W/e 07/06/24 - Crowded House, Bernard Butler, Richard Hawley, Bad Nerves, Arcade Fire

No great movers last week.

Bad Nerves are our favs, a raucous alternative to the more sedate other trio.

Richard Hawley can console himself with the TOTW.

Mark has the 😀, quite a distance from his nearest challenger. Justin takes the ☹️ with his lowest set of scores this year.

Arcade Fire slide into our top 20, sat between Guns and Roses and, ahem, The Beatles!

(You could not make that up).

Andy

Crowded House - I've always enjoyed the Finn brothers' pleasant pop rock and this is no different. Very listenable without doing anything amazing 6.5

Bernard Butler - I had no idea Bernard has done so few solo albums, preferring to collaborate with others. While this does give the world one of the finest pop songs of all time it meant I'm not sure I've ever heard him sing. Turns out his almost countrified vocals are really good. a real storytellers album this 7.5

Richard Hawley - I've always been aware of the Sheffield troubadour but have never really listened to anything by him, troubadouring is very much on the cards it seems. Pleasant enough but a bit slight although things do pick up occasionally such as on Deep Space 6

Bad Nerves - Quite the change of pace from the rest of this week's selections. I rather enjoyed it even though the vocals might grate a bit. Will definitely check them out at the festival 6.5

TotW - The Kids Will Never Have Their Say

Arcade Fire - Massive debut this, jam packed with huge tunes. Loved it from when I first saw Rebellion (Lies) on MTV back when they used to show videos 9

Guy

Crowded House - hints of The Beatles in places and softer and more pop-like than I thought this would be. It is a bit pedestrian though - 6.3

Bernard Butler - apparently one of the greatest guitarists of all time I read. Decent collection of tunes - all with a level of sophistication to them. Camber Sands is a really nice song - 7

Richard Hawley - this was all a bit too rockabilly / Country and Western for me. It was inoffensive but not my cup of tea - 6.1

Bad Nerves - as Andy says, this was quite the change when I got to it. I actually liked it. It’s got hints of The Strokes and of course the Ramones to it but it’s also got some hooky riffs which give it somewhat of a pop sound behind the roaring guitars - 7.4

TotW - Jimmy the Punk - Bad Nerves (1 min 50 seconds - proper length)

Arcade Fire - Good album overall and amazing it was recorded so quickly. Rebellion is a classic but not all the tracks have the same punch - 8

Simon

Crowded House: the only songs I've previously heard by this band have been either dull or irritating, so wasn't expecting much - didn't get much either, bar the odd flicker of excitement this is pretty bland stuff. 5.5

Bernard Butler: enjoyed the album he did with Jessie Buckley - this didn't grab me quite as much and whilst the overall mood is rather weary and mournful it did have its moments. 6

Richard Hawley: like Bernard Butler this is a well-crafted collection of songs, but it doesn't really float my boat although I do like his voice. 6.2

Bad Nerves: can't fault their energy and enthusiasm, but once the initial blast of excitement has worn off it's rather one-dimensional and wouldn't hold my attention for more than a few spins. 6.2

Arcade Fire: much like Neon Bible, took me a while to get into this album and it doesn't quite have the all-round brilliance of the Surburbs. Still hugely impressive though, with more than a hint of the majesties to come. 8.5

TotW: Richard Hawley - Deep Space

Matt

Crowded House - of our three middle-aged, mid-tempo offerings this week, this had the most verve. Enjoyable enough. 6

Bernard Butler - perhaps I was hoping for the soaring guitars of Suede and his David McAlmont work, but I felt this was a bit underpowered and single -track. 6

Richard Hawley - another Steel City artist with a State-side feel: think more recent Arctic Monkeys and, ahem , Joe Cocker. But like Bernie and the Finn boys, this meandered. 6

Bad Nerves - this was the Space Dust we needed after three lots of Werthers Originals. Not hugely original but loved the energy. 6.5

Totw Jimmy the Punk, Bad Nerves.

