This week’s moment in music is one that recurs for me quite often. Whether it’s REM, The National, U2 or Radiohead, going back and discovering a band’s back catalogue when you’re late on the bandwagon can be very rewarding.
Take the National for example. Contrary to seemingly popular opinion, their breakthrough album Alligator was actually their third.
I’m currently listening to their eponymous debut album, and while it’s certainly a very different proposition to their later work, on first (and partial) listen, it certainly holds it’s own! Matt Berninger’s authoritative baritone is still there, but their music is far more relaxed.
I’m always discovering new bands well into their career. Another recent example is Teenage Fanclub – I’d always avoided them as their names sounds a lot like a heavy-metal tribute act, however, imagine my surprise on finding out Baby Lee – a very catchy little number – was actually from their tenth studio album, Shadows.
Whose back catalogue have you gone back to enjoy?
Brad,
As the sole reader of your fine blog, may I say how much I enjoyed your latest contribution.
It brought to mind a new popular jazz-beat combo that recently came to my atention, a bunch of young Merseysiders going under the unlikely-sounding name of The Beatles. It’s early days yet, but I think they might well catch on.
Why thank you kind sir.
I’ll have to check out this new jazz-beat combo. They sound like they could be a fusion of rock, and indeed, roll; in a thinly veiled disguise of jazz-beat. Like you say – it’ll never last.
Someone suggested another up and coming band of a similar ilk – the Solling Rones I think they’re called – I wonder if they’re still be playing gigs 50 years hence?