Enjoy Midlake, Sparklehorse?

Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 17 January 2008

Then try The National: Boxer. Picked this up from some Best of 07 lists and it is very good, dark, rich and unusual but lightened with piano and orchestration. A harder edged 'Trials Of Van Occupanther' is the best I can explain!

Bruce

Pitchforkmedia review

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by Huwge

Bruce,
Based on your music posts, I think you would also like the Felice Brothers if you haven't already found them - I can't stop listening to the Ballad of Lou the Welterweight from Tonight at the Arizona. There are clips available online.
Huw

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by steve10

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Then try The National: Boxer. Picked this up from some Best of 07 lists and it is very good, dark, rich and unusual but lightened with piano and orchestration. A harder edged 'Trials Of Van Occupanther' is the best I can explain!

Bruce

Got the Midlake as a present from my daughter,a bit strange but not strange if that makes sense, [the album not my eldest]. She recomended a band called Caribou who I have not heard yet.
Steve.

Pitchforkmedia review

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse

quote:
Originally posted by Huwge:
Bruce,
Based on your music posts, I think you would also like the Felice Brothers if you haven't already found them - I can't stop listening to the Ballad of Lou the Welterweight from Tonight at the Arizona. There are clips available online.
Huw

Thanks for that-new one to me, I'll check it out.

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by pumpkinhead

Hi Bruce

I agree Boxer is an excellent album. The National's previous two albums are also very good. Alligator is a bit heavier than Boxer. Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers is more laid back. They also have an EP called Cherry Tree which is also very good.
I've seen them live four times now and they get better every time. My favourite band of the last few years.

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by Mike Hughes

Boxer is excellent but Alligator is superior. Think Tindersticks fronted by a cross between Stuart Staples, Bono and Leonard Cohen!

Mike

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by Diccus62

Diccus has been posting National records for awhile now (but certainly wasn't the first) - great stuff. If you like them try this.....................

and the band themselves including Noddys friends minus the ears..................................

Regards

Diccus

Posted on: 18 January 2008 by Nick Lees

quote:
Originally posted by steve10:
Got the Midlake as a present from my daughter,a bit strange but not strange if that makes sense, [the album not my eldest]. She recomended a band called Caribou who I have not heard yet.
Steve.

Caribou are excellent, though a bit different to the above. They (he, actually) used to be called Manitoba and released a few albums under that name. Then "Handsome" Dick Manitoba of The Dictators fame sued him for use of the name so it got changed to Caribou. What a pr@.

Anyway, the last two albums are triff - a mixture of 60s pop-psych with odd tracks that are very krautrock influenced (i.e. a dash of motorik).

The latest album is worth getting for the sublime Melody Day alone, which can be heard here on Myspace

Posted on: 19 January 2008 by Diccus62

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
Boxer is excellent but Alligator is superior. Think Tindersticks fronted by a cross between Stuart Staples, Bono and Leonard Cohen!

Mike

Mike

I think 'Boxer' is a more mature album, better produced, with better songs, catchier tunes. It is a wonderful album.

regards

Diccus