First Aid Kit take it but in a low scoring week. Guy gets the smiley face and Andy the sad face!
Andy
Special Interest - Not special and not much to hold my interest. It definitely improved on second listen but that wasn’t hard. 3.5
Last Dinosaurs - Pretty meh really, like a poor man’s MGMT 5
Phoenix - Thought I was listening to Last Dinosaurs again. Meh 5
First Aid Kit - Quite nice bit of Americana, surprised to see they’re Swedish. Nothing spectacular but the best of a very average week 6
TOTW - Wild Horses II by First Aid Kit
Talking Heads - All bangers throughout. A great album from a classic band 9
Guy
Special Interest - I quite liked this on first listen - it was punky in parts but also very tuneful - quite an interesting mix. But weirdly, I listened a second time and didn't enjoy it as much - 6
Last Dinosaurs - I'm not sure what I was expecting from this but I was pleasantly surprised. Andy's right it's got shades of MGMT and Phoenix but that's a very good thing. - 7.8
Phoenix - I've always loved Phoenix. It's right up my boulevard. This is a really solid album. Maybe not quite in the Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix category but very enjoyable nonetheless - 8
First Aid Kit - Not sure what I was expecting with this lot but found it a pleasant listen even if it didn't pull up any trees. - 6.8
TOTW - Tonight - Phoenix
Talking Heads - Some classic tunes on this. A bit long mind. Scores up thanks to the wonderful memories of Danny Rampling played Once in a Lifetime as the last song at Villa Stefano once and seeing the crowd go nuts - 8.5
Mark
Special Interest - part invigorating and vital, part borderline unlistenable. The good bits are along the Idles/Viagra Boys line that I love, but some of it was very hard work - 6
Last Dinosaurs - overly treated vocals and largely anonymous tunes made for a pretty unmemorable listen. When it touched on Prefab Sprout it got a bit better, but just not strong enough melodies - 4.5
Phoenix - this could easily have gone the same way as the above, but I just felt they really pull off this hyper glossy 80s sound so much better, enjoyed this on both listens - 7
First Aid Kit - charming scandi Americana, I really liked this album, gorgeous vocals and strong songs all the way through, wish I'd gone to see them at Pryzm on Tuesday - 8
TOTW - A Feeling That Never Came, by First Aid Kit
Simon
Special Interest: it's messy and chaotic in places, and some of it isn't very good, but it's a far more entertaining listen than the other three albums this week. 7
Last Dinosaurs: in the same ballpark as Phoenix, but if anything this is even more nondescript. 5.3
Phoenix: not a band I'm familiar with and there's nothing here to want me to listen further - it's all a bit bland and wishy washy. 5.5
First Aid Kit: reminded me of Feist - pleasant enough, but not really my thing (title track was good though). 6.3
Talking Heads: a band I should probably have listened to more in the past, and it was interesting to hear some of their lesser known tracks (to me at least). Good stuff. 8
TotW: Special Interest - (Herman's) House
Erol
First Aid Kit - I didn’t realise they were Swedish until I looked them up. I’m a sucker for laid back, soulful folk/country (ie Carole King, Eva Cassidy etc) and this didn’t disappoint. Lovely foot tapping rhythms with beautiful harmonised vocals. The best album of the week by far. 7.8
Last Dinosaurs - juvenile, empty flim-flam. The lyrics made me cringe. I almost drifted into a musical coma listening to this. 4
Special Interest - not special and not interesting. Far too shouty and musically disjointed. What a racket. 3.5
Phoenix - this was better than Last Dinosaurs and at times, fairly enjoyable 80s style electro-pop. 6.5
TOTW - a feeling that never came by First Aid Kit. Very nice.
Matt
First Aid Kit - it felt like they've hit their stride with this album. It's still has a strong country feel but its more poppy and melodic. 7.5
Last Dinosaurs - the latter tracks had a bit more funk and were better for it. Otherwise reasonably generic 80s-tinged indie. 6.5
Special Interest - starts well with assertive nu-punk flecked withh dance (liked the piano on the single Herman's House). It lost its discipline though and descended into an unlistenable tantrum. 5
Phoenix - elegant, Gallic electro rock. 7
TOTW - After Midnight - Phoenix
Jim
Special Interest 7
Some of it is a tough listen but there are a handful of really good tracks and it was a good antidote to LD's. The variety from punk to house was special and interesting.
Last Dinosaurs 4
Occasional nice pop hooks, but mostly pretty insipid guff.
FIrst Aid Kit 6.5
Like it. Sigrid does a folk album
Phoenix 5.5
Disappointing. Lots of nice sounds that failed to create any really good songs, even with the clear and obvious daft punk influences. Artefact was ok.
TOTW - Special Interest, Midnight Legend
Talking Heads 8
Some worldies in here, and a top live show, although perhaps a DNQ for our classics collection and better filed alongside the other live albums we did 2020
Sam
First Aid Kit : dunno why they sound like they are from Tennessee when they’re Swedish but this was lovely in a mediocre week . Made me feel warm and fuzzy ;7.2
Last Dinosaurs: dullsville 4
Special Interest: ooh a punk band from New Orleans ! Yet … they sounded like a German industrial band . Weird . 5.5
Phoenix : some lush Euro pop bits interspersed with some ‘meh’ parts : 6.9
Tune of the week : pretty slim pickings . The Only One by Phoenix
Talking heads - some crackers in here and a couple of wafty ones. 7
Justin
Special interest 6.7 bit shouty but better than expected particularly the first half.
Last dinosaur - 7 I really liked this. Good tunes and laid back vibe.
Phoenix 6.6 always think I should like them more but can't quite get into it.
First aid - pretty cool Americana vibe. 7.1
TOTW angel - first aid
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