The Album Review Club - Week #193 (page 1300) - East Side Story - Squeeze

journolud said:
It's been a rich few musical weeks for me with new releases from Other Lives, Midlake and the Bats all on heavy rotation and all very good. Add to that refamiliarising myself with my next nomination (a classic of course) and the Jezabels still worthy of a listen it might have been hard to see where Boy & Bear fit in.
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I've also got the new Midlake album on rotation and it's very good. In fact, with it's groove, I would say that that is a very good comparison point to this week's selection.
 
journolud said:
It's been a rich few musical weeks for me with new releases from Other Lives, Midlake and the Bats all on heavy rotation and all very good. Add to that refamiliarising myself with my next nomination (a classic of course) and the Jezabels still worthy of a listen it might have been hard to see where Boy & Bear fit in.

Was there a risk it could have been a much hyped new signing that failed to make an impression, like Florian Wirtz for example? Well, the answer to that is no. It could have been one of those signing like the increasingly impressive Nico Gonzalez that needed time to settle in but this one, like Aymeric Laporte showed it's quality from the off. It's sat comfortably in the rotation without me feeling I wanted to get to the end to listen to one of the others on the list and may well be one that I look to add to my vinyl collection when I get round to buying the rest.
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Nice analogies there, and as someone who moved off of Wirtz in FPL after GW02 and vowing never to return, I get it.

journolud said:
The last time a band made such an instant impression on me was when I heard Woods on a sampler CD and set about hoovering as much of their stuff as I could. This hasn't quite got me doing that but in any other week might well have done. As previously mentioned a listen to their "top tracks" on Spotify tells me they should leave cover versions alone.
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Agreed again, and that was not how I discovered them either, and I too don't think the covers at the "Popular" section highlights them as well either, but I'm happy to see that "Southern Sun" has had the most plays. I do enjoy "Fall At Your Feet" with the banjo more than "Wicked Game".
journolud said:
This album opens with three outstanding tracks. I usually get an allergic reaction when I see a song titled any sort of Blues but Old Town Blues has a great vibe. Harlequin Dream also great and thoroughly enjoyed the sax near the end.
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I felt the same way, and by the time I got through track 3 with the sax at the end, I knew there was no way this was going to be a Playlist play on my part.
journolud said:
A lot of albums would struggle to sustain the quality after such an opening but to it's credit this one, while not quite maintaining the heights doesn't sag. It threatens to get a bit Mumford and Sonsy on A Moments Grace but then there is one of their albums I like and so it isn't too much distraction. In fact it's another fine song. A closer comparison to anyone for me would be Israel Nash, country but not quite country. I think

The other highlight is Back Down in the Black but there are no weak songs here. I'm off to the states tomorrow and hope to have time to listen to all five album on the current rotation and I suspect I'll be checking out more of Boy & Bear in the fullness of time. Meanwhile scoring for this is 8.5
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I was thinking you might like this given our similar leanings, but not the one I was "hoping" for. ;-)

Glad you did, and I hope 1) your travel is not impacted by the current flight delays/cancellations in the US and 2) you are going someplace warm, though by the time you make it over, the artic blast that has moved from the midwest into the southeast will be mostly gone if that's on your radar.
 
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Other than a track I don’t think this is country music despite the occasional banjo. Neither do I hear any similarity to Coldplay or Radiohead. Maybe a little of WOD but even that is a little tenuous. Despite not being able to pinpoint exactly who they were like I do hear such familiarities that I settled into this album like a pair of well worn slippers. It was nice and I use that word deliberately. The songs roll along nicely, the arrangements are nice, vocals unobtrusively nice.
Did it excite or stimulate. No.
But it was rather nice if you want nice.

I probably will return to it occasionally and think it was a good choice. My scoring needle was twitching round the six mark but what the hell I’ll give it a 7 because I’m nice.
 
journolud said:
It's been a rich few musical weeks for me with new releases from Other Lives, Midlake and the Bats all on heavy rotation and all very good. Add to that refamiliarising myself with my next nomination (a classic of course) and the Jezabels still worthy of a listen it might have been hard to see where Boy & Bear fit in.

