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Why does everyone seem to hate Graceland?

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jeff

13:55 / 03.04.04

I recently managed to find myself a copy of this album only to get the piss taken rather royally. I grew up with this album and I can't fault it, even taking into account that nostalgic angle. Imagine my surprise when people, good valued friends, offered to break it for me calling it cliched, cheesy and dull. I just can't square this attitude with the music I'm hearing. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Haus of Mystery

14:25 / 03.04.04

I got no problems with Graceland - reminds me of long drives sat in the back of my parents' car. Piss-taking no doubt stems from general world-music revulsion.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

16:15 / 03.04.04

I know what you mean, though, fortyeight... I like the album too. But it's not something I often say out loud, cos it tends to get bad reactions.

Hmm... haven't listened to this in a fair few years... may have to dig it out. Thanks for the reminder.

lord nuneaton savage

11:18 / 05.04.04

Man, that bass solo...

you know the one I'm talkin' about.

lord nuneaton savage

11:19 / 05.04.04

How about a thread on Dire Straits 'Brothers in arms'?

Now that was 'in the back of the car' music

Loomis

11:23 / 05.04.04

I dig it too, but then I'm not exactly an arbiter of musical taste. I think one problem a lot of people have with it is its supposed rip-off and commercialization of African music by a white American. I never saw it like that, but there's probably more to it than I know about.

the cat's iao

05:50 / 06.04.04

'cause everyone is stupid.

i like this album too and for much more than the radio over played "You Can Call Me Al". there isn't a song on it that isn't a pleasure to hear. but yes, i also have not listened to it for ages--that's what that old army base was for.

Tom Coates

07:31 / 06.04.04

It's a glorious album - one of the first that I actually bought for myself back in 1986 and one that I played over and over again for the subsequent eighteen years. I'm delighted to say that I can still hear songs from it and enjoy them without too much of the grinding "oh not this again" sensation that you often get from music that you've listened to excessively. It's got a couple of dips in it, and yeah it's a bit too eightees / worthy / cheesy in places, but generally it's pretty fresh and pretty awesome.

lord nuneaton savage

10:51 / 06.04.04

He caused a right shitstorm when he made it though. Jerry Dammers is still pissed off with him...

I bet he's bricking it.

Jack The Bodiless

11:04 / 06.04.04

My God. You all like Graceland. On Barbelith. I may faint.

What a fantastic album. Well done, all of you.

'People say she's crazy, she got diamonds in the soles of her shoes... well, that's one way to lose those walkin' blues...'

Jack Vincennes

11:35 / 06.04.04

I started listening to this again a couple of summers ago. In common with (it seems) quite a few people here, it's one of the first albums I remember ; my parents played it a great deal for about two years after it was released. I'd always assumed that I only liked it for the nostalgic value, until I went through this phase of going through the family's record collection and listening to everything I remembered. Graceland probably sounded the best of all that I was listening to...

Fleetwood Mac's Rumours did not fare so well, however

lord nuneaton savage

11:13 / 07.04.04

Bollocks, 'Rumours' Is a masterpiece...Cloth ears.

Seth

11:58 / 07.04.04

You're all describing my childhood. Brothers in Arms, Graceland, Dream of the Blue Turtles...

Loomis

12:50 / 07.04.04

Dream of the Blue Turtles! That was the first album I ever bought.

lord nuneaton savage

18:51 / 07.04.04

Anyone remember the Fine Young Cannibals? Now that rocked my 11 year old arse. Sting however is, was and always shall be, a cunt.

lord nuneaton savage

18:53 / 07.04.04

Poncing about in a chalet with Wynton Marsalis, WYNTON MAR-FUCKING-SALIS!, christ I hate him.
It might've been interesting if he'd got John Zorn in though...

God, I'm pissed...

This is such a joy, I've just been derided for not liking Rumours particularly. Does this mean that next time I admit to a fondness for, say, Lloyd Cole or Suzanne Vega I won't be stared at coldly and called middle-aged? Best thread ever, if so...

Spaniel

11:15 / 08.04.04

Yes, yes, "back of the car music".

Interesting that we all share this experience.
Love Graceland, me.

lonely as a cloud...

13:16 / 08.04.04

I kinda like Graceland myself, but I can't listen to it without remembering the day some 17 years ago when my brother got knocked down by a car. Was a kinda nasty experience; we had been listening to Graceland all that day, so the negative association's stuck with me...

Loomis

14:04 / 08.04.04

Maybe there is just a strange link between Graceland and cars?

The Natural Way

14:10 / 08.04.04

It's just full of really nice songs, isn't it.

Back-of-the-car and my Dad and his mates in neon meditation suits.

lord nuneaton savage

18:19 / 08.04.04

Drumming on the steering wheel...

Smacking your little brother in the head ...

ahh...

Haus of Mystery

18:42 / 08.04.04

Nuneaton! FYC did indeed rule, and I'll fist-fight anyone who doesn't admit 'Johnny come home' is a killer tune. Come on then!

I wonder what Paul simon listens to in the back of his car.

Jack The Bodiless

03:54 / 10.04.04

Whale song, cunningly cut and spliced back together, to sound like an ethereal voice singing an aching siren's lament. And the whales never got paid nothing, man...

lord nuneaton savage

09:49 / 10.04.04

I would suppose that he was driving, which makes the question a bit redundant...

probably fucking Sting though...

cunt...

Ganesh

10:02 / 10.04.04

Dream of the Blue Turtles! That was the first album I ever bought.

Me too! I also bought and liked Graceland, so nyaah.

Jack Vincennes

10:29 / 10.04.04

Surely Paul Simon would have the best car music ever? He would be able to sing Graceland to himself, over and over again...

I may have to listen to Dream Of The Blue Turtles later today, it's at home (as I am) but I don't remember anything of it.

Haus of Mystery

12:33 / 10.04.04

Paul Simon fucking Sting in the back of the car? But what are they listening to?

Loomis

13:42 / 10.04.04

Um, I'm probably digging my own hole here, but I must confess that the second album I bought was Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi. (Sting and Jon - I never had a chance did I?)

I wonder if Paul Simon and Sting listen to that while canoodling in the back seat? I can hear Paul dissing Sting's recent musical offerings in naughty whispers: "You give love a bad name!"

Seth

10:42 / 06.07.05

I've just downloaded this, and it really is an awesome album. This...

She comes back to tell me she’s gone
As if I didn’t know that
As if I didn’t know my own bed
As if I’d never noticed
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead

...had me welling up.

The entire album is a bass solo!

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

10:44 / 06.07.05

It is a great album. The only reason I don't like it much anymore is because I absolutely played it to death when it came out, until I couldn't stand it any more. Having said that, it's been a few years now, so maybe I should dig it out...

Someone's just lent me a copy of "You're The One", which on an initial listen sounds okay.

nedrichards is confused

14:02 / 06.07.05

This was pretty much the only album I ever listened to right up until OK Computer which is partly expalined by the fact that I didn't listen to music very much at all. But it's also awesome. I'd like to echo almost everything said upthread but also to add some praise for the song Graceland itself which would appear to be strangely underated.

Spaniel

14:56 / 06.07.05

Losing love is like a window in your heart...

God, Seth, you're right. Sooo sad.

at the scarwash

15:11 / 06.07.05

honestly, who doesn't like Graceland? it's a perfect record. not a bad song on it. impeccably produced, excellent musicians. and as for the exploiting-African-musicians angle, how many records would Ladysmith have sold without it?

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