oasis 2

"Parklife" vs "Up in the Sky"
Mockney Geezer-ish narrative versus (with the best will in the world) Oasis-By-Numbers - very good Oasis-By-Numbers, it just "needs" something else to lift it after that opening triumvirate.
Yes, "Parklife" is overplayed, but it's still a great track.
Oi Oi - it's the equalisier
Blur 2 Oasis 2

"Bank Holiday" vs "Columbia"
"Bank Holiday" is Blur's finest punk statement (before 'Song 2') - all thrash and abandon with shouty vocal.  And ordinarily, Punk (for me) would win, but this is "Columbia" - one of the finest things in the Oasis catalogue - no wonder it got 20 odd plays on Radio 1 in it's first week of delivery as a white label demo.
Blur 2 Oasis 3

"Badhead" vs "Supersonic"
The thing about the 'Parklife' album is that it contains a bit of diversity - "Badhead" is one of those different tracks. You feel you've heard it before, and then it sounds all so fresh again, then reminiscent - all in the space of 16 bars.  There's also a certain yearning and/or apology in the vocal delivery.
"Supersonic" is cut from the same cloth as other tracks - it is a very fine, head splitting track.  But, I have to call-out the terrible rhyming couplets here - "I'm feeling supersonic, give me gin and tonic" is not a great lyric
Blur 3 Oasis 3

"The Debt Collector" vs "Take Me Away"(B-side of "Supersonic" (1st single from the album))
Every album should have one track of accordian-driven oompah music somewhere on it.  Maybe not, but Blur obviously didn't get the memo.  It's not a bad track, just a bit throwaway.
"Take Me Away" didn't even make the album, and was stuck on the B-Side of debut single "Supersonic".
It proves Oasis can do subtle acoustic-y things rather than just straight bombast.  I get why it never made the album, but it is one of Noel's under-rated tracks and deserves more than a partially forgotten B-Side.
Blur 3 Oasis 4

"Far Out" vs "Bring It on Down"
You remember that diversity thing about 'Parklife'?  Here's another example - a Syd Barrett-esque whimsy on the Planets.  Fine in the context of the album, but unlikely to become a live favourite (note: if nothing else, it proves Alex James has a half decent singing voice).
"Bring It On Down" suffers from that Oasis-By-Numbers problem, but it is somehow vital Oasis-By-Numbers
Blur 3 Oasis 5

"To the End" vs "Cigarettes & Alcohol"
Franglais Europop lines up against a T.Rex knock-off.
That old diversity thing is on show again producing a song that evokes 60s pop, and very probably featured the vocal work of Francois Hardy (in fact, she did record a version later).
"Cigarettes and Alcohol" can be taken as a theme song for lad culture, and has been used for a series of compilations celebrating football and going out on the p*ss (often to a soundtrack mostly seated in 1979 power pop).  It is a fine, pummeling track, and even the extra points gained for the intonation and lengthening of vowels ("Imgagin-aaaa-shun", "Sun-she-iine" etc), can't stop victory for the southerners.
Blur 4 Oasis 5

"London Loves" vs "Fade Away" (B-side of "Cigarettes & Alcohol" (last single from the album))
The Blur track is all fine and dandy, but never really goes anywhere.  The Oasis track is proof positive that Noel kept back all the best tracks for B-Sides.
Blur 4 Oasis 6

"Trouble in the Message Centre" vs "Digsy's Dinner"
"Message Centre" sits fine in the context of the album, but is unlikely to be considered as an essential track.  Plenty going on, unmistakably Blur, great bass, drums an guitar.  But all a bit filler-y.
In the midst of all the Beatles copyists accusations, let us not forget that Oasis may also be the prime Slade copyists of the 90s too.  And with this track they've never really sounded more Slade-ish.  A rare trick - to sound like someone else, and still be unrecognisably yourselves.
Blur 4 Oasis 7

"Clover Over Dover" vs. "Slide Away"
Blur continue to try and be a bit different with a song (seemingly) based on a Medieval madrigal.  Lyrically it's a bit banal, with some levered in rhyming that Noel would be proud of.  Like "Message Centre" above, this track does feel more like it's filling a gap on the album rather that an intrinsic part of it.
"Slide Away" is perhaps the most under-rated track on the Oasis offering.  The wall of sound is here and topped off with Liam's strained vocal just makes it something a bit special (maybe not "deep" or "innovative" - just "special")
Blur 4 Oasis 8

"Magic America" vs "Married with Children"
'Parklife' suffers from a bit of Side 2 tiredness, and "Magic America" is no different - nice enough but not really pushing the album forward anymore.
"Married With Children" shows an unexpected mellower side to Oasis.  And if you hadn't heard "Take Me Away", this would be the first time you realise there's a bit more to Oasis than guitars on 11 and Liam sneering at you.
Blur 4 Oasis 9

Authors Note: Due to the mismatch in the number of tracks, I have added some B-Sides from the lifted singles by Oasis.  Still being 3 tracks short, I have now added the "Whatever" single (released December 1994).
This is (I think) also around the time the Media started to take notice and draw up the Blur vs Oasis (made up) battle lines

"Jubilee" vs "Whatever"
Blur combine Punky thrash and a character song with a quite mad shouty chorus.  It's a good track with some fine Graham Coxon guitar playing.
"Whatever" is the point Oasis start doing the big orchestral epic thing.  With the opening strings reminiscent of Neil Innes's "How Sweet To Be An Idiot", this track was the subject of an ironic plagiarism case where current-day Beatles copyists (Oasis) now have to pay royalties to someone who was responsible for producing a whole albums worth of (almost perfect) Beatles pastiches.
Blur 4 Oasis 10

