Lily Allen "It's Not Me, It's You" (2009)

It's Not Me, It's You

release date: Feb 4, 2009

format: digital (12 x File, MP3)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]

producer: Greg Kurstin

label: Regal - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "The Fear" (4 / 5) - 3. "Not Fair" (4 / 5) (official video) - 4. "22" - 7. "Never Gonna Happen" - 8. "Fuck You" (clean video version) (live) - 10. "Chinese" - 11. "Him"

2nd album by Lily Allen following close to 3 years after a near Earth-shattering succesful debut with Alright, Still (Jun. 2006). Kurstin produced three tracks on the predecessor but is here sole producer and likewise, all but one cover song are written by Allen and Kurstin together, which really makes this a different approach. Another striking difference comes to mind when listening to stylistic influences. The debut showed a near-abundance of styles, and then here, it's basically an electropop album, through and through. Yes, there's still room for ballad-like tunes and really up-beat bangers, but the overall sensation is much more narrow. "The Fear", "Not Fair" and "Fuck You" stand out as obvious singles but the remaning tracks actually don't differ that much, and that's what makes it a more coherent album than the promising debut.

Personally, I still enjoy "Smile" and "LDN" more than any tracks from this one but Allen comes out as a matured songwriter, and although, I really enjoyed the ska and grime-influence, this new album also strikes me as more personal. On the debut, she demonstrated strong influences that made me think of Winehouse and Mike Skinner, but here, it leaves me thinking Lily Allen is an artist that will continue to impress. All in all, Allen does more than well by making a follow-up that doesn't repeat the recipe from a certified banger but explores new territory and still proves her worth as someone to follow.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com, NME, The Guardian 4 / 5, 👍Spin 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 6,6 / 10, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Mark Kozelek "Lost Verses - Live" (2009) (live)

Lost Verses - Live (live)

release date: May 12, 2009

format: digital (14 x File, MP3)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]

producer: Mark Kozelek

label: Caldo Verde Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Unlit Hallway" - 2. "Carry Me Ohio" - 3. "Four Fingered Fisherman" - 5. "Salvador Sanchez" - 8. "Tiny Cities" - 9. "Lucky Man" - 10. "Send in the Clowns" - 12. "Tonight in Bilbao" - 14. "Katy Song"

Live album by Mark Kozelek released between two Sun Kil Moon studio albums: April (Apr. 2008) and Admiral Fell Promises (Jul. 2010). Most recently, however, Kozelek also released the live EP 7 Songs Belfast (Jul. 2008), and, on a whole, Kozelek's discography doesn't appear to lack live releases. From 2001 to 2014, he has released no less than (approx.) 16 solo live albums.

Lost Verses - Live consists of 14 tracks with a total running time of 74 minutes with songs recorded from seven concerts between 2007 and 2008. More precisely, it's mostly two concerts from Kozelek's European tour recorded Nov. 2007 - the first in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the second is from Lisbon, Portugal. The remaining five live recordings are from concerts across the USA between Apr. and Nov. 2008. As usual, Kozelek has included some cover songs - here limited to two by Modest Mouse (tracks #3 and #8) and the classic "Send in the Clowns" by Stephen Sondheim. Kozelek's own compositions are mainly tracks released under the name of Sun Kil Moon, either made with the band or for later albums under the same name but while performing as a solo artist, but there has also been room for songs from his time with the band Red House Painters, as there are tracks released under his own name.

All recordings mostly sounds like renderings of Kozelek's solo performances, and maybe that's the whole point, although Red House Painters' guitarist Phil Carney is credited as guitarist, and the recordings also come from tours where Carney supported Kozelek in Europe as well as in the States, and he doesn't appear on all fourteen tracks.

With this, Kozelek documents his abilities as songwriter, as vocalist, as guitarist, and not least as a skilled storyteller. Due to the sparse instrumentation, it's in a quiet and perhaps somewhat introverted domain, but the compositions and the performances are definitely not flawed.

Lost Verses - Live is a super fine and highly recommended album from a most gifted songwriter.

