ALBUMs
- Album Reviews
Here's the facts ; Tony Wright, aka Versechorusverse is an Irish singer songwriter, in a mould somewhere between Tom MacRae and Howard Elliott Payne, and VCV is his eponymous debut album. He's also a former member of 'And So I Watch You From Afar'.
It's fair to say, his new found voice and style have absolutely nothing in common with ASIWYFA, for a start there's a voice, a good one at that, acoustic guitars, banjo, strings and even some pedal steel thrown in. It all adds up to a lovely, assured debut full of gorgeous sing a longs and melodies, even if the subject matter at times is quite revealing and clearly aimed at his past colleagues and (?) friends.
Darkest song on the album is Three, an aching lament to his former band "three against one, ain't no fun, unless you're the three, but that ain't me".....I'd love to know what happened there, but if it produces songs as beautiful as this, I don't really care.
This however is pretty much out of kilter with the rest of the album, being pretty much upbeat and rousing, especially live which I'm looking forward to seeing for myself at the end of April.
My favourite on the album is We Spoke with the Night, a mid tempo, soaring string infused tune, with Tony's voice a little Steve Hogarth-like.
So, some memorable songs and interesting lyrics from a guy who has just found his voice, formerly of a band that didn't have one, making this a lovely debut album you won't regret having in you record collection.
Keith @kjsmith4082
8/11
VerseChrousVerse's debut album is available on itunes
- Album Reviews
Always nice to discover those hard working musicians that really you don’t know why you have not heard of them before and that’s the case with Ash Gray. ‘Once I Got Burned is his debut solo album but much like a Danny Wilson of Danny Champions of the Word fame, Ash has a long musical history and has been pumping out great music for many years either as part of The High Class Butchers or Ash Gray & The Girls.
New York and Austin were the locations for the recording of the new album and the record certainly drips of the wide expanse of the U.S. An ideal album for a road trip or just some down-time listening. Country, Blues, Americana and on ‘55’ some pure Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers blast out of the speakers.
A clean sound on the album from first rate musicians and plenty of variety in sound, pace and storylines on the LP.
Now based in the UK in Sheffield we will hopefully be in line for some gigs this summer, because this is an album that would be perfect for a hot summer night gig.
Pete
7/11
1. Once I Got Burned
2. Two Lane Blacktop
3. Santa Fe Sand
4. Black Muddy Woman
5. Fiddler's Son
6. Whiskey Down
7. The Girl I Want
8. Needlecase
9. 55
10. My Side
11. Waiting for the World
12. Billy
'Once I Got Burned' is release on Luv Rock Records on 29 April 2014
You can here songs here on CD Baby
- Album Reviews
The quiet lady of The Low Anthem, Jocie Adams, steps forth with a second solo album, ‘Arc Iris’ this time having left the The Low Anthem behind to start a new band career.
Jocie’s first solo effort ‘Bed of Notions’ (reviewed here), was a fine effort and with a group of talented musicians around her Arc Iris is a big step up again and something on par with the quality of albums produced by her former bandmates.
First thing you have is the cover art to grab you with its vibrant colours and design which could even describe the music on this double album. It’s a no holds barred, gene busting delight.
Jocie’s vocals remain unique and not something that ever really stood out in The Low Anthem perhaps, somewhere between Iris Dement and Joanna Newsome, the vocals are the engine room of Arc Iris.
Album opener, ‘Money Gnomes’ hits symphonic American territory as ‘Lost on Me’ comes somewhere close to lady of the moment Kate Bush on a piano, brass and violin. A sweet song.
Staves like harmonies on ‘Whiskey Man’ and New Orleans jazz swing on ‘Signing so Sweetly’ this is a well thought out album of many twist and turns sound wise, which keeps it constantly interesting for the listener.
Listen closely enough to this record, you will find some doo-wop, Slide, electric and acoustic guitars. No instrument or musical style seems out of bounds.
The LP’s centrepiece is the epic eight minutes worth of ‘Honour of the Rainbows I&II’ with its shiver down the spine vocals which is swiftly followed by the JJ Cale esqe ‘Powder Train’.
This record should be one of the success stories of year for its originality and ambition. A fine work from a very fine bunch of musicians’.
Pete
9/11
1. Money Gnomes
2. Lost on Me
3. Whiskey Man
4. Canadian Cowboy
5. Singing So Sweetly
6. Ditch
7. Honor of the Rainbows I
8. Honor of the Rainbows II
9. Powder Train
10. Might I Deserve To Have A Dream
11. Swimming
- Album Reviews
- Album Reviews
My first introduction to The Darcys was their full album cover of Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’, which was the second album of a trilogy of LPs that includes The Darcys [2011] and ‘Warring’, which got its U.K. release on Monday (24 March).
The Trilogy finishes on an extremely strong note then. The record gets off to a cracking start with ‘Close to Me’ and varies it’s sound and pace throughout. Second song ‘Hunting’ is a prime example of all that just in one song.
To reach a comparison if the Darcy’s are new to you, I would venture into the territory of The Stills, Liars and Wild Beasts. The Darcys themselves hail from Toronto and are comprised of Jason Couse [vocals, guitar, keys], Wes Marksell [drums], Michael le Riche [guitar, synth, vocals] and Dave Hurlow [bass].
The album was written over three years and recorded in Toronto during the final six months of 2012. So the album was released to our cousins across the pond last year, now it’s our turn to enjoy.
Back to that change of pace, mid album comes ‘The Pacific Theatre’ a delicate piano ballad and dreamy song, whist later on, ‘Pretty Girls’ is an epic of Arcade Fire proportions.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting album; the live show (last seen at SXSW) should be pretty cool as well, now the band is three albums old. Let’s hope they return to our shores soon.
Pete
9/11
1. Close to Me
2. Hunting
3. Horses Fell
4. Itchy Blood
5. The Pacific Theater
6. The River
7. Pretty Girls
8. 747s
9. Muzzle Blast
10. Lost Dogfights
- Album Reviews
The ticking percussive start to Under The Pressure from War on Drugs' third album Lost in the Dream sets the scene perfectly for what is to come on the rest of the album.
Kurt Viles' old pals have created a rhythmic, driving percussive beat of an album, whilst when the mood takes, they kick back and relax, and are not afraid to let tracks drift into the seven or even eight-minute mark.
After lead single ‘Red Eyes’ has been and gone, the pace is stepped back a notch with ‘Suffering’’, with some dreamy psychedelic guitar licks over some Nick Mason style drumming and time keeping, you won't be suffering listening to this beautiful song.
I've been trying to put my finger on why I love this album so much more than previous album Slave Ambient, and I think it's because it seems like everything has been turned up a notch; the tunes, the guitars (Dire Straits anyone?), the vocal and lyrics, and definitely, the drumming. On my 6th or 7th listen now, and the drums are the absolute backbone of virtually all the songs on this hour-long journey. Half of those listens have been in the car, and it's seems to sit perfectly as a driving album too.
My favorite track on the album is ‘Eyes to the Wind’, a gorgeous jangly affair, with even a touch of lap steel and sax thrown in for good measure. Adam Granduciel's vocals hit centre stage on this one, and he does remind me of a young Bob Dylan at times (partly explains why Uncut gave the album such a good review?)
‘The Haunting Idle’ is exactly that, a 3-minute instrumental of reverb guitars which gives the album a short break before heading back into that rhythmic beat on ‘Burning’.
The beautiful title track is the penultimate on the album, a mere 4 minutes, before ‘Closer In Reverse’ starts with what sounds like the tide ebbing and flowing.
So, an urgent yet languid album with great tunes and a blissed out mood and I'd be very surprised if this isn't high up in my end of year top Ten. It's going to take something special to top it.
Keith @kjsmith4082
10/11
- Album Reviews
A new record from the Catskill Mountains resident Simone Felice. Having been a member of the Felice Brothers Band, The Duke & The King and solo as well as playing live in all the above and with host of compatriots (for a long time Simi Stone and Matthew Boulter), the last live set up, Simone played with Matt Green on guitar and mandolin and Mountain John on bass.
The new record has been recorded with the help of the Felice Brothers, Leah Siegel (Firehorse) and Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites of the Lumineers as Simone adds to a catalogue of masterful songs already in his collection.
Still a young man (thirties), he is already a veteran of the music business and inexplicably, not as well known as perhaps he should be. The advantage of that is the he can still play his heart wrenching beautiful shows in quite intimate venues.
Ten new songs on Strangers and the first noticeable thing is a more grittier vocal style appearing on the start of the first song, a classic Simone Felice, sing-a-long ‘ Molly-O!’
