A music-obsessed, retired San Francisco lawyer, and author of the rock & roll memoir Jittery White Guy Music (available on Amazon)... picking a random album or song in his collection every day or so and sharing a few thoughts.
So just last week we had a nice chat about the pleasant late 80s English jangle of the Lilac Time; and now we turn to its Australian counterpart. It took me some time to get into the Go-Betweens, their earlier work a little too skewed and arty for my more pop-oriented palate; but they won me over with 1988's 16 Lovers Lane, where they provided a more straightforwardly alluring indie pop sound. The new vibe is best demonstrated on "Streets Of Your Town," another one of those gentle tracks I love tossing on playlists--yep, just had another one of those a couple days ago from Ronnie Lane--that feels more like an amiable backdrop to slide quietly into your life than something you'd crank up and take head-on.
Between the chiming guitars, wood-block percussion, carefree day-about-town imagery (albeit with some clouds rolling in over the sunshine), and harmonic sha-la-las, it's nothing but smile smile smile. Sweet stuff.
Alternate video:TV appearance:2018 cover from fellow Aussie Courtney Barnett:Ivy cover:Josh Rouse cover:
I hope you've since gone back to listen to at least the 2 LPs before 16 Lovers Lane - Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express is fantastic all the way through, and Tallulah is nearly it's equal. Given your pop tastes, there are some absolute gems on both.
I hope you've since gone back to listen to at least the 2 LPs before 16 Lovers Lane - Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express is fantastic all the way through, and Tallulah is nearly it's equal. Given your pop tastes, there are some absolute gems on both.
ReplyDelete