As for Laurie Anderson, I don’t suppose you want to track down the 4 CD United States Live set, do you? Barring that, Big Science is the definitive Laurie Anderson album, containing “O Superman,” which is her only certified hit, which is a total fluke as it is over 8 minutes long, contains more speaking than singing, and seems to have something to do with fascism.
My favorite is Mister Heartbreak. “Gravity’s Angel” is one of my favorite tracks on any album. It has pathos, humor, and cowbell. But the album is a little skimpy in the number of tracks (7) and was scorned by some of her original hipster fans as too mainstream.
After her second album, she took time off to learn to sing (seriously) and it kind of ruined her. I have some of her subsequent work and enjoy listening to it occasionally, but it doesn’t seem as special as those first two albums.
If she ever manages to get the Home of the Brave concert movie out on DVD, I’d recommend that over any of the albums.
The thing about Kate Bush is, I don’t think there’s a bad album. I think she thinks in terms of albums rather than individual songs, and all the albums have the same quirky feeling that a bad producer could have forced all this music into being straight ahead top 40, but wisely, everyone seems to have just let that flower grow in its own direction, to the benefit of all.
My favourite is The Dreaming, but there’s really nothing of hers you could put on the turntable that would make me scream 'Not this record! Not THIS Record!!!"
I totally agree about Laurie Anderson - the DVD of ‘Home of the Brave’ would be a more ideal start, whenever it gets released. Barring that, I like the spare sound of Big Science slightly more than Mister Heartbreak, but they’re both outstanding. We wore our first copy of Mister Heartbreak out that summer; that was THE album to put on whenever anyone dropped over.
For Kate Bush, I’d recommend the second disc of Aeriel: A Sky of Honey. The first disc is more of a collection of individual songs, while disc 2 has a connecting theme between the cuts.
Yeah, that’s it for me too. Sometimes I’m in the mood for those songs, and they make me smile (such as “Ken’s” wildly bizarre and funny ‘funky sex machine’) but most times I’m not and they don’t work for me. I also hate hate HATE when she lets a man sing on her music. I don’t mean as background vocals, those are fine, but those songs on Aerial with male vocals, and god knows I love Roy Harper on his own, throw that album, otherwise near-brilliant, near the bottom of the heap for me. But that’s just me, a personal thing, and I wouldn’t expect anyone else to feel the same way.
But yeah, I don’t think there’s a bad album either. They all have something very worthwhile to offer the listener. Even her throwaway b-sides, bonus tracks and covers are pretty fantastic.
I’d been listening to Kate since The Dreaming (1981). I started off with The Kick Inside and The Dreaming and quickly picked up Never For Ever and Lionheart. I was thrilled when she finally (!) release Hound of Love after 2 long years. Little did we know how long between albums it would be.
My rankings for those who wish to dip their toes in the water…
The Whole Story (1977-1986 compilation)
Hounds of Love (1985)
Aerial (2005)
The Dreaming (1981)
My ranking for my own listening are:
The Dreaming
Hounds of Love (partcularly the second side, The Ninth Wave)
Aerial (particularly the second disc, A Sky of Honey)
The Kick Inside (although the song styles are dated…being 30+ years old)
Never for Ever (never cared for Sat in your Lap)
Lionheart (similar style to The Kick Inside, since many of the songs were written at the same time)
The Red Shoes
The Sensual World (I’ve enjoyed the Trio Bulgarka, but didn’t think they were used effectively)
I’ve loved Laurie Anderson since I first heard O Superman. Big Science was a breath of fresh air when it came out and I still love it. It is still interesting to listen to, but suspect that someone hearing it for the first time now would probably find it something of a novelty record.
Mister Heartbreak is a record that I dug out of my vinyl collection and threw on the turntable recently. I’ll have to rip the album so I can listen to it more frequently. Highly recommended.
Strange Angels is good, but singing isn’t what set her songs apart from others and I didn’t enjoy this as much as the previous 2.
My wife keeps trying to find Home of the Brave on DVD, but it isn’t released. We keep making due with an old VHS copy. At least the CD has been released.
We saw Laurie Anderson perform last year and eagerly await her new disc Homeland.
For Laurie Anderson, I’d go with “The Ugly One with the Jewels and Other Stories” as her best album. For Kate Bush, “Aerial.” Never would have thought she could top “The Ninth Wave,” but “A Sky of Honey” blows it away.
