It feels so good to finally be able to talk about a string of good albums released in a year rather than complaining about a lack of them. Their have been some excellent releases in the first have of 2005: Beck’s Guero, Pernice Brothers’ Discover a Lovelier You, Glen Phillips’ Winter Pays for Summer, and Ryan Adams’ Cold Roses among them.
As good as those albums are, they are not the discs I have been listening to the most this year. There are a lot of strking similarities between the two albums and the bands responsible for them. Both bands hail from Manchester, UK. Both bands feature brothers. Both albums black and white cover art. These two albums have dominated my iPod this year. I have listened to the 22 songs that make up these two albums a combined 439 times since getting them (with one particular song being the most played song on my iPod). I have narrowed my list down to two early contenders for Album of the Year honors, but I am an American. Nothing is ever good enough. We have to continue to parse this until we have a definitive winner. There can be only one.
Oasis vs Doves in a steel cage death match. Don’t Believe the Truth vs Some Cities (Click here or here to read my full review of Doves’ ‘Some Cities’). Mano a mano, song versus song. Let’s get ready to rumble!
Round 1: Oasis’ “Turn Up the Sun” vs Doves’ “Some Cities”
This is the best pairing of the lot. Both songs are great ‘leadoff’ hitters. Both songs are among the better tracks on their respective albums- great, great songs.
Doves are clear winners if judged solely on lyrical content. “Some Cities” is not a Dylan-esque masterwork but it sounds like one when compared to “Turn Up the Sun.” How blind does a person have to be before they can no longer see, Andy? And what the fuck does having a piano and not being able to find ‘middle C’ mean? Liam Gallagher’s vocal and the intensity of the music make up the difference. He wastes no time reassuring us his beloved sneer is in fine form.
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
fantastic, DJ! really enjoyed this right here. i must confess, however, i ain't ever given much time to The Doves. what i did hear didn't do much for me, but who knows? maybe one day...
2 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Duke. Glad you dug this. I was hoping my little labour of love would not go uncommented!
I have only gotten into Doves in the last couple years. They never really have dented the US much- and it is a shame. I really dig them a lot.
I heartily suggest re-investigating 'The Last Broadcast' if you ever get a chance and inclination. It is easily one of my favourite albums ever.