The Boo Radleys -- Giant Steps

早年剛開始用力聽音樂時曾一直保有把BBS或網路上把中英文樂評印下來摺疊到booklet小冊子的習慣。後來一方面因為懶，還發現夾在CD殼裡保存十多年的紙片或海綿反倒會讓CD本身受潮或被破壞，於是這項持續十多年的好習慣在美國的第二年宣告結束。這幾年雖然唱片照買，但那聽到好音樂拿著實體CD/LP的滿足感、及仔細聽邊閱讀文字充實音樂知識的熱情卻已隨年齡增長悄悄消失了。

受到galeer一篇文章啟發，昨晚我才把久違The Boo Radleys的Giant Steps拿起來重聽。發覺當年那張昌彥代理的介紹小紙片與樂評還留著，CD表面有若干霉斑但不影響聆聽。回想起以前，用省吃儉用攢下來的零用錢買到一張好的CD是再幸福不過了。好的音樂早中晚都聽不膩，彷彿可以從中不斷汲取養分般，所以從一張唱片裡外就可以看出我對一張專輯的喜愛程度，也代表著特定時期的成長軌跡。

The Boo Radleys與My Bloody Valentine算是我啟蒙英倫shoegazing世代的重要樂團，也讓當時醉心於老搖滾的我找到可以與自己生活的時代接軌的好東西。當時的The Boo Radleys從The Beatles、Beach Boys到Velvet Underground的影響都能共治一爐、巧妙運用及發揚光大。曾在某段國外樂評中讀過讚美Boo Radleys的文字，指他們具有Primal Scream般的跳躍節奏、如My Bloddy Valentine般地具創造力，及兼具Oasis清新悅耳旋律的英國九十年代樂團。說地可是一點兒也沒錯。

睡前把它刻意放大音量從第一首"I Hang Suspended"開始放(之前睡前都在主攻一些Bebop/Hard Bop的東西)，接續中段幾首單曲及實驗音牆到"I've Lost the Reason"，在終曲"The White Noise Revisited"結束後完成一整段充滿著美妙旋律的迷幻旅程。從頭到尾一氣呵成真是暢快淋漓，可謂真金不怕火煉，經典的確能挺地住時光的考驗。還是覺得早年如同海綿般拼命吸收新音樂精華的那種感覺還真是美好啊。

其中，私心喜愛The White Noise Revisited的歌詞 ，讀了讀竟然還蠻符合當下的心情 ，哈!!

Hey! what's that noise?
do you remember?
kill yourself at work for what seems nothing at all
then you go home and you cry and you feel so very small,
so you listen to the beatles and relax and close your eyes,
and you feel it running thru you,
feel the hate well up inside
Hey! what's that noise?
do you remember?
fashioned by the blade of a world that doesn't care
feeling so removed, drifting thru stealing air then...
pause and think about it, try to move and shift the
scream and feel alive.
Hey! what's that noise?
do you remember?


專輯曲目
1 I Hang Suspended 3:57
2 Upon 9th and Fairchild 4:50
3 Wish I Was Skinny 3:37
4 Leaves and Sand 4:25
5 Butterfly McQueen 3:28
6 Rodney King [Song for Lenny Bruce] 2:45
7 Thinking of Ways 3:48
8 Barney (...and Me) 4:42
9 Spun Around 2:31
10 If You Want It, Take It 2:45
11 Best Lose the Fear 4:14
12 Take the Time Around 4:07
13 Lazarus 4:38
14 One Is For 1:36
15 Run My Way Runaway 2:20
16 I've Lost the Reason 5:18
17 The White Noise Revisited 5:04