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Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#1: Jan 3rd 2013 at 9:37:04 AM

So, there was no thread about her, and decided to make it. Discuss all things Kate-related if you like, from lyrics to recent news.

To start with something, something "simple": what albums do you think are the best and the worst?

Best: Hounds of Love. Because it's strong, has great tunes, the right amount of experimental stuff and some truly great lyrics and vocal performances. Besides, it opens with "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)". What more do you want?

Worst: The Red Shoes. Despite how she felt at the time (her divorce with Del Palmer, the death of her mother), it's quite unfocused. It has some great tunes, but overall they were kinda mistreated (nonetheless because its sound rapidly dated), and there isn't a strong concept really (maybe there isn't even a concept).

So, share your opinions and talk about it all.

edited 3rd Jan '13 9:37:17 AM by Quag15

Bananaquit Since: Jan, 2001
#2: Jan 3rd 2013 at 12:28:05 PM

I love Hounds of Love but I think my personal favourite has to be The Dreaming. It’s so extreme and seems very, very personal. I also love The Kick Inside, which has to be one of the best debut albums purely on a song-for-song basis.

Worst: I’ve only heard her albums up to and including The Sensual World, which I found disappointingly conventional, with lots of filler songs that don’t do a thing for me.

Jhimmibhob Since: Dec, 2010
#3: Jan 4th 2013 at 12:10:51 PM

Yeah, Hounds of Love, The Dreaming, and The Sensual World are usually considered her Big Three—and justly so. Her later stuff has been uneven, and her earlier albums often suffered from execs who kept trying to shoehorn her into more conventional moulds. However, I've heard very good things about Lionheart—probably going to buy it before long.

Akalabth Self-loathing and sandwiches. from Ghost Planet Since: Feb, 2012
Self-loathing and sandwiches.
#4: Jan 12th 2013 at 5:11:32 AM

My favorite is by far The Dreaming. Love every song on there, and the production is simply amazing, innovative and crazy. Closing track Get Out of my House is bar none the song I usually play louder than probably any other track on vinyl. Powerful music.

I also have a soft spot for Never For Ever which has some of my favorite tracks of hers on it (The Wedding List, Breathing, Army Dreamers, Egypt).

Her more recent stuff has been much more hit and miss for me. I haven't really developed any affinity for either Aerial (although I do prefer the second cd over the first one) and I'm not particularly fond of 50 Words for Snow. The Red Shoes has some superb ambiance and I thought that the short film that went along with it (The Line, the Cross & the Curve) was really amazing.

Similarly I really love some of the songs on The Sensual World, but the production hasn't aged as well as most of her other 1980s material in which she had managed to avoid the many pits that plagued the production in that decade. The versions of the songs from this album that she remade on Director's Cut are far superior in my opinion.

However, disregarding all my pointless bitching, I do believe she is the best and most talented solo female artist on the planet, by far. It's only fitting she finally gets a topic on here smile

You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#5: Jan 12th 2013 at 6:37:25 AM

Nice to see all these opinions. They're really thought out (and go beyond just personal taste).

Personally, I didn't put The Dreaming on my list, because, despite being really great, it was Hounds of Love that introduced me to her work.

I think The Red Shoes has more of a dated sound than The Sensual World. The latter is typically 80s, while the earlier had almost the same kind of sound in 1993 (which means, during the aftershock of the whole dance music explosion, at almost the same time that an Icelandic singer was starting to make waves (honestly, I don't really get the comparisons between them), and with Britpop starting to appear.

As for the movie that she made to accompany The Red Shoes...I don't know, some bits are good, but there's quite a bit of Narm (and that's saying a lot considering Kate and some of her music and especially videos).

The only thing I do not understand: why does she, after all these years, refuse to do a second tour? I mean, it's been 35 years! She doesn't have anything to lose. It's probably the only thing that pisses me off about her (that, and her complimenting George Michael's performance at the Olympics, who I always found annoying as hell).

edited 12th Jan '13 6:38:19 AM by Quag15

Akalabth Self-loathing and sandwiches. from Ghost Planet Since: Feb, 2012
Self-loathing and sandwiches.
#6: Jan 12th 2013 at 7:44:38 AM

Similarly it was The Dreaming that I heard first and foremost so it stayed with me since as her crowning achievement, and one of the best albums of the 80s. Hounds of Love for me is more of the "classic", like the "So" to The Dreaming's "Melt" if you catch my drift. Not that it's bad at all, it is very much a classic album but when you're discussing music of that magnitude really comparing one album to the other has to come down to personal taste at some point.

