Pooplosions and other tales... Echo and the Bunnymen; The Drums

If anyone reads these posts, apologies for the delay in today’s post.  I was sidetracked by poop and screaming, a recurring theme in my days of late. 

The Fountain – Echo and the Bunnymen - 

I know, I know.  I said no more old bands making new records.  But it was a piecrust promise, made to be broken. And who can blame me when Echo and the Bunnymen, according to Ian McCulloch, have just released “the best [album they’ve] made, apart from Ocean Rain."

After a tragic autumn which saw keyboardist Jake Brockman killed in a motorcycle collision, Echo’s 11^th studio effort has been released to sweet whoops and self-indulgent wallows from their many fans.  I’ll tell you right now, I’m leading the charge on the former.

The album hooks immediately with the first track “Think I Need it Too.”  It has all the loveliness of original Echo and has the power to transport the listener to the age of John Hughes within the first few bars.  The pace is matched with “Forgotten Fields” and then the Bunnies up their game with “Do you Know Who I Am?” a track that well and truly rockets the band into the 21^st century with power chords and driven vocals worthy of the Killers thanks to guitarist Will Sergeant.  “Shroud of Turn” isn’t going to win any prizes in terms of depth, but it doesn’t need to as it’s driving music, pure and simple, the kind of music you want to listen to with the windows down. On the other hand, Chris Martin’s help on the title track lends more than name-power; it’s well-written and well-produced though by no means the highpoint of a well-rounded, primetime effort. 

Really I just think this is an excellent, listen-all-the-way-through album.  In terms of the critics, from what I’ve read, it’s been a mixed bag though I can’t see why.  The most sensible I’ve heard is that Fountain sounds like a debut album and I can really see why.  It has all the vibrancy of a new outfit but is further enhanced by a band that knows what it’s about and isn’t afraid to flaunt it.  Namely, McCulloch is back on fine vocal form, broody and full-bodied. One reviewer’s comparison of him to Richard Hawley is right on the money.  The keyboards, which one feels compelled to really pay attention to given the untimely death of Brockman, are bigger and more obviously featured on tracks “Proxy” and “The Idolness of Gods” and lend a rich, grownup feel to the proceedings.

So yes, it’s an album by a band that’s been around as long as I’ve been on the planet but this is new music at its finest.  Run to buy this album.  kkkkk

I got sidetracked this week by vintage Deathcab for Cutie and have been listening to Transatlanticism all week.  Look for a bumper reader rec next week.

ITunes free download of the week – “Let’s Go Surfing,” The Drums – 

Why isn’t there more whistling in pop music?  I mean really.  As a person who struggles to whistle in tune, I am eternally impressed by people who can not only whistle but make it a nice experience for the listener.  The Drums have heard my cry and have provided a simple little ditty with not only whistling but also a fab nod to a childhood handgame, “Down down baby, down by the rollercoaster.”  I defy anyone to listen to this song and remain grumpy. Though saying that, there’s not a lot to it and I had to repeatedly go back to the song title as I kept forgetting it as soon as I heard it.  To this I apply the dreaded phrase – it’s nice. kkk