"This Is a Low" vs "(It's Good) to Be Free"
On first hearing, "This Is A Low" just sounds like a recitation of the hipping Forecast mixed with bad rhymes.  But oh no, this is where Blur get a bit epic.  It's best consumed live for full goose-bump effect, but is equally good on record.
"It's Good To Be Free" is an Oasis B-Side - unfortunately it's not one of those "Good Enough To Be An A-Side" tracks.  Nice enough, but falls just short
Blur 5 Oasis 10

"Lot 105" vs "Half the World Away"
More of Blur's diversity on show, but this is 1 minute 15 seconds of seaside organ silliness with a side order of Music Hall.
"Half The World Away" is a reflective acoustic track expressing a yearning to be elsewhere.  It came to the attention of a wider audience when used as the theme for "The Royle Family"
(funny, but not so funny when you've experienced your ex-in laws playing out many of the scenarios for real)
Blur 5 Oasis 11


This is Blur's defining moment, and they've been trounced by five oiks from Manchester.  Maybe Dave Balfe was right, but 5 million punters can't all be wrong.
Blur would soon move on - the follow-up 'The Great Escape' showed Blur to be more than just another guitar band and had a desire to be a bit different (even if the public, or the media, weren't quite ready for it) whilst Oasis would refine (and some say "perfect") Britpop with 1995s 'Morning Glory'.
After that though, and I say this as a fan of Oasis, it all got a bit "stodgy", whereas Blur at least stayed interesting, almost re-inventing themselves with every release.
In this case, Oasis won the battle, but Blur probably won the War.


Oasis - "Rock n Roll Star"

Blur - "This Is A Low"

A Decadal Round Up

Right ... the end of a decade.
Or is it?
The Calendar went from 1 BC to 1 AD, meaning there was no Year 0.  Therefore, a decade with a year ending in 1 and concludes with a year ending in 0.
But this would muck up the naming of decades a la Roaring 20s, Swinging 60s, Cheesecloth 70s, Non-descript Noughties etc.
So, for the sake of simplicity, sheepishness, and to match the media celebrations of "The Best (whatever) Of The Decade", I've looked back over previous lists, spreadsheets, CD shelves and the big pile of un-shelved CDs next to the stereo and arrived at the following 10 albums representing the best of each year.

I entered the decade 7 months shy of my 40th birthday, and with my CD shelves full to over-flowing.
I exit the decade 7 months shy of my 50th birthday, with additional CD shelves that are full to over-flowing, and writing guff on a computer screen.
So what have I learnt?

1. You can do nothing about chronology - your destiny is to get older (it doesn't mean you have to grow up though)
2. Ikea have had a fair bit of cash out of me buying new shelves (they may have had less, but they kept changing the colour schemes and designs).  I'll be back there later this year to buy some more
3. A transition to Streaming Services may solve the storage problems, but THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! More physical product please.
4. Over 10 years, I've bought around 800 "things" (some new, some old, some picked up for 50p at a charity shop, some donated to me from those clearing out/downsizing (I like people like this - all donations gratefully received) - of all of those, I would guess only around 10% have been consigned to the "play once, never again" pile.  Not a bad hit rate
5. (the serious bit)  Writing this blog thingy has been a help to me personally.  It has given me something to focus on, think about, and get away from "pressures".  I'm not suggesting that I have had major issues, but some mental health issues have reared their head recent times (I think it's my age, maybe I'm due a full on mid-life crisis soon?).
   I also read/follow other blog doo-dahs and chuck a few comments on there.  I am happy to say I have never been chased away, and it has given me a bit more confidence with the stuff I write on here.
   I'm not fishing here, but receiving positive comments is always welcome - indeed it makes me feel like I'm not shouting in the darkness, and what I am saying/writing is not complete twaddle. To those that have commented on my past ramblings, I thank you.
   You've made a happy man very old.

So ...

10 Albums From 10 Years:
Is it simply a case of revisiting my year-end posts and picking number 1?
In most cases, Yes.  But (a) I didn't start writing this rubbish until 2012, and (b) not all the chosen number 1s remain the chose number 1s anymore (many do, but the outstanding features of other choices have blossomed further)

2010: John Grant - Queen Of Denmark
John Grant's debut is one of those unimpeachable debut albums - see also The Ramones, The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Joy Division and a fair few others (but maybe not Paul Young?).
A collection of songs mixing confessional, anger, wit and dark humour.  Sadly - although later songs have hinted at it - this is a peak he has not yet re-climbed.
Track: "Queen Of Denmark"

Other contenders:
Iron Maiden - 'The Final Frontier'
Len Price 3 - 'Pictures'
Manic Street Preachers - 'Postcards From A Young Man'
P J Harvey - 'Let England Shake'

2011: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
When Oasis imploded in 2009, it was another 2 years before the Gallagher name returned.  Liam's attempt was (in fairness) sub-Oasis, whilst Noel took his Oasis past, add a little more to it and threw out a confident and assured solo debut.  He's continued to push on from here - always sounding much the same, but with enough tweaks to the sound to remain interesting.
Track: "Stop The Clocks"

Other contenders:
Noah and The Whale - 'Last Night On Earth'
Pierces - 'You & I'
Ron Sexsmith - 'Long Player, Late Bloomer'
Vaccines - 'What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?'

