Operation sPazCrime

1. Duke Special – Something Might Happen

Bittersweet lyrics, a majestic chorus and a poptastic melody throughout, so quite why radio stations the world over aren’t falling over themselves to play this is a mystery. A splendid start to our trawl through the vaults. Get on the phone to Wogan!

2. The National – Theory Of The Crows

If you didn’t already know, The National are one of my current fave raves. Rarely setting a foot wrong (not at all on latest album, Boxer) this comes from their eponymous debut and is one of the standouts of that album, Matt Berninger getting gently angry in a way only he can. Not sure what his theory about crows is, which is unfortunate because he keeps asking us to disprove it and I just plain don't have an answer.

3. The Deadly Snakes – I’m Leaving You

A shoelace recommendation if I’m not very much mistaken. He’d sum it up much more gloriously than I could ever do, but basically this is alive with energy and subtle darkness. Very good (in fact, I'm starting to feel guilty for not having paid them enough attention previously).

4. Gomez – We Haven’t Turned Around

If you’ve read all I’ve written, you’ll know that I have a soft spot for the Southport boys with the Mississippi bent. This comes from their second album at the point where they started to get strangely overlooked (it really did start to happen midway through an album, honest). Admittedly, it doesn’t come close to debut album ‘Bring It On’ but you just have to stumble upon gems like this, shorn of their usual context, to understand that Gomez have a way with them song things. We’re on a good run, sPazAmp, keep it going.

5. Elvis Presley – Don’t Be Cruel

Hadn’t realised that Elvis was on here!! Well, there you go and here you are. You don’t need me to tell you about this, it’s already genetically encrypted into your brain. He’s dead, by the way.

6. Green Peppers – I Couldn’t Bear The Same Lies

From some Scottish bloke who’s mildly famous in music circles up there but whose name escapes me right now for reason’s of age (Charlie Brooker reckons 37 is now officially middle aged, which means I’m already there and on my way back out again!!!). The album is full of patchy pseudo-folky stuff that sometimes works but mostly doesn’t. This plods along amiably but doesn’t really set the world alight. Maybe a small tenement flat in Glasgow, but even then you’d need some kindling to really get the fire going. Worth a try though, I reckon.

7. Tribe After Tribe – Rolling Stoney

This is Robbie Robb and some other people vaguely connected to rock bands I used to like. Interspersing his rock leanings with musical themes redolent of his South African homeland made Tribe After Tribe an interesting proposition in the dull world of late 80s metal and their debut was a refreshing breath of fresh air at the time. It didn’t prove popular though, despite rave reviews (I seem to remember) and some great playing. This is an easy going number with just enough fire in its belly to keep you on your toes. So I like it because it makes me look taller, basically.

8. Panic! At The Disco – Camisado

Something I don’t think I’ve ever listened to before. Punky-rocky-stuff-by-numbers (with a couple of the colours missing) but mildly enjoyable nonetheless. It seems to be about going to hospital, possibly for a wisdom tooth extraction, although I might be misinterpreting that (or just plain lying).

9. Manic Street Preachers – Removables

It always causes me to ponder why people say their name the way they do, you know – Preachers from Manic Street rather than Street Preachers who are Manic (which I'm sure was the original aim). Can’t quite work out how to get that across in print – it should be Manic (pause) Street Preachers, rather than Manic Street (pause) Preachers. Does that make it clear? Anyway, you know what you’re getting here; angry pop with a vague tune reminiscent of most of their other tunes. Actually, quite enjoyable on its own rather than surrounded by 13 other songs doing much the same thing. Perhaps they should stop releasing albums and just concentrate on releasing songs one at a time.

10. Bob Dylan - Leopard-Skin-Pill-Box-Hat

Dylan, getting to the crux of events in the 60s by wondering about how someone feels wearing a Leopard-Skin-Pill-Box-Hat. Radical, man. “It balances on your head like a mattress on a bottle of wine” I think he just said. Not very well, then, I'm guessing. Enjoyable nonsense, if you’ll allow me to be so dismissive of his Bobness.

