Sábado 22 Dic 2007, 10:53
1) The National Boxer
Whilst I thought their previous album, Alligator, was pretty good I wasn’t really waiting with baited breath for the follow up but I’ve been surprised by quite how hooked I am to this album. ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ was a great first single and I read a review – “Mistaken for Interpol more like, Mistaken for REM they wish” which is amusing as it has an element of truth however I think the National do plough a clear furrow of their own. Fantastic driving drums and I love the lines “you don’t mind seeing yourself in a picture; as long as you look far away, as long as you look removed” and “elegant fall into the un-magnificent lives of adults”. ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ is actually rather atypical of the album which is rather more subtle and subdued but a real grower that gets better with every listen. Like the Tindersticks, the vocals aren’t always crystal clear which actually works well as lines emerge over time and whilst the band aren’t great at story songs they do produce some great, often slightly surreal or poetic, lines.
2) (We Are) Performance (We Are) Performance
Debut album from a Manchester band I think deserve success. ‘Short Sharp Shock’ was one of my favourite singles of last year. Elements of the Human League (mainly the occasional female, mildly cheesy female backing vocals) and highlights include the very Pet Shop Boys sounding ‘Sex etc.’ and the fantastic ‘Rome’. ‘Market Street’ is described by the band as ‘town planning pop’ which struck as cord with me once being a town planner - doesn’t quite beat Baxendale’s ‘I Built This City’ though as the ultimate town planning pop. I really like the singer’s voice – slightly manic but rather attractive. Live performance is equally frenetic (almost deranged). The album could be considered slightly one track and can actually be bit much in one go however the songs are great in the i-pod age of picking a few tracks of high energy pop when you want them. It would be interesting to see whether a second album would see the band widen their scope to include some more subtle material as well. New songs they’ve played live are good but suggest not.
3) Jens Lekman Night Falls Over Kortedala
First single ‘Friday Night at the Drive In Bingo’ is a fantastic joyous and humourous track which I use as my mobile phone ring as it always raises a smile. Rest of the album is equally good. The wit, musical canvas and showmanship is very reminiscent of the Divine Comedy. Jens’ accent is lovely. Shame the lyrics to ‘Your arms around me’ were slightly changed from early versions as ‘I bet that’s gotta hurt’ was hilarious. Beautiful album highlights include the wonderful ‘Shirin’ and ‘The Opposite of Hallelujah’. Absolutely adorable performance live too.
4) Butcher Boy Profit In Your Poetry
Bit of a grower this one but well worth sticking with as its quite beautiful. Hints of the Smiths and Belle and Sebastian. Lots of different instruments including some lovely strings floating over melancholic vocals.
5) The Arcade Fire Neon Bible
The worry that they wouldn’t be able to better or repeat ‘Funeral’ disappeared on first listen. The energy and drama remains but I think they’ve managed to avoid the mushy overload that occasionally occurred on ‘Funeral’ to create a much clearer sound with clearer vocals - probably entirely due to having more production money. Black Mirror is a fantastic track with driving strings and plunky piano but I think every track is good and work together as a coherent album – they really are going to have trouble bettering this one.
6) Patrick Wolf The Magic Position
Change of gear for Patrick Wolf and it seems to have worked well. The title track is a fantastically joyous number - commercial yet still quirky – shame it didn’t make a bigger impact on the charts. ‘Overture’ is superb and if the quality of the first half of album had continued throughout the second half this might have been my favourite but unfortunately its dips slightly. Fantastic gigs at the Astoria (and not just due to the tight shorts!) and Shepherds Bush Empire (with Owen Pallett too!)
7) Tracey Thorn Out Of The Woods
Great to hear Tracey’s beautiful voice again and this album provides a strong spread of songs from some great dance tracks (It’s All True), some fantastic spartan, atmospheric songs (Easy, Falling Off a Log) to real heartbreakers (Hands Up To the Ceiling, Nowhere Near, By Piccadilly Station I Sat Down and Wept) and even a Smalltown Boy remake (A-Z). Cover of Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Kings Cross’ doesn’t work though!
8) Sarah Nixey Sing, Memory
Also lovely to hear Sarah Nixey’s voice again and whilst I was slightly worried what would emerge without Haines and Moore’s lyrics, her first solo album offers a suite of songs which are more commercial sounding and less dark than Black Box Recorder but complement and continue her stylish, glacial persona. Some rather catchy dance tracks such as singles ‘Strangelove’ and ‘The Collector’. The Human League cover ‘The Black Hit Of Space’ took a while to grow on me but I love it now.
9) Rufus Wainwright Release The Stars
When I heard the lead single ‘Going To Town’ I thought it was the best thing Rufus has done - beautifully sung, subtle and poignant and one of his best lyrics. So at first I was a bit disappointed with the album and even now I don’t think its better than either of the ‘Want’ albums. However after seeing a couple of the Old Vic shows I’ve warmed considerably to it. ‘Tiergarten’, ‘Slideshow’, ‘Between My Legs’ and ‘Do I Disappoint You’ stand out for me.
