Sinéad O'Connor "Theology" (2007)

Theology

release date: Jun. 18, 2007

format: 2 cd

[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,77]

producer: Steve Cooney; RonTom

label: Ministry Of Sound - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: Disc 1 'Dublin Sessions', 1. "Something Beautiful" (live actoustic) - 3. "Out of the Depths" (live acoustic) - 4. "Dark I Am Yet Lovely"

Disc 2, 'London Sessions', 1. "Something Beautiful" - 3. "Out of the Depths" - 4. "33" - 7. "If You Had a Vineyard" - 8. "The Glory of Jah"

8th studio album by Sinéad O'Connor following nearly two years after the reggae-tribute album Throw Down Your Arms (Oct. 2005). The album is a 2-disc cd release with the first disc titled "Dublin Sessions". This is produced by Steve Cooney and co-produced by Graham Bolger and Sinéad O'Connor. Disc 2 is titled "London Sessions" and is produced by RonTom [aka Ronald Tomlinson]. The unusual thing about the 2-disc album format is that both discs almost comes with identical tracklistings. That is, the track order is slightly changed and only two songs are unique, one on each disc, with the major differences being that the "Dublin Sessions" are acoustically arranged songs and the "London Sessions" are more traditionally arranged as soft pop / rock songs. The album is quite lengthy with 90 minutes total running time, and then it basically comes without any memorable songs. It's not so much that the songs are all religious hymns - as I do fancy Van Morrison even when he is most explicitly touching on religion because his music usually is founded on great songs and catchy arrangements, however, this is simply not the case with Theology, which easily comes out as O'Connor's least favourable album to date. If you say plan on adding a release by O'Connor to your music collection, this is simply not where you should look. It should read avoid! Except if you're into say Christian pop / rock music and you're actually in search of soft pop / rock religious hymns. "But you point to track highlights of the album!", you may argue. Agreed, but they're not great. Not any of them, only better compared to the other songs on the album. Perhaps it's actually mediocre and should be granted 2,5 / 5 but I just like O'Connor's singing qualities, and they're still here, somewhere.

Not recommended.

[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, 👍Uncut, PopMatters, Slant 3 / 5, 🤯Rolling Stone 1 / 5, Spin 2 / 5 stars ]

Elvis Costello "The Best of Elvis Costello - The First 10 Years" (2007)

The Best of Elvis Costello - The First 10 Years (compilation)
release date: May 1, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 4,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Hip-O Records - nationality: England, UK

Best of compilation by Elvis Costello compiled by Costello himself is a strong contender to the best single disc compilation around with his earliest - and best - material. The selection starts off from the debut album My Aim Is True (1977) and ends with his last album released on F-Beat, Blood & Chocolate (1986). A couple of fine things about the album is how all studio releases except (the shallow) Goodbye Cruel World (1984) from this ten year period are represented, and that the songs appear in chronological order. The total of 22 tracks is made up from three taken from Costello's first three albums, My Aim..., This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979), then two from albums 4 and 5, Get Happy!! (1980) and Trust (1981), one composition from his 6th, Almost Blue (1981), then again three from his 7th, Imperial Bedroom (1982), two from his 8th, Punch the Clock (1983), two from his 10th, King of America (1986), and one song from his 11th, Blood & Chocolate. Of course there's no way he would be able to satisfy everyone's taste and personally; I miss more from Get Happy!! and Blood & Chocolate and I could live without few of the selected, but ultimately, it's impossible to pick 22 tracks only, and when going for 1-3 songs from these albums, it's a pretty decent job.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Band of Horses "Cease to Begin" (2007)

Cease to Begin

release date: Oct. 9, 2007

format: cd (SPCD 745)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,22]

producer: Phil Ek

label: Sub Pop Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Is There a Ghost" (5 / 5) (live on Letterman) - 2. "Ode to LRC" - 3. "No One's Gonna Love You" (5 / 5) (live on Letterman - acoustic live) - 4. "Detlef Schrempf" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 5. "The General Specific" - 7. "Islands on the Coast" - 8. "Marry Song" - 9. "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands" (4,5 / 5) (live)

2nd studio album by Band of Horses following 1½ after the fine Everything All the Time (Mar. 2006) is like that produced by Phil Ek and released on Sub Pop. Since the recording of the debut album the band has changed its line-up more than once, and played as a quintet, a quartet and now reduced to a trio with only remaining member, founder Ben Bridwell. On this he constitutes the band with bassist & guitarist Rob Hampton and drummer Creighton Barrett - both replacing founding members Chris Early and Tim Meinig for the promotion tour of the debut in 2006. Guitarist and keyboardist Joe Arnone only stayed for the 2006 tour, after which the band recruited keyboardist Ryan Monroe as additional musician for an upcoming 2007 tour and for the recording sessions for this album. He was, however, together with guitarist Tyler Ramsey and bassist Bill Reynolds included as new official members after the album release, whci meant the band was soon back as a sextet.

