W/e 29/11/24 - Kim Deal, Ice Cube, Michael Kiwanuka, Heavy Moss, Electric Six

No great movers and shakers. Well done to Kim - this week’s winner with her debut, and has a very popular TOTW.

Guy has his 2nd 😀 in 3 weeks. Sam swaps faces and is this weeks ☹️ due to a rare brace of 3s.

Electric Six have eclectic neighbours in The Smiths and DJ Shadow on the classic list.

Guy

Heavy Moss – Interested to see this is the bloke from King Gizzard. I’d normally like a bit of Psych Pop – particularly as it seemed to have a variety of influences that I’d normally like e.g. The Beatles, The Thrills and even a bit of The Beach Boys. But it didn’t really hang together well enough for me to score it highly and the singers voice is pretty tuneless in places – 6.5

Ice Cube – Nice to see he’s changed up his content to female emancipation and peace and love. Apart from that, the rhymes are good and the music is catchy. It’s classic gangsta rap and it’s a decent offering all round (excepting the usual bitches and ho’s). The last track with Busta Rhymes is perhaps the best – 7.3

Kim Deal – The first time I listened to this I gave it 6.2 but on a second listen I saw a lot more in it. Despite the pleasant orchestral arrangement on the title track, I found the overall tune weak. And it went a bit ‘James Bond Theme’ in places. But Crystal Breath and Disobedience are excellent with trademark scuzzy guitar and thumping bass. – 7.5

Michael Kiwanuka – You can totally see why he wins so many awards. He’s got an amazing voice and the album is really slick and well produced. I actually enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. It’s a decent Sunday chilling album. – 7

Electric Six – Most of this sounded like Spinal Tap crossed with the Darkness. Some hilarious lyrics which compare favourably with Tap’s ‘Big Bottom’. I’m afraid Danger: High Voltage falls into that category as of course does Gay Bar. I found it fun in a very lightweight way. And when they pluck out the Synthesizer at the end (which is an 80s electro cracker and very much out of context with the rest) I felt obliged to raise the score a little – 6.5

TOTW – Kim Deal – Crystal Breath

Andy

Heavy Moss - I was as surprised as Guy with how un-psych this was when I saw who was involved. A much mellower antipodean sound 6

Ice Cube - Great stuff from the OG of OGs. With steadfast support from features across the spectrum from modern to old school, smashing 7.5

Kim Deal - Surprised to see that this was Kim’s first solo effort. Most of it sounds exactly as one would expect from the erstwhile Pixie/Breeder but there’s some nice surprises when she throws in a bit of a beat or even some sweet country vibes. Very nice 7

Michael Kiwanuka - He’s got a lovely voice and this falls just on the right side of smooth jazz, reminding me a bit of Omar’s 1991 classic “There’s Nothing Like This” at times 6.5

TotW Ego Maniacs by Ice Cube

Electric Six - An absolutely fantastic rip roaring treat. Very funny but this is not a comedy album. Dicky’s “stop……continue” on Improper Dancing might be my favourite random bit in any song, closely followed by “Solo!” 8.5

Sam

Heavy Moss : rubbish name , rubbish album . King Gizzard release a new album every month why the hell did he bother making this nonsense? 3

Ice Cube : such an effortless performance from the OG , with some ace music too . But FFS Ice , it’s 2024 . Stop referring to woman as crazy bitches . 7.4

Kim Deal: odd mix of dreary wafty stuff and lovely scuzzy guitars . 7

Michael Kiwanuka: he may well have a lovely voice but fuck me this is dull. 3

TOTW : I’mma burn rubber by ice cube

Electric 6 : what a fabulous album! They inhabited the same time and space as the White Stripes in 2003 . But found their own unique sound . Hilarious and brilliant. They are playing Brighton next week and I’m gutted I’ll be away . 9

Justin

Heavy Moss - this all just seemed a bit all over the place and very forgettable. 5.5

Ice Cube - flash back to early nineties west coast cool. Prefer a bit harder NWA 6.5

Kim Deal - a few terrible American cartoon kitsch tunes but also a few indie gems 6.7

Michael Kiwanuka - way to slow but I do have a soft spot for smooth soul and he really does have the best voice around. 7

Totw. Lowdown (part i) - Michael Kiwanuka

Electric Six - some great tunes. Although I think they do veer a bit too close to novelty act. 6.9

Simon

Heavy Moss: thought this was decent, even if the vocals are occasionally a bit flaky - the more laid back tracks have a mellow, spacey feel to them but the ones where they notch it up a gear, i.e. Blutac and Melt, are the real stand-outs. 7.5

Ice Cube: dismissed as an 'old rapper' by my son (a Kendrick fan, obvs) and in one sense he's not wrong - there's a definite old skool feel about this, and whilst I can't say I particularly enjoyed it I'm guessing I would probably find it more palatable than KL's latest. 6

Kim Deal: not difficult to imagine some of these tracks being released by the Breeders, but equally there's a pleasing diversion into something less expected, not least the orchestral/brass focused opening couple of tracks and the charming Summerland. Coupled with the likes of Crystal Breath and Big Ben Beat this is high quality throughout. 8

Michael Kiwanuka: not a style of music that does a lot for me as a rule, and whilst this is obviously a classy album it doesn't have anything to get the pulse racing - great voice though. 6.5

Electric Six: I remember this lot's brief moment of fame when Danger! High Voltage and Gay Bar were released although they didn't grab me enough to want to listen to the album - that said, this is plenty of fun. 7.5

TotW: Kim Deal - Crystal Breath

Jim

Heavy Moss 4

I think I've heard enough light psych. Aussie JJ for a little while. This was especially bland

Ice Cube 6.5

Great old school tunes, and those tracks with lyrics on cultural observations and modern life were great, those with BJ and twerking instructions less so. Rise above this tosh Cube!