2012: Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks
Paul Weller has been around for a fair few years and the albums are always rewarding.  Always pushing forward and never one to rest on his laurels, 'Sonik Kicks' found him going down the Motorik drumbeats route with even a touch of Chemical Brotheres and Hawkwind for good measure.
'Sinik Kicks' remains (for me) the best of the Weller solo outings (above 'Stanley Road' and 'As Is Now')
Track: "That Dangerous Age"

Other contenders:
Dexys Midnight Runners - 'One Day I'm Going To Soar'
First Aid Kit - 'The Lions Roar'
Public Image Limited - 'This Is PiL'
Richard Hawley 'Standing At The Skys Edge'

2013: Steve Mason - Monkey Minds in the Devil's Time
A concept album (or at least a continuing musical arc) that sustains interest from moment one, despite containing some relatively downbeat and melancholic moments.  The musical "journey" is just right lifting to joyousness when required, and mixing a whole raft of musical styles together.
Track: "Oh My Lord"

Other contenders:
Frank Turner -'Tape Deck Heart'
Paul McCartney - 'New'
Public Service Broadcasting - 'Inform, Educate, Entertain'
Steven Wilson - 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)'

2014: Stiff Little Fingers - No Going Back
11 years since their last album and the return of original bass player Ali McMordie saw Stiff Little Fingers release an album as strong as anything they've done before and as valid to current times as any other band around them.
Funded through (the now defunct) PledgeMusic, this album hits it funding target within 24 hours.  They may not be the most well known band in the world, but they've probably got the strongest and most loyal fan base.
Track: "Since Yesterday Was Here"

Other contenders:
Ben Watt - 'Hendra'
Henry Priestman - 'The Last Mad Surge Of Youth'
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - 'What Have We Become'
Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey - 'Going Back Home'

2015: Public Service Broadcasting - The Race For Space
The first PSB album took Public Information Films and mixed the narrative with purpose-written tunes to create an insight to a pat world of progress and triumph.
A Similar conceit was employed here against a backdrop of the US/Russia Space Programmes and the eventual triumph (As promised in the opening dialogue from JFK) of the Moon Landings.
Track: "Go!"

Other contenders:
Cathal Smyth - 'A Comfortable Man'
Courtney Barnett - 'Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit'
Iron Maiden - 'Book Of Souls'
Public Image Limited - 'What The World Needs Now'

2016: Madness - Can't Touch Us Now
Another act from the late 70s showing others how it can, should and will be done.  National Treasures In Waiting returned with an album that properly followed 'Norton Folgate'.  Prime, accessible songwriting, top notch tunes and performances to match.  Live they remain a fantastic event.
Track: "Don't Leave The Past Behind You"

Other contenders:
Iggy Pop - 'Post Pop Depression'
Ruts DC - 'Music Must Destroy'
Steve Mason - 'Meet The Humans'
White Denim - 'Stiff'

2017: Conor Oberst - Salutations
World weary tales delivered in rich melodies matched with emotion and brittleness.  It can sometimes be a tough, but ultimately rewarding listen.  Warmth shines through the delivery, and the songs soar and never tire.  Generally received middling reviews, but this is the standout release of the year for me, and still (in 2019) makes regular re-appearances in the CD player
Track: "Gossamer Thin"

Other contenders:
Duncan Reid & The Big Heads - 'Bombs Away'
Len Price 3 - 'Kentish Longtails'
Sparks - 'Hippopotamus'
The Professionals - 'What In The World'

2018: Wreckless Eric - Construction Time & Demolition
Not getting sucked into the media circus after his big moment (1978's "Whole Wide World") has given Wreckless Eric the freedom to persue his craft, and then come up with a lo-fi classic like this one.  Chock full of tunes and delivered by a voice of experience.
Track: "Gateway To Europe"

Other contenders:
The Damned - 'Evil Spirits'
Manic Street Preachers - 'Resistance Is Futile'
Spiritualized - 'And Nothing Hurt'
Suede - 'The Blue Hour'

2019: Richard Dawson - 2020
Folk troubadour meets Indie meets Captain Beefheart meets Ken Loach, complete with tales of modern life (and often an anguished modern life).  Every track tells a story - some make you think (for at least a second), others just make you marvel at turn of phrase, a seemingly humdrum or non-sequitor type lyric.  Most songs mange to do both.
Is this an album of songs or a sociology lecture from the future?
(yes, this is a copy of the 2019 Musical Things text posted a couple of weeks ago)
Track: "Game Of Two Halves"

Other contenders:
Liam Gallagher - 'Why Me? Why Not?'
Mattiel - 'Satis Factory'
Fontaines DC - 'Dogrel'
Specials - 'Encore'

2019 Musical Things

A lot of people have asked me: "so what was your favourite album of 2019?".

Actually, no-one has asked me this question, but I'm going to tell you anyway.

However, being the properly decisive person that I am, I have arrived at the point where I have 3 number one albums.  Is that cheating?  Probably, but I can't make a strong enough case in my mind for one over the other - I nearly can, but not so I feel properly confident.

And so ...

1= Richard Dawson 2020

Folk troubadour meets Indie meets Captain Beefheart meets Ken Loach, complete with tales of modern life (and often an anguished modern life).  Every track tells a story - some make you think (for at least a second), others just make you marvel at turn of phrase, a seemingly humdrum or non-sequitor type lyric.  Most songs mange to do both.
Is this an album of songs or a sociology lecture from the future?