Musically, the album follows close on path laid out with the debut, although, this seems more like a bolder folk rock and country rock release thanks to more focus on electric guitars. The album still leaves room for a varied collection of songs, some are laidback and country-like, others harsh electric folk rock and the first track is an indie pop-shaped grower, but the overall sensation of a strong coherent whole is further accentuated. The album consists of ten tracks - and here comes the least favourable thing about this new album: it only upholds a total running time at 34:50 minutes!

After an acclaimed and strong debut they actually do even better. It's more than an ordinary artistic achievement to make something that both bonds so nicely with the preceeding release and yet improve their sound, which again proves how Ben Bridwell as only remaning member is the band's leader and driving force.

Cease to Begin is their best and it's highly recommended.

[ 👍allmusic.com, NME, Blender, Q Magazine, 👍Spin 4 / 5, Pitchfork 7.7 / 10 stars ]

2007 Favourite releases: 1. Bloc Party A Weekend in the City - 2. Band of Horses Cease to Begin - 3. Natasja I Danmark er jeg født

inlay cover

Kate Nash "Made of Bricks" (2007)

Made of Bricks [debut]

release date: Aug. 6, 2007

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]

producer: Paul Epworth

label: Fiction Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Foundations" (4 / 5) (official censored version) live on later) - 3. "Mouthwash" - 4. "Dickhead" - 5. "Birds" - 6. "We Get On" - 8. "Shit Song" - 11. "Nicest Thing"

Studio album debut by Kate [Marie] Nash following the release of the non-album single of Feb. "Caroline's a Victim" with "Birds" (demo) as B-side, which is included on this album.

Thematically, Nash follows in the footprints of Lily Allen, who paved a new way for female artists singing in an original British dialect about relationships and modern society's unwritten standards wrapped up in witty, direct and often explicit lyrics. The style, however, differs somewhat from that of Allen by being more contemporary shaped without strong bonds to former styles. Sometimes it's uptempo synth-and-electropop-founded - at other times, which is most of the time on this album - the music is arranged with acoustic guitar, piano, strings and horns - Nash both plays the piano, guitar, bass, and synths herself.

The single "Foundations" (Jun. 2007) preceded the album and it was an immediate hit and the absolute right choice as it remains the only top-10 single hit by Nash reaching number #2 on the national singles chart list. Three othr singles then follwed: "Mouthwash" and then "Pumpkin Soup" both peaking at number #23, followed by "Merry Happy", which didn't enter top-100. Two other songs became Nash staples: "Nicest Thing" and "Dickhead", and the album simply topped the charts by Sep. 2007 selling 2x Platinum (more than 600.000 items - in comparison Back to Black by Amy Winehouse from that same year sold 15 x Platinum and more than 4,5 mil. copies in the UK alone).

I do recall how "Foundations" and "Mouthwash" were both played numerous times that year, and also remember how I found it somewhat difficult to distinguish the music by Nash from that of Lily Allen, and this is a comparison she has been confronted with throughout her career.

Made of Bricks is a strong debut. Imo it contains some fine, memorable and quite original songs but I don't consider it great altogether and some of the album songs, especially in the second half of the album, don't quite match the quality of the first three songs but it's defintely an album worth checking out and considerably better than some of the British reviews suggest. It's an album among many during this period that actually made people listen to the lyrics by contemporary female artists.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, 👍PopMatters, Slant 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 5,5 / 10, 👎The Guardian, Drowned in Sound 2 / 5 stars ]

Happy Mondays "Uncle Dysfunktional" (2007)

Uncle Dysfunktional

release date: Jul. 2, 2007

format: digital (13 x File, MP3)

[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,88]

producer: Sunny Levine

label: Sequel Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Jellybean" - 2. "Angels and Whores" - 5. "Cuntry Disco" - 7. "Anti Warhole (On the Dancefloor)" - 8. "Rush Rush"

