The Portishead album doesn't sound anything like any of the other Portishead albums, which might be disappointing if you were hoping for a sequel to 1997's 'Portishead'. Fortunately, '3' (Island) (still with the imaginatory album titles) is so much better than anything the band have done before, which isn't what you were expecting. It certainly wasn't what we were expecting. It combines our two favourite things to listen to: beautiful songs and funny noises. Our favourite beautiful song is the disarmingly charming 'Deep Water' (featuring The Somerfield Workers Choir - amazing!) and our favourite funny noise is the one that sounds like the band have roped in an ocean liner on backing vocals - you'll know the one we mean when you hear it. A triumph, a revelation and well worth the wait. Roll on 2019.
The Madonna album does sound a little like previous Madonna albums, which is rather surprising given her track record of reinvention (for better or worse). Even more surprising is, what 'Hard Candy' (Warner Bros) resembles most is the disappointing and confused 'Bedtime Stories', which also employed an R&B producer. Then it was Dallas Austin, fresh from success with TLC, this time its Timbaland and Danja, fresh from success with everyone and everything, and Pharell Williams, a yesterday's man if ever there were one. She even duets with Kanye West! When London emcee Estelle has beaten you to the post it's really time to rethink your new direction.
Of course, none of this would matter if this weren't a record full of non-tunes with dreadful lyrics, embarrassing references to "booty" backed by irritating and instantly dating modern production ticks and tricks. But it is. There's nothing here that Britney or Nelly Furtado haven't already done, but they had better songs. Listening to 'Hard Candy', it's difficult to see what the point of Madonna is, these days.
There are some other albums out but we didn't like any of them. Really sorry. They're probably fine. It's not you, it's us... etc etc.
The Portishead album doesn't sound anything like any of the other Portishead albums, which might be disappointing if you were hoping for a sequel to 1997's 'Portishead'. Fortunately, '3' (Island) (still with the imaginatory album titles) is so much better than anything the band have done before, which isn't what you were expecting. It certainly wasn't what we were expecting. It combines our two favourite things to listen to: beautiful songs and funny noises. Our favourite beautiful song is the disarmingly charming 'Deep Water' (featuring The Somerfield Workers Choir - amazing!) and our favourite funny noise is the one that sounds like the band have roped in an ocean liner on backing vocals - you'll know the one we mean when you hear it. A triumph, a revelation and well worth the wait. Roll on 2019.
The Madonna album does sound a little like previous Madonna albums, which is rather surprising given her track record of reinvention (for better or worse). Even more surprising is, what 'Hard Candy' (Warner Bros) resembles most is the disappointing and confused 'Bedtime Stories', which also employed an R&B producer. Then it was Dallas Austin, fresh from success with TLC, this time its Timbaland and Danja, fresh from success with everyone and everything, and Pharell Williams, a yesterday's man if ever there were one. She even duets with Kanye West! When London emcee Estelle has beaten you to the post it's really time to rethink your new direction.