Happy New Year to all our TSM readers! We trust that 2010 finds you all well and looking forward to the next twelve months of rare post-punk, new wave, and minimal synth postings.
To celebrate our second year here at TSM, we kick things off with Julian Cope's criminally underrated, and unjustly out of print, debut solo album following the demise of The Teardrop Explodes. Released in 1984, World Shut Your Mouth (not to be confused with the later single of the same name) finds Cope eschewing the day-glo psychedelic pop of "Reward" and "Treason" for a more contemplative and personal tone. Oh, sure, there are a pair of truly glorious singles here in "The Greatness and Perfection of Love" and "Sunshine Playroom," each full of inventive arrangements and heroic vocals. But, by and large, the mood of this album is more introspective, with Cope crafting poignant tales from the darkside of fame to the accompaniment of plaintive organs and lonesome woodwinds. The result is, to my mind, the most memorable of Cope's solo albums, with melodies that linger like a half forgotten dream, and lyrics that offer some plain and honest truths. My favourite has to be this verse from "Elegant Chaos:"
People I see
Just remind me of moo-ing like a cow in the grass
But that's not to say
There's anything wrong with
Being a cow anyway
Just remind me of moo-ing like a cow in the grass
But that's not to say
There's anything wrong with
Being a cow anyway
It's brilliant stuff from start to finish and a perfect way to welcome in the New Year!
-- Crash The Driver
World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope
01 Bandy's First Jump
02 Metranil Vavin
03 Strasbourg
04 Elegant Chaos
05 Quizmaster
06 Kolly Kibber's Birthday
07 Sunshine Playroom
08 Head Hang Low
09 Pussyface
10 Greatness And Perfection
11 Lunatic And Fire-Pistol
UK LP Mercury [MERL 37] 1984
Posts
An amazing album.Only got it on vinyl so thanks for the upload.I feel more of a man when I get with the herd!
ReplyDeleteJulian is one of those people who always strikes me as being wilfully, deliberately mad. He's still a genius but a slightly bonkers one.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, his book ("Head On") is one of the funniest things I've ever read. It's worth getting a copy to hear his real take on Teardrop Explodes, the Liverpool scene, and his subsequent solo work.
What a fantastic album. Thanks a ton for the post!
ReplyDeleteYou absolute beauty - thanks for this album, you've made my day.
ReplyDeleteOhhh... tips my hat to you young squire - you've made my shitty week all that much better. Bring on the mind numbing substances and a killer soundtrack to boot. xo
ReplyDelete