... Young Marble Giants?
I checked out a copy of that three CD compilation by 'em and was
(after several tracks spent wondering exactly what the hell they were all about) rather pleased.
My previous familiarity started and stopped with the cover of "Final Day" that Galaxie 500 did. The original is
(surprise!) faster and not as pretty. But the melody of the tune survived intact. Odd that Ms. Yang wasn't given the singing chores, because she's vocally a ballpark ringer for the lass from YMG. Marginally better, in fact.
That resemblance might even carry over into any description I'd offer in a capsule review of Young Marble Giants:
"Sorta like Naomi Yang doing karaoke to very early Cure tunes."
You know that ska/two-tone reggae vibe that was all the rage 'round about that time? It's all over this stuff. There are also a slew of instrumentals that had me conjuring visions of bowling alleys and roller-skate rinks. Make of
that what you will.
It's not exactly worth three CDs of your time
(unless you really dig this sort of thing), but there are several ace tunes. "Wurlitzer Jukebox" is my favorite out of the gate, but there are others.
I also got very strong readings on my "Heard-That-Riff-Before-Somewhere-Else-O-Meter." Couldn't place any of the DNA exactly, but I'm fairly certain there has been some pilferage one way or another here. Thinking about distilling a one disc "Cream Of Some Young Marble Giants" anthology for myself, so perhaps by then I'll have some real culprits?
"B+" or thereabouts. Three and a half stars so far. Yeah. Good.
