The Soundtrack To My Life | The Unravelling Of Al Cook...

The Soundtrack To My Life. 07/03/2015.

Record: Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance.
Year: 2015.
Artist: Belle And Sebastian.

Belle And Sebastian’s best record in some time, if you ask me. I was pretty surprised and impressed to find a Euro-Disco track in the middle of the album but yep, that’s just what they’ve done. Suits them too…

Record: A Mighty Wind (OST).
Year: 2003.
Artist: Various.

I’d never seen this film until recently. LOVED IT! Loved ALL the songs in it! Especially this one…

Record: Dracula’s Deuce.
Year: 1964.
Artist: The Ghouls.

I went looking specifically to find some sort of Horror themed Surf music and found ‘Dracula’s Deuce’ by The Ghouls. It’s exactly what I was after! Imagine an entire album of tracks by a band that sound like early Beach Boys meets early Chuck Berry where every song sounds a bit like ‘The Monster Mash’? EXACTLY what I was looking for…

Record: Foundations Of Burden.
Year: 2014.
Artist: Pallbearer.

I found Pallbearer through Pitchfork. I never read Pitchfork reviews but they seem to keep a better eye out for new bands than I do so I occasionally drop by there to see if anything catches my eye and the artwork to Foundations Of Burden did just that.

I liked this band just fine. I think they’re musically interesting. I think they have a good sound. I think they can be hard and rough when they want to and gentle and melodic when they try. But the only thing is that Black Sabbath did all of this years ago.

Record: Shadows In The Night.
Year: 2015.
Artist: Bob Dylan.

For the first time in YEARS, Dylan has made a record that does almost zero for me. What we have here is a collection of Sinatra songs that have been covered hundreds of times before by various artists and that’s kind of my problem with it.

Dylan says that they’ve been covered so many times that these songs have almost been buried. I think he was aiming to put a bit of life back into these songs and I love that he recorded them all live but for me personally, Dylan doesn’t add anything to the likes of ‘What’ll I Do’ for me. But then again, nobody could add anything to that song for me. Not since I first heard Harry’s version…

Record: It’s A Big World Out There (And I Am Scared).
Year: 2013.
Artist: Kurt Vile And The Violators.

Kurt Vile. That name stood out to me in a Reddit forum thingy in which Tom Waits fans were recommending music to each other so I got this album. I don’t see why so many fans of Tom Waits’ music recommended Kurt Vile. I thought it was all a bit bland but I like this track…

Record: Hide.
Year: 2013.
Artist: The Bloody Beetroots.

I got a hold of this record solely because I heard and liked the name, The Bloody Beetroots. I dunno what I was expecting. That’s the fun of going in blind like that. This was the only track I liked from the record…

Record: Dawn Of The Dead (OST).
Year: 1987.
Artist: Goblin.

I’m a sucker for soundtracks and I like to listen to Horror soundtracks especially when I can’t sleep and wander around Glasgow. But y’know, Goblin’s music for “Dawn Of The Dead” doesn’t really do anything for me on its own without the film. I dunno why because I really like the soundtrack! It just doesn’t work for me on its own without the film…

Record: EP.
Year: 2005.
Artist: The Fiery Furnaces.

I’ve liked The Fiery Furnaces ever since I heard their ‘Bitter Tea‘ record years ago…

Record: Harry.
Year: 1969.
Artist: Harry Nilsson.

I’ve always had lots of time for Harry Nilsson and last week I found this record in Glasgow for £2.00. A Canadian Import seemingly. It has Nilsson’s great cover of The Beatles’ ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ on it…

Record: Fox Confessor Brings The Flood.
Year: 2006.
Artist: Neko Case.

When Andrea recommended the soundtrack and film, “A Mighty Wind”, she also hit me with hundreds of other artists and albums she thought I may like and I’m working my way through those at the moment. I was glad to be introduced to Neko Case and this ‘Fox Confessor Brings The Flood’ album. I don’t like the album cover and so I bet I’ve passed this by when I’ve been record hunting. Anyway, I’m glad I found it eventually because it’s a brilliant record and really well produced too! So far, this is my favourite track from it…

You May Also Be Interested In…
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 07/01/2015
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 09/04/2014
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 14/02/2014

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on March 7, 2015 at 13:32 Leave a Comment
Tags: A Mighty Wind, Alan Cook The Soundtrack To My Life, Belle And Sebastian, Bob Dylan, Goblin, Harry Nilsson, Kurt Vile, Music Recommendations, Neko Case, Pallbearer, Soundtracks, The Bloody Beetroots, The Fiery Furnaces, The Ghouls, The Soundtrack To My Life 07/03/2015

The Soundtrack To My Life. 07/01/2015.

Record: Storytone (Deluxe Edition).
Year: 2014.
Artist: Neil Young.

