Author: misterstory

Posted in Album of the Month, Uncategorized

December: Beach House – Thank Your Lucky Stars

Posted on by misterstory

Good evening. Welcome to Beach House – Thank your lucky stars.

9 years ago I was checking out what was happening in Manchester that coming weekend. ‘Beach House’ were playing at Day and Night that Saturday. I googled them, came up with a you tube or two and ordered the album as I liked what I heard and wanted to know more before going to the gig with Stacey. I loved the album …. but we never went to the gig. Can’t recall why.

That 1st album was a very honest, raw affair. It was early enough in the whole ‘dream-pop’ (yuk) ‘low-fi’ (puke) thing that many of the tropes of the genre had not warn thin. The 2nd album didn’t move it on and I didn’t love it. Then they released ‘Teen Dream’ that everyone except for David loved. Teen Dream was a big step forward and played with lots of the same ideas but paired them with some really strong, catchy pop songs. Literally everyone who has heard it at our house has gone out and bought it.

2 years later they released ‘Bloom’ which annoyed the shit out of me. They released the same album again but with a different cover. There was nothing new. It was embarrassing how formula driven it was. Love affair over.

In August of this year they released ‘Depression Cherry’ I was excited as Beach House have such a big place in my heart … but was disappointed again as there was once again nothing new and the formula had been trotted out yet again. So it was with disgust and huge frustration that they released another album 2 months later! WTF! Quality control anyone?

However, when I listened to this one I heard what I had wanted to hear for the last 2 albums. Some new ideas, playing with some new instruments, possibly a bit darker return to their debut that I loved so much. A couple of tracks blew my socks off (‘All your yeahs’ and Elegy to the void’). It felt more honest and real than anything that they’d released since their debut. In some ways it feels like a debut. I’ve had this on hard rotation. My wife adores it and reminds her of our early days which always helps. I am conscious that this may be more of a ‘heart’ choice than a ‘head’ choice as Album of the Month but what the hell. Live dangerously.

Merry Xmas.

 

Posted in Music chat

Best Hip Hop Track Ever …

Posted on by misterstory

So, what is the best Hip Hop track? Full stop (period) (etc).

I drive around a lot in work and ask myself such pointless but entertaining questions. Obviously we could debate this for every genre … but I thought we could start a debate on Hip Hop.

I am going to suggest 5 nominees. Perhaps we all could?

I thought about suggestion a debate on the criteria initially including the obvious question …. what is Hip Hop? But I thought ‘nah’ let’s just see what we come up with. My choices are dictated by my age to a degree ….

Here’s my 5;

(the short list included Outkast BOB, Lupe Fiasco – Push Kick, Salt N Pepa – Push it (oh yes), A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario, Notorious BIG – Hypnotize, Wu Tang Clan – Cream,

1) Eric B and Rakim – Paid in Full

2) Public Enemy – Fight The Power

Full 7 minute video that was never played on MTV

or alternatively the opening credits to ‘Do the Right Thing’ (the best opening credits in cinematic history?)

3) Luniz – 5 on it (is this choice controversial? one hit wonder … stone cold classic)

4) Dead Prez – Hip Hop.

 

5) Kanye West – Jesus Walks

Posted in Album of the Month, New Tunes

AUGUST: Miguel – ‘Wildheart’

Posted on by misterstory

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Dear Brothers. Happy August. Sorry this is late. I think its my first ever late buy/post so please don’t hold it against me for too long. This month has been pretty painful for me choosing an album. I’ve not had enough head space to look into my own collection and/or new things to have something nailed on for the choice.

Months ago I posted ‘NWA’ by Miguel on the blog. I don’t recall it getting much of a response which is often a sign of how busy we are rather than how much we like or dislike something so I didn’t lose too much sleep about it. I was excited to see an album follow shortly and to see it gather positive reviews from all corners of the music media. I decided then I would choose it as my next album of the month … then I chickened out … then I chickened back in again. Then I decided Mbongwana Star was a better bet but found David had it (how much do you spend on music Brother David? You are a one man music industry!).

So here we are listening to (and hopefully) enjoying Wildheart. So what is it apart from the winner of the worst cover of any of this blogs previous albums of the month? There are numerous interviews with Miguel suggesting his inspiration behind this album. There are numerous interpretations of the album offering different suggestions as to how he got where he did with this one. The cover says ‘Prince’ so does the fact that many of these tracks are guitar driven. He is filed under ‘Alternative R&B’ on many sites. WTF is Alternative R&B anyway? I admit that i did come across him via a spotify Alternative R&B playlist so I can’t complain about the genre too much but it seems to be a tag that was created for Weeknd and then others were labelled accordingly?

