The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

FogBlueInSanFran said:
Having been unsure before, and now having listened once, I am now positive I previously owned this record, but it may be concerning that I couldn’t remember. There are way too many familiar riffs and melodies. I’m also pretty sure I must have purchased it for “Cleveland Rocks”, which has always been a favo(u)rite of mine in both this original and the POTUSA version, but it may also have been because of “Bastard”, which I recogniz(s)ed instantly.

This sounds very very very very 1979 which is also quite fun.
Click to expand...

I don’t think I ever owned this album, which is kind of odd in itself. I don’t have it on cd but am wondering if I had or even had it on vinyl (can’t think I would have sold it on). I can’t check until I go to our house again (we are still in a rental due to interminable wait for insurers etc to sort things out). Unlike my cds, I’ve never catalogued my vinyl, which sits in my study mostly unplayed in decades!

Like you, it’s the song “Bastard” that I remember from way back. I have a cd compilation with it on but it’s not that. It is though on the live album “Welcome to the Club”, which I think I do still have on vinyl, so it could be that.

Why I wouldn’t have bought the album is a bit of a mystery because I was a big Mott The Hoople fan and Bowie was my favourite artist when Ronno was with him. I also really got into Springsteen originally through my love of his backing band’s work with other people.

That said, I’ve never bought much Hunter solo stuff. His last album though was my most played of 2023 and its companion release will be purchased as soon as it is released (it’s due out soon). I was trying to decide between an MTH album and that solo album before I changed tack to “Rocks”.
 
OB1 said:
I don’t think I ever owned this album, which is kind of odd in itself. I don’t have it on cd but am wondering if I had or even had it on vinyl (can’t think I would have sold it on). I can’t check until I go to our house again (we are still in a rental due to interminable wait for insurers etc to sort things out). Unlike my cds, I’ve never catalogued my vinyl, which sits in my study mostly unplayed in decades!

Like you, it’s the song “Bastard” that I remember from way back. I have a cd compilation with it on but it’s not that. It is though on the live album “Welcome to the Club”, which I think I do still have on vinyl, so it could be that.

Why I wouldn’t have bought the album is a bit of a mystery because I was a big Mott The Hoople fan and Bowie was my favourite artist when Ronno was with him. I also really got into Springsteen originally through my love of his backing band’s work with other people.

That said, I’ve never bought much Hunter solo stuff. His last album though was my most played of 2023 and its companion release will be purchased as soon as it is released (it’s due out soon). I was trying to decide between an MTH album and that solo album before I changed tack to “Rocks”.
Click to expand...
I thought you might have this album as I know like me you were a big MTH fan.
i‘ve got most of IH‘s solo output, it’s amazing he still making good albums at 84!
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
TBH she might make their music more palatable as the removal of any Yorky influence can only make their music less bad.

I personally own “Loretta Lynn Sings Pink Floyd Vol 2”.
Click to expand...

In fairness Waters came from coal mining stock too. Not too sure there's too much of that in Gilmour and Mason's backgrounds though!
 
Still with a couple of days to go this is getting a fair bit of play in the car. I almost think it is about one of the most "accessible" choices that we have had in a while. Lots of similarities as has been said with Bowie and as soon as I heard the first track my though was of "Glory Days"....and then you realise the studio and backing band connections and so obviously IH influenced Springsteen.
Really enjoying it so far
 
Really struggling with this one, nothing to do with the album as I can hear it's qualities but I think I'm just in a funny mood. Maybe it's the clocks going forward! It's difficult because at the moment I feel like I shouldn't score it because I haven't given it a 'fair' hearing. Timing is definitely part of the alchemy with this thread.
 
threespires said:
Really struggling with this one, nothing to do with the album as I can hear it's qualities but I think I'm just in a funny mood. Maybe it's the clocks going forward! It's difficult because at the moment I feel like I shouldn't score it because I haven't given it a 'fair' hearing. Timing is definitely part of the alchemy with this thread.
Click to expand...

In some ways I find it a bit too close to the rolling stones nomination of a couple weeks ago. Quality definitely there, but I have used a lot of my listening effort for that type on that album. A couple songs I quite like though.
 
threespires said:
Really struggling with this one, nothing to do with the album as I can hear it's qualities but I think I'm just in a funny mood. Maybe it's the clocks going forward! It's difficult because at the moment I feel like I shouldn't score it because I haven't given it a 'fair' hearing. Timing is definitely part of the alchemy with this thread.
Click to expand...
Up to you mate, I won’t be offended if you score it low or not at all.
 
You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic – Ian Hunter

Despite my worry with the opening bars of the first song, with its plinky-plonky piano, I really enjoyed both “Just Another Night” and the album as a whole.

The backing given by three members of the E-Street band does give it a Bruce-like quality, but Ian Hunter’s vocals and excellent songwriting ensure that he makes the album all his own. The guitar licks played by Mick Ronson throughout, but particular on the opener, are great.

The two tracks I enjoyed the least were “Wild East” and “Cleveland Rocks” – there just wasn’t enough going on for me and the choruses were one-dimensional to say the least (although the guitar that opens Cleveland is, once again, very enjoyable).

“Ships” is a nice change of pace and a much better song. I’ve never heard the Barry Manilow version, but this original is superb. The church organ backing makes me feel that a fourth member of the E-Street Band, Danny Federici, should have been involved. Not that Professor Roy Bittan doesn’t do a great job, it’s just the sort of backing that Danny would have provided for the Boss.

