POST #206

I've mentioned Welcome To Ashley before - back when their EP, Absent Man, was big on my personal playlist. Now, I wanted to let y'all know that they have a new full-length out, Beyond the Pale.

Their sound, if you haven't already given them a listen, is a modern-edged throwback to eighties and nineties college/alternative rock. Their most obvious influence is The Smiths, but there's also some Psychedelic Furs, perhaps a touch of The Cult, and even a bit of seventies glam thrown in.

Here's a taste of the new disc:

Welcome to Ashley - "These Dreams of Mine"

If you like that, you can take a listen to the whole album at their MySpace page, or their Bandcamp page. Be sure you give a listen to "What a Day It Was For Dying" and "The Catbird Seat". Awesome stuff.

Beyond the Pale can be purchased on iTunes, but it doesn't look like Amazon has it yet.

For the locals:

This Friday and Saturday is the annual Hoodstock benefit over at Hoodlum's Music in Tempe. Here's the line up:

Friday, May 7th

5PM: Carol Pacey
6PM: Integers are for Counting
7PM: What's Left
8PM: Psych 101

Saturday, May 8th

1PM: Nina Curri
2PM: Sarah Roberts
3PM: Robby Roberson
4PM: Big. Fast. Easy
5PM: Maricopa County Prison Band
6PM: Mojo Farmers
7PM: Dry River Yacht Club
8PM: Flathead

More information at the Hoodlum's site.

THIS PICTURE

I had initially set this post up for about a month ago. Right about then, the b-sides for "Breath Deeply Now" started showing up at a couple of other blogs. I didn't want to look like I was jumping on the band wagon, so I pushed it back until now. Let me know if any links have expired in the interim.

British band This Picture formed in the late eighties, and stuck around until the mid-nineties, releasing two albums while they were together. They never really made a big splash, likely because their style was sort of Joshua Tree-era U2, while radio had already moved on to heavier grunge stuff.

They did have their share of fans, though. I was rather fond of the single “Naked Rain”, but then I’ve always been a sucker for rock songs with fiddles.

Here’s some of the b-sides off 3 of their singles. All of these are from 1991, the year of their first album.

(all files expired)

This Picture - “Naked Rain” I figured I’d put up the a-side to this one, since it was the closest thing they had to a hit.
This Picture - “With You I Can Never Win” B-side of “Naked Rain”, also later issued as an a-side between albums.
This Picture - “Blacker Than” B-side of “Stronger Than Life Itself”
This Picture - “Not Whole, Not Half, Not Man” B-side of “Stronger Than Life Itself”
This Picture - “When Your Eyes Are Closed” B-side of “Stronger Than Life Itself”
This Picture - “The Offering” B-side of “Breathe Deeply Now”
This Picture - “Death’s Sweet Religion” (Acoustic Version) B-side of “Breathe Deeply Now”, original version on A Violent Impression.
This Picture - “I Can’t Help Myself” B-side of “Breathe Deeply Now”


This Picture discography:

A Violent Impression, 1991
City of Sin, 1994

Both albums are out of print, but can be found in many used cd shops.

If any of you happen to be in The Valley this weekend, make some time to stop by the Hoodstock benefit at Hoodlums Music in Tempe. It's for a great cause, and it's at a great store. More info here: