Bargain Bin Bonanza: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie

In the final post in my Bowie appreciation series I thought it appropriate to look at his 1972 opus, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars…which I am just going to call Ziggy Stardust, as it is most commonly referred to anyway, because I am lazy.

Ziggy Stardust tells the story of a human/alien being that is trying to give earth hope after it is announced there is only five years left of existence, as there are no more resources.

To me, it is quite possibly the most intricate, thought out and creative albums ever made. The theatricality of it all is perfect and helps build the narrative of Ziggy, which is awesome.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Diamond Dogs by David Bowie

Welcome back to part two in my Bowie appreciation series.

Again…how I didn’t own any of his complete albums puzzles me, but I am proud to say I have rectified that grave mistake.

This week, we take a look at Bowie’s 1974 album, and glam rock farewell, Diamond Dogs.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Aladdin Sane by David Bowie

After the wedding I went to a couple of weeks ago, which was home to the greatest soundtrack of all time, I came to the horrific (and embarrassing) realisation that I didn’t own any Bowie albums.

To rectify this travesty, I went into JB on my first break after the wedding and bought three of Bowie’s best. All of which were priced at a cheeky $9.99.

Today is the first of three of my ‘I love Bowie and why the hell didn’t I own any of his albums earlier’ posts, beginning with the 1973 album Aladdin Sane.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Infinite Arms by Band of Horses

A friend of mine first got me on to Band of Horses a few years back (and they were played on The O.C.).

They were playing the festival circuit, and being as it was at the prime of festival ambience, I was still attending music festivals. (They have all sold out and attract the wrong types of people now…but that is a rant for another time).

Band of Horses were playing at a few of the festivals we were attending and one of my friends told me they were awesome and that we had to go see them. Being that there were no clashes on the timetables, I agreed.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Far by Regina Spektor

I love Regina Spektor.

She is the perfect blend of kook, heartfelt and fun…which is the combination of traits I aspire to be made up of.

To celebrate my new life goal I thought it only appropriate to review one of her albums. That and it was the third CD that I bought in my 3 for $20 deal at JB a while back.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Pulp Fiction Soundtrack

I welcome you to the review of the second album that was part of my 3 for $20 deal at JB, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack.

This album automatically gets five discount stickers for featuring my favourite movie conversation, the Royale with Cheese conversation between John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.

Not only has it provided me with a wealth of knowledge of what other names McDonalds burgers go by, it also is hilarious. Thankfully, the soundtrack as a whole lived up to the high standard of this dialogue and the movie.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: I Am Sam

I love The Beatles.

I mean...

I LOVE The Beatles.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: The Who: Then and Now

There are three classic bands that no matter what can put me in a good mood; they are The Beatles, The Stones and The Who.

I mean I also enjoy a bit of Toto, Dolly and Bowie to make me happy but to even mention that would mean I have digressed.

I have digressed.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: The Essential Barry Manilow

There is no denying the fact that I am a Fanilow; I am also a massive fan of The Essential compilation albums. Therefore discovering that the two-disc version of The Essential Barry Manilow was reduced to $9.99 was a very happy day in my life.

Now, I understand the great Barry is not everyone’s cup of tea. To that I say, what the hell are you thinking? This epic compilation has selected his best 34 tracks and doesn’t disappoint.

It opens with the beautiful sounds of Mandy…it is something I will remember all my life. This song is great. I never realised how happy it made me until I started playing the CD last night. With the bridge that builds to eternity, the emotion running through the entirety of the chorus and the general cheesiness overlaying every lyric; this song makes this CD all on it’s own…but Barry is not a one trick pony.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Innerspeaker by Tame Impala

My choice of what to buy this week whilst perusing the bargains was very simple. Last Friday night I went to see some friends’ band at The Globe in Brisbane. It is one of my favourite venues as it is home to some seedy couches and cheap beer…and it is situated in the heart of the seedy part of The Valley.

Anyway, at their gig (their band is Buick Six and they are amazing…check them out on iTunes) a few of our friends were noting how their sound had matured and developed; the general consensus being that they sounded a little bit like Tame Impala. It was at this point I realised that I had never bought their debut album Innerspeaker.

Thankfully when I was in JB the next day I noticed it had a hot little discount sticker on it. Luck was on my side; it was $9.99!!

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Howl by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

This post should focus on two questions. The first one being, why don’t I own any albums from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club? The second, why did I choose Howl as my first?