For me, what ever the aim of this album was, the end result is pure pop. It has boatloads of Californian swagger. It has head-nodding tracks, sleaze and stadium-pop-rock anthems too. I think I chickened out from choosing it as the 3rd track ‘The Valley’ was a lot to take if you are new to this, not a huge R&B fan and not too keen on the naming of female body parts as the lyrical content to a bridge section of a pop song. The album is not shy of sexuality but I think this comes across as being ‘sex-positive’, if this is even a term? I don’t think this is offensive sexual referencing, overt but not offensive? For you to decided. Anyway, don’t switch off after Track 3 cause all the pop songs come after it.

I do suspect that Guy, you may need find this a tougher listen than David or Nolan but I may be totally wrong.

In its Californian-ness it feels like a summer album. In its love of a chorus it comes across as feel-good. I hope you enjoy it too.

Posted in Uncategorized

(introducing?) Lapsley

Posted on by misterstory

So I am very infrequently ahead of the curve so sorry if this young lady has been all over the place and I am late to the party … but I love what this young lady does. She’s 18, from Southport and sounds very beautiful.

This one is very ‘Lordes’ in her vocal delivery, it perhaps has what you were missing from the Lordes album Brother David?

Posted in Album of the Month

APRIL: Sufjan Stevens ‘Carrie and Lowell’

Posted on by misterstory

carrie-and-lowell

By now you should all have your copy of this album. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up on the site.

I’ve owned this album for about a week now and while I have spent some time with it, I’ve not been able to focus on it as much as I would like to. Therefore, this won’t be the usual heartfelt, personal introduction that so often Album Of The Month posts are. What I will do is share my path to this album and my initial thoughts.

My introduction to Sufjan Stevens, like so many others was through ‘Illinois’ a concept album of tracks inspired by the state, perhaps the worst idea for a concept album ever … but one of the finest albums of its decade (in my humble opinion). The critics agreed and Sufjan became a relatively well-known name in the 20-40 something, music loving, gig-going crowd. From there I went backwards to ‘Seven Swans’ which is a far simpler affair more about song writing than the complex musical adornment seen on Illinois. I missed a lot of what came after Illinois (4 albums including an Xmas album that really is worth a listen when it comes to that time of year again!) and picked up again with Age of Adz. This was released around the time that Silvia was born and very much reminds me of the time and feelings involved. For this reason it has a very special place in my heart. However well received by critics I think a lot of people found that a step too far in terms of musical trickery (wankery) and needless complexity. An album and an EP later and Sufjan releases Carrie & Lowell.

The album is inspired by the death of his troubled Mother, Carrie and her life including her relatively short relationship with his Father (or Carrie’s partner? I cant recall and am not too concerned about these details) Lowell. That doesn’t sound like a particularly good start for many … expect for me. As has become obvious through the course of our ramblings, I love a musical tear-jerker. I have a very high threshold for heart breaking personal lyrics and always have. I have no problem that the hook on ‘Fourth of July’ is ‘We’re all gonna die’ a sentiment that Sufjan has visited on numerous previous tracks in less detail and with more poetic disguise. This album is full of emotional detail and no attempt at disguise … unless you compare it to something like ‘Benji’ by Sun Kill Moon (a favourite of mine from last year). ‘Benji’ was heartbreakingly sad and even I find it a tough listen unless I am in precisely the right place.

The difference for me is that ‘Carrie & Lowell’ is hypnotic in its presentation, its beautiful in its simplicity. Mr. Steven’s has removed many of the musical obstacles that he created in earlier works to reveal the beauty of his melodies. His voice is a fragile and at points a brittle instrument but it is perfectly suited to the lyrical content. At points he sounds like Elliot Smith which for me is no problem as he is another artist that I have held close to my heart (I am an ageing, depressed and confused teenager after all).

The big question I think others will need to answer is ‘do I find this depressing or do I find it beautiful?’.

Enjoy (if you think that is the right word).

Posted in New Tunes

Sufjan Stevens

Posted on by misterstory

Lovely new track from Sufjan Stevens upcoming album. Back to basics and simple production / instrumentation. This is one I’ve been looking forward to this year. Sounds right up my street, an album full of heartbreaking songs about his recently lost Mum. Grab the tissues.

Posted in Uncategorized

I Love Makonnen

Posted on by misterstory

I’m not claiming to be up on anything new here but I am really enjoying this, more so than anything like this that I’ve heard for some time.

The three tracks below are from a self titled 7 track EP.

Is the EP having a re-surgence in the digital world? I always though downloading would destroy the LP as an art-form but it seems to have increased the release of EPs? Not sure if this is correct or not but it feels that way?