Camera Obscura (Yet Again)

Yes, they've been blogged to death at this point. Yes, "If Looks Could Kill" was posted here long ago and has now been revived by the idiot box buzz of Grey's Anatomy. But, man, Camera Obscura are just unfairly good.

If you're the type that thinks dead baseball players (who you never saw play) will forever be better than new baseball players or the type that takes music journalism and music criticism way too serious and actually believes that "Pet Sounds" is indeed the greatest album ever (uh, no), then I suggest you just stop reading this now because heresy is about to happen...

There are gems on the latest Camera Obscura album ("Lloyd...", "Let's Get Out...", "If Looks...", "I Need...", feel free to keep going...) that make Brian Wilson look like the biggest bore in music history. Hear me out. Yes, I realize that the studio advances of the past 40 years completely favor Camera Obscura here. Yes, I realize that this album leans on an incredible production job (cause, although good, they don't quite sound this good live). But, completely electric production and Spector-trumping reverb effects aside, imagine hitting your (probably imagined only) ideal nightclub on a Friday night (uh, yeah, probably somewhere towards the North of England, wooden dancefloor firmly in place, talcum powder ready to pour...) and now ask yourself this question -- "Wouldn't It Be Nice" or "If Looks Could Kill"??? "Sloop John B" or "Let's Get Out Of This Country"??? "Hang On To Your Ego" or "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken"??? (ok, I'll give ya "God Only Knows"). Sure, I sound insane here. Sure, there's more to music than what sounds great coming off the decks when you walk into that dream nightclub looking to forget the last five days. BUT! If these new Camera Obscura tracks don't tug you towards the closest dancefloor you can find then PLEASE CHECK YOUR PULSE! I swear it's all I can do to resist slinging my seven-month-preggo wife around our (for now) tiny family room (she appreciates my resisting).

But, seriously, hype, insanity, and poor literary angles aside, this Camera Obscura album is so unbelievably electric. Perhaps I'm just a mad sucker for handclaps, distorted organ stabs, mountains of reverb and that massive room sound (blame my Northern Soul addiction), but honestly I'm plain amazed at how good these songs are. It's just a perfect mash of 6Ts girl groups, simmering Motown basslines, two-note trumpets, wry lyrics, catchy melodies and that charming Glaswegian gravy to top it all off. Six months on and I still love it. Incredibly well done.

Camera Obscura - "If Looks Could Kill".
Camera Obscura - "I Need All The Friends That I Can Get".

Buy | Website | Myspace

Beat Radio

Received an email the other day from Beat Radio after I posted their (amazing) song "Treetops". They emailed to let me know that they have just posted their entire new album on the web for free. Honestly, just go get it now.

I'm not going to kill myself trying to describe their sound (melody and harmony-adorned shoegaze-lite, slow builds, layered guitars, emotional not emo, timeless). Beat Radio remind me of that little downtown boutique shop that my wife drags me into and I realize that even though I don't really have a clue about the sartorial wonders of the world, there is something different going on there. No, none of that belabored hip or cool. And definitely no hideous thrift-store rehashs. Just that sense of the familiar yet with the freshest of twists.

These guys write classic songs and I love that. This will be the underappreciated album of the year.

Beat Radio - "Everything Is Temporary".
Beat Radio - "Mexico".
Beat Radio - "Fearful".

Website | Myspace

The Horrors (Yet Again)

Yet another stellar track by The Horrors. Make fun of their haircuts and clothes all you want, these youngsters have hooks. I'm totally into it. "Count in Fives" is finally getting an official release in the UK and Stolen Transmission is putting out an EP in the US. Dig.

The Horrors - "Death At The Chapel".
The Horrors - "Count In Fives" (demo).

Myspace | Buy

Fionn Regan

I know I've mentioned him twice before, but this guy deserves more love. Most of the hopeless romanticy singer-songwriters out there are way too cheesy, trite, and lame (probably myself included). Fionn Regan pulls off some of the best verse-to-chorus hooks I've ever crossed. Just check out that part in "The Cowshed" when the chord drops and it's all "high strung, the cat's got your tongue...". If I was more articulate, I'd explain why it works so well. Regardless, it does. Full album out now on Bella Union. Check it out.

Fionn Regan - "Hey Rabbit".
Fionn Regan - "Black Water Child".
Fionn Regan - "The Cowshed".

Website | Myspace | Buy