I discovered Cardiacs around 2015. CHANGED my life. SAVED is more apt. I was depression laden and suicidal. Tim made me whole again with his music. I also have made life-long friends and travel to the UK all the time now to hang out and see Cardiacs related shows and tributes. Got to meet Timmy a couple times and spend some time with him at his facility before he passed. I LOVE this band and pretty much call them my favorite band now. Best for last. :) On Land and in the Sea is my favorite and The Everso Closely Guarded Line is my favorite tune ever.
Wow, this was unexpected, but very much appreciated! I would say, though, that the list is not complete, since you're not including "The Seaside" (originally a cassette-only release, if I remember correctly, but definitely a full-length studio album) and "Songs for Ships and Irons" (a 12-inch EP + a bunch of other tracks turned into an LP). I'd go: 1. Sing to God 2. On Land and in the Sea 3. Songs for Ships and Irons 4. A Little Man... 5. Guns 6. The Seaside 7. Heaven Born... but they're all wonderful. Coming in at seventh and getting the chocolate medal is nothing to be ashamed of. If you enjoy Cardiacs (as you seem to do), I'd seriously suggest you check out: 1) William D. Drake's solo albums. He was the keyboard player/co-writer of some songs until the early ´90:s. His solo stuff is like a pastoral version of the Cardiacs (if you can imagine that). No harsh guitars, hardly any drums. Just very quirky, very enjoyable and extremely British. (Remove the punk element, add a teaspoon of Gentle Giant and half a litre of Wordsworth, Emily Brontë and walking around the moors.) 2. Lost Crowns. I don't think any of the band members was ever in the actual Cardiacs, but they certainly hung around in the same environment. Less frantic, but no less amazing. They've only done one studio album so far. Start out with "Let loving her be everything". (And once you're through that, you can pass on to The Sea Nymphs and Stars in Battledress. Basically the same people under different names.)
You should check out The Seaside. It’s kinda like their first proper album. It has a few songs that’d appear on A Little Man and “nurses whispering voices” later on Sing To God plus tons of great songs that appear nowhere else. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Love Cardiacs and I am the on land and in the sea side of the fanbase, though really splitting hairs they are just all works of genius, plus the seaside and songs for ships and irons also deserve everyone's full attention...to Tim our leader in the starry skies
When I was 21 years old (40 years ago) I was in a bit of an awkward situation and someones dad played Cardiacs at me. It was a life changing experience. Enjoy the ride
It's like rating your children. On Land and in the Sea is the early masterpiece with all of Tim's crazy and complex compositions delivered with fizzing energy. Sing to God is an awe-inspiring masterpiece, but is dare I say it, a bit uneven over its length. Guns has great consistency and Jitterbug is one of their very finest. ALMAHATWWW is the summation of their sound from when they started as children, up to that date and is another masterpiece. All great, all equal. By the way, I see you like microtonal guitars. Check out 'Obur Dünya' by Cem Karaca and Moğollar and 'Yaz Gazeteci , Yaz' by Selda Bağcan, a couple of Turkish artists with amazing vocal talent, too. I would also recommend Oriental Wind's jazz fusion version of Turkish folk tune 'Dere Geliyor, Dere'.
There's a lot of Cardiacs music not on their official 5 albums. In particular, you should check out "Songs For Ships And Irons", a compilation that contains the whole of their "Big Ship" EP + 5 additional non-album songs. As well as "Archive Cardiacs" for some very early songs that never made it to their official albums.
@@theopinionatedhippie470 there's also a few very good songs on "The Seaside" (one of their demo compilations from the early 80's, probably the one with the best audio quality) that never made it to an official album. You can skip the tracks that you already know, ones that were recorded again for albums
P.S. As for side projects. Tim Smith released one solo album too, some time in the 90's. Not consistent like a Cardiacs album but there are some gems on it. There was also Spratley's Japs, another band Tim was in for a short while, they released one EP and one album. And The Sea. Nymphs - a side project of Tim Smith and former Cardiacs Sarah Smith and William Drake, they released 2 or 3 albums, their music is more gentle and laid back than Cardiacs.
I did not mean to imply that Bungle inspired Cardiacs....I know who came first. Oops if I did that...I was just trying to point out who the Cardiacs sound like. And interested to see how I change my mind....
I discovered Cardiacs around 2015. CHANGED my life. SAVED is more apt. I was depression laden and suicidal. Tim made me whole again with his music. I also have made life-long friends and travel to the UK all the time now to hang out and see Cardiacs related shows and tributes. Got to meet Timmy a couple times and spend some time with him at his facility before he passed. I LOVE this band and pretty much call them my favorite band now. Best for last. :) On Land and in the Sea is my favorite and The Everso Closely Guarded Line is my favorite tune ever.
