Listen up: TuneSmith’s musical recommendations for March
Posted by Anthony on March 1st, 2010ALBUM OF THE MONTH
The Family Jewels by Marina & the Diamonds
When?
You’re planning the soundtrack to summer 2010
Why? She has the twinkle to be a star and the songs to prove it
It is a particular brand of Top-Shop-pop that will take Marina Diamandis from obscurity to the mainstream. Like Little Boots, who walked a similar path before her, she has chosen to walk the dividing line between pop and credibility – a perilous course to follow which often finishes at a dead end known as ‘bland’. Many will point out that this is not a radical or even unique record. Marina wears her influences on her sleeve, and her ascent could be dismissed as simply more female-led pop with the ‘on-trend’ quirk in its tail that comes hot on the high heels of Gaga and Ellie Goulding et al. Yet that is selling these diamonds short. Not only does Marina have style, charisma and a great stage show to boot, she has an album ablaze with singles and at least some truly sparkling songs, none more magnificent than ‘I Am Not A Robot’ and ‘Obsessions’. In its quest to appeal to all, this record does fail to be the creative success it could have been, but fans of Regina Spektor, Feist or Kate Bush will find much to get steamed up about. When you X-Factor in the vivid beige-ness of today’s charts, this is as good as pop is likely to get this year.
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THE SMITH CLASSIC
This Year’s Model by Elvis Costello
When? You need to pump it up
Why? This is where punk met a song-writing genius
Elvis Costello followed his debut hit album My Aim Is True with a record that ignored rock’n’roll etiquette. Here was a cheeky Buddy Holly lookalike with trademark over-sized glasses belting out instantly memorable choruses, fuelled by a head full of anger and revenge, rather than the de rigueur love or rejection. What’s more, this angry geek seemed to have dispensed with the guitar in favour of nothing but driving drums, bass and keyboards. The drumming by Pete Thomas propels songs such as ‘Pump It Up’ along with fine punk zeal, whereas ‘(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea’ effortlessly switches to a reggae pulse that somehow sits perfectly with his unique voice and sharp lyrics. Costello went on to become one of the great British singer-songwriters, but this is the moment when his infectious punk-fired energy, lyrical wit and colourful character combined to make an essential new wave classic.
Elvis Costello is such a music icon. When I found this article, I was actually searching for information on Marina and here is Elvis. A blast from the past. The angry geek – how appropriate– yet when you look past those now-cool glasses, there is gentle soul full of love and warmth.
By Amina
On May 28th, 2010