music to my ears
A girl has to do what a girl's got to do to satisfy her craving for music.In the past four days I've managed to acquire the following twelve albums, all of which are rated below on the Muse-0-Meter (don't laugh) out of five, one being rubbish and five being, well, you get the idea.
Travis, 12 Memories
Our favourite wee lads from Glasgow have opted for a slightly darker sound than the usual sun-drenched pop we're used to. Not as solid nor as cohesive as The Man Who, but the material here is worth listening to, at least once. The hidden track is a tearjerker, so have those tissues at the ready. 3.5
Interpol, Antics
Another stunning album from these sharp-suited blokes, combining the best of Joy Division, The Cure, and the rest of those 80s bands we love so much. The rumbling, funky basslines and spiky rhythms perfectly complement the electro beats and layers of synths. A near-perfect follow-up to Turn On the Bright Lights. 4.5
Depeche Mode, Exciter
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. It combines layer upon layer of pulsating synths and shimmering basslines, a perfect backdrop for Dave Gahan's honeyed vocals. It's melodious, guitar-driven, and yet feels tense, foreboding, and slightly creepy. Best for nighttime. Sensual and brilliant. 5
Manic Street Preachers, Lifeblood
After a brief stint into the nonsense that was Know Your Enemy, the Manics have returned to familiar territory. It depends on what you like, though. Those seeking influences from the era of The Holy Bible are going to be disappointed, for this is contemporary pop at its greatest (think This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours). 4
Depeche Mode, Remixes 81...04
This is the sort of music you'd want blaring from your iPod earbuds at lawnmower volumes, on nights walking through rain-soaked nightclub districts in London, with city lights shimmering in the background. It's bearable, but repetitive after listening to the whole lot, which spans three discs. Some tracks ought never to be remixed as they're perfect as they are. 3
The Strokes, Room On Fire
After having spawned countless imitation bands the world over, Julian Casablancas and co. are back, doing what they do best, with jerky, spiky, garage-guitar rock. Fortunately, The Strokes really are brilliant in creating that trademark sound, and this really is a stellar follow-up to Is This It? Copycat bands permeating the radiowaves pale in comparison. Don't listen to them. The Strokes really are as bloody brilliant as they're hyped up to be. 4
Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters
Brilliant, sly pop for the gay disco crowd, stylish fashionistas, and grotty indie kids with greasy hair. This is as close to a perfect debut as it gets. Perfect for nights in a sweaty packed club and getting jacked up on cheap champagne, as they say. It's retro, Elton-esque, slightly kitsch, with heavy disco influences - of the cool sort. A must-hear. 4.5
The Cure, The Cure
Don't get me wrong - I love The Cure, I really do. But I could barely finish listening to their latest offering after having Disintegration on repeat for the past while. On the other hand, Robert Smith never fails to churn out albums that become truly influential, and this is no doubt another one of those records. There's an obvious reason why they're still around (and one of the most important bands to walk this earth) - The Cure are geniuses, but this genius is better displayed on their other albums. 2
The Libertines, The Libertines
It's a shame, really, how the press chooses to focus on this band's very well-documented internal strife - drug problems, break-ins, drunken punch-ups, missed gigs, etc. There's real talent here, and it perfectly showcases cocaine-addicted Pete Doherty's abilities, being the album recorded before things started really going downhill. The opener, "Can't Stand Me Now", is brilliant, with best mates Pete and Carl chucking disgruntled words back and forth at each other like a grumpy married couple. Which they were. Almost. 4.5
Razorlight, Up All Night
A solid debut, although not as brilliant as pompous frontman Johnny Borrell would have you believe. It's basically shameless imitation of those bands - namely the pioneers of spunky, punky pop-rock who happen to do it so much better than Razorlight. That being said, "Rip It Up" is fantastic, and the album portrays London as a romantically grotty, boozy place where rock-n-roll dreams come alive. I reckon only a London-based band could get away with that... 3
Depeche Mode, Violator
A much more organic, natural album than Exciter, this is equally brilliant, and currently my favourite album. It's less guitar-driven, a touch less sensual, but dark as heck and extremely evocative. It's best played very loud, and in very dark places. I was speechless after hearing it. Frankly, I cannot think of a more perfect song than "Enjoy the Silence" or "Policy of Truth". Unforgettable. I love it. 5
Zero 7, When It Falls
This album is gorgeous, but really, could I have expected any less? Taking the same tried-and-true formula that made Simple Things so popular, Zero 7 have turned it up a notch, infusing more folk influences, more sensual vocals, and more warmth into their trademark lying-in-bed-on-a-Sunday-morning sound. There is not a weak track on this album, and "Home", with its sun-soaked vocals set against a crescendo of ominous horns, is especially breathtaking. 5
[Edited on 01.11.04 - Depeche Mode's album should read Remixes 81...04, not the rubbish I had written earlier.]
L'Esthete @ 16:58
