The Left Banke “There’s Gonna Be A Storm”
Essential is half the word. To get the complete recordings of The Left Banke in one package, it would be great even if they weren’t any good, but naturally, they rule. They’re the baroque Zombies, and little known beyond their huge hit, Walk Away Renee.
Pretty Ballerina is their second almost-hit. And the singing is drop dead gorgeous. The delicacy in the string arrangements, but mostly the tender vocals, so smooth it’ll get you laid. Though you need to have the right ears on.
A few snoozers, perhaps, but this is a full collection. Nobody gets it 100%. Some key tracks include Shadows Breaking Over My Head, She May Call You Up Tonight, I Haven’t Got The Nerve, Barterers And Their Wives, There’s Gonna Be A Storm. The 2nd half of this collection covers the material surrounding the Left Banke’s unfortunate demise, and Desiree plus Men Are Building Sand would be included on the faux-follow up record, Montage.
This album is inexplicably unavailable. Do whatever you can to get it. And for some serious (and truly completist) Left Bankage, don’t miss superfan Charlemange’s Left Banke tribute site.
I love the Left Banke!
“I’ve Got Something On My Mind”
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This song is great. I’m pretty sure that the band is mentioned in the book, “The Rotters Club” by Daniel Coe. If you haven’t read it, you should. Look for it on Amazon and read the blurb. It’s one of my favorites and I think it might be right up your alley.
Harry @ thabombshelter June 21, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Hey I made a new layout. See if this one is fruity enough for you. Thanks for the plug!
Charlemange August 12, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
I believe the first few notes are the same ones used in Jens Lekman’s song Black Cab. I too love the Left Banke sound, thanks for the lead.
stopokaygo August 27, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Some comments on the Left Banke’s debut album: This record really is as good as people will lead you to believe. Steve Martin was definitely one of the most underappreciated rock vocalists of his generation and Michael Brown wrote great melodies with a strong sense of teenage heartbreak. Only a country-rocker falls flat on a completely solid album that many people call “baroque pop.” The way I see it, She May Call You Up Tonite is everything power pop can be, and people forget how great the haunting Pretty Ballerina is. If they had released 1 or 2 other great albums people would be referring to the Left Banke as the American Zombies. Their second album Too, is respectable but lacks the fire of the debut and does not benefit from Michael Brown’s absence. Essential stuff!!
Jason September 6, 2007 @ 6:41 pm