Well, here I am, blogging from the other side of Europe. Lovely place, but I can't lie- struggling with the language/finding things to fill my life is. I miss all the friends and music at home. Having said that, being less busy has given me an opportunity to work on my own stuff, the end result of which will be RELEASED (like, a real single!!) in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!!
So, with little else to talk about, I think it's time to catch up on my favourite records of recent weeks...
Hugely overblown artwork? Lyrics concerning superpowers, "Eurasia" and the oddest conspiracy theories you've ever heard? A three-part symphony called "Exogenesis"? Yep, it could only be the noe-alt-prog-classic-rock extravaganza that is the new album The Resistance by Muse.
There are basically only two bands in the world that can make this level of OTT work, and the other are in the process of touring the world in a giant claw. But, as well as just being MASSIVE, this album has some genuinely beautiful, even heartbreaking moments. The (fully orchestrated, of course) "Symphony" is definitely the highlight, but the rest of the album is still way up there with the best of the year, if not the decade.
- Key tracks: "Resistance," "Undisclosed Desires" (LIVE VIDEO: slap bass, keytar and questionable lyric-remembering included!), "I Belong To You / Mon Cœur S'ouvre À Ta Voix"
- Best moment: Hmm, hard to decide. If I'm pushed, I have to be biased- the drum fill at 3:57 of "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)"
A very different, but equally incredible record which I recently bought (on a great tip from this fellow blogger) is Sufjan Stevens' 2005 album Illinoise.
Part of his ambitious (and as yet uncompleted) 50 states album project, this is an incredible work which, as with a lot of his material, manages to relate poetic writing about geographic locations with deep, spiritual insights into life, death, love and emotions.However, the sheer breadth of musicality in his composition is incredible- mixing elements of acoustic, folk, indie, showtunes and orchestral music into an incredible finished product. I think notorious reviewer Robert Christgau puts it perfectly when he says "...this album radiates positive energy, and in today's alt, that's a precious thing."
- Key tracks: Personally, the opener "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" is a favourite, along with "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!" and "Come On! Feel The Illinoise!"
- Best moment: The beautiful counterpoint vocals in the gorgeous, cinematic bridge of "The Predatory Wasp."
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