Sign In:
Login with Facebook

Sign Up! (forgotten password?)

A Month In Records: February 2005

gdobson by Gareth Dobson [Edit this content] ▾ 25 comments 15:28 March 4th, 2005


snow lake
February was a cold, cold, bitter month. With little choice but to sit at home with a large cup of bovril, Pro Evolution Soccer 4 and a bunch of tabs, it was a good time to listen to a whole slew of records. And blimey, weren't there a whole bunch... big rock, live post rock, disappointing comebacks and crazy TNT mogo rawk, we had the whole gammut. With so many reviews passing through these pages though, it could be quite easy to miss something special, or avoid making a poor purchasing decision.
DiS gives you the ten records that aren't necessarily the best, nor the most high-profile, but arguably the LPs which have raised the most eyebrows or sent people limp with disappointment.

Doves - Some Cities
The Manchester trio return full of ashen-faced detachment and bloodied-yet-unbowed pride. It could have disappeared up it's own derriere, but thankfully 'Some Cities' is a bit of a triumph...
read Michaela Annot's full article


Death From Above 1979- You're A Woman, I'm A Machine
Mike Diver is a demanding man; he insists on full-on, balls out, nose to the floor rock. Yet even he's weeping in a vain attempt to get a grasp on quite how balls out this is. Five Stars rock, he reckons...
.read Michael Diver's full article

The Silent League - The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused
Simply quite, quite lovely stuff from the New Yorkers most likely to take the now-redundant crown of Best Neo-Psychedelic Americana-ists. Throughout ‘The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused’ runs the coherent theme of creeping, haunting lullabies, and that furrow which sees The Silent League ultimately master their own unique beauty.

read Gareth Dobson's full article


Various- Rough Trade Shops: Counter Culture 2004
Having cemented their position as THE UK's premier record store, Rough Trade have decided to release their third 'Best Of The Year' collection. Which is all good and proper as long you remember that their personal best may not necessarily be yours. Regardless, their best of the year is a damn sight more interesting, fresh and innovative than nearly anybody elses...
read Dom Gourlay's full article


Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Probably the most eagerly anticipated indie record since the Franz one - there we said it - Silent Alarm will only disappoint the most demanding of all perfectionists. And it's certainly more than enough to offer a wider perspective on the band and blow away any post-punk pre-conceptions.
read Gen William's full article


The Arcade Fire - Funeral
We've w*nked on enough about the majesty of 'Funeral' so we will add little here apart from that it's the must have record of 2005 so far, and it's quite amazing... 
read J.Burrows' full article


The Broken Family Band- Welcome Home, Loser
Album no.2 by the criminally underrated BFB still blows chunks of country rock spirit, but listen out for some sweet new Hammond-heavy hints of Seventies MOR soul... needless to say, it's an ace record, whatever it does...
read Toby Jarvis' full article


Slowdive- Anthology
Sway your head gently. Stare at your feet. Worry about your complicated, depressing life. And celebrate an anthology by the over-looked and hopefully not forgotten Slowdive. Ignore the fact that the cover is crap.
read Dom Gourlay's full article


Ben Lee- Awake Is The New Asleep

Two-and-a-bit years on, ‘Hey You. Yes You.’, Ben’s last album, seems like a bit of a disappointment. Sure it had it’s highpoints, but the sonic experimentations sounded rather forced, truth be told. While ‘Awake…’ has its fair share of moments that make you blush on first listen, each of the 14 songs sink in after a few spins and what’s left is the impression of a young man finally growing into himself both musically and emotionally.


read Tom Edward's full article


Mogwai - Government Commissions (BBC Sessions 1996-2003)
Dedicated to early champion of the cause, John Peel, 'Government Comissions...' Is a near-fautless pick n' mix of the band's decade-long career in the quiet/loud industry. Ageless music, and utterly, one hundred per cent essential. .
read Mike Diver's full article


DiScuss: What are your albums of the month? Which are the best/worst?

