Reviews of Glass Flesh 2
from the fegList
Nick Winkworth
I finally got my copy of GF2 from the itinerant Sharkboy just a few
weeks ago - not exactly the first day of release, I know. As a proud
owner of GF1 I certainly wanted to make sure I got my copy, but good
though that disc is, it's stuff for the fans only - you probably
wouldn't play it for your non-Feg friends. I didn't feel any particular
sense of urgency about it.
Now that I've finally heard GF2 I am totally blown away - this thing is
in another league altogether. Believe it or not, this is a CD I actually
listen to for it's own sake and I *have* played it for non-Feg friends!
Interpretations range from faithful to unique to inspired to downright
quirky. There's not a duffer on here.
As for the packaging ...I'd no idea! lj totally rules! This knocks 99%
of the commercial product you've ever seen into a cocked hat. I've been
showing this thing to folks around the office (a high tech marketing
group - these folks are not easily impressed) ever since I got it.
In short, if you don't have a copy already, you OWE it to yourself to
rush out and get one. You'll be amazed, impressed and, frankly (like
me), embarrassed you didn't do it before.
Drew Simchik
I promised a long time ago (like 2 months) to say more about
the Glass Flesh CDs I bought. And here I am with a half-assed
fulfillment of said promise: I'll comment on GF2 first, because
that's the one people are probably less likely to have already.
I won't comment on every track, but only on the ones that struck
me as especially wonderful or unusual. I didn't love every track,
but all of them are at least listenable and, with few exceptions,
enjoyable. So -- without intending to slight anyone -- I'll single
out a few for comment.
- Two tracks, whose titles I won't mention to preserve the surprise,
incorporate bits of other Hitchcock tunes in clever ways (sort of
medley-style, not to invoke the Sweeney sisters or anything).
- Ross Overbury's vocals on "Balloon Man" are lovely. It's a
minor-key take with a somewhat folky feel to it.
- Charisma-tron's "Satellite" is in the same vein as the Transparencies'
"Trash" from GF1: deadpan female vox over minimalist indie-punkish
backing. Nice -- I'd love to hear more covers in this vein, because,
as you know, women are angelic beings not of this earth.
- "Chinese Bones" is rendered pretty faithfully by The Love Spots,
with the tumbling poise of the original stretched into a driving-
song sprawl for this version. Very nice.
- The Virgineers flesh out "Surgery" in a terrific psychedelic mode.
I always liked this one and this is the way I always wanted to hear it.
- Credit to David Anderson for tackling "Birdshead." That's a tough
act to follow but he does so faithfully and beautifully.
- Fairly straightforward versions of "Queen Elvis," "Airscape," and
"Alright, Yeah" (by Triskelion, Mark Allen, and Sir Demon Brown). Good
listening.
- The weirdest track is "More Chinese Boys" by Dead Toe. I don't think
Robyn wrote it.
If I had to pick three favorite tracks, I'd pick four. They'd be:
- Mark Gloster's "Raymond Chandler Evening," complete with Philip
Marlowe's spoken-word contribution. Great expansion of the original
and a real pleasure to listen to.
- The fully-formed version of "You've Got." I always found the version
on You & Oblivion a little dull, which is not to belittle the JH3
Experience's fantastic cover.
- "Flavour of Night," by the Southern Drinking Companions, sounds less
like John Lennon and more like Martin Gore fronting Black Tape for a
Blue Girl. It's lovely, especially the vocals.
- And the special bonus prize goes to the only instrumental this time
around, a crystalline take on "Glass" by the New Nairobi Trio. I keep
thinking I hear a snatch of "We Three Kings" in it but it must be my
imagination.
I have pretty low expectations for tribute albums, so saying this is
the best one I've ever heard seems like faint praise, but it's not.
I'd love to hear more radical reworkings, but that's about the only
criticism I can level. I highly recommend it.
Drew