OK so this is the first blog update for a while now. Recently my time has been anchored heavily with alternative commitments and website technical fuck ups. Anyway I’m back on it and thought I’d knock out a list of recent album releases that I’ve been listening to during my brief hiatus.
Peaches – I Feel Cream
Peaches is the undisputed queen of the musical sexual innuendo. This is her fifth studio album now and from the title ‘I Feel Cream’ you get them impression that she is keen to continue with her thematic preoccupation with sex. Although the content of the album is very much along the same lines as previous albums Teaches of Peaches and Impeach My Bush, her music has somewhat of an unexplained gravitational pull over me. The album sees contributions from Simian Mobile Disco, Drums of Death, Soulwax and Digitalism. Peaches expresses musical diversity, this isn’t an album full of electroclash noise, there are elements of soul and hip-hop. The production is impressive throughout.
Eminem – Relapse
He’s been away from music for five years and he has produced two near perfect albums in Slim Shady LP and Marshall Mathers LP . Therefore, this album generated more interest than a Primark sale. After the tolerable ‘The Eminem Show’ and the utterly disgraceful ‘Encore’ and ‘Curtain Call’, the only way for Eminem was up. Recruiting Dr Dre to produce almost the whole of Relapse was an excellent decision as Eminems production skills could probably be equalled by a dead goat. Overall the album is very good, not quite reaching the heights of his debut and sophomore albums but he is back to what he does best – delivering outstanding lyrical ability over quality Dre beats.
Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers
The cover artwork by Jenny Saville is my favorite cover piece so far this year and the album aint too shabby either. Controversial, heartfelt, gripping lyrics and ferocious rock rhythms are what this album is all about. All of the lyrics come from Richey Edwards who went missing after the release of The Holy Bible.
Jarvis Cocker – Further Complications
Fisrt of all, this album has a distict garagey feel to it and that makes me happy. Secondly, this is a whole new Jarvis Cocker. He is no longer the gushing, nerd-tinted dandy figure of his post-pulp days, he has developed a brand new bag on this record. The album is all about cool as fuck brash records that ooze middle-aged sexual frustration cocooned within unadorned garage-rock guitar.
St Vincent – Actor
An amazing album of brooding dark music that somehow manages to uplift. St Vincent is the creation of 26 year old Brooklyn singer/songwriter Annie Clark. Each album track is a unique, captivating piece of music that engages and demands utmost attention. Such is St Vincent’s ability to generate vivid imagery that you almost come away from the album feeling more as though you have watched a film or three.
Obits – I blame You
There are no gimmicks to be found here. No fat to be trimmed. No over the top attempts at innovation. Obits deliver one thing and one thing only and that’s straight up rock n roll with a lashings of punk. This is my most listened to album of the moment by far. Okay so it isn’t breaking into new ground or “re-inventing the musical wheel” in the bands own words but it is pushing the boundaries of quality music. If done right, as Obits have proved with ‘I Blame You’, good old fashioned rock n roll music sounds unbelievable.
Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care
I love the subtlety involved in this album. It never attempts to do more than it needs to. It feels a little more laid back than their previous two albums. The production is strong as usual, Junior Boys make lovely down-tempo dance music that is dubby in places and displays a variety of elements from different genres. The album is lyrically beautiful, ‘bits and pieces’ has a joyous disco-funk feel and a chorus that you catch quicker than swine flu from a Mexican pork burrito.
Golden Silvers – True Romance
You would think that so many retro elements would make this a somewhat bittersweet listen but there’s not a tang of bitterness to be tasted. Golden Silvers span so many genres in their sublimely eclectic debut album that their sound feels timeless. Lead singer Gwylim Gold’s lyrics are those of a troubled man, the type of lyrics that can’t fail to capture an audiences heart. ‘Magic Touch’ has a chorus influenced by The Beach Boys and a rhythm section that makes feet move. The album is produced by Lexxx who is also behind Crystal Castles and Esser.
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Contender for my favorite album this year. The record will probably be filed under the genre of Folk but it’s much more than that, just listen to ‘Two Weeks’ a track with an amazing lead vocal, hip-hop esque boom-bip drums and enchanting chorus. There is almost a natural, under-produced feel to the music and the uplifting nature of the songs make this the perfect summer album.
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse – Dark Night Of The Soul
I can only describe this collection of music as beautiful. The first time I read about this album which is the project of producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton, songwriter Mark “Sparklehorse” Linkous and David Lynch who provides a book of photographs to accompany the album, I thought ‘what the fuck’ this is going to be ridiculous. Turns out it’s ridiculously brilliant. There were only 5000 copies of the album released on Dnots.com for $50 a piece and the CD’s sold are all blank due to a legal issue involving Danger Mouse and EMI. Danger Mouse has urged buyers to do as they please with the CD and get the music from any of the illegal downloading sites out there where it has been available to download for some time. Legal battles and promotional stunts aside, this is one interesting album of music. Guest vocals come from Julian Casablancas, Wayne Coyne, Gruff Rhys, Iggy Pop and a host of others.
Deerhunter – Rainwater Cassette Exchange
Deerhunter have produced some of the most extroverted music I’ve ever heard from them in this five song EP. They’re putting out music at a fierce rate without overlooking quality. After Microcastle they have a lot to live up to and for me if this EP is the signal of things to come, in particular ‘Disappearing Ink’, I’ll be a very happy Deerhunter fan.
