I've been very remiss with pointing out some of the quite excellent albums that have come out this very year (see bottom of this post for some of the key ones I have missed). I will try to do better. Here are four that I have been enjoying immensely over the past few weeks...
Brendan Benson ~ My Old Familiar Friend: According to Q Magazine, this is the album Robbie Williams should've recorded back in 2006 ~ and it's easy to see why. I've somehow missed out on Brendan's first three albums and his Raconteurs stuff, but his fourth long player reads like a shopping list of musts for the upcoming Mr. W. set. There are 11 readily accessible, bold as brash pop songs that are laden with summery harmonies, pianos playing off each other yet complementing chords beautifully, choruses that demand to be sung along to at huge epic concert events and the type of ballad that the Robster used to churn out in his sleep. It does lack a little of the boombastic swagger that Robbie is famous for, but there's no denying that Brendan knows his way around a melody and given the chance this could easily have 4-5 smash singles lifted from it. Which probably means it will be adored by a select tasteful few. Lucky few...
Key tracks: You Make A Fool Out Of Me; Garbage Day
The Blizzards ~ Domino Effect: Massive in Ireland, the rest of the world has yet to succumb to the pop-rock (what a lazy description that is; better in a minute!) stylings of the frankly quite adorable Blizzards. They have already developed somewhat of a "buzz" in the UK with the energetic Buy It Sell It and are now capitalising on that with the insanely chipper new single Trust Me I'm A Doctor. These two tracks don't entirely give an accurate impression of what the album holds in store - there are layered four part harmonies offset by Niall Breslin's seductive vocal embedded in songs that veer from noir-dance (The Reason) to light & ethereal (Money Doesn't Buy You Class) to beautifully constructed balladry (Postcards). It's an engaging collection of tunes that is definitely worth dipping into if you fancy intricate melodies and surprisingly nuanced lyrics...
Key tracks: Postcards; Trust Me I'm A Doctor
Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs ~ Under The Covers Vol 2: Their first album together was a delicious set of songs from the 60s and now everyone's favourite ex-bangle and er, this guy, are back with a set of songs from the 70s that are equally as edible. It will probably remain my second favourite covers album of the year (behind the incredible Baseballs) and the duo have taken a traditional route for most of the covers (ie, not straying too far from the originals), but the melodies, harmonies and arrangements are so lovely it is very hard indeed not to be charmed by the whole package. Susanna sounds both exquisite (You're So Vain) and appropriately raspy (Maggie May) while Matthew is quite astounding as a vocal acrobat whose style changes to fit the mood of each song. It's all power pop from the 70s just before the punk came along, and I can't help but hope for a volume 3 from the 80s when of course The Bangles were churning out their own magnificent tracks...
Key tracks: You're So Vain; You Can Close Your Eyes
Noah & The Whale ~ First Days of Spring: Cor blimey, a concept album about breaking up? Shouldn't that be enough to put anyone off ever listening to this? Not at all because surprisingly (as their debut by and large passed me by) this is a lovely melancholy set of tunes that works wonderfully as a cohesively themed album. Considering it's theme, it could have been quite the downer to listen to but instead it weaves a lyrical tale of hope and the optimism that can be found in the first flushes of love. Choirs, pianos and strings have been added to the debut albums (which I'm now quite loving also) indie-folk leanings and it's a richer listening experience for it. "Now my heart's been broken/there's nothing you can do/i'm impenetrable to pain" opines Charlie in one of the year's most beautifully written and sung lyrics. Essential to listen to as a whole to avoid too much melancholy...
Key tracks: My Broken Heart; Blue Skies
Reviews I wish I'd done, but never gotten round to (expressed perfectly hear by others):
~ Florence + The Machine: Lungs (adem)(xo)
~ Little Boots: Hands (aaron)
Brendan Benson ~ My Old Familiar Friend: According to Q Magazine, this is the album Robbie Williams should've recorded back in 2006 ~ and it's easy to see why. I've somehow missed out on Brendan's first three albums and his Raconteurs stuff, but his fourth long player reads like a shopping list of musts for the upcoming Mr. W. set. There are 11 readily accessible, bold as brash pop songs that are laden with summery harmonies, pianos playing off each other yet complementing chords beautifully, choruses that demand to be sung along to at huge epic concert events and the type of ballad that the Robster used to churn out in his sleep. It does lack a little of the boombastic swagger that Robbie is famous for, but there's no denying that Brendan knows his way around a melody and given the chance this could easily have 4-5 smash singles lifted from it. Which probably means it will be adored by a select tasteful few. Lucky few...
The Blizzards ~ Domino Effect: Massive in Ireland, the rest of the world has yet to succumb to the pop-rock (what a lazy description that is; better in a minute!) stylings of the frankly quite adorable Blizzards. They have already developed somewhat of a "buzz" in the UK with the energetic Buy It Sell It and are now capitalising on that with the insanely chipper new single Trust Me I'm A Doctor. These two tracks don't entirely give an accurate impression of what the album holds in store - there are layered four part harmonies offset by Niall Breslin's seductive vocal embedded in songs that veer from noir-dance (The Reason) to light & ethereal (Money Doesn't Buy You Class) to beautifully constructed balladry (Postcards). It's an engaging collection of tunes that is definitely worth dipping into if you fancy intricate melodies and surprisingly nuanced lyrics...
Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs ~ Under The Covers Vol 2: Their first album together was a delicious set of songs from the 60s and now everyone's favourite ex-bangle and er, this guy, are back with a set of songs from the 70s that are equally as edible. It will probably remain my second favourite covers album of the year (behind the incredible Baseballs) and the duo have taken a traditional route for most of the covers (ie, not straying too far from the originals), but the melodies, harmonies and arrangements are so lovely it is very hard indeed not to be charmed by the whole package. Susanna sounds both exquisite (You're So Vain) and appropriately raspy (Maggie May) while Matthew is quite astounding as a vocal acrobat whose style changes to fit the mood of each song. It's all power pop from the 70s just before the punk came along, and I can't help but hope for a volume 3 from the 80s when of course The Bangles were churning out their own magnificent tracks...
Noah & The Whale ~ First Days of Spring: Cor blimey, a concept album about breaking up? Shouldn't that be enough to put anyone off ever listening to this? Not at all because surprisingly (as their debut by and large passed me by) this is a lovely melancholy set of tunes that works wonderfully as a cohesively themed album. Considering it's theme, it could have been quite the downer to listen to but instead it weaves a lyrical tale of hope and the optimism that can be found in the first flushes of love. Choirs, pianos and strings have been added to the debut albums (which I'm now quite loving also) indie-folk leanings and it's a richer listening experience for it. "Now my heart's been broken/there's nothing you can do/i'm impenetrable to pain" opines Charlie in one of the year's most beautifully written and sung lyrics. Essential to listen to as a whole to avoid too much melancholy...
