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| From | "Michael Bennett" <mrhonorama@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Drum Machine (drum machine...drum machine!) |
| Date | Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:22:12 -0600 |
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Shawn Campbell threw a Lily Allen tune on a mix last year, and it didn't
quite strike me, maybe because I had heard so many good things about her
that I expected the best song in recording history. Since then, I've
obtained the album and I give it high marks.
I'm glad that Stewart clarified his point (in a second e-mail) about what
drove him up the wall about Farrar's initial Allen post, because that's
precisely what I thought -- his opinion of Allen was compromised by the fact
that he didn't seem to accurately ballpark her sound. With regard to that:
1) I'm going to guess that if Farrar heard a few tracks off the album that
he would revised his description (though not necessarily his opinion) -- who
hasn't heard something briefly, formed one impression, and then modified it
upon hearing more?, and, 2) I'm sure that at least a few times during some
knock down drag out with Stewart (we've disagreed on some things in the
past) we've leveled the same smack down to one or the other.
With all of that being said, one other aspect of Farrar's original comment
struck me, though I'm probably misstating it, and it had to do with the
whole drum machine thing (or, perhaps more accurately, a general mechanical
flavor to the music). Sometimes that aspect of a record is kind of like
derivative -- it's in the ears of the beholder as to when a production is
too artificial (just as we all have a certain standard for when something is
more of an imitation than a product of inspiration).
Even during my first underwhelming exposure to Allen, one thing that I liked
about the track (I'll have to find the mix, can't recall what it was) was
that it reminded me, in a general way, of The Streets. That impression has
been reinforced by the full album. Part of it is Allen's lyrics and
speak-sing style -- like Mike Skinner, she combines this real person voice
with sharp, witty observations. Also, the music isn't total hi-fi (and
Allen's is a lot more polished than a lot of Skinner's), and mashes together
a bunch of different styles, creating a very specific sonic environment.
It's Lily's world and she's invited you in. I would love for Lily and The
Streets to do a track together, particularly if it would get Skinner to quit
doing songs about being successful (..zzzz...).
Just my two cents --
Mike Bennett
Blog: http://blog.myspace.com/mrhonorama
Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com
Find out about Chicago shows:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/chicagopopshowreport/
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