"Modest" Records

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What's a 'modest' record? I mean an album/single which maybe doesn't get mentioned very often, it's a million miles away from being the best example of it's *type*, it isn't/wasn't breaking new ground and has probably influenced hardly anyone.

You may hardly ever play it these days, yet you wouldn't be without it. My example is The Passions "Michael and Miranda" - objectively it has only 3 or 4 good songs, bread n' butter production, and crap lyrics- but there's something honest about it which I love.

So firstly, d'ya know what I mean, if yes, name some.

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Michael Penn's March; still think No Myth is a brilliant song though.

― Geoff, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Art Bergmann, 'Sexual Roulette'

― tarden, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jesus & Mary Chain, "Stoned & Dethroned"

― Alex Huynh, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I concur with "March," although I would include "Evenfall" as a brilliant song. Penn's other two records are similarly good but not insanely so. Liz Phair's two follow-ups to "Guyville" were both fantastic but not ground-breaking (I actually like "spaceegg" better than the debut). Also: The Feelies "Only Life" is a solid but unspectacular record. I would also include most post-debut Smiths albums in the "modest" category.

― Blake, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Juliana Hatfield's "Hey Babe"

― Chewshabadoo, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"McCartney" by Paul McCartney.

― DZ, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Squeeze: everything.

― the pinefox, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Some agreeing : Squeeze fit the bill for me too, P'Fox. Also Blake is quite right about Liz Phair - "whitechocolatespaceegg" is infinitely superior to the over-praised (go on, Liz talk dirty for the journos) debut and unfinished, fuzzy one which came after. I can't call it a *modest* triumph though, it's far too good for that.

The Feelies - "The Good Earth" is another 'modest' classic.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dr. C, yer right: "spaceegg" is probably too good to be called modest. I guess I was just looking for a chance to promote it!

Also: "Good Earth" is a great choice.

― Blake, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I suppose I'm gonna just keep this thread going by m'self until the internet gets shut down (or bought by Disney), just cause I like it so much. It's time that these pretty-good-but-not-really-good albums get their due!!

More consistent, umimpressively pleasant albums:

Ultra Vivid Scene's "Joy 1967-1990," Innocence Mission's "Glow," Lightening Seed's "Cloudcuckooland," Replacements "All Shook Down," Velocity Girl's "Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts," Husker Du's "Candy Apple Grey."

Also, my vote for THE classic modest record: The Kinks "Village Green Preservation Society." No hit singles. It covered similar ground as other Kinks and Beatles records. Not really influential, unlike Arthur and Something Else. The songs are lazy and consistent. This is probably too good an album to be called modest, but I'm gonna anyway.

I'll be back.

― Blake, Monday, 25 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Latin Quarter - Modern Times (1985) has some tracks that I enjoy Radio Africa, Cora, New Millionaries, America for Beginners.

This album Modern Times, never get mentioned, that last track on the album Cora, with just female vocals and piano is sublime.

Latin Quarter were international socialists campaigning for freedom from oppression and a better world. There were a number of bands with similiar agit pop thoughts remember Redskins: Bring it Down (this insane thing)- the energy on this track, is similiar to PIL: rise.

Latin Quarter

― DJ Martian, Monday, 25 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Couldn't agree more about Michael and Miranda. Found it in a charity shop for about 50p about 2 years ago, which also added something to it somehow... Also Snowball by the Field Mice and Understand by Brian. j.

― flowersdie, Wednesday, 27 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ian Hunter - 'You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic' -2 classics, 2 duds, and the rest...super-filler, filler that makes the filler on any other album look like...filler. Greatest tracks-by-numbers ever.

― tarden, Wednesday, 27 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Accent on the 'super' part, of course. Maybe I mean 'superlative'. Adjective, not adverb, dig? DAMN that marijuana!

― tarden, Wednesday, 27 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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