The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

threespires said:
They can write a decent pop song and Alright has weathered the years very well as has some of the others which I remembered. Every now and then they get a bit danceable which will always be my preference to singing along with my hands in the air. I dare say I'd probably prefer the support to the main act!

Have played it more than the standard 3 times in the car and though I might not seek it out, I'll happily listen to it again. 6/10.
Click to expand...
The simple fact that you played it more than the "required" 3 listens I think shows that it is a good choice. Something that you find enjoyable and it isnt in any way a "chore"
 
mrbelfry said:
Is it not better that I decide to like something than just be at the whim of fate or some randos collection of notes. Leaving it up to chance results in people like Robbie Williams having a career. No thank you
Click to expand...
Leaving it to chance can actually sometimes be a good thing.
Passing some time between flights on a night shift I was flicking through social media and an artist popped up that I had never heard of...and it actually made me want to listen to more of their stuff. To such a degree I am actually tempted to nominate them as my next choice. Hopefully with a better response than to Sleep Token.
 
LGWIO said:
Leaving it to chance can actually sometimes be a good thing.
Passing some time between flights on a night shift I was flicking through social media and an artist popped up that I had never heard of...and it actually made me want to listen to more of their stuff. To such a degree I am actually tempted to nominate them as my next choice. Hopefully with a better response than to Sleep Token.
Click to expand...
I wasn't being entirely serious in my post. I do also enjoy the random discoveries which is why I enjoy this thread so much. I do think though we can like something if we decide we do or if we associate it with a happy memory
 
mrbelfry said:
everyone does apparently. most played songs at funerals. Actually was released on my birthday I think
Click to expand...

I read recently that the Irish bloke who's always claimed he wrote William's bits is now going to court over it.

I think of the secular funeral 'classics' the only one that really appeals to me is What a Wonderful World.
 
All Change - Cast

I've already been on record this was a new artist for me with my nomination day background. 0 for 3 on those clues told me I was correct to sit that one out.

I was hoping to be the first one to note the similar sound of a band I did very much enjoy back in the late '90's, but @bennyboy already caught that comparison in noting two albums I was very fond of back then, released later. The standout song from the early ones was the one Rob noted he liked, and "Sandstorm" did deliver. After a few listens, I was hearing another song very familiar to this, and after some Northern Soul searching, I recognized that the later song "Lucky Man" off of The Verve's Urban Hymns really sounded like a slowed down version of the verses to this. But Cast came first, so good on them.

This is a straightforward rock and power pop band that musically sounded consistent and enjoyable song over song. Cast's sound definitely took me back to the late 60s and early 70s of the straight-on rock from that period I've recently enjoyed on the Rock Evolution thread. Songs like "Promised Land" and "Mankind" especially had that The Who-like vibe for me, with a continued strong guitar sound. If I were to be critical, it would probably be in the vocal department from John Power's sound, but that was because the music and guitars were so much more stronger and pronounced.

One of the strong songs on the album was supposedly not a hit, but "Tell It Like It Is" really worked musically for me with a psychedelic heavy guitars lean, and the background harmonies throughout were a nice touch. I enjoyed that one all throughout each play. "Finetime" was another obvious hit, and it reminded me musically of Guns 'N' Roses "Paradise City" released eight years prior, but it wasn't that overt that took away from my enjoyment of it.

"Walkaway" is that straight up power ballad that always has you looking for the lyrical meaning within with that acoustic guitar led sound. After hearing it, I think I'll be playing this song first on my retirement day on my new playlist I just started with this track as the BlueMoon/BH85 homage opener:

If you've proved all there is to prove
Got nothing left to use
Walkaway, walkaway
If you've done, all there is to do
There ain't nothing left for you
Just walkaway, walkaway, walkaway

"Reflections" was a straight up rocker and doesn't miss a beat in another underrated non-single from this album. Yes, I'm asking how did I never hear these guys before??? (yet already knowing the how and why of how music was delivered and consumed back then)

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "History" for being the change-up (sorry Blues, I'm also currently watching NLDS Phillies baseball tonight) I didn't see coming. That was quite a reverb opening guitar effect and very catchy beat going on that got better as it went along with the guitars again taking center stage.

