To provoke some year-end "best of" thoughts  - how about the album that you 
thought you'd love but didn't...and the album you didn't think you'd love 
but did?

I'll start.

THOUGHT I'D LOVE BUT DIDN'T...The Decemberists - PICARESQUE
-----
I really like "Sixteen Military Wives" and being a major Kinks fan got 
jazzed about hearing a band that supposedly employed the same tendencies. I 
dunno, maybe it was the lack of follow through after the build-up (also 
sinking Neil Diamond for me but I digress) but it just didn't do it for me. 
There's a lot going on here, and it's admirable, but no resonation - SMW is 
almost an anomaly. (And yes, it could be his voice...not enough to bring the 
gun out of the cabinet like Antony and the Johnsons, but it's that affected 
80s tone that sounds flat but isn't?).When I hear things like "The Sporting 
Life" I think "well, that's nice" but have absolutely no inclination to want 
to hear it again. It's pensive...but so is the new one from The Eels, which 
to me is a far better record. Not that I don't like it, but it's 
spotty...I'm planning to revisit it again after a breather..hoping more 
songs kick in like "We Both Go Down Together" or "Engine Driver". And if 
there was a stage production built around "The Mariner's Revenge Song" I 
would go.


DIDN'T THINK I'D LOVE BUT DID...The Darkness - ONE WAY TICKET TO HELL AND 
BACK
-----
I enjoyed a couple of the singles on their debut and got a big kick out of 
the self-mocking video for "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" but figured it 
was all about the joke, especially after seeing the title of the new one. 
But damned if this isn't a custom blend of AC/DC, Sweet, Zep and Queen (some 
of the group harmonies and guitar sounds could fool a Freddie fan). Big step 
forward with tracks like "Dinner Lady Arms", "Girlfriend" and "Is It Just 
Me" leading the way. TONS of hooks, more diverse instrumentation, HUGE 
production and guaranteed air-guitar mania. It's loud, it's fun, it's 
rock'n'roll radio. And yes, Hawkins' vocals are not for everyone, but in 
most cases he stays under the dog-whistle notes and/or the harmonies make 
them more palatable. Forget the over-hype both good and bad and just play it 
really really loud.

cheers
b