Bendrix

b) Robert Wadlow

I’m off to the Manchester show, I bought the tickets so long ago I’d almost forgotten, but now it’s close, ‘oh my!’ I’m tingly.

Yeah Hayman doesn’t come off as compassionate, but why does he need to be? These songs always stuck me as the confessions of a self-aware melodramatic. There’s an element of parody and humour that runs though out the record, a knowing nod that he’s whining. If you have a relatively middle class lifestyle, free of serious responsibility your preoccupations do become somewhat self centred and hedonistic, and I think that’s reflected in Hefner’s songs.

I do prefer Breaking God’s Heart though

but felt a bit predicable when the description in the albums of the year began with ‘Probably the album of the year for lovers of red wine and literature’. That’s pretty close to the bone.

I have fuzzy memories of them being good in the past but I could do without both of them.