PJ HARVEY - The Hope
Six Demolition Project
Let's put it this
way: the last two minutes of "The Ministry Of Social Affairs" are
pure orgasm. Indeed, this album is so many heads and shoulders above everything
else released these days that when I see a negative review I go mad. To
paraphrase Alec Baldwin in that scene
from Glengarry Glen Ross, 'Lyrics are
weak? Fucking lyrics are weak? You are weak'. Besides, you don't hold lyrics against a rock star. You just don't. To be fair, even Harvey's slighter
stuff like "Medicinals" has a melody that will beat your year. Forget
about politics, this is excellent rock music. 9/10
TEHO TEARDO &
BLIXA BARGELD - Nerissimo
On a purely
subconscious level. 9/10
TACOCAT - Lost Time
If you
don't like "I Hate The Weekend", you are just trying to be clever.
And it's not even the best song on the album. "The Internet" updates
the "I Can't Explain" riff for 2016 and tells you everything you need
to know about the subject in question. Plus, "You Can't Fire Me, I
Quit" has the song title of the year. If you ever try to break up with a
girl, you will know exactly what they
are talking about. Punk rock with an edgy pop twist, Lost Time defines irresistible. 8/10
ANDREW BIRD - Are You
Serious
"Left Handed Kisses". And ten other songs, granted, but God oh God, "Left Handed Kisses". Here was I, talking to a friend, writing a story, going to a pub,
and suddenly there came the song I'd longed to hear for goddamn years. Fiona
Apple and Andrew Bird are doing something exceptional
here, and despite the fact that the title song is almost as good and despite
the fact that this is Andrew's best and most inventive album in years (musical
details are incessant), "Left Handed Kisses" is what this is all about. 8/10
WIRE - Nocturnal
Koreans
Nocturnal Koreans (interesting title - definitely puts ideas into your
head) is a collection of songs that didn't make it to the eponymous album from
2015. I loved Wire and I loved Nocturnal Koreans (oh the sound of it).
Again, this is perfect music for a hopelessly rainy day. 8/10
P.S. Oh, and Malamore is an enticing new album from the French band The Limiñanas, The Last Shadow Puppets
are just toothless and Cheap Trick will never write another "He's A Whore".