Choice Track = "Jogging"

1= Liam Gallagher - Why Me? Why Not?
He's back - and understated as ever.  This is a combination of the Rock n Roll Star of old, with a slight maturing and broadening of the (sometimes restrictive) musical pallette.
A real step up from his debut, and it sounds like he's in a good place.
Choice Track = "Once"

1 = Mattiel - Satis Factory
Eclectic in it's influences and sound - Tarrantino movies, Northern Soul, Garage Rock, Velvet Underground, a bit of grunge - all mixed together to make 40 minutes of anyone's time worthwhile.
Every track has a difference and a re-assuring similarity.
Choice Track = "Keep The Change"

4. Fontaines DC - Dogrel
There is a well worn cliche that says "an assured debut".  Well, that is exactly what this is.  Assured, confident, full of swagger.  There are moments when the high bass notes and crashing drums leave you in no doubt of their influences.  Take equal parts Joy Division, The Fall and The Pogues, and you're not far away from Fontaines DC.  Irish Post-Punk at it's finest.
Choice track = "Dublin City Sky" (possibly the best song Shane MacGowan never wrote)

5. Specials - Encore
Their legacy is assured after the first 2 albums.  So did they need to come back 30 years after their debut?  Would they sully the memory by doing "The Specials By Numbers"?
Absolutely not - this album is just as valid as their first outings, maybe imbued with more experience, a wider world view, and not always needing to go full pelt at everything (although the accompanying live disc somewhat disputes that).
Choice track = "Embarrassed By You"

6. Richard Hawley - Further
Something magical happens when Richard Hawley plugs in an electric guitar.  I wish he'd do more with the same abandon as this album.  The louder moments mix finely with the archetypal Richard Hawley baritone balladry.  8 albums in 18 years, and I'd say this is his best.
Choice track = "Off My Mind"

7. The Who - Who
If I'd have had longer with this one, it would probably be higher, but number 7 on one months listening is pretty good going.
They've been there before, done that before, but haven't done it this well since 1978.  Having spent 3 decades treading water (granted they haven't been active all that time) they have no produced a worthy follow-up to their classic period.
Choice track = "All This Music Must Fade"

8. Wreckless Eric - Transience
As I said last year, it would be a crying shame if Wreckless Eric is only ever known fro "Whole Wide World".  And like last years album, this one is comparatively lo-fi on production and big on ambition.
The songs are smartly arranged and drag you in, almost demanding to be listened intently.  Eric's songwriting chops are clearly on show - shame that it's somewhat after his "peak public appeal" of around 40 (!) years ago.
Choice track = "Father to the Man"

9. black midi - Schlagenheim.
Like Fontaines DC above, there seems to be a bit of a Post-Punk revisit going on in 2019.  This album is both brilliant and infuriating in equal measure, and quite mad into the bargain.
Take a bit of Can, a soupcon of Talking Heads, and then imagine the bastard child of Alex Harvey and Shirley Bassey over the top.  See? Quite mad, but also locked in the CD player draw for a good few weeks
Choice track = "Ducter"

10. Frank Turner - No Mans Land
Frank Turner continues his descent to edgy acceptability on Radio 2, but now delivers a top notch set of songs.  His last couple of albums have been big on production sheen, short on quality (just my opinion!).  This time round, he's still got the sheen but has delivered in the song department.
Choice track = "The Death Of Dora Hand"

11. Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
The bombast of old may no longer be on regular show, but his American Folk Hero side (Woody Guthrie-esque?) continues to do a fine job.  Widescreen, expansive, filmic even - these are descriptions that fit.  There is probably a fantastic album in here to a Springsteen fan.  Not being a big Bruce fan myself, I can see why lots of people fell over themselves with this one - me, I mark it as very, very good (or good enough to make number 11 anyway)
Choice Track = "Sleepy Joe's Café"

12. Elbow - Giants Of All Sizes
I admit this was purchased out of some sort of "Trainspotter completeness" mode.  To be honest, I feel Elbow have been a a downward slide since 'The Seldom Seen Kid', and Guy Garvey's voice has gradually got more grating.  But this one surprised me - the songs, the playing and the voice all work.  I can almost forgive them for the terrible 'Little Fictions' from a couple of years ago.
Choice Track = "White Noise White Heat"

13. Divine Comedy - Office Politics
Neil Hannon knows how to pen a great tune and match it with wry lyrics, and tell some fine stories.  Divine Comedy albums often take a bit of listening to fully "get", but when they do it's time well spent.  There are moments here when you fell he's been let loose in the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.  My only criticism is that I felt it went on a bit, and found it a bit laboured in the second half.
Choice track = "Norman and Norma"

Re-Issue
The box set no-one has been talking about.
Whilst many others are expounding the greatness and perfection of 'Abbey Road' (and very good it is too, with all those extra demo versions and stuff), my vote goes to the Not The Nine O'Clock News re-issue of all their 4 albums (well 3 and a live one) in a perfectly formed box - and not a novelty hedgehog or "I Love Reginald Bosanquet" badge in sight


Event
Continuing the 'Abbey Road' referencing, the event of the year for me was undoubtedly Mark Lewisohn's Hornsey Road.
This really was manna for the Beatles nerd, and I (like others in the audience) lapped it up from start to finish.  The detail, minutiae and trivia was beyond compare - I hope there's a DVD becuase there was so much to take in I've probably forgotten more than I remember.
"Golden Slumbers" / "Carry That Weight" / "The End"

The Who - Who

13 years after the last release, The Who (or 50% of them) return with a new album.
2006s 'Endless Wire' was (at best) OK - it got a bit bogged down in the Concept/Mini-Opera attempt, and a couple of good songs were lumped in with a fair few so-so tracks.  And the performance and delivery felt a bit half-hearted.
No problem this time round - their sounding refreshed, even valid.  OK, there is a little bit of a "looking back at the glory days tone" but Pete is writing some good songs, and Roger's vocals are just as powerful as ever.
Replacing the missing 50% of The Who are long time band members Zak Strakey and Pino Palladino (on the majority of tracks) plus hired hands ably filling the void.

There have been many reviews suggesting this album is their best since the mid-70s.  The true reference here was "their best since Quadrophenia".  Personally, I think that is unfair to 'Who By Numbers'.  But if we must make back catalogue comparisons, I would say it is the equal (if not better) than "Who Are You', and certainly better than the post-Moon outings (Sorry, Kenney Jones)

Pete & Rog seem to have found a much more comfortable way of collaborating - one where Pete's studio ego does not take over and Roger just goes along with it (or walks out).
They must have come together at some point, but the bulk of the writing and demoing was done by the wonders of the internet.

