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Albums of the week - Tiscali Music News
Albums of the week
2003-03-03
For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here
Turin Brakes - Ether Song
After the whirlwind success of their first album 'The Optimist LP' in 2001 (double gold sales, a Brit, Q awards and mercury nomination among the highlights), Turin Brakes took time out in an LA studio to record the notoriously 'difficult second album'. As it transpired, they had no difficulty in creating an incredible and timeless long player, one which marries their superior songwriting to the production skills of Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Supergrass). Going to California andworking with a big-name producer may seem at odds with the popular perception of Turin Brakes, but athough the importance of lyric and simplicity of production on 'The Optimist LP' had brought them success and critical acclaim, they wanted to break away from the 'new acoustic' noose and make something more direct, more upfront sonically. They turned their back on their previous restraint, and the result is an album that is at once melancholy and euphoric; nostalgic and visionary; grand and intensely personal.
"Ether Song was done on the fly. But we got into doing it that way and we made it work. So it comes out as a lot more live, I mean most of the stuff that was recorded had been written two minutes before… [it] has a lot more of a raw, energetic feeling about it" - Olly Knights
'…one of the best records you'll hear all year' – New Woman
Buy this album here
Lil Kim - La Bella Mafia: Explicit Version
In the ever-increasing tome that is the history of hip-hop, it's time that the world prepared itself for the next chapter in the notorious life of Lil' Kim. New album 'La Bella Mafia' - which follows 2000's RIAA platinum-certified 'The Notorious K.I.M.' - sees the Grammy Award-winning diva joined by such esteemed guests as Missy Elliot, Styles P, Governor, Twista, and Mashonda Tifere. Furthermore, the set's beats and grooves have been created by some of today's hottestproducers, including Timbaland, DJ Twinz (Mystikal, Redman), EZ Elpee (Mobb Deep, Noreaga), Havoc (Nas, Mobb Deep), Scott Storch (The Roots, Busta Rhymes), Kanye West (Jay-Z, Talib Kweli), and Swizz Beatz (Mary J. Blige, DMX, Ruff Ryders). It's always going to be tough to get a larger-than-life reputation in the male-dominated hip-hop history but with 'La Bella Mafia' Kim's helped confirmed her status as a multi-faceted superstar with unlimited potential, a hip-hop icon whose irresistible persona looms larger than ever before.Buy this album here
Bent - The Everlasting Blink
Whilst the 'Programmed To Love' album was really just a compilation of tracks that Bent had released over the space of a few years, 'Everlasting Blink' is the real deal – a fully-formed Bent album.
Often tagged as a chillout band, the Nottingham duo's work owes its sound to a whole welter of references and 'Everlasting Blink' is a classy distillation of what keeps the boys Bent.
From funked-up disco up through to storming house and back to downtempo musings, this is a set thatrevels in its own indulgence (never a bad thing) whilst delivering a cosy and pleasing collection of early spring vibes (an even better thing).
Buy this album here
Tracy Chapman - Let It Rain (Tour Edition)
Few artists can match Tracy Chapman's gentle but passionate vibrato, her literate lyrical compassion and her uncompromising stance.
From the startling honesty of her multi-platinum debut, which features the now-classic 'Fast Car', to the phenomenal reaction she received for 2000's 'Telling Stories', she has always shared with her audience stories that matter and songs that ring true.
'Let It Rain', Chapman's sixth studio album, was recorded during this summer in a studio overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
Tracy co-produced with John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse), and found a core group of musicians to track the twelve songs: drummer Joey Waronker, bassist Andy Stoller, keyboard-player Patrick Warren, and guitarists Joe Gore, Steve Hunter and Greg Leisz, as well as additional strings and vocals.
Showcasing some of Chapman's most hauntingly beautiful vocals to date, this stunning new collection includes the single 'You're The One' as well as the bonus track 'Over In Love'.
"I found John Parish through several unconnected events. First: while auditioning musicians to record my new album, I received a letter and resume from Joe Gore, a guitarist who has worked with PJ Harvey and recently with the Eels. I had many of the records Joe had worked on in my collection and while listening to some of them I noticed John Parish had musician and producer credits. Next: a friend gave me the recent Sparklehorse CD and I found John there as well. In looking for a co-producer I really wanted to work with someone who could bring a musician's sensibility to the process of recording. John and I spoke by phone several times and then met in San Francisco to talk about the mechanics of recording and to listen to music. I found that, in spite of our different backgrounds, we had some overlapping musical tastes - T. Rex, David Bowie, Johnny Cash... Upon meeting John I was impressed by his forthright nature and sense of humour - qualities he displays throughout the making of the record, along with his willingness to let the method serve the song, the needs of the musicians" - Tracy Chapman
Buy this album here
Moloko - Statues
As one member of the elite group of bands who take their new from 'A Clockwork Orange' Moloko are a proud example of how constant re-invention keeps the droogs from the door and the tunes in the charts.
