INDIE FOR KIDS

COLOURS ARE BRIGHTER

Felix Bradley Barley is four and a half. He listened to each track on Colours Are Brighter, an album of new kids’ songs released in aid of Save the Children, and gave us this report.

1. Four Tet feat. Princess Watermelon

'Go (30 Ninja Dinosaur'

‘My friend Douglas is a dinosaur expert. He'd love this! I like the voices.‘ 00000

2. Rasputina 'A Skeleton Bang'

‘This w0uld be good for Halloween. It makes me want to dance.‘ 00000

3. Franz Ferdinand ‘Jackie Jackson'

‘This makes me laugh and it makes me want a cake!‘ 0....

4. Snow Patrol ‘I am an Astronaut'

'lt SOunds like footsteps. I really like the music and it makes me think of being on the mOOn. I love it!‘ .00..

5. The Divine Comedy ‘Three Cheers for Pooh' ‘YES! I know this one! I remember the book and our CD of this!’ 00000

6. The Kooks “The King & l‘

‘I like the sudden brrrrrps and beeps on this one.’

problems. and one of them is soap bar'. (David Pollock)

potential suitor rating is enhanced by their dreamy debut offering. which roars into life all

INDIE \ THE scratchy guitars. BOYFRIENDS haunting vocals and

pounding basslines and combines uplifting choruses with an air of menace and melancholy. It's romantic. gritty and very much about the city. and as a result incredibly reminiscent of early Suede. The Smiths and Kitchens of Distinction. In fact The

The Boyfriends (Boobytrap) .0.

This London-based foursome reckon they make 'good boyfriend material' (hence the monicker) and if you like your chaps unashamedly foppish, then you're certain to agree. The band's

.ij‘,’\ Loud

0 Clear

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7. Half Man Half Biscuit ‘David Wainwright's Feet'

‘This makes me think of soldiers. It's OK but it's not 5 stars.’ 0...

8. The Barcelona Pavilion ‘Tidy Up Tidy Up' '

It should be a one star. shouldn't it. It's boring! And it‘s abOut tidying up. But I'll give it two because I like the bit at the end.‘ 00

9. Jonathan Richman 'Our Dog is Getting Older Now'

‘This one makes me feel a bit sad. cos it's in a sad voice and it has sad instruments.‘ 000.

10. Belle and Sebastian ‘The Monkeys are Breaking Out the 200'

‘This is a silly one! (laughing and listening intently to the words) It makes me think of monkeys! (sings along to cherus). Can we hear it again?‘ 0000.

1 1. Kathryn Williams ‘Night Baking'

‘lt's a girl singing. She sounds nice. She's got a funny voice it seems like two ladies (in fact it's two female vocals singing in harmony). But it makes me want to bake at night.' .00..

Favourite track ‘The escaping monkeys is my faVOuritel'

predecessors. (Camilla Pia)

POP FOLK SPARE SNARE Garden Leave (Chute Records) .00

Snow Patrol lead guy Gary Lightbody loves them. The List readers had them down as the 46th best Scottish band of all time. So. why are they still recording albums from home? Well, maybe they just like it that way.

Boyfriends are basically a modern day incarnation of all three and pretty infectious in places. but hardly compulsory listening for any devotees of their influential

And there is indeed a lot to like on this. the

outfits seventh album. You can readily forgive them the odd moment

of creative over-reach, such as the letter- reading extracts of 'Volume for Poetry'

when they can conjure

up a plaintive gem such as 'Just Let (30'. Though the whee7y ‘Trees and Horses' almost plunders the goodwill engendered

by the rootsy simplicity

of closer ‘Grow'. (Brian Donaldson)

BLUES ERIC BIBB

Diamond Days (Telarc) .000

Contemporary folk-

blues doesn't get much better than this. Bibb's

new album is a more rounded and varied

collection than anything

he has done before. and captures him in

peak form not only as a singer and guitarist. but

also as a songwriter. although he covers Bob Dylan's ‘Buckets

of Rain' and throws in a

version of ‘Worried Man Blues' for good measure.

His Gospel leanings emerge on songs like ‘SO Glad' and a

powerful live version of ‘In My Father's House'.

‘Tall Cotton', the

upbeat ‘Shine On'. the

more persOnal

reflections contained in

‘Diamond Days' and ‘Heading Home'. and the tributes to his forerunners in ‘Still Livin' On' are all prime

additions to his already

impressive roster. (Kenny Mathieson)

ALSO RELEASED

MUSIC DVDS

The Police Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out (Universal) Police drummer Stewart Copeland carried a Super8 camera with him from the band's inception and captured some 50 hours of footage to make a revealing fly on the wall film, which captures the rise. rise and eventual dissolution of the globe-straddling band.

Joy Division Under Review (Nova) Feature-length documentary which offers a chance to see some rare and inevitably grainy. live footage. but minimal contribution from the remaining band members.

Tom Waits Under Review (Nova) Along the lines of the Joy Division film. this is an ‘independent critical analysis‘ of Waits' work from

Depeche Mode Towing the Angel Live in Milan (Mute) A revitalised Gahan and Gore show off their hits and battle scars over three gloriously widescreen discs. Jetf Needy Sunken Treasure (Nonesuch) A revealing documentary about the grizzled Wilco frontman who leaves the rest of his band at home to tour on his lonesome up the Pacific NOrthwest. Pixies loudOU/ETloud (Plexi Film UK) Undei'stated but telling account of the Pixies reunion tour from 2004.

ALL CDS WERE REVIEWED ON A SYSTEM SUPPUED AND INSTALLED BY LOUD 8: CLEAR

64 THE LIST I!) Oct~2 Nov