(NLB<K>OB>PL:AAHGCHOB <AKBLF:KMBGA:O>FR;:;B>LFNLB<K>OB>PL Anti-Flag MGMT Various Artists Goldfrapp Fuck Buttons Mountain Goats The Bright Lights Of America Oracular Spectacular Future POP Seventh Tree Street Horrrsing Heretic Pride Sony BMG Columbia EMI Mute Records Remote Control 4AD Prior to receiving this album I’d only heard I was a little sceptical of this CD when it When I read that this CD was available for I’ve reverted somewhat back to female The end is nigh. Covering such expansive ground as the title track and had pretty well decided was handed to me in the On Dit office. I review I hurried to the On Dit office expecting artists; sick of grating voices and generic Britain’s Fuck Buttons have made an album personal religious persecution, imaginary how I was going to review it from that: always pictured another electro band with little to hear a mix of the dark, electronic dance guitar chords, Goldfrapp is one that I’m glad that sounds like in the implosion of the world cults, tributes to artistic greats and Chinese a bad idea. Let’s start with that track, ‘The talent and too much money to spend on fancy music of the type made by VNV Nation and to have in my collection. and the destruction of everything you know lake monsters; no one with an appreciation Bright Lights of America’: it’s catchy, well gadgets that practically write their songs for Apoptygma Berzerk. It was them, after all, What can I say other than this album is and love. And who would have guessed that of the literate and engrossing works of produced, easy to listen to and I hated it. them. Normally I don’t really give this kind who first coined the term ‘future-pop’ to positively beautiful. It opens with Alison they actually use a Fisher Price Karaoke John Darnielle can feel unsatisfied with The I don’t buy an Anti-Flag record for a of music the time of day. In fact I usually describe their particular brand of quasi- Goldfrapp’s charming voice, guitar and Machine to do it! Mountain Goats’ latest offering, Heretic catchy pop song. I buy it for raw energy and describe my musical taste as ‘anything, as gothic, intellectual trance. strings that make for a heavenly mix. The Opening track ‘Sweet Love For Planet Pride. Adopting a more heavily produced political outrage. So that was case closed, long as it has a guitar in it.’ But how wrong I The bright fluro cover of this compilation synth throughout is what traces Goldfrapp Earth’ initially sounds dreamy but then heavy accompaniment to his singing, I was at first they’ve signed to a major label and had an was to be sodismissive. warned me however that this is not what back to her past – a comparatively heavier distortion kicks in over the top of the magical- direly worried that the polish would shine established producer do the work and it just In Oracular Spectacular, electro duo (I awaited me. Future POP is a lot more, well, electro-pop I guess. sounding Casio keys. It feels like being ripped up everything but the centerpiece to all wouldn’t live up to albums like Mobilize and guess that’s what you call them) MGMT have poppy than I expected. The sleeve lists Some of the songs seem almost Air-esque from sleep to find that you have been bound Mountain Goats songs - his voice. Not to worry, Die For the Government. The album sounded produced one of the albums of the year so most of the bigger names in vocal electro- and take you to a place on a cloud or to the and gagged and are being dragged through my fears were soon allayed as the sparse yet like it might be OK for a few radio-friendly far. Self described ‘psychic pilgrims’ Andrew dance music (the Presets, LCD Soundsystem, echo of a bathroom where everyone sounds the mud (at least, so I imagine). unassuming backings complemented every tunes but as far as I was concerned it would Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwaser, whose Moby) as well as some unexpected additions great. ‘Happiness’ is an obvious stand-out In fact, the whole album sounds like one of the thirteen tracks without trampling be crap for Anti-Flag. paths first crossed at university in America, (The Killers?). On a side note, perhaps this song, it’s catchy and you’ll recognise it as a nightmare. But a good nightmare, in a the delicate beauty that is John Darnielle’s Nonetheless I listened to the album in full have worked together to create something collection isn’t so futuristic at all: the songs played on high rotation on the J’s at some Twin Peaks Black Lodge kind of way. There voice. The album flirts with musical genius and found myself reversing my judgement that