DAVID BOWIE
Reality
57-year old Bowie has just released his 26th album. Bowie commented a few months back that: “the sound will be harder”. It's as if the singer has cast aside his electronic toys on rediscovering the guitar. The songs are laced with post-9/11 sentiment, exactly the same sort of stuff that he served up on his previous “Heathen”. The quite unrocky “Bring Me The Disco King” and the two cover versions; the old Moder Lovers' “Pablo Picasso and “Try Some, Buy Some” - written by George Harrison (1973) as the Beatles headed towards their end - are amongst the best moments on the record. Even though it's not the best thing he's come up with in the last few years, “Reality” shows that Bowie will be around for a while yet. Just like a few friends from his generation: Iggy Pop and Lou Reed.
THE RAVEONETTES
Chain gang of love
Jesus & Mary Chain,. The Cramps. Ramones. Detroit. Du-Dua. Buddy Holly. Hitchcock. Bela Lugosi. Jerry Lee Lewis. Some more? John Waters. All Psycho-Billy. CBGB. Wilko Johnson... You can't stop American bands springing to mind when you listen to the duo The Ravonettes. That's when you are surprised for the first time. It's this Swedish band's second LP. And that's the reason for your second surprise; their very uncommon live show which those of you who went to Benicassim are sure to have witnessed. All of the bands mentioned above can be felt somewhere in these songs that go from 1.44 to 3.15 in length. This lot have no qualms about mixing Ronettes' style choruses, B'52s' edge and the Pro Tools.
FRANK BLACK AND THE CATHOLICS
Show me your tears
While we are waiting to see what becomes of the rumours about the Pixies getting back together, the ex-leader of the band has got something new for us and he certainly shows just how easy it all can be. The three or four chords that make up the song “Nadine” open up things on these buckos' latest. Surf sounding guitars playing a over a blues structure, a genius needs nothing more. There's the odd moment where The Artist Formally Known As Black Francis puts in an appearance, especially on the high-pitched tunes (“Massif Centrale”). You'll also come across the Tabasco-drenched tip-of-thecap to stoner on the beautiful “Horrible Day”.
THE NEPTUNES
The Neptunes presents... Clones
It's about time that music producers were afforded the same importance as the makers of the music themselves. The songs are important, but so is the way these songs are treated. If you take a look at the list of people who have sought out these guys help, you'd be forgiven for thinking that their workplace was an office owned by a certain gentleman called Don Corleone. Justin Timberlake popped in hoping to find a new sound that would enable him to cast off his boyish pop image. The Rolling Stones finally copped on that ten whole years without a single decent song was taking the piss a bit and they dropped by as well. Some of the end results are excellent (Ludacris) and others are quite weak (Snoop Dogg), but the overall record justifies the success it's had. It must be said that the standard drops noticeably when it's just The Neptunes on their own and it becomes quite clear that a musician and a producer, both equally necessary, are completely different things altogether.