Kim Deal 7

Would normally want a little more horse-power behind my alt rock but this had enough style to compensate. Nice

Michael Kiwanuka 5

Polished and occasional uplifting moments, but not for me

TOTW Kim Deal - Disobedience

Electric Six 7.5

Enjoyed this, particularly the pub-band non nonsense offerings, though it did go a bit Rocky Horror at times

Annette

Heavy Moss: 5

Ice Cube: 6

Kim Deal: 6.5

Michael Kiwankua: 6.5

Electric Six: 7.5

TOTW: Kim Deal - Crystal Breath

Mark

Heavy Moss - didn't get on with this at all, the Aussies have been in a purple patch the past few years but this just wasn't in the same league as so many others we've listened to, all a bit odd and discordant I thought - 4.5

Ice Cube - way too long obvs, but slickly produced and his rapping is as good as ever, lyrical content aside - 7

Kim Deal - fantastic album, great example of how a middle aged indie rocker can cross the melancholy bridge but still retain enough feistiness to stay invigorated, lovely mix of reflective alt country and noisy, with that trademark bass coming to the fore - 8

Michael Kiwanuka - lacking one or two biggies but gorgeous summery soul pop nonetheless, great vocal and lovely jazz-infused grooviness, bravo Michael - 7.5

TOTW - Disobedience by Kim Deal

Adam

Heavy Moss - was hoping for more King Stingray vibes from our antipodean friends but a bit more laid back, crooning psych pop - enjoyable, but wont rush back - 6

Ice Cube - this album had me chuckling in places, classic 90s hip hop with modern references - he covers all the bases in his lyrics - money, hoes, dissing influencers - it’s got it all. - 6

Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More buts cool guitars and vocals in here but I think others will end up loving this album more than I have - 5

Michael Kiwanuka - another good hit, excellent vocals, oozes cool. This album feels more subtle than his last, maybe more self-reflective. - 7

TOTW - Ice Cube - It’s my Ego

Electric Six - what an album, in your face camp indie electro punk - hard to entirely pin down. Loved this back in the day, still love it now. Would happily be a Dance Commander any day listening to this - 8

Erol

Heavy Moss - hard going. Blutac was a decent song but I found the rest pretty tedious. 4.5

Ice Cube - I don’t think it’s possible to pack in more offensive and degrading lyrics into one album. Come on Ice, we’re not in the 80s any more. If you can block that aspect out (and I feel guilty for doing so), this is an entertaining listen. The 80s/90s electro pop inspired tunes were particularly fun. 7

Kim Deal - I listened to this twice and it was actually worse the second time around. It’s fairly stylised and there are some interesting indie moments combined with Bond -esque tracks but my issue is that she just can’t sing. 5

Michael Kiwanuka - now, Michael can sing beautifully. I like the smooth soul vibe to this but it could do with a bit more oomph once in a while. 7

TOTW - She’s Sanctified - Ice and Snoop.

Electric Six - best album of the week. Yep, it has shades of rock opera going on and it’s unashamedly camp but that’s what makes it so much fun. Gay Bar and Nuclear War are top tracks. Good choice, Andy. I expect to see them cameoing in the new Spinal Tap film. 8

Phil

Heavy Moss 6

Opening track is so sonically messy you wonder if anyone actually listened to the playback and, if so, just how stoned were they? Things get a bit less murky from that point but the vocals still sound fuzzy. The production is reminiscent of the first Tame Impala album but without the wit or songwriting chops. Bluetac and Melt are strong numbers but the rest is a bit ho hum.

Ice Cube 5.5

Unusually for a rap album – in my deliberately limited exposure to the genre – most of the tracks here tie the vocals very neatly to the beats. For me that made it an “easier” listen. But there are problems. For one thing, this is a slog – over an hour of music and the only variation, if you can call it that, is the plethora of guest stars. The biggest issue I have though is the neanderthal attitudes that Cube (you do call him Cube, right?) displays, especially towards women. Not for nothing does every track have an E next to it on Spotify (and yeah, there’s an NWA reference there for yez). Don’t think I’ll bother with a second spin.

Kim Deal 8.5

I loved this. I’ve always thought of Kim Deal as a musician that loved noisy guitars but she also enjoys surprising the listener. Hence the double whammy of the title track and Coast, probably not the sort of music you’d expect to open her debut solo outing. They’re followed by Crystal breath and Disobedience, the sort of gnarly, grungey sounds you’d probably expect from her but wrapped about perhaps the best song on the album – the gorgeous Are you mine? Come running combines both of the album’s signature sounds – a ballad with dirty guitars. Excellent stuff.

This is a strong contender for my album of the year.

Michael Kiwanuka 6.5

I find it hard to get excited about Kiwanuka. He has a lovely voice but the material here – as with the other stuff of his that I’ve heard - is a bit underwhelming. The title track is a highlight, followed by Lowdown (part 1). But at the end of the day this is a tasteful record and that’s about all.

TOTW – Kim Deal – Are you mine?

Classic

Electric Six 6

An enjoyable enough racket but not one I’d go back to through the choice. Let’s put it this way – if a track from this album came on the radio I wouldn’t immediately switch off or change channels. I can't say fairer than that.

Matt

Heavy Moss - not to my lichen. 5

Ice Cube - squarey, sweary. 4

Kim Deal - 'kin deal! 8

Michael Kiwanuka - I know my limits. 6.2

Totw - Crystal Breath, Kim Deal