Lifetime achievement award time. Maybe it’s my lingering breakup dumps but I can’t think of another indie outfit outside Yo La Tengo that goes back to the 80s and is still making music as emotionally vital and melodically satisfying as The Wedding Present.
But then what I think is vital others might call a rut. Certainly, after over twenty years, head Weddoe, David Gedge, is still writing about the girl who got away— and others he’s yet to lay! You’d think he might have figured out this predictable pattern by now but instead it would seem he’s adopted the lovelorn cad persona as a lifelong career choice. To his credit, he’s not without a sense of poignant humility. “I said I thought I could fall in love with her/she said I like you too,” he confides on El Rey, his latest record. It’s not the witty perfection of 69 Love Songs but everyone has been there at one time or another. And, frankly, with this much romantic disappointment it’s an inspiring wonder this guy can still risk his heart and fall in love at all.
And besides, let’s face it, it’s the guitar and how Mr. Gedge makes it serve the song that keeps you coming back to The Wedding Present. Those jaunty, peeling, careening, ecstatic tempos, the bright, banging chords, the heavy-hearted riffage. I’ve heard some old timers find the addition of strings on the latest records some sort of let down. To me, they’re a natural extension of Gedge’s considerable melodic gifts. Some might also carp that the Weddoes catalog uses too small a palette of musical colors. But, to me, it’s like Gedge found the history of pop music in “Sister Ray” and decided to spend the rest of his life working out the possibilities in that one song. And what possibilities! Even if at this point the idea of a guitar band seems kind of quaint, if BB King can sustain a career into his 80s or Neil Young into his 60s why not Mr. Weddoe into his 40s and beyond?
I’ve compiled below a chronological list of my Wedding Present favorites. Contrary to some reports, I’d say after their brilliant debut, George Best, album-wise the Weddoes lost their way a bit during the grunge years. Their strong middle period starts with Watusi and ends with Saturnalia. Then after a nine year hiatus they’ve comeback, the same but older, more orchestrated, less pell mell; more beauty, less noise. Three hours plus of music. Not bad for two decades of music making. I’d eventually like to whittle it down to an 80 minute CD-R mix but this a starting place. Let me know if you’d like a copy. And fans and completists, please, advise.
But then what I think is vital others might call a rut. Certainly, after over twenty years, head Weddoe, David Gedge, is still writing about the girl who got away— and others he’s yet to lay! You’d think he might have figured out this predictable pattern by now but instead it would seem he’s adopted the lovelorn cad persona as a lifelong career choice. To his credit, he’s not without a sense of poignant humility. “I said I thought I could fall in love with her/she said I like you too,” he confides on El Rey, his latest record. It’s not the witty perfection of 69 Love Songs but everyone has been there at one time or another. And, frankly, with this much romantic disappointment it’s an inspiring wonder this guy can still risk his heart and fall in love at all.
And besides, let’s face it, it’s the guitar and how Mr. Gedge makes it serve the song that keeps you coming back to The Wedding Present. Those jaunty, peeling, careening, ecstatic tempos, the bright, banging chords, the heavy-hearted riffage. I’ve heard some old timers find the addition of strings on the latest records some sort of let down. To me, they’re a natural extension of Gedge’s considerable melodic gifts. Some might also carp that the Weddoes catalog uses too small a palette of musical colors. But, to me, it’s like Gedge found the history of pop music in “Sister Ray” and decided to spend the rest of his life working out the possibilities in that one song. And what possibilities! Even if at this point the idea of a guitar band seems kind of quaint, if BB King can sustain a career into his 80s or Neil Young into his 60s why not Mr. Weddoe into his 40s and beyond?
I’ve compiled below a chronological list of my Wedding Present favorites. Contrary to some reports, I’d say after their brilliant debut, George Best, album-wise the Weddoes lost their way a bit during the grunge years. Their strong middle period starts with Watusi and ends with Saturnalia. Then after a nine year hiatus they’ve comeback, the same but older, more orchestrated, less pell mell; more beauty, less noise. Three hours plus of music. Not bad for two decades of music making. I’d eventually like to whittle it down to an 80 minute CD-R mix but this a starting place. Let me know if you’d like a copy. And fans and completists, please, advise.
“Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft,” George Best (’87)
“A Million Miles”
“All This and More”
“You Can’t Moan Can You?”
“My Favorite Dress”
“Nothing Comes Easy” (’88)
“Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm”
“I’m Not Always So Stupid”
“Getting Better”
“Pourquoi Es Tu Devenue Si Raisonnable?”
“Brassneck,” Bizarro (’89)
“Kennedy”
“What Have I Said Now?”
“Take Me!”
“Dare,” Seamonsters (’91)
“Lovenest”
“Dan Dare”
“California,” Peel Sessions (’92-’95)
“So Long, Baby,” Watusi (’94)
“Click Click”
“Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah”
“Gazebo”
“It’s A Gas”
“Catwoman”
“Hot Pants”
“Waiting On the Guns,” Singles (’95-’97)
“Go, Man, Go”
“Love Machine”
“Conertible”
“Real Thing” (Acoustic)
“Sports Car”
“Sports Car” (Acoustic)
“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”
"Real Thing," Saturnalia ('96)
"2, 3, Go"
"Dreamworld"
“I’m From Further North Than You,” Take Fountain (’05)
“Mars Sparkles Down On Me”
“Don’t Touch That Dial”
“Queen Anne”
“Perfect Blue”
“The Trouble with Men,” El Rey (’08)
“Don’t Take Me Home Until I’m Drunk”
“Model, Actress, Whatever”
“The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend”
“White Christmas,” Holly Jolly Hollywood (’08)
“Mars Sparkles Down On Me”
“Don’t Touch That Dial”
“Queen Anne”
“Perfect Blue”
“The Trouble with Men,” El Rey (’08)
“Don’t Take Me Home Until I’m Drunk”
“Model, Actress, Whatever”
“The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend”
“White Christmas,” Holly Jolly Hollywood (’08)
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