Revisiting the ones that matter #1 with Jimbo MacKellar of everywhere

Some, make that most, probably aren’t aware that there is a Facebook group connected to the blog. Or it would be more accurate to say that there is a group connected to the Facebook page that is connected to this blog.

But this post isn’t about promoting that. It’s about some of the content. Recently some regular posters, and myself, indulged in the nominating each other, to post their “ten favourite albums”, but instead of having them left bereft of comments we wanted something said to accompany them.

It could be anything.

The reason it was a favourite album, a memory associated with it. Literally anything that felt comfortable could be added.

Then from that it was decided that we would share them on here.

First up to feature is Jimbo MacKellar. Ex guitar hero of bands such as Fire Exit and Media Whores, the latter who were nominated for a Mercury Music Award, and who is currently fronting everywhere.

So now that the an explanation and a short introduction has been made, here are the albums that he revisits frequently, and some notes to go with them.

Enjoy

#1. Devo- Duty Now For The Future.

Jimbo - Devo's second album, produced by Ken Scott (The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust). Featuring their trademark polyrhythms, industrial guitars, and synth, this is a slightly more polished set of compositions than their debut.

Res Droogs - More polished as said, and more radio friendly too, but it is unmistakably Devo. There are few like them, and that's a positive. They broke the mould with Devo for sure.
Have New Traditionalists on us to listen to too

#2. David Bowie- Aladdin Sane.

Jimbo - Written during an American tour, this is a tour de force by a road hardened band using a unique palette of rock guitar, jazz piano and avant-garde sax and synth.

Res Droogs - The boss man in our opinion. There's not a month that passes without some Bowie being played in Res Droogs towers, but we didn't go for Aladdin Sane.

Not that we couldn't have. It was there as a contender, but after much deliberation and hand wringing we finally settled on another of his albums.

You will just have to wait and see what one it was.

#3- The Cardigans- Super Extra Gravity. 

Jimbo - An unusual choice, but it's an album that has a great overall production and no weak tracks.

Res Droogs - While being a sort of casual fan of the Cardigans it has to be said that we are not that familiar over all with their back catalogue. 

So, like you readers, this is our introduction to Super Extra Gravity too.

#4. Alice Cooper- School's Out.

Jimbo - This was the first album that I had bought that received adult respect.

I was at school camp and I put this on. My music teacher at the time was very impressed by the homage to Dave Brubeck that is Blue Turk. He told me later that he bought the album subsequently.

This is another album with a unique sound.

Res Droogs - A classic. No matter how you want to frame it. Like it, or loathe it, you can't ignore it. 

#5. Funkadelic- One Nation Under A Groove.

Jimbo - This album always brought a smile to my face. I used to love it when my pals rolled their eyes and said "I don't like disco music"...

Res Droogs - It's always funny when the years roll past and an album that you were belittled for having a connection with becomes one of those that features on "must have" lists in pretty much every magazine, and then gets cited as being a huge influence on so many artists.

Warms the cockles of the heart to be right.

#6. Eno- Here Come The Warm Jets.

Jimbo - A very important one for me. It introduced me to another galaxy where music wasn't polished, or tidy or self-reverential.

It's also a hell of a lot of fun.

Res Droogs - And again no complaints here. We know that for a certain age group Eno is someone that we are all well aware of , but for some of the younger whippersnappers who haven't delved far enough back to cover this then we recommend that you do.

#7. John Lennon- Plastic Ono Band.

Jimbo - Lennon's first conventional post Beatle album is fascinating as he applies his melodic genius to rock music. With the help of Ringo and Klaus Voorman he knocks Spector's wall of sound down and replaces it with something a little more exposed. Lyrically he exorcises a few demons from his childhood and career.

Res Droogs - If it only featured Mother it would be enough, but Working Class hero, God. We are spoiled for choice here.

#8. T-Rex- Electric Warrior.

Jimbo - The album that kicked off Glam Rock is actually a sassy, funky concoction of runic lyrics and hip cultural references. This is a great production job by Tony Visconti that uses his trademark pallette of backwards sounds and unusual instrumentation.

Res Droogs - We will not hear a band word about Marc Bolan around these here parts. Love love love a bit of Bolan Boogie.

Wrap yer ears around this.

#9. Sparks- Indiscreet.

Jimbo - A truly unique band, Sparks were simultaneously unmistakable in their core style, yet totally chameleonic in their genre hopping ability.

This collaboration with Tony Visconti crosses styles, decades, takes you from the 20s to the future in a series of witty short stories with tight arrangements and zero fucks given. 

There is no single track that sums up this LP, you just have to listen to it all. 

Res Droogs - We've been on a bit of a Sparks kick just recently. Mainly in prep for going to see them for the first time. We can't wait.

#10. XTC- Skylarking.

Jimbo - Ending this list on a high note. Andy Partridge's vision for "lost 60s classic", realised in the Dukes Of Stratosphear project, bore fruit for XTC in this sumptuous album.
The whole band rises to the challenge here, bringing subtlety and power by turns to Todd Rundgren's authentic production. This is a rare gem, and one to keep in rotation.


Res Droogs - One to revisit and re-acquaint ourselves with.