THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

A Grand Dont Come For Free - The Streets

Not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure and actually for a those that do enjoy this genre I think most would say 'Original Pirate Material' is a stronger album overall but for me this is one of my all time favourite albums.

For those that aren't familiar with The Streets work, this album is written more in the style of a short novel with each track representing a chapter of a period in the writers life.

Certainly some tacks are better than others but in the context of each chapter referencing the previous and next its very clever. A small note on that, there's a continuity gap in that for some reason a track didnt make it onto the album that chronologically should have sat somewhere in the middle, rendering some references in other tracks not make sense but the track in question 'soaked by the ale' was weak and appeared on the flip side of 'fit but you know it' which had a decent amount of commercial success. Or maybe it was a running time issue but either way, it was cut.

Its really hard to identify the best track in isolation due to the chapter nature meaning each track sets up the next. Commercially 'Dry your Eyes' and 'Fit But You Know It' did well but for me 'Blinded by the Lights' or 'Empty Cans' are the strongest offers.

Give it a go, you will know within two minutes if its one for you or not so if you dont like the first track, its odds on you wont like the rest.

Yeah, it's a brilliant album.

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I don't need your ill-informed, half-baked, idiotic opinions. I have plenty of those myself.

I gave it a play, with no preconceptions. It's not for me. It had the same effect on me as muzak. Happy that you love it though - it would be a dull old world if we all liked exactly the same things.

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I don't need your ill-informed, half-baked, idiotic opinions. I have plenty of those myself.

Quite liked A-Punk when it came out, and bought this album on the strength of that. Very much doubt if I've played it since. A-Punk is a great single though.

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They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

Rocket To Russia - The Ramones

I play this more than any other record I own. I bought it for 79p in a second hand record shop we used to basically use as a clubhouse back in Glasgow in the late 70’s, early 80’s. It was run by an old hippie couple (old! I’m guessing they must’ve been in their 30’s at the time), and they had stacks of 2nd hand records. This was one of the more recent additions. They had no real idea of how much to charge for stuff, hence the 79p price tag. The shop didn’t last very long. The hippie dream was a bit of a hard sell in late 70’s Govan.

It’s a brilliant record, and lasts exactly how long it takes me to clean the kitchen. That’s why it’s my most played album.

Best track, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kynpOa5BIKM

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They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

Exile On Main Street - The Rolling Stones

Put it on before you go out. It’s a perfect Friday night record. There isn’t a bad track.

They were never better than they are on this. Absolutely at the height of their powers, with Mick Taylor’s playing lifting them to heights only an aspiration for their peers.

Recorded in Keef’s South of France bolthole Villa Nellcôte, and finished off in LA. Tumbling Dice is on this, but my favourite has always been Happy. I love Keef’s voice, and he was never better than on this ragged piece of wonder. Not only was Mick Taylor playing out of his skin, this is without a doubt Charlie Watts’ greatest work, and when you consider what he’s done before and after, that’s saying something.

Best track, Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBcFjNUzFJ0

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They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

Fuck me! I've just found them... https://johnuptonartisthommage.wordpress.com/

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They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

There's a fantastic documentary about them called The Insatiable Ones that I think you'd like. I'm not a particular fan of theirs, but I must've watched that three or four times. It's a good watch.

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They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

Pink Moon - Nick Drake

I became so obsessed with Nick Drake that I visited his grave. Not once, but twice. Famous for both being almost impossible to cover, and almost never having played live, Drake is still to this day an enigma. My favourite song of his, Cello Song, isn’t on this album, but Pink Moon is widely considered his masterpiece. Recorded over a couple of nights, with just Nick on guitar, apart from a small piano motif on the title track.

If you think that you don’t like folk music (which I don’t) listen to this. The sound of someone pouring his inner turmoil out in the most wonderful way imaginable. Then when you’ve done that, go and listen to Nick’s entire back catalogue, and then go visit his grave, twice!

Best track, Pink Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgHdUeM ... Lud5orBpVq

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They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

The only disagreement I'd have here is I think the best track is 'All Down The Line'.
Oh and I'd hardly disagree with you over your selection of The Ramones RTR in the following post. Is this the 12 inch special (pardon?) heavy duty weight vinyl you raved about some months ago? (See; notwithstanding evidence to the contrary I DO read posts properly!)

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Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment