Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
Posts: 6081

Robyn Hitchcock

I have fairly odd tastes, I will be the first to admit that. With that said, I have been a big fan of this man for many years. Yes, his work may be a little dated not your preferred genre and a little off the beaten path. Give him a listen. (look him up on napster)

Here is a link: http://www.robynhitchcock.com/

Jonathan Demme did a documentery about him called "Storefront Hitchcock". I havent seen it, yet.

Anyway, if you know his (Robyn's) work, opinions? If you downloaded something because of this thread, opinions?

I've been told he is an aquired taste.

[edit] I cant spell aquired or documentery.

[edit] I hate you all. Why do my topics get zero responces?




[This message has been edited by Dead_Inside (edited 02-02-2001).]

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
Posts: 6081

Fuckers.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: albany
Posts: 1386

i like balloon man
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so shuddup

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Have a wonderful day in our one way world

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Columbus, Ohio -- or so they tell me
Posts: 13

I was huge Robyn Hitchcock fan throughout the 1980s but his 1990s work is uneven. The singles tend to be fairly interesting ("Vibrating", "Balloon Man", etc.), but his best stuff is, in my opinion, the following

Underwater Moonlighting -- by the Soft Boys.

This was his band in the 1970s and it influenced a whole bunch of 80s groups like REM (Peter Buck used to say that REM was more influenced by the Soft Boys than the Byrds, a band that they were always compared to) and The Replacements. It is a terrific album and has been re-released several times. The most recent is as a double CD set on Matador -- it is fairly reasonable from what I remember.

I Often Dream of Trains -- by Robyn Hitchcock

This is one of his many "acoustic" records, but this is his best of them all. It is quite beautiful and introspective, while at the same time wonderfully perverse. Where else will you hear someone sing "Sometimes I wish I was a pretty girl, so I could 'oof' myself in the shower"? Nowhere else that I know of

Fegmania! -- by Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians

Out of all of his record this is the one I return to over and over. It is fun, has an accordion, yet still doesn't suck. Plus it has a song about masturbation ("The man with the lightbulb head") which means the record must be good, right? (Unless it is a song about how masturbation is bad, I would guess)

That's all for now.

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"No one has ever died from contradictions. And the more [Capitalism] breaks down, the more it schizophrenizes, the more it works, the American way." -- Deleuze and Guattari

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
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Well what do you know, reponces.

Excellent choices Bubba. I would throw in "Element of Light" and "Eye" as two more of my favorite CDs by Robyn.

Stipe and Buck (of REM) contributed to "Perspex Island", which had a few good tracks on it as well. Stipe was also influenced by Wire, but thats another thread that will get no replies I might start in the future.

Im still trying to track down a copy of the documentary to rent. No luck so far.

Oh and opus, you shut up.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Columbus, Ohio -- or so they tell me
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Oh yeah, I forgot about Element of Light -- I also like his 80s live album, Gotta Let This Hen Out!


The thing about all of those albums, fellow Asylumnationcitizens, is that they have been reissued (I think on Rhino) and they have great extra tracks and the like. Really, if you have any curiosity of odd pop try any of the posted records.

While you're at it buy a copy of "Pipers at the Gates of Dawn" and a couple hits of your fave hallucinogen. Mine's five hits of espresso

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"No one has ever died from contradictions. And the more [Capitalism] breaks down, the more it schizophrenizes, the more it works, the American way." -- Deleuze and Guattari

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
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Bubba, I thought to top this thread because of slight's post about Neutral Milk Hotel. I found their (his?) music Robyn-esque in a way. But not really. Know what I mean? Check it out, if you havent already.

[Edit] And welcome to the Asylum. We have a lovely buffet on Sundays.

[This message has been edited by Dead_Inside (edited 03-23-2001).]

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Columbus, Ohio -- or so they tell me
Posts: 13

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dead_Inside:
[B]Well what do you know, reponces.
Stipe was also influenced by Wire, but thats another thread that will get no replies I might start in the future.

Start that thread. Wire's three 70s records make me squeal with delight. I don't want to get too over the top, but I do like a few of their 80s releases as well.

As far as Neutral Milk Hotel goes -- I don't really know them. Are they part of that Olivia Tremor Control collective from Athens? I'll take a look at the other thread.

If you get on Napster you can sometimes find a wonderful Hitchcock rendition the Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost in You" -- well worth the search ;-)

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"No one has ever died from contradictions. And the more [Capitalism] breaks down, the more it schizophrenizes, the more it works, the American way." -- Deleuze and Guattari

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by BubbaChubba:
If you get on Napster you can sometimes find a wonderful Hitchcock rendition the Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost in You" -- well worth the search ;-)

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Registered: Jul 2000
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So like, what songs should I get by dude to try it out?

Give me a couple good starter songs that I can superficially judge this music on.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
Posts: 6081

"My wife and my Dead wife."

"She dosent exsist anymore"

"I often Dream of Trains"

"Vibrating"

Fear the Europop.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
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Best thread ever.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
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Hrm, all I seem to be able to pull out of a search is Robyn Hitchcock and REM -- Mrs Robinson, and Robyn Hitchcock -- Kung Foo Fighting.

What the hell kind of a musician is this?

*kicks modem, spits on LimeWire*

I wonder if we can take over this forum?

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: the heart of an awl
Posts: 3691

no, you're thinking of the Keta or Brown Monkey vs. Black Monkey threads.

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POW!

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Registered: Jul 2000
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Cant find any ASS songs either.

Hmm. Napster is just a shadow of itself now. Its like the day the music died.

I'll keep trying.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dead_Inside:
Cant find any ASS songs either.

Hmm. Napster is just a shadow of itself now. Its like the day the music died.

I'll keep trying.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Paint CHiPs:
Nobody would have them as ASS.

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Downloaded the "My Wife and My Dead Wife" song. First few times I listened to it, I thought "Well, it's interesting." After the third listening of it and from then on out, however, I found the song to be annoying as fuck and not to my tastes AT ALL and have been forced to download 4 or 5 more Asylum Street Spankers songs to wash off the dirty europop residue. No sir, I don't like it.

I then downloaded Balloon Man, and that song's not bad at all. Sort of happy pop stuff, but not bad. I quite enjoy it.

You may want to re-consider what songs you use to introduce people to Robyn Hitchcock.

I'll download the other ones you suggested tomorrow and give them a listen.

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Registered: Jul 2000
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Can't seem to find the others you suggested.


Downloaded "You've Got a Sweet Mouth On You Baby" and it's okay.

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by Paint CHiPs:
Can't seem to find the others you suggested.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dead_Inside:
>:/

We are too obscure for our own good, it seems. I am still trying to get me some ASS, no luck. Story of my fucking life.

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by Paint CHiPs:
Get in chat, fucker.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: the heart of an awl
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nevermind, paint, i'll do it for you.

quote:

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Viva! Sea-Tac

People flocked like cattle to Seattle
After Kurt Cobain
And before him the rain

Hendrix played guitar just like an animal
Who's trapped inside a cage
And one day he escaped

Do you want to pay for this in cash?
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack

Coming and going it has to be Boeing
The best form of defence is blow them up
In a regular cup

Have an espresso. You will? Oh I guess so
I feel my heart is gonna start to jump
'Cause it's wired to a pump

And the Space Needle points to the sky
The Space Needle's such a nice guy
But he never knows...
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac

All the Norwegians, man, you should see them
Out in Ballard looking soulful at the pines;
And also the swedes

All of the groovers came from Vancouver
And some of them came up from Oregon
In case you don't know

But the Space Needle points to the sky
The Space Needle's such a nice guy
But you never know...
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack

Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac

Long live everything in Washington state
Including everybody
May they live to a million years
May they reproduce until there's no room to go anywhere
Clustered under the Space Needle
Like walking eggs with arms and legs

Alright, we can probably stop

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Oakland-ish
Posts: 6032

I have seen Robyn Hitchcock a few times in the 80's. He is great live, has an odd sense of humor.

The only RH song I these days is a cover of Roxy Music's "More than this"

err, or was the bryan ferry solo?

either way, absolutely brilliant cover.

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"if you never take it seriously, you never get hurt and if you never get hurt you always have fun"

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