W/e 02/12/22 - Sharon Van Etten, Royksopp, Kelly Lee Owens, Orielles, Dogs D'Amour

This week marked 500 albums that have been reviewed. Not all are on the web site as that was started later. Bravo team 👏!

A week of 2 halves:

Sharon Van Etten just takes it from Royksopp, both solid performances that make it into our top 50 of the year.

Poor showing from Kelly Lee Owens and Orielles just above our bottom 10.

Justin liked his 😁 so much from last week, he's keeping it. Andy has the ☹️ with the 3rd lowest set of the year.

Andy

Sharon Van Etten - I quite like this kind of mournful singer songwriter thing, there's a couple of big swelling numbers in here 6.5

Kelly Lee Owens - Like the fella En Vogue are singing to about their lovin', I'm never gonna get it. Bleeps and bloops that make no sense to me and worse it feels like anyone with the right equipment could knock it out. She veers dangerously close to a tune on One but it's something of a false dawn 2

Royskopp - A more bearable listen but got pretty dull at times. If it came on the radio I wouldn't throw a shoe 5

The Orielles - Not sure what this wanted to be, a BCNR knock off maybe? It certainly sounded like the very same collective at times and those were very much the worst times, at least with a track called The improvisation you can't say you weren't warned. Television is an OK track in parts but goes to pot eventually 4

TotW - When I Die by Sharon Van Etten

Dogs D'Amour - An absolute corker of an album and oddly enough it's been heavily in my thoughts this year while I've had the Peacemaker soundtrack playing on repeat. Tyla's gravelly bourbon soaked voice is terrific 8.5

Simon

Sharon Van Etten: not my usual cup of tea, but some of the slow-burners in the first half were excellent - just a bit glacial at times after that. 7.2

Kelly Lee Owens: I'm happy to give most experimental albums a chance - nothing wrong with trying something different - but I wasn't that convinced by this - it's seemed like experimentation for experimentation's sake. 5.5

Royksopp: another solid Royksopp album, enjoyable enough although I'm not feeling the need to rush back in for more. 7

The Orielles: I thought this was great - quirky and beguiling, and full of unexpected twists and turns - loses marks for the pointless last track though. 7.8

Dogs d'Amour: I know this flicks some of your switches but it doesn't do anything for me I'm afraid. 5.8

TotW: Chromo II by The Orielles

Guy

Sharon Van Etten: this was by no means terrible but the slow ballads are not really for me - 6

Kelly Lee Owens: "a sonic soundscape", "a voyage in aural discovery" - so might have said someone, sometime about KLO. But for me it's hard going and would be better used as a soundtrack for one of those visual exhibition in a gallery - 5

Royksopp: far and away the best of the week. (Although bearing in mind the competition, that's not saying much). Enjoyed this as I did the first in the trilogy - 7.2

The Orielles: This seemed to go on for ever. Inconsequential and unmemorable. 4.5

Dogs d'Amour: I can't say I've ever listened to Dogs D'Amour and I probably won't again. It was OK is the best I can say. - 6

TotW: Unity - Royskopp

Mark

Sharon Van Etten - I do like this sort of moody torch song stuff, lovely vocal and some gorgeous tunes - 7.5

Kelly Lee Owens - her set at Screamadelica in the summer was full of banging techno, but this was pretty much devoid of anything resembling an actual song. I rate her, but despite some nice atmospherics this was a difficult listen - 4.5

Royksopp - some decent Beloved-esque trancey stuff, all perfectly listenable without being amazing - 6.5

Orielles - I followed this band a while back due to them being on Heavenly Records, and this has a touch of St Etienne 60s London film score about it, but a lot of it just drifts tuneless and aimlessly - 5

TOTW - Come Back by Sharon Van Etten

Erol

Sharon Van Etten - a beautiful example of indie folk with a good bit of sadness/angst and some soaring numbers thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed this. 7.9

Kelly Lee Owens - the whole album feels like a series of decent-enough extended intros to big dance tracks that KLO has’t got around to writing yet. Transcendental whale music without whales. Frustrating to listen to but I didn’t wholly dislike it. 6

Royskopp - a strong album with a mix of upbeat electronica/dance and some more downtempo tunes. Unity is a great number, with hints of Chase&Status. Am looking forward to listening to PM III. 7.5

The Orielles - this is all over the place, lacking in any structure or musical coherence. And it’s far too long. 4.5

Dogs D’Amour - slightly cheesy at times but a fun slice of 80s honky-tonk rock n roll. 7

TOTW - there are a few contenders on the Sharon VE album but I’ll go for Come Back. This almost moved me to tears. Lovely stuff.

Justin

Sharon Van Etten - never heard of this person before. Some great tracks. Nice voice. 7.1

Kelly Lee Owens - the first song is challenging, but after that I thought it was great electronica. 7

Royskopp - some great daft punk esque sounds on this album. 7.3

The Orielles - actually liked it as background music and individual tracks good , but as a single sitting listen it is quite long. 6.9

Totw Some Resolve - Royskopp

Dogs D'Amour - honky tonk G&R/Rolling Stones - enjoyable despite some clichéd lyrics. 7

Jim

Sharon Van Etten 7.5

Some lovely tracks on here , tune of the week contender in Mistakes. Reminded of Liz Lawrence even a bit of Big Moon

Royksopp 8

Though this was great, nice variety of styles. Starts at terrific pace cracking Daft Punk Tron number to finish. Oh lover just takes my TOTW from Unity

Kelly Lee Owens 6.5

Doesn’t have the quality tracks from previous offering but it’s original and interesting even if a little repetitive

Orielles 5

Nice enough sounds but never got going, and an hour+ was tough

Dogs D'Amour 7.5

Solid bluesey rock and roll.

Matt

Sharon Van Etten 7 Another great female singer-songwriter. I see the comparison with The Big Moon but I thought the stronger tracks were the less ballardy ones

Royksopp 7.5 - started strongly and more upbeat than you might expect before returning to the more austere and pared back sound we associate with Royksopp.

Kelly Lee Owens 4 - experimental needn't just be bleeps and silence.

Orielles 4.5 - I like their sound which is a sort of French 60s new wave but this was too much of the same.

TOTW Denimclad Baboons Royksopp

Sam