Chris Listens To Music – Page 3

One of the best electro albums of all time turns 25 years old this week. The Chemical Brothers second album overall is considered an all time great, with various publications – including NMA, Rolling Stone and Spin – listing it among the best albums ever made.

I didn’t really discover Chemical Brothers until they went on a glorious run of success following the release of “Hey Boy Hey Girl” and its album Surrender in 1999, though I was aware of this album because of the bassline of “Block Rocking Beats”, which became a go-to mess around riff in cover bands later.

That song leads off this album, but it isn’t the best track. Listening back to it this week, I found myself leaning toward the rowdier “Setting Sun” (replete with vocals from Noel Gallagher), “Lost In The K Hole” (sounding like it would have fit perfectly in a Daft Punk record), and the more ambient “Where Do I Begin”, featuring Beth Orton on vocal.

Those are probably the three tracks that are the most modern sounding on this one; the more straight-forward electronic music here sounds very much of the time, making the album more nostalgic than anything. But I enjoyed listening back to this one.

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CLTM (Chris Listens To Music) is my attempt to listen to a new album every day; you can follow my efforts on Instagram here (and send recommendations), and if you like what I’m doing, support my efforts by shouting me a cuppa at Buy Me A Coffee.

CLTM2022 #087: Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times (2007)

By cphilpott

On April 4, 2022

In Chris Listens To Music

The third album from family band Kings of Leon – the group is made up of three brothers and their cousin, all with the surname Followill (of the Nashville Followills) – was the one that really put them on the map. They’d achieved some success prior with singles “The Bucket” and “King Of The Rodeo” in 2004-2005, but it was the synth and vocal (‘she said call me now baby / And I’d come a running’) of “On Call” that was the first sign we were about to hear greatness.

Because Of The Times is an epic record. And I don’t use that word lightly: it felt like a huge moment, that single and the ensuing album – like we were watching a movie star emerging in a box office smash (Chris Pratt in Guardians Of The Galaxy maybe). It was a group doing something better than anyone else who was trying to do it at the time.

Opener “Knocked Up” combines the overt blues of Kings’ earlier work with Pearl Jam-esque grunge, while “Charmer” is as intense a rock song as you’ll hear. “On Call” is a great track, even though it was played to death at the time. Late album tracks “The Runner” and “Trunk” are among my favourites here too.

A great album from a band who were operating at the peak of their powers. Definitely recommend going back for a listen if you have a spare hour.

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CLTM (Chris Listens To Music) is my attempt to listen to a new album every day; you can follow my efforts on Instagram here (and send recommendations), and if you like what I’m doing, support my efforts by shouting me a cuppa at Buy Me A Coffee.

CLTM2022 #086: Mousey – My Friends (2022)

By cphilpott

On April 3, 2022

In Chris Listens To Music

Christchurch-based singer-songwriter is officially the third artist this year to crack a very specific list among everything I’ve been listening to this year

Flute. Why’d it have to be flute.

Opening title track “My Friends” is at least a little more selective about how and when it deploys (the accursed) flute. The sickly-sweet opener gives way to rocker “One Dollar Wednesdays”, an upbeat alt-folk track that would make everyone from Arcade Fire to Bright Eyes jealous. It leads in to “The Bench”, another high speed rocker that sounds straight from the Flying Nun back catalogue (in a good way).

The album slows down a bit from there; “Wait For Me” is a little more downbeat, though features a fantastic vocal. Mid-album tracks “Rachel” and “Pudding And Pie” pile on the ambience before the album heads back to the realms of acoustic guitar folk.

I went into this album with absolutely no expectations; I’d not heard Mousey before. And I’ll be honest, I was concerned as that opening title track came to a close (honestly, why’d it have to be flute). But I ended up being pleasantly surprised by this one. I really enjoyed the more upbeat material in the first half of the record, and while I wasn’t as hot on the second half of the record, it at least shows Mousey’s flexibility and ability to write a decent tune. Good album.

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CLTM (Chris Listens To Music) is my attempt to listen to a new album every day; you can follow my efforts on Instagram here (and send recommendations), and if you like what I’m doing, support my efforts by shouting me a cuppa at Buy Me A Coffee.

THIS IS NOT HIM. THIS IS HIS WEBSITE.

Category: Chris Listens To Music Page 3 of 26

CLTM2022 #088: The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole (1997)

CLTM2022 #087: Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times (2007)

CLTM2022 #086: Mousey – My Friends (2022)