Album Reviews – Page 79 – The Light Appears

The Cure – Seventeen Seconds (1980)

Posted on January 29, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

On virtually every vacation I take, a trip around the local used record stores is a must. I usually come out with 10+ discs that I may or may not listen to for quite awhile; often they are filling blank spots in the collection. A trip to Portland, Or last year was no different. It took exactly a year to finally get around to listening to the second album by The Cure, Seventeen Seconds. Sharing the same sparse minimalism as the debut, Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds leaves behind some of that album’s punky roots and moves the band into its gothic phase.

“Play For Today” with the chorus, “and wait for something to happen” bears the most resemblance to what appeared on the debut. “In Your House” features an almost jangly guitar line that Johnny Marr would become famous for a few years later. The instrumental “Three” has a menacing vibe that sees the band moving in a new darker direction. Single “A Forest” adds a bass propulsion to the sound that makes it the standout track and “M” contains the most conventional alt rock sound on the album.

Through no fault of its own, Seventeen Seconds is not the record that the casual fan of The Cure would reach for, myself included. It’s good, very good in spots, but with so many other great albums by The Cure, this one will virtually always get lost in the shuffle outside of the most diehard of fans.

7.5/10

Album Reviews

Drinking Buddies OST (2013)

Posted on January 29, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

For the past several months, the movie Drinking Buddies has been on my “must see list”. When I finally saw it recently, I absolutely loved it! A slow moving yet utterly charming and funny movie. I next to never buy soundtracks, last one was Billy Elliot(!!), but I did for this one. Something about the music just fit perfectly with the whole feel of the movie. And what is the feel? Its summertime BBQs, nights at the lake, and weeknight drinking beers in half empty pubs.

Broken up into three parts, the soundtrack starts off with the high falsetto of Richard Swift’s “Lady Luck” followed by the upbeat indie rock of Cayucas and the 90s ska-like horns of Rubblebucket. The middle section is dominated by singer-songwriter (mostly) acoustic ballads, the centrepiece being the nine minute wonder “Soon It Will Be Fire” by Richard Youngs. Here We Go Magic appear late with the terrific “How Do I Know” before Canadians Plants and Animals close things out. If I had discovered this a few weeks ago, it surely would have been in my top ten of the year.

9/10

Review also found at UMFM

Album Reviews

Neko Case – The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love (2013)

Posted on December 1, 2013July 20, 2014 by Michael

When looking at her discography, it is surprising to see that Neko Case has not released an album since 2009’s Middle Cyclone. Case is an artist who often pops up in various spots – whether it’s singing with Jakob Dylan, covering “She’s Not There” with Nick Cave or providing backup vocals for Camera Obscura, she’s never too far removed from the musical landscape. The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love sees Case return to the solo spotlight.

The soulful “Night Still Comes” and rollicking “Man” provide two early highlights that provide a mighty one-two punch. Sung a cappella, the parental failings in “Nearly Midnight, Honlulu” are truly heartbreaking as is the long distance lament in “Calling Cards”. While remaining emotionally raw throughout, a few of the tracks don’t hit with the same impact as what’s come before making for a good but at times inconsistent listen.

7/10

Album Reviews

Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe (2013)

Posted on December 1, 2013July 20, 2014 by Michael

Through much of 2012, Glasgow synth pop trio Chvrches was making waves with a couple of singles that caught the ear of the blogsphere and saw them named as a band to watch by the BBC. When long-time friends Iain Cooke (Aerogramme) and Martin Doherty started recording in 2011 they asked Lauren Mayberry to sing on a few tracks which lead to the formation of Chvrches. After the release of “Lies” and the equally brilliant “Mother We Share”, the music press were more than ready to embrace third single “Recover” which received high praise upon release in early 2013.

Those three tracks form the backbone of debut, The Bones of What You Believe while fourth single “Gun” could easily be mistaken for an upbeat Young Galaxy. “We Sink” is instantly memorable when Mayberry sweetly declares “I’ll be in a thorn in your side ‘til you die”. Elsewhere tracks such as “Under the Tide” and “Science/Visions” show a darker side to Chvrches sound. A slew of great singles without any filler to be found, The Bones of What You Believe is one of the better debuts of the year.

8/10

Album Reviews

Julia Holter – Loud City Song (2013)

Posted on December 1, 2013July 20, 2014 by Michael

In the past two years, Los Angeles artist Julia Holter has released three albums. The first two, Tragedy and Ekstasis contained nods to ancient Greek plays and Virginia Woolf. Her newly released third, and first for Domino Records, was influenced by the novella and movie Gigi. Lowbrow this is not.

Loud City Song is the first of her albums to be recorded in a studio with other musicians and features a definite jazz flavour on many of the tracks. The first notes heard on single “In the Green Wild” are of a double bass one would normally hear pouring out of a jazz café. A breathless cover of 60s R&B staple “Hello Stranger” shows what a beautiful singer Holter is and does not sound too dissimilar from a slow motion version of Lisa Stansfield. Towards the end of the album, there is a Feist like bounce on “This Is a True Heart”.

2012’s Ekstasis’ dream pop was perfect for falling asleep to but Loud City Song comes alive while walking through the city on a bright and sunny afternoon. The appropriately named “Horns Surround Me” is enhanced by the rustling of fall leaves under feet, the sound of cars rushing by, and birds singing. On Loud City Song, Holter has truly captured the sound of the urban environment and is a vibrant follow-up to her first two excellent albums.

8.5/10

Review also found at UMFM.com