The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement

MINE

Oooh, more British music - but this time a very different affair to Jamie T.  This semi-supergroup featuring Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys has turned out an album of movie music.  And it's funny but the cover photo gives a glimpe into what movie they might be scoring.

The lush arrangements and northern-English accents made me visualise some gritty black-and-white kitchen-sink British drama - maybe from the late 50s or early 60s - full of rainy streets and probably starring Albert Finney and Diana Dors.  There'd be adultery and maybe an unwed mother and some barely-restrained threats of domestic violence.  Perhaps some scenes at a beach holiday setting, with pebbly beaches and donkey rides, featuring drunken husbands, bitter wives and bawling, filthy kids.

I found something uplifting but at the same time undeniably real about this sound.  No Hollywood airbrushing, just a sweeping soundtrack to a bleak landscape.  Mesmerising.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

YOURZ

The accolades surrounding Artic Monkeys and particularly chief Monkey Alex Turner are deserved, as far as I'm concerned.  So this side step he's taken, with friend and collaborator Miles Kane, whose band The Rascals is decidely less well-known, is both a surprise and a delight.  James Ford, of Simian Mobile Disco, rounds out the band as both drummer and producer.

The Age Of The Understatement comes off sounding more like a Phil Spector-produced album from the late 60s than anything else and on which the 'Puppets have woven a clearly reverent tapestry of influences.  The tracks are beautifully arranged, both individually and as a sequence while the production is suitably lush, resplendent with vocal harmonies and gorgeous string arrangments.  While this might get a little bit tiresome if over-played, the band, in their wisdom, have kept the album short enough to leave a lasting, positive impression.

Surprisingly, Turner and Kane's vocals are well suited to this stylistic exercise and harmonise very well with each other, even to the point where the casual listener wouldn't be able to tell whose voice had the lead, although Turner's is clearly prominent, more due to his lyrical turn than anything else.  But it's the 'Puppets dedication to their version of the wall of sound that elevate this album above the ordinary.  From the titular opener, The Age Of The Understatement, through to the acoustically-driven closer Time Has Come Again, the band don't drop the ball once. 

Rumour has it the trio will be teaming up again in the not-too-distant future.  I think it would be a sad mistake to see them try to repeat the pastiche of this debut.  But personally, I'm looking forward to hearing the results of whatever direction they choose to go.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://thelastshadowpuppets.com/

Jamie T - Kings & Queens

YOURZ

I bought Kings & Queens on spec after reading a great review in Q Magazine which called Jamie T a cross between Joe Strummer and The Arctic Monkeys.  Generally speaking, such comparisons wouldn't sway my purchasing powers but in this instance, I was pleased I took a chance as the general accolades for this young South Londoner are actually deserved (although the comparisons are only probably drawn because he employs a similar wit to both).

Employing rock, punk, pop, and hip hop in equal measure , Jamie T draws you in with sharp hooks, whip-quick raps and huge singalong choruses that get stuck in your head for days.  The best descriptive I can come up with for Kings & Queens is eclectic but not so much to be disjointed.  Rather, it shows a playfulness and maturity, both in arrangements and production, that brings these disparate influences together very well.

From the acoustic treasures Emily's Heart and Jilly Armeen to the Clash-inspired British Intelligence to the more contemporary sounds of Hocus Pocus and Stick & Stones plus all the tracks in between, Jamie T consistently keeps both his and the listener's interests on high alert, in the best possible way.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

I'm more fond of British rappers than I am of their US counterparts.  Big statement, I know, but I find the Brits can do a rant (which is esentially what a rap is) with a tad more humour (with a "U") and some cheeky observations, while the Yanks tend to be mostly, um, angry.  The Brits can do misery better than anyone (see: The Streets) but Jamie T is handing out mostly up-beat raps here.

And he can sing.  My main problem with the whole rap genre is that so often it's delivered by someone with little or no musical sensibility, just the ability to follow a beat.  But this guy can sing and play and write music, so 'spect to him.  It's well-produced, well-written, well played and interesting to listen to.  What more can I say?

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.jamie-t.com/

Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyse

MINE

The boy music just never lets up... but actually I've been reasonably impressed by QOTSA.  Perhaps because I just loved track one on their debut album, Rated R.  So if you've never heard Feel Good Hit of the Summer take a clicky walk and have a listen.

See what I mean? Two minutes 46 seconds of a rawk mantra that just rolls you along.  Ironically used by the LAPD in its anti-drunk driving campaign... but that's another Josh Homme story.  Which I'm sure YourZ has more than enough of for this post.

