Bassist Charnett Moffett evidently has kept his mind open in working with a wide variety of performers over the years. “The Art of Improvisation” includes a Jimi Hendrix-like “Star Spangled Banner” as well as “Dreams,” based on the poetry of Langston Read more..
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The Verve fought their way to the top of the Britpop pile with a series of triumphant, world-beating anthems, but since their dissolution, frontman Richard Ashcroft’s muse has led him further into introspective, acoustic territory. Quite heartening, then, that his third album kicks off with a mighty burst of brass, an ecstatic Motown rhythm and in “Why Not Nothing?”, one of his most bullish, headstrong lyrics in recent memory.
Ashcroft’s new emphasis on classic-tinged soulfulness–a nice change from his occasional, unfortunate tendency towards lumpen Britpop blokeiness–permeates Keys To The World, a factor that sets it on a par with the likes of Weller’s 2000 album Heliocentric in the return-to-form stakes. There are two real highlights though: the swooning “Words Just Get In The Way” should see some manly tears shed, an older, wiser uncle of Coldplay’s “Fix You” that offers a shoulder to cry on over a noble flourish of violins, while “World Keeps Turning” ends the album on a proud note, Ashcroft declaring “Everythin’ right in my life again” as the album gallops to a close.–Louis Pattison
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Pop Trash Following the criminal disregard that British record labels showed their previous album Medazzaland you could have been forgiven for thinking that Duran Duran were over and done with, reduced to touring a greatest hits package to nostalgia fans who survived the fashion crimes of the 1980s. Yet the start of the new millennium saw them bouncing back with another studio album, and with it a few hints towards a new direction. There are some tracks that are undeniably Duran Duran–the sublime wistful balladry of “Pop Trash Movie” and the rousing choruses of “Mars Meets Venus”, but these are countered with some bizarre shifts in style–to the shades of Elliott Smith on “Starting To Remember” and an attempt at Smashing Pumpkins light on “Last Day On Earth”. It all makes for a very mixed but highly likeable bag, with the notable exception of “Hallucinating Elvis”, complete with appalling fake American accents, but this is the exception to the rule. Pop Trash is a return to form with some unexpected extras. –Helen Marquis
Customer Review: Mmmmmm?………this ain’t good
Nearly 3 years on from the disappointing ‘Medazzaland’ album, Duran Duran released ‘Pop Trash’, their first album of the 21st century. The pre-release gossip about this album was that it was going to have a much heavier guitar sound. That sounded very appealing to me, but would it work? Answer: Yes (once)….and….er….mainly no?!?!
Waiting with great anticipation for some grinding and loud guitars….!!!???…..No, there not here. The opening track and first single ‘Someone Else Not Me’. This is not a great start. The song was played to death on Radio 2, but it couldn’t really help the single, which stormed into the UK charts at #53 and didn’t go any higher. This song was NOT a good choice as a single. A nice pleasant enough song, but should only be listened to whilst drinking Horlicks. It has absolutely no punch. If you can’t sleep, stick this on. Languid and totally uninspiring and if I may suggest……DULL. [Interesting to note that on the Japanese version of the 'Pop Trash' album, Simon LeBon sings this song in French and Spanish!?!?]
Up next ‘Lava Lamp’ and this is just horrible. This is in my Top 5 least favourite Duran Duran songs. The melody is cheesy and nasty and the lyrics are dire. “Lava lava lava lamp…I’d love to turn you on”. MMmm? thanks for that Simon!? ‘At this point ‘Medazzaland’ is sounding like a masterpiece. No sign of the guitars?!?!
‘Playing With Uranium’ hurts my brain. What is that noise?? Is it a guitar or maybe a cat being strangled underwater?! I tell you what this is. It’s ‘Big Bang Generation’ slowed down and it’s even worse. I need a doctor!
‘Hallucinating Elvis’ is up next…..and it is just fabulous!!! No, no sorry not fabulous. The word I was looking for was ridiculous!. “I was hallucinating Elvis, Hawaii to Las Vegas, Special treatment all the way”. Okay, that’s great!. This is truly awful. On the bright side when they played it live Simon LeBon dresses like Elvis?!, nice. We do here AT LAST have some guitars!!!!!
And then like a bolt out of the blue we have a tune!!! ‘Starting To Remember’ is a laid back, acoustic and dare I say Beatle-esque strum. Love it.
Hang on, things are looking up. ‘Pop Trash Movie’ was written by Nick Rhodes and Warren Cuccurullo and originally given to and recorded by Blondie. Simon LeBon loved it and they used it here and it’s a great song. Only downside is the cheesy “Yeah!” that LeBon gives out near the end that makes me cringe. You get the feeling that when he says it he punches the air at the same time. Worrying.
‘Fragment’ [Instrumental]…….50 seconds of not much. Nothing you can say really.
‘Mars Meets Venus’ is a strange attempt at an upbeat catchy song, that doesn’t really work. A song about love, planet alignment, frogs and meeting people. Sounds great? No? Suffers from dodgy lyrics and cheesy melody. Very odd.
‘Lady Xanax’ sees Duran Duran go all dark and mysterious. I actually think that this is a bit ‘Bowie’. One of the better songs on the album.
Here it is…..’The Sun Doesn’t Shine Forever’. Oh yes, for me it is the worst Duran Duran song of all time. It is so bad that I actually enjoy listening to it.
[*** Note to Bryan Adams fans. You will absolutely LOVE this song ***]
‘Kiss Goodbye’ [Instrumental]…….a minute or so of not much. Nothing you can say really.
‘Last Day On Earth’. At last the guitars have finally shown up!!! It’s easily the best song on the album. Crunching and grinding guitars and a great LeBon vocal. Duran Duran have never sounded so good. It is one of those songs you want to play to someone and say “You’ll never guess who this is?”. Finishes off a poor album in style.
Customer Review: Blown away on the first listening
How anyone can slag off Big Thing is a complete mystery to me, but anyway…
I’ve finally gotten hold of this CD and all I can say is, wow!
This is as good, if not arguably better than Astronaut.
The track that hit me the most first time around was Playing with Uranium.
There aren’t any massive singles on this album, like Come Undone on the Wedding Album, but every track is of such a high standard, that doesn’t matter one bit.
All in all, one highly polished and recommendable album.
Alfred’s Piano 101 Pop, Book 1: Popular Music from Movies, TV, Radio and Stage to Play for Fun!
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