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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
REVIEWS
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CD Reviews
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Donald Fagen. Morph The Cat.
 Reprise Records. Running time: 52:53
Well up to the standard of his outstanding “Nightfly” album, this is what
you would expect from the Steely Dan keyboarder. Immaculately produced jazz-pop
with a dash of blues, pithy lyrics, cool vocals and excellent
instrumentation. The album gets off to a great start with the title track which
is reprised
at the end of the disc.
The story of a giant ethereal cat who floats down on
Manhattan, it sets the tone for a rewarding album. In fact every track tells
a story: “H Gang” tells of the rise and fall of a band, “ What I Do” is an
imaginary conversation between a younger Donald and Ray Charles, and “Security
Joan” concerns a romantic interlude with a security babe at Laguardia airport.
An intriguing record full of wit and insight.
Howe Gelb. ‘Sno Angel Like You.
 Thrill Jockey Records. Running
time: 45:04
Howe Gelb of Giant Sand has come up with an original and highly
uplifting
album. The man from Arizona has allied his wry alt country style with the voices
of the gospel choir Voices of Praise from Canada. Apparently the choir were
added later, but you wouldn’t think so - the whole album sounds totally
spontaneous as if it was recorded in one take in Howe’s Arizona living room. It
was
actually recorded in Ottawa with drummer Jeremy Gara of Arcade Fire, plus
Dave Draves and Fred Guignon, and gets off to a splendid start with the rolling
“Get To Leave.” Although it’s got a gospel feel its definitely a Howe Gelb
record - tuneful, quirky and atmospheric. There are seven new songs written
with the choir in mind and a trio of Giant Sand tunes and three songs by the
late Rainer Ptacek, including the classic “Worried Spirits.” It’s an album
full of highlights - I particularly liked "That's How Things Get Done," with its
chaotic distorted guitars and the rollicking “I Did Not.” A breathtaking
slice of Americana, which is probably the most accessible thing that Howe has
done. Excellent.
Soledad Brothers. The Hardest Walk.
 Loog
Records. Running time: 59:40
An American band from Detroit with 12 tracks of meaty blues-boogie which gets
off to a rattling start with “Truth or Consequences” and “Downtown Paranoia
Blues.”
And the pace is pretty relentless for the rest of an excellent
album. Full of riffy guitar reminiscent of early Rolling Stones and heightened
by some sleazy sax from Oliver Henry, the album is full of great vocals by
frontman who apparently poured his heart into these songs after the collapse of
a long-term relationship.
Not a dud track here - highlights include “White Jazz” and “Mean
Ol Toledo.” Highly recommended to fans of gutsy, gritty, blues-rock.
SINGLE REVIEWS BY MARTIN
SIRL:
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by
Journey South
Insipid reworking of a much-covered Ewan MacColl classic. Journey South are
clearly talented as well as pretty, but short-cuts to success tend often to
stall due to an over-reliance on cover versions (see Gareth Gates, Robson &
Jerome for more information). It'll be their ability to uncover quality new
material which will determine whether this particular journey south is a one-way
trip to stardom or just a day return to the Isle Of Wight.
Stupid Girls by Pink
Punchy, dance-orientated pop in which Pink takes a sideways swipe at American
valley girl culture. Lyrically astute ("What happened to the dreams of a girl
president, she's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent") and admirable in
sentiment, but musically this pushes no barriers. I suspect only existing Pink
devotees will be donning their trainers and rushing out to buy a copy.
Two Stripe Trainers/Taking Your Best Mate's Girl To The Pictures by The Randoms
Silly
but enjoyable nonsense from surf rockers, The Randoms. Two Stripe Trainers is a
boppy chunk of guitar pop with just the tiniest hint of seventies glam. But
Taking Your Best Mate's Girl is arguably the more interesting track; a
half-spoken narrative on the dangers of sharing a girlfriend coming in somewhere
between The Streets and Jilted John. The Randoms hail from Wigan and, like their
football team, are a breath of fresh air.
Lie To Me by Daniel Powter
A deceptively catchy, country-tinged number by the up and coming Canadian
singer-songwriter that is sure to build on the success of last year's Bad Day.
It's easy to pigeonhole Powter alongside other members of that current wave of
singer-songwriters which includes James Blunt and Jack Johnson. Yet Powter
demonstrates both a Randy Newman-style craftsmanship and a keen eye for a tune
that could well provide him with more staying power than the rest.
Suzie by Boy Kill Boy
London's Boy Kill Boy are rapidly gaining a reputation in the capital as ones to
watch. However, on this showing one would have to assume that reputation is
based predominantly on their live outings because Suzie is nothing more than a
monotonous, Supergrass-style thrash that promises much but delivers little. With
a debut album due out in the next few weeks judgement remains well and truly
reserved. In the meantime, you can catch the aforementioned stage show at
Portsmouth Pyramids in May.
Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy's debut album, From Under The Cork Tree, contained many clever and
interesting songs, but sadly this isn't one of them. Dance Dance will receive
masses of air play and, if their recent sell-out tour is anything to go by, will
shift by the bucket load. But ultimately this is only memorable for the speed
with which it is forgotten. Dance Dance? If it's all the same with you, I think
I'll sit this one out.
Bang Bang You're Dead by Dirty Pretty Things
Glorious, shambolic indie pop by band fronted by former Libertines guitarist
Carl Barat. Ragged guitars and Barat's nasal vocals combine to create a
delicious slice of throwaway pop of the kind Blur used to do so well before they
got clever. Dirty and pretty at the same time, and hits the spot first time out.
Look out for their forthcoming appearance at Southampton University on 5th May.
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