Not so rough that I didn't listen to music or keep notes of what it was, but I didn't really have much opportunity to sit down and reflect on the music. So if you'd care to cast your mind all the way back to July...
Tori Amos
- Under the Pink
- The Beekeeper
- American Doll Posse
- Abnormally Attracted To Sin
- Spark part 2 single (Spark/Do It Again/Cooling)
- A Piano: Disc A - Little Earthquakes Extended
Sheryl Crow - The Globe Sessions
Garbage - Garbage
Gomez - Bring It On
Gomez - Split the Difference
Sarah Harmer - All Of Our Names
Natalie Imbruglia - Left of the Middle
Jars of Clay - If I Left the Zoo
Level 42 - Running in the Family
Wendy Matthews - Ghosts
Joni Mitchell
- Clouds
- Blue
- Dog Eat Dog
- Turbulent Indigo
Over the Rhine - Ohio
Pearl Jam - Binaural
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Plumb - Chaotic Resolve
Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Radiohead - King of Limbs
Seal - Human Being
Seal - Seal IV
Something for Kate - The Official Fiction
Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
Gosh. Is it really over a month since I listened to some of these?
I suppose the most notable thing is that I was making purchases. Natalie Imbruglia was a second-hand purchase the month before (same time as Billy Joel), which is really just a fairly light piece of pop listening but it's still enjoyable. Gomez' first album Bring It On was a new purchase as I get so much out of the 3 I already owned. It's funny what different ordering does to your perception: I know that their debut was when they got lots of attention and the Mercury Prize, but so far I mostly hear an enjoyable band that hasn't got the sophistication of later releases or the amazing command of their resources. It's like they've bought a very fancy new car but are driving it a bit cautiously while they make sure it's all in working order.
Another new purchase was Pearl Jam's Backspacer, continuing the little PJ excursion I seem to be on. I will probably end up with all their albums now, but it's more interesting jumping around in order. I was certainly impressed with their latest. This is Pearl Jam being relatively relaxed and comfortable and, dare I say it, ever so slightly pop.
There was a nice little Joni Mitchell binge, much of it on one weekend. That's the first time since I started this that someone other than Tori has managed more than 2 entries in a month. Not enough to end Tori's dominance though (and, um, I think it gets worse in August...). I even pulled out a single this time. I listen to singles quite rarely, but I decided they deserve a database entry as much as the longer players.
This month also proved again the benefits of going back to listen to things with fresh ears. I can't remember the last time I listened to Chaotic Resolve. It always ranked as one of the more disappointing purchases I'd made. The best tracks were the ones I already knew, and the best of all was actually a bonus - a remix of a song from a previous album. Listening to it again, probably for the first time in a couple of years at least, I got more out of it. It's still not a classic, and I doubt I'll ever regard it as one - the music is too square, the lyrics too awkwardly obvious - but I did get enjoyment out of it and that's really the main thing. Not every album can be my favourite album ever or an intense listening experience.
And again, there was more proof of the idea that a large library of music means you can find the right thing at the right moment. I've never had great love for Seal IV. It's sat there on the shelf, and every now and then I've looked it and asked why it couldn't be more like it's older brother Human Being. July was the month that I discovered that, when you've spent a couple of days hearing just how shockingly horrible one human being can be by calmly massacring a teenage summer camp, an album that is as light and silvery as its cover and full of touches of hope might just be the best solution you can come up with.
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