August 30, 2010 - 10:21 am
I was introduced to Simple Minds they way most of my generation were, watching Judd Nelson (aka John Bender) raise his hand in solidarity while walking across the face of our collective conscience in the form of a high school football field toward the cruel realities of adulthood. I followed Simple Minds from that point on long after the lights and the stadiums faded to black. It has always baffled me how a group with such talent can be exalted to god like status in one era then trivialized in the next, relegated to the back of the sales bin. Some would call that growing up, but 20 some odd years later, (in a vain attempt to get the most of my ill-crafted metaphor here), I have sat in the bleachers and watched Simple Minds as if they were playing to no one but me. I suppose that is the magic of music, it is so intensely personal, yet it is the one art form that can unite thousands of people if only for a moment. Graffiti Soul is for me not so much a comeback as another highlight in a
Tags: Adulthood, Aka John, Art Form, Bleachers, Blog, Collective Conscience, Cruel Realities, God, Graffiti Drawings, High School Football, Highlight, Judd Nelson, Keyword, Magic Of Music, Metaphor, School Football Field, Simple Minds, Solidarity, Stadiums, Vain Attempt Posted Graffiti Drawings |
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August 30th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Simple Minds have simply trod a path of good, sometimes great music for nigh on 35 years, give or take and the years have proved they can produce some outstanding albums such as ‘Street Fighting Years’. Which brings us to 2009 and their latest offering ‘Graffiti Soul’.
Kerr and Burchill are up there with the best writers of decent pop/rock and this album will more than satisy their die-hard fans as well as the casual listener.
First track ‘Moscow Underground’ is vintage SM and reels the listener in for a fairly good if not brilliant album. ‘Rockets’ harps back to their halcyon days and if released as a single should, in an ideal world, garner some heavy rotation air-play. The title track is a bit of a departure from the usual format and having reached the half-way point one begins to release this is worth another few spins. It’s only 8 tracks in total with 2 bonus cuts and runs less than 45 minutes but it’s solid collection from a solid band who have weathered their critics and still produce the goods. That said the final track ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ was hardly and inspired choice, surely their time in the studio would have resulted in a few unused cuts any one of which would most likely have been better.
In summary it’s well worth adding to your collection if you’re a SM fan and worth checking out if you’re not.
August 30th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
This year marks 30 years of Simple Minds from their 1979 debut “Life In A Day”. They are one of the most underrated rock bands of their time, too frequently getting compared to U2, or getting labeled ‘area rock’. The fact is, this band has grown, developed and changed–something few bands are capable of doing (and surviving).
“Graffiti Soul” returns the band to the eight song format found on 1985’s “Once Upon A Time”. If you buy this deluxe two disc version there is only one bonus track “Shadows And Light” after the eighth track. “Once Upon A Time” this is not. In fact, “Graffiti Soul” carries on from the musical direction of 2005’s “Black And White 050505″. Although, I think I like “Graffiti Soul” slightly better. The melodies are stronger here, Jim Kerr’s vocals more impassioned.
The band definitely sounds alive and kicking on such tracks as the first single, “Rockets”, “Stars Will Lead The Way” and “Light Travels”. The title track and “Blood Type O” are interesting diversions as well. One thing “Graffiti Soul” has is a cohesiveness not seen in years. The album as a whole holds up pretty well. It is not my favorite Simple Minds album, but it is one of their better recordings.
The second disc on the deluxe version consists of nine covers. 2001’s “Neon Lights” was a mixed attempt at a cover album. This disc is titled “Searching For The Lost Boys”, and as it is a bonus disc, I am going to be more critical here. The band does an okay version of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World” (which would not have been my choice for a bonus track on the single disc version “Graffiti Soul”). They do a great job with Magazine’s “A Song From Under The Floorboards”, improving upon the original–and this is the track that should have been added to the single disc version. They do a mediocre version of Siouxsie & The Banshee’s “Christine”, and a terrible job on The Stranglers’ “Get A Grip”. They do a decent job of The Call’s “Let The Day Begin”, but a terrible job of Elvis Costello’s “Peace, Love And Understanding”. Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” is average, but Thin Lizzy’s “Whiskey In The Jar” is really done well. The Beach Boys’ “Sloop John B” is weak.
In the end, “Graffiti Soul” shows a continued strength, and the possibility of something great to come. Too bad the original members could not get along and work together because that would have been real interesting to have Forbes and MacNeil back on board. It has been my opinion for some time that the loss of original member MacNeil really put a damper on the band’s creative juices.