10) Swimmer One Regional Variations
Literate electro pop. ‘A Petrol Pump in the Cradle of Christianity’ is unlikely to be a song title anyone else was competing to use but it characterises how Swimmer One are doing their own thing and sometimes putting lyrics ahead of the tune. ‘Regional’ ‘The Dark Ages’ and ‘The Fakester Genocide’ are the best tracks but I do think they’ve got the ability to produce a much better album in the future. Indeed their first two singles are catchier than these album tracks without compromising the lyrics. Their live performance is considerably more confident this year than last year.
11) To My Boy Messages
Manic energy which reminds me of Sparks. ‘Fear of Fragility’ and ‘The Outer Regions’ are great singles but the whole album has an addictive energy that is very compulsive.
12) Interpol Our Love to Admire
Like both their earlier albums, I tend to find there are a handful of really excellent tracks and a number that don’t really do it for me. ‘Pace is the Trick’ is one of their best ever – also like The Heinrich Maneuver. Lyrically I don’t think they are that good but really it’s the vocals and driving force of the sound that do it for them.
13) Editors An End Has A Start
Like Interpol, the lyrics aren't great but you can just about pretend they are OK by the strength of performance. The track ‘An End has a start’ stands out clearly Morrissey’s influence on the key lyric is clear.
14) Beirut The Flying Club Cup
Anything Owen Pallett has an input into is likely to be good and this is no exception. Elements of Jacques Brel and early Marc Almond. Cliquot and Nantes being particularly good. Jaunty seems the best description.
15) Bloc Party A Weekend in The City
I was never a great fan of Bloc Party although did like ‘This Modern Love’ after Final Fantasy covered it. I think this is far better than their earlier albums though so I’m fully converted now although still can’t see why Helicopter is so popular.
16) Klaxons Myths Of The Near Future
Nothing particularly ground breaking but some rather catchy, energetic pop (or is it Nu Rave!) songs. I think ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’ and ‘Golden Skans’ are perfect little singles. I’ve read reviews where their lyrics have been highly praised but I think this must be in relation to their contemporaries as I can’t notice anything particularly great.
17) Brett Anderson Brett Anderson
Brett’s first solo album got rather a slating in the music press and there are undoubtedly a few duff tracks however I think Love is Dead, To The Winter and Infinite Kiss are some of his best tracks. I actually think B side ‘We Can Be Anyone’ is even better than the album tracks. Vocally he seems to be on top form and whilst its true that there is the occasional cringey lyric I think he’s always had that habit and it doesn’t detract too much. The Live recording of his Queen Elizabeth Hall gig is rather good – some good reworkings of Suede songs with lovely string backing.
18) Alison Moyet The Turn
The first three tracks are stunning and whilst it dips in quality a bit towards the end, overall I think its one of Alison’s best albums.
19) Cult With No Name Paper Wraps Stone
Quite minimal piano ballads which take a while to sink in but become surprisingly addictive. Vocals remind me of Jack’s Anthony Reynolds.
20) Marc Almond Stardom Road
Slightly disappointed by this. Marc has always been a fantastic translator of other people’s songs particularly torch songs therefore I was looking forward to an album of his favourite covers. Whilst Aznavour’s ‘I have Lived’ is in line with my high expectations and Marc’s voice is in fine form I just think the choice of songs and arrangements mean the album doesn’t fully hit the mark. I’m a big Sarah Cracknell fan as well but I think they were never going to better Dusty Springfield’s version of ‘I Close My Eyes and Count To Ten.’ Similarly tackling Gene Pitney’s ‘Backstage’ was always going to be a challenge and it comes nowhere near. Bowie’s ‘London Boys’ is similarly better suited to Bowie in his best Anthony Newley voice. Bowie’s ‘London Boys’ is similarly better suited to Bowie in his best Anthony Newley voice. ‘Strangers in the Night’ and ‘Happy Heart’ have been covered to death. Whilst I understand Marc had a reasonable budget for an orchestra for this album many of the songs he covers were done in the days when artists could really push the boat out on full orchestral making modern version pall in comparison. That said ‘Kitsch’ is rather good, as is the only self-penned tune. I saw Marc at one of his nights at Wiltons Hall and he was fantastic doing a number of really strong covers songs – more obscure songs but ones which suit Marc perfectly – an album of such songs would have made a much better album.
Anthony Reynolds’ new album might have been included but it hasn’t arrived yet. Looking ahead to 2008, I think British Sea Power are first up with albums also expected by Morrissey, Sparks and the Long Blondes. No doubt ultimately disappointing there will also be new albums by some of my 80s favourites including the Blow Monkeys and ABC. Luxembourg are likely to be a highlight given the quality of the new songs they’ve been playing live like London is Blue and the Beast in the jungle.