pop albums
Album Review: Søren Lorensen – Lake Constance
In the children’s TV series based on Lauren Child’s books, Søren Lorensen is The childrens imaginary friend, usually a grey outline figure that stands on the periphery. Named so after his children were watching episodes, Marty Hales (he of aqualung) has teamed up with arranger and violinist Davide Rossi, who’s worked in the past with …
Album Review: Grimes – Miss Anthropocene
On Friday 21st February, Grimes released her highly anticipated 5th album and 3rd on 4AD Records MISS ANTHROPOCENE The album title stems from the words Misanthrope, “a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society” and Anthropocene, “the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and …
Album Review: Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
I’m not a Lizzo fan. For starters I’m too white, too male, too middle aged, too cis to appreciate Lizzo on absolutely every level that she deserves to be appreciated on. I am not part of her ‘intended audience’. However, the fact that when I saw the broadcast of her recent appearance at the Glastonbury …
Album Review: Madonna – Madame X
I don’t know about you, but I’m beginnning to think Madonna is a Time Lord. In Madame X, Madonna presents yet another regeneration and an album with two themes: the accessible songs based in part on her experiences living in Portugal, and the songs based on her Madame X character. Madame X the character is …
Album Review: Band of Gold – Where’s the Magic
I’ve always had a quiet regard for Scandi-pop. Maybe it’s the to do with the enunciation, something which can give a sense of cool detachment from the lyrics. Whatever the case, Band of Gold’s second album, Where’s the Magic, comes across as well executed smart art pop. Band of Gold consist of Nina Mortvedt and …
Not Forgotten: A-Ha – Scoundrel Days
In 1985, Norse rock gods A-ha ruled the airwaves. Powered by remarkable cheekbones, teen acolytes and a cutting-edge video, they were on the Smash Hits cover most weeks. We worshipped them fervently, but we knew that like Odin, even if they carried on, their fame would inevitably fade. Nobody troubled to tell A-ha this. Secretly …
Album Review: Randy Newman – Dark Matter
Back in 2004 Green Day released American Idiot, an album on which they took the American government of the time to task for the less than wise decisions that were being made. Wind forward thirteen years, and frankly we need something a little more substantial than a pop-punk power trio to take the current American …
Album Review: Sparks – Hippopotamus
When Sparks roared back to relevance with 2002‘s Lil’ Beethoven, it was treated as a glorious return to form. How long that form would last was another matter. Was it a one off, or the start of a more sustained period of creative success? 2006’s Hello Young Lovers very much confirmed that the previous album’s …
Album Review: Dan Black – Do Not Revenge
We Dan Black’s fans are a patient bunch. Just a mere eight years after his debut solo album ‘UN’ and the king of wonky pop drops the follow up ‘Do Not Revenge’ this week. So full disclosure, ‘UN’ is one of my all time favourite albums. So many I’m not really the best person to …
Album Review: Alex G – My Life On The Internet
Whilst an album of covers may not be something you’d expect a review on, the first thing to mention is that the best definition of a great cover song is doing something different, to put your own spin on it and make it your own. Alex G is an artist that has always strived for putting her own …