Creation Records



Albums 251-255

Rating Key

••••••

CRE 251
Guided By Voices - Do The Collapse

1) Teenage FBI
2) Zoo Pie
3) Things I Will Keep
4) Hold On Hope
5) In Stitches
6) Dragons Awake
7) Surgical Focus
8) Optical Hopscotch
9) Mushroom Art
10) Much Better Mr. Buckles
11) Wormhole
12) Strumpet Eye
13) Liquid Indian

•••

14) Wrecking Now
15) Picture Me Big Time
16) Unmarketed Product
17) Avalanche Aminos

Creation's last foray into American music and virtually their last throw of the dice was to snap up the rights to the first major label recordings by semi-legendary, low-fi, US indie rockers Guided By Voices. Seeing the light of day in August 1999, this was the twelfth offering from the Ohio band, and the second since mainman Robert Pollard had rebuilt the group following the demise of what is largely considered to be their classic line-up in 1996. Bassist Greg Demos rejoined for these recordings, whilst former Breeders drummer Jim MacPherson and Cobra Verde guitarist Doug Gillard made up the numbers. Originally financed by Capitol Records (though eventually released by TVT in the States) and produced by The Cars' Ric Ocasek, this was a big budget recording completely at odds with the way the band had previously approached their work, and it received a mixed reaction from GBV fans as well as the media. But though better produced and recorded, there really isn't too much for anyone to get upset with, the seventeen tracks over forty-six minutes not demonstrating any radical departures from the oeuvre and, indeed, offering much to enjoy, not least the two singles Creation used to promote the album. 'Teenage FBI' (single 325) is terrific tale of emotional hopelessness with some storming guitars and a nicely pulsing bass, while the melancholic 'Hold On Hope' (single 328) builds nicely from an acoustic beginning. This latter was one of the last Creation products to be released and is proving to be quite elusive in anything other than the promotional CD format, the seven-inch vinyl being withdrawn before it hit the shops. Other highlights include the languid 'Things I Will Keep', the bruising 'In Stitches', the nicely woven 'Surgical Focus' and the epic 'Picture Me Big Time', the way Pollard stretches his vocals to fit the tunes always intriguing. It's not all great, but all in all pretty decent.

CRE 252
Oasis - Unreleased

CRE 253
Ed Ball - Why Do I Need A Gun I'm Chelsea

1) The Other Side Of Love Is Guilt
2) For The Souls Of Dead Horses
3) Never Live To Love Again
4) Bled A River Over You
5) So Sad But True
6) Docklands Blues
7) Ma Blues
8) Another Member Of The Mill Hill Self Hate Club
9) If A Man Ever Loved A Woman
10) 12 Noon 28.8.93
11) When You Lose Your Lover Learn To Lose
12) Love Is Blue
13) I'm Going Out Of Your Mind

•••

14) Blues For Brian Wilson
15) Wrapped Up In Lonesome Blues
16) An Act Of Faith
17) Mill Hill Self Help Club

It is entirely fitting that the release with the final number in the Creation Records catalogue should be another album from Ed Ball. Indeed, this is the third retrospective from the singer (remarkable in itself) and features songs taken from the b-sides of his singles. Tracks 1 and 14 are from 'Trailblaze', tracks 2, 3 and 7 are from 'The Mill Hill Self Hate Club (2)', tracks 4, 6 and 8 are from 'It's Kinda Lonely Where I Am', track 10 is from 'If A Man Ever Loved A Woman', track 11 is from 'Love Is Blue', and tracks 13, 15 and 16 are from 'The Mill Hill Self Hate Club (1)'. That leaves tracks 5 and 9 which are previously unreleased versions, and tracks 12 and 17 which are taken from a Mark Radcliffe BBC Session of September 1996. Musically, these are songs from Ball's best period and this is a collection of pleasantly light pop tunes, some electric, some acoustic, with the occasional oddity thrown into the mix such as the grating 'Bled A River Over You'. The Radcliffe tracks are interesting acoustic versions of two of Ball's better known singles and are well worth a listen. In all, Ball's contribution to the label was immense. With eight albums from The Times, five solo, four from Love Corporation, four from Teenage Filmstars, two from Sand and one from Conspiracy Of Noise, Ball was responsible for twenty-four albums, or some 10.3% of Creation Records' entire album output. Add to that the numerous compilations that featured his songs and you are left with a record that, for the size of the label, has probably never been matched. Bye, bye Creation and take a bow, Ed.

CRE 254
Super Furry Animals - Unreleased

CRE 255
Tailgunner - Unreleased

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