The first ‘stop you in your tracks’ song is the third song in, Running Through my Head” it builds and builds from Simone’s gentle vocal and accompanied harmonies to a (headphones) head-filling climax.
By now, you are sitting down concentrating on the majesty of the record; ‘The Lady of the Gun’ has, war, bloodshed, religion and a how do we make sense of all the madness sentiment. No break, next, ’Bye Bye Palenvile’ with a church organ start, a piano drenched ballad, spoken and sung vocal in an emotional song around abandonment by those we hold most dear and not making that mistake yourself.
‘Gettysburg’ is back to the foot stompers of Felice territory. Beautiful trumpet on ‘The Best That Money can Buy”.
As the album reaches the final song ‘Gallows’, it’s one of those songs that far from the album petering out, it concludes with a song of such beauty and intrigue that it has you putting the record on to play again.
So in summary, at least half of these songs are spellbinding the other half are songs to dance or sway to. For the former, you can either buy into the intensity of Simone’s songs or not for the others you can just dance and sing-a-long.
The key to Simone’s music is the stories behind the songs and you will hear those stories at any of his live shows.
Pete
9/11
Strangers is Out 24 March
1. Molly-O!
2. If You Go to LA
3. Running Through My Head
4. Our Lady of the Gun
5. Bye Bye Palenville
6. Gettysburg
7. The Best That Money Can Buy
8. Heartland
9. Bastille Day
10. The Gallows
- Album Reviews
‘A Million Ways to Make Gold’ is the third full-length LP from The Voluntary Butler Scheme, aka Rob Jones. A one man band with some smart and intellgent pop songs that have a hint of Divine Comedy, Left with Pictures and the Leisure Society.
Best let Rob explain himself, “On the last record, I got really into tinkering with electronics,” he says. “For this one, I’ve taught myself trumpet, tenor sax and baritone sax. I learnt by watching clips on YouTube. Even being able to play in a fairly rudimentary way, you can get great results if you can arrange it right. I’ve always been into lots of soul things, roots reggae. I wasn’t looking for slick, ‘90s Blur kind of brass, more that Studio One sound – warm, with imperfections.”
In the years since his last album, 2011’s ‘The Grandad Galaxy’, Rob has built his own mini-studio in his Muswell Hill home. He’s produced an album, ‘Ships’, by his friend and sometime collaborator Sweet Baboo, and recorded electronic music under the name Flipbook, (have we run out of band names yet?)
The record is not something that I connected with imediately but,it sure is a 'grower', and one that should make any summer playlist.
‘A Million Ways to Make Gold’ is released 23rd March on the London independent label Split Records. Rob will be going back to his roots, digging out the loop pedal for some special one-man shows, and he is also in the process of putting together a four-piece live band, with a full UK tour planned for later this year.
Pete
7/11
1. The Q Word
2. Looking for Nearby Water
3. Honey in the Gravel Mixture
4. Brain Freeze
5. That's How I Got to Memphis
6. Quinzhee
7. Believe
8. So Tired (So Tired)
9. No Easy Way Out
10. The Regulatory Reform
11. A Million Ways to Make Gold
- Album Reviews
If Haim are a band for inspiring teenager girls to pick up a guitar, then St. Vincent (Annie Clark) must be there to inspire all the females old enough to buy cigarettes legally and beyond to do the same.
The fifth record from this oddly wonderful Brooklyn lady is one that instantly grabs you. Although this has more of pop like feel, especially in comparison to previous outings such as Actor released in 2009, it's both the funky synths, and the thoughtful lyrics that show a progression from previous records. Is it an instant classic? No, however, songs Digital Witness and Birth In Reverse, have potential to be festival favourites this summer and bring St Vincent to a new audience.
Imagine if you can, a playlist for getting ready for a girls night out, whilst sipping on homemade cocktails of wkd's or something (I'm assured this happens). These songs are perfect for that very occasion. Instantly catchy, and delightfully elegant, you'll be pumped up and blue tongued in no time at all.
The younger generation can have Haim that's fine, but the grown-ups would like to keep St Vincent. Never fear though, you don't have to be a female in your mid 20's having a mid-mid-life crisis to enjoy this record; it really does have something for everyone. Whether it be an appreciation of singer songwriters or whatever it maybe, this record is definitely worth your time.