Wow, this was unexpected, but very much appreciated! I would say, though, that the list is not complete, since you're not including "The Seaside" (originally a cassette-only release, if I remember correctly, but definitely a full-length studio album) and "Songs for Ships and Irons" (a 12-inch EP + a bunch of other tracks turned into an LP).
I'd go:
1. Sing to God
2. On Land and in the Sea
3. Songs for Ships and Irons
4. A Little Man...
5. Guns
6. The Seaside
7. Heaven Born...
but they're all wonderful. Coming in at seventh and getting the chocolate medal is nothing to be ashamed of. If you enjoy Cardiacs (as you seem to do), I'd seriously suggest you check out:
1) William D. Drake's solo albums. He was the keyboard player/co-writer of some songs until the early ´90:s. His solo stuff is like a pastoral version of the Cardiacs (if you can imagine that). No harsh guitars, hardly any drums. Just very quirky, very enjoyable and extremely British. (Remove the punk element, add a teaspoon of Gentle Giant and half a litre of Wordsworth, Emily Brontë and walking around the moors.)
2. Lost Crowns. I don't think any of the band members was ever in the actual Cardiacs, but they certainly hung around in the same environment. Less frantic, but no less amazing. They've only done one studio album so far. Start out with "Let loving her be everything".
(And once you're through that, you can pass on to The Sea Nymphs and Stars in Battledress. Basically the same people under different names.)
Thank you for the suggestions. I will check them out.
You should check out The Seaside. It’s kinda like their first proper album. It has a few songs that’d appear on A Little Man and “nurses whispering voices” later on Sing To God plus tons of great songs that appear nowhere else. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Agree here. Seaside is a can't miss if you like them!!!
Love Cardiacs and I am the on land and in the sea side of the fanbase, though really splitting hairs they are just all works of genius, plus the seaside and songs for ships and irons also deserve everyone's full attention...to Tim our leader in the starry skies
When I was 21 years old (40 years ago) I was in a bit of an awkward situation and someones dad played Cardiacs at me. It was a life changing experience. Enjoy the ride
Great review. Glad you enjoyed it. Mike Patton of Mr Bungle is a huge Cardiacs fan
Nice!!! From what I’ve heard so far
4. Heaven Born and Ever Bright
3. On Land And In The Sea
2. A Little Man…
1. The Seaside
Awesome !!!!
Both Tim Smith and Jon Poole were huge Zappa fans.
Jon Poole did a tribute album of covers
Whats the Ugliest Part of Your Body
It's like rating your children. On Land and in the Sea is the early masterpiece with all of Tim's crazy and complex compositions delivered with fizzing energy. Sing to God is an awe-inspiring masterpiece, but is dare I say it, a bit uneven over its length. Guns has great consistency and Jitterbug is one of their very finest. ALMAHATWWW is the summation of their sound from when they started as children, up to that date and is another masterpiece. All great, all equal. By the way, I see you like microtonal guitars. Check out 'Obur Dünya' by Cem Karaca and Moğollar and 'Yaz Gazeteci , Yaz' by Selda Bağcan, a couple of Turkish artists with amazing vocal talent, too. I would also recommend Oriental Wind's jazz fusion version of Turkish folk tune 'Dere Geliyor, Dere'.
Thank you!
There's a lot of Cardiacs music not on their official 5 albums.
In particular, you should check out "Songs For Ships And Irons", a compilation that contains the whole of their "Big Ship" EP + 5 additional non-album songs.
As well as "Archive Cardiacs" for some very early songs that never made it to their official albums.
Thanks. I am going to revisit them video wise at the new year and include the other albums. Thanks for the leads.
@@theopinionatedhippie470 there's also a few very good songs on "The Seaside" (one of their demo compilations from the early 80's, probably the one with the best audio quality) that never made it to an official album. You can skip the tracks that you already know, ones that were recorded again for albums
P.S. As for side projects.
Tim Smith released one solo album too, some time in the 90's. Not consistent like a Cardiacs album but there are some gems on it.
There was also Spratley's Japs, another band Tim was in for a short while, they released one EP and one album.
And The Sea. Nymphs - a side project of Tim Smith and former Cardiacs Sarah Smith and William Drake, they released 2 or 3 albums, their music is more gentle and laid back than Cardiacs.
Good stuff, bet you change your mind over time. Mr Bungle were inspired by Cardiacs, not the other way as you infer. Welcome to the pond!
I did not mean to imply that Bungle inspired Cardiacs....I know who came first. Oops if I did that...I was just trying to point out who the Cardiacs sound like. And interested to see how I change my mind....
@@theopinionatedhippie470 No problems fella enjoy the magical ride!
Good show. Cardiacs are worth the effort no matter what whether you like them or not. Not jazz/rock by any stretch though.
Agreed on the jazz aspect…thanks.