Year 2007 CD shopping (original release dates in brackets)
GRINDERMAN
"Grinderman" (2007)
initial impressions: more raw than recent Bad Seeds, not as raw as The Birthday Party; neither fish nor fowl. recommendations: 3. Electric Alice 6. Go Tell The Women 7. (I Don't Need You To) Set Me Free
BABYBIRD
"Between My Ears There's Nothing But Music" (2006)
initial impressions: too independent-minded to be popular; a renegade genius writing ugly-beautiful songs. recommendations: 7. Lighter 'n' Spoon 11. Beautiful Place 9. Shoutabout
THE BROKEN FAMILY BAND
"Hello Love" (2007)
initial impressions: a good gamble; immediately accessible, but still grows a little bit more with each listen. recommendations: 9. Give And Take 3. So Many Lovers 7. You Get Me
THE FALL
"Reformation Post TLC" (2007)
initial impressions: Smith on attack, his band slack and tight, just right; Deirdre O'Brien lights The Fall back. recommendations: 5. Insult Song 8. The Usher 7. Coach And Horses
ELBOW
"Leaders Of The Free World" (2005)
initial impressions: a winsome listen, ebbing, flowing, sometimes choppy, always with a nice turn of phrase. recommendations: 6. An Imagined Affair 1. Station Approach 4. The Stops
VIETNAMESE TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
"Tieng Dan Dan Toc Viet Nam" (2005)
initial impressions: impulse purchase following a performance at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi; it's OK. recommendations: 1. Ru Con Nam Bo 6. Cung Dan Dat Nuoc 8. Tran Thu Luu Don
BECK
"The Information" (2006 special edition)
initial impressions: great record, packed with studio cleverness, still somehow managing to sound like a gig. recommendations: 16. Inside Out 14. Movie Theme 17. This Girl That I Know
JARVIS
"The Jarvis Cocker Record" (2006)
initial impressions: impossible to live up to the standards set by Pulp, but the hidden track is a glorious one. recommendations: 13+1. Running The World 13. Quantum Theory 9. Disney Time
