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GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS - "Strangelet"
THE NATIONAL - "Boxer"
ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE - "No Need To Be Downhearted"

SOULSAVERS - "It's Not How Far You Fall It's The Way You Land"

This album has as much soul as its long strange title, a soul that doesn't need to be saved because is pure and sincere since first track "Revival" tickles your senses with a semi-gospel chant courtesy of the "everywhere" man Mark Lanegan. He sings on eight of these 11 Massive Attack trapped in a gospel church on a rainy night while the world outside is burning in flames (that's my best description of what this album sounds like...)and everytime he opens his mouth it matters, either is singing about "Kingdom of Rain" (i told you!) or about spectral feelings (The Ghost of You & Me) or about the "Jesus of Nothing", you enter into his world completely, entirely absorbed by the power of his vocal chords and the cinematic music backing him up.
A genuinely moving record with a note of merit to the soulful vocals of Wendy Rose and Lena Palmer, the sound of angels behind Lanegan's dark words.

7/10

GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS - "Strangelet"

Thank God for Grant-Lee!
It makes me feel privileged to admire his music knowing that he's one of America best kept secret since the days of Shiva Burlesque, followed by the Grant Lee Buffalo era and now this precious stone of an album, his fifth, after the last beautiful collection of eighties covers.
In a parallel world this album could sell millions, but in the materialistic real one it's going to be the pleasure of few, dedicated ears (even in the sleeve notes of the cd booklet Grant thanks the buyers for their "brave ears and curious spirit")
His voice is always the top reason for appreciate his music, he always sounds so deeply involved in what he sings that you believe every single phrase comes from his heart; the tunes do the rest, smashing pop songs with burst of shiny folk guitars and occasional string quartet to underline charming melodies dealing with life ups and downs, the nostalgic feeling of a youth that's gone and universal love in all his beauty and drama.
"Runaway", "Soft Asylum (No Way Out)", "Fountain of Youth" are simply three gems that i'm randomly picking out of twelve excellent songs...
If you live in the Chicago area, Grant will be playing at the Lakeshore Theatre on Broadway on may 3rd.
Catch him if you can!

8/10

BRETT ANDERSON - "Brett Anderson"

Our man here was the lead singer of a unique "glam-rock" british band called Suede (The London Suede here in the States), at least the first two albums have to be considered "classics" that defined the 90s back in Albion.
I was totally not expecting a solo album from him, i have to admit that i kind of forgot about them, except when Anderson and Butler released the Suede-lite album as The Tears in 2005.
This is a romantic affair, the mood is mellow and sad, the strings are heavily present, the lyrics are heartfelt and sometimes slightly dull but with his voice you'll forgive the details and embrace the power of these songs starting with first single "Love Is Dead" through the "One Lazy Morning", "Dust And Rain", the spectacular "To The Winter" and so on with tunes as simple as they are effective, with Brett pouring his heart out like a true survivor and not in the way of a 20 year old pretending to describe life without even ever been "there" (do you hear me Keane?)
As usual british press has a problem with this record, as they always do with music filled with too much "emotions", as soon as an artist gets off his band routine and give out a bit of his more mature feelings and ideas, they target him as a loser, as weak and hopeless. It can be true at times, but this album (that's being playing non stop in my player) is a sign that there is life after the success/drugs/party/rehab/reunion/marriage/divorce saga, and i, against every opinion, will pick this record over all of the wannabe young rock bands that sound the same, because in music, like in life, you have to get "there" first and Suede reached the stars before crashing them, Brett Anderson is simply picking up the fallen pieces.
Respect is due.

8/10