Rating System: !!!! (buy or download this NOW) !!! (Grab a copy soon, or at least check out some of the songs) !! (Eh, youtube a couple tracks, maybe you'll like 'em) ! (Don't waste your time)
The reason I chose to review this album is because it is the album that a) most people are the least exposed to, and b) It sounds very little like their body of work. Therefore, for those of you who may love Blur but want to add to your collection, and for those of you who may have preconceived notions about their sound, keep reading.
For the record, Blur was a music powerhouse during the 90's, churning out a string of top 10 hits in England, and engaging in a (mostly) bloodless war with the ubiquitous Oasis. They are probably most well-known here in the states for their anthem "Song 2," which is commonly referred to as "woo hoo" or some variation. They are credited with being a pioneering force behind the Britpop movement, as well as exposing many listeners worldwide to England's middle-class culture, as opposed to Oasis' and others' focus on the struggles of the pub-scenes and working class (oy! oy!).
By the start of the 21st century, Blur had shifted from a Kinks-inspired pop act to somewhat of Radiohead Lite. However, before any of these movements, Blur released their debut album Leisure in 1991.
The best way to describe the music on this album is as a loose collection of quasi-baggy compositions. (Baggy being a formerly popular style of music in England that combined alternative rock with dance beats.)
The tracks on this album can essentially be divided into three categories: Fun, driving, and boring. This is not to say that certain categories don't overlap, but after giving this album a spin, you'll have a good sense of what I am talking about. Singer Damon Albarn (now probably known more from Gorillaz fame) drones his way through all 12 tracks, but his vocal malaise is rescued by the spirited guitar work of Graham Coxon and nauseatingly danceable beats laid down by drummer Dave Rowntree.
The tracks hang together nicely, as the lyrics seem to form a dreamlike cycle, reflecting the title. Nothing about the album is pulse-pounding, grabbing, or heart-wrenching. That is not to say the music has no value. Rather, the music is made to wash over the listener. It is not surprising that Albarn claimed the album to be "rubbish," as it is not nearly as deep musically lyrically or thematically as their other albums, but I feel as though poor Damon is being too hard on his own work.
Songs such as "Bad Day," "There's No Other Way," and "Bang" crackle with energy and an understated cool, but several of the other tracks manage to drain the energy from these songs and prove unwanted pace-setters, slowing the album to a crawl. Songs like the unfortunately titled "Repitition" and "Slow Down" play as their names would suggest---again, not to say they are bad songs, but they do take away from the mood and pace of the album.
It all depends on what you as the listener are looking for in an album. As a serious work, as a driving companion, this albukm fails. However, Leisure does provide a few nice tracks for use at parties or dances. For fans of bands such as the Jesus and Mary Chain, The Happy Mondays, or early Stone Roses recordings will find in this album a warm reminder of an earlier era in music, when various regions formed musical identities for themselves, and people rode mopeds. Ultimately, there will most likely be 2 or 3 tracks that will recieve multiple plays, with the rest being skipped until they are eventually deleted from your library.
This album receives a rating of : !! 1/2
Top tracks:
"Bang" --As the title would suggest this one is short and sweet. Apparantly written in 15 minutes at the request of record execs clammoring for another sure-single, Blur rushed to the studio to record it. However, as it stands today, "Bang" is a fun, catchy song, featuring a memorable drum line, and solid harmonies.
"Bad Day"--One of the most upbeat songs about misfortune, this is probably the strongest track on the album, featuring a touch of psychedelia (in its use of organs and wah-pedals), a healthy dose of dancebeats, and a catchy guitar riff, the song marches forward like a train on acid, twisting and turning in on itself, spewing tight harmonies and wah-fueled solos. Even our friend the accordion is put to good use, featured as a solo player for the song's intro.
"There's No Other Way"--Blur's first single, and possibly the catchiest song on the album. From the Beatle-esque "ahhhhs" on the chorus, to the dancehall feel, to the swirling organ, this song seems to capture Blur at their most "baggy" and certainly most unrefined. However, this is a great party track, and is probably the song I would say most represents the album.
* Note: the song "Sing" from this album was noted by Coldplay's Chris Martin as the source and inspiration for band's most recent album.
Again, I'm taking requests for albums and bands, so send me some you like, dislike, or would like another opinion of.