Whilst only reaching number 21 in the UK album charts, it's safe to say for the mean time St Vincent will remain a cult following, but with some standout songs on this record, could a major breakthrough be on the cards? Definitely, maybe.
Joe @thejoeeley
7/11
- Album Reviews
From the swirling drums that lead into the ramshackle guitars on opener ‘Shipping’, the scene is set for the rest of new Johnny Foreigner album, You Can Do Better.
This Brummie band, whilst new to this reviewer, are on their 4th album, and if this is anything to go by, I will be checking out the back catalogue.
The band are set on dual boy girl vocals, lead boy Alexei Berrow and bassist Kelly Southern who take it in turns, sometimes shouty but often melodic. The rest of the band play the kind of fast tempo riffing which reminded me of Green Day/ Supergrass and all put together makes for a ‘stand up and listen’ experience.
They do have a couple of quieter interesting moments, especially on ‘Riff Glitchard’ (most of it anyway) and on bonus track ‘To The Deaf’, both of which for me stand out when listening to the album on headphones.
‘Le Sigh[ is the first single from the album and after a few plays seems to get under the skin and is definitely ear worm material.
The rest of the album follows the same template, bustling along its own merry way.
All in all, a messy yet tight, blustery yet controlled album, with not an acoustic guitar in sight. It's taken me a few listens but it's addictive and an excellent choice as a Friday night listen, preferably before going to see the band live.
Keith
7/11
@kjsmith4082
1. Shipping
2. Le Sigh
3. In Capitals
4. Riff Glitchard
5. The Last Queens of Scotland
6. Stop Talking About Ghosts
7. WiFi Beach
8. To The Death
9. Le Schwing
10. Devastator
Bonus : To The Deaf
- Album Reviews
The new front women of Country & Americana seem to be coming to the fore this year. Already we have had Lindi Ortega with her third album and lengthy live shows and now another lady from the Lucinda Williams school of Americana hits our senses with graveled vocals, a rockin’ band and songs of relationship blow ups!
Lydia Loveless is signed to Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, (which must be the perfect guitar band home) has just returned from SXSW (where Lucinda Williams was also playing) and now heads out on a lengthy U.S. tour over the next two months.
'Somewhere Else' is Lydia's second full length LP following on from 2011’s ‘Indestructible Machine’ and last year’s Crazy Boy EP. With an exceptionally powerful voice, that you could imagine blasting out at any venue with a crowd, beer in hand, rockin’ the joint.
Loveless was apparently raised on a family farm in Coshocton, Ohio with a Dad who owned a country music bar, Lydia the story goes, often woke up with a house full of touring musicians scattered on couches and floors. So that I guess was her introduction to music as a way of life and with influences from everyone from Charles Bukowski to Richard Hell to Hank Williams III, you can get a flavor of what this record is about.
A Bloodshot Records slogan is “Saving Country Music’” well with Lydia Loveless, they may well be doing just that. So track this gritty album down and you will have a companion all summer long.
By the way there is also a sweet cover of Kirsty MacColl’s ‘They Don’t Know’ on the record.
Pete
9/11
1. Really Wanna See You
2. Wine Lips
3. Chris Issak [Explicit]
4. To Love Somebody
5. Hurts So Bad
6. Head [Explicit]
7. Verlaine Shot Rimbaud [Explicit]
8. Somewhere Else [Explicit]
9. Everything's Gone [Explicit]
10. They Don't Know
- Album Reviews
Wild Beasts Album Number three, ‘Present Tense’ is a record that I have played and played and played. It’s excellent to drive too, to play a home or on those never ending train journeys. Hayden Thorpe’s vocals are as ethereal as ever, the instrumentation is a myriad of different sounds that are so easy to dial into that, they envelop the listener in a blanket of warmth.
The fact that this record can be played quite easily on a loop means that you are always hearing something new and with really no song that stands head and shoulders above any other, you are never waiting for a particular song to play.
With a headline appearance this Summer at The End of The Road Festival, an appearance at the Pitchfork festival in Chicago in June and a Euro tour kicking off later this month, 2014 could just be the year Wild Beasts take that next massive step up.
Pete
10/11
1. Wanderlust
2. Nature Boy
3. Mecca
4. Sweet Spot
5. Daughters
6. Pregnant Pause
7. A Simple Beautiful Truth
8. A Dog's Life
9. Past Perfect
10. New Life
11. Palace