November 2, 2022 Playlist

Nico "Desertshore" (1970)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Nico "Desertshore"  1970 (Germany/USA)
Along with Scott Walker and Kate Bush, Nico is one of the most singular artists in the last century of Western music. I was tempted to say "in popular music" except her music has never been popular! It's a testament to her uniqueness that her legend looms so large considering she recorded very little music in her lifetime (five solo albums in 15 years) and never had a hit song anywhere. She sang three songs on the first Velvet Underground album, but was never really a rock artist. Her solo debut Chelsea Girl was kind of like folk music and had contributions by Tim Hardin, Jackson Browne, and even Bob Dylan himself, though she was never a folkie (or at least her idea of Volkmusik is quite different from that of a native English speaker's). Her peak period was the three albums arranged and produced by her former Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale. The Marble Index (1969) and Desertshore in particular create their own musical world: a baroque/gothic cathedral of sound mostly created by layers of Cale's viola and Nico's harmonium, framing the bottomless Teutonic sadness of Nico's voice (I may have paraphrased Lester Bangs in that last sentence!) This sure isn't rock and roll, and not the kind of thing most people would want to listen to very often, but if you seek to hear a challenging art music statement, then this is the album for you.
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
The Beta BandShe's The OneThe Patty Patty Sound EP1998UK (Scotland)
The Babe Rainbow All The PowerThe Organic Band (N)2022 (Eureka)Australia
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Hell's ItchIce, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava (N)2022 (KGLW)Australia
 
 
BABYMETAL Divine Attack - Shingeki
 ("New Drama")		single (N - probably from forthcoming 2023 album The Other One)
2022 (Babymetal/Toy's Factory)Japan
Poppy StaggerStagger EP (N)2022 (Republic/Lava)USA
Alex G S.D.O.S.God Save The Animals (N)2022 (Domino)USA
The Mars Volta Equus 3The Mars Volta (N)2022 (Clouds Hill)USA
Wand Blue Cloud (live)Spiders In The Rain (N)2022 (Drag City)USA
   
 
NicoAll That Is My OwnDesertshore
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1970Germany
NicoMy Only ChildDesertshore
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1970Germany
NicoEvening Of LightThe Marble Index1969Germany
NicoAfraidDesertshore
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1970Germany
The Velvet Underground & NicoI'll Be Your MirrorThe Velvet Underground & Nico1967USA/UK (Wales)
/Germany
The Velvet Underground & NicoAll Tomorrow's PartiesThe Velvet Underground & Nico1967USA/UK (Wales)
/Germany
   
 
Nina HagenIki MaskaNunSexMonkRock1982Germany
The RunawaysCherry Bomb
 --> American Nights (live)		Live In Japan1977USA
The BreedersInvisible ManLast Splash1993USA
Wild FlagGlass TambourineWild Flag2011USA
The RaincoatsOff Duty TripThe Raincoats1979UK
Fairport ConventionMatty Groves (trad.)Liege & Lief1969UK
Joni MitchellMorning MorgantownLadies Of The Canyon1970Canada
Joni MitchellChelsea MorningClouds1969Canada
   
 
Joni Mitchell
(with Larry Carlton)		AmeliaHejira1976Canada
Ray Manzarek
(with Larry Carlton)		Solar BoatThe Golden Scarab1974USA
Steely Dan
(with Larry Carlton)		Kid CharlamagneThe Royal Scam1976USA
Deodato
(with Larry Carlton)		Area Code 808Love Island1978Brazil/USA
Frank ZappaSon Of Mr. Green GenesHot Rats1969USA
   
 
The Soft Pink Truth Deeper
Is It Going To Get Any Deeper Than This? (N)2022 (Thrill Jockey)USA
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