Was there a risk it could have been a much hyped new signing that failed to make an impression, like Florian Wirtz for example? Well, the answer to that is no. It could have been one of those signing like the increasingly impressive Nico Gonzalez that needed time to settle in but this one, like Aymeric Laporte showed it's quality from the off. It's sat comfortably in the rotation without me feeling I wanted to get to the end to listen to one of the others on the list and may well be one that I look to add to my vinyl collection when I get round to buying the rest.

The last time a band made such an instant impression on me was when I heard Woods on a sampler CD and set about hoovering as much of their stuff as I could. This hasn't quite got me doing that but in any other week might well have done. As previously mentioned a listen to their "top tracks" on Spotify tells me they should leave cover versions alone.

This album opens with three outstanding tracks. I usually get an allergic reaction when I see a song titled any sort of Blues but Old Town Blues has a great vibe. Harlequin Dream also great and thoroughly enjoyed the sax near the end.

A lot of albums would struggle to sustain the quality after such an opening but to it's credit this one, while not quite maintaining the heights doesn't sag. It threatens to get a bit Mumford and Sonsy on A Moments Grace but then there is one of their albums I like and so it isn't too much distraction. In fact it's another fine song. A closer comparison to anyone for me would be Israel Nash, country but not quite country. I think

The other highlight is Back Down in the Black but there are no weak songs here. I'm off to the states tomorrow and hope to have time to listen to all five album on the current rotation and I suspect I'll be checking out more of Boy & Bear in the fullness of time. Meanwhile scoring for this is 8.5
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Good luck with your flights, I arrived on Sunday and it’s chaos at the major airports.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
Not sure why Mumford Sons get such a bad rep on here... they've done some good stuff.
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They were a bit of a cliché. Not musically, but as a whole. Overcommited to the appearence, promoted darlings by the mainstream media, and sudden rise to popularity brings with it attention as well as scorn. As such, it became easy and then clichéd to mock them. A bit like it is clichéd to give Paolo Nutini a hard time for dreaming big. But I agree, musically it is hardly deserved, amongst it all they wrote and released a few decent enough efforts.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
I was waiting for someone to hear the 3rd listed, and figured it would come at some point.

Boy & Bear supported Mumford & Sons on their 2010 Australian tour leg, with both having folk rock leanings, the latter of which are more known for their high-energy, banjo-driven anthems.

That would have been the 2nd opening band that I enjoy more than Mumford & Sons, as I previously went to see the headliner in 2015, and ended up much more enjoying The Maccabees, who I would hear for the very first time that night.
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Objection. They don't both have folk leanings. Mumf&Sons do. These guys have country leanings ;)
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Other than a track I don’t think this is country music despite the occasional banjo. Neither do I hear any similarity to Coldplay or Radiohead. Maybe a little of WOD but even that is a little tenuous. Despite not being able to pinpoint exactly who they were like I do hear such familiarities that I settled into this album like a pair of well worn slippers. It was nice and I use that word deliberately. The songs roll along nicely, the arrangements are nice, vocals unobtrusively nice.
Did it excite or stimulate. No.
But it was rather nice if you want nice.

I probably will return to it occasionally and think it was a good choice. My scoring needle was twitching round the six mark but what the hell I’ll give it a 7 because I’m nice.
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Country Coldplay would be a good band name, for a Hayseed Dixie style tribute act.
 
Coatigan said:
They were a bit of a cliché. Not musically, but as a whole. Overcommited to the appearence, promoted darlings by the mainstream media, and sudden rise to popularity brings with it attention as well as scorn. As such, it became easy and then clichéd to mock them. A bit like it is clichéd to give Paolo Nutini a hard time for dreaming big. But I agree, musically it is hardly deserved, amongst it all they wrote and released a few decent enough efforts.
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Yep all fair points.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Glad you did, and I hope 1) your travel is not impacted by the current flight delays/cancellations in the US and 2) you are going someplace warm, though by the time you make it over, the artic blast that has moved from the midwest into the southeast will be mostly gone if that's on your radar.
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We're off to Austin and will be watching the Oh Hellos while we are there. Anticipating it will be warm. It wouldn't really have been on our bucket list but my son bought two tickets for the farewell concert eons ago and then couldn't find anyone to go with him. We decided to be over protective parents (he's 24 but maybe not that streetwise) and turn it into a holiday for three of us.
 