is both original and catchy. kept reminding me of eighties films. stage. ‘Caravan Girl’ doesn’t do anything are animal sounds, screeching and an at every other turn but is unadventurous instantly. I still didn’t really care for the This work comfortably stands alongside The tracks are unmixed, with hooks and outstanding musically but creates that overwhelming sense of urgency and danger for the seasoned Mountain Goats listener. title track but working with Tony Visconti recent releases from other artists in the wobbly synths dominating. Future POP is unashamed feeling of being able to revel in that oozes from this recording that you can’t By the same token, how does one improve (you may have seen his name attached to emerging electro genre which I take to likely to have a broad appeal, as is the a typical catchy pop song.. The only injustice help but sit up and listen. Although it’s bleak, on near genius? His formula is a tried and records by David Bowie, T. Rex and Morrissey) include Cut Copy, Muscles and the Presets. point of compilations I suppose. Not to is that Seventh Tree ends all too abruptly and at no point are Fuck Buttons alienating, proven certainty as his prolific discography certainly seemed to work for the band. The already recognisable opening track sound disparaging however, this really isn’t you feel a bit gipped that it doesn’t keep something which doesn’t happen often in attests to. They hadn’t softened their stance, they had ‘Time to Pretend’ is destined to be one of a shabby collection. EMI marketed Future going for just a bit longer. noise. ‘In the Craters on the Moon’ delivers an included some heavier tracks, the lyrics are those songs that we will remember 2008 by, POP as reclaiming pop music from Idol and A gorgeous sunny album to help you ‘come By the time you get to track five, ‘Bright impression of an old soul thoroughly thrashed still laced with obscenity but the sound is while ‘Electric Feel’ sounds like it has been Home and Away crossover stars. That just to’ on a lazy Sunday morning. Tomorrow’ seems like a change in mood, by the anticipation of life uncertain and who more diverse, with the inclusion of a choir of around for years while still managing to give about nails it. The tracks were obviously until again, it descends into mayhem. But is finally caving to full blown existential crisis. children’s voices and orchestral instruments us something different. chosen on merit rather than popularity, and Natty xx by this point in the album you’d be a fool Amidst these and comparing one’s heart to an on several songs. After reading the press This CD is full of surprises including the as a result almost none of the songs got on to expect some kind of serenity. No rainbows autoclave, examining paranoid xenophobia in release I learned that they had wanted to almost folky ‘Pieces of What’ and ‘Weekend my nerves (barring one: my first reaction to and lollipops here. America and sympathising with forbidden create a greater depth for their lyrics which Wars’ which sound like they could’ve come ‘Marina Gasolina’ was to skip, and no matter Morse code-esque drums propel ‘Colours love Heretic Pride applies Darnielle’s knack has definitely been achieved. off of a different CD by a different band how many times I forced myself to listen to Move’ through to its climactic finale of for storytelling and eloquent phrasing to Strangely, for me the highlight is the and incidentally fulfil my above mentioned it I just couldn’t ever resist the impulse for indecipherable vocals and bird (monkey?) a wide range of challenging and quirky unlisted acoustic track, ‘Tar and Sagebrush’, musical taste criteria. Surely this first full more than half the track). Quite a few of caws (shrieks?) which then shrink back into subjects. which details the hypocrisy of many ‘Christian length release is the start of something big the tracks are gems. And this comes from keyboard twinkles. Street Horrrsing ends in For those of you who haven’t experienced patriots’ in America. The song relates the for MGMT. someone whose musical taste by no means almost the same place as it begins—a calm The Mountain Goats yet, this album would tale of a 20-mile journey where the narrator extends into the pop domain. place, hinting at something sinister and from be a good starting point, if only to prevent is subjected to humiliating torture from Mitch Overall, the CD’s got a good mix of well- beginning to end it is completely engaging scaring you off with the lo-fi production these ‘defenders’ of America for refusing to known and lesser-known tracks.