Pop

At the new year, thoughts and spare time for writing point me toward writing some new posts for my understated classics series. Expect some new ones soon.

The next instalment in my understated classics series is "Stray" by Aztec Camera. Released in 1990, it features two hit singles and the cover is my favourite colour: green.

I give the impression of planning these posts but to be honest I came across an article about Maxwell a few weeks ago and fondly remembered my cassette copy of this album. The joy of Spotify is that it's easy to dig up old favourites. The recent warm weather makes for a good opportunity to enjoy the sultry embrace of "Embrya" once more.

This little masterpiece was released in 1991. I got my copy on cassette for Christmas that year, but by May in 1992 they'd already "retired" and split up.

It’s rather spooky but shortly after deciding to write about Nelly Furtado’s “Folklore” as the next understated classic, I found out that she has a new album out this week. As a result, I have been listening to a lot of her music while writing this post, and I’ve been enjoying it too.

“I see the people working and see it working for them.” (Sat In Your Lap)

I got into Début via a cassette from the library, much like I did with Together Alone by Crowded House. I suppose it is less obscure than many of my choices for this strand but I do think that Post is more well-known (because of It’s Oh So Quiet, which we shall mention here only briefly) and that Homogenic is probably more popular among her fans.

Happy Birthday!

Background

When is understated not understated?

This week Arcade Fire released their hotly anticipated third album "The Suburbs". I loved "Neon Bible" but critics found it preachy, as overbearing as the religious folk it sought to satirise. I do not agree and think that it was an impressive continuation from an exciting debut. "The Suburbs" steps on from their previous two albums, both in subject matter and tone. It's sad, thoughtful, resigned, angry and tetchy - among other things. “The Suburbs” isn't the understated classic that I want to discuss though: with all the praise and plaudits, it may never suit this new thread of posts. I want to write about Together Alone by Crowded House.