THE GOLDEN AGE OF LONG-FORM MUSIC BLOGS (2)

Saturday, May 02, 2009
THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY (Day 2) : TRASHCAN SONATAS

A guest posting from Craig McAllister, of the blog, Plain or Pan 

When JC mentioned that he was looking for guest writers to fill these fine pages, I was fairly keen to get involved. My own wee blog, Plain Or Pan is becoming increasingly popular. I often wish more people would’ve been with me from the start, when I was posting loads of stuff that I wanted people to hear. Nowadays, I get a guilt trip if I consider re-posting any of it, as it seems like a bit of a cop out. In my twisted head I consider it to be a heinous crime, a bit like the BBC showing endless repeats of past glories rather than putting any effort in to getting some new stuff out. So this opportunity was too good to miss. I get to re-post some older material in a new way, to a new audience. Knowing the sort of stuff JC puts up here on a regular basis, I’ve gone for a track by a band that many of you will have heard of, but not necessarily heard. And anyone who knows me will tell you that’s a real shame.

Anyone who knows me will also tell you that I think the Trashcan Sinatras are just about the best band ever. Of course, they’ll never ‘make it’, whatever that is, but in years to come, someone somewhere will stumble across a copy of Weightlifting or Cake and think “Where have they been all my life?” They’re a Velvet Underground waiting to happen. Seriously.

Snow is a bit of an obscurity amongst the collected works of the Trashcan Sinatras. It’s much sought after in Trashcans circles and as rare as a winning lottery ticket in my house. Naturally, I have a copy, on super-sexy 7” vinyl. Japanese Promotional copy no less. If you could get record Top Trumps this would be in my winning hand, right up there with my one-of-only-60 promo CD singles for last year’s Trashcan’s digital-only single, Oranges & Apples. But enough bumming from me.

Released only in Japan and recorded with some percussion-playing Japanese musicians, ‘Snow’ isn’t the definitive sounding Trashcans record. It wouldn’t be the first thing I’d play to someone who’d never heard them (try All The Dark Horses or Country Air from Weightlifting), but that’s no reason to give it a body swerve. Far from it.

Written by Randy Newman, it builds on moody atmospherics, some Doors-y sounding Fender Rhodes (I think) and some nice understated slide guitar playing. It sounds like angels crying in heaven in some places. It’s that good. Listen to it and pass it on.

Then get yourself over to Play or Amazon and buy up the band’s back catalogue (or what’s still available from it). Then wait with baited breath for the new album, rumoured to be out just in time for the summer.

mp3 : Trashcan Sinatras – Snow

CRAIG

12 comments were subsequently added…….

Mona said...

A great idea from JC this and a chance to discover more great blogs? Just had a shuftie at yours and will be adding it to my list…

Simon said…

lovely stuff. I got the Plain Or Pan bug early last year. It’s a good un!

Welcome Back Carter said…

The ‘definitive song’ obviously being Obscurity Knocks. Cracking song. Interested to hear this though

natp said…

Saint Etienne did a lovely version of Snow on one of their fanclub releases. The Trashcans version is good tho!

Nine said…

Thanks Villain of Vinyl…link to Plain or Pan blog is mint. Luverly reviews

The Warden said…

Does this song remind anyone else of early Radiohead?

dickvandyke said…

Top stuff Phil. Many thanks.

And a word to jc re ‘Roath Ravers’ (as Jeff Stelling called them today in his excitement today). I suspect that you may have had an ale or 2 by now, old boy?

Nine said…

…yes The Warden, Radiohead. But it reminds me more of Spiritualized

swissadam said…

Nice work Craig

condemnedtorocknroll said…

Obscurity Knocks will always be one of my favourite tracks of all time, but I’m duly thankful to hear this one, which is completely new to me.

JC said…

Re Roath Ravers…..

Thanks dvd. I was indeed at the game…an away match for the team but at a stadium just 30 mins walk from my house.

I had a few vodkas to celebrate as while being entertained by the performance of Lloyd Cole last night. The team did it the hard way….coming from four points back but winning 8 games in a row to become champions. ’twas a great feeling.

Mona said…

2JC – ‘Roath Ravers’ – I like it & congrats to them winning the championship.
Going down to the wire for Liverpool…
2Craig – Never heard the ‘Trash/Sins’ before (knew the name) Great song…will be investigating them more. Thanx.

Son of The Rock said…

never a big fan of TCS but they will always have a place in my musical memories as the very first gig i ever saw at King tuts all those years ago ! Am I correct in saying lead singer at that time was Eddi Reader’s brother ?

Davenelli said…

Cheers!!  I thought I had everything TCS had released. Apparently not.

VV….genius idea. thoroughly enjoying the different perspectives and music being highlighted here and congrats to Raith Rovers on their promotion.

Anonymous said…

fantastic song. i’ve wanted to check out this band for a long time. thanks.

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POSTSCRIPT

Craig has since written two books about albums by the Trashcan Sinatras.

The Perfect Reminder – The Story of Trashcan Sinatras ‘I’ve Seen Everything’  Click here.

A Full Pocket – The Definitive Guide to Trashcan Sinatras ‘A Happy Pocket’  Click here

I still keep in regular touch with Craig as he lives not too far from Glasgow.  He is one of the soundest blokes within the blogging community and someone whose talent for writing is up there with the best.