Graham Coxon's Lament

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

The Sea and Cake thread has resulted in at least a couple people coming around to a position I've been badgering people with for years: that Sam Prekop's solo record is quite possibly the best thing to come out of the entire late-90s Chicago scene.

As such, my crusade for another bafflingly-maligned record begins here: I submit that Graham Coxon's The Sky is Too High is one of the best albums of the 90s. He fully reveals the serious Syd Barrett influence he often hinted at with That Band, remapping The Madcap Laughs in his own off-kilter skate-punk image, psychedelicizes the Cat-Powery hushy-bedroom trope, and demonstrates a very keen awareness of how sparingly-used bursts of fuzz and snot can rip that hush into amazing territory.

Please agree (that I may praise you) or disagree (that I may know forever more that you are a bad bad person).

― nabisco%%, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

NB his other solo record would appear to be terrible, but I keep pulling it out and listening to it just to see if I'm actually missing out. It's worth noting that The Sky is Too High is one of those records that seems as if it could well have turned out terribly wrong, but didn't. (CF Madcap Laughs, really.)

― nabisco%%, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I submit that Graham Coxon's The Sky is Too High is one of the best albums of the 90s.

You bold, crazy, wonderful man. Now never speak of this again. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

B-b-but what's wrong with it?

― nabisco%%, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

bluddy hell

haven't these kids got any ideas of their own

coxon and sea and cake are all just derivative assholes

christ! get yer asses out of 60s psychedelic wimpish meanderings and get a FUCKING LIFE

― bernice d, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I liked it when it first came out I must say. But on further listenings, I have to say it's actually not that good. Very derivative - very of it's time and just a bit, well, slipshod (though i guess that's the point). I've never had any qualms about Blur and always thought Graham was the true genius in that band but really, I think The Sky is Too High is merely a medium-good album that means well but doesn't deserve the credit you've given i at all.

― dog latin, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was in, I think, the eighth grade when it came out. I listened to it a lot then, but never thought much of it. Dug it out again a couple weeks back, and it still felt incredibly right sitting in my bed listening to it, not thinking.

― Keiko, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Mornin' Blues" is notable insofar as it sounds as if recorded in an outside toilet, on a dictaphone. The album has some interesting moments - "In a Salty Sea", er, one other I can't remember, but "Waiting", my god, it's practically impossible to listen to.

There's a fine line between interesting, jaggedy, lo-fi plaintive bedroom sloppiness, and out-of-tune miserabilst whinging. The album strays into both these territories on occasion.

― clive, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I do love "Where'd You Go?". Sounds like he did the vocals in the room next door to the mic. lovely melodic guitars too.

― dog latin, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Follow-up question: does this mean there is something wrong with me, then? I really think this record is fantastic.

― nabisco%%, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

OBVIOUSLY, Triscuit, if you LOVE an album that EVERYONE thinks is crap, you MUST be wrong, because if you DON'T agree with the consensus (which is always RIGHT), then you're fuct.

Blur fear has kept me far, far, faaaaaar away from anything remotely related to those cheeky bastards. That Sam Prekop album is mighty fine, tho. (Could Chi-Town's Second Best (Clinton Era) be The Sea & Cake's _The Fawn_, perchance?)

― Daver, Saturday, 18 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Mornin' Blues" WAS recorded on a dictaphone :). I don't own any Blur albums now but I still own The Sky Is Too High, even if 'twere only for "I Wish" alone. The album tapers off after that one somewhat, with the noisy exception of "Who The Fuck?".

― Damian, Sunday, 19 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Sky Is Too High? It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. However, you can approximate the sound very easily in your own back yard. Take a Nick Drake record. Walk to the nearest playground and let a child use it to dig about in a sandpit. Alternately, play frisbee with it with a willing dog. Return home and put the record back on your turntable. Voila! Coxon solo album.

Bring back Me Me Me, I say. The only listenable Blur solo project ever!

― speak of the devil, Sunday, 19 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree. Alex should sing more on Blur records, he's got a lovely sounding voice

― electric sound of jim, Sunday, 19 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

You've all changed your minds about this, then, right?

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 4 April 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

I thought I said never to speak of this again!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 April 2005 19:22 (twenty years ago)

I have no idea why I would have said it was one of the best albums of the 90s, which is clearly insane. It's pretty okay, though.

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 4 April 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

There was no reason for me to post to this thread 3 years ago, other than to show off my skills w/ the SHIFT key. And, um, mention The Fawn.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 4 April 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

He's sporting that hawt Bill Gates mug now.

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 4 April 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

http://www.christiewalsh.com/fun/links/graham.jpg

vs.

http://blog.monkeymethods.org/images/billgates02.jpg

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 4 April 2005 19:44 (twenty years ago)

Good God! That's like early Bill staying late in the office and trying to pick up chicks on BBSs: "Here's my pic, babe. See that Ramada Inn just outside the window? How about you join me for a little playtime?"

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 4 April 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

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