Neil Diamond - Just For You (1967) (@256)

Who could imagine that Neil Diamond, an artist who released his first lp in 1966 and had never reached no1 of albums in the US, would do so in 2008 with a non-compilation album? As in his previous release ('12 Songs') in 2005, the man behind the console is Rick Rubin who, with his golden touch, certainly paid a key role in Neil's re-emergence. So, this is the second time that Rubin resurrects the career of an artist; the first one was of course with Johnny Cash. The latter's album (and former's production) 'American III: Solitary Man' of 2000, gives a good hint for Rubin's admiration for Diamond, since the track 'Solitary Man' covered by Cash (and proposed by Rubin) was a hit for Diamond back in 1966.

'Just For You' (Diamond's second lp release) is an album where (a) songs from this album have been covered by as diverse artists as Johnny Cash, Music Machine, Monkees, Lulu, Urge Overkill, UB40, Chris Isaak, Four Tops, Robert Wyatt, EMF and Smash Mouth and (b) nine out of the eleven compositions of the album have been released as a-side singles, with many of them becoming big hits.

Tracklisting:
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
The Long Way Home
Red Red Wine
You'll Forget
The Boat That I Row
Cherry Cherry
I'm A Believer
Shilo
You Got To Me
Solitary Man
Thank The Lord For The Night Time

album info link: here

download link: here

NEU! - NEU! 75 (1975) (@256)

This latest upload is dedicated to Klaus Dinger who passed away some two months ago. Drummer of Kraftwerk during their early days, of Neu! and of La Düsseldorf, will be surely remembered for his 'motorik' beat, but also for his growling vocals in the song 'Hero'; an echo of which can be heard throughout Never Mind The Bollocks.

Neu! 75 is a perfect example of an album that was many years ahead of its era thus its importance was recognised through the various groups that were influenced by it (and by the group itself) and span from Stereolab to Tortoise to Sonic Youth to Kasabian to OMD to the Sex Pistols. The vast variety of the genres these groups represent, evidently showcase the cross-genre capsule this album was.

album review link (allmusic): here

download link: here

Paul Simon - Graceland (1986) (@256)

Now, who can claim that within 2008 has heard a more refreshing album than Vampire Weekend's s/t album? A (successful) attempt to blend indie with western african-pop
with the second leg carrying heavy influence from Paul Simon's Graceland. Here is their single "A-Punk" with its brilliant video-clip.



Vampire Weekend's official site: here

Graceland review link (allmusic): here

Graceland download link: here

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Tap Tap - Lanzafame (2006) (@256)

My latest obsession is Pete & the Pirates album "Little Death". Full of moments of pop brilliance that combine witty melodies, affecting arrangement and warm, friendly vocals, with all songs (but one) not lasting more than three minutes makes it impossible to stop listening to it. Here we have the triumph of the simple song over the trend of compositions striving to hide the composer's loss of inspiration over overburdened layers of pompous productions.

P&tP official site: here

Here is "Come On Feet", a true indie-pop masterpiece, captured live in Manchester Road House (one of my favourite venues when I was living there btw).



Tomas Sanders, the lead singer of P&tP, is also the main man behind Tap Tap, who released the album "Lanzafame" which was scandalously neglected two years ago and is based on the same blueprint with "Little Death". The connection between the two projects is apparent: both albums contain versions of the song "She Doesn't Belong (To Me)", while Pete And The Pirates play many of the tracks from Lanzafame during their live sets.

album review link: here
download link: here (link disabled due to a DMCA)