Joe Boyd & Opinions on The Besnard Lakes
Producer Joe Boyd remembers making studio magic with legendary UK songwriter Nick Drake. Plus, Jim and Greg review the new album from Canadian shoegazers The Besnard Lakes.
Music News
It's been a sad couple of weeks for rock. Music lost Divinyls singer Christina Amphlett, P-funk bassist Cordell "Boogie" Mosson, and Woodstock singer Richie Havens. But the musician Jim and Greg are missing most is Scott Miller of the bands Game Theory and The Loud Family. Miller died last week at age 53. Jim remembers Game Theory as a Big Star revival band that played jangly pop with a literary edge. Albums like Real Nighttime and Big Shot Chronicles we sprawling, sophisticated constructions, he says. Jim plays "Regenisraen" from 1986 in tribute.
Joe Boyd
For the most part we think that rock ‘n’ roll artistry and commercials don't mix, but in the case of Nick Drake, it worked out. A 1999 TV commercial featuring his 1972 track "Pink Moon," made the English singer/songwriter a household name. It was success Drake couldn't enjoy in his lifetime. He died at age 26 of an overdose on anti-depressants after only releasing three albums. But the small catalog lives large today, with Drake's work influencing R.E.M., Elliot Smith, Beth Orton and many more. He's remembered on the new tribute album Way to Blue, produced by the man who discovered him, Joe Boyd. In addition to working with Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and the Fairport Convention, Joe Boyd produced Nick's first two albums, Five Leaves Left in 1969 and Bryter Layter in 1970. Jim and Greg talk to him about Nick Drake's own influences, his style and his legacy.
Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO The Besnard Lakes
Greg counts the 2nd and 3rd releases by The Besnard Lakes (who visited Sound Opinions in 2007) as two of the best of the last decade. How does the Montreal quartet fare on the 4th album? Well, according to Jim, the key words of the record's title Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO are "excess" and "imperceptible." He is happy to hear more of Olga Goreas' singing, but the melodies just aren't that strong. Jim says Burn It. Greg agrees that this album isn't as strong as its predecessors, but it has its own rewards as well. The Besnard Lakes bring slow, dreamy "shoegaze meets Beach Boys." Greg says go Buy It.
Jim
Jim's lounging away on his beach blanket thinking about 1994, and he decides to add "Seether" by Veruca Salt to the Desert Island Jukebox. It just so happens that frontwomen Louise Post and Nina Gordon have decided to "bury the hatchet" and reunite. Will their new singles be as good as "Seether?" Only time will tell...
Featured Songs
- Divinyls, "I Touch Myself," Divinyls, Virgin, 1991
- Game Theory, "Regenisraen," Big Shot Chronicles, Engima, 1986
- Teddy Thompson and Krystle Warren, "Pink Moon," Way to Blue, StorySound, 2013
- Nick Drake, "Milk & Honey," Family Tree, Island, 2007
- Molly Drake, "Happiness," Molly Drake, Squirrel Thing, 2013
- Nick Drake, "Black Eyed Dog," Time of No Reply, Hannibal, 1986
- Nick Drake, "Which Will," Pink Moon, Island, 1972
- Nick Drake, "Poor Boy," Bryter Later, Island, 1970
- Nick Drake, "Road," Pink Moon, Island, 1972
- Nick Drake, "Fly," Bryter Later, Island, 1970
- Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne," Songs of Leonard Cohen, Columbia, 1967
- Nick Drake, "I Was Made To Love Magic," Time of No Reply, Hannibal, 1986
- Nick Drake, "Way to Blue," Five Leaves Left, Island, 1969
- Nick Drake, "Day Is Done," Five Leaves Left, Island, 1969
- Nick Drake, "Pink Moon," Pink Moon, Island, 1972
- Nick Drake, "Northern Sky," Bryter Later, Island, 1970
- Krystle Warren, "Time Has Told Me," Way to Blue, StorySound, 2013
- Robyn Hitchcock, "Parasite," Way to Blue, StorySound, 2013
- Besnard Lakes, "46 Satires," Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO, Jagjaguwar, 2013
- Besnard Lakes, "People of the Sticks," Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO, Jagjaguwar, 2013
- Veruca Salt, "Seether," American Thighs, Geffen, 1994
- Wolf Parade, "Language City," At Mount Zoomer, Sub Pop, 2008
- Prince, "Ronnie Talk to Russia," Controversy, Warner Bros., 1981
- John Couger Mellencamp, "Country Gentleman," Big Daddy, Mercury, 1989
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