Intro & 2024: Part 5 - Albums By Old Artists (The 1st 3/4 Of 2024)

OLD ACTS AND THEIR NEW STUFF:

Old acts actually tend to dominate the album chart; an obsevation I made when I co-presented my friend Simon Ore ‘s radio show in June. In that week the following old acts were all in the album chart, largely with their classic albums or best of collections. Eminem, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Oasis, Queen, Linkin Park, Fleetwood Mac again, Eminem again, Green Day, Bob Marley, Oasis again, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, George Michael, Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Beatles, Elvis, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, The Smiths, Eminem again, Oasis again, Lady Gaga, Nirvana, Phil Collins, Britney Spears, Pink, Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Guns & Roses, the Cure............ it went on.

Also, when an old act releases new material there is a very good chance it will make at least some impression on the chart. By my reckoning, it will almost certainly chart..... very likely in the top ten, likely in the top 5, possibly number 1. That said, it will most probably fall away very quickly, spending just a couple of weeks in the top 100 listing. Or – even just a week. This was the case with Paul McCartney’s ‘McCartney III’ in 2020. It spent just one week in the album chart............. at number 1!!! I wrote in an earlier part of this that myself and Si were pretty flabbergasted at our joint fav band Madness achieving their 1^st number 1 studio album last year. Well – not to take anything away from the chaps, but it was actually fairly predictable. On top of everything I’ve outlined above, unlike most old acts (apart from the ultra-massive ones) Madness enjoy a popularity outside their core fans. Stick that into the mix and you’ve got a definite competitor for the top spot.   

But, why this pattern? Although the streaming in the 1^st week is as an important part as the newer acts – these guys get a boost from physical sales and possibly downloads that the new guys don’t. Their fan bases buy records either out of necessity, nostalgia, or for their physical ‘record collection’. Records are weighted quite highly in the make up of the chart. It keeps changing, but I believe 150 paid streams in equivalent to 1 physical copy, and for free streams its more like 1,000.  This gives that first week a real boost for older acts. An old band like Madness can easily temporarily dislodge Taylor Swift from the top, which they did. Then they will fall quick, which they did (number 26 in week 2).  Because, whereas through streaming we monitor the continued listening of a single or album..... with hard copies, we don’t. So, they count for more, and people will largely be buying early on (especially given the existence of Amazon) – therefore the 1^st week sees them flying high.

Key:

AL = Alternative listening

ORL = Original review lost

See part 4 for more explanation (link at top)

My marking system us at the bottom.

THE ALBUMS:

Shed 7 “A Matter Of Time” (#1 for a week)

And we kick straight off with a prime example of what I’ve outlined above. Shed 7, aside from a couple of tracks, were arguably something of a B-list band in their heyday. They did well. But they were eclipsed by a whole load of other bands and NEVER had a number one album. I talked a lot about music with my circle of friends at school and I genuinely believe that we never mentioned Shed 7. And  I think that’s because they were ‘alright’, had a handful of great tracks, but didn’t really compete with the big acts (I’m sure some will disagree). Yet, 30 years on in 2024, they easily score a number 1 album. I was kind of exasperated by the notion of this. However, annoyingly ......... it’s pretty good. 6

Paloma Faith “The Glorification of Sadness”

I’ve loved Paloma Faith in the past. As I understand it this is a very ‘personal’ album (about her past divorce & revent breakup etc). Although you would expect music to lend itself to this sort of thing, it’s my opinion that when artists decide to get ‘personal’ to the extent of a whole album, 9 times out of 10, the results are far from amazing. This album isn’t one of the 1 out of 10 examples. 5

Liam Gallagher & John Squire “Liam Gallagher & John Squire” (#1 for a week).

U’gh! 4

Rod Steward & Jools Holland “Swing Fever” (#1 for a week) 6

Kaiser Chiefs “Easy Eighth Album”

The title is clever. The music is OK – but I feel like (especially given the title) they’re not particularly out to impress anymore – just to please their loyal followers with new stuff. They’ve gone down a road that many older bands seem to have adopted. It’s a sort of poppier version of rock that rides on the back of the success of bands like Scissor Sisters and Maroon 5. 5

Judas Priest “Invincible Shield”

Judas Priest are masters of what they do. I doubt this is going to disappoint their fans. It’s a little long and, while serviceable, is no “Defenders of the Faith” 5

Kaycey Musgraves “Deeply Well”

This is interesting and reminds me I must have a discussion with Simon about country music as he is far more ofay with that genre than I am. The reason is as follows. I quite enjoyed the album but (showing how long I’ve been out of touch) didn’t know the name. I looked her up and it said ‘country singer’....... now throughout the album I thought a number of things but ‘country’ never even entered my head at all. I will discuss my thoughts on this a bit more as we go, and there will be a future section on country music.  6