Jim

Crowded House 4.5

Suffered from their company this week, who whilst also quite melancoly and flat, at least had some quirkiness, whereas this was dullsville

Bernard Butler 5.5

A few steps on, but I'm with you Matt, was hoping to hear even a little of Suede's spark

Richard Hawley 6.5

A further step forward, loads of styles and influences coming through from Elvis to Arctic Monkeys . And a gem in Deep Space

Bad Nerves 7

Initially thought it was a bit one dimensional but on closer inspection , 2nd half in particular it had the variety and riffs to take it into Gen &.. territory.

TOTW Deep Space

Arcade Fire 9

It's only my 3rd fav after Reflector and The Suburbs, but thought we had to start here. Like Si, their first 2 didn't initially reel me in until The Suburbs, and MKE's insistence, forced a re-think. And boy, how glad I am that I did. For me, the band with the best output of the last 20 years, probably the best live shows, and Rebellion (Lies) is up there with anything anyone has knocked out in that time. Marvellous.

Sam

Crowded House : bit short on catchy tunes.. yawnsville… 5

Bernard Butler : not sure who this was aimed at but it was dull and pointless I thought : 4.5

Richard Hawley : I can hear Elvis impersonators at my local working men’s club . Odd but somehow better than the previous two 5.5 .

Bad Nerves : hallelujah! Chaotic sleazy rock and roll , fuck me I loved this so much . Played All Right on my show the day after I heard it . It’s gotta be a 9 .

TOTW : All Right by Bad Nerves

Justin

Crowded House - just too slow and boring. 4

Bernard Butler - hardly full of bangers. A few songs where the guitar playing picks up. Probably better with another vocalist. 6.5

Richard Hawley - sub par Elvis impersonation 5

Bad Nerves - bit retro I thought. Reminded me of the Primitives. Television a great track 6.6

TOTW Deep Emotion - Bernard Butler

Arcade Fire - I like Neon Bible. This one not so much. I have this album but must admit couldn't remember any of the songs. 6

Mark

Crowded House - I know they're a bit middle of the road, but he's a great songwriter and I found this pleasant enough if not exactly groundbreaking. Shades of Simon & Garfunkel in places with the soft harmonies and gentle accoustic backing - 6.5

Bernard Butler - I'm a huge BB fan, both Suede and solo, so this was up my street. Yes we'd all like to him to cut loose a bit more and let rip with one of his trademark guitar riffs but this still had some Bowie-esque drama to it which I loved - 8

Richard Hawley - think this may be the first album of his I've listened to, lots to like about his modern take on the classic Orbison/Everlys sound, great voice and storytelling - 7.5

Bad Nerves - rattling trashy glam punk a la NY Dolls, even a bit of early Manics, most enjoyable. Loads of big hooky singalong choruses, could be a fab way to kick off Friday afternoon at the festival - 7

TOTW - Living The Dream by Bernard Butler

Erol

Crowded House - pleasant enough to listen to but the pedestrian pace bored me fairly quickly. 5

Bernard Butler - clearly an accomplished guitarist and his vocal style suits the vibe nicely, but I agree with the earlier comments that this is underpowered and could have done with going up a few notches. 6.5

Richard Hawley - being partial to 60s crooner music, I rather enjoyed this. Though his vocal style does tend towards Elvis in his ‘are you lonesome tonight’ days. Can’t help but feeling this lacks originality. 6.2

Bad Nerves - judging by the opening few tracks, I thought I was listening to Bad News (the Comic Strip band) rather than Bad Nerves. Thankfully it improved as it went along, with ‘Sorry’ being the pick of the bunch. 6.7

TOTW - Deep Space. Decent enough fare amongst slim pickings.

Arcade fire - Subtle, nuanced and powerful in all the right places. As a relative newcomer to the band (I know, shoot me), I was thoroughly impressed. Am really looking forward to listening to their other albums before seeing them next month. 9