David Bowie - The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars

Generally speaking, I think David Bowie is a kind of "you had to be there" type of character. To a particular generation of people, predominantly, as far as I can tell, the post punk/New Romantics, his work appears to have had a significant impact and inspired many, Boy George, Duran Duran, Visage, Spandau Ballet, into becoming artists themselves. As someone a little too young to have been into Bowie during this time, he doesn't have quite the same effect on me. Some of his stuff is great but the rest I can do without.

In fairness, this album, which was another whim purchase a year or so ago, leans towards the latter, the fact that it's a concept album is a plus point. I particularly like Starman and, of course, Ziggy Stardust, Mick Ronson's guitar playing is for me, as a casual listener to Bowie but a big guitar fan, one of the highlights here.  Of the slightly less well known songs, to me at least, I like Moonage Daydream.

Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys

Based purely on the lyrics, this is my favourite album of the last few years. I think Elbow's Guy Harvey, is one of the best lyricists around. In particular, Lippy Kids' lyrics are so evocative. It's a song about growing up, especially that point in life when you transition from child to young adult. The lyric "One long june I came down from the trees and, kerbstone cool, you were freshly painted angel walking on walls, stealing booze and hourlong hungry kisses." is one of my favourites of any song or artist. Other songs I love are "Jesus Is A Rochdale Girl", apparently about Garvey's first girlfriend and things that were important to him and the band when they were in the their early days, and "The Night Will Always Win" which is about loss and absence.

Adele - 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right, I'm going to assume that the entire population of the world  has at least a passing familiarity with this album so there's not much that I can add in terms of any new insights. I think you either love what Adele does or you hate it. Personally, I love it. As a performer she's not about breaking new creative ground or redefining musical paradigms, she's just an incredibly good singer and, more often than not, that's enough, especially when you've spent most of your time recently listening to instrumental music! My favourite track is  Don't You Remember