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| From | Daryll Collins <daryll@daryllcollins.com> |
| Subject | Re: Duckworth-Lewis Method! |
| Date | Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:08:32 -0400 |
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What he said.
Couldn't have put it better myself. Has been in continual play since
I downloaded it.
This and the latest by Roger Klug are so far my favorites for '09.
On Aug 21, 2009, at 9:52 AM, J&J Giddings wrote:
> I can't remember if anyone mentioned this yet.
> Let me get my bearings...
> This is the best pop album ever...about cricket.
> Neil Hannon from Divine Comedy and Thomas Walsh from Pugwash,
> formed The Duckworth-Lewis Method(a complicated set of rulings used
> to score weather shortened cricket games), and have created a
> fantastic pop album flowing with lyrical genius and some of the
> most interesting and beautiful pop songs I've heard since Spilt Milk.
> There's plenty of harmonies and such, but it's the melodies and the
> performances that will have you hitting the play button over and over,
> The very start of the album is called "The Coin Toss" and it's
> gorgeous. I haven't heard a song as short with as much movement and
> emotion. The Beatles and ELO
> and Pilot and Queen and, ahhhhhhhhhhh.
> "The Age of Revolution" hits next with a great Sparks-esque groove
> over a 30's sounding orchestra loop. Great song about the everyday
> man taking up his bat and pads to play cricket even though he's not
> part of the rich and sophisticated crowd who'd been the games
> players for years.
> "Gentleman and Players" starts with beautiful harpsichord and has a
> very Left Banke feel. Some of the most compelling chords through
> the chorus bring a lump to my throat. Fantastic song. "Gentlemen
> and players play Sunday afternoon/Gentlemen and players play-
> April, May, and June."
> "The Sweet Spot" is a rocker : Gary Glitter meets Wings. A sultry
> womens voice sighs "that's the sweet spot, hit the sweet spot" and
> over pounding drums and synth bass. Not my favorite song, but it's
> not all bad.
> "Jiggery Pokery" is a whimsical-turn-of-the-previous-century-
> sounding song. Mostly a piano and vocal song it's clever lyrics are
> sung from the perspective of a batter against a bowler(pitcher),
> and how he's fooled into swinging at a swerving, spinning ball.
> It's based on a real play from a 1993 Test match(five day game)
> resulting in it being called the "Pitch of the Century". I had no
> interest in the game, but after a near record repeated listening by
> my daughter(near 4), I became curious and wiki'd cricket and this
> game in particular. It's a fun song, apparently, or my daughter
> wouldn't be so enthralled.
> "Mason on the Boundary" brings to mind XTC, Beatles, ELO, and The
> Pearlfishers. Great harmonies and melody. Nice chiming 12-string
> Ric licks.
> "Rain Stops Play"-a short, whimsical instrumental that paints a
> picture of a beautiful sunny day filled with people jostling about
> holding tall glasses of refreshment having to stop for a bit while
> the rain passes.
> "Meeting Mr. Miandad" is a song about a famed cricket player
> calling to the singers to come out to Pakistan to play and hang
> out. It's the only shuffle on the record and it's a great song.
> Beatles, Queen, ELO...ahh, you get the idea. The video is VERY
> Monty Python should one care to visit youtube and look it up.
> "The Nightwatchman" and it's slinky "Brother Louis-esque" strings
> at the end really get me grooving. It also shows off Neil Hannons
> great vocal range which can reach both sweet falsetto backup's and
> a very low baritone/bass. A tad gloomy, but still wonderful.
> "Flatten the Hay" is gorgeous acoustic pop. I know this is a bit of
> an obscure reference but if reminds me of "Worthless Heart" and
> "Russian Hill" by
> Jellyfish. So calming. Under the right circumstances I tear up with
> this one.
> "Test Match Special" is one of my faves and it's fuzz-octave guitar
> lick is XTC heaven. It rocks and grooves and is filled with clever
> lyrics and breaks.
> A smattering of 80's keyboards adds a Bowie/Robert Palmer feel. Not
> in a bad way. Fantastic song that will stick in my head forever.
> "The End of The Over" cleverly uses another term from cricket
> dictionary sang over a 6-count and layered over luscious chords.
> The whole album begs to be played as it should: straight through.
> Sure I have favorites, but honestly, this is the first album from
> an unknown band
> that I've purchased and fell in love with in a very long time.
> Sorry for the length, but I felt you had to know. It would be
> uncomfortable to not spread the word on this, my NUMBER ONE album
> of 2009.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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