Mountain Battles

Back to the journey through my loosely alphabeticised CD albums this morning, after the end of the B’s I was looking forward to a bit of diversity, prior to the start of the C’s I have a small pile of CD’s at the end of a shelf, and what do you know, the first album was another B, Mountain Battles by The Breeders.
Their most recent album, released in 2008, the fourth album by The Breeders and possibly their most diverse to date.
I think its closest relation is the Breeders debut album, Pod. Although its close in sound, I think possibly due to it being written and recorded in various locations, no two songs are alike in feel, sound or style. It wavers between the standard indie rock sound of The Breeders, before touching on folk, alt country, and also performing songs in German and Spanish. Diverse is definitely the order of the day.
Unfortunately it is on initial hearing the weakest of the Breeders albums, its not as immediate as any of its predecessors and it is the least played of the Breeders, Kim Deal, or Kelley Deals albums. This is a bit of a travesty as it isn’t bad, its good, its very good, but when lined up against a catalogue as strong as Kim and Kelleys, it seems feeble. Listening to it now though it is strong, and it is enjoyable.
Walk it off, first appeared on Pixies documentary, Loudquietloud and its finished version here is a highlight, as is Mountain Battles and We’re Gonna Rise. The tracks that make up the remainder are in themselves worthy of their place on this album, on another Breeders album? I’m not so sure. 7 out of 10.



Walk It Off by The Breeders

Last Splash

A bonus commute disc today, the first after my Hellenic week. I wasn't commuting in the traditional sense of the word though, a trip to Telford, to see the sights. Anyway, the disc was Last Splash by The Breeders, their second album.
I first heard of this album, well a track on this album when I lived in Lincoln and a club was playing Cannonball, I hadnt heard it before and the DJ played the track, I was quite taken back by it, I couldnt believe that someone connected to the Pixies could write something so out and out pop, perhaps its out and out popness was the reason that Albini didnt engineer it, either that or he was busy with Rapeman.
So, Title TK, played just before I went on holiday is my favourite Breeders album, but this album is probably their best. It is chock full of hits, if you can call them hits, Cannonball, Do You Love Me Now, Divine Hammer, and the cover of Ed's Redeeming Qualities' Drivin on 9. The weak tracks do not exist and the strong tracks are difficult to better.
So how do I mark this, currently Title TK is my favourite Breeders album, but I believe that Last Splash is a great album with the best and for my money the definitive Breeders line up. So with all this in mind and the fact that I heard it probably 7 times in a row today and didnt tire of it, 10 out of 10.



Drivin on 9 by The Breeders.

Title TK

Todays CD should have been A Hard Days Night by The Beatles, but it isn’t, because somehow my copy of this album wont play in my car stereo. All other Beatles albums have so far, I am not best pleased.
I hightailed it back into the house and the next CD along was The Breeders third album, Title TK. The Steve Albini produced album was a long time coming in our house and as of early morning on the 2nd of June it is my favourite Breeders album.
I need to be brief as I want to post something else but Title TK is a fantastic record, and the only thing stopping me giving it a ten is that I think two tens in two days is a little over the top.
If you liked Last Splash then this album is for you, pretty faultless on the whole and as good as anything I have on my shelves. A self editing 9 out of 10.



Off You by The Breeders

Pod

The Breeders debut album, Pod was my soundtrack to drive to today. Released in 1990 and produced by Steve Albini this copy is my wifes, as pretty much all of The Breeders stuff we own.
I have to say although I love the Breeders this is my least favourite of their works. Its not a particularly easy listen like its successor, but it is typical of the music my wife likes.
It has a few highs, a cover of Happiness Is a Warm Gun, Fortunately Gone and Iris and live all of the tracks work for me. On this album though it doesn’t really get me tapping my foot from start to finish.
The personnel on this album includes sometime Throwing Muse Tanya Donnelly, Jo Wiggs from The Perfect Disaster and Britt Walford of Slint. Of course Kim Deal is as ever present but no Kelley on this release, and maybe that is what taints my view. The Breeders are the Deal sisters and without one it doesn’t work for me. 6 out of 10.



Fortunately Gone by The Breeders

Pacer

The Amps album Pacer today, I must admit I as looking forward to this one, it’s a great album, it really is, it is possibly my second favourite Breeders album after Last Splash (what can I say I love pop) The Amps were a Breeders side project, effectively due to the rotating line up, The Amps were The Breeders, The Breeders play Amps songs and one of the tracks on Pacer was a Breeders tune. Anyhow, if you are really interested in Breeders history Wikipedia exists.
Pacer then, Pacer is potentially the best A album, I really have enjoyed listening to it a lot today and every time it restarts I look forward to it, I know of only 2 more A albums which I think will be as good, but for today on the trip between Stafford and Telford it was the perfect accompaniment. Full on idle, Tipp City, Bragging Party stand out, but it keeps good company very good company. 9 out of 10.