Jools
@jools-cyborg.bsky.social
Computational social scientist, random crafter, disabled non-binary cyborg and fan of amazement, movement, humour, insight and my dog. 🦓🏳️⚧🏳️🌈🤖
Well, that wraps up this AlbumParty. I will check out Rob Dickinson's solo album (Fresh Wine for the Horses, 2005) next but I have some meetings first.
November 21, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Well, that wraps up this AlbumParty. I will check out Rob Dickinson's solo album (Fresh Wine for the Horses, 2005) next but I have some meetings first.
Apparently, this album was not critically well-received. They had fired the bassist and just did the album with a guitar focus and sparse arrangement. Apparently.
But what do critics know? I love this album.
But what do critics know? I love this album.
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Apparently, this album was not critically well-received. They had fired the bassist and just did the album with a guitar focus and sparse arrangement. Apparently.
But what do critics know? I love this album.
But what do critics know? I love this album.
And now onto Wishville (2000), another album that I played pretty often.
Starting off with "Sparks are gonna fly" and you bet they are!
Starting off with "Sparks are gonna fly" and you bet they are!
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
And now onto Wishville (2000), another album that I played pretty often.
Starting off with "Sparks are gonna fly" and you bet they are!
Starting off with "Sparks are gonna fly" and you bet they are!
"Here Comes the Fat Controller" includes the lines:
Don't you think the sarcasm's a little hard to stomach?
The cynicism's boring.
Which I really like.
Don't you think the sarcasm's a little hard to stomach?
The cynicism's boring.
Which I really like.
November 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
"Here Comes the Fat Controller" includes the lines:
Don't you think the sarcasm's a little hard to stomach?
The cynicism's boring.
Which I really like.
Don't you think the sarcasm's a little hard to stomach?
The cynicism's boring.
Which I really like.
At uni, I did a project in with human outlines drawn on big canvasses based on the cover art from Adam and Eve.
People were asked to write who they thought about themselves inside the human outlines and how others thought about them outside.
People were asked to write who they thought about themselves inside the human outlines and how others thought about them outside.
November 21, 2025 at 9:32 AM
At uni, I did a project in with human outlines drawn on big canvasses based on the cover art from Adam and Eve.
People were asked to write who they thought about themselves inside the human outlines and how others thought about them outside.
People were asked to write who they thought about themselves inside the human outlines and how others thought about them outside.
This album was album of the year in 1997, beating Radiohead's OK, Computer to the top spot.
I love it.
I love it.
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
This album was album of the year in 1997, beating Radiohead's OK, Computer to the top spot.
I love it.
I love it.
Finishing up Happy Days today. Last track, "Kill My Soul" is a vibe.
Next, Adam and Eve (1997), which I played ever more than Happy Days. I could probably sing the entire album in order cause I used to play it on CD rather than MP3.
Starting w/ "Untitled Intro". Slide guitar and quiet fury.
Next, Adam and Eve (1997), which I played ever more than Happy Days. I could probably sing the entire album in order cause I used to play it on CD rather than MP3.
Starting w/ "Untitled Intro". Slide guitar and quiet fury.
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Finishing up Happy Days today. Last track, "Kill My Soul" is a vibe.
Next, Adam and Eve (1997), which I played ever more than Happy Days. I could probably sing the entire album in order cause I used to play it on CD rather than MP3.
Starting w/ "Untitled Intro". Slide guitar and quiet fury.
Next, Adam and Eve (1997), which I played ever more than Happy Days. I could probably sing the entire album in order cause I used to play it on CD rather than MP3.
Starting w/ "Untitled Intro". Slide guitar and quiet fury.
"Eat My Dust You Insensitive Man"
What a song title. Way ahead of their time. I guess today's equivalent would be "QUIET, PIGGY".
What a song title. Way ahead of their time. I guess today's equivalent would be "QUIET, PIGGY".
November 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
"Eat My Dust You Insensitive Man"
What a song title. Way ahead of their time. I guess today's equivalent would be "QUIET, PIGGY".
What a song title. Way ahead of their time. I guess today's equivalent would be "QUIET, PIGGY".