"All This Music Must Fade" opens with a Hammond Organ drone, and than the vocal kicks in - to paraphrase Alan Partridge "Classic Who".  A slightly angry, urgent vocal with a mellower Pete Townsend counter-vocal.  Drum banging and bass burbling, acoustic guitars and power chords in equal measure.  A top start to proceedings.
"Ball and Chain" keeps the sound coming - sounding both like The Who, then not, and then settling back to The Who when Rog starts singing.
"I Don't Wanna Get Wise" has a bit of "Baba O'Riley" going on (not for the last time on this album", but yup it's The Who again.  And "Detour" gives a nod to their first name and then sounds like a re-working of "Magic Bus".
4 tracks in, their are recognisably back - maybe not to their best, but somewhere near.
"Beads On One String" is perhaps a bit wistful and moves slightly off template.  This is restored by "Hero Ground Zero" (note the string version of "Baba O'Riley" here).  It starts slowly, but I reckon this would be a killer live track.
"Street Song" is adequate and fills the gap - no pulling up trees here.
Definitely not sure about "I'll Be Back" - it's all a bit Hotel Lounge Jazz.  This is a sole Pete vocal, and I just wonder if it was on these e-mail collaborative tracks that Roger either declined, or just doesn't have the voice for.
"Break The News" tries hard, but is bogged down in a Mumford and Sons style arrangement, which just doesn't work.
After a couple of mis-steps "Rocking In Rage" almost redeems the previous tracks, even sounding like (possibly) a 'Tommy' out-take.  Plenty of strings, but with a title including the word "Rage" you just want it to explode a bit more.
The Who may have invented the "Epic Closing Track" idea - not here though, "She Rocked My World" (like "I'll Be Back") just sounds out of place on this album.
Nice enough, but sounds like it may have been a demo for a different album re-visited to fill the time.

My comparison to 'Who Are You' is based on the fact that like that album, as a whole it works.
Some very good tracks up against some (possibly) average ones.
I don't want to get all excited and 5 Star it just because it's the return The Who, but it does sit pretty well in their canon and contains at least 3 (soon to be) live staples if they keep touring
(Both Pete and Roger are in their mid-70s - health things are catching up with them - and Pete said recently that he doesn't really enjoy being on stage anymore)

But ... welcome back, and thanks for not just going through the motions, and actually delivering a fine album


"All This Music Must Fade"

"Hero Ground Zero"

Who's Next versus Sticky Fingers

Both these albums come from 1971 and mark a point where the careers changed direction and these two bands vied for the title of "The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World".

For The Rolling Stones, their contract at Decca had ended, as had their management relationship with Allen Klein, and they now had the freedom to organise their own affairs.  They formed their own Rolling Stones Records company, with the intention of owning and controlling their copyrights and recordings.
However, the relationship with Klein was not completely over as he retained control of all their Decca recordings up to 1969 (including the 1970 Live album 'Get Your Yas Yas Out').
The first product of this new label came in April 1971 with the release of the single "Brown Sugar", followed a week later by the 'Sticky Fingers' album.  They took their blues influences, the country influences, and their live experience, mixed it all up and delivered 12 tracks of supreme quality.  The bass and drums are as tight as ever (if not at their tightest), Mick and Keith spar in perfect harmony, and Mick Taylor's soloing is top notch throughout - there is an argument (unresloved) that Taylor deserved a co-writing credit for at least 2 tracks here where his input changed the direction of the original songs ("Sway" and "Moonlight Mile"), and certainly for "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" where his solo constitutes around half the song.
Sadly for Mick Taylor, that co-write credit has never happened.

The Who had come off the back of sustained touring and success of 'Tommy', and recently put out the 'Live At Leeds' album - this had confirmed their position as an incendiary live proposition.
Never one without ambition, Pete Townsend began working on his next concept album - Lifehouse.
Pete was unable to fully convey the story to his bandmates and producers, and very likely got a bit lost in the madness of it all.
'Who's Next' was effectively a "salvage job" by producer Glyn Johns of the Lifehouse songs, but without the concept/narrative arc Pete intended.  And what a salvage job it was - Pete Townsend has explained, re-explained, and sometimes become obseesed by his Lifehouse vision, but would it have been a better album than this one?  It would have to be something special to out-gun 'Who's Next'.


Are these the best albums either band ever released?  Very probably.
I would argue the merits of 'Quadrophenia' over 'Who's Next', but that's my opinion - you're entitled to your own opinion (but you'd be wrong!)
Others may argue that 'Exile On Main Street' eclipses 'Sticky Fingers'.
I often found that, due to it being a double album, 'Exile ..' can outstay it's welcome, and for it's brevity 'Sticky Fingers' is indeed the Stones peak.


'Who's Next' has one track less than 'Sticky Fingers', so to to ensure a fair fight "Pure and Easy" has been added at track 2 (which is where I think it may have sat in the Lifehouse story (or at least, my interpretation of how the Lifehouse story flows))

"Baba O'Riley" vs "Brown Sugar"
Hmm ... this isn't going to be easy.
2 tracks which vie for the title of Greatest Opening Tracks ... ever.
"Baba O'Riley" with it's burbling synth and shared vocal between Rog and Pete is a phenomenal piece of work.
But then, "Brown Sugar" is just about the greatest guitar riff committed to vinyl.
It's close, but "Brown Sugar" takes it by a nose - purely for it's immediacy - "Baba" takes a little while to get going, "Brown Sugar" is right there in yer face
Who 0 Stones 1

