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Monday November 1 2010 THE COURIER
Culture Music
music the top 5
albums Bob Dylan
1. Gorillaz – Doncamatic (All Played Out) New Single
The Witmark Demos - 1962-1964 Bob Dylan is a name that has always divided opinion. To many he is the legendary emblem of Sixties music, whose topical lyrical poetry summed up the generation of love; while to others he will always be the nasal singer that drives you mad. Love him or loathe him, you cannot GHQ\ KLV LQFUHGLEOH LQĂ XHQFH RQ the music industry. He established the importance of the singer songwriter, and set the scene for today’s stars of the new folk scene such as Laura Marling, Mumford and Sons and Johnny Flynn. I thoroughly enjoyed this album, which draws from his early back catalogue of thoughtful topical folk songs .The Witwark Demos capture Dylan at what many would argue was the height of his creativity, consisting of lesser known numbers and demo versions of some of his more famous songs such as ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’ and ‘Mr Tambourine Man’. Fifteen of the songs have previously never been released and it’s hard to see why the rhythmic, jiggy ‘Hard Times in New York Town’ and the beautiful ‘Tomorrow is a Long Time’ were never included
on his earlier albums. What’s more impressive is the consistent quality of the songs and Dylan’s ability at summing up the political and civil unrest in American society at the time. ‘Masters of War’ is a scathing attack on warmongering politicians that many would consider relevant today, whilst ‘Blowing in the Wind’ is the archetypal protest song, with its reserved music forming the EDFNGURS IRU O\ULFV WKDW LQĂ XHQFHG other singers to use music to challenge prejudices in society. However, if you are new to the music of Bob Dylan or would not consider yourself a big fan, then I wouldn’t say this is the album for you; his greatest hits collection or albums from the early Sixties such as Blonde on Blonde are more accessible and polished. For the big fans out there, this album not only contains some very good songs you are unlikely to have heard, but also offers a fascinating insight into how some of his more famous songs developed from simple demos to songs that changed the world.
Annie Mac
Broken Records
Joe McElderry
Good Charlotte
Annie Mac Presents 2010
Let Me Come Home
Wide Awake
Cardiology
The newest single from Damon Albarn’s cartoon collective plays out like ‘Stylo’s blissed-out cousin, with melodic Eighties synth sounds welded to a beautiful slice of funk, and vocalist Daley providing a smooth, diva turn. A fantastic new track from one of Britpop’s most distinct and open-minded creative forces. 2. Gruff Rhys – Shark Ridden Waters New Single The Super Furry Animals’ frontman returns with a new solo single which Ă€ QGV WKH :HOVK VRQLF H[SORUHU WUDYHUV ing jazzy rhythms, multitracked backing vocals and murky pop melodies with producer Andy Votel in tow. It’s a striking contrast to his previous solo record, the folk-orientated Candylion, but on this basis, Gruff’s chameleonic skills are alive and well.
Jack Kidder
3. Darkstar – Aidy’s Girl’s a Computer Available on the album North $QQLH 0DF LV WKH WUXH Ă€ UVW ODG\ RI dance music for ‘world famous’ Radio 1. Inheriting the hallowed privilege of announcing the beginning of the weekend from Pete Tong earlier this year, she has made her mark already as the prime taste-maker for our clubs. This compilation brings together some of the biggest club tracks with tracks from Tensnake, Sub Focus, Magnetic Man, Swedish House MaĂ€ D 'DQQ\ %\UG DQG 5XVNR DPRQJ others...and that is only disc one, getting faster, harder and heavier as it goes on. The second disc turns to more mellow affairs but still remaining within the dance realm with Joy Orbison, Moby, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem and Skream. Mixed together by Annie herself, and even containing jingles, it feels like you are listening to her show with the chat removed. So does it stack up against the other plethora of generic compilation albums that will plague us before Christmas? Well, maybe. It is a dance compilation just like all the others; the only difference being this is done by the person all the others emulate. This is a deft catalogue of 2010 dance music that forms an excellent party mix-tape. Raving or Behaving? Definitely raving.