Happy Days from 1995. I know this album so well.
So. Well.
"Judy Staring at the Sun" might have been my favourite song for a while. "Heal" was up there too.
Why this album? No clue. Life's funny, eh?
So. Well.
"Judy Staring at the Sun" might have been my favourite song for a while. "Heal" was up there too.
Why this album? No clue. Life's funny, eh?
November 20, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Happy Days from 1995. I know this album so well.
So. Well.
"Judy Staring at the Sun" might have been my favourite song for a while. "Heal" was up there too.
Why this album? No clue. Life's funny, eh?
So. Well.
"Judy Staring at the Sun" might have been my favourite song for a while. "Heal" was up there too.
Why this album? No clue. Life's funny, eh?
So, I've been doing a bunch of other work and not really paying attention to this album. Apparently, the song "Crank" from this album was the band's high point?
I had to go back and listen. I do recognise "Crank" but this whole album is a wash of mood for me, with very little to stand out.
I had to go back and listen. I do recognise "Crank" but this whole album is a wash of mood for me, with very little to stand out.
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
So, I've been doing a bunch of other work and not really paying attention to this album. Apparently, the song "Crank" from this album was the band's high point?
I had to go back and listen. I do recognise "Crank" but this whole album is a wash of mood for me, with very little to stand out.
I had to go back and listen. I do recognise "Crank" but this whole album is a wash of mood for me, with very little to stand out.
Now on to Chrome from 1993. Still shoegazey, but apparently more aggressive.
Have I heard this album before? Maybe not in its entirety. Time to change than now!
Have I heard this album before? Maybe not in its entirety. Time to change than now!
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Now on to Chrome from 1993. Still shoegazey, but apparently more aggressive.
Have I heard this album before? Maybe not in its entirety. Time to change than now!
Have I heard this album before? Maybe not in its entirety. Time to change than now!
"Black Metallic" is over 7 minutes long and was described as the genre's "Stairway to Heaven".
Not the band's "Stairway to Heaven"... the GENRE'S!
Bold. pitchfork.com/features/lis...
Not the band's "Stairway to Heaven"... the GENRE'S!
Bold. pitchfork.com/features/lis...
The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time
From Slowdive to Blonde Redhead—and yes, My Bloody Valentine—these are the records that rise above
pitchfork.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
"Black Metallic" is over 7 minutes long and was described as the genre's "Stairway to Heaven".
Not the band's "Stairway to Heaven"... the GENRE'S!
Bold. pitchfork.com/features/lis...
Not the band's "Stairway to Heaven"... the GENRE'S!
Bold. pitchfork.com/features/lis...
If I have not heard it all the way through, it is at least familiar. The 2nd song, "I want to touch you", certainly lives in my head.
Very era-defining guitar going on here. Wikipedia says one of the band members was in another band influenced by Joy Division and I can hear it.
Very era-defining guitar going on here. Wikipedia says one of the band members was in another band influenced by Joy Division and I can hear it.
November 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
If I have not heard it all the way through, it is at least familiar. The 2nd song, "I want to touch you", certainly lives in my head.
Very era-defining guitar going on here. Wikipedia says one of the band members was in another band influenced by Joy Division and I can hear it.
Very era-defining guitar going on here. Wikipedia says one of the band members was in another band influenced by Joy Division and I can hear it.
Nice! I am pretty sure I saw them live a couple of times when I lived in Sacramento - but sort of early on at local festivals and maybe once at a coffee shop. Or a parking lot. So long ago.
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Nice! I am pretty sure I saw them live a couple of times when I lived in Sacramento - but sort of early on at local festivals and maybe once at a coffee shop. Or a parking lot. So long ago.
Thanks very much for your post! I did listen to your linked music and I think the sound I heard was musical saw.
Theramins are definitely similar, but they are so pure tone. The saw, on the other hand is a bit more like a voice - a bit nuanced and complex.
Theramins are definitely similar, but they are so pure tone. The saw, on the other hand is a bit more like a voice - a bit nuanced and complex.
October 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Thanks very much for your post! I did listen to your linked music and I think the sound I heard was musical saw.
