The 90s weren't that bad, Part 29
Apr. 30th, 2012 09:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23Awhile back I did a list of great lost 90s albums. I haven't visited that for awhile, but it was certain at some point I would add the band Spain.
1995's Blue Moods of Spain has become a bit of a lost classic.
It wasn't quite like anything else (a mix of dramatic brood a la Tindersticks and slowcore). The band didn't appear on the album cover nor in their video for "Untitled #1" giving them an extra enhancement.
They weren't complete unknowns though. Their label -Restless Records- was as ambitious as any indie label in the mid 90s.
The band's leader, Josh Haden was son of Jazz Legend Charlie Haden and brother of indie icon / thatdog.'s singer Petra Haden.
Spain made three records, and for a blip on the indie scene, their songs were covered not only by Soulsavers, but on Unchained, the Man In Black himself, Johnny Cash ("Spiritual").
Blue... has a near-five star score on Amazon, though I tended at the time to gravitate to the 3 star review given by allmusic. Individually, there were some excellent songs. "Untitled #1" was easily one of the best songs of that year.
Still, when taken at once, the album was less impressive- a collection that could not deliver on the promise of the single. Josh lacked the voice to really transcend the soundtrack-style music like a Nick Cave, Stuart Staples or John Cale.
Spain are back with a new album planned for 2012- The Soul of Spain. Once again, they have a lead single that is right up there on the list of best songs you'll hear all year.
Check out first the classic single and then the new single.
1995's Blue Moods of Spain has become a bit of a lost classic.
It wasn't quite like anything else (a mix of dramatic brood a la Tindersticks and slowcore). The band didn't appear on the album cover nor in their video for "Untitled #1" giving them an extra enhancement.
They weren't complete unknowns though. Their label -Restless Records- was as ambitious as any indie label in the mid 90s.
The band's leader, Josh Haden was son of Jazz Legend Charlie Haden and brother of indie icon / thatdog.'s singer Petra Haden.
Spain made three records, and for a blip on the indie scene, their songs were covered not only by Soulsavers, but on Unchained, the Man In Black himself, Johnny Cash ("Spiritual").
Blue... has a near-five star score on Amazon, though I tended at the time to gravitate to the 3 star review given by allmusic. Individually, there were some excellent songs. "Untitled #1" was easily one of the best songs of that year.
Still, when taken at once, the album was less impressive- a collection that could not deliver on the promise of the single. Josh lacked the voice to really transcend the soundtrack-style music like a Nick Cave, Stuart Staples or John Cale.
Spain are back with a new album planned for 2012- The Soul of Spain. Once again, they have a lead single that is right up there on the list of best songs you'll hear all year.
Check out first the classic single and then the new single.
