Doves – Kingdom Of Rust

Close the book now, the album of the year has just been released. It’s just too good.

From the first to the last there’s not much anyone with ears and the ability to hear could possibly complain about. The five year hiatus has been frustrating, but now the moment has arrived every minute of this album proves it has been worth the wait.

Not only have I already lost Elbow to the public at large, but now my beloved Doves are about to be taken. Call me a music snob but I hate it when every man and his dog jumps on the bandwagon. Who next? Surely not the Super Furry Animals. Thankfully I think they’ll always remain a bit too leftfield.

Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid (Album Review)

With Doves continued hiatus I thank the God of Stella for this new release from Elbow to stifle my cravings for the intelligent music they both excel in providing.

With soaring melodies aplenty to accompany the melancholic vocal from Guy Garvey the album provides an immediate familiarity – if it ain’t broke no need to fix it.

If I were to pick out highlights I’d probably find myself copying out the entire tracklist as there doesn’t seem to be a bad/weak song on the album, with plenty to keep new and old fans alike wanting more. A welcome return.

Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (Album Review)

It’s seems long ago since Montreal’s finest, The Arcade Fire, wowed the festival crowds in the summer of 2005 with live renditions of their eponymously titled EP and debut long player Funeral, but finally, early 2007 sees them back with the hotly anticipated “difficult second album” Neon Bible.

Opening with the dark atmospheric rumbling and bleakness of Black Mirror, which follows on the sombre tones of Funeral, we are then surprised with a slightly more upbeat song than has ever gone before, in the form of Keep The Car Running, which is overlaid with a strong vocal, reminiscent of  Joshua Tree era Bono.
 
Obviously not wanting to get too carried away the mood quickly returns to form with the title track, and we are informed “Neon Bible, Neon Bible, Not much chance for survival”.  First single from the album, Intervention, is classic Arcade Fire, making full use of the intstumental capabilities of the band, followed up by Black Waves / Bad Vibrations a song of two distinct halves.

After The Well & The Lighthouse we are again surprised as the Arcade Fire attempt a bit of country/folk in a way only they could, (Antichrist Television Blues), which will have people reaching for their Bruce Springsteen collection with glee.  Windowsill passes by almost unnoticed before No Cars Go, a re-record of the song from their EP, probably the catchiest tune on the album.  Final track My Body Is A Cage signs off sounding like gospel sung to the tune of funeral march.

I can’t wait to see how this new album translates to their energetic live performances and that wait will not be long with the UK tour in March (See here for more information).

Beermat Rating:  4.5/5

The View – Hats Off to The Buskers (Album Review)

In the latter half of 2006 The View quickly built up a loyal army of fans to enjoy relative chart success with debut single Wasted Little DJs and follow up Superstar Tradesman.  However, 2007 should see them thrust further into the limelight with the release of this album on 22nd January.

Kicking off with the raw and ready Comin’ Down, the influence of Owen Morris (Oasis Definitely Maybe Producer) is very much apparent, and as it should be no attempt is made to hide their native Dundonian accent, as lead singer Kyle Falconer wails “I hear it, do you hear that sound” – English translation!!

All the songs that fans have already grown to love are here, including Same Jeans; Skag Trendy; The Don; Face For The Radio and Wasted Little DJs, and stay true to their original demo form.  Over-Production is not something you would expect from either the band or Morris and this helps add to the whole feel of the album.

Weighing in at a hefty 14 tracks it’s not your traditional debut however the quality of the songs more than justifies, this even with The La’s sounding Street Lights, which itself isn’t actually all that bad.  You have to forgive everyone a bit of filler material.

Penultimate track Wasteland is a Jack Daniels swilling party crammed into a two and a half minute raucous sing-a-long and is bound to be a big pleaser at this year’s gigs and festivals.

If you’ve never seen The View live then I suggest you do so very soon.  If 2006 was the year of the Monkey, then fully expect 2007 to be the year of The View.

thebeermat rating:  5/5

The Long Blondes – Someone To Drive You Home (Album Review)

It feels like it has been a long time in the making, but the debut album from The Long Blondes is finally here.  Rather than rushing the album out on the back of the NME Phillip Hall Radar Award success, they have taken time to re-record several older tracks as well as adding to their ever increasing back catalogue, resulting in an album where even the most ardent fan should find a few surprises.

‘Someone To Drive You Home’ opens with ‘Lust In The Movies’ and immediately you are confronted by the masculine vocal of Kate Jackson name-checking actresses from a bygone era – “Edie Sedgwick, Anna Karenina, Arlene Dahl.  I just want to be a sweetheart.” – and the 50’s influence is as apparent on their music and it is in their style as the beat skips through ‘Once And Never Again’.

The Long Blondes have the catchy guitar hooks of The Arctic Monkeys, as demonstrated with the foot-tappingly-tastic ‘Giddy Stratospheres’, but have a more intelligent and cultural depth to their music more akin to fellow Sheffield band Pulp.

The album slows gradually during ‘In The Company Of Women’ and ‘Heaven Help The New Girl’ only to come screeching back to life with the excellent reworking of ‘Seperated By Motorways’ – “In the pub where we learn how to talk about plans.  You stand all dressed up with your vodka in hand.  Oh girl, you’re waiting for a pitiful man.” – where you begin to realise, that in Jackson, the UK may have found a long missing female lead to rival the YYY’s Karen O.

Maintaining a frantic pace the album rattles along with ‘You Could Have Both’ and ‘Swallow Tattoo’ followed by former single ‘Weekend Without Makeup’ and ‘Madame Ray’, none of which could be accused of being filler material, and ends with ‘A Knife For the Girls’.

In all this is an excellent debut release which has a quintessentially English feel to it, definitely one of the albums of the year.

thebeermat rating:  4.5/5

Badly Drawn Boy – Back in The U.K. (Album Review)

Someone tried to tell me that after Robbie Williams the leading UK male solo artist is Simon Webb (Ex Blue).  FUCK OFF!!  It’s a travesty when we have artists such as Badly Drawn Boy, who despite critical acclaim, go largely unnoticed and rewarded by mainstream popular culture.

The album and specifically title track ‘Born In The UK’ takes you on a nostalgic walk through modern British history, soaring from the opening chords of Land Of Hope And Glory to reminisce about hose pipe bans and the Iron Lady, while others, including ‘Welcome To The Overground’, sound like something which would not be out of place in a musical. 

Badly Drawn Boy is truly a unique talent and for a man who looks like a second rate busker, he produces image inspiring songs which vividly capture the moment he is describing.  Mostly upbeat you cannot help but be cheered by listening but with the odd melancholy moment to ensure you don’t get too carried away.  It’s a cruel world!!

So fuck Robbie Williams, Simon Webb and the other talent less fecks who pollute our charts.  Go out and buy some real music.

thebeermat rating:  4/5

Jet – Shine On (Album Review)

You don’t pick up the new Jet album Shine On and expect to listen to anything groundbreaking or brimming with originality.  If you do you’ll be sorely disappointed.

For those of us happy to let the Aussie scamps get away with it, what you do get, is an Oasis tribute album worthy of every penny spent.  Typical Jet heart on your sleeves style it’s full of stomping rock tracks (Holiday; Put Your Money Where your Mouth Is; That All Lies; Rip It Up) complimented by the odd slower ballard (Bring it on Back; Shine On; Eleanor).

No need to say much else really.  You’ll either love it or hate it!!

thebeermat rating:  4/5

The Killers – Sam’s Town (Album Review)

I was sick of hearing about how The Killers second album was going to be a big Bruce Springsteen / US tribute after the UK audience had propelled them on their way to stardom, however any doubts of where their spiritual musical home lies are dispelled before the end of the first track as they namedrop the nations capital.

The first and last tracks of the album are broken from the body by Enterlude and Exitlude, a Beatles like band sing-a-long, which despite being quite catchy is largely pointless.

The album really kicks in with single When You Were Young and although the songs which follow do not have the instant hooks displayed on debut Hot Fuss, they have a more grown up feel, often reminiscent of U2, with highlights including Read my Mind and Uncle Jonny.

Brandon does his best Freddie Mercury impression for Why Do I Keep Counting and the album ends (At least on the UK Limited Edition) with what is probably the most disappointing track on the album Where The White Boys Dance.

thebeermat rating:  3.5/5

The Fratellis – Costello Music (Album Review)

It seems to be a trend at the minute to preview your album on myspace ahead of it’s release.  Following on from Kasabian the other week, The Fratellis have loaded their first album proper, Costello Music, for all to listen to before it hits the shops on Monday 11th September.

Not since…since the Arctic Monkeys, have a band sounded so much like…erm the Arctic Monkeys!  Well Scotland’s answer to at least!!

Catchy riffs and story telling lyrics lyrics galore, at their best you are left thinking you are in fact listening to Sheffield’s finest, but the lesser tracks on the album leave you flat and deflated at the lack of originality.

Already released as singles, Henrietta and Chelsea Dagger stand up quite well but highlight is definitely Creepin Up The Backstairs.

Can’t see much beyond this album for the Fratellis unless they manage to come up with something a bit different.

Click here to have a listen yourself.

thebeermat rating:  2/5

Kasabian – Empire (Album Review)

The band arrogantly state that Empire is the best album since Oasis released Definitely Maybe back in 1994.  Surely with comments like that they are setting themselves up for a big fall?!?

Title track Empire gets the album of to a stomping start with trademark dirty rock beats and is quickly followed by Shoot the Runner, another simple song in the same style we have become accustomed to from their eponymous debut.  More of the same follows through the body of the album with only subtle differences evident of any change in musical influence or direction.

There is a slightly mellower feel to By My Side and finally with the tenth song on the album, British Legion, we hear something totally different from the boys – a stripped back acoustic tune, reminiscent of the Radio1 live lounge performance they gave a while back.  With final track The Doberman they mix things up a bit and then its over.

Hardly the album they claimed, but how many amongst us really believed the self-hype surrounding its release.  However, this is still a worthy follow-up, which shows glimpses to suggest there is still a lot more to come in the future.

thebeermat rating:  4/5