David J Crocodile Tears & The Velvet Cosh CD

Released just prior to the formation of Love and Rockets, David J's follow-up to The Etiquette of Violence is better than its predecessor in every way. The songwriting is more skillful, the production much sharper, the musicianship tighter. The mood, too, is more varied, with the clouds parting occasionally to let in a bit of light. This may have something to do with J's stint in the Jazz Butcher's band, and indeed Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh at times sounds like a Butcher record. No credits are provided, but the guitar on some tracks has a distinct Max Eider feel. On Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh J takes a big step toward developing an identity apart from Bauhaus. Partsof this album could accurately be characterized as "folky," "jazzy," and "mellow" -adjectives that would never be applied to J's former group. Acoustic guitar is the primary instrument, and sometimes the only one; quite a contrast to Bauhaus's often metallic attack. The downside of this is that Crocodile Tears can be, frankly, dull. The mellowness could stand to be counterbalanced by a little of the old glamour and noise -- and this is precisely what Daniel Ash would provide in Love and Rockets, whose excellent debut Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven was released this same year. ~ Bill Cassel

Released just prior to the formation of Love and Rockets, David J's follow-up to The Etiquette of Violence is better than its predecessor in every way. The songwriting is more skillful, the production much sharper, the musicianship tighter. The mood, too, is more varied, with the clouds parting occasionally to let in a bit of light. This may have something to do with J's stint in the Jazz Butcher's band, and indeed Crocodile Tears & the Velvet Cosh at times sounds like a Butcher record. No credits are provided, but the guitar on some tracks has a distinct Max Eider feel. On Crocodile Tears & the Velvet Cosh, J takes a big step toward developing an identity apart from Bauhaus. Parts of this album could accurately be characterized as folky, jazzy, and mellow -- adjectives that would never be applied to J's former group. Acoustic guitar is the primary instrument, and sometimes the only one; quite a contrast to Bauhaus' often metallic attack. The downside of this is that Crocodile Tears can be, frankly, dull. The mellowness could stand to be counterbalanced by a little of the old glamour and noise -- and this is precisely what Daniel Ash would provide in Love and Rockets, whose excellent debut Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven was released this same year. [This Plain Records release includes five bonus tracks.] ~ Bill Cassel

Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh, David J's second solo outing originally released in 1985, has folk and jazzy elements in direct counterpoint to the glammy goth thud of his old gig in the band Bauhaus or the post modern, neo-psychedlia of Love and Ro

Photographer: Mitch Jenkins.

Personnel: Max Eider (guitar); Pat Fish (flute); Alex Green (saxophone); Coach York, Owen Jones , Steve Curtis (drums).

Liner Note Author: Pat Fish.