Beatcroft

On National album day, singles rule and individual tracks flourish

It was Simple Minds, or rather Graeme Thomson’s book about the band, that led me to Ricky Gardner, The Passenger and then back to Beggar’s Opera. It’s odd to think that one of the denizens of 70s ScotProg should end up co-writing Iggy’s biggest song and collaborating with Bowie on the Berlin masterpiece, Low.

Elsewhere this week, there are new tracks from Alice Faye – an astonishingly brash departure from her usual barbed, limpid loveliness – and Teenage Fanclub. Who sound, as per usual, rather too blissed/doomed out for comfort. Mind you, they did record the new album on the island of Great Bernera, which would bliss/doom out anyone…

Findlay Napier’s song I’m Tired of Pleasing You really is a masterclass in post-Costello wordsmithery. Very impressive.

Elsewhere, there is rather too much of and about Buzz the dog. Susan’s back fron her holidats tomorrow and next week the Failed Sheepdog should be less bothersome.

The Passenger — Iggy Pop
Time Machine — Beggars Opera
Gutting Knife — Kirsty Law
I’m Tired of Pleasing You — Findlay Napier
Scottish Rain — The Silencers
Justify the Rain — Cosmic Rough Riders
Fields of Fire — Big Country
Turning Away — Dougie Maclean, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
My Funny Valentine — Rod Paterson
Growing Up Beside You — Paolo Nutini
Old Old Fashioned — Frightened Rabbit
The Cocktail Of The Year — Billy Bremner
The Same Air — Teenage Fanclub
Side Note — Dropkick
Vaudevillain — Alice Faye