Album Reviews
Album Review: Grandaddy – Last Place
In the early years of the last decade, I saw Grandaddy as one of a trio of bands that opened the doors to a style of music I still occasionally refer to as ’Cosmic Americana’. The other two acts were Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips, both of which had enjoyed crossover hit albums that …
Album Review: Randy Newman – The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 3
You know, sometimes it really is just down to the songs. On hearing Kate Bush lavish sounding Before the Dawn for the first time recently, I have to admit, I was impressed, especially given how much improved many of the songs were with Bush’s mature and more lived-in vocal. Something I did ponder on however …
Album Review: Forest Walker – UV Sea
Occasionally I’ll come across an album that stops the world around me when I listen to it. The music committed to that record holds a type of special magic that can’t really be explained or dissected, as any attempt pales in comparison to the art itself. What some hear as “noise”, I hear as the …
Album Review: Son Volt – Notes Of Blue
I think if you went back 22 years to 1995 you’d find the running thoughts on the trajectories of Son Volt and Wilco would be significantly different than what actually ended up happening. While Wilco’s debut album A.M. was decent enough, it didn’t hold a candle to the gritty and windswept Midwest epic that was …
Album Review: Pissed Jeans – Why Love Now
Pissed Jeans are angry. I know what you’re going to say – Pissed Jeans are always angry, right? Well, that’s as maybe but with new album Why Love Now, they’ve reached certainly the epoch of their own anger, hate and general malice for life and the wider Trump-filled world. Even more than it’s predecessor 2013’s …
Album Review: Meursault – I Will Kill Again
When artists operate under different names, it can often be more obvious to them than to the listener what the difference is. And while Neil Pennycook’s sojourn as Supermoon wasn’t necessarily a radical departure (with some songs evolving across guises), his return to Meursault and a fuller sound helps to balance out the careful elements …
Album Review: Alasdair Roberts – Pangs
Authenticity is one of the great over-rated qualities in music. But there’s no harm in a bit of study and knowledge. Alasdair Roberts’ route into recording might have been through passing a tape to Will Oldham, but that doesn’t stop him having a more traditional edge than many of his contemporaries and collaborators. Recorded with …
Album Review: Sleaford Mods – English Tapas
Nobody wants to be the new Joe Strummer, or Ian Curtis or Henry Rollins anymore, they all wanna be Gary Barlow. An endless stream of delusional chumps, born to sing, who just want to play stadiums every weekend (even Queen didn’t play stadiums every weekend). Play your cards right and you could be just like …
Album Review Big Jaw : Fort Fun
Clint Roth, aka Big Jaw, is a name you may not know but give it a little time. He’ll be a name you’ll know soon enough. I’ll give you some highlights: Roth grew up in the Midwest but is now based in Austin, TX. He’s one of those incredibly talented cats that can play everything. …
Album Review: The Sly Persuaders – The Sly Persuaders
After building up something of a reputation on the London live music scene, neo-rockabilly upstarts The Sly Persuaders are about to release their debut self-titled album, unleashing their brand of Gun Club / Bad Seeds / Cramps infused psych tinged rockabilly-garage onto an unsuspecting world. Decamping to the Music Complex in Deptford, frontman Chris Blake …