W/e 19/07/24 - Eminem, Joe Goddard, The Dream Machine, Cigarettes After Sex and The Last Shadow Puppets

It's a win for Eminem. Sam and Simon take the :-) and :-( respectively for the second week!

Andy

Eminem - Marshall easily defends his crown as the greatest white rapper alive and indeed one of the greatest around. However the content isn't great, even if he claims he's satirising himself and his past utterings. An improvement on first single Houdini overall though 6

Joe Goddard - Not really my thing, although it seems quite competent for this sort of stuff. Proves my point that an album is only too long if you don't really like it 4

The Dream Machine - Perfectly listenable if extremely basic indie. I'm assuming the you in Posters of You refers to John Power and Lee Mavers 6

Cigarettes After Sex - I rather enjoyed this, even if it is almost too damn dreamy. Might have to start putting it on my headphones late at night to send me off to a lovely night's kip 7

TotW - Holding You, Holding Me by Cigarettes After Sex

The Last Shadow Puppets - This was a good one, like Arctic Monkeys doing the soundtrack to a 60s western. Epic scale 7.5

Guy

Eminem – I like Eminem. He’s a top rapper. This isn’t quite at the same level as some of his previous offerings but it’s a decent listen if a little long for me (no surprise there). Some good samples and flowing rhymes – 7.1

Joe Goddard – Quite enjoyed this. Had lots of variety in it, particularly with the guest vocals / contributors. Perhaps lacked an obvious banger - 7

The Dream Machine – The classic Liverpudlian indie sound a la The La’s, Cast, Circa Waves et al. Although this is normally right in my wheelhouse, this lacked the sing-a-long bangers that the former all possess – 6.7

Cigarettes after Sex – very atmospheric with a touch of the XX about it in places. It was just a bit too slow for me although you couldn’t really complain on any other level – 6.8

TOTW – Progress – Joe Goddard and Ibibio Sound Machine

The Last Shadow Puppets – I never liked the Arctic Monkeys when they went all ‘lounge lizard’ on us and this verges on that in places. However, it’s easy listening and has a feel of a Bond soundtrack in places, which made it quite enjoyable – 7.5

Sam

Eminem: for me probably the best rapper ever . His delivery is incredible. Yea his fight with his alter ego allows him to say horrible things ( why does he hate dead paraplegics so much?) and yes cut a few songs off ! Still , it’s an 8 from me .

Joe Goddard , blimey he’ll need a new vocoder after this .. yea it would be fine in a beach bar but too bland and too long on a wet Tuesday . 5.9

The Dream Machine: bouncy scouse indie . Likeable . They are playing in Brighton in the autumn I’ll go and see them . 7

Cigs after Sex ; crikey it’s slowwww but it picks up and I quite like it by the end . 6.9

TOTW: Wolfman : Dream Machine

SOTW On My Mind : Joe Goddard

Last Shadow Puppets: it’s no secret I disliked Arctic Monkeys after the first album . This is ok but apart from the lush sound scapes it’s all a bit meh . 6

Jim

Eminem 7

His delivery skills are 2nd to none, and the subject matter is sometimes entertaining but I’ve always found his albums have at best only a couple of really catchy original beats below the rhymes. And in a country/world with so much meaty subject matter to get his teeth into, to keep going on about trans, small people and disabilities is feckin lame and embarrassing. Take a pop at tougher targets Marshall! Also a good example of where 40 min focused turns into 60 min drags on a bit

Joe Goddard 6.5

Some decent deep house in here, could have been improved with less overpowering vocals . Ditto 40/60 comment

The Dream Machine 6.5

Better than average JJ, a few Lathums’ quality melodies.

Cigarettes After Sex 5

I would have bet you they were Courteeners-esque indie. Not sure where that came from. Occasional nod to The XX, but mostly pretty uninspiring, although good for insomnia as mentioned

TOTW Dream Machine - Wind Up Bird

Last Shadow Puppets 7.5

Listened to this a lot when it came out. It’s not as varied or punchy as I remembered, and much more Sergio Leone, but still decent.

Simon

Eminem: god, what a chore - there must be an audience for this out there somewhere but I couldn't find anything to like about his tiresome rantings at all, it was just joyless and dispiriting. 3

Joe Goddard: a tad underwhelmed, if I'm honest - with a few exceptions it veers to close to mainstream chart pop for my liking, was hoping for some funkier Hot Chip-style house beats. 6

The Dream Machine: largely unremarkable Scouse JJ - not bad per se, but there are other bands out there doing this kind of thing much better. 5.8

Cigarettes After Sex: I liked the idea here but I don't think the album lives up to its potential - never really gets out of first gear unfortunately. 5.9

The Last Shadow Puppets: like the AMs, not a band I've listened to but enjoyed this - plenty of lively numbers and has a big, cinematic '60s feel to it that really appeals. 8

TotW: Joe Goddard - Follow You

Mark

Eminem - technically up there with the best, the rapping is so dexterous and rapid fire he's going to have to need autocue before too much longer to remember all those lyrics live. But the mahoosive element in the room is the subject matter and the defence that it's just a joke / alter ego wears thin - 6

Joe Goddard - strong start and finish, and the Ibibio collab was really nice, but I felt it sagged in the middle and became a bit monotonous. Just a bit lightweight compared with earlier Hot Chip albums - 6.5

Dream Machine - all perfectly listenable indie pop strummings, vocally very similar to Jake Bugg, but without ever really taking off - 6

Cigarettes After Sex - dreamy moody XX-esque noodling, not quite shoegaze but rather lovely all the same - 7

TOTW - Progress by Joe Goddard

Justin

Eminem - I can't really follow the rapping content as rapping too fast! Tunes and overall vibe remain the same a earlier albums. Bit of editing wouldn't have gone amiss. 6.8

Joe Goddard - the master of the low key, slow build, banger. I really like the laid back and tuneful vibe of Joe Goddard 7.3

Dream Machine - jingle jangle. Very like the Coral. 6.6

Cigarettes After Sex - slow, reminded me of Scritti Politti. Dark and ambient bit could do with a bit more oomph. 6.5

TOTW Progess - Joe Goddard

Last Shadow Puppets - I have always struggled with this album. I can see it is clever and technically good, but it just doesn't really work for me. 5.5

Erol

Eminem - slick and sharp rapping. Definitely one of the best out there but I do wonder why he has to be so mean towards minority groups. I know it’s supposed to be tongue in cheek but still. 7

Joe Goddard - throughly enjoyable low-key electronic vibes that gently build and build. Nice. 7.5

Dream Machine - occasionally uplifting scouse indie pop. Serviceable but not brilliant. 6

Cigarettes after sex - slow, tedious and lacking in substance. This failed to flick any switches for me. 3

TOTW - New World (Flow), Joe Goddard

Last Shadow Puppets - the front end is compelling and expansive but it does drift towards sounding like a Western film score at times. The latter part was less interesting. 6.5

Matt

Eminem - flawless, 1,000 mph delivery of a venomous self dialogue. The lyrics make you feel uncomfortable, and whilst music should challenge some parts seemed gratuitous. 7.7

Joe Goddard - A slow burner, with some enjoyable tracks but felt it struggled to progress so ended up sounding a bit samey. 6.8

Dream Machine - nice enough indie. 6

Cigarettes After Sex - Slow. Too slow. 5

TOTW - Progress Joe Goddard

The Last Shadow Puppets - love the cinematic wall of sound. It might be an homage but it's point perfect and original. 8