Adrian's Album Reviews

[Neal Grosvenor]

It has been quite the year for the Glaswegian pop crew, having released My Maudlin Career, their most well received album to date, plus an almost non stop touring schedule that has taken them to North America twice in the last 6 months.

I didn't get a chance to see them when they first touched down here in June so I was really pumped to see them this time around. The venue itself holds about 2000 people, and looking around at the full house, there was no doubt that this city loves them, even more of a feat when one considers the minimal local radio airplay the band receives.

Launching into the title track off the latest album, the room filled with the expansive Spector tinged pop that the band has explored lately as well as on their 2006 release, Let's Get Out of This Country. I guess the overall sound would have been more grandiose had there been the string section which adds such a richness to the bands last two albums, produced impeccably by Swedish mastermind Jari Haapalainen. Balancing out the sound though, was the trumpet player, who played all the string parts, plus an extra percussion player.

Singer Tracyanne Campbell's voice is a true melancholic thing of wonder. As they played "Pen and Notebook" and "Happy New Year", two songs from their 2001 album, I realized how confident and more self assured Campbell has become in singing those early songs. It was a very danceable night too, with many audience members getting down to the soulful Supremes flavoured "If Looks Could Kill" and throbbing bassline of "Honey in the Sun".

It is clear that CA are Campbell's band, with her taking over full singing and songwriting duties on the band's last two records. However, it is also clear that she shares a definite chemistry with the other band members without whom she could not have the full realization of her classic songwriter's pen, which takes its cue from folk, Brill Building, country, and motown stalwarts Holland Dozier Holland.

With Motown in mind, I watched drummer Lee Thomson pound away with precision, chanelling the spirit of late great motown session drummer Richard "Pistol" Allen. Flame haired keyboardist Carey Lander and guitarist Kenny McKeeve followed his drum fills with faithful washes of organ and reverb respectively. Everything came to a beautiful finish with "Razzle Dazzle Rose", a song which builds to a triumphant crescendo of harmony.

I lingered in the concert hall after the show, staring at the empty beer cups on the floor and watching the roadies pack everything up. Eventually I saw Tracyanne talking to another fan near the bar. Sheepishly, I went up and asked if she'd sign my cd sleeve."Is that ok?" she asked, indicating her initials and an "XO" which she'd scrawled. I couldn't help but notice how tiny she was, probably just over five feet. I was floating on a cloud. I felt high. "Thank you VERY much", I replied.

Thanks indeed. Best show of the year for me, and possibly in the the top ten of my favourite shows ever.

[danny]

Awesome review Neal! I somehow missed Camera Obscura's stops in Boston and am still mad about it. The second show surprised me by being sold out actually. They've had a good year, and are certainly a band that deserves it.
_________________
"I said to Hank Williams: How lonely does it get?
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet
But I hear him coughing
All night long
A hundred floors above me
In the tower of song"

[Neal Grosvenor]

Thanks..I was so elated coming out of the club I didn't notice that I was walking right through the seedy area of town..although the junkies, crackwhores and dealers probably thought I was high on something lol..who walks around smiling at 1AM carrying a vinyl copy of My Maudlin Career??