I'm actually writing this on the plane, so the writing may appear shaky and somewhat sketchy. Even dismissive. But then again... maybe that was the nature of this month?..
A Guided by Voices kind of month. Universe Room was everything you need to know about Robert Pollard's songwriting circa 2025. A decent lo-fi indie rock fare with a few flashes of brilliance. "The Great Man" in particular is a highlight and well worthy of your imaginary Guided by Voices compilation. A couple of lovely ballads, too. None of which could mask the fact that if you never cared in the first place, there is no reason why you should start doing so now.
Apparently, House Of All are now going to follow the Fall work-rate and release one album per year. A noble aim no doubt, but after the excellent debut album from 2023, they have been relatively disappointing. House of All Souls is probably better than the previous one, but other than the driving opener "The Devil's House" and the slightly more downbeat last two songs, this lacks the oomph of their first album. I like the style, I just need better songs.
The Murder Capital are now in danger of never realising their true potential. Blindness sports a great cover and three excellent singles ("Words Lost Meaning" is almost Whipping Boy-worthy) and lots of mid-tempo songs that blend together without leaving much of an impression. Make no mistake, Blindness is rather good, but my feeling is that they have an Irish classic in them. A Heartworm, perhaps. Well, maybe not that, but something a little more consistent.
I'm still not quite sure about Squid. I found the edgy, tastefully disjointed post-rock of their previous album very intriguing, but Cowards lacks a bit in the songwriting department. The final three song punch almost saves it, but not quite.
The Delines are doing great things, as ever, with their nocturnal vibes, soulful lyricism and excellent musicianship. Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom is yet another winner in their catalogue. The first side feels like a brilliant mood-setter, and the second side is absolutely phenomenal. The vocal hook of "Don't Miss Your Buss Lorraine"? The lilting piano line in "The Haunting Thoughts"? The unforgettable middle-eight of "JP and Me"? The classy groove of "Nancy & The Pensacola Pimp" bubbling with lyrical tension? The entirety of "Maureen's Gone Missing"? One of the albums of the year, surely.
I understand that Sam Fender is now one of Britain's greatest music hopes, but I'm afraid I just do not hear it. People Watching is no different from his two previous albums. It sounds like a cross between The Killers and Bruce Springsteen, but lacks the edge of either. And The Killers never had too much edge to begin with.
God knows what Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield are doing to their legacy with these late period Manic Street Preachers albums. Critical Thinking is just dull. It is dull when they are trying to do something different (like with the opener) and it is dull when they are being conservative (which is most of this album). I don't get it. Nicky Wire released a brilliant solo album two years ago, and now we are back to this. Bizarre.
Songs of the month:
"Maureen's Gone Missing" by The Delines
"The Great Man" by Guided by Voices
"It's Amazing To Be Young" by Fontaines DC
"Words Lost Meaning" by The Murder Capital
"Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World" by Destroyer
"Tipu House" by Jethro Tull
"Born At Dawn And Dead At Sunset" by House of All