Old Neil Young sure does know how to convince me into getting a ‘Deluxe Edition’ of a record like nobody else. In the case of ‘Storytone’, he’s released the album twice. Each version being completely different.

The first record is a solo effort with Neil on the type of form he was on when he did ‘Philadelphia‘, and the second record, (Maybe my favourite), is that record again with overtly lush and downright Disney-esque orchestration. And it completely works!

Here’s my favourite song from ‘Storytone’…twice…

Record: Bathtub Love Killings.
Year: 2014.
Artist: Olivia Jean.

Olivia, you had me at “The name of my album is called ‘Bathtub Love Killings’, based on a serial killer from the 1800’s.”

Olivia Jean fronts (Or fronted?) one of my favourite bands of the last few years, The Black Bells, and this is her solo record. I think I read somewhere that she had these songs kicking around and thought they weren’t suitable for The Black Bells and so, encouraged by Jack White, she put this record together.

So far, this is my favourite song from ‘Bathtub Love Killings’…

Record: Mysteriis Alienis Mundi.
Year: 2013.
Artist: The Taikonauts.

I was listening to Man Or Astroman recently and I decided that I needed more bands like them in my life so I went looking and found The Taikonauts! That was a fucking piece of luck because y’see, I always thought that ‘Psychobilly’ was something that it isn’t. I remember someone telling me about ‘Psychobilly’ being a genre of music and I remember being very interested just on the word alone! But Psychobilly was nothing like I’d imagined it was gonna be. To me, it was a total letdown. What I was really after was Horror/Sci-Fi Surf music! That’s what I originally thought Psychobilly was! But it wasn’t. And that’s where The Taikonauts come in…

Record: Absurdistan.
Year: 1997.
Artist: Laika And The Cosmonauts.

After discovering The Taikonauts, I was hooked on Sci-Fi/Horror Surf music so I went on the hunt for more and immediately found Laika And The Cosmonauts. At first I thought they were a late 60’s band. They’re not. But the reason I originally thought they were was because the first thing I saw of theirs was this video…

Record: Songs From Zombex (OST).
Year: 2014.
Artist: Various.

“Zombex” is a zombie film by Jesse Dayton who is the main man behind one of my favourite horror bands, Captain Clegg And The Night Creatures. The film is not for me. It’s cheap and the acting is terrible and not in the good way. However, the soundtrack is right up my street and Captain Clegg And The Night Creatures even feature on it! You can only download this album right now but you can listen to a sample HERE.

Record: Yells From The Crypt.
Year: 2005.
Artist: Various.

Listen To This…

Record: Pura Vida Conspiracy.
Year: 2013.
Artist: Gogol Bordello.

I like Gogol Bordello but this record is too tame for me. Nothing stood out. I’ve come to expect shit like THIS from them…

Record: Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes.
Year: 2014.
Artist: Thom Yorke.

I wasn’t into Thom’s first solo record, ‘The Eraser’, but I fucking LOVE this new one! It was released via BitTorrent and at just over £3.00, you can’t argue with that…

Record: Clangers. Original Music from The TV Series And More…
Year: 2001.
Artist: Vernon Elliot.

Record: The Bootleg Series Vol.11: The Complete Basement Tapes. (6 Disc Version).
Year: 1967/2014.
Artist: Bob Dylan & The Band.

I’ve been waiting for YEARS to hear these tapes like this. 6 Discs is probably gonna be a bit much unless you’re a Dylan nut like I am but there’s a lot of treasure here. So dig it up!

This is one of my very favourite songs…it’s not lost on me that I say that about hundreds of songs but this really is one of my very favourites…

You May Also Be Interested In…
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 09/04/2014
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 14/02/2014
* The Soundtrack To My Life. 19/01/2014

Published in:

on January 7, 2015 at 12:27 Leave a Comment
Tags: Alan Cook The Soundtrack To My Life, Bob Dylan 'The Basement Tapes', Laika And The Cosmonauts, Music., Neil Young 'Storytone', Olivia Jean, Psychobilly, The Clangers, The Taikonauts, Thom Yorke

The Soundtrack To My Life. 09/04/2014.

Record: “Werewolves On Wheels” (OST).
Year: 1971.
Artist: Don Gere.

I discovered this music and then later, the film, through Rob Zombie. I think ol’ Rob gets a lot of inspiration from “Werewolves On Wheels”. As a film, it didn’t really do a lot for me because I was expecting lots of Werewolves. On wheels! And well, there’s not a lot of that but the soundtrack is great!

Listen To This…

Record: “Blatantly Offenzive”.
Year: 1978.
Artist: Wayne County & The Electric Chairs.

I have no idea how I found out about this band.

Listen To This…

Record: “At Home”.
Year: 1969.
Artist: Shocking Blue.

