American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem

A band that channel 70s era Bruce Springsteen via modern indie rock - that's the best way I can think of describing them. The result is a collection of soulful rock songs, earnestly sung (but genuinely, not in a histrionic and therefore annoying style) and raucously played. When I listen to it I think of classic Motown numbers, or even Dexys; that earthy blue-collar/working-class sound that cuts right to the bone, singing about love and loss. Great record with a great sound.

American IV: The Man Comes Around

 

The Man Comes Around is possibly the best opening track of any album. Johhny's now raspy voice delivers a chilling verse from the bible and then we're into a richer sounding music than the last album. Rick Rubin surrounds Johnny with perfect accompaniment without losing that close-to-the-mic quality that this incredible series of records has.

I think this album (IV) was made when Johnny was really ill, close to the end with cancer; as such, but I could be projecting here, you can't help but feel there's a desperate desire to record one last set of classics. The feeling turns what could be a mournful set of records into something beautiful while at the same time, and as you'd expect from Johnny, it has an edge. An edge that feels like Johnny is sticking two fingers up to death. Who else could turn a lame middle class self-hating narcissistic pile of tosh like Hurt into a joyous lament?

A perfect record from start to finish.

American III: Solitary Man - Johnny Cash

Cash's series of covers albums gave him a critical rebirth in the 90s and cemented his man-in-black persona. As the subtitle suggests, it's a pretty much stripped down affair of just Johnny, up close to the mic, and his guitar. His cracked leathery voice, like aged bourbon, is perfect for the selection of songs on here. No matter what he is singing it ends up sounding like a Cash record. Even the lumpen One by U2 is transformed. My favourite is I See A Darkness, the Bonnie Prince Billy record that Billy joins in singing, his cracked falsetto the perfect accompaniment to Johnny's end-of-the-earth voice. A warm and deep album to put on and sink into.

American Idiot - Green Day

I just couldn't bring myself to listen to it... not interested in this album at all anymore. Might come back to it later.

Alligator - The National

I think this was one of those records I bought because it had an interesting sounding review in a "best of the year" list in The Word. One of the things I was hoping to achieve with this structured walk through of my collection was to discover some gems I might not have given enough time to in the past and this is certainly one of them. The opening track, Secret Meeting, sets the tone for the album with beautifully layered guitars, deep vocals and the sort of lyrics that draw you in closer so you can try and crack their meaning.

The rest of the album keeps delivering great songs with great lines ("a ballerina on the table cock in hand" is one startling example). The music reminds me of Interpol but without that bands distanced and glassy chill; this album feels like a warm fireside number with a dark edge created by the slightly atonal vocals delivering half heard creepy lines. This gives it depth that rewards repeated listening.