Hi everyone and welcome to another edition of Tomorrow’s Sounds Today, where we at Spotisfaction Towers exercise our inner domestic goddess and serve you hot, delicious spoonfuls of the latest and greatest tunes fresh from the Spotify Fridge.
A good mix of music this week, from the eclectic jazz of Afrocubism to current commercial darlings Kings of Leon. As always, we hope you enjoy our choices but I would welcome all your feedback on the highlights, lowlights and slow burners this week. Did we miss a glaringly obvious release? Let us know and it might make a revisited page or even warrant its own full length review! The comment section is below and remember that your voice empowers you (but please be polite). And so, to business!
Kings Of Leon ”“ Come Around Sundown ”“ I’ll be honest and say I’m not the world’s biggest Kings of Leon fan, but they are still very popular despite this, so I am sure that news of the album will be well received in some camps. Musically, this record doesn’t sound a huge departure from earlier work and that’s by no means a bad thing. I almost get the feeling they’ve played it safe, ensuring they hit the same target as before. It’s a competent, enjoyable album but I fear the only negative, if there is one, is that there is not the immediate impact that the singles of its predecessor had.
Belle & Sebastian ”“ Write About Love – So out with the politically neutral review of Kings of Leon, and into the selfish all-praising review of one of my favourite groups… Let’s not say we at Spotisfaction are not about balance! According to my Spotify, all the current Belle & Sebastian albums are 2010 releases so I suspect some contractual wrangling in the background or a mass re-issue. Earlier in the year we spoke about Push Barman To Open Old Wounds and how much I still enjoy listening to that record. This new LP is definitely a shift in direction but not a full-on change of lanes. It feels less relective and has a more dreamy shine to it, for want of a better description. Musically it is as strong as ever and I think will go down just as well with fans.
Antony & The Johnsons ”“ Swanlights – This group were new to me at the point of writing but I always enjoy the unknown artists the most, as they represent the opportunity to find a new favourite band each time. It also allows me to listen with an unfiltered mind and appreciate something for what it is rather than have my mind (however slightly) made up in advance. I have to say that this record really hit the spot for me. A wonderful mix of piano, guitar and strings, I felt hints of Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley and even a little Radiohead in places. Musically the sound produced feels very deep at times and haunting at others, but it remains another success for me on the “try something new” board and I hope you enjoy it too.
Eliades Ochoa ”“ AfroCubism ”“ Something different for your Monday, and if we had one, this would be my Spotisfaction “Pick of the Week!”. I’ve always been partial to a little jazz, partly because it’s a genre with little in defining boundaries, it’s forever changing and challenging itself, with every artist defining their own sound through the ages. This is a mellow, perky instrumental album and certainly not one that conjours images of dark smokey Detroit or New Orleans jazz/blues clubs. This is, if anything, beach jazz (is that a real thing?). Some tunes have a latin edge whilst others an almost Caribbean draw but in each case, something a little different to whet the Monday musical appetite.
Badly Drawn Boy ”“ It’s What I’m Thinking Part One: Photographing Snowflakes – It has always surprised me how little attention and focus Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy gets for the sheer amount of work he seems to put in. I often wonder if he should change his moniker to Badly Publicised Boy and then I wonder if I’m missing the point. Perhaps like other artists cursed with creative genius, he fears invasive attention. This album brings nothing new to the mix but continues that fantastic musical completeness and enjoyable storytelling that have shined through his career. A fantastic work in terms of sound and scope which will leave newcomers trawling the back catalogue I’m sure!
Well, as the old saying goes, all good things come to an end. If you’ve enjoyed our choices this week then arm yourselves with joss-sticks and candles and pray to the gods as we are re-incarnated next week in our Classics Collected form, blowing the dust from some classic album sleeves for your musical enjoyment.
Below is the playlist containing all the above choices and as regular listeners will know, SpotiSanta always leaves a few extra treats at the bottom of his playlist stocking for you all to enjoy!
Tomorrow’s Sounds Today 18/10/2010
Peace, Love and Music
Battinski