[ PopMatters, Sputnikmusic 4 / 5, Pitchfork 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Backspacer" (2009)

Backspacer
release date: Sep. 20, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]

producer: Brendan O'Brien
label: Monkeywrench Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Gonna See My Friend" - 3. "The Fixer" (4 / 5) - 6. "Amongst the Waves" - 7. "Unthought Known" - 10. "Force of Nature" - 11. "The End"

9th studio album by Pearl Jam released on Monkeywrench - a label founded by the band, from 2007 initially for the band's live recordings, but with this, also for future studio albums - sees a return to producer Brendan O'Brien.
The album was met by some mixed reviews, but I actually find it one of their better albums. Pearl Jam has always made great songs but always on albums with many fillers or music that I'm generally not that fond of. Hard rock or music that is to heavy rock-founded is normally not in my interest, and by gosh they have produced a lot of that on e.g. Binaural (2000), Riot Act (2002), and Pearl Jam (2006), so this is refreshing as some of the highlighted tracks are more "clean" alt. rock and / or energetic folk rock-fused.
"...fight to get it back ag-a-ain!", the biggest US rock band is back with Eddie Vedder as every good American loves him.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian, Q, Spin, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Drowned in Sound 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Martha Wainwright "Sans fusils, ni souliers, à Paris..." (2009)

Sans fusils, ni souliers, à Paris... (live)
release date: Nov. 24, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Hal Willner
label: V2 - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 1. "La foule" - 4. "L'accordéoniste"

3rd album by Martha Wainwrigth, where the full title is Sans fusils, ni souliers, à Paris: Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record following the acclaimed I Know You're Married but I've Got Feelings Too (May 2008). The album is not the expected new studio album. Instead, it's the live recordings of three concerts from mid-June 2009 at Dixon Place Theatre, New York, thus not what the title could imply recorded in Paris, France. The album title is with reference to the lyrics of "Les Grognards". All songs are Wainwright covers of familiar Edith Piaf songs and it's basically a tribute album.

It's indisputable that Wainwright is a most talented vocalist with a large repertoire and register, and as a French-Canadian she may possess a natural bond with French culture and traditions, and although she is highly capable as a singer, I just don't think she is up to the task particularly convincing on this arena. Wainwright is known for mastering contrasts between the emotionally vulnerable and the more expressively devilish, and yet here her voice seems to lack an emotional attuned dimension that you find in Piaf's versions, but also in songs performed by Mireille Mathieu, who have given most of these songs a different and personal quality.

It's not an unambiguously bad album, where Wainwright misses the mark - it's only more so that others have done it better.

[ Sunday Tribune 3 / 5, The Times, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]

The Raveonettes "In and Out of Control" (2009)

In and Out of Control

release date: Oct. 6, 2009

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]

producer: Thomas Troelsen & The Raveonettes

label: Fierce Panda - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Bang!" - 2."Gone Forever" - 3. "Last Dance" - 4. "Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)" - 5. "Heart of Stone" - 7. "Suicide" - 9. "Breaking Into Cars" - 10. "Break Up Girls!" - 11. "Wine"

4th studio album by The Raveonettes following two years after Lust Lust Lust (Nov. 2007) has been made with hot producer Thomas Troelsen. Songwriter Sune Wagner released an acclaimed solo album debut with a bunch of songs written in Danish in his own name in 2008. Much to the usual formula this new album here consists of eleven tracks that doesn't challenge the total album length - even for vinyl releases. Here, the songs come to an end after 37 mins.

Now with Troelsen as co-producer of the album and as co-composer of 7 songs his presence is noticed on the overall sound, making this the band's most pop-founded album to date. Skillfully, Wagner and Foo still maintain their trademarks holding Troelsen on a tight leash, which secures a noticeable change to a modernised 60s sound, or a shift towards a contemporary pop / rock-style with enough influence from 60s surf rock to make it a certified product by Sharin Foo / Sune Wagner. In addition, Foo and Wagner fronts the cover in a b/w photo but for the first time without assimilating a style of the 1950s or 60s.

