It's been a glorious day today - only popped out the once, to the postbox, but the view from the window has been lovely! Have been busy updating (well, changing altogether really) my CV. It is just beginning to resemble a CV now, so I think I'm halfway there...!?
We kick off the week with the New Album Review. Today's band is Polite Sleeper, and the album is Lake Effect:
It's a neat cross-over between folk and indie - neat harmonies, some nice strums on the guitars with adequate back-up on the piano.
I'm currently only on my second listen (despite the fact that I have already bought the album off eBay - I refer you back to comments last week), and already have a nagging feeling this album could herald a few gems once it has been digested enough through the ol' plugholes!
If I have any criticism at this stage, its that the singer's (Jason Orlovich) voice is left without enough musical back-up. When the two support each other, Polite Sleeper have a more dynamic, poetic sound to them (see the first half vs. second half of the title track as an example).
I'm looking forward to getting this album in the post, so I can slap it on the iPod and give it a few more patient listens.
Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab
I'm going to do something slightly different today - give you a run down of the ten tracks that shuffle off, and write a few things on all of them! One track doesn't say enough, in my opinion (plus, also, this shuffle grab of just one song has got me stuck with Katie Melua and James Taylor....need I say more?).
The ten tracks:
Hang On To Your IQ - Placebo
Placebo went a little out of fashion (I admit I wasn't a huge fan when I first heard their music for the first time at Uni in 1996), but have fought against the tide and are still around. I believe their last album (Battle for the Sun, which I own - the above track is from their eponymous album) was financed by the band - good luck to them!
I Could Lose Ya - Stereophonics
Funny - another band that were around during my Uni days that endear to this day! I was bought this album as a gift, and haven't given it enough of a listen. This is a good track - great beat, strong lyrics, and some excellent guitar! Will listen to this again shortly!
The Voice & The Snake - Enigma
First you're rocking it to the 'phonic, and then you're down to this enigma album filler with the voices - not suited to a grab like this, so I forwarded on pretty rapidly!?
Baby Phat - De La Soul Feat. Devin The Dude & Elizabeth "Yummy" Bingham
Mmm, I seem to recall mentioning that soul and r&b were not my types of music in one of the first entries of Menace2Music. On we go....
All the Pictures on the Wall - Paul Weller
Almost half way through the ten! Have been listening to a little bit of Weller (solo) recently - this song is from the superb Wild Wood album (if you haven't heard it - do). A nice mini-guitar solo near the end. Weller is a bit of an enigma though, as I don't think he's got close to Wild Wood since - come on Weller, pull your finger out!
Toe The Line - Trademark
Off a magazine compilation album - electronic alternative. Doesn't do a great deal for me - would rather listen to New Order or Joy Division who do this a lot better.
The Outsiders - Athlete
This is a really good song, and from what I can recall, one of the very best on the disappointing album. Athlete were very quick out of the blocks - their second album Tourist is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the best albums of the last 10 years. This song, with a few more listens, might make it into the new TOP 100 - we shall see!
Apply Some Pressure - Mark Ronson Feat. Paul Smith
Mark "Add some horns, and you have a new song" Ronson - yes, we recall this criticism of Ronson, but some of the songs he has remastered have some traction. I'm thinking, particularly, of Valerie (featuring Amy Winehouse). This one isn't too flamboyant - gets the toes tapping a little, but not enough!
This Boy - Franz Ferdinand
Great beat - FF really rock this short song through to the end (only 2:22). Taken from the album - You Could Have It So Much Better.
Last one - I Killed The Neighbours - Mistys Big Adventure
I saw this band live, supporting Dodgy, a couple of years ago and they sung this song - brought as many laughs as it did applause at the end! Quirky, sometimes a little controversial (or just plan odd/rude), Mistys Big Adventure are a pretty good band, but have never really hit the big time.
So, there we are - ten songs from my iTunes (currently 14,190-strong). I've added as many as are available to the Menace2Music spotify collaborative playlist (need to get a shorter title for this):
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL
Drop us a line or hit the comments button below - don't be shy!
Best wishes, Menace2Music
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