Coatigan said:
Country Coldplay would be a good band name, for a Hayseed Dixie style tribute act.
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And great news Hayseed Dixie are playing in Derry in Feb. Only found out last weekend and have to get myself tickets.
I was somewhat otherwise engaged over the weekend!

Now to why we are here.... Thank you to @Black&White&BlueMoon Town for yet another introduction to something very good indeed.

I can agree with @GoatersLeftShin as I also got a bit of Gomez from the off but then was pleasantly surprised how "Southern Sun" developed, although I think you were doing them a disservice likening them to Coldplay. Boy & Bear being far better.

I found the whole album easy going and welcoming, I got the "unhurried" comment. I also thought, understated, a band who know they are pretty good but don't like to really go on about it.

Of the last few selection I thought that they had often drifted off with a few fillers in there, or certainly tracks they could or should have left off. However, here I think everything fits together and and flows along.
Well produced and played with some nice hook across the whole album.

First 5 tracks were excellent and then the remaining ones carried it on, although perhaps not quite at the same level.

Stand outs were the opener, Harlequin Dream & Three Headed Woman and to add to that not one complaint from the family listening to this in the car!

It is one of the rare offerings on here that may make me go out and find more of their stuff going forward.
It's a thumbs up and an 8.5 from the Derry jury.

Things can only go downhill with my selection tomorrow!

Now I suppose I better go and show my face on the Gen football thread!
 
LGWIO said:
And great news Hayseed Dixie are playing in Derry in Feb. Only found out last weekend and have to get myself tickets.
I was somewhat otherwise engaged over the weekend!

Now to why we are here.... Thank you to @Black&White&BlueMoon Town for yet another introduction to something very good indeed.

I can agree with @GoatersLeftShin as I also got a bit of Gomez from the off but then was pleasantly surprised how "Southern Sun" developed, although I think you were doing them a disservice likening them to Coldplay. Boy & Bear being far better.

I found the whole album easy going and welcoming, I got the "unhurried" comment. I also thought, understated, a band who know they are pretty good but don't like to really go on about it.

Of the last few selection I thought that they had often drifted off with a few fillers in there, or certainly tracks they could or should have left off. However, here I think everything fits together and and flows along.
Well produced and played with some nice hook across the whole album.

First 5 tracks were excellent and then the remaining ones carried it on, although perhaps not quite at the same level.

Stand outs were the opener, Harlequin Dream & Three Headed Woman and to add to that not one complaint from the family listening to this in the car!

It is one of the rare offerings on here that may make me go out and find more of their stuff going forward.
It's a thumbs up and an 8.5 from the Derry jury.

Things can only go downhill with my selection tomorrow!

Now I suppose I better go and show my face on the Gen football thread!
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I saw Hayseed Dixie before COVID and they were absolutely brilliant. It's a great show and jeez they can play! You definitely need to get some tickets for it!!

It might be an unpopular opinion but I thought Coldplay were superb in the early days. My comparison was definitely a positive one. They've done some decent tracks since but far too often stray towards being "Friends music" recently, plus the singer is a bell end!
 
journolud said:
We're off to Austin and will be watching the Oh Hellos while we are there. Anticipating it will be warm. It wouldn't really have been on our bucket list but my son bought two tickets for the farewell concert eons ago and then couldn't find anyone to go with him. We decided to be over protective parents (he's 24 but maybe not that streetwise) and turn it into a holiday for three of us.
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Austin’s a great music city, enjoy.
 
LGWIO said:
Now to why we are here.... Thank you to @Black&White&BlueMoon Town for yet another introduction to something very good indeed.

First 5 tracks were excellent and then the remaining ones carried it on, although perhaps not quite at the same level.
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I'm on the same page with you there.
LGWIO said:
Stand outs were the opener, Harlequin Dream & Three Headed Woman and to add to that not one complaint from the family listening to this in the car!
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That's the ultimate thumbs up I was looking for, glad to hear! ;-)
 
Harlequin Dream is as far from country Coldplay as it is from Split Enz (Split Enz has wit, people — WIT). In fact, the proper comparison this record deserves is that of a sandwich — a sandwich where the bread is particularly good but the ham a smidge pedestrian and cheese somewhat indifferent, though it’s still a ham and cheese and therefore worth one’s time.

