Yesterday, both Steve Simels over at the indispensible Power Pop and I, posted our thoughts about the newly released Hollies boxed set. (Great minds, and all... )
My intentions today were to post a little something about Budgie, the freaky Welsh metal band from the 70s, that has influenced everyone from Van Halen and Metallica to Iron Maiden and Soundgarden. Why? Well, mostly because of one tune, and partly because I've been trying since 1976 to understand this band. I am consistently torn between feeling the appeal and thinking they are the worst thing I have ever heard.
I decided against it, thinking it may be a bit of a shock to everyone, especially following my borderline embarrassing gushing over "Carrie Anne."
So, as I pondered over today's entry, I went over to Power Pop, and saw a wonderful post about a great little band called Starry Eyed & Laughing. Lo and behold, in the comments sections, someone mentions BUDGIE! I commented, saying I came very close to posting about Budgie. So thanks to Steve's "DO IT!"...
..here is the first song off of Budgie's "Squawk" LP from 1972. This is the song I occasionally obsess over. The Geddy Lee meets Brett Somers vocals of Burke Shelley are really hard to handle, especially over the course of a full length LP. But, that riff and groove after each verse is absolutely infectious and makes me get out the air instruments every time.
I've found that most of their records have that same quality. There is most definitely something there, if you're into that dark, sometimes hamfisted approach to heavy metal boogie. But while you wait for those moments, you'll have to sit through songs like "Hot As A Docker's Armpit" and "Drugstore Woman," the latter's title more cringeworthy to me than the former. Still, I think the band had something to offer.
WHISKEY RIVER
15 comments:
The two things that come to mind when I see the name Budgie are "cut-out" and "Titus Oaks"...well,three if you count us more than likely fighting over the last copy...
I bought a Budgie album based on some review I read way back when. I played it once and promptly put it on the shelf never to be played again. I'm amazed that any one else knows about them
And don't ever apologize about gushing over 'Carrie Anne'. One of the best tunes ever committed to plastic or bits.
Just curious, did either of you listen to "Whiskey River?" Thoughts?
it was mostly before my time here, but budgie was HUGE in san antonio texas. the local rock station loved them and turned them into a south texas fav.
by the time i got here, budgie was mostly forgotten everywhere but san antonio. in 95 i went to see the goo goo dolls play at la semana allegra (the concert portion of fiesta) and a guy i was talking to there (there were about 50 people, tops) was telling me the budgie crowd early that week was wall-to-wall. and then there's this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_in_San_Antonio
me, i'll take tejano and conunto over budgie as a local fav
Brett Somers? The woman who was arried to Jack Klugman and used to be on Match Game?
:-)
Yes, that Brett Somers.
Good lord -- it DOES sound like Brett Somer.
Not a bad song, and yeah it's got a good metal-y hook or two. I can certainly hear a certain air-
guitar-worthy quality.
That said, I'm not that eager to hear the rest of the record, but that's just my taste (or lack thereof).
But I did just learn that Cibo Matto is getting back together for an album and a tour. Makes me happy, more my speed.
Will listen to sample as soon as I get to my home computer...like Carl said, once relegated "to the shelf", it's damn difficult at times to wanna re-visit..often unfairly...and I've purchased way too much stuff over the years that was relegated "to the shelf"....
Not yet but I will. Promise.
To me, "Breaking all the house rules" off of Bandolier (I believe) was one of their better tunes. It did have to be played real loud, though...
Budgie up to the NWOBHM are another band in the endless list of great live that never translated into studio albums.
I could list about two dozen of these UK bands.
On their night they were awesome, they could rock a room to exhaustion yet their studio albums are mediocre at best.
I saw them a few times in the Seventies and was never disappointed but the studio albums are rarely played now.
A revolving door of band members (ain't that always the case?) has meant that they have long been a parody.
Hammered by critics, adored by a fanatical following but sadly looked upon as second division.
On their night (and there were many of them) they had the power of a Phil Lynott led Thin Lizzy to capture an audience.
OK I listened from beginning to end. I can see why you may like this. After the vocals stop at around :35 they get into a pseudo-Led Zep groove that is the song's one saving grace. The vocals and the rest of it just kill it though.
Not bad...a little Noddy Holder action goin' on there...musically stiff but fun-stiff(?)...gotta admit I'm a little curious for more...one never knows....
I was the one who left the comment at Power Pop. Can't argue with anything anybody says above, esp. ASH. Up thru Impeckable they had one or two killer songs on every album, but the rest was filler. But live was another matter.
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