Peace Love and Understanding
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Album Review 1: "Young Forever" by Aberfeldy
If someone were to have a discussion about where the best bands in the world hail from, undoubtedly the mobius-strip of America vs. England would unfold.
However, if someone were to begin discussing where some of the most INTERESTING bands came from, and that is interesting without the artsy-pretention of Iceland, or the techno ramblings of France, I would say that Scotland would be a solid pick. Scotland has quietly developed the likes of 80's staple Simple Minds, indie heroes The Jesus and Mary Chain, Mogwai, Teenage Fanclub, and Britrock champions Travis and Primal Scream. Today, they boast the infectiously irreverant Fratellis, among others.
However, one band that quietly has made a name for itself among college radio stations, the bottom corner of rock magazines, and sell-out shows at off the beaten path venues, is the band Aberfeldy, masterminded by singer-songwriter Riley Briggs.
Their debut album, "Young Forever" (2004) is not simply a fun album. It is not simply an enjoyable album. It is an album gauranteed to make you so happy, after one listen you will run out into the streets yelling for your friends to buy a copy themselves. It is the type of album that if listened to in every inner-city, every back alley of Fallujah, and every Somali ghetto, would end violence and hatred as we know it. Well, okay, this may be a tad hyperbolic, but "Young Forever" does bubble with such a tangible sense of happiness and possibility, that you cannot help but smile as you listen to it.
Twee without being sickeningly adorable, Aberfeldy writes vignettes of modern fancy, crafting slices of life and vivid dreamworlds about everything from eccentric old men (Tom Weir) to the fantasy of traveling to an alien world (Heliopolis by Night). Briggs' voice bounces between lovelorn ache on the plaintive "Vegetarian Restaurant" to the aww-shucks twinkle-eyes croon of "Summer's Gone."
Are the songs light? Yes. However, behind that light bounce often lies some delightful wordplay and emotional depth. Recorded in a single room, Aberfeldy clearly operates as a cohesive unit, trotting out strings, accordion, and essentially every auxillery percussion instrument one could hope to find in their high school band room. However, what puts the band's sound over the top is the contribution of Vicky Gray, who provides spot-on harmonies on the album's strongest tracks (although it could be argued that this is WHY the tracks are so strong). The key is that each song has its own identity, yet the album has a sense of cohesion, feeling like a unified work rather than a jumble of recordings.
The bottom line is that "Young Forever" is an album that harkens back to an era when music was made to be simply enjoyable; art for the inclusive, when lyrics were both intelligent and tailor-made for sing alongs. Briggs and his bandmates are clearly having a good time on this album, and it shines through with each listen.
Top tracks:
"A Friend Like You"-- The album's opener, which begins with the lines "I love everyone/everybody underneath the sun/I think you're all the most amazing fun." This essentially sets the tone for the album. The song is catchy, but warrants further listenings before its full value is clear. Briggs offers an upbeat ditty underscored by bittersweet vocals, laying an emotional anchor that helps keep the light content from sailing away into the wind of a summer evening.
"Tom Weir"-- A dynamic portrait of a man known as the "king of the anoraks," who discusses history with the birds around his house. Briggs arrangement and vocal expression celebrate this man who is a heavy drinker, poor dresser, and gadabout. One cannot help but smile, or at the very least bob their head compulsively while listening to this song
"Helipolis by Night"-- Without a doubt the best song on the album, it tells the story of one man's journey to the mystical land of Heliopolis, only to return to the safety of his bed by the end of the song. This song is impossibly catchy, and it will manage to burrow into areas of your memory you thought were reserved for traumatic childhood memories and internet passwords. A gem of a song, that if released 10 years earlier would have been a smash hit across college campuses and folk festivals.
That is all for now friends. Remember, I am taking your requests for album reviews. Which one is next? Stay tuned!
Peace love and understanding
-- J. Flash
However, if someone were to begin discussing where some of the most INTERESTING bands came from, and that is interesting without the artsy-pretention of Iceland, or the techno ramblings of France, I would say that Scotland would be a solid pick. Scotland has quietly developed the likes of 80's staple Simple Minds, indie heroes The Jesus and Mary Chain, Mogwai, Teenage Fanclub, and Britrock champions Travis and Primal Scream. Today, they boast the infectiously irreverant Fratellis, among others.
