Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi

I mentioned this album in my top ten list. Recently, I played it for my girls on the way home from skiing.

As I said earlier, the album is backloaded. As a result, there was a fair bit of complaining through the first two songs, that the album was boring. The third song, got their attention and they really liked the rest of the album.

The album has a bit of a cinematic feel. The first two songs are trying to create a mood to listen to the rest of the album. The third song, Desire, has the feel of a pop single. It is very much a verse, chorus, hook laden song.

From there the album has a retro 60s vibe with Bond soundtrack references thrown in liberally. One of the songs is so close to Goldfinger, that I thought it might be a cover.

In a very strong year for music from women, this was a surprising debut. I expect big things from her in the future.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

I heard Video Games late last year. It grabbed my attention, but then I was distracted by other things and moved on.

Last month I saw that Lana Del Rey was on SNL, so I watched the first song, it was Video Games and it was cringe worthy. She was uncomfortable, did a bad job and the song didn't work. I wrote it off as a one hit wonder that was more the work of producers than artist.

The publicity machine ramped up to try to salvage her career. My children have mentioned how much they liked what they have heard, with Madeleine particularly liking her style (this means clothes).

Well I had some time today, so I gave it a listen on Rdio. The first song is okay, the next is some sort of rap ballad retro thing that doesn't work. Two songs later is Video Games, a legitimate single. Then another odd rap song.

The album is hit and miss at best. One good song. Decent ballads as filler and then some awful other combinations of ballads rap and obscenity that goes completely against the retro vibe she is trying to portray.

Run, run away now, while you can.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad