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Mercury Music Prize 2008

200 CommentsMercury+Music+Prize+20082008-07-22+12%3A55%3A29Ronan 22 July 2008

This year’s shortlist has been announced, causing the annual cries of ‘I can’t believe they left out…‘ and ‘who the hell are…‘ Guess List reckons it’s not a bad list (better than last year anyhow).

And the nominees are:

Adele – “19″
British Sea Power – “Do You Like Rock Music?”
Burial – “Untrue”
Elbow – “The Seldom Seen Kid”
Estelle – “Shine”
The Last Shadow Puppets – “The Age Of The Understatement”
Laura Marling – “Alas I Cannot Swim”
Neon Neon – “Stainless Style”
Portico Quartet – “Knee-Deep In The North Sea”
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss – “Raising Sand”
Radiohead – “In Rainbows”
Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – “The Bairns”

We’d like to see it go to Radiohead; they’ve previously been nominated 3 times (for Ok Computer, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief, as well as Thom’s ‘The Eraser’ last year) and have never won it. It’s only fair!

Suprisingly overlooked this year:
Portishead, Foals, M.I.A, PJ Harvey, Los Campesinos!, Hot Chip, Spiritualized, and Jamie Lidell.

Unrealistic hopes that should’ve got nominations:
Nalle, Dans Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Johnny Flynn and our very own Jape!

reviews

Beck – Modern Guilt

180 CommentsBeck+-+Modern+Guilt2008-07-21+14%3A11%3A01Joe 21 July 2008

Don’t let the 34 minute running time fool you – producer Danger Mouse (one half of Gnarls Barkley) helps pack every second of Beck’s third album in as many years with ideas, marrying introspective lyrics on life, aging and the environment with breezy 60s psychpop and beats. It’s often an album with polarising juxtapositions, and it all works almost despite itself.

“Gammaray” chugs along with a surfer riff as Beck muses on the ice caps while “Chemtrails” sees a Pink Floyd dream float by as he worries about “watching the sea / full of people / trying not to drown.”

What could have been stale and melancholic is kept engaging and the production saves Beck from wallowing in his own pessimistic observations- despite singing of how ‘My body can’t get no relief,’ on ‘Youthless,’ the song has a laid back bass and click beat with flourishes of electronica and distant vocals reminiscent of Hot Chip.

The title track deals with a subconscious collective guilt at the woes of the world (“Don’t know what I’ve done but I feel ashamed”), yet the subject matter never weighs the song down courtesy of a toe tapping bass line.

Only the slow burner of the beautiful final track ‘Volcano’ does the tempo match the weight of the lyrics, a song that wouldn’t be out of place on a lost Elliot Smith album.

Overall the shuffle of Danger Mouse’s beats and bass make this a fun summer record, while Beck’s lyrics ensure it one with a conscience. A focused return to form.

reviews

Albert Hammond Jr. – ¿Cómo Te Llama?

170 Comments2008-07-21+14%3A08%3A07Joe 21 July 2008

Can side projects have “Difficult Second Albums”? The concept is one familiar to Albert Hammond Jr, The Strokes guitarist who knows all too well about following up the critical acclaimed (the brilliant Is This It) with the average (Room on Fire).

But side projects and solo albums are exempt from such pressures surely? The Difficult Second Album is a danger for an act’s career – a stumbling block on the way to world domination.

The side project, by comparison, should an escape from the pressures and expectations for career musicians, a relaxed indulgence which fans will approach with the necessary caution and adjust expectations accordingly.

So how does Albert Hammond Jr. follow up his surprise break out album of 2006, Yours to Keep?

Not to well, truth be told. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this follow up, but nothing grabs the attention like Hammond Jr’s first effort: he never matches his previous output, songs like ‘Back To The 101’ for example, and on this album he by and large plays it safe.

With few notable exceptions ¿Cómo Te Llama? is a slower affair that seems laden in comparison with the light breeze of Yours To Keep. The new directions in this record, such as adding strings to his repertoire seem like calculated risks employed to make change for change’s sake without shooting drastically into leftfield; the jangly Strokes-stlye guitar riffs remain throughout.

Not to say the album hasn’t its moments. Penultimate track ‘Miss Mytrle’ holds up well, along with ‘In My Room’, ‘Rocket’, ‘Victory At Monterey’ and the biggest gamble of all; the 7 minute instrumental ‘Spooky Couch’.

However, the problem with ¿Cómo Te Llama? is that these solid tracks are little more than just that: solid, decent efforts and this album lacks any stand out highlights.

Perhaps solo projects can have a Difficult Second Album after all.