I'm with you on the Björk comparisons. I've always thought she was some sort of KB wannabe but I find her music to be lacking in pretty much anything that made Bush's music great. Still not really fond of her, apart from a few standout songs (Hyperballad is one). But yeah I've never understood what people thought they had in common. It's a bit like when people compare De Palma to Hitchcock all the time because some of their films revolve around psychotic killers. Unnerves me to no end.

About Line/Cross/Curve I admit I've seen it at a very young age and to be honest I haven't watched it in a looooong time, but even sitting here typing about it I have striking images that cross my head (the crow, her mother (yes I know it's not really her mother) in the chair, the "wicked witch", her dancing on tons of fruit looking like it's coming out of Willy Wonka's factory). But you could be totally totally right, I'll have to watch it again someday ... when I hook up the VCR again.

I've never really been bothered by her not touring. It's just not Kate Bush. That's part of her modus operandi : she just doesn't do touring. If she turns out to, then color me interested. If she doesn't, I won't be surprised. It's not even worth being mad about, she repeatedly stated she just wants to be a regular mom now so to be honest, I don't think it'll ever happen again period.

edited 12th Jan '13 7:45:35 AM by Akalabth

You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#7: Jan 12th 2013 at 8:06:19 AM

Oh well. I just would have liked to see her touring (not too much, it could be just a few dates).

Actually I'm also a Big Björk fan. They're both very different and great on their own terms, so it's practically impossible to compare them. Björk seems more inclined towards the use of technology (in the instrumental parts) and the contrast/comparison with nature (represented by her voice and the majority of her lyrics) to push her music forward. She was influenced by Kate, of course, but she found her own sound and image early in her solo career (especially from Post (the one with "Hyperballad") onwards).

As for the movie, yeah, those bits are good, but the end of the sequence of "The Red Shoes", for example, just cracks me up.

Agreed on the personal taste and comparisons between The Dreaming and Hounds of Love.

As for Aerial, I actually liked the record (both C Ds): very calm, meditative, and with her voice now more restrained and more suitable for her age. The second CD is the best, indeed: I used to listen to it while coming from college at sunset and it really mixed together with the environment.

50 Words for Snow...I don't know, it's really a hit and miss. There is some good stuff ("Wild Man" and the hilarious title track), but I can't stand Elton John's voice (can't remember which track he appears on). And it is a bit odd to start the record with her son's voice. I'll listen to it again later and see if it sounds better.

edited 12th Jan '13 8:08:19 AM by Quag15

MikeK Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Jan 12th 2013 at 1:06:37 PM

I ended up getting into Kate Bush three or four years ago when I caught the fascinatingly weird "Sat In Your Lap" video on VH 1 Classic and found a cheap copy of The Dreaming shortly thereafter. Honestly before then I mainly knew of her because of appearances on Peter Gabriel songs ("Don't Give Up" and "Games Without Frontiers" of course), and because Tori Amos was constantly being called a ripoff of her. Right now I've got The Dreaming, Hounds Of Love and The Kick Inside - I haven't listened to that last one too much because I only have it on vinyl.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#9: Jan 12th 2013 at 2:11:33 PM

I know that video - it's the one with her wearing a Dunce Cap [lol]. But I don't understand what was with all that rollerskating.

Akalabth Self-loathing and sandwiches. from Ghost Planet Since: Feb, 2012
Self-loathing and sandwiches.
#10: Jan 12th 2013 at 3:12:29 PM

I don't think we're supposed to get any of it.

Oh the beauties of music videos made on acid...

You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#11: Jan 25th 2014 at 2:42:45 PM

-RESURRECTION-

Aw man, I'm loving Kate Bush. The Dreaming has got to be my favorite album by her, because I love weirdness. Hounds of Love is pretty good, but I like the former better.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#12: Jan 25th 2014 at 2:56:06 PM

It's just strange that, considering the amount of tropes listed on her page, there aren't more people in these music forums talking about her.

