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Does your iPod need refreshing? Check out what reader-writer Lucho Payne (our resident muso) has to say about some recent albums he finds rather good.
Artist: Fleet Foxes
Album: Fleet Foxes
Just in case you missed this one from last year, the Fleet Foxes debut album really is superb. Untold praise has been heaped on it since its release - The Guardian described it as 'a landmark in American music, an instant classic'. Even the album art-work has won awards. So what's it like? The music is probably best described as beautiful sounding indie-folk/rock. Every aspect of the music is supremely well-crafted. It is music that draws you in and takes you away to a more serene place - even though some of the lyrics are distinctly on the dark side.
If you're thinking of buying it, you should go for the 2CD Special Edition which includes the excellent single Mykonos.
Artist: Franz Ferdinand
Album: Tonight
So then, the old 'tricky third album'. And for Franz Ferdinand, it's an absolute triumph. What I like about this is that yes - we still have the thumping danceable FF beats; yes - we still have the belting FF trademark singalong chorus lines, and yes - we still have plenty of guitar. But they've somehow also weaved in whole streaks of bouncy bang-on electronica. Some of the critics didn't like this album quite as much FF's first two albums but I think it works superbly well.
Track one, Ulysses, is a classic example of Franz Ferdinand at their finest.
Artist: Delta Spirit
Album: Ode To Sunshine
Not many people have heard of California's Delta Spirit, but I was impressed by their live performance at the ICA recently and bought their debut album the following day. I was not disappointed. This is a very good album with many top class songs. It's a bit difficult to pin-down their musical style exactly, but they're sort of light indie-rock with alt-country influences. A bit like The Violent Femmes meets an upbeat Wilco with a few barrelhouse bar-room anthems thrown in.
Somehow, they're not yet on a major label.
Artist: Dan Auerbach
Album: Keep It Hid
Dan Auerbach is one half of The Black Keys, and this is his debut solo album. There are only two people in The Black Keys anyway, so it seems odd to do a solo. And the album, well, it sounds just like The Black Keys! So, what’s the point? Who knows.
Anyway, this album has had a warm reception from the critics, and I've found that the more I listen to it the more I like it. As with The Black Keys, it's raw no-nonsense bluesy-rock.
Artist: The Gutter Twins
Album: Saturnalia
One of my favourite albums from last year, Saturnalia features the vocals of the excellent Mark Lanegan. I saw them play at the Shepherd's Bush Empire last year and thought they were superb, all very anti-rock star with Mark Lanegan menacingly occupying dark corners of the stage.
This is their debut album, and it's an alt-rock classic with dark emotive themes combined with raw guitar-driven arrangements. Superb.
Album: Fleet Foxes
Just in case you missed this one from last year, the Fleet Foxes debut album really is superb. Untold praise has been heaped on it since its release - The Guardian described it as 'a landmark in American music, an instant classic'. Even the album art-work has won awards. So what's it like? The music is probably best described as beautiful sounding indie-folk/rock. Every aspect of the music is supremely well-crafted. It is music that draws you in and takes you away to a more serene place - even though some of the lyrics are distinctly on the dark side.
If you're thinking of buying it, you should go for the 2CD Special Edition which includes the excellent single Mykonos.
Artist: Franz Ferdinand
Album: Tonight
So then, the old 'tricky third album'. And for Franz Ferdinand, it's an absolute triumph. What I like about this is that yes - we still have the thumping danceable FF beats; yes - we still have the belting FF trademark singalong chorus lines, and yes - we still have plenty of guitar. But they've somehow also weaved in whole streaks of bouncy bang-on electronica. Some of the critics didn't like this album quite as much FF's first two albums but I think it works superbly well.
Track one, Ulysses, is a classic example of Franz Ferdinand at their finest.
Artist: Delta Spirit
Album: Ode To Sunshine
Not many people have heard of California's Delta Spirit, but I was impressed by their live performance at the ICA recently and bought their debut album the following day. I was not disappointed. This is a very good album with many top class songs. It's a bit difficult to pin-down their musical style exactly, but they're sort of light indie-rock with alt-country influences. A bit like The Violent Femmes meets an upbeat Wilco with a few barrelhouse bar-room anthems thrown in.
Somehow, they're not yet on a major label.
Artist: Dan Auerbach
Album: Keep It Hid
Dan Auerbach is one half of The Black Keys, and this is his debut solo album. There are only two people in The Black Keys anyway, so it seems odd to do a solo. And the album, well, it sounds just like The Black Keys! So, what’s the point? Who knows.
Anyway, this album has had a warm reception from the critics, and I've found that the more I listen to it the more I like it. As with The Black Keys, it's raw no-nonsense bluesy-rock.
Artist: The Gutter Twins
Album: Saturnalia
One of my favourite albums from last year, Saturnalia features the vocals of the excellent Mark Lanegan. I saw them play at the Shepherd's Bush Empire last year and thought they were superb, all very anti-rock star with Mark Lanegan menacingly occupying dark corners of the stage.
This is their debut album, and it's an alt-rock classic with dark emotive themes combined with raw guitar-driven arrangements. Superb.
Here Is The Writer : Lucho Payne
Lucho Payne works at UBS as an IT Consultant, and has spent the last eight years working in banking and investment management in The City. He regularly attends gigs and concerts, and his favourite venues are the Astoria, Borderline and the 100 Club. He occasionally plays guitar at various venues around town as one half of the acoustic duo "Fagan and Payne".
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