CRITICAL MASS albums ___

Produced by Grandaddy’s Jason stripped-down and mature affair. Lytle (with a little help from Rick Standout tracks such as lead single Rubin), Why Are You Okay was largely ‘Decisions Decisions’, the driving, recorded in a studio affixed to fuzzed–up indie stomp of ‘Stealing Bridwell’s family home. Occasionally Stars’, and the top–down driving rock he seems to be in two minds about of ‘Muddy Water’ are all examples the life he has chosen. First cut of a swaggering Americana that ‘Casual Party’ addresses the anxieties Wilco would be proud to call their of polite social gatherings: “The job, own. And, on songs such as ‘Save Me the babble on/ the recreational hobbies/ With Love’ – a cool breeze of a love No, it never stops.” Presumably he song – and on the sun–kissed ‘A Seam won’t be inviting the neighbours Of Gold’, it’s clear that the Norway– around for a listening session. based songwriter has crafted an Of course, there’s more to this album custom–built for the famous album than that, but the occasionally Irish summer: upbeat pop songs with sentimental lyrics largely address big, sunny choruses infused with a everyday life issues (love, doubt, sense that the clouds are gathering family, etc.). The melodic ‘Sitting just beyond the horizon. in a Drawer’ is more of the sound ‘The Wood Beyond The River’ is of a man questioning his choices: a perfect way to end the album: a “Do you love me? Which one is it?/ We carefully constructed mini–epic with should be living in a warehouse district... a sparsely arranged three–chord But darling, you know it shouldn’t repeated pattern that never goes be like that/ Can I go with you to the quite where you expect it to, its ebbs laundromat?” and flows are a testament to both Musically, despite occasional Chester’s production and Barrett’s samples, the overall sound is indie economic songwriting. rock infused with country/folk, with _Out Now // Peter McNally definite flashbacks to their previous four releases. CHECKPOINT Fans certainly won’t be disappointed. To this reviewer’s ears, Thorn Among The Roses BRONAGH GALLAGHER it sometimes sounds as though the MONO MANIC RECORDS Gather Your Greatness members of Mercury Rev all got ‘Sounds Of The City’ IND 07 married, settled down, and relocated ‘Hand On My Heart’ to the far outskirts of Nashville. Which isn’t a bad starting point at ALBUM NUMBER THREE FROM DERRY ACTRESS/CHANTEUSE all. DUBLIN-BASED ROCKERS DELIVER Still probably best known for her acting roles in the likes of The Commitments, Pulp Fiction and many _Out May 27 //Olaf Tyaransen BREAKNECK PUNK-INFUSED DEBUT others over a twenty-five-year career, Gallagher’s musical talents have been somewhat overlooked. Four-piece alternative band On what is only her third album, she gathers together the cream of local session musicians, including DERMOT BARRETT Checkpoint showcase their heavily guitar ace Conor Brady (who played on the original Commitments soundtrack) and drummer Dave influenced late-seventies and Hingerty (The Frames, etc). Dawns Eras Tides early-eighties rock style on their Kicking off with a classic Phil Spector-ish, ‘Be My Baby’ backbeat on ‘Can You Hear Me’ (also PLANETARY DISCS first album Thorn Among The Roses. featuring former Lone Justice singer Maria McKee) and the sweet soul of ‘Make It Easier’, it’s clear ‘Decisions Decisions’ The record begins with ‘Sounds of where her musical loyalties and inspirations lie. Her approach and singing style continues in the The City’, a catchy, punky opener tradition of a long list of white soul sisters, past and present: Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Amy Winehouse that evokes the best elements of the and Duffy (In fact it would be surprising if Dusty In Memphis wasn’t a major influence on the sound notorious Camden indie scene of the of this record - ‘Crimes’ could have been lifted directly from those 1968 sessions). The single ‘Radio’ FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR DUBLIN early noughties. ‘Abercrombie Like’ is (featuring a surprising cameo form Eno) is a swampy, bluesy, brassy stew – of the kind that Tina POWER POP GROUP a piffy, punchy track, reminiscent of Turner would have routinely belted out on her revue shows in the 1970s. For those of us who fondly remember early Green Day, while riveting drums But it’s on the steamy gospel of ‘Heal Me’ where she pleads for redemption like an old school the late, great Dublin band, Ten drive the track ‘Boy in Blue’, as faintly evangelist, and the slow-burning, ‘Hand On My Heart’ where her voice really shines. In the style of Speed Racer, it should come as no distorted guitar sounds flutter in Aretha’s ‘Share Your Love With Me’ and Lorraine Ellison’s ‘Stay With Me Baby’, the latter is a tour- surprise that former front–man and out. de-force performance from all concerned, with an arrangement straight out of the Atlantic Records Dermot Barrett’s first album released Midway through Thorn Among The studio rulebook. A strong collection of soul tunes that will bolster her reputation – and the perfect under his given name is a perfect Roses, the record is broken up by way to whet your appetite for her live shows. example of hook–laden power pop a welcome interlude. ‘Just’, a two- _Out Now //Colm O’Hare at its finest. What may come as a minute burst of instrumental joy, surprise is the fact that, for Dawns leads into the album’s most positive Eras Tides, he has got the band back tune. The lyrics – “Can’t go another day together. running from my fears” – offer depth to BAND OF HORSES to a primary school teacher. As for All three brothers Barrett are ‘Don’t Give In’. singer Ben Bridwell, the 38-year- present and correct, while Terry ‘Get Away From You’, ‘Breaking Why Are You Ok old father of four seems to take his Cullen returns on drums and Joe You Down’ and ‘Blowing Up Bombs’ INTERSCOPE/AMERICAN RECORDINGS parenting duties seriously. “I work all Chester, who also produces the are enjoyable, but because of their ‘Sitting in a Drawe night and then take them to school album, is back playing whatever he rapid energy, might have fared better in the morning,” he recently told an can get his hands on: guitar, piano, as brisk two-minute offerings. EW.com interviewer. “I’m the fucking organ and banjo. The easy rapport However, ‘Driven You Dead’ is the scariest dad in the school, I’m sure.” between these musicians adds up sort of song that you could listen to QUALITY SUBURBAN SOUNDS FROM Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but to a confident record, that’s skillfully for another ten minutes. Its pristine SEATTLE ROCKERS there’s a definite suburban theme played and tastefully rendered. Fans drumming and guitar solos are The question-mark-free title of to this album – which opens with of Ten Speed Racer and Barrett’s wonderfully engaging. On ‘Reasons Seattle act Band of Horses’ fifth a gloriously slow burning seven- previous solo work under the For A Revolution’, Seán Dunne’s album – their follow-up to 2012’s minute epic entitled ‘Dull Times/ moniker Maskedman (check 2011’s vocals particularly stand out, and the Mirage Rock – is apparently taken The Moon’ (“Setting sun, forgotten my The Illusion of Grandeur), will find LP is then bookended by the acoustic from a cheeky email that one of wine/ put the garbage where it doesn’t themselves on familiar ground, but track ‘Overboard’. producer Jason Lytle’s children sent belong...”). Dawns Eras Tides is a much more Overall, this is a superb debut

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