Damn You, Stephen Coates!
Stephen Coates has done it again.
That's right: There's a new album by The Real Tuesday Weld, and it's called The London Book of the Dead.
The album is brilliant, bizarre and subtle.
So far, I'm REALLY liking "It's a Beautiful Li(f)e" more than "Kix" - but I like this album at least as much as any of his previous albums.
The first song ("Blood Sugar Love") is ... interesting. He switches the lyrics several times from "Life is good / when you're feeling good" to "Life is good / when you're filled with blood" and "Life is good / when you're feeling blue."
On "It's a Wonderful Li(f)e," he is heard singing harmony with himself. One part sings that "it's a beautiful life," and the other sings that "it's a beautiful lie." It's very subtle, and if you're not listening for it, you may miss it.
Musically, he takes his usual cues from ... um ... everywhere. He breaks the rules in the way that only someone who knows them very well can pull off: Banjo is used in a swing song, for example. He's clearly familiar with Klesmer music - he has several Clarinet solos which are clearly inspired by it. There's a beautiful "Waltz for One," complete with the violin and piano.
He continues to have a deft touch with the piano, demonstrated especially well on "Waltz for One."
And the lyrics are thought-provoking, cynical and amusing. "Let's make a film, it'll be such fun / all you need is a girl and a gun / apparently," is how "Ruth, Roses and Revolvers" begins.
BUY THE ALBUM! BUY THE ALBUM! BUY THE ALBUM!
That's right: There's a new album by The Real Tuesday Weld, and it's called The London Book of the Dead.
The album is brilliant, bizarre and subtle.
So far, I'm REALLY liking "It's a Beautiful Li(f)e" more than "Kix" - but I like this album at least as much as any of his previous albums.
The first song ("Blood Sugar Love") is ... interesting. He switches the lyrics several times from "Life is good / when you're feeling good" to "Life is good / when you're filled with blood" and "Life is good / when you're feeling blue."
On "It's a Wonderful Li(f)e," he is heard singing harmony with himself. One part sings that "it's a beautiful life," and the other sings that "it's a beautiful lie." It's very subtle, and if you're not listening for it, you may miss it.
Musically, he takes his usual cues from ... um ... everywhere. He breaks the rules in the way that only someone who knows them very well can pull off: Banjo is used in a swing song, for example. He's clearly familiar with Klesmer music - he has several Clarinet solos which are clearly inspired by it. There's a beautiful "Waltz for One," complete with the violin and piano.
He continues to have a deft touch with the piano, demonstrated especially well on "Waltz for One."
And the lyrics are thought-provoking, cynical and amusing. "Let's make a film, it'll be such fun / all you need is a girl and a gun / apparently," is how "Ruth, Roses and Revolvers" begins.
BUY THE ALBUM! BUY THE ALBUM! BUY THE ALBUM!