5th studio album by Happy Mondays following 15 years after ... Yes Please (1992) is the bands first album with a new line-up, and as of 2018 also the so far final album by The Mondays. After the disbandment in '93, Shaun Ryder and Bez went on to form Black Grape but after two albums and another disbandment, Ryder once again took the initiative to reform his old band with younger brother Paul, best mate Bez and drummer Gary Whelan from the initial line-up but now without keyboardist Paul Davis and guitarist Mark Day. This line-up was expanded with new guitarist "Wags" [Paul Wagstaff], former backing vocalist Rowetta, rapper "Nuts", keyboardist Ben Leach and percussionist Lea Mullen making the band a nonet [nine members]. With this line-up the band was active from 1999 to 2001, and during this short period, they succesfully toured the world and played concerts without releasing other than the Thin Lizzy cover of "The Boys Are Back in Town" (1999). It all came to an end in 2001 after Shaun in Melbourne, Australia, got together with Shane Norton, Pete Carroll and Stephen Mallinder and recorded a bunch of new songs - first to be released in 2003 as Amateur Night in the Big Top. - after which Paul left The Mondays and the band dissolved - again. In 2004, Shaun, Bez and Whelan revived the band by recruiting guitarist Kavin Sandhu, bassist Mike Shine, keyboardist Dave Parkinson as well as guitarist John Dunn making it a septet. After a while, Parkinson was replaced by Dan Broad, and shortly prior to the recordings, also Dunn left the band,. So here the Mondays are "the old core" of Shaun Ryder, Bez, and Gary Whelan, and a complete septet together with Kav Sandhu, Mike Shine, Dan Broad and Julie Gordon.

Musically, it's clear that the band aims to make another 'classic' Happy Mondays album by mixing neo-psychedelia, pop soul, funk and alt. dance, but it's also striking how old-school it all sounds. Not much has happened since the 90s it seems, and the album simply lacks good songs. The album was met by mixed reviews and it peaked at a low number #73 on the UK albums chart list, and the two singles, "Jellybean" and "Dysfunctional Uncle" (track #9) failed to chart.

Uncle Dysfunctional surely revives the style and sound of The Mondays, but it mainly serves to maintain the impression of an existing legendary band - and they are able to tour and make a living. The band has continued in various line-ups since. In 2012 Ryder announced that they would continue in the original line-up with a welcome back to his brother Paul on bass, Mike Day on guitar, Paul Davis on keyboards and Rowetta on vocals. They also proclaimed to be working on new material, although, that has yet to materialise. In 2015 Davis left the band and was subsequently replaced by Dan Broad.

Shaun Ryder apparently argued that he could've released the album under the Black Grape band name, but with respect to Bez and Whelan, he went with the Mondays [and yes, Bez was actually in both bands but ended up leaving Black Grape - so there U have that].

Not good, but still better than ... Yes Please, which unfortunately doesn't say much, tho'.

Not recommended.

[ 👍allmusic.com, The Guardian 3 / 5, NME 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Zucchero "All the Best" (2007)

All the Best (compilation)
release date: Nov. 23, 2007
format: digital (2-disc)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Released as 'Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari'. This is a fine double compilation album if you don't have Zucchero in your collection. It contains 35 tracks most of which are in Italian. It also contains "Wonderful Life", a song by British singer Black from his debut album Wonderful Life (1987), also released as a cover version by Zucchero as a single release earlier in 2007, which didn't make it to an album but was a rather big hit, again as it was for Black.

This is a highly recommended album.

Beth Hart "37 Days" (2007)

37 Days
release date: Jul. 30, 2007
format: cd / cd (2008 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Rune Westberg & The Beth Hart Band
label: Universal Music Group - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Good as It Gets" (live) - 4. "Over You" (4 / 5) - 5. "Sick" - 6. "Face Forward" - 9. "Easy" - 11. "Missing You"

4th studio album by Beth Hart released four years following Leave the Light On (2003) is exclusively issued in the EU and comes in various versions with a slightly differing tracklist. A 2008 and 2011 reissue contains an additional three bonus tracks both of which strangely have the fine "Over You" exchanged with "Beautiful Child".

