Raise the Hammer
Matt reviews the Self-titled album and the live show (The Kool House, March 11, 2007).
By Matthew Van Allen
Apr. 10, 2007
Okay, tell me how anyone remotely interested in British music can not be somewhat interested when they're told that members of The Clash, The Verve, Fela Kuti (I know, I know ... just keep reading) and Blur are forming a super group?
Perhaps if it is kept securely under wraps? Publicity on this album hasn't been overwhelming but I have to say that this should soon change. After getting a mail order copy via good chap Shawn, It appears that it may be time to put down those “Gorilla” albums and listen up to a new Danger Mouse project.
Upon first listen, the music passes the test and on repeated listens it becomes bloody good. History Song has easily secured its spot as one of my favorite songs of 2007, and there are some pretty big sluggers coming forward from groups this year.
Despite the fact that this is a "super group" the music is not over the top. Come to think of it, this may be exactly what The Good The Bad And The Queen has in store, in an attempt not to implode or explode their profile. Sometimes, safe is good.
Then, like the union of The Good The Bad And The Queen, I hear the low-whispered news. The band had decided to play in Toronto as its first stop of a five city North American tour (The band actually kicks off its festival and summer tour the end of March 07).
So after getting the extra ticket offer from my good chap (yes again I pay my dues) Loughlin, I'm off to see them live.
The show opened rather uncomfortably. A Heineken can only go so far, especially when it appears that they booked an obviously wrong opening act for this one. Trust me, I was not alone on this; I love illusionists as much as the next guy but this was so seriously inappropriate (Where was Jarvis Cocker when you needed him? I'm sure if he was in this group, he could have put an end to this).
The Concert started with the opening base lines of History Song and was carried through with the band playing each track of the album in order and in its entirety. It was good but again like other audience members I couldn't help but feel something was wrong/missing.
The build-up in each song was chained just before the band could go loose. I understand that they were keeping the timing of the album but this was one of their first live gigs not a final live tour/recording performance. Finally, the encore made perfect sense.
Album: Let Tracks 1-12 play!
Show: Let Tracks 1-12 play. However, if you're holding back your talent and energy for a half-hearted encore, forget about the secret track (leave that for Jarvis's show). I'd rather hear that first track over again!
I just want to register my distaste at this process, that we fight it out in a very difficult way amongst ourselves, all kinds of stress coming up, because how the heck are we going to find the kind of cuts to get down to three percent, and then this money shows up out of the blue." -- Brian McHattie, Ward 1 Councillor, on the sudden discovery of $5.2 million in city budget savings after the budget presentation
NewsfeedsISSN: 1715-1554
James North Holiday Displays - Saturday, December 6, 2008, at James North Arts District, .
Read More...
Harper: GG to Prorogue Parliament (Dec. 4, 2008) -
Prime Minister Stephen Harper just announced after meeting with Governor General Michaëlle Jean that she has agreed to his request to prorogue the two-week-old Parliament until his government
Read More...
City Traffic Staff: Actuated Signals Will Accommodate Cyclists (Dec. 4, 2008) -
Earlier this week, the City Traffic Department announced that they want to try and speed up traffic on James and John Streets, including spending $60,000 to convert four intersections to actuated
Read More...
Harper crosses the line in speech to nation (Dec. 4, 2008) - In a cynical speech last night, Prime Minister Stephen Harper crossed the line from partisan into more dangerous territory as he implied that the Liberal-NDP coalition was an attack on Canada's de
Read More...
McMaster ruffles some feathers with child ward renaming (Dec. 3, 2008) - An article in the Globe and Mail, Health care in a bucket with fries, came to the attention of a RTH reader recently, who sent it along for us to check out (thanks, by the way!)
The article is ab
Read More...
Can Harper Prorogue Parliament? (Dec. 3, 2008) -
Given the paucity of Prime Minister Stephen Harpers options as Monday's confidence vote draws closer, pundits and analysts are coalescing around the conclusion that he will ask Governor Genera
Read More...
Picking a Prime Minister: A Parliamentary Primer (Dec. 2, 2008) -
We will use all legal means to resist this undemocratic seizure of power.
-- Prime Minister Stephen Harper
With the Liberals and NDP agreeing to a coalition with the support of the B
Read More...
Bratina: City Hall Plan Could Save $110 Million Over 20 Years (Dec. 2, 2008) -
Councillor Bob Bratina, who has proposed that the City remain at Hamilton City Centre, is claiming that this move will cost only $50 million over the next 20 years, compared to $150 million to com
Read More...
City Backs Down on Airport Development Size (Dec. 1, 2008) -
Citizens at City Hall (CATCH) reports that the city has backed down on at least one aspect of its dispute with the province on the size of the Airport Economic Growth District (AEGD), a planned in
Read More...