Thank you so much for your kind words and signal boost! Meeting you in person was the highlight of my week too. Time flew and we chatted like old friends, which is remarkable considering it was literally the first time we met. Looking forward to catching up again soon!
Really glad to hear your injuries have been kept at bay. Enjoy the hike and the reunion with Tina!
Awww I love that you got to meet Andres! How awesome!!
So many greats here!! Huge fan of Veruca Salt, and agree that American Thighs is solid!
The Violent Femmes self titled is also so solid! I got to see them this summer on the 40th anniversary of their second album, which I knew maybe one song on. Thankfully, they also played the entirety of their self titled album, and the whole audience was singing along to every song! Like you, that is the only album I have. I believe I bought the second one, but ended up selling it because it just was nowhere near as good. They’ve had hits here and there that I like - American Music and Nightmares come to mind, but I don’t think they have or will have another solid album like the self titled one.
In miss Veruca Salt, they were great! Thanks for the feedback on the Violent Femmes. Glad you got to see them in concert performing some of your favorite songs. I kinda figured that if they’d put out anything very good or excellent in the last 40 years it would’ve found its way to my ears.
What great photos you took from your museum run! There are some fantastic museums in London. I went to the British Museum, the Tate Modern and I think the Natural History Museum when I was there in 2004. I can't believe it's been 20 years.
And what a great collection of V bands and artists! I think I own at least half of your list.
I'll go on the record and say that I think that Violent Femmes' 2nd album Hallowed Ground is their best. I would have loved to have seen them play that in its entirety. It's VERY different from the debut, but much more epic and religious thematically. Gordon Gano's Christian background and still being a devout Baptist to this day is super interesting. Here's a cool interview with him where he talks about it a bit:
I wrote an essay about this album for another publication back in 2016 that I should rework for Earworms. I didn't do it to this point because it's about an album more than a song. But I think I'll do that soon.
I also think their third album, The Blind Leading the Naked, has some excellent songs, but is sadly dated because of too much current events references (from the Reagan era). I would say their later albums are hit and miss but a strong comp/playlist could be made from them.
I'll also add to the Veruca Salt love. I had Louise Post's solo album Sleepwalker in my top 20 last year. She's so underrated.
And all the rest are excellent choices. I have to say that if I never hear "The Freshmen" again, I'd be perfectly happy. I get that it's an epic song that defines a specific era, but I heard it so much it was ruined for me.
That Vanessa Carlton song was a blast from the past! I also thought the video was charming -- hadn't seen it before.
Hadn't heard of Vanessa Daou or VAST. VAST seems a perfect name as this song you share has a vastness to it, an epic quality that I love. I can see why you have it in your list. It really feels like a lost '80s gem. In the Cure/Echo vein. The Daou track is also great. Both songs have fantastic bass lines.
Thanks Steve. Funnily enough, the main reason I stayed where I did in London was to be close to the British Museum and I ended up not making it there! I’ve been there before but there’s no way you can take the whole place in on one visit.
One of my best friends is flying over from Tampa next year for us to do a hike of Hadrian’s Wall together. He’s never been to the UK and we’ll be spending a few days in London touring the museums. Looking forward to doing that as it’s not something Tina enjoys.
Thanks for the Violent Femmes recs, I’ll be sure to check out their second and third albums. I’m interested in hearing the Reagan-era influences as I lived through that era, despite being a kid for most of his presidency.
I agree with you on The Freshmen. That was my last (grudging) addition to the playlist. Trust me, if I’d had a better V artist I would’ve gone with it. I was SOOOO close to replacing it with “Christmas Time Is Here” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Just couldn’t find a good place to squeeze that track into the playlist.
For VAST I’d recommend checking out “April” first and then going to the debut “Visual Audio Sensory Theater”. Two very different albums but both very good in their own right.
I miss London's museums and galleries, but thankfully we have family in the UK (my wife is English), and whenever we go back we get our art fix. It's nice that you and Andres met up, and I'm also glad your back is feeling better.
The Violent Femmes debut LP is one of the best albums to capture that nervous, awkward, teenage angst and how to (or how not to!) navigate teenage love.
I also really liked Veruca Salt's first album, 'American Thighs', when it came out. There are some haunting songs on it ('Celebrate You' and 'Fly' immediately come to mind). However, I never listened to anything after it.
And while Verve struck gold with 'Urban Hymns,' it is their early work that is truly magical, imho. They were very psychedelic back then. Nick McCabe is easily one of the 90s most criminally underappreciated and overlooked guitarists. The success and money from UH, however, meant that the band imploded under the weight of Richard's ego. That said, I do like a lot of UH ('Catching the Butterfly' is one of my favorites of theirs). I also have some offcuts, alternate versions, and demos that didn't make it on to the album, which are really good.
Thanks Michael. I’ve never listened to any Verve outside of Urban Hymns. I’ll definitely dig in to some of their earlier work, thanks for the recommendation!
Some really fun songs here! I remember when The Nights Went Out in Georgia went gold and Carol Burnett presented the gold record to Vicki! My brother and I attempted to karaoke this one but couldn't stop laughing because there were lyrics popping up we never paid attention to before!
Thank you so much for your kind words and signal boost! Meeting you in person was the highlight of my week too. Time flew and we chatted like old friends, which is remarkable considering it was literally the first time we met. Looking forward to catching up again soon!
