The Hall of Fantastically Fine Things

  Introduction At this point, we reach the final album that I've listened to 'properly' (i.e. the whole thing and not tracks that popped up randomly on the 'big playlist').  But before we get started, I'm going to plug my new podcast that  I mentioned in the previous post. It's called Steve's Mix Tapes and the website is here . You can listen on Soundcloud , Podbean , Apple Podcasts or YouTube . The first episode was a solo affair; episode 2 features guest mixer Ian Forth from the highly recommended podcast Sombrero Fallout .  Enough plugging, let's get on with this LP... The Album Solid enough I was starting to feel like a bit of a stuck record with the 'opening track hits the ground running and is a highlight' mantra. But while there's nothing much wrong with 'Xeno Pariah' and its crunchy riff, downbeat interludes and keening melody, it doesn't quite match the openers on the last few albums. In fact, this is the first o...

Introduction A bit of a long gap since the last review, caused by involvement in other projects such as the Cinerama Cup , setting up a new podcast called Steve's Mix Tapes , and, y'know, Christmas and all that... Anyway, if you've been following the blog, you'll know that I'm getting towards the end of the albums that I've listened to properly thus far. (And if you haven't, all is explained in the introduction .) However, unlike Let's Go Eat The Factory and Class Clown Spots A UFO , The Bears For Lunch was one that - despite my limited experience with it - did contain a fairly wide range of songs that had stuck with me. The Album Thunderously belligerent I appreciate that I'm in danger of becoming a bit of a stuck record with this, but GBV have thus far tended to begin their albums with cracking opening tracks. ' King Arthur The Red' is thunderously belligerent, the muscular riff underpinned by fluid soloing. And we're back in 'im...