Album Reviews Thread

Army Navy by Army Navy

Jangly guitars? Check. Tight Harmonies? Check. Bittersweet lyrics? Check. So what's new? People have been making this kind of music for aeons now and it takes a band with real talent to keep it sounding fresh and interesting. Thankfully, Army Navy are just such a band. This is a very immediate record and there is much to love at the first listen (the single 'Saints' is absolutely glorious), but repeated plays reveal a genuine depth to the songwriting and a treasure trove of hidden hooks to die for, coupled with an uncanny ability to find the perfect chorus for every single song. All of the usual reference points are present, with The Byrds, Big Star and Teenage Fanclub being the most obvious. Many of the arrangements recall the Posies at their most lush, and it's hard to pay them a bigger compliment than that. Highly recommended for fans of all the aforementioned bands, and also anyone looking for an undemanding sunny summer soundtrack.

Victorialand by the Cocteau Twins

This is a wonderful little album that showcases the sound of a truly unique band indulging their weird side for all that it's worth. The soundscapes are much sparser than on previous (and later) outings with little or no percussion on most of the tracks, but that just adds to the effect. The guitars sparkle, swoon and swirl with magic and Liz Frazer's achingly lovely vocals float on top of them like rays of light from a new-born star. Galaxies glow, undulate, fade to black and explode into life again. This is trippy stuff even by the standards of this trippiest of bands, and it sounds like nothing else in the world. Describing how the Cocteaus sound is like trying to explain the taste of ice cream to someone who's never eaten it; it's nigh-on impossible, and all the usual words like 'heavenly' and 'ethereal' that get thrown around so often with reference to them just don't do the sound justice. If you've never heard the band before then this probably isn't the best place to start (try 'Four Calendar Cafe' for something slightly more 'conventional' or 'Treasure' if you want to get a feel for the early stuff) but if you've already got those albums then you really should think about buying this one as well. Blissful stuff.

Shadows by Teenage Fanclub

Since their mid-90s heyday the Fannies have taken their collective
foot off the gas a little, and their fans have learnt to be a patient lot. This, only their second release since 2000s unspectacular 'Howdy' is sure to be met with eager anticipation by those still entranced by their last album 'Man Made'. So is it worth the wait? The answer, happily, is yes. The ambience is slightly mellower than on some previous outings; a mellow, druggy 1970s vibe prevails throughout, especially in the keyboard sounds. Much of this album brings to mind the soundscapes of 'Zuma'-era Neil Young, and never has the Big Star influence been more apparent. There are still a couple of old-school classics though, with 'Shock and Awe' and 'When I Still Have Thee' recalling the glorious heights they scaled with 'Grand Prix' and 'Bandwagonesque' all those years ago. It's a grower, to be sure, with new delights revealed on each fresh listen, but overall it lacks a little of the immediacy and panache that characterises their best work. Those new to the band would do well to delve deep into the back catalogue before sampling this one, but it's sure to be treasured by their loyal army of long-standing fans as a worthy addition to the canon. Now let's just hope we don't have to wait another five years for the next one.

Quote: Professor Frink, Jun 2010

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

As an album it's very good, it is helped along by the fact that it contains 'Someone Great' which is one of the top 5 songs I've ever heard.

He's a name stealing c*nt, what is he?

Quote: James, Jun 2010

Quote: Professor Frink, Jun 2010

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

As an album it's very good, it is helped along by the fact that it contains 'Someone Great' which is one of the top 5 songs I've ever heard.

He's a name stealing c*nt, what is he?

I...what?