“When the Daylight Comes” and “Life After Death” are two catchy numbers, but I think that two of the best songs are reserved to finish off the album. “Bastard” opens with a satisfyingly groovy guitar and the overall beat reminds me of Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk”. There’s lot of special instrumental highlights on here: the organ backing, the guitar riff, the bass and drums, which all combine to make a great long track. “The Outsider” finishes off the album in style, a song that has an epic singer-songwriter feel.

Whilst there are a few missteps on here, there’s enough that I really enjoyed. More than anything, it’s the overall tone and backing that makes it a good listen. It’s a well-arranged album played by talented musicians and is refreshingly free of gimmicks, and it more than earns an 8/10.
 
I think the main thing I am getting from this album is that his voice isn't strong enough to carry the songs. He also hasn't got any vocal identity sounding as he does a bit like Bowie (Life After Death) before moving onto Jagger (Just Another Night) and even squeezing in a bit of Bolan (Wild East).

Musically, given it's session musicians, it's rather good, but none of the songs, although brilliantly played, had any hooks that caught me. It's a very safe album. Nothing jumps out, even on Life After Death which is my favourite song on here, with it's slow start and Sparks like weirdness, still feels a little flat. It's all very similar and yet dull. Which is a great pity.

Standing In My Light is a great case in point. The song has great promise, slowly building, his voice at the beginning suiting the build up, a bit of piano, tinkering in the background, a key change and then...nothing, just the same vocal over and over. Such a shame as it's a tune that needed a big finish.

See also Bastard. Nice groove and then...a flat voice kicks in to ruin it all. Less said about Outsider the better.

Sorry to say but I can see why Mott The Hoople almost split before Bowie fed them a lifeline. And going solo hasn't improved matters much. A pity as I was hoping to add a new person to my vinyl collection.

4/10
 
BimboBob said:
I think the main thing I am getting from this album is that his voice isn't strong enough to carry the songs. He also hasn't got any vocal identity sounding as he does a bit like Bowie (Life After Death) before moving onto Jagger (Just Another Night) and even squeezing in a bit of Bolan (Wild East).

Musically, given it's session musicians, it's rather good, but none of the songs, although brilliantly played, had any hooks that caught me. It's a very safe album. Nothing jumps out, even on Life After Death which is my favourite song on here, with it's slow start and Sparks like weirdness, still feels a little flat. It's all very similar and yet dull. Which is a great pity.

Standing In My Light is a great case in point. The song has great promise, slowly building, his voice at the beginning suiting the build up, a bit of piano, tinkering in the background, a key change and then...nothing, just the same vocal over and over. Such a shame as it's a tune that needed a big finish.

See also Bastard. Nice groove and then...a flat voice kicks in to ruin it all. Less said about Outsider the better.

Sorry to say but I can see why Mott The Hoople almost split before Bowie fed them a lifeline. And going solo hasn't improved matters much. A pity as I was hoping to add a new person to my vinyl collection.

4/10
Click to expand...
As I pointed out in my write up IH doesn’t have the strongest of voices but I do think it suits the songs.Although Bowie gave MTH ATYDs they had their most successful period after, having half a dozen hits.
I’m a fully paid up member of the voice police too and if I don’t like the vocals i don’t like the album so I get it.
 
Mancitydoogle said:
As I pointed out in my write up IH doesn’t have the strongest of voices but I do think it suits the songs.Although Bowie gave MTH ATYDs they had their most successful period after, having half a dozen hits.
I’m a fully paid up member of the voice police too and if I don’t like the vocals i don’t like the album so I get it.
Click to expand...
The "voice police" LOL. I battle the voice police with Molotov cocktails thrown from sixth-floor windows.

Will post my review later tonight.
 
RobMCFC said:
You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic – Ian Hunter

Despite my worry with the opening bars of the first song, with its plinky-plonky piano, I really enjoyed both “Just Another Night” and the album as a whole.

The backing given by three members of the E-Street band does give it a Bruce-like quality, but Ian Hunter’s vocals and excellent songwriting ensure that he makes the album all his own. The guitar licks played by Mick Ronson throughout, but particular on the opener, are great.

The two tracks I enjoyed the least were “Wild East” and “Cleveland Rocks” – there just wasn’t enough going on for me and the choruses were one-dimensional to say the least (although the guitar that opens Cleveland is, once again, very enjoyable).

“Ships” is a nice change of pace and a much better song. I’ve never heard the Barry Manilow version, but this original is superb. The church organ backing makes me feel that a fourth member of the E-Street Band, Danny Federici, should have been involved. Not that Professor Roy Bittan doesn’t do a great job, it’s just the sort of backing that Danny would have provided for the Boss.

“When the Daylight Comes” and “Life After Death” are two catchy numbers, but I think that two of the best songs are reserved to finish off the album. “Bastard” opens with a satisfyingly groovy guitar and the overall beat reminds me of Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk”. There’s lot of special instrumental highlights on here: the organ backing, the guitar riff, the bass and drums, which all combine to make a great long track. “The Outsider” finishes off the album in style, a song that has an epic singer-songwriter feel.

Whilst there are a few missteps on here, there’s enough that I really enjoyed. More than anything, it’s the overall tone and backing that makes it a good listen. It’s a well-arranged album played by talented musicians and is refreshingly free of gimmicks, and it more than earns an 8/10.
Click to expand...
I liked this review but how can a human with two ears that work fail to like "Cleveland Rocks"?

And I'm on record as saying Cleveland is my least favo(u)rite American city. It still rocks though :)
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
I liked this review but how can a human with two ears that work fail to like "Cleveland Rocks"?

And I'm on record as saying Cleveland is my least favo(u)rite American city. It still rocks though :)
Click to expand...

The only explanation is that he has stated before and quite criminally in my opinion that he's not a fan of Bowie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top