Björk "Volta" (2007)

Volta
release date: May 7, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,04]
producer: Björk
label: One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland

Track highlights: 1. "Earth Intruders" (feat. Konono Nº1) - 2. "Wanderlust" - 3. "The Dull Flame of Desire" - 4. "Innocence" - 11. "I See Who You Are"

6th studio album by Björk is a primarily self-produced album with various others producing and co-producing single tracks. Here, it's Timbaland and Danja (tracks #1 and ¤4 - with Timbaland also co-pro. track #8), Mark Bell (track #9) and Damian Taylor (track #6).
Volta signals a return to a more melodic mainstream pop universe with more traditional electronic instrumentation and with compositions based on drum and bass in a dance pop sphere. It feature several guest musicians including Congolese music project Konono Nº1 and Toumani Diabaté, Antony Hegarty (Antony & The Johnsons) feature on two tracks, Min Xiao-Fen (also on two tracks), Mark Bell, and Sjón.
"Earth Intruders" is the only great track on an album, which is a bit of... everything and nothing, really. Generally, I find the somewhat disappointing predecessor Medúlla (2004) slightly more interesting, although that fails on other parameters. Volta is certainly more pop-minded - at least more danceable, but it's basically also easier forgettable.
This is not one of her better album - in fact it's her so far least favourable.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 ]

Eldkvarn "Svart Blogg" (2007)

Svart Blogg
release date: Apr. 7, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

22nd studio album by Eldkvarn. They never were a favourite band of mine but this is one of the their better releases.

Lucinda Williams "West" (2007)

West

release date: Feb. 13, 2007

format: cd

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,75]

producer: Hal Willner & Lucinda Williams

label: Lost Highway - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Are You Alright?" - 2. "Mama You Sweet" - 3. "Learning How to Live" - 4. "Fancy Funeral" - 5. "Unsuffer Me" - 7. "Come On" - 8. "Where Is My Love?" - 10. "What If" - 12. "Words" - 13. "West"

8th studio album by Lucinda Williams follows nearly 4 full years after World Without Tears (Apr. 2003). which appears to have been a time of collaborative works and a period of personal turmoil with the loss of her mother and a broken long-term relationship setting some of the tones for these 13 new songs all credited Williams. The album has a total running time of nearly 79 minutes, which naturally makes it a double album on vinyl issues.

Williams continue her song material with songs about the naked personal stories, with a balance towards harder times exploring struggles and life challenging experiences. With 'pain' as a central motif this is everything laid out open. It's a kind of a pond from where she finds her inspiration, and when going through personal crisis, she really makes her songs shine. It's basically sad, but it appears to be her driving force and some kind of therapy. I hope. Musically, these are ballads, angry songs, and songs filled to the brim with sorrow and apin but there's often a glimpse of hope and positive things in her songs - despite dealing with heavy emotions, and if not explicitly found in the lyrics, there's nearly always a warmth, or a comforting presence in the music, which makes it the more tolerable.

West is the so far best-charting album by Lucinda Williams in the US peaking at number #14 on Billboard 200. In imo it's challenging Car Wheels on Gravel Road as the best from Lucinda Williams and therefore a highly recommended album.

[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine 4 / 5, 😲The Guardian 5 / 5, 😖Pitchfork 3,5 / 10

The Raveonettes "Lust Lust Lust" (2007)

Lust Lust Lust

release date: Nov. 12, 2007

format: cd

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,77]

producer: Sune Rose Wagner

label: Fierce Panda - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Aly, Walk with Me" - 2. "Hallucinations" - 3. "Lust" - 4. "Dead Sound" - 8. "You Want the Candy" - 9. "Blitzed" - 10. "Sad Transmission" - 12. "The Beat Dies"

3rd full-length studio album by The Raveonettes following 2½ years after Pretty in Black (May 2005) basically continue the style of the predecessor but with a stronger original sound both by mixing 60s surf rock and contemporary recording methods using electronic drums and synths to create a 50s / 60s vibe that nonetheless works really well, and by including more of the surf rock and garage rock sound they incorporated on the debut. The album is not a lengthy affair but provides us with 12 songs with a total running time just below 41 minutes. Previously, the band of songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Sune Rose Wagner and bassist & vocalist Sharin Foo were aided by a full backing band playing traditional instruments, but not this time. The album appears to have been recorded by Wagner and Foo only - with the former playing all instruments and Foo 'only' adding vocals to the songs. The result is quite fine with a strong blend of styles, yet keeping the course balancing both soft / hard and ballads / rockers in what appears as full control. It's really a coherent and unison album that lifts the level by another notch.

Btw. this is the band's first album that doesn't have Wagner or Foo on the front cover.

The album is a strong contender to the best album by The Raveonettes.

