James Blunt--All The Lost Souls

Let's be honest with ourselves. We (I'm speaking on behalf of everyone, here) all love the 'Royal soldier becomes sensitive high-pitched troubadour' story, but what about the music? I should confess that I have mixed feelings about Blunt's music--I don't find it dynamic or incredibly engaging. I do think he has a knack for melodies and harmonies, that he is quite masterful in the art of the soft-spoken ballad.

Back to Bedlam was a quality effort, but not exactly my cup of tea. I was hoping that the sophomore album All the Lost Souls--after hearing the lead single "1973"--would feature more complex arrangements, or at the very least, a maturity in Blunt's sound. But for better or for worse, this album is a heavy dose of the same.

That's not to say that there isn't anything quality on All The Lost Souls. The lazy guitar on "Give Me Some Love" leads into a high-charged chorus that seems well-paired with the mysterious dark-aired "I Can't Hear the Music". The Lennonesque "Shine On" (not a cover) is another gem on the album, along with crooning 'oohs' on "Same Mistake". Blunt's world now certainly seems less chaotic than Bedlam, and it's resulted in a relatively good album. But it seems that the album title has gotten to the heart of the problem with Blunt's music--perhaps there's too much emotion in these songs that the record's soul seems lost.

Go and get your copy of All The Lost Souls (awesome album art).
Listen to "Give Me Some Love" (4.7/5)
Listen to "Same Mistake" (4.6/5)

It's Root Root Root for The Go! Team

Grab a jump-rope, some colorful tenniboppers and your outdated boombox (the one that only has room for a cassette, please) and don't forget your copy of The Go! Team's Proof Of Youth--there's a party going down. The lo-fi sampling junkies from the UK bring more of their feel-good funkiness and energy to a slew an album that is indeed...youthful.

It seems that in an attempt to be unassuming in their approach to making music, The Go! Team has created another album that has a certain enjoyable flashiness and gaudiness to it that contributes to a feeling that might best be described as pure joy. This is cross-generational goodness jammed into a cut-and-paste package ready made to delight. The lead faux-rap single "Grip Like a Vice" has a certain urgency to it that makes it fresh, while tracks like "Doing it Right" illustrate the band's knack for catchy rhythms and schoolyard chants. Anthems galore appear on this album as well ("Keys to the City" , "Titanic Vandalism", among others) that make Proof of Youth more than a juvenile effort. Even more impressive may be the fact that The Go! Team crafted a marvelous sophomore effort in the face of their ever popular debut Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Indeed, lightning does strike twice.

Get yo'self a copy of Proof of Youth!
Listen to "Doing it Right" (4.8/5)
Listen to "Keys to the City" (4.74/5)

Busy Bees

U.K.'s The Bees have slipped under the radar for some baffling reason--I guess coming from across the pond will do that to you. The Bees' sophomore release Octopus is a collection of golden 70s AM radio tunes, complete with well-placed harmonies, funky fresh guitars and some Dylanesque piano riffs. Take one listen to "Who Cares What the Question Is?" and tell me you don't hear the influences of Dylan's "Isis"! But these guys aren't simple copycats--queue up the dusty jazz "Got to Let Go" and partake in a delightful array of horns and the like. These busy bees even manage to pull off the reggae "Listening Man" while still successfully executing country ditties like "Love in the Harbor". Octopus is a thoughtful, fun album that clearly has a lot of heart and earnestness to it. From that respect, it seems like that they've picked up a thing or two from the very era of music they're recreating.

Go and get a copy of Octopus.
Listen to "Got to Let Go" (4.9/5)
Listen to "Who Cares What the Question Is?" (4.7/5)

New Young Pony Club Still Needs to Grow Up

It's not an impossible venture to create moving, booty shakin' indie power pop, but it is certainly no easy task. What The Rapture did with Pieces of the People We Love was an extraordinary accomplishment in some ways, in that they were able to put out a record that was both accessible to a large audience but was still edgy, interesting, and fun.

So how the hell does this relate to the New Young Pony Club? Well, in short, their debut release Fantastic Playroom (US release Aug. 28, UK release July 2) doesn't quite succeed in being accessible or edgy. Save for a few songs, much of the album is just humdrum new wave that lacks a punch, that lacks a real attitude. And isn't that what they're supposed to be all about? To be fair, there are one or two fantastic tracks that show great promise for this young quintet. "Grey" is a classic party anthem that will surely please its listeners with its simple but quirky lyrics. But perhaps the best single is "The Get Go", which features a great vocal set and also the best bassline on the album.

