Apologies for the month without anything being posted. General merriment (eighteenth birthday) and toil (coursework) stopped me from being energised enough to write anything. In that time, I've built up a backlog of stuff that I shall pile upon you all in one big post. A few are just initial thoughts at first. I'll update some to full reviews if needs be. Enjoy.
ART BRUT - ART BRUT VS SATAN (released 20th April 2009)
I wonder who would win that duel. Judging by Eddie Argos' mob's third effort, Beelzebub is a dead cert. The Brut's debut "Bang Bang Rock N Roll" was full to the brim with simple, yet ingenious punk rock witticisms. Follow up "It's A Bit Complicated" was dull as dishwater to be frank. Whilst there are a fair few lol-worthy toe tappers here, it would appear the spark has gone from a once brilliant band.
5
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "Alcoholics Unanimous" "DC Comics And Chocolate Milkshake" "Summer Job"
FOR FANS OF: The Wombats, The Rakes, Young Knives
BON IVER - BLOOD BANK (released 20th January 2009)
Fresh from being darling of the uber-indie gang with last year's debut "For Emma, Forever Ago", Justin Vernon returns with this four-track EP. It's more of the same really; the title track is a typical example of Vernon's sound over his last few albums but is up with his best, as are "Beach Baby" and "Babys". Final tracks "Woods" is probably the most experimental track of any beardy-folksy type to sprout up in the last few years. An a cappella tracks using a Kanye-esque auto tuner (betcha never thought you'd see Bon Iver and Kanye West in the same review), once it gets going it's a thing of eerie beauty.
9
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: All of it
FOR FANS OF: Fionn Regan, Fleet Foxes, Ray LaMontagne
THE BPA - I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT (released 6th January 2009)
Or just more talent. It may be snidey to dismiss this album in the first sentence, but it's really that poor, considering who is involved. Jamie T, David Byrne, Dizzee, Iggy, Martha Wainwright feature, all being orchestrated by that well known musical genius Norman Cook aka Fatboy Silm. Apparently, according to interviews with Cook, the album is a "lost classic" from the 70s and the tapes have just been found. I think I'll point out that Cook was admitted to rehab for alcohol addiction just after this album was released. Coincidence? All this album can represent is an immeasurable waste of talent and creativity. Apart from "Toe Jam" featuring Dizzee Rascal and David Byrne, which is quite the choon.
3
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "Toe Jam (featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal)"
FOR FANS OF: Fatboy Slim
EMMY THE GREAT - FIRST LOVE (released 9th February 2009)
Slightly over-presumptuous, if I'm being honest. As with The BPA up there, this appears to be another one track album. The title track is a cute folky ballad, with a slightly odd ending and a blatant steal from "Hallelujah", but apart from that there's nothing else here to sink your teeth into. Just samey sub-Laura Marling folk-pop. Yawn.
3
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "First Love"
FOR FANS OF: Laura Marling, Noah & The Whale, Lightspeed Champion
IT HUGS BACK - INSIDE YOUR GUITAR (released 6th April 2009)
Certainly does what it says on the tin. The whole album feels like one big warm shoegaze-y hug. A hug that makes me want to abandon any sense of professionalism I have by using smileys and emoticons to describe it. C'mon, it even has felt in the artwork! It's twee and I love it. "Inside Your Guitar" walks the line between droney yet heartfelt melancholia and unbridled, joyous dream pop, mixing bits of both with aplomb. "Work Day" is a prime example of this, and is as great a single as any major label corporate indie whores will release this year. Nothing against major label indie, it just that IHB are a rather underground indie band, so hating the mainstream feels appropriate. Should you happen across this album anywhere, from record shops to HMV to the interwebz, grab it immediately and immerse yourself in utter happiness. In album form.
