Happy Valentines! Trash Can Sinatras

Here's a little romantic music from Scotland's Trash Can Sinatras, sung by the inimitable Sir Francis Reader.

Cruising Down Route 66, Did You Dream of Lochs and Highlands? Ballads of the Book--A Conspiracy of Scottish Poets and Musicians

The Scottish label Chemikal Underground released a very interesting collection of songs in 2007. Or maybe they weren't really songs? Because Ballads of the Book is a project where Scottish musicians collaborated with Scottish poets and writers to create songs, or more accurately, putting poems to music. Even the album cover was designed by the estimable novelist and poet Alasdair Gray. In reality the project began with Roddy Woomble of Glasgow's Idlewild, a band I regard highly. At the end of the final song of 2003's epic album Remote Part, Remote Pt 1/Scottish Fiction, poet Edwin Morgan intones poetry over the bands instrumentation at the conclusion, with effective results. I didn't know Edwin Morgan at all, but I certainly do now. I don't believe Morgan went on tour with the band---he was rather elderly.

That this collaboration involving multiple musicians and writers actually happened is probably remarkable. Definitely one of the most singular tribute albums I have heard. But this sort of thing often ends with less than memorable results. The idea of putting this out is commendable, but the ultimate litmus test would be listening to the results and enjoying them. On that basis, I would say that Chemikal Underground did a great job. The list of contributors is impressive; King Creosote, Emma Pollock of  The Delgados, Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap, Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, James Yorkston, Vashti Bunyan, Sons and Daughters, Idlewild (of course), and Mike Hern (Incredible String Band). The writers include Edwin Morgan, Alasdair Gray, Ali Smith, Louise Welsh, and Ian Rankin, and many others of whom I must claim ignorance (It's probably me, not them).



But one of my favorites tracks here is performed by an artist I am unfamiliar with, Karine Polwart, singing The Good Years, by Edwin Morgan. Another artist I need to learn more about is King Creosote, who performs Where and When?, by Laura Hird. I know his new collaboration with Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine has received critical accolades--I just haven't heard it yet. Aerogramme and DeRosa are also good, but I also don't really know their body of work. Aidan Moffett and crime novelist Ian Rankin make a complementarily jaded pair on The Sixth Stone, which sounds like it's about Ian "Stu" Stewart, adjunct keyboard player for the Rolling Stones. Worthy of John Rebus' creator.




From Beggars through to Exile
you dug out rhythms like black diamonds
but cruising down Route 66,
Did you dream of lochs and highlands?

Though the bulk of this collection is of a folk nature, there are some notable exceptions like Sons and Daughters' performing A.L. Kennedy's The War On Love Song, which is a dark edgy little number in the manner of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Impressively creepy. Dreamcatcher is Scottish Cowboy music by Rody Gorman performed by Foxface. Malcolm Middleton and Alan Bisset's rough electro-pop The Rebel on His Own Tonight is another gem on this record.

Pure as vodka, Pure as snow
She kisses like its a terrorist's act
"Everythings about ghosts you know,"
she said, then dressed, then packed....

Of course the big boys delivered here also, though it's never a given. Trash Can Sinatras are as good as you would expect on Ali Smith's Half an Apple. Breathy exquisite balladry. Norman Blake channels Chris Bell on Girl By John Burnside. Emma Pollock shines on Louise Welsh's Jesus on the Cross. The musical arrangement on this is impressive, excellent piano. Idlewild is also in fine form on Edwin Morgan's Sappho and the Weight of Years, though clearly there is a lot of folk instrumentation here. The song sounds more like an outtake from Roddy Woomble's first solo album. James Yorkston and Alasdair Roberts also perform excellent introspective folk numbers here.



Overall, this is a pretty ambitious project, and I think everything turned out quite superbly. I would hope some day for a Ballads Part II, maybe with writers like James Robertson, Irvine Welsh, or James Kelman. But maybe the success of this undertaking might not be able to be duplicated again. But I certainly appreciate the effort and cooperation it must have taken to get this recording done. Let's hope more projects like this get green lighted.

The Moon is a Blabbermouth... Trash Can Sinatras; Still Making Beautiful Music--Fez

Rio Rico

I saw the Trash Can Sinatras about twenty years ago at CBGB's with my friend, the real "world's most interesting man", aka, the 10th Yankee--i.e., the only guy who gets away with calling Derek Jeter "pretty boy". It was a different world back then for them. They were a real sensation at the time--their first album had been released to positive acclaim and these young lads from Kilmarnock Scotland had crossed the pond to tour the US for the first time.

One thing I remembered was the audience. There were many interested musicians in the audience that night. This band had piqued the interest of more than the American listening public. Of course I didn't notice these guys at all, but my friend  quickly clued me in. Apparently there were some Buzzcocks and Replacements there in the crowd. And I briefly met David J of Love and Rockets/Bauhaus fame, basically saying hi. I would not have done that except that one of the guys I went to the show with saw him and basically grabbed him by the collar and would not let him get away. David seemed to be a nice chap, and definitely politer than he should have been. In his career I suppose he has dealt with overexcited fans.

Frankly I thought the Sinatras were decent, but they didn't bowl me over live. But I did love that first album--Obscurity Knocks is an absolutely beautiful pop song, a song that still makes me smile when I hear it. I thought that they were surely destined for greatness. Unfortunately, the band has had its share of troubles, one of which was its record label going out of business shortly after the release of their third album. Though they are not household names, they are still out and about, putting out occasional albums and touring. I tried to seem again them in the past, but usually by the time I found out about a gig at a small venue like Maxwell's in Hoboken, it had long been sold out. In places like the US and Japan they have a fiercely loyal fan base. I know one of their fans basically ran a web site and selling their merch for them during their leaner times when they were an unsigned band. In more recent years I can only attribute missing out on their shows to my own sloth. I believe they just completed an acoustic tour as I speak.

The Band (on Fez)
John Douglas: Guitar
Stephen Douglas: Drums
Davy Hughes: Bass
Paul Livingston: Guitar
Francis Reader: Vocals

So tonight I am discussing the lovely live album from 2004, recorded by the band at the now defunct club Fez. The official title is Fez: Acoustic Performances from New York City--December 2004. The album is a beautiful piece of mellow gold, beautifully recorded, so intimate that you feel like they are playing in your living room. Francis Reader has the voice of an angel, and in this unadorned setting his vocals and the group harmonies are out front and center. In these stripped back renditions of their catalogue (including songs from their then new album Weightlifting) you can understand what great songs this band has written. You hear the first few cuts here and you truly wish that you had been there that night. It was a good night. Obscurity Knocks may not be performed in the set, but don't let that deter you from this heavenly, romantic recording. It's the perfect starting point to discover this band.



Because it is a nice career survey. You have songs like All The Dark Horses and Freetime from Weightlifting. But you have tunes from their other three albums, like How Can I Apply..., Hayfever, Best Man's Fall, or Got Carried Away. One of my favorites is the sublime ballad Safecracker, though Only Tongue Can Tell and Leave Me Alone are not far behind.




If you check out the band's website, there are a pile of recordings for sale, which are only available there, in addition to DVD's, shirts, etc. There are also tabs and chords for many of the bands songs and all the latest news and gossip. In 2010 they released their most recent album, entitled In The Music,their first in 5 years. I haven't picked it up yet, but I've seen some very positive reviews. Hopefully they will be able to put albums out with more frequency in the future.