Author: Woody Whyte

I am an escapee from deepest Dorset, now residing in sunny Brighton where I am currently studying Humanities at Brighton University. In between surfing the waves of hedonism of seaside society and dodging serious academic pursuits, I like to listen to music. I like to give my opinion on music, but even more so, I like to pretend that I know what I'm talking about. Thus, you find me here. Spotisfaction contributor, at your service.

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Reviews

Review: Best Coast – Crazy For You

Image courtesy of Amazon.co.uk.

Such is their ubiquitous presence online, it is difficult to say anything new about Best Coast which hasn”™t been repeated a thousand of times before. “It seems like the whole internet is talking about the Best Coast album” tweeted their record company Wichita Records last month. I, my Spotisfaction friends, shall try to avoid talking about their hilarious twitter feed, or famous boyfriends or music blog hysteria surrounding this album and the current wave of ”˜low-fi”™ bands from America (er, well, starting from now). Let”™s just concentrate on one thing, Crazy For You, the debut album by Best Coast, the solo project of Bethany Consentino from California accompanied by Bobb Bruno on bass and Ali Koehler on drums.

Far from reinventing the wheel, or doing anything which would typically generate the amount of press attention as they have, Crazy For You finds it”™s virtue by sticking with traditional low-fi philosophy of keeping things simple. The album is a meeting point between slacker culture of the 90s and minimal production (it was recorded in just two weeks). The album is full of nostalgia, sing-a-long melodies and throw-away lyrics about life, love and summer and it is this that makes the album such an enjoyable listen. Opening single ”˜Boyfriend”™ wouldn’t have seemed out of place on alt.rock radio playlists circa 1994. Grungy guitars playing a 3 chord structured verses and that rare beast nowadays, a guitar solo! But as soon as second track ”˜Crazy For You”™ comes along, it becomes apparent that there is another era which Best Coast are paying homage. The track is a concoction of the Shangri-La”™s aptitude of all things sinister and the Beach Boys ‘Surfin’ USA’. You can imagine Bethany cruising down the Californian coast with her boyfriend, basking in the sunshine as she is singing to him “I would kill you but then I”™d miss you”.

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Reviews

Review: Camp Bestival 2010

Image courtesy of Debretts.com.
Image courtesy of Debretts.com.

Hi-De-Hi Campers!

I”™m sitting in my lounge watching Nirvana”™s headline set at Reading Festival in 1992 on DVD. The heavy fuzz of Kurt”™s guitar, the chaotic nature of their live show and the screaming, unruly crowd is a far cry from my pleasant, family-friendly experience in the Dorset countryside at Camp Bestival last weekend.

My weekend, which was interrupted by shifts working for Oxfam, started with a midnight set by the exceedingly talented comedian Tim Minchin on Friday night in the Big Top. Minchin accompanied by a piano ran through a short but well received set of songs including an expletive-ridden attack on the ”˜mutherfucker”™ Pope Benedict XVI. But the highlight came at the end when Minchin was on the brink of doing the unforgivable by forgetting his words during an encore. Minchin”™s saving grace came in the form of a random trumpet player in the audience who started playing along and then was beckoned on stage by Minchin which turned into an electrifying 10 minute jazz improvisation with both performers showing off their formidable playing capabilities.

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Reviews

Review: Mystery Jets – Seratonin

Image courtesy of Amazon.co.uk

Mystery Jets career seems to be in an odd yet encouraging position compared to the wave of British indie bands that have fallen before them. Never achieving mass commercial success, but with a dedicated following, critic approval and song writing stamina to still warrant the attention of fans, critics and media alike. At the grand old age of 3 albums, the Mystery Jets have everything to play for. The good news for all involved is that the Eel Pie islanders from London have produced another gem to add to their last release, 2008”™s infectious ”˜Twenty One”™.

