Albums I Heard In August.

Sorry these are a bit late, just got around to this Bestival/Birthday and all...


Robyn-Body Talk Pt. 2
The second part of Robyn's triple album statement of 2010 is another fine slice of electro pop that suffers only in comparison to the excellent first part. Not that there's anything embarassing here, the opening 'In My Eyes' is a good, catchy opener, 'Love Kills' is a great, pulsatic would be single and the main single 'Hang With Me', probably the best track, is a fine tune worthy of 'With Every Heartbeat'. Also of note is the Snoop Dogg collaboration 'U Should Know Better' probably the most idiosyncratic song here that's also great fun (is it me or is 2010 the year of "feat. Snoop Dogg" as 2003 was the year of "feat. Sean Paul"?). If Body Talk Pt. 2 falters, it's because it isn't quite as eclectic as it's predecessor, focusing mainly on harsh, dancefloor fillers and thus lacks the variety of Pt. 1.


Major Laser/La Roux-Lazerproof
I wasn't really a fan of Lazerproof's 'Gun's Don't Kill People, Lazers Do' from last year, despite its awesome artwork, but I've somehow warmed more to this mash up album of La Roux tracks, and their own songs with a few remixes thrown in. It covers a lot of ground from dancehall, reggae, electro and hip-hop and for the most part is pretty successful. The best tracks include 'Im Not Your Lemonade', 'Magic (Falling Soldier Dub)' and an appearance by the now legendary Skream mix of 'In For The Kill'.


Animal Collective-ODDSAC
Tricky one this. If ODDSAC was actually an album proper it would be treated as the kind of anti-star piece of work that often follows mainstream breakthroughs (in this case AC's glorious masterpiece Merriweather Post Pavillion). Instead it is the soundtrack to their debut film, which perhaps crucially I have yet to see, it's also the end result of a project they have been developing since 'Strawberry Jam'. On the basis of this music though, it's probably going to be the trippy drug fest I imagine it to me and the ODDSAC OST certainly does feel like a psychadelic soundtrack. Also, it's hard to pick out individual moments and I have to say I have not yet warmed to this. Maybe I need to see the film, but for me Animal Collective work best when they take what we know to be familiar music and song structures and make them sound like nothing else before or since. Their best songs (Fireworks, Banshee Beat, Brother Sport, My Girls) all do this and are among the best tunes of the last ten years. Maybe I'm missing the point and their intentions but it's hard not to be a little disappointed by the ODDSAC soundtrack. Despite this, 'Screens' is a lovely acoustic detour and 'Tantrum Barb' is pretty good too; basically the vocal tracks that actually sound like Animal Collective


Arcade Fire-The Suburbs
You have to hand it to Arcade Fire, they do their best not to cover old ground. Their masterful debut album 'Funeral' focused on personal grief, while it's disappointing follow-up 'Neon Bible' was overblown and highly spiritual. With 'The Suburbs' they sum their lyrical concerns up with the title, while widening their scope to an epic 16-track LP that represents an excellent 'return to form'. Starting with the catchy, but low key title track before moving to 'Ready To Start' the arrangements from the get go are more stripped down and devoid of the church organ sound that cluttered many of the tracks on 'Neon Bible'. The middle section of the album is by far the best, from the quick gorgeous rush of 'Empty Room' to the desolate 'Suburban War' with 'Half Light II (No Celebration) at the albums halfway point and feeling like a glorious centrepiece. At times, 'The Suburbs' feels a little overlong, particularly in the first half of the record, but overall this is a fine confirmation of Arcade Fire's status in the higher echelons of indie rock.

Album Of The Month: Arcade Fire-The Suburbs