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

I didn't get the sense of smugness others had picked up but now that you mention it... maybe I didn't want to acknowledge it because that would make me focus on those traits in myself when I get all superior about stuff that I think is somehow beneath me like the Baftas, Comic Relief and musically, yes Guns'n'Roses. I'm sure we all do it though, that slightly condescending "oh you're listening to/watching this are you".

Taken on its own merits the opener is a good song and good fun. I don't know how serious he was being but I enjoyed spotting the references in it. But, if he was being serious he better be up to his own challenge of making something better. Follow it with a track a bit like Girl Like You maybe. A great song, one I often pop onto a playlist although it has never led me to explore any further.

It sets the standard we should expect. Does the rest of the album live up to that? Well, not quite to be honest but not for the want of trying. This was overall pretty enjoyable, easy to listen to and some interesting shifts on style. I'd have to agree with those who suggest it is maybe a little too long and sagged towards the end but not so much that I'm heading for the skip button.

I'd have no problem listening to this again and will probably explore a little bit more of his work. I may even go back and listen to Orange Juice.

A comfortable 7 for me.
 
GornikDaze said:
I’m afraid this is another one in the middle of the road territory for me. It’s not bad it’s not great. Not overly fussed about his vocals, but it seems a decent fit with the overall sound.
Found the opener a bit annoying lyrically - repetition is not always great - but like a few tracks there are some decent guitar effects going on.
6/10
Click to expand...
I Love repetition!
 
GornikDaze said:
I’m afraid this is another one in the middle of the road territory for me. It’s not bad it’s not great. Not overly fussed about his vocals, but it seems a decent fit with the overall sound.
Found the opener a bit annoying lyrically - repetition is not always great - but like a few tracks there are some decent guitar effects going on.
6/10
Click to expand...
I Love repetition!
 
Edwyn Collins - Gorgeous George

Is it harsh to call him a one hit wonder ? ‘A Girl Like You’ is such a stand out track that I found it hard to compare the rest of the album to this - it’s a wonderful catchy mix of Bowie and Pulp and little surprise this was such a hit back in the 90’s - was always played on radio.
‘Campaign For Real Rock’ another Pulp sounding track that had a nice groove and a bit of bite throughout.
‘Low Expectation’ has a nice melody, like the organ in this and the harmonica outro.
‘Make Me Feel Again’ is a gentle number.
Rest of the Album unfortunately just passed me by despite repeated listens. I’d probably appreciate his OJ stuff more if ever nominated.
Anyhow, It’s an easy listen,well produced and written by himself so will get an extra point. Good pick!

6/10
 
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journolud said:
Girl Like You maybe. A great song, one I often pop onto a playlist although it has never led me to explore any further.

It sets the standard we should expect. Does the rest of the album live up to that? Well, not quite to be honest but not for the want of trying.
Click to expand...

Thank goodness for the first bit, because I was feeling I was alone in that.

But the second looks like I AM alone in disagreeing there. So many people seem to think it is a great song and the rest of the album doesn't live up to it.

I find it the most average song, and while rightly successful, just a bit hollow. The album though, does have good musical intent and qualities beyond just generating a hit. Imo.
 
Coatigan said:
Thank goodness for the first bit, because I was feeling I was alone in that.

But the second looks like I AM alone in disagreeing there. So many people seem to think it is a great song and the rest of the album doesn't live up to it.

I find it the most average song, and while rightly successful, just a bit hollow. The album though, does have good musical intent and qualities beyond just generating a hit. Imo.
Click to expand...

Yep you have that the wrong way round for sure!
 
threespires said:
Haha, when Shack mentioned Postcard records it reminded me that when I suggested in my review of Janes King and the Lonewolves that one of the tracks was good enough to be a Roddy Frame song, someone declared the idea the most ludicrous thing they'd seen on the thread or something along those lines. I was trying to think of who it was, I suspect it was your good self! Frame very good buddies with Collins I believe.
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Great up with the whole Postcard thing
Bought the first 3 singles on release and managed to see one of the bands almost every week.
Gobtweens Aztec Camera OJ Josef K etc
Plus the bands that they influenced Love and Money Friends Again The Bathers.
Was truly a great time to be alive in Edinburgh.
ECs new album is pretty decent no obvious change in direction obviously
 
aka blue jambo said:
Great up with the whole Postcard thing
Bought the first 3 singles on release and managed to see one of the bands almost every week.
Gobtweens Aztec Camera OJ Josef K etc
Plus the bands that they influenced Love and Money Friends Again The Bathers.
Was truly a great time to be alive in Edinburgh.
ECs new album is pretty decent no obvious change in direction obviously
Click to expand...

Yeah I can imagine it was an absolutely brilliant time to be up there.

I've heard the opener Knowledge off the new album and made a note to listen to the whole thing.
 
GORGEOUS GEORGE EDWYN COLLINS

I was looking forward to this one, having been a fan of Orange Juice, I found it a bit a mixed bag.Edwyn seems quite an angry young man , I don’t mind him dissing GNR but don’t start on ‘The Waterboys’I quite like the first track though it’s a bit long and repetitive.
Then we’ve got the single which I’m tired of now.I really liked ‘Low Expectations’’If you could love me’ sounds like the style council and I enjoyed that too.
‘North of Heaven’ was good and I particularly enjoyed the title track.After that it went abit meh for me, too much fuzz guitar on some tracks.
The last track just annoyed me, not sure if it’s tongue in cheek but I didn’t find it funny.I much prefer Roddy Frame although I appreciate poor Edwyn’s been through horrendous health issues in more recent years.

Good pick


6.5 /10
 
Mancitydoogle said:
GORGEOUS GEORGE EDWYN COLLINS

I was looking forward to this one, having been a fan of Orange Juice, I found it a bit a mixed bag.Edwyn seems quite an angry young man , I don’t mind him dissing GNR but don’t start on ‘The Waterboys’I quite like the first track though it’s a bit long and repetitive.
Click to expand...
Wow, I missed that one. Which song? Is it too late to dock another 0.5? :-)

He had all that extra time at the end of the first track to add others onto the Summer Festival shaming and he just kept it on repetition as others have noted. At least once...

Mancitydoogle said:
Good pick
Click to expand...
I had recently heard and liked Orange Juice's "Falling and Laughing" on the Playlist Review thread thanks to @Out on blue 6 , so with this pick, I'll be listening to more of their music from the 80's that I clearly missed this side of the pond.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Wow, I missed that one. Which song? Is it too late to dock another 0.5? :-)

He had all that extra time at the end of the first track to add others onto the Summer Festival shaming and he just kept it on repetition as others have noted. At least once...


I had recently heard and liked Orange Juice's "Falling and Laughing" on the Playlist Review thread thanks to @Out on blue 6 , so with this pick, I'll be listening to more of their music from the 80's that I clearly missed this side of the pond.
Click to expand...
The Campaign For Real Rock’With a Raggle Taggle Plastic Gypsy’
 
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