"Pure And Easy" vs "Sway"
After those openers, "Pure and Easy" sounds a little lightweight, but it has enough about it to question why it never actually made the final cut.
"Sway" is the Stones at their ragged best.  Mick Jagger's (near) slurred delivery carries the song, and there is so much going on behind it.  Not least Mick Taylor's fine solo in the middle.
"Sway" is the victor here
Who 0 Stones 2

"Bargain" vs "Wild Horses"
"Bargain" has just about everything going for it - it is recognisably The Who.  The guitar, bass and drums come together perfectly to compliment Roger's vocal.
But ... "Wild Horses"is just dripping with emotion (achingly beautiful?).
It looks like Mick n Keef n Mick n Bill n Charlie are running away with this.
Who 0 Stones 3

"Love Ain't for Keeping" vs "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"
On first hearing, "Love Aint For Keeping" sounds a bout filler-y/throwaway.  Listen again - it's a a necessary party of the 'Who's Next ' whole.  There is so much going on behind the track.
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" runs for over 7 minutes and is dominated by Mick Taylor's guitar.  Problem is it never really goes anywhere, or indeed concludes itself.Brilliant though it is, you do find your attention wandering as the guitar and Bobby Key's sax fight it out.
The 'Oo get one back
Who 1 Stones 3

"My Wife" vs "You Gotta Move"
The point for "Love Ain't For Keeping" is aided by it's almost seamless mood and style transition into "My Wife".  Not part of the original Lifehouse concept, but keeping up the tradition of having at least 1 John Entwistle track per album, this one is, without a doubt, the best track he penned for The Who.
In comparison, the Stones go deep into swampy blues territory.  All well and good, but it can't surpass The Ox's masterpiece
Who 2 Stones 3

"The Song Is Over" vs "Bitch"
"The Song Is Over" is a fine song and one that would fair better if Pete's Lifehouse vision could've been fully realised.
But up against "Bitch" ... Sure, it may not be an un-adulterated Stones classic (when did you lat hear it on the radio?), but it has got so much groove (and plenty to spare) and that horn section is damn near perfect.
Who 2 Stones 4

"Getting in Tune" vs "I Got the Blues" 
"I Got The Blues" is another aching Blues workout, nearly pulling the same emotion trick as "Wild Horses" and adopting a similar horn trick to "Bitch", but for me never quite does it.
"Getting In Tune" is a showcase for Roger's vocal, and the power of his voice over the lead guitar, lead bass and lead drums all fighting for attention win this one through.
Who 3 Stones 4

"Going Mobile" vs "Sister Morphine"
"Going Mobile" almost nicks it's introduction from Christie's "Yellow River", but after that (and this might be partly down to Pete's vocal) it all feels a bit flat
"Sister Morphine" was originally a Marianne Faithful track a couple of years before (featuring much the same band) - the Stones version just adds a dollop of sleaze.  This is one intense track.
Who 3 Stones 5

"Behind Blue Eyes" vs "Dead Flowers"
Right, in any normal competition, 'Dead Flowers' would be unassailable.  But this is up against "Behind Blue Eyes".
And there is so much going on - the opening vulnerability, rising to an anger (especially in the second section)"Behind Blue Eyes" finds Roger inhabiting the song character and shows extreme vulnerability and anger in equal measure.  Great track, great playing, great performance ... and another point for The Who
Who 4 Stones 5

"Won't Get Fooled Again" vs "Moonlight Mile"

"Won't Get Fooled Again" meets the criteria of always close on an epic" ... and then some.
"Moonlight Mile" is a fine piece of work, always threatening to explode somewhere and then always reining itself in.  And the strings are a bit tasty too.  But I'm not totally convinced it's an album closer.
I'm tipping my hat to The Who again,
Who 5 Stones 5

It's a draw.  An honourable draw perhaps.
But, that's no good.  You came here to find out which is best.
So how do we do this ... do we roll forward to their next album's ('Exile On Main Street' and 'Quadrophenia')? I've sort of done that above.
Consider the merits of their previous live albums?  Both essential documents of these bands live performances, and of no help whatsoever in declaring supremacy.
Or .. as I'm writing this tosh, do I get the deciding vote?

Both these are probably their best albums, but 'Sticky Fingers' can flag in a couple of places over it's 40-odd minutes.  By comparison, 'Who's Next' is a corker from Soup To Nuts - it starts at the top, and finishes on an even higher plain.  And the stuff in the middle is more than decent.  For it's consistency I have to award the victory to 'Who's Next'

My Wife

Dead Flowers (Live at The Marquee).

A version that leaves you in no doubt just how good a guitar player Mick Taylor is/was

Blondie versus Ramones

More specifically, 'Parallel Lines' vs 'Road To Ruin'

Both CBGBs alumni, both recorded in New York in early spring/Summer, and both released (within a few days of each other) in September 1978.
For one group it was to be the commercial breakthrough (certainly in the UK), for the other it was to be a consolidation of their (relatively) cult success.

Musically, both of these fall into the "Punk-Pop" bracket - Blondie being heavier on the "Pop", Ramones ploughing the "Punk" furrow

Both have new members in their line-ups for 1978.
Frank Infante, who had been on a hired-hand on Bass duties for "Plastic Letters" is now a full-time member (switching to Rhythm Guitar) and Nigel Harrison joining on Bass.
For the Ramones, Tommy retreated from the drum stool to be full-time producer, and was replaced by Marky (late of Richard Hell & The Voidoids - another band graduating from CBGBs).

'Parallel Lines' is the point where the world changed for Blondie - they managed to hit the top 10 is most regions (including number 1 in the UK) and spawned 3 Top 10 Singles (including 2 number ones"Sunday Girl" and "Heart Of Glass").  The Ramones manged to creep into the Top 40 albums, and only one of the three singles extracted ("Don't Come Close") managed to crawl into the lower reaches of the chart.