If you're interested in NYPC, go buy Fantastic Playroom.
Listen to "The Get Go" (4.75/5)
Listen to "Grey" (4.6/5)

Meet your Clientele

Maybe it's just the spring weather and its radio-of-old feel, but I just can't get out of this retro band genre. I'm talking about UK band The Clientele, and their new release God Save the Clientele. Full of the trippiness of CSNY, the exuberance of a child, and harmonies to be envied, God Save the Clientele is a finely crafted album. The vocals are simply delectable, as they skitter across the jangly guitars and the modest bass. I'm amazed by the quality of the album, despite the fact that it is 14 tracks long--a rarity for bands these days.

On GStC, The Clientele effortlessly move from track to track, as they touch on lullaby ballads to toned down versions of 60's and 70's folkpop. It seems as though the album was written from the hip, a stream of consciousness, but with each note carefully plucked. This delightful collection of songs is truly a seratonin riser. Every so often, I'll fall in love with an album that is just so irresistible that it cannot be put down. Indeed, I'm in love.


Highlights from GStC, and there are many, include the wonderfully hoppy "Here Comes the Phantom", a smart pop arrangement complete with strings. Have a listen to the more downtempo "The Queen of Seville" or the bass-filled upbeat "Carnival on 7th Street"--all are sure to please.

So go on and buy God Save the Clientele (out May 8th in US).
Listen to "Here Comes the Phantom" (4.89/5)
Listen to "Bookshop Cassanova" (4.6/5)

The High Llamas

Lately, I've been chilling with my good ol' buddies The High Llamas. No, not personally, but rather through the speakers of my computer.
The London-based hipsters are the creators behind some retro-tastic music that will have you imagining you're on Route 66 back in the 50s. Not that I know what that's like, but let's assume I do.

Their newest album Can Cladders is an amalgam of songs that range from lounge revivalist to Bossa Nova. Despite borrowing from older styles and genres, what makes this album unique is the fact that it combines these in a manner that hasn't been done before. shows a diverse musical palette on behalf of lead band member Sean O'Hagan, and the songs therein are simply a delight. Every song is a new adventure, a new trip to a psychadelic (yep, you read correctly) world of lillies and daisies--it's almost comical to a certain point. Can Cladders doesn't try to mask its fun nature by pretending to be something it is not. No false advertising.

Although The High Llamas are guilty of missing on some tracks of this album, there are certainly plenty of highlights to go around. "Clarion Union Hall" is a foot-tapping, head bobbing good ol' time that could only be better if you could actually see the background singers bopping along themselves. Of take a listen to "Rollin", which is certainly the most delightful song on the album, complete with one of the great choruses I've heard. The varied instruments are really my favorite part of the albums--at any one point, I may not be sure what I'm listening to, but I know it's damn good. I'm sure you'll feel the same way too.

So c'mon, and buy Can Cladders.
Listen to "Rollin" (4.78/5)
Listen to "Clarion Union Hall" (4.44/5)

Lucky Soul

British collective Lucky Soul has certainly made quite a raucous in my iTunes over the past week. I'm sure you'll fall in love with them too once you hear their retro-doo-wop oldies style. Lucky Soul 's debut album The Great Unwanted is nothing that is sonically original, but that's not to disparage what they've put forth.

The Great Unwanted is like digitally remastered versions of oldies songs that were never written. The songs are carefully constructed and thoughtfully performed, that it's hard not to appreciate the result. The lead songstress, Ali Howard, has one of the most enchanting, sweet, and entrancing voices I've heard. It's not quite "cute", as it retains this sense of power and fortitude. But certainly the songs achieve much of their depth from the vocals. The Great Unwanted is really just a fun album--not necessarily based on its content but rather on the feeling that the arrangements themselves exude. One listen to the piano-trippy, foot-tapping inducing "Get Outta Town!" and you can't help but sing along. Or you might instantly fall in love with the Grease-like "Struck Dumb". Really, this album can't miss.


What are you waiting for? Buy The Great Unwanted.
Listen to "Get Outta Town!" (4.85/5)
Listen to "Add Your Light to Mine, Baby" (4.5/5)

Mika

Alright, alright. So I'm not sure what the reaction is going to be like to this post. I want to tell y'all about another singer/songwriter who is huge-to say the least-in the UK. It always seems like any UK artist I hear about is always "huge overseas". But that's beside the point.