[ 👍allmusic.com, The Guardian, Spin 4 / 5, PopMatters 3,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Uncut 3 / 5 stars ]

The Durutti Column "Idiot Savants" (2007)

Idiot Savants
release date: Jul. 16, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Better Must Come" - 2. "Interleukin 2 (For Anthony)" (4 / 5) - 3. "Please Let Me Sleep" - 4. "2 Times Nice" - 8. "That Blows My Name Away (For Rachel)"

17th studio album by The Durutti Column issued on Fullfill / Artful Records and produced by Keir Stewart (track 3 produced by Tim Thomas). Before this, The DC released the album Sporadic Three (April 2007, Kooky Records). On this release, Reilly again plays with sampling and electronic but without adding new dimensions or contributing with much else than what at times sounds like versions or improvs of older material, although I really like "Interleukin 2 (For Anthony)".
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Efterklang "Parades" (2007)

Parades
release date: Oct. 15, 2007
format: digital (11 File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,92]
producer: Casper Clausen, Mads Brauer
label: The Leaf Label / Rumraket - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Mirador" - 3. "Him Poe Poe"

2nd full-length album by Danish electronic, experimental and post-rock band Efterklang. Here the band is the same quintet, who released the debut album Tripper in 2004: vocalist Casper Clausen, keyboardist Mads Brauer, bassist Rasmus Stolberg, pianist Rune Mølgaard and drummer / percussionist Thomas Husmer.
The album has its focus on progressive instrumental parts with an end-result that sounds as if inspired by Sigur Ròs, Björk, Talk Talk and with some inspiration from modern classical. The album was generally met by acclaim from international music critics, but apart from the the track "Mirador" I have always found it long and without much to offer. Where Tripper sounded refreshing and bound to a form of simplicity, Parades overflows and nearly drowns in pompeous arrangements.
[ bandcamp ]
[ Mojo, Q Magazine, Uncut 4 / 5, PopMatters, NME 3,5 / 5, Drowned in Sound 5/ 5 stars ]

The Breeders "Mountain Battles" (2007)

Mountain Battles
release date: Apr. 7, 2008
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,44]
producer: non-produced*
label: 4AD Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Overglazed" - 2. "Bang On" - 4. "We're Gonna Rise" - 5. "German Studies" - 8. "Walk It Off" (live) - 12. "It's the Love" (live)

4th and so far final studio album by The Breeders is not attributed producer credits - much in their usual way paying little attention on after-processing. Engineers and recorder credits include Steve Albini, Erika Larsen, Ben Mumphrey and Manny Nieto. Although, Kim and Kelley recorded initial sessions for a new album as early as in 2002 after having just released Title TK, a reunion tour with Pixies and several new studio sessions in various locations delayed the process. In 2007 guitarist Richard Presley left the band and the final recording sessions for the album is therefore only with Kim and Kelley Deal on guitar.
The album may be seen as a fine and natural successor to Title TK with its likewise focus on proto-punk influences and close to garage rock-styled noise pop. Basically, I think this is the album by The Breeders that comes closest to the sound of Pixies when thinking of a combo of Surfer Rosa and Title TK. It doesn't stir up things or excel in high energy guitar distortion as the predecessor, but it balances a demo-sound and typical quirkiness of the Deal sisters nicely within a sonic sphere with equal amounts of rock tradition and artistic originality. Some songs may come close to what sounds like retakes on early Pixies compositions ["German Studies" and "Walk It Off"], but all in all, I think the album is more typical for what represents Kim Deal, and imho that can't be bad.
The Breeders hasn't stopped touring, although, no new albums so far has been released. In 2012 the band re-united in the original Last Splash line-up with the Deal sisters, Josephine Wiggs and Jim Macpherson, and the album was reissued in a comprehensive 3-disc edition titled LSXX. In 2016 rumours suggested that the band was doing studio rehearsals, which would imply that a new album is on its way.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo, Spin, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Eddie Vedder "Into the Wild" (OST) (2007)

Into the Wild (soundtrack)
release date: Sep. 18, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Adam Kasper, Eddie Vedder
label: J Records - nationality: USA

Studio solo debut album by Eddie Vedder, vocalist and frontman of Pearl Jam, is a soundtrack album for the movie "Into the Wild" (2007) by Sean Penn. The album is not a big revelation but it's nice to hear Vedder who has one of the best voices in modern rock, and here he shows a new side as singer / songwriter and folk singer. The album just lacks the really good and interesting songs.

