 |
| image: jakebugg.com |
I'll be honest, I've never been a massive fan of Jake Bugg. His previous tracks that were very well recieved such as 'Two Fingers' and 'Taste It' never really gripped me as being anything special. However, there are a couple of hidden gems from his previous self titled album, like 'Broken,' with its acoustic instrumental and delicate vocals, building up into something much more spectacular a couple of minutes in. Not to mention 'Slide' with beautifully written lyrics that wouldn't sound out of place as an Oasis b-side. Then you have the more endearing tracks like 'Someone Told Me,' with that signature Jake Bugg vintage feel.
Shangri La however, seems to have lost that quirky yet tear jerking craft that Jake Bugg once acquired in a wishy-washy blur of out of place heavy riffs and a vocal style that could be construed as a George Formby tribute act on acid.
The record begins with slightly monotonous and predictable track 'There's A Beast And We All Feed It,' which funnily enough sounds awfully resonant of his previous album's opener 'Lightning Bolt.' 'Slumville Sunrise' however, the second track on the record, is probably its best asset. It adopts an extremely catchy chorus with just enough rock 'n' roll edge which is more than what can be said for 'What Doesn't Kill You.' This was the album's first single and I have no idea why. Ok, the chorus has some potential, but it is soon protruded by predictable riffs and Bugg's ridiculously fast singing which really doesn't work for me.
The album continues, and finally a song that oozes progression from its predecessors, 'Messed Up Kids.' A pleasant, listen-able track that combines gritty lyrics with a catchy melody and gentle guitars with just enough punch. 'A Song About Love' however, can be described as just as boring as it sounds. To be fair, I was expecting a bit of an acoustic slow paced track like the few I mentioned earlier from his previous album. But no, we end up with something much more repetitive, done-before and commercialised.
Tracks like 'All Your Reasons,' 'Simple Pleasures' and 'Kitchen Table' redeem the album with sophisticated guitars and Bugg's undeniably good lyric writing skills that I knew were yet to shine through. 'Pine Trees' is another more credible track on the album with that signature acoustic style that Jake Bugg is famed for.
The album culminates in a track that sounds almost like it was recorded in a bedroom in the sixties, 'Storm Passes Away.' A track that I am not overly enthralled by. A similar attitude I adopted for the whole album to be completely honest.
***
5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment