Antiques Review on "andbeforethefirstkiss"
We got a hot new review for Sewn With Stitches. Check it out, some guy loved it so much he wants to kick us in the shins!
andbeforethefirstkiss
In a Department staff meeting the other day, with a bee in my bonnet about something or other, I actually tried to draw an analogy between contemporary student approaches to choosing modules within Faculty-based (flexible) four-year degree structures to the fact that the days of buying (even downloading) complete albums have all but gone and instead the emerging 'norm' is to purchase individual songs to create highly-personalised mix CD-Rs and MP3 playlists (and then swap them online with like-minded audio-addicts, of course). I honestly do not know what I was thinking of: where did I think I was, exactly? This moment-of-madness was a clear example of taking things too far and not knowing my audience. A pin dropped. I heard it. The next item on the lengthy agenda followed quickly. Sniggers were heard. Wry grins leered. Why couldn't I have just stuck to the tried-and-tested analogy of picking sweets from a Woolworths "pick n mix" display? Anyway, the sheer horror of that moment/memory allows me to tell you, in a rather tenuous way, about a complete album that you should own and hear from start to finish with no deviations whatsoever. It features fourteen wonderful (melancholic) songs that capture (and pierce) your sad old jaded heart. This is not sweetness and light but stories of loves-u-have-lost, with melting guitars and a bass in your head. It has been far too long. However, the desperateness of the lyrics and deep-drawl vocal delivery is counter-punched with a kind of spikey, cynical guitar-led "pop" that reminds me of The Go-Betweens at their absolute peak, possibly mixed in with a little early to mid-period Felt. I recommend this album highly and ask you to open all ears and take a listen (from the first few seconds of fast and furious spunkytastic album-opener, Tied To Nowhere, I think you will be hooked in and cooked for tea...).
EDIT: I meant to say, the press release for the album states that 'Comparing The Antiques to another few bands would do them a disservice. They are what they are, and what does it matter really when the songs sound as great as they do.' (etc.). Now, I fully respect this position and understand it. However, in my experience, everyone sounds like someone, however remote the connections might first appear. I like musical maps and making connections (and being aware of them usually informs my decision to go and listen to something I might otherwise pass on). So, this is to justify my comparison with The Go-Betweens and Felt. I might also have mentioned, as another reviewer did, Orange Juice, early R.E.M and The Velvet Underground. For the record, so to speak.
andbeforethefirstkiss
In a Department staff meeting the other day, with a bee in my bonnet about something or other, I actually tried to draw an analogy between contemporary student approaches to choosing modules within Faculty-based (flexible) four-year degree structures to the fact that the days of buying (even downloading) complete albums have all but gone and instead the emerging 'norm' is to purchase individual songs to create highly-personalised mix CD-Rs and MP3 playlists (and then swap them online with like-minded audio-addicts, of course). I honestly do not know what I was thinking of: where did I think I was, exactly? This moment-of-madness was a clear example of taking things too far and not knowing my audience. A pin dropped. I heard it. The next item on the lengthy agenda followed quickly. Sniggers were heard. Wry grins leered. Why couldn't I have just stuck to the tried-and-tested analogy of picking sweets from a Woolworths "pick n mix" display? Anyway, the sheer horror of that moment/memory allows me to tell you, in a rather tenuous way, about a complete album that you should own and hear from start to finish with no deviations whatsoever. It features fourteen wonderful (melancholic) songs that capture (and pierce) your sad old jaded heart. This is not sweetness and light but stories of loves-u-have-lost, with melting guitars and a bass in your head. It has been far too long. However, the desperateness of the lyrics and deep-drawl vocal delivery is counter-punched with a kind of spikey, cynical guitar-led "pop" that reminds me of The Go-Betweens at their absolute peak, possibly mixed in with a little early to mid-period Felt. I recommend this album highly and ask you to open all ears and take a listen (from the first few seconds of fast and furious spunkytastic album-opener, Tied To Nowhere, I think you will be hooked in and cooked for tea...).
EDIT: I meant to say, the press release for the album states that 'Comparing The Antiques to another few bands would do them a disservice. They are what they are, and what does it matter really when the songs sound as great as they do.' (etc.). Now, I fully respect this position and understand it. However, in my experience, everyone sounds like someone, however remote the connections might first appear. I like musical maps and making connections (and being aware of them usually informs my decision to go and listen to something I might otherwise pass on). So, this is to justify my comparison with The Go-Betweens and Felt. I might also have mentioned, as another reviewer did, Orange Juice, early R.E.M and The Velvet Underground. For the record, so to speak.
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