album Reviews

album of the month

Jack Colwell Ned Collette + Missy Higgins adam miller and the owls Wirewalker The Ol’ Delayed Picture Window 2 Razzle Dazzle Independent Independent Inertia Eleven 4/5 2.5/5 4/5 4.5/5 On his fourth studio Sydney’s very own Angular yet soft; lush Missy Higgins’s record, Delayed, classical-composer- but still sparse; third studio Newcastle’s Adam turned-alternative-pop-star, Jack Colwell, unsettling and, at the same time, vaguely album almost didn’t happen. After a Miller showcases his musicianship, brings his self-described ‘chamber-pop’ to familiar. Ned Collette’s new album, 2, five-year break from music, it performing all of the album’s 13 tracks on a life on his debut, Picture Window. With eludes simple description. Recorded seemed we might never hear from custom-built Jeff Taugot acoustic guitar — piano, flute and creepy vocals, Colwell between Berlin and Melbourne, this is not the jazzy-voiced, piano balladeer not an easy feat, considering the unveils a world of labyrinths and banquets, the bass/guitar and drums line up of again. However, there’s nothing like symposium of sounds and moods on the but doesn’t quite pull it off, musically. The Collette’s previous release. The songs on 2 a well-timed comeback to re-ignite a record. Every track has its own unique woodwind and Antony Hegarty-esque are shaped around nylon string guitar and career. Higgins’s voice has never elements and style within Miller’s technical vocals, coupled with Colwell’s baroque floating layers of keyboards. ‘Il Futuro sounded so strong, emotional and and intriguing jazzy groove, making it style, just don’t sit right. However I did Fantastico’ opens the album with witty empowered as it does on these difficult to choose a standout. The record enjoy ‘Captain’s Melody’ and the haunting rapid fire lyrics and jazzy, noodling guitars, tunes, and the time spent in the opens with the smooth and soulful ‘Noah’s shake of Colwell’s voice, tinged with followed by the loungey croon of ‘Stampy’. States has done wonders for her Little Nod’ before it begins to twist and frustration, on ‘The Labyrinth’. The lyrics There’s an uneasy mix of funk and folk, 80s songwriting. The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle turn, from the slow, emotional sounds of also rate high. ~Cormack O’Connor synths and lyrical, left-of-centre is her most varied, interesting and ‘Last Kiss’ to the brilliant blend of speed storytelling. The uneasiness works in beautiful collection of songs so far. and technique on ‘The Sleazy Song’ and hot Water Music Collette’s favour, drawing us in with She has taken risks with production ‘Honeysucker’. Guitar enthusiasts take Exister hushed overtones and an intimate sense of but nothing sounds trite or forced. note — Miller has delivered a string of crisp, Rise Records space that permeates the nine songs in this The current single ‘Unashamed funky songs perfect for a lazy Sunday 3/5 collection. Collette continues to explore his Desire’ is a standout, with its big afternoon. ~luke henderson It has been a while musical vision by taking us on a journey chorus and passionate lyrics adding since we heard from with unexpected twists and turns. a classic pop feel with edge. Resist The Hot Water Music. But ~Roger Thornhill Elsewhere, there’s signature piano Thought they are back with an album full of ballads (‘All In My Head’, ‘Cooling Sovereignty energetic, raspy vocals and aggressively Neil Young and Of The Embers’), a touch of blues Skull & Bones Records/Shock delivered songs. Album highlight ‘State of Crazy Horse (‘Watering Hole’), and the kind of 3.5/5 Grace’ sees the band at their most pop- Americana pop songs that wouldn’t feel out of To describe this album influenced. It’s not hard to picture a sweaty Reprise/Warner place on a Supertramp album as heavy would be an mosh pit screaming back the chorus “our 3/5 (‘Temporary Love’). Missy Higgins understatement — opener ‘Legion’ makes state of grace is gone”. The repetitiveness In his 66th year, and has always been ahead of the pack this clear from the get-go. There are some and catchiness of this tune leaves it with five decades of with her mature and heartfelt earth-shatteringly huge moments, like the ringing in your ears for a long while. As a music behind him, it’s not a stretch to songwriting, and this album proves bangin’ opening riff of ‘Extermination’. comeback album, Exister is nothing assume Neil Young doesn’t have a lot left she still has what it takes. Inspiring. Some breakdowns resemble a home-brand spectacular, but nor is it anything to sneeze in the tank. For Americana, his 34th studio ~Chelsea Reed Parkway Drive and the album tends