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Review - Graham Coxon : The Golden D 3+1/2 out of 5
Obviously, I am ever so slightly biased as far as this album goes. I'm bound to put it in my all tim,e favourites list even if it sounds like Lolly. And I'll also admit that if your not a big Graham Fan you probably won't give two shits about it really. Nevertheless, here I shall endever to write a review on it.
Here Goes...
Anyone making the assumption that this will bear any relation to the charming folk of 'The Sky Sky Is too High' should hold onto thier hat's right away because that idea is carelessly chucked out of the window within the first few seconds of this album with Jamie Thomas. It's very thrash metal, and on first listen I thought it sounded a bit like Korn without the tune. I was wrong, it is infact quite original and after a few listens, barring the reptitive sampled chorus theres actually some great moments to it. The thumping drums and Graham's shouted mumblings (how is that possible?) being just two of them.
In the middle there is a fantastic guitar riff wich reminded me why I loved him so much in the first place, like many of his riffs its pretty indescribable. Let's just say it puts bugman to shame though.
Next up was the charmingly named 'The Fear' which is a real headbanger track, again we see Graham's unique talent for making his guitar sound like animals. I'm sure thats a goose honking away there. I quite like that one, you can imagine it being amazing live, though in your bedroom in can get a tad repetitive, being basically the same thing again and again.
Saten I Graten is obvioulsy Grahams Prodigy impression, but it ain't half bad as impressiuons go. I particularly like the wierd 'hey's (at least thats what I think they are) amnd the wierd noises in the background. Also another example of why he is second only to Johnny Greenwood as far as 90's guitar oroginality goes.
It's all quite industrial and something that could easily have been written by Liam Howlett and Co. anyway.
What's slightly disapointing is that the two best tracks by far are covers. Both 'Fame and Fortune' and 'Thats When I reach Foir My Revolver' were originaly performed by obscure punk band 'Mission Of Burma' of whom Graham is quite a fan of.
Both are fantastic punk romps that have you singing along after the first listen, and Graham plays them very well. Thier only fault perhaps is that Graham's vocals are too weak for the song, which is a shame. Hopefully this will be improved on when he performs live, as the mic will possibly be turned up a notch.
There are two other fabtastic songs apart from the 'Mission of Burma' covers.
One of these is instrumental 'the lake'. It starts of calmly with faint bluesy quitars, quite reminiscent of '13' but soons builds into a lovely dark sultry number. It carries on building in intensity, the drums becoming more prominent and more layers of heavier guiatars becoming evident. You soon become immersed in this and just as you get bored with the tune, he builds on hwta hes already got, almost turning it into another song entirely.
Even though it lasts well into seven minutes, it still seems to be over to soon. And as every music fan knows this is one of the best signs of a great tune.
The other is Ooochy Woochy, which gains marks for novelty value as much as anything. Not only for the sound of Graham humming along to the tune before the track starts or the fact the thought of him singing "oochy woochy, yeah baby!" being, well amusing really. It's also the fact that this little jazz number is possibly the best example you'll get of his saxaphone playing.
Haven't I always told you that Saxaphones are second only to guitars on the cool scale. trhis song is also as funky as pair of flares in platforms.
Another song I like is fags and failure, the shining light amongst this albums metal/punk stomp-a-thons, but only because of the fantastic chorus.
Keep Hope Alive is the only track that couold sit happily amongst the songs from The Sky Is Too High, because it is just as pretty and heartwarming. Not to mention very sad.
There is only one song I don;t like at all on this album and that is the repetetive, boring shoutyness of 'Leave me alone'. if there's a tune in that one it's hiding amazingly well
All in all, this album has it's fantastiuc moments, and quite a few good ones too. But it's still trying hard not to drown in mediodrity, and although I welcome the metel with the whole of my heart (because of my love of both slow beautiful music and really rockin' shit it's nice to find an artist that does both), and although I love Ooochy woochy too bits (despite evceryone I know thinking it's shit... but then they wouldn't know jazz if it kicked them in the stomach. Neither woul
I'd like to leave you on Graham's wish to make an unlistanable record, which he first spoke if )to my knowledge) in 1997, something which I have always founf fascinating.
If anything this album was supposed to be less easy to liseten to than the first, but to me it was far easier. It sounded more smooth and produced. There were less rough edges to it and gone were the jagged chords of the first album.
But then perhaps then perhaps that's because I like heavy stuff anyway, who knows?
Despite Graham's attempts at an unlistanable record though, I have to say mate, you couldn't be totally crap if you tried, a little bit of tune, fantastic guitar riffs or beautiful songmanship will always shine through. No matter how dimly.If you hae any thing to say in response to this review, or perhaps have one of your own, don't hesitate tolet me knowand i'll shove it up on here somewhere. That's a promise.
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