For what was likely a contractually obligated compilation, it's amazing how much fun the 'tones sound like they're having on the quartet of new songs on 2002's The Singles. Even more impressive is that they try on a new identity for each of them, and all of the four are broadly successes.
We've already discussed the wide open Americana of "The Bluetones Big Score". Persuasion has the same production gloss and tight harmonies, but leans instead to vampy new wave. It also features a ridiculously jaunty middle eight with some kind of synth-accordion, and outro with oscillating beeps in the finest fifties-vision-of-the-future tradition. Although I've not really noticed those before, camoflaged as they are by the robotic distorted guitars that 'woh-woh-woh' all over the track.
It's creative, it's a lot of fun, and it's all tied together by a clever narrative that sees a relationship in turmoil (as represented by Mark's powerfully drawn out vowels of the verses) being offered a glint of hope of reconciliation, albeit one where 'my envoys' do the talking. Only, it turns out via that middle eight, they actually aren't fighting because there's real conflict but just for the hell of it, like much else of what's enjoyable here.
Showing posts with label The Singles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Singles. Show all posts
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Saturday, 30 June 2007
The Bluetones Big Score
'Out in the clear,
It's safe when you're near,
Your cool is contagious.
Pour one for me,
That sweet daiquiri
Goes down like a dream.'
That label at the botton of the post says The Singles, not Singles, because the apostrophe deficient "The Bluetones Big Score" was one of the three bonus tracks at the end of their 2002 singles collection. And that's probably the right place for it, because it's difficult to imagine it comfotably fitting into any album, but it would be a shame to relegate to B-side status a song that's an interesting departure and slips down as easily as that daiquiri.
Just under four minutes of pure escapism, "The Bluetones Big Score" is two parts Beach Boys lushness to three parts '70s cop show funk, imagining a life on the run from 'Johnny Law' in the American sunshine with a broad smile and a wink. As if its tone wasn't enough to make the total lack of any peril clear, its triumphant climax being 'no one's gonna touch us cos we're innocent' charmingly lets slip that this is never going to more than an idle fantasy. Just the thing for lazy summer days.
It's safe when you're near,
Your cool is contagious.
Pour one for me,
That sweet daiquiri
Goes down like a dream.'
That label at the botton of the post says The Singles, not Singles, because the apostrophe deficient "The Bluetones Big Score" was one of the three bonus tracks at the end of their 2002 singles collection. And that's probably the right place for it, because it's difficult to imagine it comfotably fitting into any album, but it would be a shame to relegate to B-side status a song that's an interesting departure and slips down as easily as that daiquiri.
Just under four minutes of pure escapism, "The Bluetones Big Score" is two parts Beach Boys lushness to three parts '70s cop show funk, imagining a life on the run from 'Johnny Law' in the American sunshine with a broad smile and a wink. As if its tone wasn't enough to make the total lack of any peril clear, its triumphant climax being 'no one's gonna touch us cos we're innocent' charmingly lets slip that this is never going to more than an idle fantasy. Just the thing for lazy summer days.
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