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There has been such an avalanche of new albums in this past few weeks that
finding time and space within this column to mention them all would be
impossible, and some exceptional releases have merely graced the Future Sounds section,
when they perhaps deserved more detailed coverage. Take the new David Bowie
opus, Reality, for example.
After a tricky decade in the 90s, brought on by the misdemeanours of his 80s
output, Bowie has clearly found his stride again. If last summer's Heathen was
cause for celebration, as it indisputably was, then Reality continues the
party well into the small hours and beyond. This is the sound of an artist well
and truly on top of his game. The opening track New Killer Star (also issued as
a DVD-only single last week) sets the tone; brooding yet accessible,
underpinned by an insistent rhythm and boasting a strong chorus. His cover of Jonathan
Richman's Pablo Picasso is even more enthralling, a heady rush of guitars and
synths that sounds remarkably fresh and zestful for an act of Bowie's
vintage.
George Harrison's Try Some, Buy Some is turned into a tour-de-force of
melodrama, while The Loneliest Guy is up there with the best Bowie ballads from his
70s heyday. A sombre 10-minute, jazz-inflected closer Bring Me The Disco King
is in a very different vein, but no less affecting or effective.
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
The Darkness are rubbish. They're just a silly neo-rock act, bordering on
spoof with their aping of the most ludicrous and theatrical aspects of 70s and
80s rock (Kiss, Queen, Def Leppard). The lead singer ponces about in his Freedie
Mercury-seque leotard, chest hairs all over the place. It's poodle rock all
over again, but playing the irony card as they revive pre-Nirvana heavy metal.
Or so I thought.
Maybe, just maybe The Darkness are not so crap. Their debut set Permission To
Land has dominated the UK album charts this summer, while their reputation
has soared through word-of-mouth and two enjoyably daft videos for Growing On Me
and the recent #2 smash I Believe In A Thing Called Love. While their
extraordinary success still seems a little mystifying, the least they offer is a bit
of old-fashioned fun and clichéd rock naffness. The most they bring to a
cynical and dull music scene in 2003 is a much needed dose of solid craftsmanship
and feelgood entertainment.
The Darkness - they're alright actually!
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Every year there is one left-of-centre classic pop album that nobody buys and
barely anybody has even heard of. In 2002, it was The Notwist's Neon Golden;
a record of fractured beauty and disarmingly gorgeous songs such as Pilot and
Consequences. Step forward The Postal Service and their unheralded masterpiece
Give Up for a claim to be 2003's nominee.
Comprised of US alt.pop merchants Ben Gibbard (from Death Cab For Cutie) and
Jimmy Tamborello (of Dntel and Figurine), The Postal Service make intelligent,
melodious but slightly off-kilter pop with a nod towards the 1980s. The
District Sleeps Alone Tonight is so gossamer in its loveliness that until the drum
machines and bassline fully kick in towards the end you fear the song could
fall apart, the other single Such Great Heights is giddy electro pop with a hint
of Jimmy Eat World's The Middle about it, and the remaining eight tracks are
largely of the same high quality. 10 songs, 45 minutes, no filler; how it used
to be, and how it should still be. This isn't rocket science. It's easy,
really.
FUTURE SOUNDS
The best music on the horizon:
THE STROKES - ROOM ON FIRE:
The much anticipated follow-up to the New Yorkers' debut Is This It
arrives on October 20th, with its introductory single 12.51 out this week.
HOWARD JONES - THE VERY BEST OF:
A 2CD set (disc 1 has a selection of hits
and one brand new recording "Revolution Of The Heart", disc 2 features B-sides
and Rarities) that sees him briefly reunited with former label WEA in the
interests of commemorating Jones' 20th Anniversary as a recording artist.
Originally scheduled for September 29th, then October 6th, it's now due at the end of
the month.
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Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
