Tosh Berman's Blog, page 105
February 12, 2021
The One Album I listened to Over and Over Again in 2008
The year 2008 was all about Sparks. In a few moments of madness, and without money, I decided to go to London to write a book on Sparks' "21 Albums in 21 Nights" series of concerts, where on each night they would focus on a specific album. From beginning to end, and then for an encore, they would do a b-side or a rare recording from that period of time they recorded that album. Believe it or not, the purpose of these shows was to announce their new album in 2008, "Exotic Creatures Of The Deep." A record with bouncy melodies and great beauty. I had so much fun, but it was also a lot of work. What came out of this whole trip is my book "Sparks-Tastic. And I remember buying a collection of Anthony Newley recordings on CD at HMV on Oxford Street.
Tosh Berman's "Sparks-Tastic"
In 2008, Tosh Berman—author and publisher of TamTam Books—got on a plane with a single motive: Sparks Spectacular. It had been announced that the band Sparks would perform all twenty-one of their albums in a succession of twenty-one nights in London...a monumental experience for any Sparks fanatic, which Tosh certainly is. Part travel journal, part personal memoir, Berman takes us through the streets of London and Paris, observing each city's history and culture through the eye of an obsessive Sparks fan. Including album-by-album reviews of all twenty-one shows and beyond, Sparks-Tasticdefines a place and time in music history that's too defining to be ignored.
The Second Anniversary of "TOSH: Growing Up In Wallace Berman's World"
Today is the second anniversary of my book TOSH being released to the world. In actuality, it feels like a year ago, then two years ago, due to the Covid-19 world sort of erased 2020 for me. Still, I was fortunate to promote my book in New York, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in 2019. Also, countless interviews with all sorts of media took place as well. Thank you, City Lights, for the pleasure of being with you (and still am). -Tosh Berman
February 10, 2021
"Le Cinéma de Serge Gainsbourg - Musiques De Films 1959-1990"
There are many fine compilations out there regarding Serge Gainsbourg. I listed my favorite collections in the past, but this specific Gainsbourg is essential because it focuses on his soundtrack work. The cinema is very much part of the Gainsbourg landscape. This is a boxset with three-CDs, including bonus cuts, from the year 1959 to 1990. "Le Cinéma de Serge Gainsbourg - Musiques De Films 1959-1990" is a superb and a must-have retrospective of some of his more nuanced and even masterpiece works. The obscure to the famous is in the collection. - Tosh Berman
The One Album I Listened to in 2007: Scott Walker's "And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball?
According to my detailed buying habits, in 2007 the only new music I purchased that year was Scott Walker's "And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball?" Hardcore orchestration music for a Dance performed by CandoCo Dance Company. I think "Pola X" was the first all-instrumental score by Scott, but this album is a mixture of glitches and sometimes lush orchestration. In parts, it reminds me of Webern string quartets. Still, an intense listening experience. - Tosh Berman
February 9, 2021
The Albums That I Listened to in 2006
2006 brought me two icon music artists and a re-introduction to someone I didn't expect to hear from. Scott Walker's "The Drift" is one of the great aural masterpieces of this century. Its intensity and insane humor are so jarring yet focused. I think of this album as songs, but they are also sound pieces with words. More like a mixture of sound poetry and reads like a great poem. What he did was so remarkable and original. I still get goosebumps listening to this album.
Sparks's "Hello Young Lovers" is just another example of perfection, as Ron and Russell Mael practiced. Songs like "Perfume" and "Metaphor" make me think that even as a writer, how do they come up with such incredible lyrics? Or the beauty of "As I Sit To Play The Organ At The Notre Dame Cathedral." Their mixture of humor and pathos is an amazing tightrope in a song or in art. Yet, Sparks does this.
Being a mega-Serge Gainsbourg fan, it's heartening to find both Jane Birkin and daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg make superb music. With the assistance of the band Air and Jarvis Cocker, she came up with something magical, "5.55." These three albums alone made 2006 OK.
February 8, 2021
The One Album I Listened to in 2005
2005. What was that about? The only album I can remember buying that year was Paul McCartney's "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard." I haven't bought a Paul album since the 1970s, but I was pulled in by the album's title as well as the front cover photo by Mike McGear, Paul's brother. I think Mike was (or is) a remarkable photographer at the time, and his images of his brother, as well as the other members of the Fab Four, are classics.
Not only is this my favorite Paul album, but a total surprise that he came up with something special in the 21st-century. It's mostly Paul by himself, with some extra musicians, such as Joby Talbot, who worked with the arrangements for The Divine Comedy, and that aesthetic comes through on the recordings. It's a shame that Paul didn't work with Neil Hannon, because I think those two would make some sonic magic. Nevertheless, the decision to have Nigel Godrich behind the production was an excellent choice. Rumors are that he really pushed Paul on the writing as well as his lyrics. The album has all the classic Paul touches, but as an older man, he reflects in an interesting manner on his life through these songs. Therefore, it matches perfectly with the front cover. Paul as a very young man, or teenager, with a guitar in his backyard somewhere in Liverpool. A remarkable album. What's sad is that there were other things happening that were new musically, but I somehow missed the boat. I regret that I wasn't into Sunn(((O.
February 6, 2021
Introducing "The Sparks Brothers"
A remarkable documentary by Edgar Wright on my favorite group, Sparks. I'll write a longer appreciation/thoughts on the film shortly. Still, I want to recommend people to see this excellent work. I'm in it! Beyond that, it's still super good. More later!
February 5, 2021
"Sparks-Tastic" by Tosh Berman as discussed by the author on Tosh Talks
My talk on the making and writing of my first book "Sparks-Tastic." A book about Sparks (Ron Mael & Russell Mael) is also a memoir or travel book. Not a Sparks biography, but a book about how I feel about their music and image. As well as about Islington London and a bit of Paris. I went to their 21 Nights 21 Albums series of shows in London, which changed my life. The book reflects on that, as well as being an adventure for yours truly. "Sparks-Tastic" is still in print, and you can purchase it at any bookstore, as well as online shops. Tosh Berman