A Month In Records: February 2005

Best of Swervedriver...
peterwhite | 4 Mar '05, 15:38 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

You don't say that to the Peter White-ster. Or Roberts-Colin. Or G-Lord Dobson.

we'll whip you senseless...
xg
GarethD | 4 Mar '05, 15:56 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

I will take you all.
At Sensible Soccer.
1994 World Cup edition.
Megadrive.
BRING IT.
Mike_Diver @GarethD | 4 Mar '05, 15:57 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

Nah, I'd still of beaten you at that too...

but it's all about 'vo 4 now....
xg
GarethD | 4 Mar '05, 15:59 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

Pah! Codswallop!
I think NOT, 'G-spot'.
I am something of a master.
Even with my modified Southampton team.
Obviously Prutton's not in it.
That and EA Hockey, THE ORIGINAL, too.
(Must dig out Megadrive at weekend.)
Mike_Diver @GarethD | 4 Mar '05, 16:01 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

Don't even start on the original EA hockey. I will take you down to china town, buddy boy. (Goals only count if you go round at least two players and fake out the keeper before slotting home. No slapshots.)
GarethD | 4 Mar '05, 16:04 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

Slapshots are, indeed, for losers.
I will, however, take your ass to town.
Two players?
I'll do all five.
Mike_Diver @GarethD | 4 Mar '05, 16:06 | X | Reply

Mad Palatine Evo God

Evo 4.
All that counts.
Was I the DiS Evo champion Gareth? Was I?

We orginally wanted to start a club night based around Evo - I'm sure that's still a good idea.
peterwhite | 4 Mar '05, 16:32 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

I'm only as up to date as Pro Evo 3, but given how little they seem to change between games, I decided not to buy vol4 after being fleeced on 2 and 3. But I challenge any of you to a game!
Andy @Action_Plan | 4 Mar '05, 17:15 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

err. Patrick Wolf?
John_Brainlove | 4 Mar '05, 21:26 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

But.... the Slowdive album was released last November and where are new albums by The Wedding Present and The House of Love???????

erniebiff | 4 Mar '05, 23:00 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

I see no afro in that list.
fishplums | 5 Mar '05, 01:44 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

bloc party and arcade fire .... even though funeral raelly came out last year, my taste this year is so damn hip it hurts :p
soapy | 5 Mar '05, 13:29 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

Coachwhips, LCD Soundsystem, Gruff Rhys.
thommo @John_Brainlove | 5 Mar '05, 17:39 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

I would take any of you. In my uni there was a uni wide competition and i lost only (and narrowly to a sucky late penalty) to the eventual winner.
fullerov | 5 Mar '05, 19:38 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

Mars Volta can't be up there cos there's no review.
Yet.
Tsk tsk...
That Open hand record... what I've heard wasn't all that inspired, but the album's worth a pop, is it?
Mike_Diver @mooseman | 7 Mar '05, 13:40 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

PC version every day!
rubbafish @Mike_Diver | 8 Mar '05, 12:45 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

If there was a DiS Pro Evo 4 tournament I would own all of you. You would all be crying to your mothers ;-)

I'm shit at Sensible World of Soccer though.
tom_from_sparks @rubbafish | 8 Mar '05, 12:49 | X | Reply

Re: A Month In Records: February 2005

It is I that will own you all.
Oh yes.
ALL.
Now begone. I have a Kit Kat to eat.
30p. Bargain.
(and yes, the four-finger model is MUCH better than its Chunky cousin)
Mike_Diver @tom_from_sparks | 8 Mar '05, 12:56 | X | Reply

A Month In Records: February 2005

silentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleaguesilentleague.
ch-ch-cheers Mr Gareth Dobson. Thass fine music.
thebigmusic | 9 Mar '05, 22:34 | X | Reply

Add your comment

Reply


 or Abandon