Sunday, May 20, 2007

Nikki Sudden

004 Nikki Sudden
Jacobites is how I knew and loved Nikki Sudden first and most. But I found there was a good deal more that's at least equally worthy, going all the way back to his punky sonic experiments in Swell Maps with brother Epic Soundtracks, who died in 1997. The Godfreys (Adrian Nicholas and Kevin Paul, respectively) may have lived and died here, but in spirit they -- or certainly Nikki -- hailed from an alternative universe where Marc Bolan lived long, Bob Dylan and Keith Richard died young, and Donovan won the standing that Leonard Cohen has here.

How does did he(do/they?) do that, create that universe and make it so real and still so achingly beautiful and fantastic?

Thanks to dorfdisco braunsfeld for all the great Swell Maps and a lot more of Nikki Sudden than just Jacobites.

Jacobites, "Big Store" (1984) This is the bruiser that introduced me to the world. (8:01)
Jacobites, "Heart of Hearts" (1984) (3:35)
Jacobites, "It'll All End Up in Tears" (1985) ---only because this song manages to not leave a dry eye in the house. (3:03)
Nikki Sudden, "Black Tar" (2006) From The Truth Doesn't Matter, a basically sound outing and the more's the pity that it was his last. (2:54)
Nikki Sudden, "Crossroads" (year) Better than the version with Howard. (8:00)
Nikki Sudden, "Draggin' Me Down" (2006) Grinds along like a bike with a loose chain and then out of nowhere ends beautifully. (3:50)
Nikki Sudden, "Green Shield Stamps" (2006) (6:09)
Nikki Sudden, "San Francisco Poet" (year) Funny and also puts relations between punks and beats in perspective. (2:12)

More information in comments.

1 comment:

  1. complete playlist...

    Jacobites, "Big Store" (1984) This is the bruiser that introduced me to the world. (8:01)
    Jacobites, "Heart of Hearts" (1984) (3:35)
    Jacobites, "It'll All End Up in Tears" (1985) ---only because this song manages to not leave a dry eye in the house. (3:03)
    Nikki Sudden, "Black Tar" (2006) From The Truth Doesn't Matter, a basically sound outing and the more's the pity that it was his last. (2:54)
    Nikki Sudden, "Crossroads" (year) Better than the version with Howard. (8:00)
    Nikki Sudden, "Draggin' Me Down" (2006) Grinds along like a bike with a loose chain and then out of nowhere ends beautifully. (3:50)
    Nikki Sudden, "Green Shield Stamps" (2006) (6:09)
    Nikki Sudden, "San Francisco Poet" (year) Funny and also puts relations between punks and beats in perspective. (2:12)
    Nikki Sudden, "The Ballad of Johnny and Marianne" (2006) (3:11)
    Swell Maps, "BLAM!!" (1979) I already liked this for the title, but then it turned out to be a pretty good song too. (3:31)
    Swell Maps, "Blenheim Shots" (1980) Gets a lot of momentum up with that organ. (3:40)
    Swell Maps, "Border Country" (1980) Dig the piano. (2:12)
    Swell Maps, "Raining in My Room" (year) Beautiful. (1:44)
    Swell Maps, "Read About Seymour" (c. 1977) Can't leave this one out but it's not my favorite by them. (1:29)
    Swell Maps, "Secret Island" (1980) (4:34)
    Swell Maps, "Steven Does" (year) (1:48)
    Swell Maps, "Vertical Slum" (1979) Rocks. Winning lyric: "The weather, the leather. The leather, the weather." (1:12)

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