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Writer's pictureGuy McConnell

W/e 30/08/24 - Illuminati Hotties, Sabrina Carpenter, Fontaines D.C., GIFT, R.E.M.



Congrats to Fontaines DC who flicked many switches, and are #4 this year, just outside our overall top 20 along side WH Lung and Billie Eilish.


To top it off they have a very popular TOTW.


Decent showing from GIFT as well, comfortably in the top 20 this year. Sabrina is into the bottom 10.


Matt steams in at the end to snatch the 😀, his first for 3 months. Andy’s unmoved by the Oirish lads so takes the ☹️.


R.E.M. surprised a few and sit comfortably in the top half of the classics, saying hi to The Pogues and The Waterboys.


Andy

Illuminati Hotties - I'm sure I remember their previous album we listened to being a bit rockier, but this is still a decent slab of alt rock 6.5

Sabrina Carpenter - Decent but ultimately forgettable pop. Espresso is the song of the summer for a reason though 5.5

Fontaines DC - Slight improvement on second listen but they're just so bloody dour I really can't get on with them. I did like Starbuster though, it sounds like 21 Pilots 5

GIFT - A nice mix of shoegaze and PSB style propulsive bangers 7

TotW - Starbuster by Fontaines DC

REM - Not one of my top albums of theirs but still a pretty good listen 7


Guy

Illuminati Hotties - Pleasant and easy to listen to, but it all felt a bit lightweight - 6.3

Sabrina Carpenter - Pretty bog standard female vocalist singing about her love life as they all do - 5

Fontaines DC - Interesting change in style from previous offerings. I thought it worked well. More than a few catchy tracks - 7.8

GIFT - Loved this. Had a real early 90s feel to it. A bit shoegazey. A bit dancey. A bit psychodelic. A great find - 8

TotW - Favourite by Fontaines DC

REM - A decent album which I’ve never listened to. But it lacked a banger for me - 7.5


Simon

Illuminati Hotties: seem to remember finding her previous album quite irritating but this is much more palatable - didn't blow me away but the songs are well-crafted with the occasional hint of the Breeders. 6.5


Sabrina Carpenter: inconsequential and mediocre mainstream pop - I know she's supposed to be massive at the moment but struggling to see why when the songs are this forgettable. 4


Fontaines DC: a distinct improvement on their last album to my ears - it has a lighter and more expansive sound for starters - although something about them still doesn't quite hit the mark and I'm yet to be completely convinced they fully merit all the acclaim that has been pushed in their direction. 7.6


GIFT: it will come as no surprise to most of you that this absolutely ticks all the boxes for me - whilst it doesn't offer anything radically new it's a thoroughly enjoyable blast of shimmery, melodic dream pop (Glow could have been on the last PBE album). 8.2


REM: I've never really bothered with REM since Shiny Happy People annoyed the hell out of me back in the early '90s, although quite impressed by this - still not a fan of Michael Stipe's vocals, but this has a slightly sprawling, rough round the edges feel that appealed. 7.5


TotW: GIFT - It's All Too Fast


Justin

Illuminati Hotties - like a good Taylor Swift. A couple possible totw like I would like , still love you 6.9


Sabrina Carpenter - boring moaning. 4


Fontaines DC - probably the closest we have been to a true zeitgeist album since we have been doing these reviews. Dark brooding indie with that little extra magic that makes a classic 8.5


GIFT - some interesting floaty style ambient indie 6.7


TOTW Fontaines DC - In the Modern World


REM - appreciate there are no bangers as such but this is a collection of well crafted songs. Great lyrics, the haunting vocals of Michael Stipe and the usual solid music. E bow the letter is an all time great song 8


Erol

Illuminati Hotties - decent enough girl pop-rock. 6


Sabrina Carpenter - a cutesy female pop vocalist whose music does next to nothing for me. 4


Fontaines DC - I enjoyed this more than their live set on Saturday. Better than their last album, this is dark, intense and raw but at the same time, more polished. A strong offering with a number of standout tracks. 8.3


GIFT - as others have noted, an enjoyable blend of shoegaze and electronica. Reminded me at times of Slowdive. 6.8


TOTW - Fontaines DC, In the Modern World (Justin, you beat me to it!)


REM - I was always a fan of REM but have never listened to this. It’s not up to the same standard as some of their earlier albums that I know (Out of Time and Automatic for the People) but still, it’s an engaging listen. There’s something about Stipe’s vocals that draws me in.