If I'm honest, 'Parallel Lines' is the best thing Blondie ever did, and 'Road To Ruin' is not the strongest of Ramones albums - a one-sided contest with an obvious winner?  We shall see ...


There are 12 tracks on each album, so no re-jigging or adding singles, demos, outtakes etc required (all I've done is switch a couple of tracks to line-up the cover versions)

"Hanging on the Telephone" vs "I Just Want to Have Something to Do"
Both great opening tracks - no "easing in", it's "Bang!" and we're off.
The point has to go to Blondie because of the added urgency in their track
Blondie 1 Ramones 0

"One Way or Another" vs "I Wanted Everything"
"One Way Or Another" is massively repetitive, but will stick in your ears for a good while.  Hardly surpirsing that latterly it was used on TV adverts, and boy band cover version.
Ramones may have wanted everything, and it comes roaring out of traps, but this is another point for Blondie
Blondie 2 Ramones 0

"Picture This" vs "Don't Come Close"
The first single to be released from 'Parallel Lines' and nestled into the Top 10 - a sign of things to come.
But this is one the finest songs in the Ramones catalogue, and no matter how sultry Debbie Harry looks in the video, it's one back for the Ramones
Blondie 2 Ramones 1

"Fade Away and Radiate" vs "I Don't Want You"
"Fade Away ..." slows things down.  "I Don't Want You" doesn't - it's not quite as breakneck as other tracks, and does have a massive chorus.  Unfortunately, it never really lifts to another level.
Despite that, on the strength of the (very simple) chorus, it's the equaliser
Blondie 2 Ramones 2

"Pretty Baby" vs  "Bad Brain"
("Bad Brain" is really the penultimate track, but I have re-jigged it here to line up the two cover versions)
"Pretty Baby" is no slouch, but "Bad Brain" is classic Ramones - full on 100MPH and no let-up.
Ramones sneak the lead
Blondie 2 Ramones 3

"I Know But I Don't Know" vs "I'm Against It"
"I Know But I Don't Know" is Frank Infante's first (and only) solo composition for Blondie.  In some ways, it doesn't truly fit on the album.
"I'm Against It" is a list of stuff Joey doesn't like bolted to an archetypal Ramones thrash.  It also includes a common lyrical trope, mixing childlike references, politics and American culture
"I don't like playing ping pong,
I don't like the Viet Cong,
I don't like Burger King,
I don't like anything"
But despite all that, I think (and this is going to sound perverse as I said it doesn't feel like it fits), "I Know ..." takes the point.  It's case is also helped by having a whiff of The Pixies about it - I wonder if Black Francis had a copy of this album?
Blondie 3 Ramones 3

"11:59" vs "I Wanna Be Sedated"
Whilst "11:59" is a really strong (if relatively un-hrealded) Blondie track, "Sedated" is in the top 5 essential Ramones tracks (alongisde "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Rockaway Beach" and "Something To Believe In").  No question where the point goes this time round
Blondie 3 Ramones 4

"Will Anything Happen?" vs "Go Mental"
"Will Anything Happen" is another Jack Lee song (the writer of "Hanging On The Telephone"), and is almost as pummeling and relentless as a fair few Ramones tracks - prime Power-Pop.
"Go Mental" is an apt title for the musical pallette on offer, but - and it pains me to say this - if your looking for light and shade on the Ramones album you won't find it, and "Go Mental" just doesn't do enough to lift itslef above "standard"
Blondie 4 Ramones 4

"Sunday Girl" vs "Questioningly"
"Sunday Girl" is pure pop, and one track that never seems to fade by over-familiarity.
"Questioningly" is the hoped for light and shade spoken of previously.
But against "Sunday Girl" it's not going to cut it
Blondie 5 Ramones 4

"Heart of Glass" vs "She's the One"
You have to admire the sheer balls to bung a disco track into the middle of a Power-Pop album, and extra points for the "build from the bottom up" technical exercise involved.
"She's The One" is an exceedingly competent track, and one that is even better live, but "Heart Of Glass " takes it, and creates a bit of daylight in the scores.
Blondie 6 Ramones 4

"I'm Gonna Love You Too" vs "Needles and Pins"
And so the battle of the cover versions (in this case Buddy Holly versus The Searchers).
The Blondie cover is faithful to the original, if revved up (and all the better for it).
A cover of a Searchers track may seem an odd choice for the Ramones, but I'm guessing they were probably more conversant with the Jackie De Shannon version.  The arrangement and delivery wins it for the Ramones - they've never sounded so jangly.
Blondie 6 Ramones 5

"Just Go Away" vs "It's a Long Way Back"
The best the Ramones can hope for now is a draw.  Unfortunately "It's A Long Way Back" does not sound like an album closer - it's just a bit laboured.  Proper fodder for the middle of the album, but not the final track.  In truth, it's not a million miles away from a Flamin' Groovies track (the distinctive Joey Ramone vocal has never sounded so close to the Groovies).
"Just Go Away" on the other hand rounds off 'Parallel Lines' in fine style.  And the backing vocals always raise a smile.  It also has a proper ending courtesy of Clem Burke's drum roll.  "It's A Long Way Back" just sort of crawls to and ending and then stops.

Blondie 7 Ramones 5


Closer than I thought ...


In my ears, the toughest match-up (unfortunately for Blondie) on the albums

11:59

I Wanna Be Sedated

Never Mind The Bollocks versus The Clash

Take two contemporary albums - both cornerstones of a genre, and both superb slabs of debut albumage, and compare/contrast on a track-by-track basis.
Who wins?