Stylewise, there's the usual garage rock revival and surf rock vibe runing through the whole album but it's done with a new twist leaning on modern pop-productions, and it works quite nicely. The album starts off with five fine songs that put this on a new high and although the whole affair fades somewhat in the second half, the album still stands as the duo's so far best.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com, PopMatters 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 6,9 / 10, The Guardian, Alternative Press 4 / 5 stars ]

Robin Guthrie "Carousel" (2009)

Carousel

release date: Sep. 4, 2009

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,12]

producer: Robin Guthrie

label: Darla Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Some Sort of Paradise" - 2. "Sparkle" - 9. "Waiting by the Carousel"

3rd full-length solo album by Robin Guthrie following nearly 3½ years after Continental (May 2006). Three years between albums may seem like a long time but Guthrie has released several other albums in between his solo albums. In 2007 he released two albums After the Night Falls and Before the Day Breaks as collaboration works with American composer Harold Budd - both released June 11, 2007, and in 2008 he released the soundtrack album 3:19 - Bande originale du film with Guthrie's music for the 2008 feature film "3:19 Nada es casualidad" by Mexican director Dany Saadia. Also, earlier this year (May 2009), he released the collaboration album Mirrorball with British new wave and synthpop artist John Foxx (also former vocalist of Ultravox).

Carousel pretty much takes off from where his collaboration work with Harold Budd had left him: in spacious spheres of bright blue light - well-pictured in the cover art (although, that may probably be an underwater shot). It's first and foremost an ambient release without a distinct rhythm section, and Guthrie makes use of guitar-layered effects. Only on track #9 "Waiting by the Carousel", whcih probably gave name to the album title, you hear drum programming and something that brings dynamics into the picture. I'm not all that fond of this particular album, as I generally don't have a sweet tooth for new age music. It simply reeks a meditative state that only sends you to bed and echoes anything but great originality. Guthrie is still a great guitarist, but only seldom utilise this gifts to produce strong compositions.

Not recommended.

[ 👍Pitchfork 6.5 / 10, Record Collector 3 / 5 stars ]

PowerSolo "Bloodskinbones" (2009)

Bloodskinbones
release date: Feb. 23, 2009
format: vinyl (FROG 073-1) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,44]
producer: PowerSolo
label: Crunchy Frog - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Murder in SFAX" - 2. "Busses" (live) - 3. "Psych Demons" - 4. "Gimme the Drugz" - 5. "Pirates of the Oblivion" - 6. "4-3-2-1" - 8. "Elvin D Jerk (Part 2)" - 10. "Canned Love" - 12. "Nineteen Ninety-Six"

4th studio album by PowerSolo is the usual mix of styles. Most tracks here are melodic and a fusion of psychobilly and alt. rock built on elements from surf rock, punk rock and with a certain twist of Slavic music - and that certain twist is probably a very common expression when referring to the music by Kim 'Kix' Hjort Jeppesen, his brother Bo (on this album credited simply as Atomic Child). The usual PowerSolo trio has now been reduced to a duo, consisting of the brothers Jeppesen; however, the band's regular drummer Jens "Chief Benz" Søndergaard (here credited JC Benz) still handle the drums. On the front cover it reads: "Powersolo is Atomic Child / Kim Kix". Like on the previous album Egg (2006) some of tracks make me think of They Might Be Giants - just listen to "Nineteen Ninety-Six". The album was mostly just ignored by regular music consumers, but this is the band's so far best album, imho.
Once again, PowerSolo music founds it alternative way to consumers. The track "Pirates of the Oblivion" was used in a Danish commercial for a comedy tv-series, and the track "Canned Love" brought some attention to the band when Coca-Cola used it in a commercial.

The Breeders "Fate to Fatal" (2009) (ep)

Fate to Fatal, ep
release date: Apr. 21, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,24]
producer: Ben Mumphrey, Steve Albini, Gareth Parton
label: Period Music* - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "Fate to Fatal" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "The Last Time" (feat. Mark Lanegan) - 3. "Chances Are" - 4. "Pinnacle Hollow"

Ep release by The Breeders and their first not to be issued on 4AD. Although, only released one year after Mountain Battles, the ep demonstrates another style with more focus on more traditional rock, which may be seen on 3 of the 4 songs. Only the title track sounds like something that would have fitted nicely on the 2007 album, whereas the others are slower and much more pop / rock and folk rock-shaped. The track "The Last Time" sounds like something by The National - here with Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan on lead vocals. The Bob Marley cover "Chances Are" is fine with its lo-fi sound / minimal instrumentation performed as a doo wop ballad with clear focus on lyrical output, and the closing song "Pinnacle Hollow" is basically a folk rock song with more folk than rock sounding like a jam session in the early 70s with Buffalo Springfield and in that way is afar from any song on the 2007 album and any other songs by The Breeders making this ep a bit of a mixed bag.