It seems inaccurate to state that the Mystery Jets have matured on this album, but there is a noticeable added depth to the song writing on ”˜Serotonin”™. ”˜It”™s Too Late”™ demonstrates the bands ability to recreate the grandeur of power-ballads without descending into Bonnie Tyler-esque melodrama. The melodies are as striking as the honest and tender delivery by lead singer Blaine Harrison, accurately evoking the feelings of many heart-broken 20-somethings across the land. ”˜Flash a Hungry Smile”™ feels like, what can now be titled as, a ”˜classic”™ Mystery Jets track. It”™s an experimental yet playful outing into the pop universe with fuzzy guitars, sweeping whistle harmonies and lyrics about the more promiscuous side of love. Like many songs in their back catalogue, it”™s instantly catchy yet they never bore, nor do they repeat themselves, such is the skill and craft of their material. And just when you think they”™ve peaked, title track ”˜Serotonin”™ starts its cinematic, pop assault on the listener. The vocal refrain near the end ”˜Sero, Serotonin”™ has been lingering in my head for at least 2 weeks as if to prove two points. Firstly that a) this is the best song of the summer so far and b) that I still haven”™t finished reviewing this brilliant album yet you moron!

There are a couple of tracks which contain some less inspired moments as these peaks. ”˜Melt”™ plods along, struggling to keep up with the 80s pop-euphoria pace and ”˜Lady Gray”™ lacks the flare of other tracks, but these are minor set backs. ”˜Serotonin”™ will cement the love for fans of the Mystery Jets and hopefully serve as an invitation card for those who may have passed them by. It”™s an album which is deserving of more exposure and a bigger audience than it will sadly receive.

7.5/10

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Playlists

Perfume Genius - Learning Image courtesy of Amazon.co.uk. Nobody loves an album of gloomy, haunting music about abuse, addiction and domestic turmoil more than this particular reviewer. You can imagine, therefore, my joy at discovering the debut album Learning by Mike Hadreas, 26, from Seattle who performs under the name Perfume Genius. Evoking similarities to singer-songwriters such as Antony and the Johnsons and Cat Power, Perfume Genius has written a heartbreaking yet wondrous record. The opening lyric on the title track and album opener, ”˜Learning”™, sets the ominous tone: ”˜No one will answer your prayers, until you take off that dress”™. The lyrics throughout are sinister tales of a damaged upbringing but are delivered with a fragility and innocence that is both endearing and captivating to the listener. Instrumentation is kept minimal with plonky-piano and breathy vocals and the occasional synthesizer. This creates an intimate listen, much in the same vein as The xx. When other elements come into play, such as the distorted vocal noises at the end of ”˜Perry”™, they are used to great effect, bringing a beautifully chaotic ending to a song about a broken and abusive relationship. The conflict between the dark subject matter and the light, strangely ethereal music is what gives the album a life span far greater than most releases. The arrangements on songs such as ”˜Mr Peterson”™ are simple, yet when you listen to the lyrics, their bluntness is chilling. ”˜He made me a tape of Joy Division / He told me there was a part of him missing / When I was sixteen / He jumped off a building”™. Learning, like the best albums, is not only beautiful but has a depth which will resonate for years with its listeners. It”™s what lies underneath the veil of black – the fragmented world of Perfume Genius – which makes this album truly outstanding. 9/10

Perfume Genius - Learning
Image courtesy of Amazon.co.uk.

Nobody loves an album of gloomy, haunting music about abuse, addiction and domestic turmoil more than this particular reviewer. You can imagine, therefore, my joy at discovering the debut album Learning by Mike Hadreas, 26, from Seattle who performs under the name Perfume Genius. Evoking similarities to singer-songwriters such as Antony and the Johnsons and Cat Power, Perfume Genius has written a heartbreaking yet wondrous record.

The opening lyric on the title track and album opener, ”˜Learning”™, sets the ominous tone: ”˜No one will answer your prayers, until you take off that dress”™. The lyrics throughout are sinister tales of a damaged upbringing but are delivered with a fragility and innocence that is both endearing and captivating to the listener. Instrumentation is kept minimal with plonky-piano and breathy vocals and the occasional synthesizer. This creates an intimate listen, much in the same vein as The xx. When other elements come into play, such as the distorted vocal noises at the end of ”˜Perry”™, they are used to great effect, bringing a beautifully chaotic ending to a song about a broken and abusive relationship.

The conflict between the dark subject matter and the light, strangely ethereal music is what gives the album a life span far greater than most releases. The arrangements on songs such as ”˜Mr Peterson”™ are simple, yet when you listen to the lyrics, their bluntness is chilling. ”˜He made me a tape of Joy Division / He told me there was a part of him missing / When I was sixteen / He jumped off a building”™.

Learning, like the best albums, is not only beautiful but has a depth which will resonate for years with its listeners. It”™s what lies underneath the veil of black – the fragmented world of Perfume Genius – which makes this album truly outstanding.

9/10