50-Word Reviews III

December 17th, 2006 by JayJay

Vyvienne Long - Birdtalk EP
I’ve mentioned her before in a tunesday-post, and I’m mentioning her again. Bass player for Damien Rice released a solo EP containing 5 lovely songs from which 2 are covers. And still, if her to-be debut album is anything like the 3 songs she wrote herself, I’d totally buy it.
Score: 11/14 Preview and Bonus!

Klaxons - Xan Valley EP
Another EP! These guys forced NME into labeling them with a new genre. Extremely young “new ravers” are the Next Best Myspace Hype and already rocked everybody’s socks @ London Calling this year. How they sound? “Like when Buzz Aldrin returned from the moon and turned Muslim”. I’m not sure yet. Score: 12/14 Preview

The Fratellis - Costello Music
It seems ages ago Arctic Monkeys crashed onto the scene, and Franz Ferdinand must have been something from last century. Anyhow, the British invasion of the popscene seems neverending. The Fratellis are next in line and, oh! how they deliver. It doesn’t get catchier and pubfriendlier than this.
Score: 10/14 Preview

Damien Rice - 9
I’ve tried to get around this album, because it would never be able top his debut “O”. And I still think so. But everytime I listen to it, it gets closer. It sounds the same on first glance, but things definitely evolved. “Just as delicate” became “Fuck you!”. But it’s still great. Worthy follow-up.
Score: 12/14 Preview

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager Talented English youngster combines guitar with a wide range of samples. Result: Fairly nice combination of Death Cab For Cutie lyrics brought with teen pop sensation Panic! At The Disco polished freshness, bleeps and tingles (not a bad thing!). Also props for the coolest band name of 2006. Score: 09/14 Preview