I think you just called us convoluted and pretentious.Wordy little sumbitch, isn’t he? That’s okay — so am I.
I think this is better song-for-song than some of the other reviews give it credit for. But what’s been done to some of the songs also makes it worse and it’s why it’s leaving some of you “cold” I think. I’ll get to that.
There are a number of tunes here I found pleasant and interesting, and JR’s voice held my attention a reasonable amount of the time.
Rob is right about the lyrics on The Curse and Another New World which are meandering (in a good way) story songs with minimalist backing, especially The Curse, which might as well be American Pie for its originality. It is truly haunting and beautiful, as Simonesque as I think most of us agree it is. As noted before, I found Lark even a stronger Simon comp. This is all okay with me — I miss Paul Simon to a degree.
Lantern I really liked — it reminded me of someone I haven’t heard in decades: Glen Campbell. Not the echoey alternative backing guitar in the solo, but the cadence and the lilt in JR’s voice. I think this is the one I will definitely listen to most.
I was not as fond of the The Remnant — that felt like a mid-career Supertramp tune sung an octave lower. See How Man Was Made (no, thanks) channels much of what is bad about Flaming Lips and little of what is good about them. Change of Time is the opposite and better though.
The drag when I listen to a record like this is that I know it’s going to slow down the tempos and become artier as it gets near its close. But I was pleasantly surprised by Orbital and Long Shadows, with their pick up in pace and lyrics determined to inject a little fun and joy.
I’m not surprised JR is popular in Ireland. Lyrically he does over-convolute sometimes (like my reviews), which makes his music a tad pretentious IMO (like my reviews). But that’s not a big deal (like my reviews). The world has searched fruitlessly for the second post-1980 Irish artist without a hint of pretension (so whoever it is can join The Pogues). As such he fits right in with countless others popular there (even though he’s from a college town in Idaho).
But the real problem underscored here on so many songs (Southern Pacifica being the most egregious example — it’s a railroad song FFS) is how a certain dark brooding English band (who learned all they know from the Irish U2) has fucked up popular music.
I, of course, am talking about Radiohead.
See, the new rule since those pasty weenies became The Greatest Band In The World is this: if it’s slow, sad, quiet, mournful, meaningful, pretty, brooding, meant to be poetry — somehow, some way, it must be drenched in atmospherics, at least in parts, so the music sounds like it was recorded at 2 am on the floor of the Grand Canyon. Else it won’t feel “important”.
Sigh. Any place you look, whatever you listen to — Radiohead is everywhere.
6/10. It should have been a 7.
Oh no, not at all!I think you just called us convoluted and pretentious.
And You’re still obsessed with Radiohead. :-)
I think you’ve made my mind up already for my next melancholic self reflective melodic atmospheric Irish artist.
My pick is miles off yet. Could change but you have me dander up!!!
That does it.Oh no, not at all!
I said convoluted and pretentious artists appeal to you, and you produce a wide swath of them, and no popular Irish artist hasn't been convoluted and pretentious since The Pogues and . . . oh, yeah, you're right I guess I did. :)
Listen to it on Youtube then if your delicate ears can stand it...One problem I have with this album is that it is not on Apple Music and I lapsed my account on Spotify. So on Spotify I am only getting it on shuffle.
When critiquing something like this I would prefer to experience it as a complete album rather than a collection of songs, however that is what I’m dealing with.
And as a collection of songs I have quite enjoyed it. I like his voice. I like the purity of the production. There are duller songs amongst the collection but the highs are very high and the lows are still not unpleasant.
Definitely hear Paul Simon in a few songs. Until when do I have to score this Rob, as it definitely is one that is growing on me the more I listen, not wearing me down, or out.
It’s a very pleasant chill out.
When it comes to lyricists and storytelling I can think of several more to my taste but that doesn’t have to mean better. It’s all about taste.
I’ll leave it as long as I can to score as I think the score will increase rather than decrease.
The new “last score” day is Wednesday, preferably before 3PM.One problem I have with this album is that it is not on Apple Music and I lapsed my account on Spotify. So on Spotify I am only getting it on shuffle.
When critiquing something like this I would prefer to experience it as a complete album rather than a collection of songs, however that is what I’m dealing with.
And as a collection of songs I have quite enjoyed it. I like his voice. I like the purity of the production. There are duller songs amongst the collection but the highs are very high and the lows are still not unpleasant.
Definitely hear Paul Simon in a few songs. Until when do I have to score this Rob, as it definitely is one that is growing on me the more I listen, not wearing me down, or out.
It’s a very pleasant chill out.
When it comes to lyricists and storytelling I can think of several more to my taste but that doesn’t have to mean better. It’s all about taste.
I’ll leave it as long as I can to score as I think the score will increase rather than decrease.
Love it when you talk sexy Bob...Listen to it on Youtube then if your delicate ears can stand it...
Nice review. Funnily enough, although I made a case for "The Curse" and "Another New World" being incredible songs, I think there's a lot of truth in this statement. The strength of this album is when it's played as a whole - it's not one where you are likely to take many songs out and put them in a playlist or a "mix tape".Individually none of the songs are knockouts
There was one song that briefly reminded me of DG. Can’t think now which one, but agree they are different animals.Nice review. Funnily enough, although I made a case for "The Curse" and "Another New World" being incredible songs, I think there's a lot of truth in this statement. The strength of this album is when it's played as a whole - it's not one where you are likely to take many songs out and put them in a playlist or a "mix tape".
But I've got to say, I just don't get any of the David Gray references at all - totally different genre and style, and lyrically it's like night and day.