"Freeloader"

Freeloader (1996) Throwing Muses

I wouldn't have chosen Freeloader to be a single but I love it. "Shark" I can see. But I don't understand how Freeloader was chosen over "The Field" or "Tar Kissers". Oh well.


Note: I love the re-recordings of Limbo tracks on the Shark EP ("Tar Moochers", "Serene Swing", and "Limbobo"); I wish, instead of tacking them onto the Ruthie's Knocking EP, that they had re-recorded some other album tracks. That would've been cool.

"Ruthie's Knocking"

Ruthie's Knocking (1996) Throwing Muses

Yes, it was probably a good choice for a single- it's fun & catchy- but Ruthie's Knocking has never been one of my favories from Limbo, which is the Throwing Muses album I like best. I think it's the lyric "Her cats are pretty cool" that turns me off.

Frank Black 1993

The inside booklet of the Frank Black album has some cool photography and the picture above is one of my favorites. As promotion for an album it probably isn't enticing. I get the feeling that with pictures like this and the cover photo for Teenager of the Year, the goal was to be as repulsive as possible.

"This Hungry Life"

This Hungry Life (2006) Tanya Donelly

I downloaded this record in October of 2006. That fall was a big time for me and there was a lot going on, both good & bad. A lot of the songs took on a personal meaning.

Before I heard This Hungry Life I was excited by the tracklisting. I loved the original version of "To The Lighthouse", which had been a bonus track. Same thing with "Days Of Grace" from the Sleepwalk EP. The THL versions are good but I still like the originals better.

"New England", "Littlewing", and "World On Fire" belong on a Tanya Donelly Best Of collection. My favorite song from the record might be "Long Long Long". I wanted to hear the Beatles version so I downloaded it; I like TD's cover more.

Note: I think it's funny how well I know "The White Album" only through covers.
"Wild Honey Pie" The Pixies
"Dear Prudence", "Helter Skelter" Siouxsie and the Banshees
"Happiness is a Warm Gun" The Breeders
"Cry Baby Cry" Throwing Muses
"Long Long Long" Tanya Donelly
"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and my Monkey" Kristin Hersh

"Head To Toe"

Head To Toe EP The Breeders

The Breeders released the Head To Toe EP after Last Splash. There's the title track and "Freed Pig" and also "Shocker In Gloomtown" which they made a rarely-seen video for; they play the song in a garage. I like the red lettering on the back cover.

"Lost In Space"

Lost In Space (2002) Aimee Mann

After the success of Bachelor #2 and Magnolia, Aimee Mann put out Lost In Space- an excellent album but also a downer that probably turned off a lot of her new listeners. It's safe to say that almost every song is about drugs, and not the fun aspects.

Still, it has some of her best songs, from the opener, "Humpty Dumpty" to "Guys Like Me", "Lost In Space", "Real Bad News", and "The Moth". It was re-released with a bonus CD featuring live tracks, a Coldplay cover ("The Scientist"), B-sides, and the great unreleased song "Observatory".


Question: From what I understand, the UK version of Bachelor #2 is different from the US version. It includes "Save Me" from the Magnolia soundtrack and also "Backfire". So is that the first one and the Humpty Dumpty "new" version is different? I've only heard the one from the Lost In Space bonus disc.

May?

May is going to be a huge month here at RJ Battles. I've got big plans. Also I want to do things to thank my readers. I appreciate you coming here. The internet is big, with a lot of places to go, and I'm happy that you check in here from time to time.

I want to come up with some special features and also give away prizes.

Also, I'm always open to suggestions. If there's anything I can do let me know.






Note: My brother asked me to go see the new Nightmare on Elm Street last Friday but I had other plans already.
I'd like to see it. I like the original and the first two sequels (I really want to re-watch them; NoES 3: Dream Warriors seemed really scary when I saw it in 1987. Also, I caught NoES 2: Freddy's Revenge on HBO as a kid; I've read recently that there's a whole gay subtext to the movie. The main character runs into his gym teacher at a leather bar and later strips him, ties him up, and whips him with wet towels. Also, instead of hooking up with a girl who's coming on to him he races to his guy friend's house.), but I'm not into all these new horror movie remakes.

I hated Rob Zombie's Halloween movies and I've avoided The Fog and Friday the 13th. On the other hand, I loved the 3-D remake of My Bloody Valentine. I read somewhere they're planning a Halloween III: Season of the Witch remake in 3-D with Tom Atkins. I'd go see that as long as Rob Zombie isn't involved in any way.

Has anyone seen the new NoES? What did you think? Is it worth the seven dollars?