Tonight’s selections from The Darling Buds’ second LP, Crawdaddy.
This Welsh quartet (whose name comes from a Shakespeare sonnet) emerged in the late ’80s as part of Britain’s resurgent girl-group update. Along with Voice of the Beehive, Transvision Vamp and the very similar Primitives, the Buds looked to the past (not that far: they settled on Blondie) to forge a derivative yet likable sound that, taken in small bites, should satisfy the cravings of any neo-bubblegum fan.
Opening with distorto-feedback reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain, Crawdaddy reveals a more mature Buds, a group that has learned the value of a little variety. With Smiths/Blur producer Stephen Street twiddling the knobs, there’s a lushness on “You Won’t Make Me Die” and “So Close” that was absent from Pop Said… In addition, the band hops aboard the then-trendy Madchester bandwagon, coming up with “Tiny Machine” and “Crystal Clear,” the disc’s most memorable tracks. Some now-tired Blondie-isms remain, but this fine sophomore effort is mostly a forward-looking, groove-heavy delight. — Trouser Press
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It Makes No Difference [1990]
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What the devil have you been up to?
Well after the band broke up I kind of fell into working with a theatre company called ‘Elan’ working with the brilliant director Firenza Guidi. We did avant garde/kooky performances touring in Europe and the States and then I did some TV and radio for BBC Wales. This reignited a childhood passion of acting and I decided to go back to college and did a degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, it was here I met my husband actor Jamie Jarvis and had 3 children now aged 14, 9 and 5. Over the past decade as well as being a mum I’ve been running a theatre school. So here we are...still performing, still creating and still yelling at kids! — Andrea Lewis, Louder Than War interview
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Crystal Clear [1990]
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Here’s one of their more Blondie influenced songs. Tastes great! Less filling!
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Do You Have To Break My Heart [1990]
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How different is the music world than when you left it?
It’s massively different now to when we were going. Technology has enabled recording to be far easier and cheaper to do. The internet means you get the material out to the wider audience. Therefore you don’t necessarily have to rely on a record deal to distribute or finance your work... which must be quite liberating for a bands these days. Although, I also think there is a lot of rubbish too easily put out there on the internet without even having to get in a van and do any real gigs like in the past. — Andrea Lewis, Louder Than War interview
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Tiny Machine [1990]
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WHO’S TALKING TO WHO?
Jimmy Kimmel: Quentin Tarantino, Julia Garner, DOMi & JD Beck featuring Anderson .Paak, guest host Dana Carvey (R 7/18/22)
Jimmy Fallon: Joel McHale, Zoey Deutch, Saucy Santana
Stephen Colbert: James Taylor, Colman Domingo
Seth Meyers: LL Cool J, Cristin Milioti, Giulliana Merello
James Corden: Hannah Einbinder, Lennon Parham, a performance by the Broadway cast of "Hadestown" (R 5/17/22)
The Daily Show: Amandla Stenberg
SPOILER WARNING
A late night gathering for non serious palaver that does not speak of that night’s show. Posting a spoiler will get you brollywhacked. You don’t want that to happen to you. It's a fate worse than a fate worse than death.
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The Primitives :: Crash [1988]
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LAST WEEK’S POLL: DO YOU USE YOUR PHONE ON THE TOILET?
Yes 22% 4 votes
No 56% 10 votes
Take the Fifth 22% 4 votes