Olesen-Olesen "Kain og Abel" (2007)

(Henrik & Peter)

Kain og Abel
release date: Oct. 1, 2007
format: 2 cd (melo 005)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Nikolaj Nørlund; Peter Olesen, Rune Borup, Torsten Larsen
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: Disc 1): 1. "Drømmen om et liv" - 2. "Jeg har aldrig haft et job" - 5. "Fyraften" - 7. "Søn af en revisor" - 9. "Sen sne" - - Disc 2): 1. "I kulkælderen på 3. sal" - 3. "Jeg har valgt at være ulykkelig" - 6. "Jeg drømte jeg var et godt menneske" - 8. "Til de efterladte" - 10. "Det skønne og det sande"

7th and final studio album by Olesen-Olesen released on Melodika is a 2-disc album, where disc 1 is mainly produced by Nikolaj Nørlund, and all tracks on disc 2 are produced by Peter Olesen, Rune Borup, Torsten Larsen, and with Tore Johansen as co-producer on tracks #1, #8 and #9. Apart from referring to the Biblical brothers, the album title also pays tribute to the Danish poet Morti Vizki (aka Morten Boeslund Poulsen), who had been found dead in Sep. 2004 at the age of 41 - Vizki wrote the text "To monologer: Abel og Kain" ['Two monologues: Cain and Abel'] and he wrote the poem "Drømmen om et liv" for which Henrik composed accompanying music.
The album is basically a "2-in-1" album, as each disc contains songs exclusively written by either of the two brothers, and in a way gives you two solo albums released as a double album. Disc 1 contains songs exclusively composed by guitarist Henrik Olesen [Abel] in collaboration with other songwriters. Three of these have lyrics by Peter, one is written by Jens Unmack, and one is by Morti Vizki. Disc 2 are songs written by songwriter and vocalist Peter H. Olesen [Kain], mostly with other musical composers of which four are composed by Torsten Larsen, four are credited Klaus Mandal Hansen, one is by Michael Lund, one by Henrik Olesen, and one song has music composed by Peter himself. In this way they also point to their future musical split after having worked together in several bands and projects for more than three decades. Their first releases together were with the band Sort-Hvide Landskaber back in the early '80s. After that they released two tapes as Skizo Kids - for this project Peter was credited as Kain and Henrik as Abel. Soon after they continued in the band Greene, with whom they released three full-length studio albums before founding their duo-project, Olesen-Olesen. And now with Kain og Abel this has also come to an end, and a full circle has been drawn.
I don't know anything about the decision to split after all these years, but in the years to follow they have remained parted. Naturally, it's a rather special album with the two brothers having arranged and written the songs for each disc on their own, and with the help of other artists. I can't tell which of the two discs is the better, as they both have obvious forces. Disc 1 generally contains most up-tempo and positive expressions of songs in a style closely related to that of their former band, Greene, and Disc 2 represents the lyrically most interesting compositions - and in a style that bonds more with that of their most recent works together.
"Til de efterladte" is a fine poem accompanied by music which forecasts the upcoming project De efterladte in more than one sense. The title is one thing, as it's also written together with guitarist Michael Lund, who takes part in the project with Peter H. Olesen. The album as such, is not among the best by the brothers and whether or not the title and the Christian allegory with two brothers in conflict has any bearing in the split remains uncertain. Peter continued his artistic work by writing novels, poems, and eventually by initiating the musical duo De efterladte, whereas Henrik continued as additional guitarist for the duo, Er De Sjældne with Solveig Sandnes (ex Lovebites) and Lone Hørslev, and then he was the first of the two brothers to initiate his own musical project, Ukendt Under Andet Navn.
[ Gaffa.dk, Soundvenue 4 / 6 stars ]

Kent "Tillbaka till samtiden" (2007)

Tillbaka till samtiden
release date: Oct. 17, 2007
format: cd (repress) / vinyl (2022 repress)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Kent, Joshua (aka Jon Schumann)
label: RCA / Sony BMG - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Elefanter" (4 / 5) - 3. "Ingenting" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Vid din sida" - 5. "Columbus" (5 / 5) - 7. "Vy från ett luftslott" - 10. "Generation Ex" - 11. "Ensammast i Sverige" (4 / 5)