Theramins are definitely similar, but they are so pure tone. The saw, on the other hand is a bit more like a voice - a bit nuanced and complex.
Theramins are definitely similar, but they are so pure tone. The saw, on the other hand is a bit more like a voice - a bit nuanced and complex.
Well, that's it. "Pressure Chief" was almost totattly unknown to me, but it absolutely has some songs that I could get behind. "Wheels" is very catchy. "The Guitar Man" sounds personal. "Palm of Your Hand" is a bit harder hitting.
October 27, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Well, that's it. "Pressure Chief" was almost totattly unknown to me, but it absolutely has some songs that I could get behind. "Wheels" is very catchy. "The Guitar Man" sounds personal. "Palm of Your Hand" is a bit harder hitting.
"Comfort Eagle" was ok. Now on to "Pressure Chief" form 2004.
So many songs about cars and driving. Sacramento really is a driving place.
So many songs about cars and driving. Sacramento really is a driving place.
October 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
"Comfort Eagle" was ok. Now on to "Pressure Chief" form 2004.
So many songs about cars and driving. Sacramento really is a driving place.
So many songs about cars and driving. Sacramento really is a driving place.
"Short skirt/long jacket" was played a lot on the radio and apparently on tele as an instrumental version was the theme song for a show called "Chuck" that ran for 5 years.
October 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
"Short skirt/long jacket" was played a lot on the radio and apparently on tele as an instrumental version was the theme song for a show called "Chuck" that ran for 5 years.
Now on to "Comfort Eagle" from 2001. I was preparing to leave Sacramento, working hard, dealing with tricky relationships, and looking for a way out.
I didn't pay much attention to CAKE at that time because I think I was too angry.
I didn't pay much attention to CAKE at that time because I think I was too angry.
October 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Now on to "Comfort Eagle" from 2001. I was preparing to leave Sacramento, working hard, dealing with tricky relationships, and looking for a way out.
I didn't pay much attention to CAKE at that time because I think I was too angry.
I didn't pay much attention to CAKE at that time because I think I was too angry.
There is a sound on "Guitar" that could be either a theramin or a musical saw.
I am guessing musical saw.
I am guessing musical saw.
October 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
There is a sound on "Guitar" that could be either a theramin or a musical saw.
I am guessing musical saw.
I am guessing musical saw.
"Never There" was clearly a play on words. The lyrics and number tone sound effects show it was literally about trying to call someone who was never in to take the call as a metaphor for someone who didn't really want to be in the relationship.
The phone aspect has been lost now. Technology, eh?
The phone aspect has been lost now. Technology, eh?
October 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
"Never There" was clearly a play on words. The lyrics and number tone sound effects show it was literally about trying to call someone who was never in to take the call as a metaphor for someone who didn't really want to be in the relationship.
The phone aspect has been lost now. Technology, eh?
The phone aspect has been lost now. Technology, eh?
Now onto "Prolonging the Magic" from 1998. This came out the year I graduated high school and some of the songs featured pretty heavily on the radio stations at the time.
But I never bought the album so this is going to be a lot of new stuff for me.
But I never bought the album so this is going to be a lot of new stuff for me.
October 27, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Now onto "Prolonging the Magic" from 1998. This came out the year I graduated high school and some of the songs featured pretty heavily on the radio stations at the time.
But I never bought the album so this is going to be a lot of new stuff for me.
But I never bought the album so this is going to be a lot of new stuff for me.
I guess I hadn't appreciated how much of this album is very country.
"Sad songs and waltzes" - very country and very 'she done left me'.
And yet, so many female artists are criticized for writing albums with the same themes.
"Sad songs and waltzes" - very country and very 'she done left me'.
And yet, so many female artists are criticized for writing albums with the same themes.
October 27, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I guess I hadn't appreciated how much of this album is very country.
"Sad songs and waltzes" - very country and very 'she done left me'.
And yet, so many female artists are criticized for writing albums with the same themes.
"Sad songs and waltzes" - very country and very 'she done left me'.
And yet, so many female artists are criticized for writing albums with the same themes.