So: a seven-piece band who make frequent use of string sections and with a taste for the grand and the dramatic – this may sound a bit familiar to you. But it’s not who you think, or what you think either. Edinburgh’s gloomiest sons Broken Records got tagged with a lot of unfair Arcade Fire comparisons around the time of their debut, Until The Earth Begins To Part - but that’s completely missing the point - and follow up Let Me Come Home only reinforces what a unique proposition they really are. More direct and hard-hitting than their more meandering debut, Let Me Come Home offers few respites but it’s an album whose highs make it a compelling listen. The martial drumming that opens ‘A Leaving Song’ makes for a suitably arresting start, and the theatrical, seasick arrangement of ‘Modern Worksong’ succinctly showcases the stirring, emotional punch their music delivers. Indeed, the only real failing is that the barrage rarely pauses: it’s not until the relative peace of closing track ‘Home’ that there’s a moment of grace on the record. Despite this though, Let Me Come Home is a superb follow-up from a band that, whatever you might have heard, has no real contemporaries.
Middle-aged women and pre-pubescent girls rejoice: Joe McElderU\¡V GHEXW DOEXP KDV Ă€ QDOO\ DU rived. Nine months on from his chart battle with Rage Against The Machine, last year’s X Factor winner has learned from his humiliating defeat and adopted a similar nu-metal sound. No, not really. However, it’s D UHOLHI WR Ă€ QG 0U 0F(OGHUU\ KDV eschewed boring ballads for fun and light-hearted pop songs. Lead single ‘Ambitions’ sounds like a watered-down version of 7KH .LOOHUV¡ Âś+XPDQ¡ DQG ZLOO Ă€ QG a very comfortable home on light entertainment TV. The best track of the album, ‘Real Late Starter’ - an unexpected Nerina Pallot cover - is sadly drained of life by the ridiculous Gaga levels of overproduction. Why does the winner of a goddamn singing competition require auto-tuning anyway? It may be in fashion, but the results are as bland, predictable and over-familiar as you’d expect. That said, this could have gone far worse. Bonus track ‘The Climb’ - last year’s Christmas No.2 - is by far the slowest, cheesiest and most yawn-inducing of the entire album. The rest is, in comparison, genius.
Good Charlotte! Are they still together and making music? Well, the answer is yes, and the results are surprisingly good. After recording their new album, they decided to scrap it, criticising the producer for being too obsessed with commercial success. So, here is the revised version. Named Cardiology since all the songs are “connected to the heartâ€?, it sees a return to a more straight forward pop-punk sound for the EDQG 7KLV LV GHĂ€ QLWHO\ D SRVLWLYH Lead single, ‘Like It’s Her Birthday’ and songs like ‘Sex On The Radio’ display the band’s retained ability to write catchy hooks. Alas, lyrically it doesn’t produce anything breathtaking; opening song, ‘Let The Music Play’, offering the immortal line “I just gotta keep on keeping onâ€?. Inspirational! There is an upbeat feel to most of the songs which is quite refreshing. Benji Madden, his brother Joel, and co. seem to have lightened up of late and songs such as ‘1979’ and ‘Last Night’ show some of the energy reminiscent of old-school Good Charlotte. It’s not going to solve world poverty, but if you’re looking for something fun to keep you entertained for three-quarters of an hour, voila.
Max Beavis
Mark Corcoran-Lettice
Elliot Bentley
Tom Belcher
While this track may be the oldest from Darkstar’s just released debut album North, ‘Aidy’s Girl’s a Computer’ remains a remarkably fresh take on GXEVWHS D VPDUW UHĂ€ QHG PL[ RI JDUDJH beats and unquestionably the album’s high point. 4. Warpaint – Undertow New Single 7KH Ă€ UVW VLQJOH IURP WKH PXFK K\SHG American psych-rock band’s record The Fool 8QGHUWRZ Ă€ QGV DQ LQIHFWLRXV VSRW between Sixouxie & The Banshees and latter-day Sonic Youth, and refuses to be released from your consciousness. 5. The Vaccines – Wrecking Ball/Blow It Up Streaming Singles &XUUHQW 10( GDUOLQJV 7KH 9DFFLQHV Ă€ nally release their debut double A-side single ‘Wrecking Ball’/’Blow It Up’ on November 22. While it’s hard to see if LW¡V DOO MXVWLĂ€ HG \HW Âś:UHFNLQJ %DOO¡ LV D blink-and-you’ll-miss-it slice of Vaselines-indebted noise, while ‘Blow It Up’ goes for a slower, surf-rock feel. Expect them to be very big, very quickly. Watch and listen to the whole Top 5 at www.thecourieronline.co.uk Mark Corcoran-Lettice