Here’s how “Graffiti Soul” compares to the band’s other works:
1979 Life In A Day: Three and a Half Stars
1979 Real To Real Cacophony: Three and a Half Stars
1980 Empires And Dance: Three Stars
1981 Sons And Fascination: Four Stars
1981 Sister Feelings Call: Three Stars
1982 New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84: Five Stars
1984 Sparkle In The Rain: Five Stars
1985 Once Upon A Time: Five Stars
1989 Street Fighting Years: Five Stars
1991 Real Life: Five Stars
1995 Good News From The Next World: Two Stars
1998 Neapolis: Four Stars
2001 Neon Lights: Three Stars
2002 Cry: Three Stars
2005 Black And White 050505: Four Stars
2009 Graffiti Soul: Four Stars
August 31st, 2010 at 11:27 am
I have to say that this is probably the most refreshing and energetic SM album in the long time! All tracks simply flow from one to another! I thoroughly enjoy it! I think that the guys really have outdone themselves!
September 1st, 2010 at 12:07 am
Simple Minds fans tend to be a die hard lot, even if the U.S. charts haven’t been too favorable to them since their mid-80’s super-stardom. And it is completely outrageous that the U.S. release for Graffiti Soul has been held up for months so that U.S. fans have to buy it from overseas to get it in a timely manner. But I digress…
The new album is simply fantastic, particularly in the two-disc special edition with their disc of classic covers. Simple Minds are playing with the energy and intensity of bands half their age, but with twice the talent, experience and vision. I really don’t have a bad thing to say about this album: it is as strong as anything they have ever done. If you are on-the-fence about Simple Minds, the new album will win you over. It is that good. ‘Rockets’ is almost hypnotically catchy. You’ll find yourself humming it at work or in the car. Other standouts (on this album of standouts) include ‘Moscow Underground’, ‘Stars Will Lead the Way’, and ‘This Is It.’ Simple Minds is still alive and kicking!
September 1st, 2010 at 12:09 pm
A great Simple Minds release for fans and for anyone who likes indie alt music. These guys are the godfathers !
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:21 am
My husband had this on his Christmas list and he is very happy with the CD.
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:39 am
I won’t claim to be the biggest Simple Minds fan out there but I have enough of their music spanning their entire career that I can rate this based on the prior output. Although Cry has a 4.5 average rating here, it seems like that release was perceived as being a step down for Simple Minds. Personally, I really liked it (although I have separate issues with too much outside influences – which Cry had). Being a big fan of Good News From the Next World, I had high expectations of this release based on advance word. While it is not a bad release by any means, there are really no stand-out tracks other than Moscow Underground and that is really the problem. Albums like Cry I can still hear in my head years later – I can’t say the same about this release. While it is a HUGE improvement over Neapolis and slightly less so over Black and White 050505, it just doesn’t meet expectations. First of all, what’s with the short length of the CD? If I added it up correctly, it just over 35 minutes (excluding bonus??? tracks). Second, bonus tracks? how do they figure these are bonuses? Is it compared to a vinyl version I am not aware of? It might be minor but it detracts away from the flow to call these a bonus. It gives the impression of them being throw-away tracks. This brings me to my next negative….I really like the song Shadows and Light and was hugely disappointed to see it end so quickly. This song had HUGE potential for me.
Positive? No bad songs – they are all “good” songs. I hate the Neil Young version of Rockin’ In The Free World; like this version.
I just have to keep reminding myself that 3 stars is a ‘good’ release and would recommend it
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:48 pm
I have been a Simple Minds fan since Sons and Fascination album from 1981. I must say that I know of no other band that produced such original, avantegard, and experimental music starting with Reel to Reel all the way up to and including Sparkle in the Rain, which was the last great Simple Minds album in my opinion. Then they did Once Upon a Time and went totally commercial and sold out everything. Although I did enjoy the CD Cry from 2002 and a few songs from Black and White as well. But this new CD is very different than anything they have done in a long time. The bass is more Simple Mindish and the songs are more original. Although it does not come even close to Sons and Fascination/Sister Feeling Call in terms of orginality, keyboards and bass playing, it’s pretty damn good though. I have not heard another Rock album this year that could equal Graffiti’s quality. There are some great songs on this album and no rock fan or anyone who cares about good rock music would be disappointed with this CD. My favorites are Stars Will Lead the Way, Moscow Underground, Blood Type O, and This is It. Enjoy it
September 3rd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I won’t claim to be the biggest Simple Minds fan out there but I have enough of their music spanning their entire career that I can rate this based on the prior output. Although Cry has a 4.5 average rating here, it seems like that release was perceived as being a step down for Simple Minds. Personally, I really liked it (although I have separate issues with too much outside influences – which Cry had). Being a big fan of Good News From the Next World, I had high expectations of this release based on advance word. While it is not a bad release by any means, there are really no stand-out tracks other than Moscow Underground and that is really the problem. Albums like Cry I can still hear in my head years later – I can’t say the same about this release. While it is a HUGE improvement over Neapolis and slightly less so over Black and White 050505, it just doesn’t meet expectations. First of all, what’s with the short length of the CD? If I added it up correctly, it just over 35 minutes (excluding bonus??? tracks). Second, bonus tracks? how do they figure these are bonuses? Is it compared to a vinyl version I am not aware of? It might be minor but it detracts away from the flow to call these a bonus. It gives the impression of them being throw-away tracks. This brings me to my next negative….I really like the song Shadows and Light and was hugely disappointed to see it end so quickly. This song had HUGE potential for me.
