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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 17, 2014 8:24:13 GMT
Attachment DeletedMy other favourite band other than ELO is Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), I'm not good at spelling thats why I like bands who can be abbreviated to three letters I first saw the band back in 1979, they were supporting Gary Numan, from then on I was hooked and have seen them play live over 15 times. The original members of the band reformed in 2007, toured live and released two albums (History of Modern and English Electric) of new material, both of which I can recommend. They have no ELO or Jeff Lynne connection that I know off, sorry, and I expect some members may not like their 80s or synthesiser sound, hard luck it's my choice this week The album I have chosen is their third Architecture and Morality it was released in 1981 and is their defining album and the one which they had their most commercial success. The album contained the hit singles Souvenir (This was sung by keyboard player Paul Humphreys not Andy McCluskey and the vocal was speeded up), Joan of Arc and Maid of Orleans. Apart from the singles the album includes the atmospheric song "Sealand" and two other tracks which could easily have been singles "She's Leaving" and "Georgia" If you haven't heard the album before please give it a listen, it does start slow so give it some time and give me you opinion. Horace puts on his flak jacket Track ListThe New Stone Age She's Leaving Souvenir Sealand Joan of Arc Maid of Orleans Architecture and Morality Georgia The Beginning and the End
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Post by queenofthehours on Aug 17, 2014 11:30:30 GMT
I absolutely love OMD and have done for many years, long before ELO came into my life. This is probably the reason why I enjoy ELO’s 80 synth period so much. ‘Souvenir’ will always be a favourite. I’ve never really understood their obsession with Joan of Arc though. This album has two songs about her.
I know, Horace, that you said OMD have no ELO connection that you know of but there is one small one. Andy McClusky put together the girl band Atomic Kitten and wrote many of their songs. One song that he didn’t write was this, ‘Be With You’ :
Which, as you can hear, borrows shamelessly from ‘Last Train to London’.
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Post by livinthing on Aug 17, 2014 14:45:11 GMT
Damn.. I thought I was going to get in there with the Atomic Kitten thing..ah well. Very good choice of CD of the week. Certainly takes you back. There was some good stuff about then including Time of course
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2014 17:33:12 GMT
I first heard OMD when they hit it big in the US with the song If You Leave. I went back and bought some of their albums(cassette tapes, at the the time), and liked quite a bit of what I'd heard, even though it was a little bit mechanical.
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 17, 2014 17:48:04 GMT
Thanks QOTH, I had forgotten about that Atomic Kitten song, I have got the CD of it somewhere
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 17, 2014 19:29:04 GMT
Cool, hw, I will put it on the headphones at work tomorrow at an opportune time, and soak it in. Sounds great, like most Americans, I am very familiar with "If You Leave", though I see it is not on this particular album. But based on that song, I'm anticipating it should be pretty good!
Jim
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 17, 2014 19:42:51 GMT
If You Leave was a big international hit for OMD, I think this was because of the film Pretty in Pink which it appeared in.
This album is earlier and is not quite as main stream as Pretty in Pink.
The favourite OMD songs of mine are many of the B sides and slower atmospheric tunes as these are more experimental and not so radio friendly. A big influence on the band is the German band Kraftwerk.
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 17, 2014 22:33:09 GMT
If You Leave was a big international hit for OMD, I think this was because of the film Pretty in Pink which it appeared in. This album is earlier and is not quite as main stream as Pretty in Pink. The favourite OMD songs of mine are many of the B sides and slower atmospheric tunes as these are more experimental and not so radio friendly. A big influence on the band is the German band Kraftwerk. OK, thanks for the information, looking forward to hearing the whole thing through tomorrow. Also, congratulations on finding an artist and album title whose totality of letters is longer than "Pete Townshend 'All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes'". I figured BSJ would probably hold that record for a while. :-) Jim
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Post by BSJ on Aug 17, 2014 23:15:39 GMT
Also, congratulations on finding an artist and album title whose totality of letters is longer than "Pete Townshend 'All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes'". I figured BSJ would probably hold that record for a while. :-)
Gosh darn it!
Will be back later with my comments for OMITD.
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Post by 88keys on Aug 18, 2014 19:47:03 GMT
Not a fan, but they had a handful of ok songs from that album.
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 18, 2014 21:08:54 GMT
Sounds good so far, writing down some thoughts on notepad, that I will send for a final analysis, once I hear all the songs, and process them a few more times.
The drum machine often makes for good effect; sometimes I wonder if actual drums would have enhanced it. But I realize that may be imposing my paradigm on it, without fully soaking it in, so I will continue to listen to it throughout the week, before my final analysis.
The keyboards and melodies seem to be its main strength, like in a song like "Souvenir".
Jim
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Post by BSJ on Aug 18, 2014 21:15:47 GMT
I’m locking and loading H W, so yank your flak jacket on!
I have a hard time with songs that are mostly made by synth. I have to listen all over the place to catch what is going on. Too much work – I’m only on this planet for a certain amount of hours. Ha! There are lots that I do like on this c.d. but it’s hard to tell you in specifics what they are. I’d have to tell you that in the third song I like the third part of the third line in the third stanza but only after the demi sharp!
See what I mean?
I do like his voice and it did make me nostalgic for the 80’s.
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 19, 2014 7:45:50 GMT
The drum machine often makes for good effect; sometimes I wonder if actual drums would have enhanced it. But I realize that may be imposing my paradigm on it, without fully soaking it in, so I will continue to listen to it throughout the week, before my final analysis. For some reason when in the studio they tend to use the drum machine. The band has four members one of which Mal Holmes who is the drummer, so when they play live the drum sound is definitely different and better in my opinion. The keyboards and melodies seem to be its main strength, like in a song like "Souvenir". The seem to have a knack for writing catchy pop songs, check out Enola Gay which is from 1980 and has very clever lyrics and History of Modern from 2010.
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Post by BSJ on Aug 20, 2014 12:34:27 GMT
To H W,
I was mean in my review of your album, and I am sorry.
BSJ
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 20, 2014 13:03:18 GMT
To H W, I was mean in my review of your album, and I am sorry. BSJ Don't worry BSJ I was expecting a big difference of opinion with my selection. Everyone is entitled to their own view that's what the whole CD of the week is about.
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