Justin Timberlake “Everything I Thought I Was” 4

Elbow “Audio Vertigo” (#1 for a week)

It was kind of great to hear Elbow being exactly the same as always. Here’s what I mean. Elbow were always pretty good, especially before that period when everyone loved them. You’ll remember the track “One Day Like This” propelled them from the fringes to headlining festivals, even though it was the dullest, blandest drag of a track as Elbow ever did. Here’s my thing with Elbow, they have always frustrated me a little. Every track of theirs has something interesting. Something a bit different. A quirk. An ‘idea’. It makes it sound like they are going to push boundaries. Explore new territories. Break ground. But then - the ‘idea’ remains static and goes nowhere in particular. This album is the same........... which I quite liked actually. It was nice to be frustrated by them again. 6

The Jesus and Mary Chain “Glasgow Eyes” 5

Beyoncé “Cowboy Carter” (#1 for a week)

I’ve talked about this a little in part 3. When an artist releases an album dedicated to a genre they are not normally associated with it tends to be a ‘novelty’ and not much more. This falls so flat I’m not even sure I’d call it ‘novel’. It did lead me to ask a few questions in my head, however. When I was talking about this with Simon Ore on his radio show, he got genuinely wound up – declaring ‘ITS NOT A COUNTRY ALBUM!!!’. And I don’t disagree with him.......... necessarily. BUT! Firstly, what is it that defines ‘Country Music’. I’m pretty sure, like most definitions of genres, when you analyse it, it’s vaguer than you 1^st think. And that’s not really my main question. Language and definitions evolve – as does music – as do genres of music. Even looking at deeper music history over centuries, the ‘periods’ of music I was taught at school, and in further education, have changed a little over the past 20 years. They are bound to as time moves on because the context changes a little as time moves on. So. My question is this. If this, or anything else, is what the kids are calling country music now, is it not the case that old codgers like myself and Si will have to accept that this IS country music now?.............. I will tell you that, even if he thinks I make a good point, Simon will still say ‘no. No we don’t’. Lol. 4

Ride “Interplay” 5

The Libertines “All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade” (#1 for a week)

This was a surprise because I was never a big fan of the Libertine's. I didn’t get the accolade by some that they were genius and Pete Doherty was some sort of tortured artist and the new Kurt Cobain. I knew the 1^st 2 albums (not the very belated 3^rd) and thought they were OK at best. But......... this is really good. Rock solid track after rock solid track. It’s made me rethink everything about the Libertines. I was moved by the little minute outro to the album which is basically them mucking about in the studio to the last track and having a bit of fun with it. I wondered why they would tag this on to the end. I checked, and they had not done this before (not like this anyway). I think I know the reason. Anyone who knows how strained the relationship between Barat and Doherty has been over the years (to say the very least – this was a lot worse than Lennon/McCartney) will hear what I’m hearing. I think its a little message. If a friendship means something, no matter what has happened, get it patched up. Life’s too short and all that. As I’ve said, I was quite moved to hear them all having fun together in this little tag. Its a great album. It was one of those handful of times I had to message Simon throughout the year. 7

Feeder “Black/Red” 5

James “Yummy” (#1 for a week)

James were always curious. No-one every talked about them as one of the best bands around......... but they were! I thought they might sound a bit tired but I was wrong. This is brilliant. 7

Mark Knopfler “One Deep River”

A complete snooze fest. 4

Gun “Hombres” 5

Pearl Jam “Dark Matter”

This has its moments but not so good overall. 4

Pet Shop Boys “Nonetheless”

Back in the day, their 1^st 6 albums were all 7s and 8s. Since then, there has been some quite bland stuff – more like 4s and 5s. This one is sort of in-between. There’s nothing bad on here. Some are a bit ‘take it or leave it’. Some are quite good. Nothing amazing. 6

St. Vincent “All Born Screaming” 7

The Zutons “The Big Decider” 6

Kings of Leon “Can We Please Have Fun” 5

Beth Gibbons “Lives Outgrown”

I was worried about bias here. Portishead’s 2 90s albums were both 9s for me. Anything with a Portishead connection I’m going to love. Because of this I was careful to approach this with scepticism and a very critical head. However, bias aside, my approach was quashed. It’s damn brilliant. It doesn’t necessarily capture 90s Portishead magic. But, if you’re looking for something by an older artists that both charted well and was also very unique – I would point you in the direction of Beth Gibbons. 8

Slash “Orgy of the Damned”

It’s an album of covers and I’m never quite sure what to do with them. I tend to assume ‘5’ before even listening and see if anything prompts me to add or subtract marks. I really enjoyed this. So much so I added a couple of marks. It’s really worth a listen. So, much to my own surprise..... and the highest mark I’ve ever given a covers album apart from David Bowie’s “Pin Ups”..... 7

Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band “Loophole” 6

Twenty One Pilots “Clancy”

This starts really strongly. This ends really well. There are a few points in between where the rate-ometer goes up, but I landed on.... 6

Paul Weller “66”

Some good individual tracks but a bit of a drag to be honest. 5

Bring Me The Horizon “Post Human: Next Gen” 6

Richard Hawley “In This City They Call You Love”

It was great to discover he is still around. I was something of a fan 15-20 years ago and he was making some cracking albums back then. It does sound like he’s got a bit stuck. If you told me this was an unreleased album from 2005 – I’d believe it. On the other hand, aa few tracks DO seem to attempt to break from his signature 50s/60s sound – but they actually feel a bit misplaced and uncomfortable. Good tho. 6

Crowded House “Gravity Stairs”

This is exactly what I expected. It’s good. Classic-sounding, well written and well performed British pop music with a perfect balance of ‘serious’ and ‘quirky’ with the odd unusual thing thrown in. However, you’ve heard it all before and there’s no ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ or ‘Weather With You’. The final track is very very good, which left me a little frustrated because had they all been that good I would give it a mark or 2 higher. 6

Bon Jovi “Forever”

I’ve always struggled with Bon Jovi. On the one hand, they have a collection of absolute classics. On the other hand, you have to plow through an extensive catalogue of the very definition of ‘mediocre’ to fish them out. But, you know what, this was better than expected and there’s a couple of tracks I’d be tempted to add to the ‘classics’ list. Good effort. 6

Aurora “What Happened to the Heart?”

I feel like I need to listen or this more (although I have a fair bit already). It’s very good, no doubt about that.  However, I feel like there’s something not quite clicking with me and I’m missing something genius. At present, I feel like it has the potential to be incredible but it’s just not quite getting there. 6

Kasabian “Happenings” (#1 for a week) (ORL)

They’ve also got the pop/rock thing going on. 5

Eminem “The Death of Slim Shady” (#1 for 3 weeks)  (ORL)

I love the concept. But apart from that... ...... It’s Eminem. That’s all you can say. 4

Travis “L A. Times” (ORL) 5

Will Young “Light It Up” (ORL)

I made an assumption here. I did like Will Young in his early days (although I never listened to an album – just the hits). I assumed he’d now be mostly dreary ballads with a couple of upbeats thrown in that sound like your Dad trying to be cool. No. It’s actually quite un-embarrassingly upbeat with a few slow ones. For the most part they are good solid tracks. It does lack that ‘X-factor’ to get a higher mark.......... yes, Young was Pop Idol but the joke DOES work because X-Factor was a rebrand of Pop Idol to get Pete Waterman out the picture, and Simon Cowell based all his Pop Idol criticism on ‘do they have the X-factor?’. The joke stand up so **** you!! 6

The Script “Satellites” (ORL)

Again – the pop/rock crossover type thing. 6

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Wild God”.

I don’t think I’ve listened to Nick Cave since the 90s. They were always top quality albums. I wasn’t sure how he’d be in 2024. I thought he’d probably be a less dynamic version of his younger self. In some ways that’s true. It’s not quite as ‘inspired’ as I used to find Cave. However, Cave kinda occupies his own space in pop music history. You have art-pop. You have grunge. You have Reggae. Etc. You have Nick Cave. There’s nothing to judge him against really. So ‘the same but not as good’ doesn’t really matter in the same way as others. In any case, he HAS broken his mould somewhat. He seems to do a little more rapid vocal work these days. There’s also a bit more ‘power-vocal’ going on where he’s belting it out like Pavarotti. On the whole, aside from those few small details, it’s the same old Nick Cave........ but there’s nothing bad about that. 7

David Gilmore “Luck and Strange” (#1 for a week)

I mean....... sigh........ it’s Gilmore...... but........ sign....... its alright, I guess........ worth a listen........ maybe. My main criticism is the long drawn out instrumentals that add nothing of value. There’s not even virtuoso show-off passages. I dunno. The man’s a legend. A genius. Feels wrong criticism..... you know? 5

Snow Patrol “The Forest Is The Path” (#1 for a week)

Quite simply – it’s Snow Patrol but minus the spark that made them so attractive in their early days. 5

MGMT “Loss of Life”  (AL)  (ORL)

This was OK but that’s about it. 4

My marking system in a nutshell.

10 = only 3 albums in history.

9 = basically 10 (just not those 3)

8 = Outstanding

7 = Brilliant

6 = Good

5 = Average

4 = Lots of potential but below average

3 = Some good points but poor overall

2 = Poor

1 = Abysmal