A million miles from their droopy trip-hop debut 'Do You Like My Tight Sweater' and another club leap forward from storming last album 'Things To Make and Do', 'Statues' is Moloko larging it.
The success of the 'Sing It Back' track still resonates throughout their work and, in broad terms, 'Statues' is the perfect accompaniment to this seasons Baleraic shenigans.
A far more consice affair than its predecessors, from the surging strings of 'Familiar Feeling' and 'Over and Over' to the electro playfulness of 'Cannot Contain This', 'Statues' carves a dancefloor groove all of its own.
Buy this album here
Hooti & The Blowfish - Hooti & The Blowfish
Atlantic recording group Hootie And The Blowfish rocks back onto the music scene with the release of their first album of all-new material in over four years.
Working for the first time with renowned producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt), the primary goal was to capture the energy and excitement of Hootie And The Blowfish's acclaimed live shows.
"The first time Don came to hear us play our new songs, he seemed as excited as we were about the material", says guitarist MarkBryan.
"He heard something in us live that he hadn't heard on any of our records, and he wanted to capture that". Besides eleven originals that tap the band's trademark all-American sound, 'Hootie And the Blowfish' includes a version of the Continental Drifters' 'The Rain Song', featuring Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill of the Drifters on backing vocals.
Buy this album here
Mull Historical Society - Us (cover pictured above)
Mull mainman Colin MacIntyre swiftly follows his 2001 gold-selling debut, 'Loss' ('…holds its AGMs in the space between the sublime, the ridiculous and the awesomely catchy…All in favour say 'Aye, Colin' - NME), with this 14-track self-produced collection of quirky, but uplifting pop songs.
'Us', while instantly recognisable as a Mull record, marks an obvious progression – a lusher, rounder record full of wonder that is set to establish him as one of the country's finest songwriting talents. Includes the single 'Final Arrears'.
Available for a limited time only with bonus CDROM featuring four exclusive tracks
"I think I've stripped things down. I've still tried to use different instruments and to really push myself, but it's more concise this time.
When I was recording it, some of the songs had 90 separate tracks on them, but when I was mixing it I was much more brutal than with 'Loss'.
I took away so much stuff that I'd added. Y'know, sometimes you don't need keyboard zaps. Instead the songs have been given room to stand up for themselves" - Colin MacIntyre
Buy this album here
Dixie Chicks - Home (Bonus Tracks)
After the world-wide success of 'Fly' and the debut album 'Wide Open Spaces', the Dixie Chicks, Emily, Natalie and Marty embark on their third major outing. 'Home' is certainly where the heart is, the Chicks' trademark three-part vocal harmonies and masterful instrumentation are more than evident on this acoustic delight that makes for a great foot-tapping bluegrass feast that makes you long for a cool beer and a swing on the old porch chair.
Buy this album here
Freeway - Philadelphia Freeway
MCs have been rhyming about hustling and the perils of street life since the dawn of hip-hop. But what distinguishes Philly native Freeway, the newest star to rise from Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella rhyme family is his unique approach to tackling these subjects on his hotly awaited debut album, 'Philadelphia Freeway'.
With a raspy drawl comparable to Wu-Tang's Genius/GZA, Freeway delivers intelligent wordplay which could be described as educated thug rap over bombastic, high octane beats produced by such in-demand track masters as Just Blaze, Bink, and Kanye West.
Freeway lets hip hop luminaries Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Nelly get live on the mic and vocal harmonies are provided by divas Mariah Carey and Faith Evans.
Buy this album here
Aereogramme - Sleep & Release
Aereogramme - Craig B - vocals/guitar, Campbell McNeil (bass), Martin Scott (drums), Iain Cook (guitar, programming) - walked straight off a plane into CaVa studios to work on this record. The imprint of dark films and the clinical beauty of 'shoot-em ups' loomed large.
The resultant effect, on record, is that there is natural flow: a deeply cinematic structure - tracks move forward like scenes in a film. 'This record is just more intense all round. On the first LP we put the most crazy songafter the quietest, which is quite hard for a lot of people to take in.
