What albums are "curios"?

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
A conversation with my brother about "musical curios" threw up few satisfying examples. And what is a curio exactly? I think of it as being an album which is not important for many people to have, but is of hige interest for devoted fans. Often it is a low-key release by a band who have since gone on to be huge. Tell me what you think about "curios".

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

The use of the word "curio" is similar to the way many critics use "document" - the sound is shitty, the band are on (bad) drugs, the producer is insane, the band don't care about their audience/do not yet have or want one.

BUT

If you're an indie completist who needs music as an emotional crutch, you need to own it. And I do.

Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 12:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I would call the works of say, The Butthole Surfers, a "treasure trove of curios". And I like The Butthole Surfers.I just wouldn't let them take care of my luggage.

Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Best curio band of all time = Caroliner.

maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

klaatu

brains (cerybut), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Mrs. Miller.

hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

unsure whether i care too much for "curios" as described by Nordic and kilian,
but i'm certainly growing ever curiouser and curiouser 'bout certain things i heard 'bout 22-24 years ago and haven't heard since (which maybe makes 'em "personal curios", then?)

...like, huh, Osmonds's "The Plan" album -- was it just those 'vignettes' between the 'proper' songs that made it sorta strange'ish and, hm, different? or...

there's also an instrumental track from the late 60s, by a Hungarian band Omega, that, as i'm now enclined to think, sounded like the-UnitedKingdom-era-Ultramarine-without-electronics...(Did it really??)

and some other stuff like that botherin' my mem'ry now and again
(*stares blankly at screen, picks nose in silence*)

t\'\'t (t''t), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"Curio album" = somewhere between a Curate's Egg and a Flawed Classic.

DavidM (DavidM), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...
Momus SOOO owns this thread. And Toog.

Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Wednesday, 9 April 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...
I might propose that 'curios' in the present context might refer not only to outsider music, privately-pressed oddities & the like, but to recordings that 'look good on the shelf,' serve as valid pieces of art when displayed, have goodies inside, and things like that. Yahowha 13-'God & Hair' box, Miles Davis' 'Complete Bitches Brew' box, and most anything by Caroliner might fall into this category.

John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Sunday, 3 August 2003 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.