Scott Walker - "Scott" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 2008 (4 Men With Beards)

Probably one of the most unique artists that appeared in the 20th century.   Scott Walker is a remarkable singer of course, but what is even more interesting is that he's a singer that was placed in the teenage world of England and Europe, and as an American who has a strong taste in European culture, that goes beyond being a mere fan.  If one can transform oneself into another being or spirit, Scott Walker succeeds greatly.  

"Scott" is the first of many albums, and although he only wrote three songs out of the 12 cuts, each one has his stamp or personality tattoed on the grooves.  For one, it is a mature work done by a young man.  While Mick & Keith were concerned about getting a "Connection" or the Fab Four reflecting on Lovely Rita, Scott was meditating on "My Death."   For a pop album of that period, 1967, it must have stood out like a diseased object, swelling with strings and orchestration, and then Scott's voice cutting through the arrangements like a hot knife cutting bread.    One can compare his work at the time with the Sinatra world of the 1950s, specifically his ballad albums, but the truth is Scott's take is more internal, private, and of course, angst.  

None of the covers on this album are obvious.  Even though they are written by classic songwriters like Mann/Weil, Wayne Shanklin, and Andre Previn, it's mostly unknown material, at least to my knowledge and ears.  The big discovery here is both his Jacques Brel obsession, and one of the first singers to dwell into his work in English, and his songwriting.  "Montague Terrace (In Blue)," "Such a Small Love," and "Always Coming Back to You" sound like classic songwriting from an earlier era.  He has nothing in common with his age group of fellow writers.  Scott comes from an alternative universe, and listening to "Scott" is still a discovery of something new that seems to come from an imagined past. 

Public Image Limited - "Metal Box" 3 x Vinyl, LP, Album, 45 rpm, 2006/1979 (Virgin/4 Men With Beards)

For me, this is the greatest album from the post-punk era: PIL's "Metal Box."   The first Public Image LTD. album I thought was pretty good.  Way more interesting than the Sex Pistols.  I like how Johnny Rotten (Lydon) took it up a notch with his ability not playing to the fans of the Pistols.  He was going to explore new worlds, and through "Metal Box" he not only entered a new space but kicked the door to that area and entirely caused a large entrance, where one can't close that gate anymore.  

This is a band that couldn't do wrong.  Keith Levene a brilliant guitarist and Jah Wobble, who re-invented the bass for me, were a band that was the definition of perfection. It couldn't last.  And that's OK.  When I think the word 'original,' it apparently means this album and its package.  For my all thumbs style of opening anything more complicated than a can of beans, this album was a real test for me. It must have caused Virgin Records a series of nightmares that is probably still in their conscious years later.  Minimal with maximum results. 

The music is incredibly touching, I even come to tears time-to-time when listening to "Death Disco" (Swan Lake) and "Poptones."   Who would think a Sex Pistol would draw so many tears on my face? "Death Disco" with it "Swan Lake" melody sneaking into the hard mechanical funk is a wonder.  One of the great meetings between rock and classical music ever.  It's almost like a memory that is too powerful to forget.  For me, the album is about memory and how one digests the pain over the years. In that sense, it reminds me of John Lennon's first solo album "Plastic Ono Band."  Not only in sound, but it's emotion right on the top of the tongue.  

Thanks to Geo Blance, who out of the blue, sent me the new edition of "Metal Box" a few years ago. One of the great gifts ever. 

Iggy Pop - "The Idiot" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 2009/1977 (4 Men with Beards)

At the time of its release, in 1977, this album was a mystery to me.  The cover was minimal and no musician credits, except the name "David Bowie" had appeared on its back cover.  Beyond that, I really didn't have a clue what the music would be like.  I knew of the Stooges, but I couldn't really imagine Bowie in the mix for some odd reason.  And I knew he mixed the great "Raw Power" album, but still, what would new Bowie/Iggy music be like?

Once I heard the album I came to the conclusion that this is very much an original piece of work.  Not sure if it was more Bowie than Iggy or the other way around, but the combination of the two made something new to my ears.  I got the feeling that the music was made in a small room without windows.  Very thick and dense sounding.  The lyrics, on the other hand, were total Iggy to me.  Pop has that great quality of skill to make every lyric sound like a throw-away piece of work.  Which is part of his genius and charm.   First thought is the best thought.  Or does Iggy spend a great deal of time working on the lyrics?  I don't know.  What I do know is that he's naturally brilliant.  "Nightclubbing" and "Funtime" are brilliant pieces of work.  "China Girl" is funny but also disturbing under the Iggy version, and the way he drops Marlon Brando's name in the mix was shocking to me at that time. 

My favorite song on the album is "Tiny Girl."  I love the long introduction with what I presume is Bowie's sax playing, and then Iggy drops in with this incredible lyric and resigned style of singing.  I find it brutally romantic.   Listening to it now I still think back when I first heard the album.  It still sounds fresh and demented at the same time.  "Lust for Life" is a great Iggy/Bowie album as well, but "The Idiot" is something special.  Once in a lifetime recording. It can't be done again.  As they say, it is capturing lightning in a jar.  How many times can one do that?

With respect to this reissue, it seems the sound came from Virgin Records mastering of the CD.  To me it sounds fine, but of course one would want a reissue to come from the original analog tapes.  Why that didn't happen could be economic reasons or maybe the tape doesn't exist?  Nevertheless, this album works on very medium.