A few months ago, I had a change to meet Tara O, a hardcore anglophile music fan who was just about to leave for a quick tour of late summer UK festivals. I asked her if she wouldn’t mind sending some thoughts about what’s big this fall in Britain. Here’s what she sent back:
One of the world's most consistent sources for leading musical trends, the UK has a great selection of recently released CDs worth airplay on your stereo, IPod, or IPhone this Fall. My Top 5 recommendations are below. For more information go here.
Ignore the Ignorant/The Cribs
Whether it's the maturity that comes from making three CDs in six years, or because this indie rock band managed to snag Johnny Marr (The Smiths' guitarist) in 2008, this is The Cribs' best work to date. An English band known for their rowdy gigs and onstage antics, they still deliver great guitar rock on Ignore the Ignorant - only now it's tighter and less frenetic.
The guitar riffing fun and Ryan Jarmin's trademark raspy voice take off in the solid opener 'We Were Aborted', setting the pace throughout the album, slowing but once for the wistful 'Save your Secrets'. The ITunes offering includes bonus live tracks from their discography. ITunes the CD or the Best Tracks: We are Aborted, Cheat on Me, City of Bugs.
Lungs/Florence and the Machine
Bohemian redhead Florence Welch burst onto the UK and Europe last year with indie rock hit singles 'Dog Days are Over' and the black humoured 'Kiss With A Fist' about relationship abuse. The well-deserved hype over her debut 'Lungs' likely prevented this 22 year old from winning the 2009 Mercury Prize (for Best UK album) which is known for favouring more obscure artists. With her vocal theatrics she can pull off the sexually suggestive 'Girl with One Eye' or the powerful rhythmic build-up of 'Drumming Song', as effortlessly as she can sweetly sing of dedication in 'My Boy Builds Coffins'.
Even with three big name producers (James Ford, Paul Epworth, Stephen Mackey), Lungs is a cohesive and engaging listen. Spanning from rock to harps and choirs, it's an example of variety gone right. She tours North America through November. Treat yourself. ITunes 'Lungs' or the Best Tracks: Drumming Song,
Dog Days are Over, Girl with One Eye.
In this Light and On this Evening/Editors
Editors didn't quite reach their goal that their new album 'In this Light and On this Evening' sound nothing like its two predecessors - and that's not a bad thing. Producer Mark Ellis (U2, The Killers) has Tom Smith's distinct baritone displaying greater range, and the addition of synths adds more depth to their dark, emotive indie rock...making you feel like you're walking through a hushed city alone at night.
Their greatest foray into new sounds (and best track) is the shock titled 'Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool'. A funky/synth/Peter Gabrielesque comment on the greedy in our recent financial crisis. With over 2 million in sales and other accolades since 2005, these four English northerners have scored just the right balance on change. Amazon.ca retails all three Editors CDs or ITunes Papillon (new single) or Munich (classic).
Forget the Night Ahead/The Twilight Sad
Before Glasvegas made Scottish bands cool again, The Twilight Sad (TTS) had already released a 2007 debut album to critical acclaim. While this shoegaze rock quartet share similarities with their Glaswegian neighbours, as well as Editors and Snow Patrol, TTS clearly hold their own with their latest issue.
'Forget the Night Ahead' picks up where 'Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters' left off -- with James Graham still delivering a solid Scottish accent but to even darker lyrics. This only increases the drama to their anthemic tracks often enveloped in a wall of sound, with added organs and violins for a nice touch. ITunes the CD or the Best Tracks: I Became A Prostitute, Interrupted, At the Burnside.
The Hot Melts/The Hot Melts
Lead Will Bayliss of this rock/pop-punk Liverpudlian quartet grew up on music ranging from American Emo to 1950's Doo-Wop, and the influences in their debut are everywhere. After opening with the provocative gritty guitar 'Red Lips', you're thrown into a Weezer-like state with 'Edith'. As more genres crop up, The Hot Melts maintain the carefree indie guitar rock throughout... from Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama-inspired track about losing your girl ('Happiness is a Weakness'), to the Green Day anthem '(I Wish I Had) Never Been in Love', or even the blues-rock 'Shrink' with its Crying in the Chapel undertones.
They sing of sad experiences, but The Hot Melts leave you uplifted with their shameless, fun style. I can just imagine the crowd surfing earlier this year when they supported Eagles of Death Metal on their UK tour. ITunes the CD or the Best Tracks: Edith, (I Wish I Had) Never Been in Love, Happiness is a Weakness.