Caught out there – The Darkness
First in a new series…bands that I liked at the time but looking back, what the hell was i thinking. And I know I’m not alone…
Yes, the Darkness, faux shag rockers from East Anglia. Rockers don’t come from East Anglia. Cambridge hosts the most world’s most famous folk festival, please leave us and our webbed feet alone thank you.
But, as if caught up in some guilt-led excitement, i was the music equivalent of a girl just out of convent school, breaking all the catholic rules…i confess, i spent a whole day at the Darkness video shoot.
It’s easy to look back and sneer, but their gig at The Garage was genuinely exciting, Justin led around the crowd on the shoulders of his Roadie, proper power chords and harmonies on the lead guitar. Wonderful…see there I go again!!
Ok, lets be honest, it was fun while it lasted. But lets not play them in public again. Except at Christmas, because in one song, they found their purpose. Don’t let the Bells End just yet.
Guilt-trippers
Andy Brown and Carolyn – it’s all your fault
Kris – Blame your dad and his stadium rock heritage
James R and Bev – I’m sure you were on the ride with me
Matt Christie – I bet you were in a tribute band
Claire - Anything this cheesy has your prints all over
Innocent guv
Russ S – Wouldn’t even bat an eyelid
Paul – Nothing better than the real thing, so doubt you went near them
Mash secret rocker – Please say you didn’t!
Fleeting fancy?
Harmonies. Brian Wilson.
Hands up who likes the Beach Boys? Me too (with the exception of Cocamo “Aruba, Jamaica, ooo I wanna. take ya, Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama” – I mean, dear God, stop please stop!)
Somewhere, someone may have written a Beach Boys review without mentioning the word harmonies, although i doubt it. But that’s fine, they’ve nailed some of the most sublime ones out there.
But there are bands that haven’t. Yet lazy reviewers just can’t help themselves. Oooo a harmony, must pay homage to the great God Wilson and his band of merry and eventually beardy men.
So can I introduce Fleet Foxes, recommended to me by my friend Beth.
“While many young musicians who are admirers of The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel et al succumb to pastiche, Pecknold is able to distil such influences into something related but fresh.” - The Independent
“Of their contemporaries only the enigmatic Midlake and My Morning Jacket at their most fragile come close, but neither could have cooked up the Beach Boys spiritual of White Winter Hymnal” - Amazon
“Fleet Foxes, a five-piece from near Washington, are like The Beach Boys if they were a folk band” - The Guardian
“Fleet Foxes owe a lot to Brian Wilson” - Wireless Bollinger
In fact, sod it, just type in ‘fleet foxes beach boys’ in to Google and let the results flood in!
That most of these reviews are tied to the second track on the album ‘White Winter Hymnal’, just makes it more annoying – listen to the whole bloody thing before writing a half-arsed comparison.
To be fair, some people put a bit more effort in and avoided the obvious and names like Fleetwood Mac and Crosby Stills and Nash cropped up, but don’t let that put you off.
Because to answer the question bursting out of you right now, are they any good? Too damn right they are. If you can break through your own cynicism and give yourself up to feelings of untainted happiness.
If you do one thing today it’s this. Click on the link below:
http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes
then choose the track ‘Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’, close your eyes and picture yourself walking through an English wood, in the simple garments, sun through trees and all that, no one else to trouble your journey, because you’re in the wilderness and only a deer may disturb you. Ahhhh, happiness. Whisper it to yourself…the f word…
Folk.
It’s part of us all, just let go and embrace it. And once you do you’ll love the whole album.
Recommended for:
Vicki HF – You’ve got the style for it
Andrew T – Not quite accordion material, but one to play on the tour bus
Steer clear:
Paul – Not for fighter pilots, I dread to think what would happen to you if your fellow officers heard you playing this.
James F – ditto property developers
First post…
Which band should I give the honour of my first post to (and lets be honest, it’s quite an honour)? I could throw the full force of music passion on to the best band in the world (Super Furry Animals), kick off with a guilty pleasure (there ain’t no party like…), or lay into shite like One Night Only. What about the underrated or misunderstood (Dexy’s Midnight Runners – forget Eileen, it’s all about Geno), or the group you thought knew all about (DJ Danger Mouse reworking of the Beatles White Album)…decisions eh!
No, I’m going to kick off with the sound tingling my spine right now as i write this…
The first 35 seconds of this one song are flawless and I defy anyone not break out an air guitar moment at the end of this…dah dah, dah dah…Weezer really do rock, their new album has been out for weeks and i missed it. To make up for slacking it’s now on repeat and is sounding like a real treat…
http://www.myspace.com/weezer – Pork and Beans
And all the meatier in the surrounds of the new flat and gorgeous hifi of course!
RECOMMENDED FOR:
Ben – (You can break the Phil habit!)
Paul
“When its party time, like 1999, I party by myself cos I’m such a special guy.” (from Troublemaker)
Laura (for those rock rather than Roachford moments)
Vicki HF - (I’m yet to find fault in your CD collection)
Beccy S (because you’ve probably danced with them at a festival)
Mash secret rocker (thanks for the Green Album)
Tommy G (reckon this would go down a treat in China)
STEER CLEAR
Claire (too many heavy guitar moments)
Anna sis and Matt bro (they diss Timbaland)