Phil

illuminati hotties

Enjoyable guitar pop that benefits from the garagey production. Nothing earth-shattering and not a band that I’d bother to see live but this was half an hour well spent. 7


Sabrina Carpenter

This wasn’t quite as tedious as I had expected – there’s quite a bit of variety in the dozen or so tracks – but it just isn’t my thing. 4.5


Fontaines DC

This didn’t grab me at first but when I played it again I began to get into it. I’ve heard them called post-punk; well this album sure ain’t that. In fact, it’s hard to pin it down to a particular style or genre and, in the end that might be its strength. I’m now going to have to listen to their earlier albums … 7


GIFT

Enjoyable enough indie jangle from a band that clearly adore the Psychedelic Furs. If they were on at a festival I’d probably watch their first two or three numbers before wandering off in search of something more interesting. 6


TOTW – Fontaines DC – Death kink


Classic

REM

Believe it or not, this was the first REM album I DIDN’T buy. I’d followed them all the way from Murmur right the way up to Automatic for the people. Thing is, I must have been one of the few that didn’t think that was their finest work. When it was followed by the fun but disposable Monster, it seemed to me that they had finally run out of steam.


Well more fool me! This might actually be their most radical sounding record since Chronic Town. It has everything that made the band great – Buck’s stellar guitar work, Stipe’s vocals up in the mix, Mills’ backing vocals on point – plus some of their most striking arrangements.


e-Bow the letter followed by Leave. What a double whammy! 8.5


Sam

Illuminati hotties: enjoyable indie pop . 7


Sabrina Carpenter: perfectly ok pop , tooo long tho : 6


Fontaine’s : liked the first album and saw them on that tour , since then I have actively disliked them . This is better , more varied , lush at times . But doesn’t gel together enough : 6.9


Gift : very lovely , dreamy and catchy .7.7.


TOTW : Giow by Gift


REM: didn’t know this at all . What a lovely thing it is . His voice is on point and dunno why Wake up bomb wasn’t a hit . What a belter. 8.2


Mark

Illuminati Hotties - nice bit of Phoebe Bridgers style grunge lite, even goes a bit Weezer in places - 6.5


Sabrina Carpenter - not wholly terrible by any means, but all a bit predictable and sounds like was written by committee. In a very crowded market for this kind of thing, not sure it's different enough to stand out - 5


Fontaines DC - the act that has excited / intrigued me more than anyone else since Arcade Fire. This is another big leap forward sonically from previous albums and although I miss the old rollicking Dublin punk stuff it's a sign of a great band to keep progressing like this. Some of the tracks on this album are now the highlights of their live set, not many bands have that. There's trip hop, post punk, jingle jangle, gorgeous slowies, even a touch of nu-metal, and each time I listen I get a new favourite. Absorbing stuff - 9


GIFT - lovely shimmering shoegazy dream pop, shades of Chvrches and Pale Blue Eyes, all chugs along very nicely, only criticism would be it doesn't deviate from the template enough and the odd change of pace / instrumentation wouldn't go a miss - 7.5


TOTW - In The Modern World by FDC


Jim

illumunati hotties 7

I really enjoyed this - just a nice mix if edgy pop and alt-rock, with a interesting message or 2


Sabrina Carpenter 4.5

First listen I only really noticed the nice enough pop tunes, even a bit Pink Pantheress at times. But when I was concentrating more the stories, boy, they are shallow. So many female leads do this so much better.


Fontaines DC 9

It's just frickin brilliant, isn’t it?

Confirms, for me, they are the most exciting and original band in the last 5 years. 4 albums in that time is some effort. Yep, the last had a few average numbers, but there's none on here.

First half in particualr is just outstanding, slows a little then comes back for a terrific duo at the end.

I'm with you Mark, along with CSH, the most interesting outfit since Arcade Fire. Roll on THE gig of next summer. Shellsuits and mullets optional


GIFT 8

Delicious addition to the PBE, NOL, KVB set. Just need to reduce the name by 1 letter to really fit in.


TOTW - it's probably In the Modern World, but Starburster, Bug, Here's the Thing and Death Kink could all be there.


R.E.M 8.5

Loved this, so many good tunes with that unique REM-sound. I only gave it one listen and reserve the right, in the words of skinner, to increase to 9 in four beers time. I've never got into their albums as much as i should - more a greatest hits level fan til now. I think I will change that.


Annette

Illuminati Hotties - 6.5


Sabrina Carpenter - 5


Fontaines DC - 9


GIFT - 7


TOTW - In the Modern World - Fontaines. ( I have listened to this album a lot this week. There are lots of good tracks)


Matt

Illuminati Hotties - Seemed more considered than previous outings but a nice slice of guitar- drivn indie with a grungey edge. 6.8


Sabrina Carpenter - not my normal environment but undeniably well made catchy pop (Espresso) with a nice warming slug of country (Slim Pickens was pure Dolly). 7.2


Fontaines DC - Not their loudest cheerleader, but there must be something to them, so I approached this listen like a Duolingo lesson, and you know what, j'ai vraiment apprĂŠciĂŠ. They're interesting to the point of frustrating sometimes, and some of it's hard work but there's plenty to engage with a few proper stand out tracks. 7.6


GIFT - very enjoyable soaring shoegaze electronica. 7.8


Totw - Fontaines DC, In the Modern World





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