Thursday, June 19
One Hit (Album) Wonders
Headless Chickens were a 90's New Zealand grunge band that somehow broke the mold and released something brilliant in their second album, Body Blow.
And then retired back into obscurity with the release of their third album, Greedy, which simply sucked.
Actually, listening to Body Blow yet again today, I realised that of the thirteen tracks, two are indifferent remixes, three are outright bad - including the title track - and one has a strong rhythm and an intriguing sound mix but lame* vocals.
With nearly half of the tracks positively missable, how does this album manage to shine?
Well, it starts out with these:
Choppers
Donde esta la Pollo
Mr Moon
Gaskrankinstation
The sound quality of those clips isn't great, but it gives you an idea of what they achieved.
The common theme that distinguishes all (but one) of the songs I like and the songs I don't turns out to be Fiona McDonald, who joined the Headless Chickens for that one album. The exception is Gaskrankinstation, which is perfectly suited to the grunge style, and perfectly executed as such.**
* The word has become trite, but it's entirely appropriate here. I refer to Railway Surfing. If you've heard it, you'll agree.
** Even if the music video is a bit naff. And it really does benefit from a good quality recording and a good set of speakers.
And here's yet another example of a song that should never have been remade, even if it's by the original artists.
Cruise Control, 1991 Original
Cruise Control, Unknown Remix
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Headless Chickens were a 90's New Zealand grunge band that somehow broke the mold and released something brilliant in their second album, Body Blow.
And then retired back into obscurity with the release of their third album, Greedy, which simply sucked.
Actually, listening to Body Blow yet again today, I realised that of the thirteen tracks, two are indifferent remixes, three are outright bad - including the title track - and one has a strong rhythm and an intriguing sound mix but lame* vocals.
With nearly half of the tracks positively missable, how does this album manage to shine?
Well, it starts out with these:
Choppers
Donde esta la Pollo
Mr Moon
Gaskrankinstation
The sound quality of those clips isn't great, but it gives you an idea of what they achieved.
The common theme that distinguishes all (but one) of the songs I like and the songs I don't turns out to be Fiona McDonald, who joined the Headless Chickens for that one album. The exception is Gaskrankinstation, which is perfectly suited to the grunge style, and perfectly executed as such.**
* The word has become trite, but it's entirely appropriate here. I refer to Railway Surfing. If you've heard it, you'll agree.
** Even if the music video is a bit naff. And it really does benefit from a good quality recording and a good set of speakers.
And here's yet another example of a song that should never have been remade, even if it's by the original artists.
Cruise Control, 1991 Original
Cruise Control, Unknown Remix
Posted by: Pixy Misa at
09:02 PM
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1
They only had two other good songs. This is one of them:
Juice
Can't find Inside Track on Youtube; I'll try elsewhere.
Juice
Can't find Inside Track on Youtube; I'll try elsewhere.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at Thursday, June 19 2008 11:33 PM (PiXy!)
2
90s flashback. Never thought I'd hear myself say that.
Headless Chickens. Theres a band that I'd forgotten about. I've fallen into a bit of a rut. I've not bought a lot of music in the last few years. Let alone listened to the Top 10.
Even Triple J near and dear has given way to podcasts and existing CDs. I have added a few new artists, the Black Keys, KT Tunstall and Newton Faulkner.
Although part of the reason may have been the sudden upswell of Hi-5 and the Wiggles taking hold. Thankfully that period has passed.
Covers seldom are all that good. Having said that KT Tunstall does a great cover of Beck's Golden Age. Money or the Gun's umpteen guest covers of Stairway to Heaven are all fun.
Headless Chickens. Theres a band that I'd forgotten about. I've fallen into a bit of a rut. I've not bought a lot of music in the last few years. Let alone listened to the Top 10.
Even Triple J near and dear has given way to podcasts and existing CDs. I have added a few new artists, the Black Keys, KT Tunstall and Newton Faulkner.
Although part of the reason may have been the sudden upswell of Hi-5 and the Wiggles taking hold. Thankfully that period has passed.
Covers seldom are all that good. Having said that KT Tunstall does a great cover of Beck's Golden Age. Money or the Gun's umpteen guest covers of Stairway to Heaven are all fun.
Posted by: Andrew at Friday, June 20 2008 11:44 AM (p2uMe)
3
Money or the Gun's umpteen guest covers of Stairway to Heaven are all fun.Yeah, Kean has the album of that.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at Friday, June 20 2008 12:24 PM (PiXy!)
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