11. The National – Thirsty

More goodness from The National, well done sPazAmp, you’re catching on. And doing things chronologically too, with a track from second album, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers. A song about taking someone’s girly arms (possibly Mr Berninger talking about his own arms, strangely) and, er, doing something with them. This is The National starting to find their place in the world and you can see how they’ve developed along the path starting to be trodden here. It’s good, it’s all good. Go get ‘em.

12. Soul Asylum – Be On Your Way
An old favourite from Minneapolis faves (well, maybe 3rd faves) Soul Asylum. You’re lucky because this comes from their best album ‘Soul Asylum And The Horse They Rode In On’. You’re unlucky because it’s one of the few weak moments from that album. Hey, you win some, you lose some. Singer Dave Pirner went out with Winona Ryder for a bit, you know.

13. The Offspring – Walla Walla
Don’t know why sPazAmp likes The Offspring. I don’t. I was hoping this might be an ode to Death Cab For Cutie guitarist and producer Chris Walla, extolling the virtues of his musical arrangement capabilities. But it isn’t. Unless it’s being tremendously ironic. Which I somehow doubt.

14. Queensryche – Spreading The Disease (Live)
We’ve been here before, as well. A live version of a track from a prog-metal concept album. It was scary last time and it’s scary this time. Unluckily we have over 5 minutes of widdly nonsense this time rather than the fortunate escape of a 1 minute instrumental the last time sPazAmp dallied with the ‘Ryche. It isn’t a fantastic live performance, there’s some crowd interplay (never works well on an album – come on! - it’s dull enough when you’re at the concert), there’s some spoken word (possibly Geoff Tate is trying to rap, but it does just sound like he’s talking angrily) and generally I can’t imagine why I ever liked it in the first place. I think I am cured.

15. Led Zeppelin – Dazed And Confused
The last two bands should look ahead to this and be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. With any luck, they’ll hang up their cycle shorts and bandanas for good. Possibly the highlight of the ‘Zep’s debut album, this is a fantastic blues workout with an energy that hasn’t diminished in nearly 40 years. If you didn’t already know that, well, what hope have you got?

16. Joe Henry – Shut Me Up
Joe’s album ‘Civilians’ is a mighty fine laid back slice of Americana (a genre I occasionally flirt with but with which I have so far failed to commit to a serious relationship). This isn’t particularly one of my favourites in all honesty, lacking a little edge that lifts a number of the other tracks to great heights. Passes the time, but you won’t go back and search it out again quickly.

17. The Pixies – Dig For Fire
The Pixies: fine progenitors of the indie & grunge era. But not always good. As here. Yes, it’s ok, and yes, you do sing “I’m digging for fire” to yourself for 8 hours afterwards, but it is fairly simple. Maybe simple’s good. Yes, I think it probably is. Good then. But simple.

18. The Mystery Jets – Zootime
A disappointing album and fortunately you have only 1:13 of it to endure here. I’m bemused by the record industry buzz they managed to create. What’s that? One of their members is the father of one of the other ones? How unusual. Call NME immediately. Sheesh.

19. The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done
I occasionally seem to quite like the Killers. Bit disappointed by the latest stuff but this has that nice rolling guitar line that they don’t quite play enough. I think I like his voice, too. It has a certain charm. There you go. Doesn’t quite explain their massive success, mid-level success, yes, massive success, no.

20. Rufus Wainwright – Quand Vous Mourez de Nos Amours
The translation is ‘When You Die of Our Loves’. It should possibly be ‘When You Die of My Insistence on singing tunelessly in French for 3 and half minutes’. I’ve been duped into buying Rufus Wainwright albums twice now. Want One was ok, and had some good moments. Want Two was ok, and had even less good moments. Which means not many. And certainly not any good French moments. Sorry France (and Canada), but that’s the way it is.