I’ll begin by making this easy for you; I don’t know why I don’t own any Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (who from now on I will call BRMC out of laziness). They are amazing. Seeing them live is amazing.

The selection of Howl was hard, it seems $9.99 was the going rate at JB for all BRMC albums. I would liken my dilemma to picking a favourite child. I spent half an hour (I wish I was joking) looking between Howl and Take Them On, On Your Own. Both had sweet covers, both a decent number of songs I heard them play live. There was no competitive edge…until I started thinking about possible outside influences. For some reason Take Them On reminded me of a title Yo La Tengo would use; a little bit, I’ll kick your ass but be kind enough to tell you first. I liked this.

Howl gained the competitive edge because it shared the name of my favourite poem…Howl (by Ginsberg). I love me some beatnik phrasing, ideals, clothes…I knew that this was the album that would be the focus of my review (I use that term loosely). Upon “researching” the album when I got home I discovered that its name was directly taken from the poem…score!

This album is like a movie about an epic tale. We open with the upbeat homey feel, flip down to the title track where our hero sets off on the quest with a little bit of hope and a whole lot of trepidation before meandering through the journey of the album…it finishes on a high note.

I don’t know if it’s the southern sound, the country influences or the hints of gospel but I love this album. Last year NME dedicated an issue to great “cult” albums in which this album featured. I can see why.

I give it a well-worn rock t-shirt and 4 discount stickers.

Will I ever buy a dud?

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Colour The Small One by Sia

I haven’t loved Sia for as long as I should have.

The song Breathe Me is quite possibly one of the most enchantingly emotive pieces of music I’ve ever had the joy of listening to. I love the live version of it on Lady Croissant, but shockingly have never owned the original album from which it came, Colour The Small One.

Enter JB with a $9.99 album I simply couldn’t go past last week.

Getting back to the story, my friend Amy-May first got me onto this song. It was around the time of a break-up and we were discussing the music we listen to when in that situation. The song Breathe Me was hers (um…sorry if I shouldn’t have said this Amy-May)…I then went to buy Lady Croissant to experience the song. It was amazing…but that isn’t the real point of this post.

Enter, Colour The Small One. Sia’s third album, which was released in 2004, making it seven years old (I’m so good at maths), however listening to it, like all seminal, beautifully poetic albums, it is timeless.

Listening to the album makes you feel like you are sitting on a soft, worn leather couch with a blanket and your partner, while they tell you a story. There would also be a fireplace in this situation. This album is like being told a tale by someone you share a deep understanding and love with.

Sia is intimate without being bare; haunting without making you want to cry and honest without hurting. I felt connected. Maybe I’m just reading way too into it.

I have a massive crush on her.

I give it two souls finding each other, and four and a half discount stickers out of five.

Bargain Bin Bonanza: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

I spend a lot of time, and money, in JB Hi Fi on my breaks. Some people describe the place as my crack. I just can’t get enough, nor does it seem can I avoid the place. I have therefore decided it is appropriate to start a column that will hopefully force me to save money (how that works when it encourages me to spend money, I don’t understand).

Anyway, the premise is simple. Each Wednesday I buy a CD or DVD that costs under $10 that I have never listened to in it’s entirety or seen, respectively. The idea is to broaden my musical / film horizons and hopefully find a gem that I’ve been missing out on.

This week I decided to go with Fleetwood Mac’s 1977, Rumours which is currently at the bargain price of $9.99.

Now, I have most of the album on other CDs however I shamefully have to admit that I have never listened to this album, from beginning to end, as it was meant to be listened to.

Created in an environment of drug-fuelled infidelity, this album had balls (quite literally on the cover) and I believe this to be their greatest. This belief is partially due to the inclusion of two of my three favourite Fleetwood songs (“Gold Dust Woman” and “Go Your Own Way”), the other influence on my decision is the unadulterated joy I get from listening to it.

This album shows you the importance of the musical journey created by the structure of the track listing. We open with the early influences of Fleetwood Mac before Stevie and co. became involved, before working our way into the new Fleetwood style. The structure almost takes us on a journey of the bands evolution, interestingly whilst the members were going through their own personal evolutions.

Anyway, I love Fleetwood Mac and don’t have a bad word to say against them. This album is amazing and well worth the bargain price it is currently available for. If you don’t own it, do yourself a favour and go your own way to buy it…NOW.

Two thumbs up and five discount stickers out of five.