Dave Stewart or The Pet Shop Boys?

[tilthefirefades]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

At first, I wasn't hot on it, but now . . . WOW! I think it's in his top 4 solo albums. Maybe THIRD!

One of the ways I approached the album was I heard the echo of a familiar longing: for a once-intimate kindred spirit. That seems to be the thread running the songs . . . as if to say: "Johnny, come back!" -- alas, look at the title. NOW, what do you do? For the answer, check out the final track--the most amazing punk testament since Johnny Rotten.

What?! This is intriguing, now I must listen to it again. Seems like now all I can do is compare things to You Are the Quarry since it was soooo good. Still yet, Viva Hate will always hold a huge part of my heart.

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by tilthefirefades

What?! This is intriguing, now I must listen to it again. Seems like now all I can do is compare things to You Are the Quarry since it was soooo good. Still yet, Viva Hate will always hold a huge part of my heart.

Yes, it was precisely because they aren't You Are The Quarry (number 1!!!!) that I at first was a little bummed by Ringleader and Refusal. Ringleader's faults (songs that don't feel fully realized, too long, sequencing flaws) ultimately attest to its urgency: a deep look into the heart of Fascism. It turns out that Refusal is flawless: just different. After The Smiths albums (and Viva Hate--number 2!!!!), Morrissey began treat albums less as a collection of perfect songs, single-ready, than songs as pieces in a whole (an approach which reached perfection on Quarry--having had 7 years to shape the album and choose from an astonishing batch of songs). Now, Years of Refusal is a return to the Smiths model of an album as a collection of singles, individual tracks, each one perfect. It's perfectly sequenced (note how Carol's spirit, released at the point of death, becomes the banshee wail on the next track "That's How People Grow Up"). Because he also released it on vinyl, it is blessedly short. And another point, in this itunes era, note how when playing the album on repeat "I'm OK By Myself" (wowowowwowow) transitions perfectly into "Something Is Squeezing My Skull"--Your Arsenal (number 3?4?) doesn't end with "OK"'s kick--it's Morrissey's best ever closer! And I would give anything for the Mac to cover "Black Cloud"!

OMG

"It's Not Your Birthday Anymore" . . . his final moan of "yesterday" makes me cry every time.

[tilthefirefades]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

Yes, it was precisely because they aren't You Are The Quarry (number 1!!!!) that I at first was a little bummed by Ringleader and Refusal. Ringleader's faults (songs that don't feel fully realized, too long, sequencing flaws) ultimately attest to its urgency: a deep look into the heart of Fascism. It turns out that Refusal is flawless: just different. After The Smiths albums (and Viva Hate--number 2!!!!), Morrissey began treat albums less as a collection of perfect songs, single-ready, than songs as pieces in a whole (an approach which reached perfection on Quarry--having had 7 years to shape the album and choose from an astonishing batch of songs). Now, Years of Refusal is a return to the Smiths model of an album as a collection of singles, individual tracks, each one perfect. It's perfectly sequenced (note how Carol's spirit, released at the point of death, becomes the banshee wail on the next track "That's How People Grow Up"). Because he also released it on vinyl, it is blessedly short. And another point, in this itunes era, note how when playing the album on repeat "I'm OK By Myself" (wowowowwowow) transitions perfectly into "Something Is Squeezing My Skull"--Your Arsenal (number 3?4?) doesn't end with "OK"'s kick--it's Morrissey's best ever closer! And I would give anything for the Mac to cover "Black Cloud"!

OMG

"It's Not Your Birthday Anymore" . . . his final moan of "yesterday" makes me cry every time.

This.

And omg yes, It's Not Your Birthday Anymore is brilliant also.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Hey, Bare has some great moments!

I have to agree. A Thousand Beautiful Things, Pavement Cracks etc... it's really pretty good. Yeah, Medusa wasn't brilliant but it was a covers album (and did the "songs by men, by women thing way before Tori Amos and Strange Little Girls). I also think that Songs Of Mass Destruction, despite its thoroughly dreadful title, is pretty solid. Dark Road, Womankind, Coloured Bedspread are all great!

[Pyewacket]

Both! But if I have to choose, then....Dave!

I love some PSB, they're very slick-sounding, and if they're only producing (not writing), that could make for a very chart-worthy combination (I wouldn't really want them to invade Stevie's songwriting, and I wouldn't want to hear Stevie repeating spoken lines like "what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?" -- it just wouldn't sound right). I'm not sure about the fit, but, it would definitely be an interesting collaboration.

And while Annie Lennox has proven that she was no singing puppet (I love all of her solo albums, even as she's gotten darker and more morose), Dave was responsible for so much more than half of the Eurythmics' output. He co-wrote "Don't Come Around Here No More" with Tom Petty (the song was actually his creation and Tom Petty came in for the assist -- interesting story below). He also penned "Underneath It All" with Gwen Stefani and "Stay" with Shakespear's Sister (#1 on the UK charts for 8 weeks!) and "Taking Chances (What Do You Say?)" with Kara DioGuardi (a huge hit for Celine Dion). He's worked with Bon Jovi, Sarah McLachlan, Bob Geldof, Bryan Ferry, Sinead O'Connor, Mick Jagger, U2 and more. And I think his songwriting would work with Stevie's quite well.

And now, the interesting story (gleaned from the booklet for Dave's "Songbook" CD which I just bought yesterday, so sorry if this has been posted before and is, in fact, not that interesting at all):

Dave: "Jimmy Iovine asked Tom Petty to come down to the studio where I was working on a song for Stevie Nicks. Tom was the coolest cat I'd ever met; we hit it off immediately and with just a few raised eyebrows and knowing nods from Tom, I got to understand the situation I was in. Tom is very sensitive and finely tuned. We finished the song in about 20 minutes and then Tom was saying to Jimmy, "I think I should sing this song"."

Uh...what?!?!? Tom Petty stole "Don't Come Around Here No More" right out from under Stevie?!?!? Well, I guess he's entitled, since he technically co-wrote it and he's given her a few other great tunes over the years...and frankly, I love the song for its weird, production (sitar, anyone?), which might not have made it in place if it had become a Stevie song. But, um...wow.

[mylittledemon]

I feel Dave Stewart could work with Stevie and fill in that "Lindsey-like" producer-hole better than the Pet Shop Boys would.

[LukeA]

I think Stevie should collaborate with The Escape Club.

And, if they're not available, maybe Timmy T.

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

I feel Dave Stewart could work with Stevie and fill in that "Lindsey-like" producer-hole better than the Pet Shop Boys would.

Well the Pets def would not be filling the Lindsey hole.

[Nikolaj]

I chose Dave.
While I like The Pet Shop Boys, I don't think their 'taste level' is worthy of Stevie. They can be clever, but they also can be cloying. The yellow LP/cd- I think it was called 'Up'-- I don't recall one memorable song from it, and I think I gave my vinyl copy away. However, mid 1980s, I loved a lot of Pet Shop Boys music, especially one summer I spent in Belgium. They were perfect for Europe, for me. Probably still are perfect for Europe.
I think Dave's work with Annie has generally been a stylistically better match for Stevie than PSB. Whom I like. Maybe I didn't give 'Up' a chance.
Plus, oh I just don't like the idea of Stevie working with the same producers who worked with Liza Minnelli. Stevie ain't exactly a fag hag of that caliber! (Offensive?- sorry if so).
Though SN has a gay following, she isn't primarily a 'gay act'-- Though I do have to hand it to PSB, the 'Results' cd with Liza is one of the few instances I can listen to her and not grit my teeth down to the enamel, so that must mean they are good producers.