I like or love them all, with the exception of The Red Shoes (only some of the songs are good/great) and 50 Words For Snow (or, to be more precise, the song with Elton John sucked, in my opinion. Or maybe I just don't like his voice).

edited 25th Jan '14 2:56:44 PM by Quag15

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#13: Jan 25th 2014 at 3:06:21 PM

I really, really liked "Snowflake". It created this sort of atmosphere, and I was all like, "Dude...snow."

It's just that it dragged on a bit. The album.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#14: Jan 25th 2014 at 3:12:21 PM

I don't mind the Epic Rocking and subtlety of that album. In fact, I like that kind of sound and the "enjoy things slowly" attitude (then again, I enjoy lots of Brian Eno stuff, so it's a given that I'd enjoy most of her album).

My only problem was with Elton John's voice in "Snowed in at Wheeler Street". It felt like it didn't belong there.

edited 25th Jan '14 3:12:38 PM by Quag15

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#15: Jan 25th 2014 at 5:57:19 PM

It was subtle, yeah, but I can't imagine listening to it like I would The Dreaming or Never For Ever. I'd have to be in the mood, I guess.

Speaking of, I haven't listened to every album of hers. What, exactly, would be her best? I've listened to The Dreaming, Hounds of Love, Never For Ever, and 50 Words for Snow.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#16: Jan 25th 2014 at 6:09:23 PM

Besides the first three you've mentioned, I'd recommend her debut, The Kick Inside (The One With "Wuthering Heights") and The Sensual World (despite the slightly dated production on some tracks, it still sounds great).

And Aerial which is in the vein of 50 Words For Snow, but with shorter tracks. However, it's a double album, so I'd recommend listening to the first part on a certain day and the second part on another day (unless, of course, you can handle listening to all of it in a row).

edited 25th Jan '14 6:11:42 PM by Quag15

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#17: Jan 25th 2014 at 6:12:39 PM

I dunno. I like "Wuthering Heights", but...hmm.

I've heard good things about The Sensual World, but I don't really like dated production. It's why I'd like to listen to Director's Cut before The Red Shoes.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#18: Jan 25th 2014 at 6:19:03 PM

Well, the Director's Cut only has some songs from The Sensual World and The Red Shoes re-recorde. Still, you can get the 3-CD deal (Director's Cut + Sensual World and Red Shoes in remastered forms), so you can compare them.

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#19: Jan 25th 2014 at 6:46:21 PM

How do I do that? I just go on You Tube and search. I like the idea of The Red Shoes (it's supposed to be really weird, and weird Kate is best Kate), but it sounds so...dated. Maybe because the only videos I could find of songs from there were in 240p.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#20: Jan 25th 2014 at 7:09:28 PM

Well, you'll have to torrent or download from somewhere, if you can't afford it.tongue

The Red Shoes is not really weird (The Dreaming and Lionheart are the weirdest ones to me, which is, of course, a plus in my book). There's also severe Mood Whiplash in that album (due to troubles she was going through at the time).

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#21: Jan 25th 2014 at 7:14:46 PM

The Dreaming, I've heard is weird. Lionheart I just heard was whimsy overload. Fond of songs from it, myself. ("Wow", "Coffee Homeground", "Hammer Horror")

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#22: Jan 25th 2014 at 7:23:05 PM

The Dreaming is weird in some particular songs ("Pull Out The Pin", "The Dreaming") more than others (though the overall album has the weirdness button pressed). Lionheart is weird in the sense of its associations in lyrics (the colour blue to sex in "Symphony In Blue", for example).

But yeah, apart from The Red Shoes and that little bit of 50 Words of Snow, I like/love all the other albums.

edited 25th Jan '14 7:25:02 PM by Quag15

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#23: Jan 25th 2014 at 7:27:32 PM

I was really taken by "Sat In Your Lap", especially. I loved "Suspended in Gaffa" and "Night of the Swallow", too.

I heard how apparently the ending of "There Goes a Tenner" is disturbing. I don't get why. I mean, the creepy high-pitched girl voice in the chorus is, but that's not the ending.

Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#24: Jan 25th 2014 at 7:32:31 PM

I love those too.

"There Goes A Tenner" is not really weird. It always came across to me as a simple story about thieves and the government (if I remember the lyrics correctly). "Get Out Of My House", however...

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#25: Jan 25th 2014 at 7:40:13 PM

On her trope page, it was listed under Gainax Ending. It was called disturbing on its Wikipedia page, too.


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