Shocking Blue. I definitely discovered these folk through Nirvana’s cover of ‘Love Buzz’ on their album, ‘Bleach’. Apparently, Shocking Blue didn’t care much for that cover version.

Listen To This…

Record: “In Heaven”.
Year: 1981.
Artist: The Meteors.
Listen To This…

Record: ‘Perfect From Now On’.
Year: 1997.
Artist: Built To Spill.

A pal of mine recommended Built To Spill for me when i mentioned that I was on the lookout for bands that sounded like Grandaddy.

Listen To This…

Record: ‘The Stray Cats’.
Year: 1981.
Artist: The Stray Cats.
Listen To This…

Record: ‘Mozart’s Requiem, K626’.
Year: 1992?
Artist: Sir George Solti & The Wiener Philharoniker Orchestra.
Listen To This…

Record: “Back In the Game”.
Year: 2011.
Artist: Satan & Adam.

Satan & Adam. I fucking love these guys! I only got into them last year or so. I’d never heard of them before! Except, I actually had! I just didn’t know it. You know that clip in U2’s movie, “Rattle & Hum”, of the two guys jamming out on the street as U2 walk past? Yep. That’s Satan & Adam!

And Here It Is…

Record: ‘Big River’ (7″ Vinyl Single).
Year: 2010.
Artist: Secret Sisters (Featuring Jack White)

On my continuing and endless search for new music, I found myself delving into the signed artists on Jack White’s Third Man Records label. I love Pokey LaFarge, The Black Belles and Beck etc… so that seemed like a good way to find new music. That’s how I found the Secret Sisters. They sound a bit like The Chordettes to me.

Listen To This… Soundcloud Link HERE.

Record: ‘Ocean Floor’ (7″ Vinyl Single).
Year: 2010.
Artist: Hell Beach.
Listen To This…

Record: “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”.
Year: 1973.
Artist: Black Sabbath.
Listen To This…

Record: ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 10. Another Self Portrait (1969-1971). (Deluxe Edition).
Year: 2013.
Artist: Bob Dylan.

A lotta of Dylan fans don’t like his ‘Self Portrait’ album very much. As a matter of fact, a lot that I’ve spoken to don’t like his ‘Nashville Skyline’ album much either. I think those folk are nuts. I’ve ALWAYS loved that period!
‘I Threw It All Away’? Loved it. ‘Country Pie’? Loved it. ‘All The Tired Horses’? Love it. ‘Alberta’? Love it. ‘Days Of ’49’? I fucking love it. I fucking love it all, understand?

This latest Bootleg Series album is a MUST as far as I’m concerned and if you go for the ‘Deluxe’ version, you’ll get the previously hard to find 1969 Isle Of Wight Concert Bob did with The Band.

A Preview…

You May Also Be Interested In…
* The Soundtrack Of My Life. 14/02/2014.
* The Soundtrack Of My Life. 09/01/2014.
* The Soundtrack Of My Life. 08/05/2013.

Published in:

on April 9, 2014 at 13:48 Leave a Comment
Tags: Alan Cook, Brokenglasseye, Music Recommendations, Music., The Soundtrack To My Life 09/04/2014

The Soundtrack To My Life. 14/02/2014.

Record: “Saint Max Is Missing And The Fanatics Are Dead” (2013).
Artist: Saint Max And The Fanatics.
I caught this band live by chance in Glasgow last year because they were supporting Son Of Dave. Kind of like a happy, ska version of The Smiths, they are one of those bands who sound much better live than they do on record. Not that this isn’t a fine album y’understand. It’s just that it’s better to be pogoing with hundreds of other people at the time when you’re listening to Saint Max And The Fanatics.
Standout Track…

Record: “The Men From W.O.M.B.L.E.” (2013).
Artist: Alabama 3.
Well, I never saw this coming. It’s a great record! But I just didn’t see it coming. I can’t find any music videos just yet so here’s a little bit about the album from Alabama 3 themselves…

Record: “Morning Phase” (2014).
Artist: Beck.
To me, this sounds like the kind of movie soundtracks that Badly Drawn Boy comes out with. Which is by no means a bad thing at all. I love Badly Drawn Boy’s soundtracks. It’s just that THIS IS BECK we’re talking about here and this is definitely not “Mutations”.
Sample Track…

Record: “The Big Dream” (2013).
Artist: David Lynch.
I really like David Lynch’s first album “Crazy Clown Time” and I did like this second one but as more of a background record. I listened to it last week as I was drawing a picture and got lost in it but the following day I listened to it through headphones as I walked around town and it bored me stiff. It’s one of those albums. You have to listen to it at the right time, under the right conditions. Like Neil Young’s “Tonight’s The Night”.album and like David Lynch’s work in general really.
Title Track…

Record: “Croz” (2014).
Artist: David Crosby.
This is exactly like you’d imagine a David Crosby 2014 solo record to sound. It’s nice enough but it’s not this…