Another artist I've never listened to before have released a new album recently. From the very first track, you can tell that there's a lot of room for improvement. Perhaps influenced too much from other artists, Royal Blood have relied too much on mimicking. They are clearly skilled musicians, but the tune, beat and riffs are unoriginal and lack depth. Light Out follows the same pattern by introducing us to a slower rhythm, but some annoying backing vocals and an uninspired chorus that gets more and more jarring. There's some decent drumming, but the familiarity is overwhelming and undermines their entire aim.
I Only Lie When I Love You demonstrates more individuality. It coulda actually be a very good track to dance to, concentrating more on making a decent song rather than pandering to the masses. The guitar playing may be a bit cranky, but it has enough variety to be intriguing. The only problem I find is that the singing is very monotone. She's Creeping falls in that same trap, meaning that I'm already put off by the unattractive vocals - it's lazy and lacklustre to say the least. Look Like You Know is an attempt to shake things up, and it does show a different angle to the music. The drumming is a strength, and the vocals at least find some new notes to hit. This gives me a chance to listen to the lyrics, which may still seem amateurish, they actually have a lot of meaning. The middle of the song takes a lot from Muse, but it improves the song no end - especially the bass guitar, that really goes well with the drums. Where Are You Now? and Don't Tell go back to the boring basics, which is disappointing, seeing as I was starting to see some light in the shoddy darkness. Don't Tell may have a heavy bass-line, it struggles to do anything with it, replaying the same over and over again. Apart from the repeated opening sequence, this song is generally ridiculous - the music is ruined once again by the vocals, because the guitar riffs have a lot going for them. If you like, heavy blues-rock, this will probably the most appealing track, but don't expect anything incredibly groundbreaking, because we've definitely heard it all before. On the other hand, Hole in Your Heart shows that there's still life in this album. It's probably the best track on the album, simply because it takes a risk and does something a little different, offering up a nice electronic piano ballad - and the vocals don't get in the way of the music; they're subtle and actually quite melodic. Sleep is a little too noisy, so it seems like a reckless song to end on - it doesn't spend enough time on individual instruments, and once again concentrates too much on the lyrics. It's clear from this album that the band themselves are talented, but in my opinion, they haven't found anything standout or self-defining. They sound too similar to other artists, especially The White Stripes. It's also sometimes let down by the crass vocals that don't balance or compliment well with the music itself. They should perhaps concentrate more on creating their own melody rather then speaking their mind. 4/10
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As a big fan of progressive rock, it's always a thrill to see artists of the meticulous genre bring out their latest work. Procol Harum are best known for their awesomely experimental track, A Whiter Shade of Pale. Whilst their later work has never been as iconic as their first, the new album is very promising indeed. With the first track, already there's a blues rock feel that is both old-fashioned in tone, but modern in perspective. The mix of instrument seems very inclusive and cooperative.
The second track, however, takes a completely different direction though (but not in a bad way). Last Chance Motel is more soft rock than usual, and gives lead singer Gary Brooker a chance to show off his breadth and skill. He's a natural rock singer, even in his later days - his voice is just as crisp and natural as it has always been. Alongside a catchy and rhythmic flow to the music, the second is genuinely lovely, with piano and guitar sharing the spotlight in the middle of the song. Use of synthesisers in the fourth track brings a modern take into the latest album, but it doesn't quite fit. This is mainly due to the fact that it sounds too similar to the last two tracks that have already played. This may be derivative of a lack of new ideas, but it doesn't help to inspire me to keep listening, after two fairly good tracks to start. Unfortunately, apart from a uneven tone in "Neighbour", the album can't get out of the repetitive wheel of blues rock. They are clearly enjoying making these tracks, but the variability is minimal. Even with Businessman, which has a great rhythm and a bridge that connects well to the chorus, it still remains familiar. It's sad considering how much talent there clearly is in this band, and how many wonderful compositions have come before this. Regardless, the guitar solo in Businessman is brilliant. Moving on to Can't Say That, however, now we have something different. You can already tell from the length of the track that there will be prog elements embedded within, but it's all prog rock. It's a neat track, with some inspire bass-playing, and cohesive musical interplay. There's even a hint of jazz in the self-indulgent mucking about towards the end of the track. It even ends perfectly, with a silent, yet beautiful guitar chord. The final two songs are more mournful than the rest of the album, and don't necessarily suit Brooker. As a pianist, however, it's ideal. But to end on this melancholy tone was an odd choice, and I don't think it will grab many listens. To be honest, I would've finished with Can't Say That as it has such a great ending. Comparatively speaking, the general idea of their new album is low-key, blues and soft rock, with a heavy concentration on retrospective, emotional tunes. It isn't always successful, but the musical capabilities of the band never falters in their attempt. But, above all else I recommend their new prog rock song, Can't Say That, it's undoubtedly a new gem from the famous Procol Harum! 6/10 |
AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
October 2017
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