Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod the Mod finds his solo footing, headed for stardom, with the Faces in his wake.
6:00 AM GMT 22/06/2011
Features Disc of the day
My Morning Jacket
Z
(ATO/RCA, 2005)
A refreshed line-up and a transcendent fourth album from the Kentucky quintet.
First, an apology: MOJO’s review of Z in October 2005 came accompanied by one of our less successful illustrations. In a Spinal Tap-esque communication breakdown what was meant to be a monolithic representation of the band’s mysterious muse (like the ‘dawn of man’ sequence in Planet of the Apes, we imagined) looked more like an advert for a men’s deodorant stick (probably called something like Graphite). What we originally envisaged was on a more cosmic scale. Something more like this album: huge, ambitious, romantic and questing. Gone were the shaggy jam band who transplanted their epic live shows faithfully onto their earlier recordings. Here, My Morning Jacket threw open the windows of their home recording set-up and headed for the sun-dappled hills of The Big Music and a proper recording studio, ushered on their way by producer John Leckie (whose contribution to MMJ’s new sense of sonic freedom and disciplined approach to quality control should not be underestimated). Freed from the insecurities that previously made him drench his voice in reverb, singer Jim James’ falsetto soars clear and confident. Breathtaking opener, Wordless Chorus declares: “We are – the innovators/They are – the imitators.” It’s a startling assertion from a singer once content to mumble sweetly from behind the hair curtain of lo-fi Americana. Among the album’s many peaks, Gideon, ostensibly about an obstreperous parrot has a neat metaphysical subplot on the debasement of religion, a celestial crescendo and booming drums. It’s impressive stuff. If only we’d asked for that monolith in feet instead of inches.
Jenny Bulley
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 6:00 AM GMT 01/09/2008
Further Listening
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Bella Union, 2008)
Panda Bear - Person Pitch (Paw Tracks, 2007)
Previous Disc of the day
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Earl Brutus - Larky
Last salvo of Ginsters Pasty-Warholism from Britpop ramraiders.
12:04 PM GMT 08/06/2011
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Loudon Wainwright - T-Shirt
An overlooked small wonder from an unpredictable career.
6:00 AM GMT 03/06/2011
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Landscape - From The Tea-rooms Of Mars… To The Hell-holes Of Uranus
Dry computer club Futurists, upon hitting implausible chart paydirt.
6:00 AM GMT 17/05/2011
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Causa Sui - Summer Sessions Vol 1-3
Epic Danish jams, for when the neighbours get you down.
6:00 AM GMT 12/05/2011
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One of the best records of 2005.
Posted by M.A.Melo at 11:23 AM GMT 12/09/2008 Report Abuse
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