Queen Of Denmark

One grumble (and it's a big one!) then I promise I'll
get on to the good stuff. Call me obsessional or myopic
(or both) but the CD inner-sleeve credits are barely
legible. The smallest font imaginable - shocking pink
against an (admittedly rather good) background image of
a dead and decomposing bird spread out on the finely pebbled
road surface where it resumed its aquaintance with its maker -
made my eyeballs ache in a futile attempt at deciphering
who did what, when and how on this truly wonderful album.
I believe the designer is Monosapien. He should be shot.

Rant over.

Now to the music. John Grant is a man of vision. He also
possesses a fine sense of humour. The twelve compositions
in this collection are remarkable both for their variety
as much as for their sustained quality.
The collaboration with American band Midlake has been a
fruitful one. Their sensitivity to Mr Grant's mission is
evident in every bar.

Whether in the dreamy child-like naivety of gorgeous melodic and
lyrical ideas like the two opening tracks 'TC and Honeybear' and
'Marz', or the late-night melancholy of 'Where Dreams Go To Die'
(the love child of Tom Waits and David Lynch) Mr Grant is never
less than a tantalizing guide though these beguiling imaginative
and deeply personal emotional landscapes.

He has a beautiful voice. Warm, rich, tonally secure and grounded.

Every song here has a curious tale to tell and Mr Grant has an
extraordinary capacity to breathe life into his subject matter.

'Sigourney Weaver' is a deliciously funny confection.
I particularly enjoyed his gentle swipe at Winona Ryder's
poor approximation of an English Lady in Coppola's 'Dracula'
("that other guy" comes in for a deserved ribbing too!)

'Jesus Hates Faggots' is a blistering piece of polemic which will
not endear him to those of a conservative spiritual disposition.
As a heartfelt attack on hypocrisy and intolerance it is peerless.

Final track 'Queen Of Denmark' is a bitter-sweet piece of
self-reflection. A magnificently jaded but powerful conclusion
(revenge never sounded better!!) to a toweringly creative album.

Unmissable.

4.5 stars

Sometimes album covers can set a "tone" for a record although quite what John Grant's image on the "Queen of Denmark" is intended to covey defeats me. While it might bear an uncanny resemblance to Keith Flint of the Prodigy, that is where the similarity ends since in terms of inspiration "Queen of Denmark" is about as far away as humanely possible to the sound produced by the twisted fire starters. Grant's previous band "The Czars" who came out of the Denver music scene in the 1990s but later imploded and barely registered in the UK. Yet those who did hear great songs like "Goodbye" and the superb country ballad "Bright black eyes" will know one key fact above all else namely that John Grant has one of the richest baritone voices in music. The Czars produced their fair share of lush chamber pop but on the "Queen of Denmark", John Grant has pushed the boat out and it sails brilliantly.

He does this in partnership with none other than Midlake. Grant recorded this album in Midlake's studio in Denton, Texas as Tim Smith and co were concluding their beautiful if flawed English folk rock based extravaganza "The Courage of Others". He is also touring the USA at the present with the band. What is interesting in this excellent debut album is that the presence of Midlake is primarily based on their 70s-style soft-rock know-how (Van Occupanther era) rather than their latest preoccupation. You certainly can hear some of the pastoral themes of the "Courage of Others not least of all on the one of the highlights of the album "I wanna go to Marz" which echoes "Winter dies" and throughout Midlake are the perfect backdrop to Grant's rich pop songs into which they breath life, but never overly intrude. That said whereas "Courage" sometimes becomes monochromatic and mournful "Queen of Denmark" is a much warmer and lavish pop record. In essence the two records are chalk and cheese and despite the presence of the Texan rockers on times you feel that Jackson Browne, Rufus Wainwright, Billy Joel and even Neil Sedaka were also on the other end of the phone offering advice to Grant.

Opener "TC and the honey bear" starts with a gentile acoustic guitar and Grants effortless voice across a sad love story. While some may find the operatic soprano in the background not to their taste on repeated listens it greatly adds to the songs warm melancholy. "Where dreams go to die" invokes that sadness which Richard Hawley seems to have a monopoly upon but takes it in a direction that is uplifting at the same time and wonderfully performed. "Chicken Bones" for some reason does to these ears bear some resemblance to a piano version of Axl Rose's "Sweet child of mine"! Grant lyrics throughout are witty and playful and this song revolves around the chorus of - "Some days just chicken bones/you better f -off now you'd better leave me alone/'cause I'm about to explode just like a Wonder Bread bomb/and I don't care what I know because I can't be wrong".

The most commercial song on the album is "It's easier" a rolling 70s style ballad with a West Coast feel that is a classic tale of heartbreak and an excellent introduction into the album. The later "Caramel" is equally gorgeous. The powerful "JC hates faggots" alternatively puts Grant's personal angst/anger fully in view examining issues with his sexuality and the Mid West prejudice he faced that lead to his contemplation of suicide. The albums title track is a true highlight with echoes of Rufus Wainwright and an often hilarious lyric. Alternatively" Sigourney Weaver" which also name checks Wynona Ryder takes the whimsy to far and the line "I feel just like Sigourney Weaver/when she had to kill those aliens/and one guy tried to get them back to the earth/and she couldn't believe her ears" is straight out of Alan Partridge. "Silver Platter Club" is bouncy and jaunty but little else. There are then a couple of missteps but overall this is a truly excellent solo debut album from the former Czars front man who deserves attention and recognition. The tons of promise showed by his band is now fully released on "Queen of Denmark " which is a beautiful and regal album.

The name John Grant was unfamilar to me until I read a piece preceding the release of this, his debut solo effort. My interest was pricked due to the band who provide the backing, the peerless Midlake, whose The Courage of Others album is my current album of the year. Ironically, this could be the album to eclipse it. Lyrically, Queen of Denmark deals heavily with John's struggle with homophobia, self doubt and self loathing, but he is blessed with a lightness of touch and wicked sense of humour resulting in subject matter that could, in less talented hands, come across as self pity, instead ending up simultaneously heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Musically, a varied selection ranging from AOR style pop/rock drenched with harmonies to gorgeous, dramatic torch songs a la Rufus Wainwright at his most melodic to upbeat show tunes...with added swearing. Excellent. Marry that with Grant's stunning baritone and Midlake's understated yet virtuosic backing, this really is a collection to cherish forever.