Sunday, February 7, 2010

Bailey Raes and Anglophilic Tendencies

Since not every record review warrants, or will get, a full review, but I like to keep you abreast, here's the skinny on what's happened recently:

Corinne Bailey Rae's new album, The Sea, has moments of brilliance on it. The opening four songs are perfect, but the album falters in the middle. It does, however, finish strong, and if you're in the mood for some soul/R&B, you could do much worse.

Second, I've listened to Charlotte Gainsbourg's new album, IRM, and I didn't care for it. It was produced by Beck, fresh off his luke-warm (at best) Modern Guilt, and he seems dead-set on recycling an aesthetic that barely maintained interest the first time around. This album could have been produced by Danger Mouse, and I would never have doubted it. But I'm sure some people will love it. It came highly recommended.

Now, we have a playlist, which I've made for three friends. I won't be including explanations, but here is the track list. This is a good introduction to slightly more obscure British music for the current music fan with slightly limited experience.

"Anglophilic Tendencies Pt. 1"

1. "Rockist Part 1" by School of Language
2. "Rockst Part 2" by School of Language
3. "Situation Vacant" by The Kinks
4. "Line Up" by Elastica
5. "The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future" by Los Campesinos!
6. "If You Found This It's Probably Too Late" by Arctic Monkeys
7. "Jason and the Argonauts" by XTC
8. "This Year's Girl" by Elvis Costello
9. "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" by Joe Cocker
10. "Womanizer" by Lily Allen
11. "No Distance Left to Run" by blur
12. "In Context" by Field Music

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