Dolores O'Riordan "No Baggage" (2009)

No Baggage
release date: Aug. 24, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]
producer: Dolores O'Riordan and Dan Brodbeck
label: Cooking Vinyl - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Switch Off the Moment" (live) - 2. "Skeleton" - 3. "It's You" (4 / 5) (live acoustic) - 5. "Stupid" (4 / 5) - 6. "Be Careful" - 7. "Apple of My Eye"

2nd and last solo album by Dolores O'Riordan and also the second with producer Dan Brodbeck is a more uptempo collection of songs compared to the slower and more introvert solo debut from 2007. The style is not far from The Cranberries - it seems more balanced towards a mainstream audience with an obvious grounding in the celtic rock heritage, and contemporary pop / rock and singer / songwriter styles - much like the debut, although, that one is somewhat more narrow and simple when it comes to the production sound. In that sense No Baggage shares the more spacious dream pop style of her regular band without being anything close to ambient. The track "Apple of My Eye" was also included on her debut, but here it's been rearranged to a more electrified version.
I really like this album and find it clearly bettering her solo debut. It's also bettering her last three albums with The Cranberries. Despite being a more uptempo album, the two best songs are also two slow and sentimental compositions: "It's You" and "Stupid" - both very strong singles, which deserve so much more recognition.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

2009 Favourite releases: 1. Kent Röd - 2. Gossip Music for Men - 3. Dolores O'Riordan No Baggage

a-ha "Foot of the Mountain" (2009)

Foot of the Mountain
release date: Jun. 19, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,36]

Track highlights: 1. "The Bandstand" - 4. "Foot of The Mountain" - 6. "Shadowside"

10th studio album release by a-ha. I came across it by chance, and despite the fact that I never really liked the band, this isn't bad. Actually, I think this is clearly their best album ever. Here, they show how technically good musicians they are. The style is still synth-pop but not at all like their releases in the 80s. It's a contemporary multi-layered sound, and it's less blue-eyed pop.

Trentemøller "Harbour Boat Trips 01 - Copenhagen by Trentemøller" (2009)

Harbour Boat Trips 01 - Copenhagen by Trentemøller

release date: May 22, 2009

format: cd (hfn01cd)

[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]

producer: various, Trentemøller

label: HFN Music / Rough Trade / A:larm Music - nationality: Denmark

DJ Mixes compilation album by Trentemøller feature a vast variety of artists including Soft Cell, Suicide, The Raveonettes, Beach House, I Got You On Tape and Emiliana Torrini just to mention a few on this 21 tracks album with a playing time just over 77 minutes.

Yes, the original compositions and artists all represent great diversity, and yes, Trentemøller is the unifying factor, who makes it all the same kind of minimal techno, but I do find the original songs too strong and even unchanged here to include them as brand new mixes - the alteration is simply too minimal an effort.

To me this is touching on mediocre - not really the kind of music I listen to occasionally.

Best of 2009:Kent "Röd" (2009)

Röd
release date: Nov. 6, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,35]
producer: Kent & Joshua (aka Jon Schumann)
label: RCA Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 2. "Taxmannen" (4 / 5) - 3. "Krossa allt" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Hjärta" (5 / 5) - 6. "Vals för satan (din vän pessimisten)" - 7. "Idioter" (4 / 5) - 10. "Töntarna" - 11. "Det finns inga ord" (5 / 5)

8th studio album release by Kent and the second consecutive album with producer Jon Schumann continues the style launched on Tilbaka till samtiden (2007) with a bolder progression into more electronic synthpop.

If not Du & jag döden (2005) is my absolute favourite Kent album, then this is. Those two represent the very best of Kent in my mind. Here you'll find single hits like "Krossa allt", "Hjärta" and "Det finns inga ord" but unlike the previous album, the strongest tracks are within the context of the album. The whole album is like one piece of work - much like a proper composed painting, which took the band two years to realise. Everything is in place. And everything makes sense. Well, maybe just almost 'cause I have no clear idea of the exact meaning of track #1, the psalm "18:29-4". My guess is that it has to do with an overall theme about life & death, and that the psalm may be some kick-start to that theme...

