Solo Albums
Hello Internet: AOTW – Thom Yorke – The Eraser
In this post Ben discusses the new solo album from Thom Yorke (of Radiohead). His conclusion : “it does grab me and I really like it, but it’s hardly musical genius” I would generally concur with that after getting the album myself a couple of weeks back. For me the test of an album is whether I can see myself getting it out (or finding it on my iPod) on a regular basis and having a listen. And in this case the answer is probably no – there’s just nothing that stands out about this CD. It’s fairly simple, laid back “electronic rock” along the lines of Radiohead’s more recent albums, but it’s not a classic. Like many Radiohead fans I guess I’m still waiting for them to release an album that lives up to the promise shown on The Bends and OK computer, and although their recent work has occaisional flashes of that brilliance, in general they are not at that level. The Eraser goes into the same basket.
Another solo album I got a week or so ago (after unsuccessfully keeping an eye for it for a month or two) is Exile and The Kingdom, from Canadian Tea Party frontman and ex-Perth resident Jeff Martin. The Tea Party are one of my favourite bands to come out of the 90s producing heavy alternative rock with eastern music influences (think Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir). Over time they have continued to pump out first quality albums but still trying new things, so even though I still prefer their early stuff I have never been majorly disappointed with a Tea Party album. This solo album could have easily been just another addition to The Tea Party catalog – Martin’s powerful vocals and guitar work, strong eastern influence with a dash of blues, and moments of heaviness and tenderness. Perhaps the main difference is that it feels a little more relaxed and fun than some of The Tea Party’s work, esepcially the recent stuff. Overall this is a great album, that I will listen to on a regular basis, and is probably the best from Martin since The Tea Party’s “Edges of Twilight” and “Tryptych“. If you like The Tea Party, then you must buy this album.
