As you would expect, the guy who writes a music blog frequently adds and deletes albums from the playlists on his computer and phone. But there are several albums that are always available to me at home and elsewhere Two of them are
Hallelujah All the Way Home and
Juvenillia, two mid-'80s records by New Zealand band
The Verlaines, and a third is the
Dunedin Double compilation which included a few songs by that band. It was vital music for me then, and it still speaks to me. But I also am aware that
The Verlaines frontman Graeme Downes, who is a professor in the School of Performing Arts at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, has kept the project alive all the intervening years, and recently released the band's tenth LP,
Dunedin Spleen. And in case anyone was wondering, the album proves that the band is no nostalgia act.
The Verlaines of 2019 remain as vital and focused as ever. As a songwriter and performer Dowes has a broad range, encompassing acerbic social/political commentary as well as softer musings, expressed in poetic lyrics. The arrangements are varied and textured with melody always a primary consideration. And with 19 tracks of well-crafted songs, it is a generous record as well.
The Verlaines aren't definably punk rock, indie rock or art rock, but
Dunedin Spleen embodies the spirit of all three in the best way possible.
For
Dunedin Spleen The Verlaines are Graeme Downes, Stephen Small, Darren Stedman, Rob Burns,and Tom Healy. Libby Hamilton and Shayne Carter provided some background vocals. The album is out now as a digital release -- see the Bandcamp link below.
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Bandcamp for Dunedin Spleen
1 comment:
Having never downloaded any music, I never heard this album until it was available on CD, which finally occured two or three weeks back (June 2021).
And analogous with Pink Floyd's "Animals" (which I finally heard in 2016!) what a treasure I had missed. After a couple of weeks, I am still assimilating this album, but I have to say I think it is one of the finest Verlaines records of all. Wonderful songs, great lyrics, and I'm drawn to some of the great guitar and keyboard figures that embellish many of the songs. From time to time, Graeme Downes' regard for Randy Newman shows through (AWCWD and Chruch and State come to mind), but that's hardly a bad thing.
This is a record I will treasure for the rest of my days, however many they may be.
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