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com, Aftonbladet 4 / 5, Svenska Dagbladet 4 / 6, Gaffa.dk, Politiken 5 / 6 ]

2009 Favourite releases: 1. Kent Röd - 2. Gossip Music for Men - 3. Dolores O'Riordan No Baggage

<  show lyrics >

~ ~ ~

Hjärta

"Ingen lämnas kvar
Vi hämtar dig bakom fiendens linjer
Ingen lämnas kvar
Vi skyddar dig med all kraft vi har
Mot svinen
Och ja, vi regisserar slutet tystnad, tagning

Man vet man blivit gammal när ens ungdom
Börjat glittra som Allens Manhattan
Dagen före dagen

Som det strålar från ditt hjärta
Som en motorväg av ljus
Genom hålet i mitt hjärta
Kommer räddningen till slut
Genom hålet i mitt hjärta

Har du kartan kvar?
Eller en aning om vart vi är på väg?
Så led oss
Ingen lämnas kvar
Vi saboterar allt vi inte kan ta med oss
Och när du öppnar fönstret blåser en vårvind
Förändring

Och bakom murarna vid ån lämnar jag spår
Jag skrev mitt namn i vattnet
Så du vet var jag finns

När det strålar från mitt hjärta
Som en motorväg av ljus
Genom hålet i mitt hjärta
Kommer räddningen till slut
Genom hålet i mitt hjärta

Som det strålar från mitt hjärta
Som en motorväg av ljus
Genom hålet i mitt hjärta
Kommer räddningen till slut
Genom hålet i mitt hjärta"

~ ~ ~

"Det finns inga ord"

"Sjung sånger för mig på radion
Sjung för mig igen, du lät som regn
Sjung sånger för mig om varma gator
Sjung för mig igen, mitt hjärta tyst

Och i mitt land så får man inte vara förmer
Det här är Sverige och vi gråter aldrig mer
Det finns inga ord för det, på det här jävla språket
Jag har inga ord för att vi andas, tänker, känner samma sak

Sjung en sång utan ord om ljusa nätter
Sjung för mig igen, du lät som snöfall
Jag håller andan med dig, för jag vet hur du känner
Sjung om de gånger vi delade ett liv med en blick

Och i vårt land så får man inte vara förmer
Det här är Sverige, snälla gråt när ingen ser
Det finns inga ord för det, på det här jävla språket
Jag har inga ord för att vi andas, tänker, känner samma sak

Känner samma sak
Känner samma sak

Det är så många här som aldrig sagt nej
och som aldrig kommer få en chans
så många här som aldrig såg mig
och jag vet att jag haft tur som få
Så många här som ville ha dig
men vi kände samma sak

Vi känner alltid samma sak
Vi känner alltid samma sak

Vi känner alltid samma sak"

~ ~ ~

Sofia Karlsson "Söder om kärleken" (2009)

Söder om kärleken
release date: Mar. 4, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Gustaf Ljunggren, Sofia Karlsson
label: Playground Music Scandinavia - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Du var där" (4 / 5) (live session) - 3. "Smält mig till glöd" (live) - 6. "Dina händer (Göteborg)" - 8. "Visa från Kåkbrinken" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 12. "Imma på fönstret" - 13. "Alltid dig nära" (4 / 5) (solo live)

4th studio album by Sofia Karlsson and her first album on the Playground label is her so far most apparent folk pop-shaped album comparing with her first three albums, the debut Folk Songs (2002), Svarta ballader (2005) and Visor från vinden (2007). All of these have more traditional folklore music incorporated and all were based on older lyrical sources, whereas this is her first to have more compositions with an uptempo and chorus-based music, and they also represent her first collection of songs written and composed for an album.
Karlsson has a nice beautiful singing voice with the qualities of Lisa Ekdahl only with more strength. It's a warm and very fine album. Unfortunately, she doesn't release music very often, although, she has featured as guest artist on a number of albums. Following this, she released the live album Levande in 2011 and it was not until 2014 before she presented her fifth studio album Regnet faller utan oss.