However, one band that quietly has made a name for itself among college radio stations, the bottom corner of rock magazines, and sell-out shows at off the beaten path venues, is the band Aberfeldy, masterminded by singer-songwriter Riley Briggs.
Their debut album, "Young Forever" (2004) is not simply a fun album. It is not simply an enjoyable album. It is an album gauranteed to make you so happy, after one listen you will run out into the streets yelling for your friends to buy a copy themselves. It is the type of album that if listened to in every inner-city, every back alley of Fallujah, and every Somali ghetto, would end violence and hatred as we know it. Well, okay, this may be a tad hyperbolic, but "Young Forever" does bubble with such a tangible sense of happiness and possibility, that you cannot help but smile as you listen to it.
Twee without being sickeningly adorable, Aberfeldy writes vignettes of modern fancy, crafting slices of life and vivid dreamworlds about everything from eccentric old men (Tom Weir) to the fantasy of traveling to an alien world (Heliopolis by Night). Briggs' voice bounces between lovelorn ache on the plaintive "Vegetarian Restaurant" to the aww-shucks twinkle-eyes croon of "Summer's Gone."
Are the songs light? Yes. However, behind that light bounce often lies some delightful wordplay and emotional depth. Recorded in a single room, Aberfeldy clearly operates as a cohesive unit, trotting out strings, accordion, and essentially every auxillery percussion instrument one could hope to find in their high school band room. However, what puts the band's sound over the top is the contribution of Vicky Gray, who provides spot-on harmonies on the album's strongest tracks (although it could be argued that this is WHY the tracks are so strong). The key is that each song has its own identity, yet the album has a sense of cohesion, feeling like a unified work rather than a jumble of recordings.
The bottom line is that "Young Forever" is an album that harkens back to an era when music was made to be simply enjoyable; art for the inclusive, when lyrics were both intelligent and tailor-made for sing alongs. Briggs and his bandmates are clearly having a good time on this album, and it shines through with each listen.
Top tracks:
"A Friend Like You"-- The album's opener, which begins with the lines "I love everyone/everybody underneath the sun/I think you're all the most amazing fun." This essentially sets the tone for the album. The song is catchy, but warrants further listenings before its full value is clear. Briggs offers an upbeat ditty underscored by bittersweet vocals, laying an emotional anchor that helps keep the light content from sailing away into the wind of a summer evening.
"Tom Weir"-- A dynamic portrait of a man known as the "king of the anoraks," who discusses history with the birds around his house. Briggs arrangement and vocal expression celebrate this man who is a heavy drinker, poor dresser, and gadabout. One cannot help but smile, or at the very least bob their head compulsively while listening to this song
"Helipolis by Night"-- Without a doubt the best song on the album, it tells the story of one man's journey to the mystical land of Heliopolis, only to return to the safety of his bed by the end of the song. This song is impossibly catchy, and it will manage to burrow into areas of your memory you thought were reserved for traumatic childhood memories and internet passwords. A gem of a song, that if released 10 years earlier would have been a smash hit across college campuses and folk festivals.
That is all for now friends. Remember, I am taking your requests for album reviews. Which one is next? Stay tuned!
Peace love and understanding
-- J. Flash
Shift in Focus: Album Reviews!
So, I decided to mix things up a bit in this blog. Mostly I have been blogging about epic tales of mediocrity, listing things, posting handbooks, guides, and bizarre observations. However, for the next few weeks, I am going to completely shift my focus to reviewing music.
Music critique has always been one of my great joys in life, so not only will I be attempting to take an honest look at albums you may know, love, or hate, I would love to eventually have exposed or introduced all of my readers to at least one new band or artist they may not have known, as well as offer a fresh perspective on that band.
So, look for these reviews over the next few weeks!
Oh, I will also be taking requests for albums to review, especially bands or albums you think I would especially enjoy or hate!
Peace Love and Understanding,
J. Flash
Music critique has always been one of my great joys in life, so not only will I be attempting to take an honest look at albums you may know, love, or hate, I would love to eventually have exposed or introduced all of my readers to at least one new band or artist they may not have known, as well as offer a fresh perspective on that band.
So, look for these reviews over the next few weeks!
Oh, I will also be taking requests for albums to review, especially bands or albums you think I would especially enjoy or hate!
Peace Love and Understanding,
J. Flash
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