Sliding in before the next pick, Sketches of Spain is so good. Really bridges the gap between what you'd expect from a jazz ensemble and a full blown orchestra, which I think is what gives it that film score feel that folks have been talking about.
My pick is King’s And Queens by Jamie T. He’s one of those artists that has a decent following outside of the US, but I never see him mentioned around here. I’ll post more about it when I have a minute.
Alright, so this is an album (and artist) that is near and dear to my heart. I lived in England for a while growing up so his albums always have a certain nostalgia factor. I actually found his debut album to be a mess and irritating when it came out, but by the time his sophomore effort was released (Kings And Queens) I was back in the US and decided to give it a shot after being pleasantly surprised by the lead single (Sticks And Stones). Maybe it was just the right album at the right time when I was missing going to pubs just life in England, but I was hooked from the opening track. It has a unique sound that blends elements of punk, some hip-hop and garage, plus some electronic music. It feels like a coming of age album, but when you are leaving your teens and starting to become more aware of the problems around you and life outside your bubble. The songs deal with culture of excess, heartbreak, and political disillusionment. There is a certain corniness to some of it, but it feels self aware and ends up being part of the charm. I would also describe it as unapologetically British, which will probably turn some off. I actually think his third album (Carry On The Grudge) is his best, but I think this is the best entry into his work and gives you the best idea of his unique style. So check that out next if you like this.
Being English and someone who frequented indie nights in the mid-to-late 2000s where Jamie T was played a lot, I shall be sitting this week out because I don't want to be mean about something someone loves!
I respect that, I remember getting so annoyed anytime I was out and Sheila from his first album was playing lol. But also I’m anticipating this won’t be for everyone. I don’t mind if people listen to it and didn’t like it (I didn’t write it afterall).
just finished it up it was let's say interesting but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it all that much no hate, just not in my wheelhouse
Album definitely feels like a time capsule to the late 2000s. My first impression is that it’s better than your typical indie-pop album and it had me nodding along at times (368, Earth Wind and Fire, British Inteligence), while other songs did not impress me much (Hocus Pocus, Castro Dies). I can see this hitting for some of my friends. In my mind it reminds me a bit of Two Door Cinema Club or Phoenix.
the song I mentioned didn't have any of the bad white boy raps in it and that went a long way for me. he's not a bad songwriter so much as the manner in which he chooses to deliver much of what he has to get across just doesn't work for me
Agreed, vocal delivery did not always land for me. Sometimes it sort of worked but I preferred the songs where it didn’t feel like he was cramming in too many lyrics in each line… but that’s also totally a 2000s era thing. I feel like so many white-fronted indie bands did that back then.
He moves away from the rap-like delivery in his later albums. I thought about picking Carry One The Grudge instead, because it leans more into the punk and influences and he sings a majority of the time instead. I still think this one gives the best representation of the scope of his sound though.
Enjoyed my first run through this. Really strong sense of place in his writing, which I like (and probably contributed to not really crossing over to America). There's a lot more acoustic guitar than I expected too. "Sticks 'n' Stones" and "British Intelligence" were my immediate favorites, probably because they have the most of that 2000s indie rock sound, something I don't go back to often (aside from Two Door Cinema Club because my wife is a big fan) but have a good amount of nostalgia for.
Nice! I think if that doesn’t do it for you, then yea it’s not going to. But hopefully you like it a little more.
To be clear I enjoyed Kings and Queens and it brought me back to that time in my life. Glad I listened to it! Just not every song worked for me.
Ahh gotcha. Well I’m glad you’re liking it. I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on Carry On The Grudge.
I love the characters in his lyrics. They feel fully realized and authentic. Like you said there’s a strong sense of place and you can really feel it. The man’s machine is one of my favorites on the album for this reason. It goes through a cast of characters, but each one ends up feeling like a real person whose identity is somewhat inseparable from their hometown. Also based on everyone’s comments, I guess I have to check out Two Door Cinema Club. It’s a name I’ve seen before but never got around to.
I didn't mind the Jamie T album. The standout track for me was Hocus Pocus. Really not a fan of the rapping on it but I'd probably check out more of his stuff