Badly Drawn Boy — Banana Skin Shoes(22nd May, 2020)♠♦ Nenastaly žádné skluzy, když se Damon Gough vrátil se svým nejsilnějším albem za téměř dvě desetiletí. Jakoby říkal: „Vyrůstal jsem skrze hudbu. Můžu popsat svůj život pomoci písní.“ Gough v Banana Skin Shoes ustupuje ze starého terénu, jde kupředu. „Je pro mě těžké to říct, ale jsem připraven se přiznat / chvíli jsem věděl, že to ode mne nebylo to nejlepší,“ zpívá na albu v závěrečné „I’ll Do My Best“. Toto album podobné obavy rozhodně trochu ukládá do postele, takže pokud to můžete říct ... nazvěte ho návratem do formy, ale ... Gough v přešlapování, či protektorování staré půdy v banánových kožených botách nepokračuje, pořád jde kupředu. Jsou to skvělé kroky vpřed. Lyricky se zdá, že ve hře je také nová důvěra. Ekonomika jazyka je už dlouho Goughovým outfitem, ale velké emoce byly často oblečeny do chytré metafory. Chytrá věc je vždy v pořádku — dokonce úžasná — ale když zpívá: „And we aimed high/So at the risk of falling short/We’d still stand tall/Right through it all... A mířili jsme vysoko / Takže nemysleli jsme na riziko toho, že to bude krátkozraké / Pořád bychom mířili vysoko / přímo přes to všechno“ v písni „I Just Wanna Wish You Happiness“, všechno padá pryč a síla říct něco jednoduše je Damonovou charakteristikou zůstává. Vždy zasáhne tvrdě. ♦♠ English singer~songwriter Damon Gough has been a popular exponent of low~fi indie since his 2000 debut. The Hour of the Bewilderbeast won Mercury Prize in 2000. Born: October 2, 1969 in Dunstable, Lancashire Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester ~ Manchester, England ~ London, UK Album release: 22nd May, 2020 Record Label: AWAL Duration: 50:50 Tracks: 01. Banana Skin Shoes 2:49 02. Is This A Dream? 4:09 03. I Just Wanna Wish You Happiness 3:35 04. I’m Not Sure What It Is 3:33 05. Tony Wilson Said 4:18 06. You And Me Against The World 3:36 07. I Need Someone To Trust 3:57 08. Note To Self 3:37 09. Colours 4:01 10. Funny Time Of Year 3:05 11. Fly On The Wall 3:32 12. Never Change 3:19 13. Appletree Boulevard 3:08 14. I’ll Do My Best 4:10Review By Oliver Crook⌊ May 19, 2020 ⌋ Score: 7 ♠♦ Badly Drawn Boy — the moniker of England’s oddball songsmith Damon Gough — is celebrating his 50th year in a special way: releasing Banana Skin Shoes, his first studio album since 2010’s sombre, Smiths~tinged It’s What I’m Thinking Pt.1 — Photographing Snowflakes. The tones couldn’t be more different. ♠♦ Still containing the lush sound Gough has been known for since 2000’s near~perfect The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, there’s an uplifting feel permeating every beat of Banana Skin Shoes. You don’t get lost so much as dance between the layers of synths, beats and strings. ♠♦ Even the more sombre moments — “You and Me Against the World” or “Note to Self” — make it impossible not to two~step as Gough opens his heart over a rhythm~forward soundscape. Album standout “I Just Wanna Wish You Happiness” peaks in this category, punching the gut of any listener who has ever tumbled out of love (it also sounds like a lost Beck track). ♠♦ The album is at its best when the beanie~wearing bard really leans into the celebratory vibes, though. “Tony Wilson Said” could be the catchiest obituary ever penned, while you’ll feel yourself leaving the ground during “This a Dream?” This good mood carries through all 14 songs, sticking a smile on your face for even longer. ♠♦ Banana Skin Shoes is classic Badly Drawn Boy: Eclectic songs held together by heartfelt lyrics and rich instrumentation. The only thing that’s changed is Gough has proved he can dance. ♠♦ https://exclaim.ca/ Also: by Barney Harsent ⌊ Wednesday, 20 May 2020 ⌋ Score: ♦♦♦♦ ♠♦ https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-badly-drawn-boy-banana-skin-shoes FB: https://www.facebook.com/badlydrawnboyofficial Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/badlydrawnboy Twitter: https://twitter.com/badly_drawn_boy Website: https://badlydrawnboy.co.uk/ Label: https://www.awal.com/
♦♠ English singer~songwriter Damon Gough has been a popular exponent of low~fi indie since his 2000 debut. The Hour of the Bewilderbeast won Mercury Prize in 2000.
Born: October 2, 1969 in Dunstable, Lancashire
Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester ~ Manchester, England ~ London, UK
Album release: 22nd May, 2020
Record Label: AWAL
Duration: 50:50
Tracks:
01. Banana Skin Shoes 2:49
02. Is This A Dream? 4:09
03. I Just Wanna Wish You Happiness 3:35
04. I’m Not Sure What It Is 3:33
05. Tony Wilson Said 4:18
06. You And Me Against The World 3:36
07. I Need Someone To Trust 3:57
08. Note To Self 3:37
09. Colours 4:01
10. Funny Time Of Year 3:05
11. Fly On The Wall 3:32
12. Never Change 3:19
13. Appletree Boulevard 3:08
14. I’ll Do My Best 4:10 Review
By Oliver Crook ⌊ May 19, 2020 ⌋ Score: 7
♠♦ Badly Drawn Boy — the moniker of England’s oddball songsmith Damon Gough — is celebrating his 50th year in a special way: releasing Banana Skin Shoes, his first studio album since 2010’s sombre, Smiths~tinged It’s What I’m Thinking Pt.1 — Photographing Snowflakes. The tones couldn’t be more different.
♠♦ Still containing the lush sound Gough has been known for since 2000’s near~perfect The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, there’s an uplifting feel permeating every beat of Banana Skin Shoes. You don’t get lost so much as dance between the layers of synths, beats and strings.
♠♦ Even the more sombre moments — “You and Me Against the World” or “Note to Self” — make it impossible not to two~step as Gough opens his heart over a rhythm~forward soundscape. Album standout “I Just Wanna Wish You Happiness” peaks in this category, punching the gut of any listener who has ever tumbled out of love (it also sounds like a lost Beck track).
♠♦ The album is at its best when the beanie~wearing bard really leans into the celebratory vibes, though. “Tony Wilson Said” could be the catchiest obituary ever penned, while you’ll feel yourself leaving the ground during “This a Dream?” This good mood carries through all 14 songs, sticking a smile on your face for even longer.
♠♦ Banana Skin Shoes is classic Badly Drawn Boy: Eclectic songs held together by heartfelt lyrics and rich instrumentation. The only thing that’s changed is Gough has proved he can dance.
♠♦ https://exclaim.ca/
Also:
by Barney Harsent ⌊ Wednesday, 20 May 2020 ⌋ Score: ♦♦♦♦
♠♦ https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-badly-drawn-boy-banana-skin-shoes
FB: https://www.facebook.com/badlydrawnboyofficial
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/badlydrawnboy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/badly_drawn_boy
Website: https://badlydrawnboy.co.uk/
Label: https://www.awal.com/