It's a busy community, it's friendship,
it's dating, it's romance - it's Sparkle.

for more info, visit JoinSparkle.com

January Album Reviews

Posted on 31. Jan, 2010 by Mike in Music, Reviews

Spoon, Transference, 2010
With all the electro music that’s dominating the charts at the moment it’s so refreshing to hear the new album from Spoon, their first for two years.
Transference sounds more raw than their previous album and about half the album’s songs are the original demos. But that doesn’t stop this album sounding fresh and interesting. Some of the songs sound under-cooked but somehow that adds to the charm of the album.
Stand out tracks are Nobody Gets Me but You; I love the piano break over an instant beat, Who Makes Your Money is a slow burning song which is quietly funky and mesmerizing, and the pretty piano ballad Goodnight Laura is a sweet song. The album also includes the excellent single Written in Reverse.
I recommend this album as it’s better than much of the indie music out there today – give it a try.

Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Ocean Colour Scene, Saturday, 2010
Their first album in a couple of years from this Britpop band which I´m really enjoying. Simon Fowler´s voice sounds amazing on the gorgeous ballad Just A Little Bit Of Love reminiscent of Roger Daltrey on his early solo albums.
The album has a good cross section of songs from the rocky Mr Maylie and Old Pair Of Jeans to the slower, more thoughtful numbers at which they excel. Among these are Village Life and Fell In Love On The Street Again.
My favourite track has to be Harry Kidnap; good old fashioned songwriting which may not be in vogue at the moment, but like the band, well worth checking out.

Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

Delphic Acolyte, 2010

Tipped by many to be one of the best new acts of 2010, they really come up with the goods with what could possibly be one of the best albums of the year.
Hailing from Manchester the band understands what indie /electronic /pop is all about and fuses all three elements into thrilling songs. They use driving rhythms and emotive vocals to exciting effect on this, their debut album. At times they sound like new, revitalized New Order.

The album includes the three singles so far released, the best being Counterpoint, a song in which the music is so euphoric you just have to dance. The Red Light is another great indie dance tune which should also be a single.
The album’s highlight has to be the instrumental title track Acolyte which starts slow and then quickly turns into a trancey electronic uplifting dance-floor filler.
As a debut album Delphic really impress; this is an absolute joy and hasn’t been off my iPod.

Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Shakespears Sister, Songs From The Red Room 2009

I know this came out at the tail end of last year but I wanted to include a review as I missed the release and perhaps some of you did too.
Really this should not be classed as a Shakespears Sister album but more a Siobhan Fahey solo album. It doesn’t feature Marcella Detroit and some of the songs included have appeared as solo singles; Bad Blood, Pulsation and Bitter Pill. Perhaps by using the Shakespears Sister moniker Siobhan was able to secure the album’s release.
I think because some of the album is old material, at times it sounds a little dated although those tracks have been remixed. But the album does have some fantastic highs; You’re Not Alone is a slow, smouldering electronic track and the synthpop It´s A Trip is infectious.

It´s also great to hear Terry Hall sharing vocals on Was It Worth It? which would make a good single, as would the wonderful, moody Man In Uniform.
If this album had been released a couple of years ago before Little Boots and Lady Gaga had arrived on the scene it would have received much more attention.
Sparkle Rating 6 out of 10

Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea, 2010

This is Corinne´s first album since the death of her husband Jesse Rae in 2008 and as you would expect The Sea is deeply personal but surprisingly not over sentimental.
On first listening the album sounds very dark but on repeated listens the songs open up with her jazzy style of singing and some really beautiful arrangements that draw you into her world.
Highlights from the album include Are You Here which opens the album with a strumming guitar where she sings He´s a real live wire; a great tune. The title track is also a lovely ballad which touches you as she sings “The sea, the majestic sea, takes everything from me.”

There are also upbeat moments on the album with the rockier Paris Nights/New York Mornings and the funky The Blackest Lilly.
With this album Corinne takes you on a deeply personal journey, yet she remains upbeat and I believe this is a better album for it.
Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Tags: Acolyte, album reviews, Britpop, Corinne Rae Bailey, Delphic, Lady Gaga, Little Boots, Ocean Colour Scene, Roger Daltrey, Shakespears Sister, Siobhan Fahey, Songs from the Red Room, sparkle, Spoon, The Sea, Transference

Mike Belshaw

Author for the online friendship and dating site Sparkle and creator of the very successful blog "Off the Record"

Mike - has written 47 posts on Sparkle in my life. Contact the author

Join Sparkle - Online friendship & dating the mature way!