Category: Album Reviews

Posted in Album Reviews

Grian Chatten – Chaos For The Fly (2023)

Posted on by Michael

In between tours, Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten took time to write music that would become his debut solo album. Opening song “The Score” is the first song written for this album and like several other songs, the vocals sound similar to Leonard Cohen.  “Fairlies” is driven by an acoustic guitar, handclaps in the chorus snap along as he sings “I can live alone/happy, where I like to be”. “Salt Throwers off a Truck”, inspired by what he saw in New York City, the song sounds like an old Irish folk tale.

Eventually working with producer Dan Carey and Fontaines drummer Tom Coll, songs like “I Am So Far” were written in the drudgery of lockdown where Chatten was “seeking only answer/hearing only lies”. By contrast, “Bob’s Casino” is a breezy 60s easy listening track with complete horns.  Here, Chatten’s voice seems to drop even lower than his usual register to sound a bit like Johnny Cash, female vocals add to the 60s allusion.  Chaos for the Fly is a varied album, one that takes the foot off the Fontaines D.C. gas and let Chatten spread his wings a bit further. Even if it sounds like it was written in a tiny Madrid bedsit.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Kate Bush – Lionheart (1978)

Posted on by Michael

Released just 9 months after her debut, the record company wanted to jump on Kate Bush’s early success and quickly released Lionheart one out to the public.  Second single “Wow” is the standout with Kate just singing “Wow… unbelievable” in the chorus but here, she absolutely makes it believable.  Saving (one of) the best for last,  “Hammer Horror” features a dramatic, symphonic start before giving way to voice and piano but picks up again for the chorus.

First track, “Symphony in Blue” sees Kate singing of “the sort of blue between clouds, when the sun comes out”. “Oh England My Lionheart” has a harpsichord on it making it sound it could have come out 200 years ago whereas “Don’t Push Your Food on the Heartbrake” has a pounding piano and horn blasts. Lionheart is notable for being first to have Del Palmer performing on it who would then go on to play a significant role on nearly Kate Bush album after that.

Bush’s performance here is generally pretty good and the lyrics are mostly fine, it’s the music that lets the side down.  Too much of the time sounds middle of the road seventies smooth jazz that doesn’t contain any quirks or reach for much attention. In the end, Lionheart proves to be a slight step backwards at the beginning of Kate Bush’s long and storied musical career. 

6/10

Posted in Album Reviews

blur – The Ballad of Darren (Deluxe) (2023)

Posted on by Michael

blur came back in a big way in 2023.  Recent sold out stadium gigs plus a live streamed event where the band played the entirety of new album The Ballad of Darren. Alex James’ bass grooves were a highlight on several tracks, as he lounged on a sofa in short pants. The new release produced by James Ford sees the foursome in introspective mode with mainly slower, atmospheric tracks.  Damon’s voice sounds calm and laidback on nearly every track barring the single “St. Charles Square” that shows off the band’s punkier side with shouts and Graham Coxon’s guitar squalls.

First song, “The Ballad” is the reworking of an older Albarn track that his friend Darren encouraged him to go back and finish.  The electronic beat compliments the contemplative track. “Russian Strings” claims that “there’s nothing in the end, only dust/so turn the music up”.  “Barbaric” is a catchy, jangly guitar track that asks, “now where are we going?”.  “The Heights” adds dramatic strings and more of a solid beat from Dave Rowntree that eventually turns to static before shutting down completely.

The highlight of the album is first single, the anthemic “The Narcissist”.  Partly based on an acid trip from many years ago, Coxon adds vocals on the verses before the chorus breaks in with the infectious line, “I’ll be shining light in your eyes/you’ll probably shine it back on me”. The deluxe version adds two tracks including the much needed upbeat “The Rabbi” and a better album closer of “The Swan”.

On blur’s return, the tracks on The Ballad of Darren could use an injection of energy which makes the deluxe copy the go to version.  Some of the songs can blend into one another but several of the singles will be played in all future reunion gigs to an adoring crowd.  Now playing to an aging Britpop crowd, the mature slant to the songs will see many identifying with the messages, leaving behind the cheeky chappy character sketches of the band’s past.   

8/10

Posted in Album Reviews

PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying (2023)

Posted on by Michael

It’s been several years since PJ Harvey has released an album and it may not get the juices flowing for some to read it’s based on her long form poem, Orlam.  Those people however would be wrong. Working with producers Flood and John Parish for I Inside the Old Year Dying, Harvey keeps the album moving with the longest song clocking in at just over 4 minutes.

The best songs here are the ones that reference Elvis Presley including the acoustic guitar track “Lwonesome Tonight” and the clattering beats of “August”.  One of the best moments on the album is the solid drum beat on “A Child’s Question, August” and the deadpan chorus of “love me tender/tender love” sung with actor Ben Whishaw.

The title track is louder with dissonance and distortion before disappearing in a quick 2 minutes.  There is a dark atmosphere of dread on “All Souls”, a distant bass bangs away on “I Inside the Old I Dying”.  On these tracks, PJ Harvey adds texture and changing moods that is kept up through this album. I Inside the Old Year Dying sounds like it could be filled with 10 minute slogs but instead flies by like the wind on a dark summer’s night.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes (2023)

Posted on by Michael

Jason Isbell is having a helluva year.  HBO is home to the very good Isbell documentary, Running With Our Eyes Closed. He is set to appear in the Martin Scorsese movie Killers of the Flower Moon and he just released his new album with his band the 400 Unit, Weathervanes.  The album opens immediately with Isbell’s voice on “Death Wish”.  Eventually strings appear, piano twinkles with percussion bits.  Another reviewer likened it to The Cure, this is an apt description – a country Robert Smith singing of loving someone suffering through depression.

That song is a departure from the rest of the album.  “Cast Iron Skillet” has a bit of a twist on modern country with the line, “Don’t wash the cast iron skillet/Don’t drink and drive, you’ll spill it”.  A warm acoustic guitar envelopes “Strawberry Girl” while “King of Oklahoma” tackles the hard luck story of a chap trying to stay afloat while thinking, “never thought I’d wind up this far behind”. Isbell lets his voice soar on “Middle of the Morning”. The lockdown track inspired by his personal experience is a good one where he makes the claim that “I’m tired of living in the moment and sleeping through the dream”.  An adult remembering that he wanted to be a spaceman.

Isbell’s musical gift is making smart lyrical choices.  Two of the standouts see him thinking about far bigger issues than the usual hunting/fishing/drinking songs that fill modern country radio.  “Save The World” immediately ups the intensity on a track about a school shooting in Nashville and how to process what that means for the country and his family.  “White Beretta” tells the story of Isbell driving his girlfriend to the abortion clinic back in the late 90s.  Not sure if they are making the right decision, he let the girl make the decision regardless of his mental struggles.

Jason Isbell’s music on Weathervanes expands the palette and also pulls it back into familiar country territory.  There are bits of keyboard, atmospheric moments, and several times where he adds 80s rock into the mix.  But it still goes back to the stories he tells on songs like “Volunteer” that tells of a boy being raised by parents who were just kids. He doesn’t always hit those heights but there are enough great moments on Weathervanes where Isbell reaches for being one of America’s great storytellers.

8/10