Washington - I Believe You Liar

MINE

Another artist introduced to our house via the music quiz show Spicks and Specks, where Megan Washington's first appearance apparently caused her iTunes rating to go into hyperspace.  It certainly caused her EPs to make an appearance in our house, and her album was barely released before we snapped it up.

But I didn't listen to it - because I didn't have time.  What a crap reason that is.  Anyway, I was really looking forward to this review, and I wasn't disappointed.  But I was surprised, as track 4 - Underground - caused me to weep violently.  Good thing I was alone in the car, and on a relatively uncluttered stretch of road I'm very familiar with.  Essentially instructions to her family about what to do in the event of her early demise, it's simple and poetic and really deeply moving.

The rest of the album may prompt comparisons with Florence + The Machine.  Megan has a similar, breathtakingly pure, soaring vocal range, and chooses to highlight that with layers of gorgeous arrangements in many of the songs.  But I think comparing her to Florence would be a shame, because she's her own person.  And writes songs that can make me cry.  Way to go, Washington.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP get your hankie out

YOURZ

Megan Washington is one seriously talented young woman.  But more than this, she comes across as a really nice person and one who takes what she does seriously but doesn't behave like some prima donna.  Her first appearance on Spicks & Specks, as Mine mentions above, saw her perform by singing songs from an unrelated piece of text.  Quite simply, she blew everyone away.  Her second appearance only reiterated this.

We rushed out and got a couple of her EPs.  These are great but only really hinted at the depth of her talent.  Then along came I Believe You Liar, her debut album.  I haven't listened to it near enough yet to pick favourite tracks but suffice to say this is a stunning debut from a talent I expect to hear for years to come.

It would be easy to make comparisons to Florence, Lily Allen or whoever, but the fact is Megan is her own person.  But what is more pleasing than anything else is that real, honest, talented people are still getting the attention they deserve.  You just have to take your time to find them.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/meganwashington

Florence & The Machine - Lungs

YOURZ

As music fans, Mine and YourZ (truly) read a lot of music magazines.  Our favourite is Q Magazine, although it does have a habit of putting the bloody Gallaghers on the front cover.  Still, it's the content we love, not the covers.  And it has quite probably the largest review section of any music magazine out there.

Like a lot of British press, it spends a lot of time hyping up local acts, often to the extreme and often undeservedly.  In Florence & The Machine's case, though, they actually got it right.  This is a stunning debut of a real, honest to goodness talent and one that's likely to be around for a long time (fuck, I hope I haven't cursed her in saying this).

Oh, sure, there are endless comparisons you could adopt if you wanted to be a wanker about it.  It would actually be a task because this young lady is a bit of a musical chameleon, switching and adapting her sound to suit her moods and songs.  So to start drawing the comparisons is a bit of a pointless exercise.  Don't look for them, just sit back and enjoy it.  Just take our word for it; this is every bit as good as the hype will have you believe. 

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

Why did it take me so long to buy this album?  I think I'm losing my music magazine mojo (MMM) - the ability to read a review and instantly know when an artist will appeal to me.  I think I've read about five reviews for Lungs and all of them made me want to buy it.  But I resisted the temptation because I hadn't actually heard any songs.  That's not surprising this year, because it actually takes quite some time to listen to all the CDs we're reviewing.  Plus I have a life, you know.  Work.  Housework.  Couches to potato on.  Cats to play with.  A husband to annoy. Stuff.

In fact, my time in the car, where I used occasionally to get exposed to new music, is now spent actively listening to old music.  But the other day, when we were wandering through a record shop, I bravely stretched my hand out and purchased this CD, gaining some of my MMM back and an appreciative remark from the pierced and tattooed goth girl behind the counter.

It's good.  Very good.  But it's taken me until today to realise whose voice it is Florence reminds me of.  It's Michelle Shocked.  Obviously that's where the comparison stops, because the wall-of-sound orchestration that F & the M use is nothing like the chirpy guitar-based folky stuff Ms Shocked was wont to push out.  It's an album I'm sorry I resisted buying for so long, and one I know I'll be playing for many years to come.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://florenceandthemachine.net/