Recommended albums released 8th January

Recommended albums released 8^th January

Cage the elephant – Tell me I’m pretty

This is another fantastic album but an incredibly under rated band although it does feel a little over produced in places. Something I will be listening to for the rest of the year and easily recommendable. It has some cracking upbeat numbers with memorable riffs and some catchy choruses. I think there was more than one occasion where I was contemplating throwing some talc on the floor and grooving, it has northern soul roots. I also drew comparisons with Miles Kane vocals. Trouble and Punching bag fulfill the singles market I imagine. They are my first ear-worms of the new year. If everything was equal, this would clearly be my favourite album of the week. However…..

David Bowie – Blackstar

The very last Bowie album. Incredibly sad, incredibly poignant, incredibly moving and incredibly good.

It is hauntingly great. This has been left to us as his last piece of art, and wow, its brilliant. There are heart-breaking moments to this album and Bowie meant them all. He was playing with us for the last time. This album went straight to number 1 on Friday and stayed there. I do not think anyone has ever had a number 1 album at the time of their death before. Every time I listen to this album I hear something new. The first track ‘Blackstar’ murmurs into reckoning to set the scene and tempo of the album and I can’t turn it off until the last track ‘I can’t give everything away’ dwindles into nothingness  and I start to mourn again. A massive triumph by Bowie who held his integrity when faced with adversity. Thank you DB xx

Hinds – Leave me alone

Well, hello Indie guitar pop and 3rd millennium new wave punks. Lazy basic chords and easy vocals combine to give us a fantastically put together album which is as enjoyable to listen to as it is easy.  They have been described as ‘garage pop’ and I think that’s fits just fine. I am drawing similarities to Kenickie blended with Vampire Weekend and even sounding like the lighter happier parts of the Libertines. Quite happy and easy to listen to, I like this album a lot.

Villagers – Where have you been all my life?  

This beautiful piece of work nearly passed me by but when I heard the opening track ‘Set the tigers free’ I was hooked. Sometimes a singers voice just sits right with me. This guys voice could comfortably sits over the tracks like a modern Paul Simon.  Lyrically its strong and anyone that can squeeze in the line ‘I hope you feel the same way, when it’s your turn to disappear, I’ll be cheering from the side lines with a sandwich and a beer’ is okay by me.

Yes its melancholy, but then so am I. Give it a go.