Positive? No bad songs – they are all “good” songs. I hate the Neil Young version of Rockin’ In The Free World; like this version.
I just have to keep reminding myself that 3 stars is a ‘good’ release and would recommend it
September 4th, 2010 at 12:15 am
My husband had this on his Christmas list and he is very happy with the CD.
September 4th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I have been a Simple Minds fan since Sons and Fascination album from 1981. I must say that I know of no other band that produced such original, avantegard, and experimental music starting with Reel to Reel all the way up to and including Sparkle in the Rain, which was the last great Simple Minds album in my opinion. Then they did Once Upon a Time and went totally commercial and sold out everything. Although I did enjoy the CD Cry from 2002 and a few songs from Black and White as well. But this new CD is very different than anything they have done in a long time. The bass is more Simple Mindish and the songs are more original. Although it does not come even close to Sons and Fascination/Sister Feeling Call in terms of orginality, keyboards and bass playing, it’s pretty damn good though. I have not heard another Rock album this year that could equal Graffiti’s quality. There are some great songs on this album and no rock fan or anyone who cares about good rock music would be disappointed with this CD. My favorites are Stars Will Lead the Way, Moscow Underground, Blood Type O, and This is It. Enjoy it
September 4th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
A great Simple Minds release for fans and for anyone who likes indie alt music. These guys are the godfathers !
September 5th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I won’t claim to be the biggest Simple Minds fan out there but I have enough of their music spanning their entire career that I can rate this based on the prior output. Although Cry has a 4.5 average rating here, it seems like that release was perceived as being a step down for Simple Minds. Personally, I really liked it (although I have separate issues with too much outside influences – which Cry had). Being a big fan of Good News From the Next World, I had high expectations of this release based on advance word. While it is not a bad release by any means, there are really no stand-out tracks other than Moscow Underground and that is really the problem. Albums like Cry I can still hear in my head years later – I can’t say the same about this release. While it is a HUGE improvement over Neapolis and slightly less so over Black and White 050505, it just doesn’t meet expectations. First of all, what’s with the short length of the CD? If I added it up correctly, it just over 35 minutes (excluding bonus??? tracks). Second, bonus tracks? how do they figure these are bonuses? Is it compared to a vinyl version I am not aware of? It might be minor but it detracts away from the flow to call these a bonus. It gives the impression of them being throw-away tracks. This brings me to my next negative….I really like the song Shadows and Light and was hugely disappointed to see it end so quickly. This song had HUGE potential for me.
Positive? No bad songs – they are all “good” songs. I hate the Neil Young version of Rockin’ In The Free World; like this version.
I just have to keep reminding myself that 3 stars is a ‘good’ release and would recommend it
September 6th, 2010 at 12:10 am
I have been a Simple Minds fan since Sons and Fascination album from 1981. I must say that I know of no other band that produced such original, avantegard, and experimental music starting with Reel to Reel all the way up to and including Sparkle in the Rain, which was the last great Simple Minds album in my opinion. Then they did Once Upon a Time and went totally commercial and sold out everything. Although I did enjoy the CD Cry from 2002 and a few songs from Black and White as well. But this new CD is very different than anything they have done in a long time. The bass is more Simple Mindish and the songs are more original. Although it does not come even close to Sons and Fascination/Sister Feeling Call in terms of orginality, keyboards and bass playing, it’s pretty damn good though. I have not heard another Rock album this year that could equal Graffiti’s quality. There are some great songs on this album and no rock fan or anyone who cares about good rock music would be disappointed with this CD. My favorites are Stars Will Lead the Way, Moscow Underground, Blood Type O, and This is It. Enjoy it
September 6th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
A great Simple Minds release for fans and for anyone who likes indie alt music. These guys are the godfathers !
September 6th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
My husband had this on his Christmas list and he is very happy with the CD.