toward at — there are plenty of better things to album, Young has called upon his long- the repetitive. However, quality metalcore sneeze at than a CD. And if you suffering, consistently brilliant backing riffs and great vocal layering make it easy downloaded it, then you’d just be sneezing band, Crazy Horse, to create a playful Jonathan Boulet to forget the mediocre moments. This on your computer screen and that does collection of contemporary folk songs, We Keep The Boat, heavy Aussie album will please most metal nobody any good. ~Sean Degan ranging from ‘Tom Dooley’ and ‘This Land Found The Sound, See heads… Enya fans need not bother. is our Land’ to a perplexing version of ‘God The Need, Start The ~Thomas Peasley Muscles Save the Queen’. At this point in his Hall of Heart Manhood Fame career, Young clearly owes the world Modular The Gaslight Modular nothing. But, compared to Bruce 4/5 Anthem 4/5 Springsteen’s recent inspired effort, this The elaborately titled second long-player Handwritten The follow-up album collection of standards is disappointing, to from Jonathan Boulet is a mature, Universal to 2007’s Guns Babes say the least. Young is still capable of sophisticated indie-pop adventure. Boulet 4/5 Lemonade has been a brilliance, given the scope of recent works has a knack for writing interesting and Four records into their long time coming but sees Melbourne like Le Noise and Chrome Dreams II. unconventional pop tunes which can career, it’s pretty clear electronica sensation, Muscles, reach new Americana simply isn’t in the same league. alternately sound edgy and uplifting. The what listeners can expect from any new heights in his exciting career. In an interesting Better to burn out than to fade away? Time gifted multi-instrumentalist creates Gaslight Anthem release: out-and-out, approach, each song on Manhood is a will continue to tell. ~Nick Mackay complex arrangements featuring an array heart-on sleeve rock and roll, that punches prelude to a track off his earlier album. The of instruments and a rhythmically exciting hard and fast and then scrambles to vocals are a bit of an acquired taste but if Regina Spector sound. The drumming is relentless sustain that intensity for 40 more minutes. you like Muscles’ previous work this is an What We Saw From throughout much of the album, providing a That’s exactly the case with Handwritten, album for you. Everything from the wailing The Cheap Seats core of energy that drives the colourful the Jersey quartet’s fourth and perhaps siren synth of ‘Boys Become Men’ to the Warner Music tunes. Some of the songs are instantly finest record to date. Nods to Springsteen thudding drums of ‘Heatwave’ will have 4/5 catchy and compelling, including single and Strummer run throughout – the you begging for more and possibly jumping Regina Spektor is cool. ‘This Song Is Called Raggard’ and the ‘Thunder Road’ harmonica at the about in fits of happiness. Muscles is letting Listening to her newest breezy charms of ‘FM AM CB TV’. Others beginning of ‘Keepsake’, the ‘hey hey hey’ down his hair, going out and fucking up the album What We Saw From The Cheap Seats require multiple listens, in order to refrain of ‘Howl’ – more homage than night one banging dance track at a time. is like hearing stories you’ve heard appreciate the choppy rhythms and layered hackneyed, however. Fans expecting a Yeah, uh-huh, uh-huh, yeah! somewhere before. Spektor’s quirky and complexity of Boulet’s songwriting, such as return to the scuzzy punk production of ~Cormack O’Connor unique piano, accompanied by bilingual the creeping melodies on ‘Black Smokehat’ debut Sink Or Swim will be disappointed. vocals, is masterful. Opener ‘Small Town and the foreboding atmosphere of But Handwritten is considerably dirtier Moon’ is a catchy start to an epic album. ‘Hallowed Hag’. Boulet’s subtle melodies than the band’s last release, American Slower tracks like ‘Firewood’ and ‘How’ and smooth, expressive vocals have the Slang. Not every track is a winner – ‘Too illustrate beautiful stories, adding emotion. individuality and range to match his Much Blood’ proves that the band is at Regina Spektor has done it again with this ambitious songwriting. This is intelligent, their best when they keep to a tight three offering of happiness and hope. Be excited eclectic pop. Give the hooks time to sink in minutes – but there are certainly enough and listen with greed. ~Eliza Church and those jarring rhythms will make a winners here to keep you warm through lasting impression. Stay tuned — this guy is winter and into the spring. Excellent. just warming up. ~Luke Saunders ~Max Quinn

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