Prattle

Harlem Shakes - Sunlight
Now, this reminded me of Primal Scream. It’s mainly the vocals, I suppose, which are reminiscent of Gillespie in countrified/stones mode. You’ll disagree.

Southeast Engine - Black Gold
I find myself going off bands when it looks like they’re proud Christians. It’s harsh, but it just doesn’t sit right, for some reason. Don’t know if this lot are, but their album does contain quite a lot of Bible references. I should scrutinise their lyrics before hurling them asunder. This one reminds me of Ben Kweller (before his total transformation into a bloody country singer).

Art Brut - Summer Job
No. No, Art Brut. I liked the Pixies too, and perhaps 3 or 4 of Frank Black’s later albums. But his sound of late has been extremely drab. And now you’ve got him in to produce your new album. It sounds like Frank Black & the Catholics. You’ve ruined it. Still, crawling from the near wreckage come the songs Alcoholics Unanimous and this one, Summer Job. That wailing at the start isn’t Jack Peñate, is it? Don’t make me unfollow you on Twitter, Argos.

The Decemberists - The Rake’s Song
Most disagree, but my favourite Decemberists album is unquestionably Picaresque. Full of singles, and featuring an absolutely fantastic sea shanty. They seem keen not to return to such easy listening, but the new album (Hazards of Love) is certainly closer than the last. This song’s been around for a while now, but I still like it.

Doves - Winter Hill
Given that Elbow nicked Doves’ act, I don’t quite understand why I like Doves, but can’t warm to Elbow. I should like Elbow. I’ve seen them in concert twice, but was bored rigid. Anyway, Doves have returned with another almost brilliant album (may graduate to true brilliance with further listens), containing an excellent lead single. And this must be the next one, surely.

Goldie Lookin’ Chain - By Any Means Necessary
Yes, they’re a joke that, if ever it was funny, probably isn’t funny any more. However, this is has got a fantastic hook. Really addictive.

Dan Black - Alone
Pop. Yes, I suppose The Kids are liking Dan Black. Maybe not the cool kids, though. Anyway, this heavily-processed bubble of pop offers immediate satisfaction. Or your no money back.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
Hang on, this is “Take me, I’m yours” by Squeeze. Good, though. It’s an album full of this 80s synthpop, sounding fulsome and tuneful almost entirely throughout. Good album, I think.

Oops
I meant to put Polly Scattergood (Other Too Endless) here, but messed it up. Here’s some blah, along the lines of what I might have said if I’d included it - blah Joanna Newsom blah blah Brit school, blah blah, blah blah blah!!! Blah, Kate Bush blah blah, blah blah blurgh.

Mod Amish - September
Sounds like Biffy Clyro. No, wait. Come back. It’s only his voice, really. Nothing new, utilising the old loudquietloud technique, but I’m very much drawn to this. They’re almost entirely under the radar, it seems.

King Creosote - Coast On By
Whenever King Creosote put(s) out an album, I tend to really like one song. I’ll hear it on the radio, but I won’t remember what it’s called. And then I never hear it again, because I get confused by all the folk and fail to make it through entire albums. Tried harder with this new one, and ended up really liking this one. I like that it builds a bit.

The Lonely Island - Sax Man (featuring [cough]jackblack)
Hmm? Oh, nothing. Seems to be a comedy album from regular Saturday Night Live contributors. We all know that Saturday Night Live is only funny about 10-20 years after it was on, so if these blokes ever want to be any good, they’d better leave. If, in fact, they haven’t already. This was the only track on the album that I enjoyed, even if it’s childish. It’s a bit sweary, if you’re bothered by such things.

Click here to download the file directly. I’d rather you subscribed, though, so I can see what platforms people are using, etc. Feedburner seem to have changed their service, so you might just have to copy the URL (http://feeds.feedburner.com/Prattle) into your chosen RSS reader or Podcast software e.g. iTunes.

Et la. I need a holiday or a better job. I’m sure now’s a great time to go job-hunting. I’ll doubtless have the pick of th… oh, the world appears to have gone to hell in a hessian bag-for-life.

It’s a very mellow album, and the handsome production from Death Cab For Cutie collaborator John Goodmanson (DCFC’s Ben Gibbard also guests on Lucky). Goodmanson also produced the Fight Like Apes album, which seems strange. Reviews frequently suggest that Nada Surf are no longer producing work that’s sufficiently attention-grabbing to win new fans. If this is true, then it’s a sad reflection of the pathetic attention span displayed by the record-downloading/buying public of 2008. This is a record that will keep you warm on a winter night, as long as you treat it nicely and play it through good speakers/’phones. It’s not going to start a new musical movement, or prompt thousands of teenagers to riot, but it is one of the most uplifting and luscious albums of the year, and almost certainly the best.

Hot Lava - Apple + Option + Fire
Is that a tuba solo? This is lovely, and has been available in the US for a while, I believe. I think they’re putting the album out over here imminently, though this is by far the best track.

Melt Banana - If It Is The Deep Sea I Can See You There
Now bear with me… This is the first of two very noisy tracks. It’s over 5 years old, but I stumbled across it when listening to an old Stewart Lee radio programme. I think they’re Japanese.

Max Tundra - Orphaned
These computer-game-music type artists/tracks seem to be edging closer to the mainstream. There was always DJ Scotch Egg, who is mental, and Germlin. Then there was Dan Deacon (who, coincidentally, signed Hot Lava, I believe) and David E. Sugar. And now there’s Max Tundra, whose album doesn’t contain enough of this sort of thing.

Red Light Company - Scheme Eugene
OK, time to calm down a bit. They’re a bit Arcade Fire, a bit Polyphonic Spree, a bit everythingthat’sbeenaroundinthelast5years. Nothing remarkable, but it’s a memorable tune and I’m a sucker for references to other bands in lyrics. They were a bit crap when we saw them playing live, though, as they don’t yet have enough tunes.

Fight Like Apes - Something Global
Fight Like Apes are brilliant. They do pinch a lot from Mclusky, but they appear to acknowledge this openly by playing a Mclusky song at their gigs and on one of their EPs. The partly fantastic album is out in Ireland, but not in the UK. FOR SHAME.

Thomas Tantrum - Swan Lake
Are they honking like swans at the beginning? The girl’s toddleresque vocals almost drove me to bursts of inventive violence, the first couple of times I heard the album. But it’s possible that the middle 8 of this song turned it round. An excellently purloined piece of Pyotr Ilyich.

Tilly and the Wall - Pot Kettle Black
They don’t seem to be getting better as time goes on, but the new Tilly album contained this unusually raucous playground-friendly anthem.

Spinnerette - Distorting a Code
It’s Brody Dalle, formerly of the Distillers, and formerly Mrs. Tim Armstrong. Now she’s Mrs. Josh Homme, and she’s dropped the crusty punks in favour of… what is this? I think I like it. I don’t really know what it is, but it’s enjoyable.

Emiliana Torrini - Big Jumps
Sweet, yes. It’s great, though. And the Icelandic accent became an aphrodisiac again once I got my money back.

Chairlift - Bruises
This is everywhere now, I expect. Is it on an advert? If it’s not, it should be. It’s nice and warm though, and therefore appropriate for a December podcast.

Destroyer - My Favourite Year
He’s the bloke out of the New Pornographers. No, not that one. Not AC Newman. No, not Neko Case either. She’s not a bloke. This is the other bloke who’s scared of touring or something. I forget the tale. Anyway, you’ll recognise the voice when you hear it, if you’re a New Pornographers listener. It’s gentle and unadventurous, but this particular track has grown on me greatly.

Click here to download the file directly. I’d rather you subscribed, though, so I can see what platforms people are using, etc. Feedburner seem to have changed their service, so you might just have to copy the URL (http://feeds.feedburner.com/Prattle) into your chosen RSS reader or Podcast software e.g. iTunes.

Chart of 2008 will be the next Podcast, I imagine.