By this I mean that the two opening and four closing songs are strong and interesting despite their stylistic differences, but those in the middle aren’t quite up to par in comparison.

I had high hopes after Southern Sun — anyone else hear the Dire Straits rip before the song goes a different direction? — and especially Old Town Blues. That OTB wasn’t a single tells me either the band or their record company (or both) don’t know their own strengths.

Unfortunately after this the tempos slow and the neat little electronic bits don’t make a meaningful reappearance until Back Down the Black, which I found deep and unusual with a whiff of Joy Division. I also really liked Real Estate, which feels an awful lot like a Fountains of Wayne tune. Stranger also has this intriguing mix of wistfulness and cheerfulness that I found compelling, and a Silversun Pickups vibe (another band who I like more when they keep things sprightly). I’ll also say that — while hackneyed — I’m a sucker for closing songs about going home as Arrow Flight is — Foo Fighters has two great ones; few bands can do one decent one.

Elsewhere I didn’t pick up much innovation, with the title track and several that followed a bit too bog standard for a band that can clearly create some twists on standard sonics. And as is so often the case, I find the trade-off between the energy of the first songs and the slower tempos of most of the rest a bit disappointing. That said, even they are written and played with competence (just not spirit so much).

It was hard to drag a lot of meaning from all this though I am sure more time with the lyrics would provide something, and several references to men aging seems to indicate the band has a healthy fear of time slipping by and death, akin to last week’s pick, but I guess since B and B are Australian they’re sunnier about it, right?

It’s a tough one to score since I dislike giving half points. Normally a record upon which I’d gladly hear 2-4 tunes but not the rest is a 6 if the rest are okay. Here I liked a good half of the record and the other half was okay, so 6 feels harsh, yet it’s not consistent enough for a 7. In the end I liked the songs I did enough to bump this to 6.5.

This was a very fine pick for the breadth of interest the regular contributors have displayed over the years. I hope these guys picked up the pace as they went on in the career — at speed their songs really work. But some of the slow ones are complex enough to keep one lilting along with them to hear what instrument comes next.
 
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RobMCFC said:
Harlequin Dream – Boy & Bear

Two weeks, two albums by Australian artists, who’d have thought it? I bought Harlequin Dream several years ago, mainly based on the exceptional cover art, but I must have also read a review or two as well. Maybe. It’s interesting that a few people have cited a country sound because when I bought this, after the first few listens, I was disappointed with the lack of grit, the lack of those acoustic instruments. I can’t say that this has been in heavy rotation since then, but playing it this week was like been re-acquainted with, not so much an old friend, more somebody I used to know a few years ago.

Repeated listens shows that whatever my initial thoughts, this album does feature some nice arrangements. To me, it’s more of a smooth sound where the stringed instruments are blended sympathetically with the synths, so more a better version of Coldplay/Radiohead than anything remotely country, and Dave Hosking has a decent voice. “Southern Son”, “Harlequin Dream” and “Bridges” are especially good songs, with the lilting title track having been stuck in my head all weekend.

Given that @ Black&White&BlueMoon Town made a point of mentioning the powerful lyrics on show here, I had a quick look at some of them whilst listening to the album. I can’t say that they struck me as particularly powerful, and despite the fact that musically “Bridges” is the best song on the album, I thought that the lyrics were very close to Foggy’s regular complaint about Radiohead: i.e. oh, look at poor old me, I’m a big-shot music star and I’m surrounded by cocaine and my world is falling apart. Still, at least the lyrics on most of the songs here have the feel of something that has been thought about as opposed to reaching for cliches.

There are some other little musical earworms later in the album, and whilst the full song might not necessarily stick, those little crafty instrumental parts on songs like “Back Down The Black”, “Real Estate” and “Stranger” make them an enjoyable listen. 7/10.
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I didn’t really mind the references to rock and roll stardom because they aren’t stars. Being a star in Australia is like topping League One.

The real problem with Aussies is on the very rare occasion that they top whatever is the “Prem” in their field of endeavo(u)r — e.g. Greg Norman, or Rupert Murdoch.

That’s when they become insufferable, unbearable pricks.

But Americans are just as bad a lot of the time TBF. :)
 
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