This time we have grouped songs together, and to us it makes complete sense' - Craig B
Buy this album here
Buffseeds - Picture Show
Debut albums are often perceived to be things which have a large amount of life experience in them, purely for the reason that you've had your whole life to write about it, condensed into 40 minutes of music! Produced by Ian Caple (Tindersticks), and mixed by Michael Brauer (Coldplay)/Chris Sheldon (Idlewild/Foo Fighters), 'The Picture Show' covers everything from local riots, day dreaming college romances, neglected relationships, political corruption to family illness. This is an album of beautifully crafted songs with melodic tunes and meaningful lyrics, an album of heartfelt reality.
Includes the singles 'Casino', 'Barricade' and 'Who Stole The Weekend'.
'Chock full of their trademark heartfelt melodies this young band have delivered a mesmerising debut' - Music Week
'Buffseeds have an ace in the hole in lead singer Kieran Scragg like a castrato Michael Stipe against a backdrop of subtly shimmering contemporary psychedelia the best of last years new UK bands were The Electric Soft Parade and The Coral 2003 has already produced one to rival them' - Uncut
One of indies top tips, it is easy to see why The Buffseeds are causing such a stir, the groups soaring rock songs mixed with mellow vocals certainly have chart potential and Kieran has a striking vocal style' - The Times
'Buffseeds 'Barricade' aches with the soft spoken falsetto anger and disgust that Robert Wyatt gave to 'Shipbuilding'. And praise comes no higher. Should be compulsory listening in every school in Northern Ireland. And India. And the Middle East' - The Guardian
'Buffseeds came up with one of the best singles of 2002, haunted folk rock with 'shimmering, psychedelic undertones' - NME
'When it comes to the art of combining subtle beauty with indie music, Buffseeds have found the key and used it to open every door in the building' - Rocksound
'It looks like the heavenly sound of the Buffseeds is going to charm the world' - The Fly
Buy this album here
Rory Gallagher - Wheels within wheels
Featuring 14 previously unreleased tracks, 'Wheels Within Wheels' is a unique exploration of the acoustic/folk side to one of the world's greatest guitarists.
Painstakingly assembled by Donal Gallagher to reflect the life-long love Rory had for folk music, the album features collaborations with Lonnie Donegan, The Dubliners, Martin Carthy, Bela Fleck, Bert Jansch and more.
The cover art is an exclusive commission from the renowned and reclusive painter David Oxtoby, who has also painted Dylan, The Stones, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, Rod Stewart and Elvis Presley.
Buy this album here
For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here
Turin Brakes - Ether Song
After the whirlwind success of their first album 'The Optimist LP' in 2001 (double gold sales, a Brit, Q awards and mercury nomination among the highlights), Turin Brakes took time out in an LA studio to record the notoriously 'difficult second album'. As it transpired, they had no difficulty in creating an incredible and timeless long player, one which marries their superior songwriting to the production skills of Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Supergrass). Going to California andworking with a big-name producer may seem at odds with the popular perception of Turin Brakes, but athough the importance of lyric and simplicity of production on 'The Optimist LP' had brought them success and critical acclaim, they wanted to break away from the 'new acoustic' noose and make something more direct, more upfront sonically. They turned their back on their previous restraint, and the result is an album that is at once melancholy and euphoric; nostalgic and visionary; grand and intensely personal.
"Ether Song was done on the fly. But we got into doing it that way and we made it work. So it comes out as a lot more live, I mean most of the stuff that was recorded had been written two minutes before… [it] has a lot more of a raw, energetic feeling about it" - Olly Knights
'…one of the best records you'll hear all year' – New Woman
Lil Kim - La Bella Mafia: Explicit Version
In the ever-increasing tome that is the history of hip-hop, it's time that the world prepared itself for the next chapter in the notorious life of Lil' Kim. New album 'La Bella Mafia' - which follows 2000's RIAA platinum-certified 'The Notorious K.I.M.' - sees the Grammy Award-winning diva joined by such esteemed guests as Missy Elliot, Styles P, Governor, Twista, and Mashonda Tifere. Furthermore, the set's beats and grooves have been created by some of today's hottestproducers, including Timbaland, DJ Twinz (Mystikal, Redman), EZ Elpee (Mobb Deep, Noreaga), Havoc (Nas, Mobb Deep), Scott Storch (The Roots, Busta Rhymes), Kanye West (Jay-Z, Talib Kweli), and Swizz Beatz (Mary J. Blige, DMX, Ruff Ryders). It's always going to be tough to get a larger-than-life reputation in the male-dominated hip-hop history but with 'La Bella Mafia' Kim's helped confirmed her status as a multi-faceted superstar with unlimited potential, a hip-hop icon whose irresistible persona looms larger than ever before.