U2 "No Line on the Horizon" (2009)

No Line on the Horizon
release date: Mar. 9, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,36]
producer: Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "No Line on the Horizon" - 5. "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" (4 / 5) - 9. "White as Snow"

12th studio album by U2 follows 4½ years after How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Nov. 2004). The album is released on Island and this time they bring together a collaboration work by their best known producers: Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite.
The album was met by luke-warm reviews, but for the first time in a long period, I actually think they manage quite Okay in creating what comes out as a true cohesive work, as opposed to putting a few single hits together with half-finished and / or lesser works of art. Another thing that strikes me is that the album doesn't contain the usual two to three hit singles - there's only one! - but then the lows are considerably stronger making it a generally better album compared to their last four albums. Since Achtung Baby (1991) the band could easily have cut down on the album flow and released eps or singles only, but for once they prove that they still know how to make music.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Blender, Rolling Stone, 👎Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

Grant Hart "Hot Wax" (2009)

Hot Wax

release date: Oct. 6, 2009

format: digital

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]

producer: uncredited [rec. by Howard Bilerman; Mark Wisti]

label: Con D'Or Records / MVD Audio - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "You're the Reflection of the Moon on the Water" - 2. "Barbara" - 3. "Charles Hollis Jones" - 4. "Schoolbuses Are for Children" - 6. "California Zephyr" (acoustic live) - 7. "Sailor Jack" - 9. "My Regrets"

3rd studio album by Grant Hart follows ten years after the album Good News for Modern Man and is released via the independent label MVD Audio. Another 10 years! Well, you really cannot blame Hart for being busy releasing new material, however, he has recently founded his own record label Con D'Or and with assistance from MVD Audio, he has managed to release nine new compositions. It's no secret that Hart already back in the mid-80s found consolation in drug abuse, and unlike former band associate Bob Mould who took to rehabilation, Hart seems to have rejected just that. His '99 album was well-received by the media but as most of his releases post-Hüsker Dü the album didn't succeed commercially.

He initiated these recordings in a collaboration work with members of post-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor (the band was inactive from 2003-2010), but apparently, Hart didn't feel he benefited from the work and almost halfway through he turned to MVD Audio head Mark Wisti who then helped finishing the album. The early tracks appear to be the ones recorded by Bilerman (tracks #1, #2, #4, #9). Much in concordance with his two previous solos, Hart plays most instruments on his own except from occasional string sections.

Stylewise, this is difficult to narrow in, although there are traits from a post rock influence on tracks #2 and #9, but it mainly comes out as modern pop / rock or indie rock with references to traditional 1960s music of folk rock, psychedelic rock and baroque pop reminding the world about Jefferson Airplane and Scott Walker.

Grant Hart is one of America's big secrets. Those who know of him, praise his music and his few albums, and as with his previous releases Hot Wax contains truly fine music without reaching the same level as he demonstrates on his '99-album.

[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

The Killers "Live From the Royal Albert Hall" (2009) (live)

Live From the Royal Albert Hall (live)
release date: Nov. 2, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Matt Voss (live engineer)
label: Island Records - nationality: USA

4th album release by The Killers is the live recordings from two concerts Jul. 2009 at The Royal Albert Hall in London consisting of 17 tracks and a total running time at 78 minutes - the maximum running length on cds.
The album really just documents what a fine live band The Killers is. To prove the band started off playing post-punk they play a Joy Division cover of "Shadowplay", which is also found on their rarities album Sawdust (2007).
The album is also released on DVD, which is an even better release with nearly twice as many songs and only just documenting how well the band works live.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Jon Hopkins "Insides" (2009)

Insides

release date: May 3, 2009

format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]

producer: Jon Hopkins

label: Domino - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Vessel" - 3. "Insides" - 4. "Wire" - 5. "Colour Eye" - 9. "A Drifting Up"

3rd studio album by Jon Hopkins following five years after Contact Note (Aug. 2004) is his first album after signing with Domino Recording Co.

The album also includes the track "Light Through the Veins", which had been issued on the Coldplay album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (Jun. 2008). Hopkins also co-produced the Coldplay song "Life in Technicolor" and from hereon he was an often used co-producer and / or mixer used by the band, who also began touring with Hopkins. Before meeting with Coldplay, Hopkins had made some collaboration works with Brian Eno, who had come heard Contact Note.

Insides is mostly experimental electronica in the styles of IDM, micro and ambient downtempo, and if you happen to be familiar with his acclaimed Immunity from 2013, then this comes out as more of experimental drafts that paved a way to his more original sound later on. The album doesn't appear the same coherent whole you'll find his later albums do. It's more like single tracks pointing in many directions. Some compositions have a synthpop quality that makes you understand the idea of collaborating with Coldplay much more sensible, and others are much more in a classic electronic / Brian Eno territory.

