Comments on: The Popdose Guide to Del Amitri http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/ your daily dose of pop culture Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:03:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Alex http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-40588 Alex Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:48:41 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-40588 Thanks for this! It's always just wonderful to listen through all this records again! Thanks for this! It's always just wonderful to listen through all this records again!

]]> By: Alex http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13020 Alex Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:48:41 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13020 Thanks for this! It's always just wonderful to listen through all this records again! Thanks for this! It's always just wonderful to listen through all this records again!

]]> By: David_E http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13019 David_E Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:42:37 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13019 And thank you for the kind words. I never got the chance to catch Del Amitri live, so I'm terribly jealous. <br><br>Occasionally, I'll scan Justin's MySpace page to see if he's swinging through Dallas. Alas, never. And thank you for the kind words. I never got the chance to catch Del Amitri live, so I'm terribly jealous.

Occasionally, I'll scan Justin's MySpace page to see if he's swinging through Dallas. Alas, never.

]]> By: Aloysious http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13018 Aloysious Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:46:10 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13018 One of the most honest overviews of the most incredible band that I've ever seen grace the stage of San Francisco's Fillmore. After seeing them in 1997, it was clear to me that these guys were playing for real and Justin's songs were solidly crafted. The gloominess of Justin Currie's songwriting doesn't seem to bother me, but it drives my wife crazy. She thinks a steady diet of it is depressing. I do agree that this point is a big reason why they were never a huge commercial success around the world.The face value of Nothing Ever Happens to the casual listener (which means most Americans, despite being the Del's biggest UK hit) is one of bleakness and despair. Still though, I was surprised that after the band's biggest US hit Roll To Me, the label decided to pull promo on the the next album's single Not Where It's At while the band was mid tour. Too bad, because that song along with Roll To Me could have very well put them on the map. Thanks for the cool page! One of the most honest overviews of the most incredible band that I've ever seen grace the stage of San Francisco's Fillmore. After seeing them in 1997, it was clear to me that these guys were playing for real and Justin's songs were solidly crafted. The gloominess of Justin Currie's songwriting doesn't seem to bother me, but it drives my wife crazy. She thinks a steady diet of it is depressing. I do agree that this point is a big reason why they were never a huge commercial success around the world.The face value of Nothing Ever Happens to the casual listener (which means most Americans, despite being the Del's biggest UK hit) is one of bleakness and despair. Still though, I was surprised that after the band's biggest US hit Roll To Me, the label decided to pull promo on the the next album's single Not Where It's At while the band was mid tour. Too bad, because that song along with Roll To Me could have very well put them on the map. Thanks for the cool page!

]]> By: David_E http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13017 David_E Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:25:02 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13017 Quibble away. I have no special insight here. :)<br><br>You've pulled the two lines on which I (and many others) base the abortion interpretation. It isn't rock solid, but you have to admit it holds up nicely. <br><br>The meaning of the song has been bandied about on fan sites for years. Apparently Justin himself, during an online Q&A session, said the song *was* about abortion. It was on the UK site (delamitri.co.uk) after Can You Do Me Good came out.<br><br>I have no link or proof, though. And your interpretation is just as valid.<br><br>Glad you enjoyed the post! Quibble away. I have no special insight here. :)

You've pulled the two lines on which I (and many others) base the abortion interpretation. It isn't rock solid, but you have to admit it holds up nicely.

The meaning of the song has been bandied about on fan sites for years. Apparently Justin himself, during an online Q&A session, said the song *was* about abortion. It was on the UK site (delamitri.co.uk) after Can You Do Me Good came out.

I have no link or proof, though. And your interpretation is just as valid.

Glad you enjoyed the post!