Really glad to hear your injuries have been kept at bay. Enjoy the hike and the reunion with Tina!
Will definitely reach out next time I’m in London Andy!
Awww I love that you got to meet Andres! How awesome!!
So many greats here!! Huge fan of Veruca Salt, and agree that American Thighs is solid!
The Violent Femmes self titled is also so solid! I got to see them this summer on the 40th anniversary of their second album, which I knew maybe one song on. Thankfully, they also played the entirety of their self titled album, and the whole audience was singing along to every song! Like you, that is the only album I have. I believe I bought the second one, but ended up selling it because it just was nowhere near as good. They’ve had hits here and there that I like - American Music and Nightmares come to mind, but I don’t think they have or will have another solid album like the self titled one.
In miss Veruca Salt, they were great! Thanks for the feedback on the Violent Femmes. Glad you got to see them in concert performing some of your favorite songs. I kinda figured that if they’d put out anything very good or excellent in the last 40 years it would’ve found its way to my ears.
What great photos you took from your museum run! There are some fantastic museums in London. I went to the British Museum, the Tate Modern and I think the Natural History Museum when I was there in 2004. I can't believe it's been 20 years.
And what a great collection of V bands and artists! I think I own at least half of your list.
I'll go on the record and say that I think that Violent Femmes' 2nd album Hallowed Ground is their best. I would have loved to have seen them play that in its entirety. It's VERY different from the debut, but much more epic and religious thematically. Gordon Gano's Christian background and still being a devout Baptist to this day is super interesting. Here's a cool interview with him where he talks about it a bit:
https://motifri.com/interview-with-gordon-gano-from-the-violent-femmes/
I wrote an essay about this album for another publication back in 2016 that I should rework for Earworms. I didn't do it to this point because it's about an album more than a song. But I think I'll do that soon.
I also think their third album, The Blind Leading the Naked, has some excellent songs, but is sadly dated because of too much current events references (from the Reagan era). I would say their later albums are hit and miss but a strong comp/playlist could be made from them.
I'll also add to the Veruca Salt love. I had Louise Post's solo album Sleepwalker in my top 20 last year. She's so underrated.
And all the rest are excellent choices. I have to say that if I never hear "The Freshmen" again, I'd be perfectly happy. I get that it's an epic song that defines a specific era, but I heard it so much it was ruined for me.
That Vanessa Carlton song was a blast from the past! I also thought the video was charming -- hadn't seen it before.
Hadn't heard of Vanessa Daou or VAST. VAST seems a perfect name as this song you share has a vastness to it, an epic quality that I love. I can see why you have it in your list. It really feels like a lost '80s gem. In the Cure/Echo vein. The Daou track is also great. Both songs have fantastic bass lines.
Will be checking out more of both!
Thanks Steve. Funnily enough, the main reason I stayed where I did in London was to be close to the British Museum and I ended up not making it there! I’ve been there before but there’s no way you can take the whole place in on one visit.
One of my best friends is flying over from Tampa next year for us to do a hike of Hadrian’s Wall together. He’s never been to the UK and we’ll be spending a few days in London touring the museums. Looking forward to doing that as it’s not something Tina enjoys.
Thanks for the Violent Femmes recs, I’ll be sure to check out their second and third albums. I’m interested in hearing the Reagan-era influences as I lived through that era, despite being a kid for most of his presidency.
I agree with you on The Freshmen. That was my last (grudging) addition to the playlist. Trust me, if I’d had a better V artist I would’ve gone with it. I was SOOOO close to replacing it with “Christmas Time Is Here” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Just couldn’t find a good place to squeeze that track into the playlist.
For VAST I’d recommend checking out “April” first and then going to the debut “Visual Audio Sensory Theater”. Two very different albums but both very good in their own right.
I miss London's museums and galleries, but thankfully we have family in the UK (my wife is English), and whenever we go back we get our art fix. It's nice that you and Andres met up, and I'm also glad your back is feeling better.
The Violent Femmes debut LP is one of the best albums to capture that nervous, awkward, teenage angst and how to (or how not to!) navigate teenage love.
I also really liked Veruca Salt's first album, 'American Thighs', when it came out. There are some haunting songs on it ('Celebrate You' and 'Fly' immediately come to mind). However, I never listened to anything after it.
And while Verve struck gold with 'Urban Hymns,' it is their early work that is truly magical, imho. They were very psychedelic back then. Nick McCabe is easily one of the 90s most criminally underappreciated and overlooked guitarists. The success and money from UH, however, meant that the band imploded under the weight of Richard's ego. That said, I do like a lot of UH ('Catching the Butterfly' is one of my favorites of theirs). I also have some offcuts, alternate versions, and demos that didn't make it on to the album, which are really good.
Thanks Michael. I’ve never listened to any Verve outside of Urban Hymns. I’ll definitely dig in to some of their earlier work, thanks for the recommendation!
Some really fun songs here! I remember when The Nights Went Out in Georgia went gold and Carol Burnett presented the gold record to Vicki! My brother and I attempted to karaoke this one but couldn't stop laughing because there were lyrics popping up we never paid attention to before!
I did read about Carole Burnett presenting the gold record to Vicki Lawrence, what a cool story!