Insides is mostly interesting as Hopkin's formative journey toward more acclaimed works and mostly fails on several parameters, which isn't the same as all bad.

Cornershop "Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast" (2009)

Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast
release date: Jul. 27, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Tjinder Singh
label: Ample Play Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Who Fingered Rock 'n' Roll" - 2. "Soul School" (4 / 5) - 4. "Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast" (live) - 6. "Free Love" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "The Roll Off Characteristics (Of History in the Making)" - 8. "Operation Push" - 9. "The Mighty Quinn" - 10. "The Constant Springs"

5th studio album by Cornershop released seven years since the most recent studio album Handcream for a Generation (Apr. 2002). Apparently, the band was dissatisfied with their label Wiiija in terms of promoting the previous album, and they went on a hiatus focusing on issuing new music and meanwhile formed their own record label, Ample Play Records for future releases.

Stylistically, it doesn't seem like seven years 'cause these two albums actually seem closer to each other than any other two albums I can think of by Cornershop. As was the case with the 2002 album this is with focus on a unique fusion of styles - in fact, I find that this sounds much like a big mix of the band's best selling album from '97 When I Was Born for the 7th Time and their fourth album in the way that the indietronica has been put slightly more in the background allowing more focus on sheer melody structure. Aside from the usual elements of soul and funk in a playful mix with British britpop the album also contains elements from glam rock. As always, Tjinder Singh is credited as songwriter of all songs except from a warm and fine cover of Dylan's "The Mighty Quinn".
The album kicks off with two strong tracks but my favourite here is the indietronica-shaped: "Free Love", which is nothing more than an absolute amazing progressive composition playing with lyrics in both English and Punjabi - like a modernised version of "6 a.m. Jullandar Shere" without plagiarising their own hit.
Imho, this is no less than the so far best album by Cornershop.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, The Observer 3 / 5, Daily Mirror, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Made in Germany" (2009)

Made in Germany
release date: Oct. 2, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,35]
producer: Derek von Krogh, Uwe F.-Petersen, Reinhold Heil, Nena Kerner
label: Laugh + Peas / BMG - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 2. "Du bist so gut für mich" - 3. "Ich bin hyperaktiv" (4 / 5) - 5. "Geheimnis" (live) - 6. "Du hast dich entschieden" - 7. "Wir sind wahr" - 9. "In meinem Leben"

10th solo studio album by Nena (released after Himmel, Sonne, Wind und Regen, a 2008 album made for children) but viewed in her pop / rock discography, it follows her double album Cover Me (Oct. 2007). The album is her second to be released on her own established label Laugh + Peas (the first being the 2008 album with children's music), and it comes out as a fine combo of her 2001 and 2005 releases, meaning primarily German pop / rock with synthpop and / or electropop elements. The album is her first to include her twins Larissa and Sakias both featuring on additional vocals on three of the songs. It appears that Nena is the so far only artist to have had 14 singles charting on the German singles hit list - the most recent entry being the single "In meinem Leben" peaking as number #4. The album was a new successful release in Germany going as high as number #3 on the albums chart list.

Bruce Springsteen "Working on a Dream" (2009)

Working on a Dream
release date: Jan. 27, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]
producer: Brendan O'Brien
label: Columbia / Sony Music - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Outlaw Pete" - 2. "My Lucky Day" - 3. "Working on a Dream" (4 / 5) - 9. "Life Itself" - 10. "Kingdom of Days"

16th studio album by Bruce Springsteen continue much in the style of three most recent albums, and represents a mix of styles. Some tracks just follow the style from Magic but others are like 'the usual' Springsteen repertoire. He tries hard to make it diverse - some times too hard - when he puts in a dirty blues rock track like "Good Eye", which sounds inspired by Tom Waits, and then jumps on to a slide-guitar driven country folk composition "Tomorrow Never Knows" you start wondering if the playlist right 'cause the diversity only seems colliding. Despite being the album's strongest track, the title song also hangs like the one-hit song that sells an album out of bounds.
The album was rather successful reaching number #1 in both the US, the UK and several other countries. I don't find it that great, though. "Working on a Dream" was a major hit, but is the album's only great track, and it just leaves you with more questions than answers ' cause what was it supposed to be other than a mixed bag.
[ allmusic.com, Blender, Spin 3 / 5 stars ]