Bent - The Everlasting Blink
Whilst the 'Programmed To Love' album was really just a compilation of tracks that Bent had released over the space of a few years, 'Everlasting Blink' is the real deal – a fully-formed Bent album.
Often tagged as a chillout band, the Nottingham duo's work owes its sound to a whole welter of references and 'Everlasting Blink' is a classy distillation of what keeps the boys Bent.
From funked-up disco up through to storming house and back to downtempo musings, this is a set thatrevels in its own indulgence (never a bad thing) whilst delivering a cosy and pleasing collection of early spring vibes (an even better thing).
Tracy Chapman - Let It Rain (Tour Edition)
Few artists can match Tracy Chapman's gentle but passionate vibrato, her literate lyrical compassion and her uncompromising stance.
From the startling honesty of her multi-platinum debut, which features the now-classic 'Fast Car', to the phenomenal reaction she received for 2000's 'Telling Stories', she has always shared with her audience stories that matter and songs that ring true.
'Let It Rain', Chapman's sixth studio album, was recorded during this summer in a studio overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
Tracy co-produced with John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse), and found a core group of musicians to track the twelve songs: drummer Joey Waronker, bassist Andy Stoller, keyboard-player Patrick Warren, and guitarists Joe Gore, Steve Hunter and Greg Leisz, as well as additional strings and vocals.
Showcasing some of Chapman's most hauntingly beautiful vocals to date, this stunning new collection includes the single 'You're The One' as well as the bonus track 'Over In Love'.
"I found John Parish through several unconnected events. First: while auditioning musicians to record my new album, I received a letter and resume from Joe Gore, a guitarist who has worked with PJ Harvey and recently with the Eels. I had many of the records Joe had worked on in my collection and while listening to some of them I noticed John Parish had musician and producer credits. Next: a friend gave me the recent Sparklehorse CD and I found John there as well. In looking for a co-producer I really wanted to work with someone who could bring a musician's sensibility to the process of recording. John and I spoke by phone several times and then met in San Francisco to talk about the mechanics of recording and to listen to music. I found that, in spite of our different backgrounds, we had some overlapping musical tastes - T. Rex, David Bowie, Johnny Cash... Upon meeting John I was impressed by his forthright nature and sense of humour - qualities he displays throughout the making of the record, along with his willingness to let the method serve the song, the needs of the musicians" - Tracy Chapman
Moloko - Statues
As one member of the elite group of bands who take their new from 'A Clockwork Orange' Moloko are a proud example of how constant re-invention keeps the droogs from the door and the tunes in the charts.
A million miles from their droopy trip-hop debut 'Do You Like My Tight Sweater' and another club leap forward from storming last album 'Things To Make and Do', 'Statues' is Moloko larging it.
The success of the 'Sing It Back' track still resonates throughout their work and, in broad terms, 'Statues' is the perfect accompaniment to this seasons Baleraic shenigans.
A far more consice affair than its predecessors, from the surging strings of 'Familiar Feeling' and 'Over and Over' to the electro playfulness of 'Cannot Contain This', 'Statues' carves a dancefloor groove all of its own.
Hooti & The Blowfish - Hooti & The Blowfish
Atlantic recording group Hootie And The Blowfish rocks back onto the music scene with the release of their first album of all-new material in over four years.
Working for the first time with renowned producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt), the primary goal was to capture the energy and excitement of Hootie And The Blowfish's acclaimed live shows.
"The first time Don came to hear us play our new songs, he seemed as excited as we were about the material", says guitarist MarkBryan.
"He heard something in us live that he hadn't heard on any of our records, and he wanted to capture that". Besides eleven originals that tap the band's trademark all-American sound, 'Hootie And the Blowfish' includes a version of the Continental Drifters' 'The Rain Song', featuring Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill of the Drifters on backing vocals.
Mull Historical Society - Us (cover pictured above)
Mull mainman Colin MacIntyre swiftly follows his 2001 gold-selling debut, 'Loss' ('…holds its AGMs in the space between the sublime, the ridiculous and the awesomely catchy…All in favour say 'Aye, Colin' - NME), with this 14-track self-produced collection of quirky, but uplifting pop songs.
'Us', while instantly recognisable as a Mull record, marks an obvious progression – a lusher, rounder record full of wonder that is set to establish him as one of the country's finest songwriting talents. Includes the single 'Final Arrears'.
