CD Review: St. Etienne--So Tough (Warner Brothers, released 9 March 1993)

Apparently, I'm on a bit of an English indie kick. This album came to me at the recommendation of my friend, David, a fellow dancer. Dancers are such a wonderful resource for cool music! I was given three of St. Etienne's albums to listen to, and this one stood out to me the most out of the three. They have seven studio albums out there, so I have probably barely scratched the surface, but the best way I can describe what I've heard so far is "the kind of music you hear in a really cool coffee shop and have to ask the barista what it is." I think a new genre needs to be created for THAT.

Sarah Cracknell's voice is intoxicating. It's not extremely dynamic, nor does it dominate. She has a very even tone, and rarely fluctuates range or intensity. Yet, it draws the listener in. It's almost as if she is quietly summoning you to come closer so that she can tell you the answer to life (or something equally profound). The first track on the album, "Mario's Cafe" is a perfect example of this. Although the next couple of tracks are not particularly vocal, you are already in. If you're listening on headphones, you're anticipating what's next. If you're listening with this in the background, you're quietly grooving while carrying on your conversation. Hypnotic? Maybe.

My favorite tracks on the album come back to back right in the middle. "You're in a Bad Way" has a catchy melody and is more upbeat. Music is a very visual experience for me, and I can envision people dancing casually while listening. Or, again, people sitting in a cafe nodding to the beat and tapping fingers and toes as they sip and converse. "Hobart Paving" is a lovely ballad that starts out a little slow and then builds as it goes. I don't particularly understand what the lyrics mean (which I will touch on more), but the vocals are delicately woven and enticing all the same. "Leafhead" again is more upbeat and dance-y. This is one of those songs where I don't know where the melody is going to go next. I love songs that make me guess like that.

A huge strength of this album is the instrumental work. They use all sorts of things you would not expect (flutes, harpsichords, some sort of middle eastern instrument that has a proper name that I don't know), not to mention lots of electronic sampling. One of the tracks ("Conchita Martinez") includes a sample from Rush's "Spirit of Radio," which gained major points in my book, even though that was not one of my favorite tracks on the album. I enjoy electronic creativity if it is not abused. They also interject quick transitions between each song that are random in nature and don't seem to have a whole lot to do with the songs they are sandwiched between. I think it's kind of a nice little break. Makes you pay attention.

I am a little frustrated at my inability to connect with the lyrics. Poetry in music is important to me (although not the be-all-end-all). It's not that the lyrics are bad or non-sensical... it's just that I'm not moved. Some of that could be my own lack of experience with this band. Sometimes lyrics have a story that one could only know by getting to know a particular artist better (i.e. Phish and their lyrical nonsense). It could also be that this music is designed to be the background to something else (like dancing or hanging out at a cafe) and the lyrics shouldn't be so involved in such cases. I'm not sure.

Now that I've dipped my toes in, I want to hear more. I want to see how their style evolved over the years, as this album was only their second. I know there were some personnel changes over the years, and that always takes bands for a turn. This is a group I will certainly look into more and fall back on when I need a relaxed ambiance.

Track Listing:
1. Mario's Cafe
2. Railway Jam
3. Date With Spelman
4. Calico
5. Avenue
6. You're In a Bad Way
7. Memo to Pricey
8. Hobart Paving
9. Leafhound
10. Clock Milk
11. Conchita Martinez
12. No Rainbows For Me
13. Here Come Clown Feet
14. Junk the Morgue
15. Chicken Soup
16. Join Our Club

CD Review: Mika--Life in Cartoon Motion (Universal Records, Released 27 March 2007)

I'm in love. I heard this album in a friend's car while listening casually, and I was sure I was listening to some long-lost Freddie Mercury side project. Never in a million years would I have imagined that there is actually another voice out there like Freddie's. I want to be careful here: I understand that Mika is NOT Freddie Mercury, and I understand that I may receive serious backlash for even comparing the two, however, I bet you will understand what I'm talking about if you give the album a spin. Even Brian May (Queen guitarist) has mentioned that he is impressed with what this guy is doing and has invited Mika to sing with the remaining Queen members a few times. Like I said, I'm in love. Not having seen Queen live is one of my biggest "born too late" regrets, and I may have found a way to get sort of close.

Anyway, back to the album. It's hard for me to form a solid overall impression because there seem to be a lot of eclectic styles involved. There is a heavy disco influence on several of the songs, and he makes good use of technological enhancements. While I always appreciate creative use of technology, I was also happy to see videos of live performances and to see musicians on the stage playing real instruments. I think electronica absolutely has its place in the music industry, and I appreciate it for what it is, however, I get irritated by studio magic that is used to cover a lack of talent. That is not the case here.

Tracks like "Love Today," "Lollipop," and "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" make it difficult for me to sit down while listening. Being back in the dancing world, I am finding myself more and more drawn toward music that makes me want to get up and dance with reckless abandon. Those are the types of songs I see myself turning to over and over again when I need to clean the house. I could also see myself flipping to those songs repeatedly when I feel the urge to attempt to lindy hop to something random. There is no shame in dancing around your home by yourself!

While demonstrating the ability to create dance-able songs, Mika also showcases his ability to form lovely and meaningful ballads on this album ("Any Other World," "Over My Shoulder," "Happy Ending"). My personal favorite is "Happy Ending." There is a lot of layering used, especially at the end, which I think is very effective. Again, not to freak anyone out with the Queen comparison, but the way the ending is dubbed, it reminds me of how "Somebody to Love" was created. Despite the lyrics of that tune being rather sad, the song is a total pick-me-up as a result of the way it is constructed. Shows that sappy love songs don't always have to be depressing.

I want to make a particular note about "Grace Kelly." This song has become my new theme song. If you choose to look it up, read the lyrics carefully, as they are not what they seem at first. I think it is a brilliantly written song. The music is catchy, he has a chance to show off his crystal-clear falsetto, the piano is a compliment to the melody without being overbearing, and the lyrics capture my attitude as of late. This song is a demonstration that Mika does not apologize for who he is, nor do I think anyone should.

I know he has put out an album since (The Boy Who Knew Too Much), and I have caught a couple of single tracks off of it. I look forward to listening to that album in its entirety to see how his style has developed and/or changed. Apparently, he has been writing some more and is working on a third full-length project. Based on the videos I've seen, he seems to put on quite a show, so maybe someday I will see him sing live. Rumor has it, he has never used auto-tune, even in the studio, which I think is incredible. I can see where this type of music would rub some people the wrong way, but I say give it a listen. Let me know.

Track Listing:
1. Grace Kelly
2. Lollipop
3. My Interpretation
4. Love Today
5. Relax, Take it Easy
6. Ring Ring
7. Any Other World
8. Billy Brown
9. Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)
10. Stuck in the Middle
11. Erase
12. Happy Ending
13. Over My Shoulder (hidden track)
14. Grace Kelly (acoustic, iTunes bonus track)