Saint Etienne Words And Music Album Review

Uk outfit with their first album in seven years. Where does the time go. Hard to believe its been approximately 21 years since they dropped their life changing Foxbase Alpha. Follow me as I take us through a guided tour of the new album track by track.

1. Over The Border: Nice way to open up the album with a nice conversational track reminiscing about the good old times and how everything always comes back to music even as we all grow older (and we do grow older). A very large number of Etienne's long term fans have probably hit forty by now so this song hits home pretty strong. The mention of Dexy's and Peter Gabriel brings chills. Nice!

2. I've Got The Music: The rumoured second single and its a europop disco stomper which will have you dancing right away. Nice!

3. Heading For The Fair: nice slow groove pop track. Reminds me of a possible outtake from Tales From Turnpike House or Finisterre.

4. Last Days Of Disco: This definately feels like a low key slow disco track from the seventies.

5. Tonight: The first single and anthemic track simply about "going out" Dbl Nice!!!

6. Answer Song: Possibly Saint Etienne's answer to the cut and paste style of the Avalanches. Swirling pop track. Backing vocals by seventies disco singer Tina Charles.

7. Record Doctor: a minute long acappella interlude

8. Popular: Housey disco sounding track....hmmm....

9. Twenty Five Years: Ouch, another song about getting older and potentially having only 25 years left. Slow track.....hmmmmm.....

10. DJ: Hi-Nrg track....has some nice rises and a very cool chorus but its not quite a single though. Maybe the remixes will elevate.

11. When I Was Seventeen: Future space-age pop....

12. I Threw It All Away: Slow drifting track leading us to the end.

13. Haunted Jukebox: Ends on a funky upbeat track.

Wow......7 years....I'm left wanting more. Cheers Saint Etienne.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEWEAqNR2XQ

Airiel - Flashlight Tag (Hype 0233)

This is the b-side from their latest ep Kid Games. This sounds likes something from the late eighties. Maybe the Ocean Blue? Bringing back the glory days of alternative music. Found out that this band already has an album out and a number of eps and have been around for nine years. Etheriel track.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFS3XIgaPQw

Savoir Adore - Dreamers (Hype 0232)

Jangily pop track from Savoir Adore out as an EP with extra track and remixes. This is the same band responsible for the cover of Pop Goes The World in the tide commercials. Nice!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyRIwOs-iuc

Reverend Horton Heat Club 9One9 Victoria May 17 , 2012

 

Unfortunately had to head to Victoria BC for a funeral this past week. Not the best reason to check out another part of our wonderful country Canada. Victoria has a population of about 80,017 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 344,615, the 15th most populous Canadian metro region. Its a great place to visit. My first night in the city I was out at a concert. Given its population Victoria doesn't get every musician coming through but they do get a few. I had picked up their weekly entertainment guide called Monday Magazine. Ironically it comes out on Wednesday. Noted the Reverend Horton Heat were in concert. My friend Paul is a huge fan and given that I had never seen the band I thought this would be a good opportunity. I located the venue on the city map provided by the hotel and headed out to see what Victoria night life was all about.

The concert was being held at Club 9One9, under the Strathcona Hotel. A downstairs basement concert/club venue with a very cool silver dance floor sunken in front of the the stage in a very odd cavernous dingy dark club. The bill also included The Real Mackenzies and the The Spittin' Cobras.

The first band was the Spittin Cobras from Seattle who were definately some rock and roll dudes who tried to engage the crowd early. The lead singer jumped into the crowd a couple of times to try to drag people to the dancefloor just in front of the stage.

The second band were The Real Mackenzies, a bunch of kilt wearing guys punk rockers from Vancouver who have nine albums to their name (who would have known) and even rock the bagpipes.

It was about 11:00 PM when the band hit the stage and the crowd was quite into the band. I had two people chat with me during the break. Surprisingly, this is about 2 more people/strangers that have ever chatted with me at concerts in Toronto. Victoria may be a friendlier place. Or maybe it was all the alcohol flowing that night in the bar.

Funny that on a Thursday in Toronto, the concert would be pretty well have ended by midnight if not earlier. Not in Victoria. Reverend Horton Heat took to the stage and played almost up to 2:00 PM. He started by running through a track from each album he has released starting with Psychobilly Freakout off the first album Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em. Half way through the show he had a guest guitarist from George Thorogood's band join him on stage. George Thorogood was also in concert that night in Victoria and the guitarist had made his way over to the show. All in all a great concert, great venue, and a great night out.

This is what the twitter crowd said: ‏
@cpudan: Going to see these guys tonight with The Reverend Horton HEAT!... I think it's going to be a party :) (taking a... http://vsb.li/y4WdDV

@CLUB9ONE9: Reverend Horton Heat tonight @CLUB9ONE9 !!! Doors open at 9pm.

‏@cpudan I'm at CLUB9one9 for Reverend Horton Heat and The Real McKenzies (Victoria, BC) http://4sq.com/LchdLU

@abc4: i was tenderized in the pit @ the real mackenzies / @revhortonheat show in #yyj so sore so happy

Check out the opening part of the show thanks to a Youtuber:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPkBYqdvzf0

Donna Summer (R.I.P. 006)

I was in Victoria for a Funeral when the news broke on this tragic loss to the music world. Donna Summer who Loved to Love love you baby, felt love, provided some hot stuff, and worked hard for her money died on Thursday last week at the age of 63 of cancer. Rock, Pop, Disco, she did it all and has influenced millions in the process. I leave you with the classic eighties cut: She Works Hard For The Money.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TKQcWEXSKU

Guillemots - Fleet (Hype 0231)

Great indiepop track taken from their 4th album Hello Land. The band's members have been compiled from England, Scotland, Brazil and our native land Canada. Nice!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtgN9VYOkb0

Eternal Summers - Millions (Hype 0230)

Nice eighties sounding track with that reminds me of the March Violets for some reason. Some Kind Of Wonderful?

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms8YXc0a9Gk

Robin Gibb, The Bee Gees (R.I.P. 005)

Robin Gibb, integral part of The Bee Gees, passed away, aged 62.


Here's a track that did well in Germany.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3k3y7dykx0

Tommy Tutone 867-5309 (Retro 015)

Classic eighties pop single from Tommy Tutone. A number of people had to change their phone number after this song came out thirty years ago. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkpGQUflBwU

Heavenly Beat - Messiah (Hype 0229)

Melodic heavenly indiepop track from Heavenly Beat. First single taken from the album Talent out on Captured Tracks in July.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpm0IcFOL8M

Passion Pit - Take a Walk (Hype 0228)

Passion Pit back with a indie rocker off their new album Gossamer. Standard Passion Pit fare.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6W0TzNxE2A&ob=av2n

DIIV - Doused (Hype 0227)

Atmospheric guitar-pop project of Beach Fossils member Zachary Cole Smith. The album Oshin is out June 26th on Captured Tracks.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClfDZIt6XxE

The Ice Choir - Teletrips (Hype 0226)

New track from The Ice Choir in the spirit of Prefab Sprout eightyness. Taken from their first album Afar on Shelflife Records.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXqZyMqAJU

Icona Pop - I Love It (Hype 0225)

Uptempo punk pop shouter from duo Icona Pop out of Sweden. "You're from the seventies but I'm a nineties B%$ch".

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY

Goldroom - Fifteen (ft Chela) (Hype 0224)

Goldroom comes through with another ocean beach drenched tapestry just in time for summer. Low key downtempo melodic track featuring the nice vocals of Chela.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iy-k34CyZM