Available for a limited time only with bonus CDROM featuring four exclusive tracks
"I think I've stripped things down. I've still tried to use different instruments and to really push myself, but it's more concise this time.
When I was recording it, some of the songs had 90 separate tracks on them, but when I was mixing it I was much more brutal than with 'Loss'.
I took away so much stuff that I'd added. Y'know, sometimes you don't need keyboard zaps. Instead the songs have been given room to stand up for themselves" - Colin MacIntyre
Dixie Chicks - Home (Bonus Tracks)
After the world-wide success of 'Fly' and the debut album 'Wide Open Spaces', the Dixie Chicks, Emily, Natalie and Marty embark on their third major outing. 'Home' is certainly where the heart is, the Chicks' trademark three-part vocal harmonies and masterful instrumentation are more than evident on this acoustic delight that makes for a great foot-tapping bluegrass feast that makes you long for a cool beer and a swing on the old porch chair.
Freeway - Philadelphia Freeway
MCs have been rhyming about hustling and the perils of street life since the dawn of hip-hop. But what distinguishes Philly native Freeway, the newest star to rise from Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella rhyme family is his unique approach to tackling these subjects on his hotly awaited debut album, 'Philadelphia Freeway'.
With a raspy drawl comparable to Wu-Tang's Genius/GZA, Freeway delivers intelligent wordplay which could be described as educated thug rap over bombastic, high octane beats produced by such in-demand track masters as Just Blaze, Bink, and Kanye West.
Freeway lets hip hop luminaries Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Nelly get live on the mic and vocal harmonies are provided by divas Mariah Carey and Faith Evans.
Aereogramme - Sleep & Release
Aereogramme - Craig B - vocals/guitar, Campbell McNeil (bass), Martin Scott (drums), Iain Cook (guitar, programming) - walked straight off a plane into CaVa studios to work on this record. The imprint of dark films and the clinical beauty of 'shoot-em ups' loomed large.
The resultant effect, on record, is that there is natural flow: a deeply cinematic structure - tracks move forward like scenes in a film. 'This record is just more intense all round. On the first LP we put the most crazy songafter the quietest, which is quite hard for a lot of people to take in.
This time we have grouped songs together, and to us it makes complete sense' - Craig B
Buffseeds - Picture Show
Debut albums are often perceived to be things which have a large amount of life experience in them, purely for the reason that you've had your whole life to write about it, condensed into 40 minutes of music! Produced by Ian Caple (Tindersticks), and mixed by Michael Brauer (Coldplay)/Chris Sheldon (Idlewild/Foo Fighters), 'The Picture Show' covers everything from local riots, day dreaming college romances, neglected relationships, political corruption to family illness. This is an album of beautifully crafted songs with melodic tunes and meaningful lyrics, an album of heartfelt reality.
Includes the singles 'Casino', 'Barricade' and 'Who Stole The Weekend'.
'Chock full of their trademark heartfelt melodies this young band have delivered a mesmerising debut' - Music Week
'Buffseeds have an ace in the hole in lead singer Kieran Scragg like a castrato Michael Stipe against a backdrop of subtly shimmering contemporary psychedelia the best of last years new UK bands were The Electric Soft Parade and The Coral 2003 has already produced one to rival them' - Uncut
One of indies top tips, it is easy to see why The Buffseeds are causing such a stir, the groups soaring rock songs mixed with mellow vocals certainly have chart potential and Kieran has a striking vocal style' - The Times
'Buffseeds 'Barricade' aches with the soft spoken falsetto anger and disgust that Robert Wyatt gave to 'Shipbuilding'. And praise comes no higher. Should be compulsory listening in every school in Northern Ireland. And India. And the Middle East' - The Guardian
'Buffseeds came up with one of the best singles of 2002, haunted folk rock with 'shimmering, psychedelic undertones' - NME
'When it comes to the art of combining subtle beauty with indie music, Buffseeds have found the key and used it to open every door in the building' - Rocksound
'It looks like the heavenly sound of the Buffseeds is going to charm the world' - The Fly
Rory Gallagher - Wheels within wheels
Featuring 14 previously unreleased tracks, 'Wheels Within Wheels' is a unique exploration of the acoustic/folk side to one of the world's greatest guitarists.
Painstakingly assembled by Donal Gallagher to reflect the life-long love Rory had for folk music, the album features collaborations with Lonnie Donegan, The Dubliners, Martin Carthy, Bela Fleck, Bert Jansch and more.
The cover art is an exclusive commission from the renowned and reclusive painter David Oxtoby, who has also painted Dylan, The Stones, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, Rod Stewart and Elvis Presley.
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