The Clash debut is from April 1977, and was the first 33.3 RPM outing for CBS - the single "White Riot" came a month before, and the "Capital Radio" EP (featuring 4 songs not on the album, or (in truth) 1 song, a brief excerpt of a track and a 2 part interview) appeared at the same time.
The album was modified for release in the US with 4 tracks knocked out and replaced by "Complete Control", "(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais", "Clash City Rockers", "Jail Guitar Doors" and "I Fought The Law" were added - can't improve on perfection?  The US version very nearly does.

'Never Mind The Bollocks' was the long awaited Sex Pistols debut arriving in October 1977.  It contained all 4 singles to date and 8 other prime cuts.
The band themselves were nearing breaking point - Glen Matlock (the bass player) had been sacked to be replaced by Sid Vicious (not the bass player), and there was very little mileage left.  Indeed by January 1978, John Lydon had left and there were only to be 8 more original songs would be added to the catalogue (plus a few more cover versions).

A note on production: The Clash debut was produced by their sound man Mickey Foote, whilst the Pistols secured the services of Chris Thomas (previous work including production for Roxy Music, mixing of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' and (un-credited) Production Assistant duties on The Beatles' 'White Album').
Whilst 'The Clash' can sometimes sound sparse, almost amateur-ish, 'Never Mind The Bollocks' is at the other end of the spectrum almost sounding claustrophobic with mutliple guitars layered over each other.

'Never Mind The Bollocks' only has 12 tracks, 'The Clash' has 14 – so with a little bit of re-jigging (ie adding a couple of B-Sides), let battle commence:

"Holidays in the Sun" vs "Janie Jones"
Every album needs a strong opener, and the sound of marching jack boots broken by a near copy of The Jam’s In The City riff fits the bill.  But Janie Jones is one of those damn near perfect “Album 1 Side 1 Track 1” moments.

Sex Pistols 0 The Clash 1

"Bodies" vs "Remote Control"
"Bodies" continues the NMTB onslaught with one of their finest riffs, a mad story and some choice sweary bits.
"Remote Control" is not one of The Clash’s strongest, and an odd choice for a single.  You can see why they were annoyed with CBS (on the plus side, it did give the world “Complete Control”)

Sex Pistols 1 The Clash 1

"No Feelings" vs "I'm So Bored with the USA"
"I'm So Bored with the USA" is a great track but just cannot compete with the riffing and sneering of "No Feelings".  The Pistols take the lead

Sex Pistols 2 The Clash 1

"Liar" vs "White Riot"
A bit of a one sided match-up here – 2 minutes of righteous fury and a seeming call to arms versus one of the weaker Pistols tracks.  "White Riot" probably deserves 2 points here, but it’s the equaliser anyway.

Sex Pistols 2 The Clash 2

"God Save the Queen" vs "Hate and War"
Another uneven match – despite all the familiarity, controversy, hoo-hah etc, "God Save The Queen" is one phenomenal track

Sex Pistols 3 The Clash 2

"Problems" vs "What's My Name"
Both competent, although "What’s My Name" just edges it in my ears.  I’m tempted to award half a point each, but the incessant stating of “Problems” on the play-out just gets on my wick (why can’t they just finish it on a nice piano flourish, or an explosion, or something else?)

Sex Pistols 3 The Clash 3

"Seventeen" vs "Deny"
Nothing on The Clash debut could be classed as “filler”, but "Deny" is (for me) on of the lesser tracks.  "Seventeen" scores the point (and not just because it could be my theme song – I am a lazy sod)

Sex Pistols 4 The Clash 3

"Anarchy in the UK" vs "London's Burning"
The most even match of the contest, and similar sentiments in both - now is the time for a change.
"Anarchy" wins, no "London’s Burning" wins, no "Anarchy", no "London's Burning".  Can’t split them. They’re both as urgent and exasperated as each other.  Half points each.

Sex Pistols 4.5 The Clash 3.5

"Submission" vs "Career Opportunities"
"Submission" always sound a bit laboured, whilst "Career Opportunities" is constantly on the money – urgent, direct, not outstaying it’s welcome.  (And not even the Sandinsta version with Micky Gallagher’s kids singing does not sully it)

Sex Pistols 4.5 The Clash 4.5

"Pretty Vacant" vs "Cheat"
Nip and tuck all the way so far, and a score back for the Pistols again.  Why?  Because this is Pretty Vacant.  OK, this might be a trick of production, but I doubt a slickly produced version of "Cheat"(with Topper’s drums on it) would beat "Pretty Vacant".

Sex Pistols 5.5 The Clash 4.5

"New York" vs "Protex Blue"
"New York" is a veiled attack on Malcolm McLaren, "Protex Blue" is a song about buying rubber johnnies.  For that reason, it wins.

Sex Pistols 5.5 The Clash 5.5

"No Fun" (B-Side of "Pretty Vacant") vs "Police & Thieves"
The cover version moment:
"No Fun" is straight out of the rehearsal room, "Police & Thieves" shows more ambition in it’s choice and execution.

Sex Pistols 5.5 The Clash 6.5

"Satellite" (B-Side of "Holidays in the Sun") vs "48 Hours"
"Satellite" should’ve been on '... Bollocks' (at the expense of "Problems", "Liar" or "New York" in my opinion).  The song is one of the best in the Pistols canon – "48 Hours" just can’t compete

Sex Pistols 6.5 The Clash 6.5

"EMI" vs "Garageland"
Ooo – a decider (and not a contrived one – honest)
"EMI" tells the story of the Sex Pistols time at the titular record label, "Garageland" is an answer to Charles Shaar Murray who said "The Clash are the kind of garage band who should be returned to the garage immediately".
Both songs of overcoming adversity – but only one ends with a raspberry blown in the general direction of their detractors.  And for this childish but amusing finale, "EMI" wins through.

Sex Pistols 7.5 The Clash 6.5

'Never Mind The Bollocks' wins - just!