new on emusic: flying nun
29Oct10
I got incredibly amped when word started circulating that legendary New Zealand label Flying Nun was going to start putting its classic recordings back in print. And, lo and behold, the first batch is here today!!! I believe there’s more on the way, but for right now, be sure to check out records from the Clean, Tall Dwarfs member Chris Knox (recently felled by a stroke – so royalties would certainly help right now) and phenomenal jangle pop band the Bats.
Anyone got any faves they want to recommend?
That Grayson Gilmour record is especially awesome.
This is awesome
Chris Knox’s “Seizure” is freaking phenomenal–not his first solo album (that was the ultra-limited “Songs for Cleaning Guppies”), but the one that made his name as a solo artist. The first time I heard “Not Given Lightly,” I actually raced down to the radio station that played it to find out what it was and where I could get a copy.
The Bats’ “Thousands of Tiny Luminous Spheres” is a greatest-hits comp; my first pick among their albums would probably be “Daddy’s Highway,” but this is a fine introduction to a very long-lived, very consistently fine band. Songs to sample: “Made Up in Blue,” “Block of Wood,” “Courage.”
The Verlaines’ “You’re Just Too Obscure For Me” is a greatest-hits, it appears (named after the first line of their first single), and a very well-selected one too. Try “Doomsday,” “Lying in State” (covered by Superchunk!), “Pyromaniac.”
Tall Dwarfs’ “Hello Cruel World” collects their first four EPs, which are Not Like Anything Else. (Yo La Tengo’s “Painful” is named after a bit of the video for “Phil’s Disease (Day 1).”) I’d maybe start with “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die,” “Turning Brown & Torn in Two” and “Nothing’s Going to Happen.” But everything here is somewhere between “very interesting” and “totally awesome.”
Hi
I exploded all over the message boards when I found this in the freshly ripped pages!
I am a kiwi thats been overseas for more than 13 years and I spent most of my time before I left working in student radio and music stores. I had the opportunity to see pretty much all of the flying nun bands during my time at university and afterwards. Particularly when i moved from Hamilton up to Auckland to work in Marbecks Records.
I managed to muscle my way in to doing the ordering off Flying In and Flying Nun and spent time up in their offices in Queen Street.
Why am I telling you this, I have no idea, but probably a combination of Friday, caffeine and this arriving. A lot fo good memories.
Recommendations from Douglas are good. I also think the subliminals record is phenomenal. 3Ds – outer space is a classic track and I have seen this performed many times live, and when it kicks in it really lifts the roof.
Toy Love is an important band. One of the first if not the most important punk band which Chris Knox was in. The compilation is pretty extensive. He went on then to help Roger Shepherd get Flying Nun off the ground…
I am just really amped up this.
Under my emusic user name (maz-man ) I have been adding New Zealand bands to a list
where you can find other Flying Nun bands that have other distribution deals in amongst the other stuff I have found on this site over the years….
I must stump for Robert Scott’s new record “Ends Run Together” — it is as consistently catchy and lovely as the best Bats or Magick Heads. Hopefully, it will be added soon.
Can’t actually see that list – maybe some country restriction thing or maybe it’s broken! Anyway, i’d get Straitjacket Fits, Dimmer, The Chills – if any of those are on re-release so far & another vote for Toy Love
oh & JPS Experience – Bleeding Star… such melodic noise!