I will admit the favourite albums here for me are the ones I didn't know of and found I could really enjoy and appreciate. All in all, Cast delivers on this release and most of the tracks were ones I could get up and move to. I'll give credit to @BlueHammer85's consistent taste in 90's Britpop music in delivering another find for me in this band, of which I plan to listen to more from them. I'm going to split the difference in BH85's FLP score and mine (/10) from this past GW7 as he looks up to me in our mini-league and go with a 8.0/10 as some quite enjoyable listens to a fine finish before the international break.
 
I'm slightly confounded. Having nailed my colours to the mast as soon as this was nominated, well maybe draped them loosely, by saying that I always thought of Cast as being a level below the main britpop players I spent the frst two or three listens thinking I really need to find something to justify that casual dismissal. I wasn't alone in that summmary though.

But then I think, who were the main players in Britpop. Oasis, Suede, Pulp? Oasis became a level below themselves 3 or 4 albums in and Pulp are another enigma to me. You know what I think of Suede...

So, perhaps Britpop was more of a level playing field than I gave it credit for. Certainly this album is better than I gave it credit for. And yet there is still that niggle that I can't put my finger on. Is it the singing? You can't really tell that he's a scouser and anyway I didn't hate them then like I do now (sorry @LGWIO it has become a bit more tribal over the years) so that can't have accounted for the seed that was sown. Is it something in the sound and the song structure? @mrbelfry gave a good summary of this in ways that I wouldn't have been able to articulate.

No, really, it's none of those things. I've got to face it, there's nothing wrong with this album and once I'd come to accept that fact and just listen without prejudice I got along with it fine. Not to say it's perfect but there are no skippable tracks and some very good ones. Four Walls is the standout for me, Walkaway has possibly been a little overexposed. At a little over an hour this is either very good value or just a tad too long but as I come to the scoring the mental gymnastics are back in play. Something won't let me give it an 8 so it will have to be a 7. It's been good to give Cast another listen though.
 
LGWIO said:
The simple fact that you played it more than the "required" 3 listens I think shows that it is a good choice. Something that you find enjoyable and it isnt in any way a "chore"
Click to expand...

Indeed and as the other scores come in I'm wondering if I've actually underscored something for a change, though I'll stick with my score.

Either way it looks like it's landing well and seeing a band get a bit of a retrospective reappraisal in people's minds is the kind of thing that makes a nomination a great success.
 
journolud said:
I'm slightly confounded. Having nailed my colours to the mast as soon as this was nominated, well maybe draped them loosely, by saying that I always thought of Cast as being a level below the main britpop players I spent the frst two or three listens thinking I really need to find something to justify that casual dismissal. I wasn't alone in that summmary though.

But then I think, who were the main players in Britpop. Oasis, Suede, Pulp? Oasis became a level below themselves 3 or 4 albums in and Pulp are another enigma to me. You know what I think of Suede...

So, perhaps Britpop was more of a level playing field than I gave it credit for. Certainly this album is better than I gave it credit for. And yet there is still that niggle that I can't put my finger on. Is it the singing? You can't really tell that he's a scouser and anyway I didn't hate them then like I do now (sorry @LGWIO it has become a bit more tribal over the years) so that can't have accounted for the seed that was sown. Is it something in the sound and the song structure? @mrbelfry gave a good summary of this in ways that I wouldn't have been able to articulate.

No, really, it's none of those things. I've got to face it, there's nothing wrong with this album and once I'd come to accept that fact and just listen without prejudice I got along with it fine. Not to say it's perfect but there are no skippable tracks and some very good ones. Four Walls is the standout for me, Walkaway has possibly been a little overexposed. At a little over an hour this is either very good value or just a tad too long but as I come to the scoring the mental gymnastics are back in play. Something won't let me give it an 8 so it will have to be a 7. It's been good to give Cast another listen though.
Click to expand...
It's not really a long album, it's about 43 minutes with a load of silence in that hidden track nonsense, which I never understand why bands/record companies do.
 
I don’t recall ever hearing of Cast before, and until Walkaway came on there was nothing that rang a bell.

It’s probably a bit too Britpop era for me to have really picked up on - I blame the kids (well my kids anyway) and my age.

That said, there is nothing which really got my torpedo tubes warming up. Decent vocals and proper instruments. There isn’t much style wise I’ve not heard before, but that’s not this picks fault, as it goes back a while.

A tad poppy in places, but that’s more than offset by some decent electric belt it out tunes. Solid 7/10 for me.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
View attachment 171087

Cast - All Change

Sorry, another Britpop pick.

