| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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A chum of Arctic Monkeys’s Alex Turner, the Reverend’s Jon McClure has learnt much from his buddy about expanding his musical soundscapes. French Kiss... is a heady brew of out -and -out -Brit Pop nostalgia and occasional quaint folkiness, with a keen attention to detail in the production department. For some time now, McClure has threatened retirement, probably at the lack of commercial success, especially when you consider his age, 28. We’ll just have to wait, eh? Clearly, McClure is an intelligent guy (a degree in politics from Sheffield University) he previously pondered doomed personal relationships and nights on the town. Now he’s shifted his attention to more serious and pressing matters - environmentalist and social cum political commentator. Also, there’s a distinct lack of imagination (he’s on difficult second album remember) when you have to resort to sampling an old Latin funk classic – War’s Low Rider for your opening gambit. Having said that it works well, elevating it to the realms of indie party pleaser with a touch anarchic psychedelia. Hidden Persuaders, although an original song, gives a nod to 60s troubadours Love (check the Latino flavoured brass) or even dare I say it, towards Alex Turner’s side show The Last Shadow Puppets, and to some degree on follower No Wood Just Trees.
For Long Long Time, a plodding piano ballad he declared he wrote at a low point – but isn’t any more, after alleged death threats and lack of critical acclaim. There’s more of an Oasis thing going on here, maybe too much so, for an artist seeking to make something ‘artistically interesting’. On the serious political, front he’s done an anti-BNP song Manifesto / People Shapers –“ I don’t want your propaganda or your leaflet through my door /It seems that your friend hatred just don’t live here anymore…” and so on. Sonically things go more upbeat and danceable on the whopping Mermaids, though there’s a retro Brit Pop shadow looming over it, whereas The End has flavours of 70s new wave-punk from the likes of The Stranglers – a hard driving beat and chunky bassline throbbing all the way. Ending on a depressing note ( or romantic depending on your disposition) Hard Time For Dreamers veers towards an apocalyptic scenario – nukes and rising water levels – propelled my a mighty and ominous musical rollercoaster. The verdict – Interesting yes, impressive no.
Weblinks: iamreverend.com / myspace.com/reverendmusic
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
