Alternative Rock
Blues
Children's
Christian & Gospel
Classic Rock
Country
Dance & DJ
Folk
Hard Rock & Metal
International
Jazz
Miscellaneous
New Age
Pop
R&B
Rap & Hip-Hop
Rock
|
|
Label: Ape House
Release Date: 2002-12-09
List Price: $34.99
Buy Now: $10.56 - $32.99
|
|
(Import)
Additional Info: Tracks Reviews
Partridge warbles another fine set of demo gems (4 stars)
Fuzzy Warbles Volume Two gathers more gems from Andy Partridge's dusty hall closet. While not as immediately compelling as the first volume, #2 has a number of tracks that can hold their own with the best the XTC songwriter has written. The James & The Giant Peach demo Everything'll Be Alright proves that Disney was really acting Goofy when they elected to go with Randy Newman (the squable was over rights and money which is a pity as, despite Newman's great back catalog,Partridge's songs were clearly superior).The XTC charity release I Don't Want To Be Here is the hit single that never was. Recorded by Andy and Colin (Dave Gregory wasn't around), this terrific song has a lilting melody and strong performance. It's actually not really a demo but a complete recording with Andy & Colin playing all the instruments. The loopy It's Snowing Angels and Wasp Star outtake Ship Trapped in The Ice are nice obscurities that any hardcore XTC fan will need to add to their collection. Oh, and the studio banter recorded during the false starts for That Wave are funny as all get out. Andy does a killer impersonation of The Cure's Robert Smith and Bob Dylan. Now we finally know what an XTC tribute album including these artists would sound like. |  | | | Short and Sweet (5 stars)
Although shorter than Vol. 1 (50 mins.), this collection contains a better selection of Andy Partridge's warbles. Ship Trapped In The Ice is now one of my favorite XTC songs (even though they never recorded it). Some ideas would be fully fleshed out on other album songs but you can't deny the genius of Young Marrieds, Ra Ra for Red Rockinghorse or It's Snowing Angels. Get into the mind of greatness. [DW] | | | | Splendid collection of demos (5 stars)
Not the most appropriate introduction to the music of Andy Partridge, and not for the casual XTC fan, but well worth it for those who know what to expect from a man whose demos are usually as highly produced as the final versions. Highlights from this volume: "I Don't Want To Be Here", unfortunately left off Wasp Star, "Everything'll Be Alright", from Andy's ill-fated James and the Giant Peach soundtrack, and "Ship Trapped in the Ice", about XTC's travails with Virgin Records. Even if you already have many of these tracks on the various boots floating around out there, it is almost worth purchasing this disc solely to get your hands on "I Don't Want To Be Here", which isn't in fact the demo version but rather one done in the studio with Colin on bass and second vocals! | | | | Abject No Subsidiaries (5 stars)
Less varied than Fuzzy the First, volume II kicks in with "I Don't Want To Be Here" (after an introductory warm-up serving of moog noodles), follows with "Young Marrieds," continues with a near perfect answering machine message...
I can't get these melodies out of my head, which is not uncommon for Andy or XTC. There is a great blend of never-before-released material and the obligatory completist demo tracks here, and the disc vacillates languidly betwixt and between the two.
Yes, the Dukes are well represented as well, albeit as alternate identities to the already alternate identity which identifies them already. (Got that?) Completists should have no complaints about the content here, and if future volumes ... offer notes (and coins) as appealing as these, that trend should continue. Unlike Fuzzy 1, however, the liner notes seem less interesting. Perhaps the novelty was wearing off; perhaps Andy got tired of writing; perhaps the real liner notes were confiscated by a former record label or manager, and these were hastily substituted only minutes prior to pressing. Who can say? Who will say?
My redheaded stepchild (no, really) is already singing "Everything'll Be Alright," which makes me want to pack up and move to Swindon, buy the house next door, and convince Mr. P to go ahead and take the less-than-generous deal those movie makers across the pond made (next time) and see what doors it might open down the road. (I feel I've mixed a metaphor there, but some things can't be helped.)
Get this disc for that brother-in-law whose CD collection spans the length of a city block and keep it for yourself. He'll wind up getting his own anyway, you know. | | | |
|
|
|
Buy $10.56 - $32.99
Artist's Music
Artist's Memorabilia
Artist's Discography
Music Downloads
MP3 Players
iPod Accessories
Music Posters
Concert Tickets
Internet Radio
Satellite Radio
|