9.5
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "Q", "Work Day", "Forgotten Song", "Remember", "Now & Again"
FOR FANS OF: The Love Language, The Little Ones, Pete & The Pirates
THE JOY FORMIDABLE - A BALLOON CALLED MOANING (released 17th February 2009)
As previously seen being raved about by me on here a few months back. The Welsh trio have the perfect dreamy pop melodies at their disposal, only buried under walls of mountainous feedback, massive riffage, thunderous drums and (just to cram one more cliche in) widescreen vision. There's something slightly reminiscent about Holy Bible-era Manic Street Preachers about the ten songs here, but I can't quite place my finger on it. A more obvious way to describe them would be Pixes mixed with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, if only for Ritzy's punkish Karen O-aping vocals. Most tracks are surprisingly danceable too, with impressive fuzzy bass work being at the core of the album. Hyped festival appearances await, surely
8
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade", "Cradle", "Austere"
FOR FANS OF: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pixies, Red Light Company
K'NAAN - TROUBADOUR (released 24th February 2009)
Somalian rappers are not a regular feature of anything really. But my guess is K'naan wants to change that. Not strictly from Somalia as he's lived in the US and Canada for 18 years, but still, the influences of his home country shine through. Looking like Crabman from My Name Is Earl and roping in an all-star cast of Mos Def, Adam Levine, Damian Marley and Kirk freakin' Hammett(!) "Troubadour" is a fun, summery hip-hop album (well apart from "If Rap Gets Jealous" which Hammett plays on, which sounds a bit like a good rap-rock band (I seriously can't think of any)). Not exactly revolutionary or life changing, but highly enjoyable
7
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "If Rap Gets Jealous", "Wavin' Flag", "America"
FOR FANS OF: Common, Wyclef Jean, Kid Cudi
N.A.S.A - THE SPIRIT OF APOLLO (released 17th February)
If I'm being honest, then this is basically The BPA's album, all over again. Even down to having David Byrne feature. But it's actually much, much better. "The Spirit Of Apollo" is in the same vein as "Troubadour"; cheerful, summer BBQ hip hop, although with a slightly more famous cast list (David Byrne, Chuck D, RZA, Karen O, John Frusciante, Santigold, Lykke Li, Kanye West, George Clinton, Tom Waits, Lovefoxxx, The Cool Kids, M.I.A and more) being used by DJ Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon . The songs range from amazing tunes ("There's A Party", "Gifted") to half baked ideas that plod along with no direction ("The Mayor", "O Pata"). Once again, it's not going to change your life, but it's still worth parting with your hard-earned cash if only for a Kanye/Santigold/Lykke Li collaboration
6.5
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "There's A Party", "Gifted", "Whachadoin?", "Money", "N.A.S.A Music"
FOR FANS OF: Kanye West, M.I.A
OASIS - FALLING DOWN (A MONSTROUS PSYCHEDELIC BUBBLE MIX BY AMORPHOUS ANDROGYNOUS) (released 9th March 2009)
Fook me. I know most people wouldn't be able to sit through one track that lasted 22 minutes, let alone an Oasis track that went on for that amount of time. But this is mind blowing. Okay, to begin with it is a rip-off of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by, you guessed it, The Beatles; all sitars, eastern flavouring and slightly complicated drumbeats. But as it evolves it becomes an epic piece of music, more ambitious than Muse, Radiohead, Blur and Klaxons put together. Yes, it may get a bit tedious to listen to the same lyrics repeated for 22 minutes albeit by Noel, Alisha Sufit (the singer of Magic Carpet...nope, I dunno either) and a creepy young girl. But the swirling paranoia and sudden bursts of orchestral arrangements just keep building on an already brilliant track. This may sound like hyperbole, but it really is an astonishing remix. According to Gallagher Sr. himself "It changed the way I think about music....life has never been the same since" Now if that isn't reason enough to download it from iTunes, then I don't know what is.
9.5
FOR FANS OF: Oasis, The Beatles...obviously
PETER, BJORN AND JOHN - NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT (released 23rd March 2009)
I'm not sure how many of you remember P,B&J. You'd know "Young Folks" a mile off if you heard it, with it's irresistible whistling hook. Well this latest single is a world away but just as brilliant. Once again the trio have dreamt up a great hook, albeit quite the opposite of "Young Folks". The electronically distorted voices slowly worm their way into your head, but in a good way, backed up by a funky bass to make the indie kids dance. Oh, and the video is a work of genius. Look out for it on MTV2 or NMEtv, seeing as YouTube and Myspace Music Videos are being utter idiots.
9
FOR FANS OF: Lykke Li, MGMT
PETER DOHERTY - GRACE/WASTELANDS (released 16th March 2009)
Ahh, old crackhead Pete. The tabloids' favourite non-political-or-sporting whipping boy has brought out his long-threatened solo album....and it's not bad. Not bad at all. In fact it's better than all of the ex-Libertines efforts after the breakup. "Grace/Wastelands" shifts from finger-picking Dylan-esque opener "Arcady" to the dubby "Last Of The English Roses" (which has grown on me immensely and works much better in the context of an album), The lyrics may not be the amazing poetry that Pete... sorry, Peter is known for amongst his fanboys (there's even a line stolen from Carl Barat on "A Little Death Around The Eyes") but with the help of Graham Coxon and fellow Babyshambler Drew McConnell, the album is a triumph. All he has to do now is stay of the bad stuff, turn up for shows and be a rock star. Simple.
8
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: "Last Of The English Roses", "Salome", "I Am The Rain", "Palace Of Bone"
FOR FANS OF: The more acoustic moments of The Libertines and The Courteeners
Finally finished....for now.
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