7th studio album by Kent, who once again spends a long time preparing new material has here found Danish producer Jon Schumann, who has previously worked with the Danish acts Kashmir, Mew and Carpark North. Before recording the new album, rhythm guitarist Harri Mänty left the band in late 2006. It's been 2½ years since the great Du & jag döden (Mar. 2005) and the result is a strong and very diverse experience. If Isola felt like a rough turn, this may seem like a U-turn compared to its predecessor. The Hjärta & smärta EP (Oct. 2005) revealed nothing of the decision to jump onto the synthpop train and leave guitar rock behind. Perhaps this had Mänty reduce the band to a quartet?
By diverse, I mean in comparison with what fans had come to terms with that Kent was. And for some fans this was perhaps hard to swallow, but it's still a very coherent and focused album, and if you instantly feel this is something completely else, then listen again 'cause the Nordic noir soul never left this band.
"Ingenting" and "Columbus" are wonderful tracks though they may feel somewhat detached from the remainders - critics would perhaps argue that the album points in many directions. I don't find that it contains poor tracks or fillers, there's just an overall sensation of absence in the collection of songs here that leaves me with the impression that 'something' lacks in binding the album together. Having said that, the album is still a solid singles release that just doesn't reach the same level as the predecessor but it contains enough quality material to distinguish the band from most other artist in Northern Europe. And with a brand new sound and style, Kent should be ready to explore and surprise anew.
Recommended.

EDIT 2022:

Purchase of 2022 vinyl repress.

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"Ingenting"

"I Hagnesta Hill
blinkar tv-ljusen
Jag gör vad jag kan
Drömmer mig bort
I Hagnesta Hill
bland de identiska husen
Rycker vi till
Reklamen avbryts för sport

Ingenting
Först kom ingenting
Sen kom ingenting
Sen kom ingenting
men ingenting är (ingenting, inget, inget)
De jävlarna tog oss
en efter en
De ljög och bedrog oss
med sanningen
De jävlarna tog min älskling där
Från krönet av kullen kan jag se
min förlorade värld

Jag ska göra nånting
Jag ska slå er med häpnad
Gå över en gräns
Jag ska bryta mig ut
Jag älskar dig så
som att vara beväpnad
Och under belägring kan jag skjuta dig ut

Ingenting
Först kom ingenting
Sen kom ingenting
Sen kom ingenting
men ingenting är (ingenting, inget, inget)
De jävlarna tog oss
en efter en
De ljög och bedrog oss
med sanningen
De jävlarna tog min älskling där
Från krönet av kullen kan jag se
min förlorade värld

Ingenting
Först kom ingenting
Sen kom ingenting
Sen kom ingenting
men ingenting är (ingenting, inget, inget)
De jävlarna tog oss
en efter en
De ljög och bedrog oss
med sanningen
De jävlarna tog min älskling där
Från krönet av kullen kan jag se
min förlorade värld"

~ ~ ~

"Columbus"

"Du har tänkt allt som sagts om mig
Du kan tro allt du hört om mig
Du kan ställa frågor om sanningen
Finns det en eller finns det tusen

Svara rakt från hjärtat nu
Ditt medlidande kan jag vara utan
Om det här ska vara allt vi hann
Så håll mig hårt
Håll mig älskling nu.

Stockholm vaknar långsamt
På droger och på sorg
Snön hyr ut sin oskuld
till hela Kungsholms torg
Det känns som när jag kom hit
way back in 93
en ynklig rad av fotspår
En okänd kontinent

Släpp snälla, släpp taget nu
Jag kan stå, gå eller krypa härifrån
Om det här är allt vi hinner med
så håll mig hårt min älskling nu

Vaknar staden långsamt
och jag är full igen
Snön hyr ut sin oskuld
för skiten bara känns
Det känns som när jag kom hit
way back in 93
en ynklig rad av fotspår
en oändlig kontinent

Stockholm vaknar långsamt
och jag är full igen
Snön hyr ut sin oskuld
till hela Kungsholmen
Och det känns som när vi kom hit
till möjlighetens land
Du kan följa mina spår hem
Columbus var mitt namn"

~ ~ ~

Ane Brun "Live in Scandinavia" (2007)

Live in Scandinavia (live)

release date: Feb. 7, 2007

format: digital

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]

producer: Ane Brun

label: DetErMine Records / V2 - nationality: Norway

Track highlights: 2. "To Let Myself Go" - 6. "A Temporary Dive" - 8. "So You Did It Again" - 9. "The Dancer" - 10. "Changing of the Seasons / Fight Song" - 12. "So Real"

Live album by Ane Brun with 17 tracks from a series of concerts in Norway and Sweden recorded from Sep. 10 to 20, 2006. Although, the album quite nicely draws attention to the whole of Scandinavia (where she rightly toured) the songs are taken from eight performances, of which nine are from Norway and eight from Sweden. And of these eight Swedish concerts, seven are from one and the same show on 20/9 in Södra Teatern in Stockholm, while the last one is from the night before at Katalin in Uppsala. The concert recordings in Norway, on the other hand, stem from six different locations. The album has a total running time of 75 minutes.

