Loaded: 06/11/2009
JOY: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova can bask in the acclaim their second album is receiving
Things may not be so rosy on the romance front, but at least Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova -- aka The Swell Season -- can bask in the acclaim their second album, Strict Joy, has been garnering world wide.
Metacritic.com, which compiles reviews from several of the world's leading publications, gives the album a very creditable 78 (out of 100) score.
"Strict Joy maintains the relatability and sincerity that made the soundtrack to Once so compelling," raved Billboard. While another US magazine, Spin, was just as effusive: "Heartache swells from these swooning folk-pop tunes, but the presence of both of the relationship's combatants ensures that they never drown in it."
Rolling Stone's reviewer was in generous mood too: "The duo deliver with their most dynamic set yet, with hot Irish soul segueing into energetic folk rock and dream-pop-touched balladry."
Even the notoriously bitchy Pitchfork had kept the sharpened knives away: "The tracks don't sound forced or awkward as they follow well-trod lyrical roads littered with wounded you's and I's, they sound honest, and an honest love song as always is hard to resist."
Meanwhile, in one of several interviews with the UK press, Hansard opened his heart to The Observer about the break-up. Their mistake, The Frames main man believes, was to throw themselves at opportunities without taking a break.
"It had a big impact on me and Mar's situation because we were both fried," he said. "She wanted time off. The thing is, Mar never asked for any of this. She never asked to be a musician or an actor -- I pulled her into all that. Her attitude was, 'that was fun but I think I'm done now'. Whereas I was like, 'you cannot miss this'. I would have killed for these opportunities in The Frames."
- With even seasoned concert promoters taking a big hit this year, it is good to see that one of the country's smaller operators, Foggy Notions, continues to keep collective heads well above water.
Foggy folks Leagues O'Toole and Day & Night's very own Eamon Sweeney were understandably chuffed with the glowing reception to their sold out Grizzly Bear show at Dublin's Vicar Street on Sunday. In fact, the band themselves took the opportunity to single out the promoter for special thanks during the show, which is not the sort of thing one might expect at a gig organised by some of the bigger names in the business.
Grizzly Bear were in phenomenal form, to put it mildly and, for me, it's a contender for gig of the year.
- Glasgow's finest band in years, Glasvegas, have revealed that big-name producer Rick Rubin has invited the fourpiece to record part of their second album in his Los Angeles home.
The band are set to record the follow-up to last year's self-titled debut with Rich Costey, who also helmed their first effort. However, frontman James Allan has claimed that Rubin -- who produced Beastie Boys, Metallica and, most notably of all, Johnny Cash -- wants some input.
"I'm going to leave all the stuff about which studio to use to Rich Costey but Rick Rubin wants us to record the drums at his house," he explained.
- It may be RTE's flagship programme, but The Late Late Show is showing its age when it comes to music. Since Ryan Tubridy took over the reigns, the music content has been pitiful, with a grim menagerie of acts plying their tedious wares.
In recent times, Daniel O'Donnell and The Saw Doctors have appeared -- with most normal under-40s presumably switching channel -- while last week saw an execrably lame lip-synching job from Alexandra Burke. Only Julie Feeney's delightfully barking performance a couple of weeks back offered some respite from the terribly conservative fare on offer.
Under Gay Byrne's tenure -- and even Pat Kenny's -- the show took some risks when it came to the music content. U2, for instance, were given air time when they were still very much in their infancy and The Pogues lit up the show on several occasions. It's difficult to imagine some of the more talented local names right now -- Valerie Francis or Codes -- getting a slot at the moment.
Instead, you can bet the mortgage on "Jedward" -- those X Factor twins -- being invited to participate before the year is out. Tabloid TV indeed.
- John Meagher
Irish Independent