]]> By: alyse http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13016 alyse Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:39:39 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13016 Very nice offering. I fell in love with the Dels while living in the Midwest (Mpls., Madison), where they got good airplay and venue opportunities, and I have remained a fan of Currie's, one of the single most underrated songwriters of his genre. His solo release of last year, "What Is Love For", is terrifically solid, and the spotlight he commands in an acoustic setting quite tremendous.<br><br>All that said, I must quibble with your interpretation of "Driving with the Brakes On". In all my listenings to this song, I have never once understood it to be about abortion. Although I have come across a similar understanding once somewhere else, this appears a rather abstract translation to me. I have always heard it as a treatise on the notion of being halfheartedly in love, not fully committed and not fully able to engage. I would be curious to know how you hear it otherwise.......yes, there's a line about a "kid" being gone, and about steering the conversation from "the thing we've done", but I just never laid such a specific experience as a couple navigating an abortion on top of those words. Feel free to convince me. : ) Very nice offering. I fell in love with the Dels while living in the Midwest (Mpls., Madison), where they got good airplay and venue opportunities, and I have remained a fan of Currie's, one of the single most underrated songwriters of his genre. His solo release of last year, “What Is Love For”, is terrifically solid, and the spotlight he commands in an acoustic setting quite tremendous.

All that said, I must quibble with your interpretation of “Driving with the Brakes On”. In all my listenings to this song, I have never once understood it to be about abortion. Although I have come across a similar understanding once somewhere else, this appears a rather abstract translation to me. I have always heard it as a treatise on the notion of being halfheartedly in love, not fully committed and not fully able to engage. I would be curious to know how you hear it otherwise…….yes, there's a line about a “kid” being gone, and about steering the conversation from “the thing we've done”, but I just never laid such a specific experience as a couple navigating an abortion on top of those words. Feel free to convince me. : )

]]> By: Good Listening: Del Amitri Live Rarities http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-8712 Good Listening: Del Amitri Live Rarities Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:45:22 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-8712 [...] so begins the long overdue Popdose Guide to Del Amitri, written by David [...] [...] so begins the long overdue Popdose Guide to Del Amitri, written by David [...]

]]> By: My hmphs http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13015 My hmphs Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:51:11 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13015 Dang it! I was just working on a post on how unappreciated Del Amitri was when I saw this. Good post - They deserved much more success than they actually got. And Lousy With Love - These songs were B-SIDES? It's better than most studio CDs or compilations I've heard. Dang it! I was just working on a post on how unappreciated Del Amitri was when I saw this. Good post – They deserved much more success than they actually got. And Lousy With Love – These songs were B-SIDES? It's better than most studio CDs or compilations I've heard.

]]> By: Old_Davy http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13014 Old_Davy Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:33:56 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13014 I discovered Del Amitri when A&M sent a promo copy of "Waking Hours" (along with David Baerwald's "Bedtime Stories") to the radio station where I worked in '89. The program director refused to play anything from either of them, and so I swiped them. He claimed they both were "too depressing". I had a free-for-all music show late Sunday nights, and I played "Opposite View". The next day the program director asked me about the song and wanted the CD back. Not to play on the air, but to keep for himself. Yeah, ok, I'll bring it in. It's still in my collection!!!<br><br>All of their albums have something of merit (except the first one which I loathe). Terribly underrated band. I discovered Del Amitri when A&M sent a promo copy of “Waking Hours” (along with David Baerwald's “Bedtime Stories”) to the radio station where I worked in '89. The program director refused to play anything from either of them, and so I swiped them. He claimed they both were “too depressing”. I had a free-for-all music show late Sunday nights, and I played “Opposite View”. The next day the program director asked me about the song and wanted the CD back. Not to play on the air, but to keep for himself. Yeah, ok, I'll bring it in. It's still in my collection!!!

All of their albums have something of merit (except the first one which I loathe). Terribly underrated band.

]]> By: Jeff http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/comment-page-1/#comment-13013 Jeff Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:21:40 +0000 http://popdose.com/the-popdose-guide-to-del-amitri/#comment-13013 Waking Hours is one of my favorite albums of the 80's, and one I still lend out to other people who are looking for something 'new' to listen to. I picked it up after seeing them perform 'Kiss This Thing Goodbye' on David Letterman. Of course, the fact that they are from Scotland, home of my all time favorite band, Big Country, helped make my purchasing decision, as well. Waking Hours is one of my favorite albums of the 80's, and one I still lend out to other people who are looking for something 'new' to listen to. I picked it up after seeing them perform 'Kiss This Thing Goodbye' on David Letterman. Of course, the fact that they are from Scotland, home of my all time favorite band, Big Country, helped make my purchasing decision, as well.

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