The songs are mainly from her two studio albums, Spending Time with Morgan from 2003 and A Temporary Dive from 2005, in addition there has been room for three covers by PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley, and Henry Purcell, with the latter's song also featuring on her 2005 studio album.

It's not the big traditional backing band that Brun brings with her for these concerts. When she doesn't play alone on guitar or piano, she's often accompanied by either the string quartet The DMF String Quartet, by guitarist Staffan Johansson, by pianist Nina Kinert, and / or by percussionist Erik Arvinder. And whether playing with minimal instrumentation or as a soloist, she has said, "There is something about the focus in playing by myself that fascinates me", she says. "There’s nothing to hide behind when I'm alone on stage and it becomes almost meditative for me when I play."

Live in Scandinavia is a fine rendering of Ane Brun on a stage where you can almost sense her natural abilities as a great and present live artist, something which her early career as a street musician may have had a positive effect upon.

LCD Soundsystem "Sound of Silver" (2007)

Sound of Silver
release date: Mar. 12, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: The DFA [Tim Goldsworthy & James Murphy]
label: DFA Records Japan - nationality:

Track highlights: 1. "Get Innocuous!" - 2. "Time to Get Away" - 3. "North American Scum" - 4. "Someone Great" (5 / 5) - 6. "Us V Them"

2nd full studio album by LCD Soundsystem in a Japanese edition including 3 bonus tracks.
It's really not that different from the debut album as they still make use of various influences - on the first three tracks one will hear funk and alt. dance / dance-punk pointing to a more standard rock-outing, but with the track "Someone Great" the album takes a turn towards indietronics and synth pop, which is nicely continued on "All My Friends" before returning to a funky rhythmic conglomerate of all their styles blending funk, electro-disco, synth pop and dance-punk in just one song: "Us V Them". The standard album closer "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" is another "weird"-styled track building on a singer / songwriter tradition that makes me think of Lou Reed.
The Japanese edition of the album continues with two (much alike) remixes of the album track "North American Scum" and "Hippie Priest Bum-Out" - all of which are danceable tunes without being really memorable.
The huge blend is really not bad at all - it's highly original, though you may need to reserve time to digest this fusion of styles. It strikes me that the band re-use bits and pieces one will find in the late 1970s varying from the disco sound to more new wave- and art pop-oriented artists - from American artists like Donna Summer, Blondie, Talking Heads, Devo and The B-52's to British David Bowie, Altered Images, Human League and Gang Of Four.
Sound of Silver was met by positive reviews and nominated a Grammy Award for Best Electronic / Dance album of the year [handed to We Are the Night by The Chemical Brothers], and it's included in "1001 Album You Must Hear Before You Die".
I really enjoy this album, although, I don't find it all that homogeneous, and "Someone Great" is a marvellous track.
[ allmusic.com, Spin 4,5 / 5, NME, Q, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Dolores O'Riordan "Are You Listening?" (2007)

Are You Listening? [debut]
release date: May 8, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: Dolores O'Riordan and Dan Brodbeck
label: Cooking Vinyl - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Ordinary Day" - 2. "When We Were Young" (4 / 5) - 3. "In the Garden" - 7. "Apple of My Eye" - 12. "Ecstasy"

Solo debut album by Dolores O'Riordan after some years without releasing studio albums with her primary band The Cranberries who's most recent album Wake Up and Smell the Coffee from 2001, which didn't receive the best reviews, and after a time working on new material the band then announced (2003) that they would take a hiatus as The Cranberries leaving room for individual projects. During this time O'Riordan found herself involved in various projects, e.g. together with Zucchero on his album Zucchero & Co. (2004), with Angelo Badalamenti on two songs for a soundtrack and various other projects until she started working on her first solo album.
The album features a collection of songs, all written by O'Riordan, which have only little in common with the best selling songs by The Cranberries but which ultimately are not far from what the band released on its 2 most recent studio albums before 2007. The focus is on mainstream pop / rock combined with celtic rock and some alt. rock elements scattered around the album. The clearly best track "When We Were Young" is perhaps closest in style with the more traditional material by her band, and could easily have been included on either of the first two albums by The Cranberries.
Generally, I find it a bit difficult to digest as a whole - the songs simply point in all kinds of directions, but it's not just a mediocre release. There are simply too many fine traits and songs here.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]