Early Hints | mariteaux

Early Hints

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I'm actually pretty hesitant to declare how I feel about an album until I'm well familiar with it. I still want to put what I'm listening to on my site somewhere, though, so here's a compromise. These are 140 character first impressions of albums that I know somewhat, but not enough to confidently write a review on. I'm pretty sure my opinion will change on these as they get more spins, so expect the final word in the main review section soon.

The End of Radio album art

Shellac - The End of Radio (2019): The first session, a thrillingly violent rip about Canada. The second, a slightly pretentious extended live tribute to the fallen Peel.

Standout track: "Canada [1994 Version]"

Recovering the Satellites album art

Counting Crows - Recovering the Satellites (1996): For all its best tracks, gets lost in an hour-long self-pitying mire of wailing roots rock. Thank God they reigned it in the next album.

Standout track: "Daylight Fading"

English Settlement album art

XTC - English Settlement (1982): A surprisingly neurotic, socially aware pastoral pop rock album. Andy Partridge and friends have a knack for the almost annoyingly catchy.

Standout track: "Jason and the Argonauts"

Temperamental album art

Everything But the Girl - Temperamental (1999): Like a club, a lot of glossy, boomy style, but hard to remember much afterwards. Tracey Thorn's soulful rambles are the best part about it.

Standout track: "Lullaby of Clubland"