YourZ is a rabid Josh fan, and I can see why.  We both love the Eagles of Death Metal - and when the pointy stick finally lands on Them Crooked Vultures, stand back, the gushing from my beloved will knock you over.  QOTSA's not really my cup of tea, although it's still well put together with more real singing and a decent mix.  Does this mean I have to admit - his boy music is actually Man Music?  Oh, the ignominy...(YourZ sez: fuck yeah, I win!)

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

YOURZ

While the music press has been lauding Jack White's prodigious output over the last decade, I've been plumping for Josh Homme.  I mean, look at his track record - first Kyuss, (okay maybe not strictly in the last decade but...), the Desert Sessions, QOTSA, Eagles Of Death Metal, production for Arctic Monkeys and various others and, of course, Them Crooked Vultures.  What's Jack White done, huh?  (Okay, I know what he's done - I've admitted it on these very pages but give me some latitude, 'kay?)

Not only this, but he plays Matons (most of the time), which is also my axe of choice.  And he is married to Brody Dalle, one of the sexiest rock chicks to come out of Oz.  The man has is all going on.  But enough of this insipid gushing...

Lullabies... is the fourth full length release from QOTSA and the first released after bassist Nick Oliveri was fired for fucking up once too often.  When I first heard this album, I was kinda missing the crazy shit Nick usually brought to the table but after a few listens, I realised there was enough crazy on this album to satisfy even the most discerning of rock loonies (of which I am proud to say I'm one).

I must listen to this album (and all QOTSA's output) at least once every couple of weeks and there isn't a single track on it I don't want to hear again.  There is just so many flavours, though, it is hard to pick out which tracks are favourites 'cause it depends on my mood on the day.  But notable mentions have to be Tangled Up In Plaid, Little Sister (the cow bell fuckin' rocks) and the dirty blues that is You Got A Killer Scene There, Man... (which also features Shirley Manson from Garbage on backing vox).

All indications are there is gonna be another QOTSA album released this year.  Coupled with the rumours of a full-blown tour later as well, 2010 is shaping up to be a very rocking good year indeed.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP, put it on repeat and rock out

For more information: www.qotsa.com

In our collection we also have Queens Of The Stoneage (debut), Rated R, Songs For The Deaf and Era Vulgaris

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

MINE

Big and loud and NOT dumb, this band deserve all the accolades hurled at them.  Their music's fun and dancey and rocky and has clever lyrics - although it's a bit girl-hatey.  It really takes me back to my yoof, and the excitable music emerging from the punk scene in the late 70s and early 80s.  But it's better, because these guys aren't singing about despair and boring authority figures.

They're unashamedly British and they even sound like they're having fun.  It's great gym music, driving music, and can even get me bopping around the kitchen.  A real keeper.

VERDICT:TURN IT UP

YOURZ

Arctic Monkeys restored my faith in modern music.  No, seriously, they did.  I like a lot of music but have to say I'm not generally impressed overall with a lot of the crop of new bands.  I like to consider myself open-minded and think I have a pretty good ear yet while I tried really hard to like a swag of different new bands, most just annoyed me.  Then along came the Monkeys.

Everything they did seemed to be uncompromising, from refusing to kowtow to record company men to playing the press off against itself by telling fibs in interviews.  This worked hugely in their favour as it created such a strong grass-roots following both in real life and, despite the band's admitted lack of knowledge on how the internet worked, online as well.  The band's fan-created Myspace page became immensely popular and gave the band additional publicity so that by the time the first single from this album, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, was released, it went straight to number one on the charts in England.  Second single, When The Sun Goes Down, followed suite.

With the release of Whatever People Say..., their popularity was without doubt.  The album went straight to the top of the charts in the UK and Australia and became the fastest selling album in British history.  It also went to number one in Ireland and cracked the Top Ten in various European nations as well as Japan and New Zealand.  The album went on to win Best British Album at both the Mercury Prize and the Brit Awards.

While all this is well and good, it could have all been hype-driven had the band not been something more.  Thankfully, they live up to all the accolades, composing taut, intelligent and cheeky musical tales of urban British youth that transcend borders while losing none of their original voice.  These are written in the local vernacular yet the themes are international and as old as rock and roll; girls, trouble and partying and once again proving the simple things really are the best.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP and put on your dancing shoes, sexy little swine.


For more information: http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/

In our collection we also have Favourite Worst Nightmare and Humbug