Mika's debut Life in Cartoon Motion (release date: March 27 in the US) has gotten mixed reviews so far on this side of the pond, and I figured I'd give my two cents. The first thing that comes to mind upon hearing Mika (pronounced Mee-Ka) is Elton John meets Freddie Mercury. Yea, let's go with that. Mika has got an incredible voice range, as seen in the song "Grace Kelly" which features him singing in 3 different octaves. And he loves the falsetto.

But as for the actual music itself, Mika's songwriting spreads the gamut from humor to social commentary. His songs are fun and jumpy, and dare I say, radio friendly. But overlook the overproduction of the album--concentrate on the fact that this guy is way too talented to be disregarded as Top 40 "rubbish". Upon listening to "Stuck in the Middle", I'm reminded of "Crocodile Rock"-era Elton John or even a "You Rock my World"-esque Michael Jackson. Pounding piano beats with willowing cheerful vocals does it every time for me I guess. I'm a sucker. And if you're looking for some good ol' fun, try "Big Girl You are Beautiful" which is about exactly what you're thinking.

I'm not going to say that this album is extraordinary, but it is certainly noteworthy. And as I mentioned before, it would be a shame to throw away an album just because it's popular. So join in on the fun and go get a copy of Life in Cartoon Motion.

Listen to "Stuck in the Middle" (4.7/5)
Listen to "Grace Kelly" (4.2/5) It's worth it for listening to his range.

James Morrison

Sorry for the lack of postage this past week--I had two midterms and a paper...rough to say the least. But enough with the excuses! I've got some great artists to tell y'all about and you're gonna like 'em. No choice.
Today I'd like to tell you about James Morrison, who has already skyrocketed in the UK. This brings me to a key point: It's great to be in to the next best thing, but let's not disregard something that is a fine piece of work.

That brings me to Mr. Morrison's debut Undiscovered, which seems more ironic than ever--now that he has topped Bloc Party on the UK charts and all. And for good reason, my friends. Imagine James Blunt without the whininess, Ray Lamontagne's raspiness, and Jamie Lidell's pop sensibilities. This is a soulful record, but it's not soul. Some might call it Top 40, but there's something about Morrison's affect that just strikes me as genuine and sincere. Not to mention that he laces some pretty vocals over seriously catchy melodies. Morrison loves to belt it, and he does frequently. And with his sweet raspy voice, it provides for one of the greatest albums I've heard so far this year. Note: this could show up as a top 20 pick in December.

Have a listen to "How Come", which starts out like a regular ol' pop ballad, but then transforms into a beautiful soul-filled, bluesy chorus that has you swaying every which way until you ask yourself "How Come?". And perhaps my favorite "Under the Influence" is a strings-filled, piano-pounding, tasty ditty that is sure to please. A must listen.

Go and buy Undiscovered. It will be released on March 12th in the US.
Listen to "How Come" (4.5/5).
Listen to "Under the Influence" (5/5). Wow

Let's Put Some New Shoes On--Paolo Nutini

Now that the holidays have passed, and we have a whole year to look forward to next December, it's about time this blog got down to its regular duties. Assume that from here on out there is going to be consistent postage from Patrick and me.

I'd like to tell you about an Scottish singer with Italian roots. On first listen, I didn't know what to expect--what kind of fusion rock could possibly result from this odd combo. What I discovered was something surprising--an intelligent songwriter with incredible pop sensibilities and a knack for making music that will surely make you groove.

Nutini's debut album These Streets features a collection of songs that are coherent and fun. These Streets ranges from sunny pop arrangements to heartfelt ballads to great rock songs. Nutini's doesn't concoct synthetic sounds--everything is very organic, incredibly natural. Even his voice has this earthy quality to it, despite that it is one of the more beautiful ones I've heard in a while. "New Shoes" illustrates his many talents--the ability to create catchy hooks that envelope you in warm guitars and sweet vocals. "Last Request" has Nutini's quivering vocals singing soulful words in a style that is rock ballad meets R & B. It's delicious.

Go out and get These Streets. The album has already been released in Europe, but is scheduled for a January 30 release in the US.

Listen to "Last Request" ( 4.5 / 5)
Listen to "New Shoes" ( 5 / 5 )