So what's the verdict on 'awley's latest effort then? Common consensus seems to suggest that it's more of the same, sonically and certainly lyrically - but then when you craft songs as timeless (or rather stuck in time 40 -50 years ago) as Richard does, that's not a bad thing. I've only had chance to give it a couple of spins - if you're going to buy it, the special DVD version is a nice touch, but there's certainly a few classic pop songs on it which in a parallel (and admittedly Back To The Future style) universe you can imagine his parents might have swayed to in some Sheffield dance hall in the 60's. The single 'Tonight The Street Are Ours' is very radio friendly, and on initial listens I thought he was beginning to pander a bit too much to commercial acceptance after Coles Corner made a dent on the public's musical conscience, but it really is just a fantastically crafted pop song - fine melody, great hook, all soaked in a glourious string section. The bridge part is particularly impressive as the song pivot's on the singer's insecurity in the lyrics. Apparently, (partly) about the cack-handed solution that are ASBO's...who would have thought it eh?! The next single is 'Serious', a good choice as it's uptempo, catchy sensibilities shows a different side to the love-lorn crooning which he's best known for. Looking forward to seeing him in Dublin tonight - no doubt that earthy Yorkshire wit (complete with effing and blinding) will be on show through his tales of love and loss.
***
Incidentially the album debuted in the charts at number 6 a couple of weeks back - considerably better than Jarvis managed. That may be down to the increasing profile which Hawley has built with each subsequent album, especially the last one - along with good plugging from his record company ( I think 'Serious' is getting the exclusive Channel 4 late-night promo premiere treatment soon - which is usually reserved for the big artists). For all 'Tonight The Streets'... pop nous, it only managed number 40 in the singles chart a week or two before the LP came out - so it didn't act as a hugely successful promo vehicle for the album, not so big you'd imagine for it to propell Lady's Bridge into the top 10. Similarly, Super Furry Animals had their highest ever album entry recently, even after the pre-album single missed the top 40. Perversely, Jarvis only managed 37 in the album charts - that didn't even have a single to trailer it, which I thought at the time was a major reason for the album's lowly placing. Taking into account all of the above, the chart position for 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time', 36, seems quite impressive (and it was - considering most people had already downloaded the song from the album). Indeed for 'physical sales' only it was actually top 10 that week.
To conclude this ever so anal pop chart comparison between three artists with a loosely similar fan base, the reason for Jarvis' disappointing sales, can to my mind be put down to its release at a competitive time for albums (pre-Christmas Best Of's etc.), that it leaked very early on the internet (1000 downloads from Oink alone by the time it came out I recall) and...or, that for all the kudos (which reminds me, apparently The Beastie Boys want him to guest on a vocalised version of their recent instrumental album) and 'cool indie icon' plaudits that come his way (which to be fair he gets a lot of) not many people really give a stuff about the new music he makes anymore. Which is quite sad really.
I must be the only person who thinks Hawley's records are getting progressively less interesting with each successive album. The first, self-titled mini-album was lovely. Late Night Final, mostly lovely, some unnecessary filler which boiled down to rewrites of True Love Ways. Lowedges, two excellent songs and I'm really, really struggling to remember any of the others. The supposed masterpiece Coles Corner quite frankly bores the shit out of me; it's the exact distillation of the criticism Jarvis once levelled at the Stereophonics' "authentic" music and it's bloody tedious. What I've heard from this one doesn't excite me either. He's obviously a great bloke and a good live performer, but I wish he'd write some different-sounding records now.
That's probably a little unfair, but for reference, I really like Jarvis' solo album except for "Black Magic" and especially "Heavy Weather", which I find equally boring.
Similarly, Super Furry Animals had their highest ever album entry recently, No they didn't.
Someone's in bad form... I stand corrected on the SFA thing (I see they've actually had a number of top ten albums) - blame Tom Dunne for that one, last time I Iisten to his hyperbole.
Anyroad, last night I saw possibly the best gig of my life (so far...volume one). Richard was a joy to listen to and I'm not just talking about the songs. He's clearly learnt a trick or two from Jarvis (and Hawley Sr. no doubt) on how to communicate with a crowd. He joked and was full of banter throughout, making his songs of love and sorrow even more astonishing - it was like a normal bloke chatting (and often taking the piss out of) to acqaintances who managed to fit in some of the most timeless 'new' songs you're likely to hear with a voice that demands attention. Backed by his brilliant band, armed with guitars (of the acoustic/slide or electric variety), keyboard/piano, drums and double bass, Vicar Street was transported back through time, fitted with a glitter ball, dreamy light effects and an er...ageing crowd, (pretty sure I was the youngest).
The setlist drew heavily from the most recent two albums - the one pity of the night personally was that Lowedges, still his strongest album I feel, was ignored. The rockabilly and fast-picking guitar tunes like Serious, Just Like The Rain and I'm Looking For Someone To Find Me nicely broke up the sequence of ballads and slower songs. The live setting in an intimate venue, but big enough for a decent atmosphere, really did justice to certain songs which really need to be enjoyed in a certain mood on CD (indeed most of them seem best suited to full appreciation when with a loved one or alone just after being dumped).
Basically though, any music lover would have enjoyed themselves last night (and probably any time Richard plays). Afterwards there were a lot of appreciative punters dishing out superlatives "Bleedin' dedly - best thing I ever seen in dat place , and I 'bin comin' down he-ar fer yeeers'' for Hawley and his band. Nice recycling of the joke he told at the South Bank Awards last year too when Jarvis presented his award (swap Shirley Bassey for The Corrs!).
Top night out - would have tried to get a pic with him but had to get the last Dart back to Sandymount.
Yeah I was at Vicar St too, a great gig - I've never laughed so much at a concert in my life.
I'm afraid I've only heard the last two albums but was slightly disappointed with Lady's Bridge. For me it lacks the big hitters of Coles Corner and The Ocean. A friend is of the opinion that Hawley could've been much better but took the radio-friendly route, and then The Irish Times called it adult-oriented pop or something. Are we really getting old?