This time Cast - I was surprised at the recent Oasis gigs how many had never heard of them before -I've gone with their 1995 debut 'All Change' - It's got so many bouncy indie pop numbers, especially the singles 'Alright', 'Sandstorm' and 'Finetime' , the stand out slow one 'Walkaway' you will likely recognize.
Front man John Power was the bassist and backing vocalist for The La's before forming this band.
Watching them again at Wembley recently bought back a lot of 90's nostalgia and they sounded great.
Feel free to knock a point off for being a bunch of scousers. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

I never paid them much attention before. Wasn't a big fan of much Britpop but I did make a point of getting to the Oasis gig I attended in time to see them. They were ok but the level went up a few notches when Ashcroft took the stage and Oasis were just off the scale.

I liked this album more than I expected to. The standard is pretty consistent. The singles stood out btu also very much liked to the tracks Reflections and History.

Got a bit of a Who vibe at times.

Was tempted to dock a point for being Scouse but I will go 7/10.
 
OB1 said:
I never paid them much attention before. Wasn't a big fan of much Britpop but I did make a point of getting to the Oasis gig I attended in time to see them. They were ok but the level went up a few notches when Ashcroft took the stage and Oasis were just off the scale.

I liked this album more than I expected to. The standard is pretty consistent. The singles stood out btu also very much liked to the tracks Reflections and History.

Got a bit of a Who vibe at times.

Was tempted to dock a point for being Scouse but I will go 7/10.
Click to expand...
I forgot to put that in my review - definite Who vibes. That’s the Who, not the Hu, who are actually quite entertaining!
 
CAST ALL CHANGE


Like most of us I was familiar with all the singles, which still get a lot of airplay today on Mrs MCD fav station Radio X .Unfortunately I never really got into Cast at the time and nothings really changed listening to this album.
I agree they can write a good melodic pop song , but my issue is I’ve never liked John Power’s voice, there a few tracks on here where he sounds like a scouse Anthony Newley.


6/10
 
journolud said:
I'm slightly confounded. Having nailed my colours to the mast as soon as this was nominated, well maybe draped them loosely, by saying that I always thought of Cast as being a level below the main britpop players I spent the frst two or three listens thinking I really need to find something to justify that casual dismissal. I wasn't alone in that summmary though.

But then I think, who were the main players in Britpop. Oasis, Suede, Pulp? Oasis became a level below themselves 3 or 4 albums in and Pulp are another enigma to me. You know what I think of Suede...

So, perhaps Britpop was more of a level playing field than I gave it credit for. Certainly this album is better than I gave it credit for. And yet there is still that niggle that I can't put my finger on. Is it the singing? You can't really tell that he's a scouser and anyway I didn't hate them then like I do now (sorry @LGWIO it has become a bit more tribal over the years) so that can't have accounted for the seed that was sown. Is it something in the sound and the song structure? @mrbelfry gave a good summary of this in ways that I wouldn't have been able to articulate.

No, really, it's none of those things. I've got to face it, there's nothing wrong with this album and once I'd come to accept that fact and just listen without prejudice I got along with it fine. Not to say it's perfect but there are no skippable tracks and some very good ones. Four Walls is the standout for me, Walkaway has possibly been a little overexposed. At a little over an hour this is either very good value or just a tad too long but as I come to the scoring the mental gymnastics are back in play. Something won't let me give it an 8 so it will have to be a 7. It's been good to give Cast another listen though.
Click to expand...
Good write up and I always enjoy when someone has been turned on a review.

One point of note, John Powers singing is very very scouse - I can only sing along in a scouse accent.

Try it the next time you listen to Fine Time............ :-)
 
Last edited:
BlueHammer85 said:
View attachment 171087

Cast - All Change

Sorry, another Britpop pick.

This time Cast - I was surprised at the recent Oasis gigs how many had never heard of them before -I've gone with their 1995 debut 'All Change' - It's got so many bouncy indie pop numbers, especially the singles 'Alright', 'Sandstorm' and 'Finetime' , the stand out slow one 'Walkaway' you will likely recognize.
Front man John Power was the bassist and backing vocalist for The La's before forming this band.
Watching them again at Wembley recently bought back a lot of 90's nostalgia and they sounded great.
Feel free to knock a point off for being a bunch of scousers. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Sorry matey - I'm going to struggle to do a write up on this one timewise.

Nice selection - enjoyed immersing myself into it with a few wonderful tracks.

6/10

I'm going soft at my old age as I didn't even deduct the mandatory scouse point...........
 
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