Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Review
A grainy, gritty depiction of real life, The Something Rain is the ninth album from the Nottingham avant-pop outfit led by Stuart Staples. It begins with Chocolate, a 10-minute spoken word tale set over an ambient, off-kilter, lounge-jazz soundscape, whose devilish punch line offsets the lugubrious, dour atmosphere of the piece. It’s an epic way to begin an album and a sure-fire indication that convention still plays no part in the compositions of the band.
Rarely a band to overly concern themselves with commercial successes, their last album, 2010’s Falling Down a Mountain, barely scraped the top 100 over here (but, oddly, made it to number two in the Greek charts). That, of course, is a good thing, allowing Staples and his often-changing cast of musicians to experiment, following their own idiosyncratic route rather than the whims of a record label.
At times, the results here are slightly obtuse, as on the melancholy fairground loop of A Night So Still or the creeping unease of Come Inside. But there’s something about Staples’ dulcet tone that, whatever direction the music takes, offers a sense of warmth and comfort to the listener – even if, at times, it’s also slightly disconcerting.
Still, The Something Rain is an album that demands attention. It’s not an easy listen, but it manages, somehow, to act as a kind of a soundtrack to your life, regardless of whether the specifics of the songs are in any way related to your own situation or experiences. Best saved for grey, gloomy days when the sky is covered by cloud – and let’s face it, there are enough of those – the likes of Frozen and instrumental outro/closer Goodbye Joe certainly summon a very English ennui, but one that’s wrapped in dual, conflicting layers of stoicism and sadness.
It may not be a Tindersticks classic, in the same vein as 1997’s sublime Curtains, but The Something Rain is a record full of mystery and intrigue that will keep you listening – and discovering new things each time – for a good while.
--Mischa Pearlman
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"The Something Rain", Tindersticks' ninth album, stubbornly holds fast to the group's branded, nocturnal avant-pop, one that holds within it everything from subtly textured electronics and touches of jazz to cabaret, chanson, and melancholy indie pop.
Vocalist Stuart Staples' signature dulcet baritone is as haunting as ever: it shivers almost constantly atop a mix that contains everything from carefully layered keyboards, bowed bass and cellos to spidery guitars, vibes, minimal drum kits, reeds, and loops.
That Tindersticks' sonic universe is so carefully attended and guarded doesn't mean there isn't growth or daring -- this is the most urgent recording they've made in over a decade -- it's just that it's (mostly) very subtle.
For instance, the album opens with the nine-minute "Chocolate". The music is a soundtrack accompanying a spoken word vocal by David Boulter. He relates a narrative with a startling punch line. Saxophones, acoustic guitars, glockenspiel, bass, piano, and organ all shimmer and slip beneath his calm narration. It's a rather brave way to open a recording.
"This Fire of Autumn" is an uncharacteristically uptempo number, driven by bass and guitars with an organ and other keys shifting through the backdrop and highlighted by a snare. The shock comes on the refrain, where Staples' protagonist is propelled ever forward into a dangerous possibility of love. As if to accentuate this, he is joined on the refrain by a female backing chorus in full lounge-R&B croon à la Leonard Cohen.
"A Night So Still", with its cheap drum machine loops, reverbed guitars, and keyboards is nonetheless a seductive and powerful tune.
So purposefully restrained is its seductive narrative, it creates a nearly unbearable tension that doesn't release.
"Medicine", the single, is a languid, velvety ballad. It's a fine contrast to the proceeding cut; "Frozen" could be remix by a '90s drum'n'bass producer, and its gently dissonant saxophones and smoky, down-in-the-mix vocal by Staples would make it a great 12".
"Come Inside", with its gently undulating Rhodes piano, evokes the tender atmospherics of jazz pianist Hampton Hawes' Universe album. The set closes in soundtrack mode again with "Goodbye Joe", an instrumental that directly evokes Ennio Morricone's spaghetti westerns.
The Something Rain's grace, elegance, and beauty are enhanced throughout by its subtle but certain spirit of chance. T Jurek
Vocalist Stuart Staples' signature dulcet baritone is as haunting as ever: it shivers almost constantly atop a mix that contains everything from carefully layered keyboards, bowed bass and cellos to spidery guitars, vibes, minimal drum kits, reeds, and loops.
That Tindersticks' sonic universe is so carefully attended and guarded doesn't mean there isn't growth or daring -- this is the most urgent recording they've made in over a decade -- it's just that it's (mostly) very subtle.
For instance, the album opens with the nine-minute "Chocolate". The music is a soundtrack accompanying a spoken word vocal by David Boulter. He relates a narrative with a startling punch line. Saxophones, acoustic guitars, glockenspiel, bass, piano, and organ all shimmer and slip beneath his calm narration. It's a rather brave way to open a recording.
"This Fire of Autumn" is an uncharacteristically uptempo number, driven by bass and guitars with an organ and other keys shifting through the backdrop and highlighted by a snare. The shock comes on the refrain, where Staples' protagonist is propelled ever forward into a dangerous possibility of love. As if to accentuate this, he is joined on the refrain by a female backing chorus in full lounge-R&B croon à la Leonard Cohen.
"A Night So Still", with its cheap drum machine loops, reverbed guitars, and keyboards is nonetheless a seductive and powerful tune.
So purposefully restrained is its seductive narrative, it creates a nearly unbearable tension that doesn't release.
"Medicine", the single, is a languid, velvety ballad. It's a fine contrast to the proceeding cut; "Frozen" could be remix by a '90s drum'n'bass producer, and its gently dissonant saxophones and smoky, down-in-the-mix vocal by Staples would make it a great 12".
"Come Inside", with its gently undulating Rhodes piano, evokes the tender atmospherics of jazz pianist Hampton Hawes' Universe album. The set closes in soundtrack mode again with "Goodbye Joe", an instrumental that directly evokes Ennio Morricone's spaghetti westerns.
The Something Rain's grace, elegance, and beauty are enhanced throughout by its subtle but certain spirit of chance. T Jurek
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The two preceding `comeback' albums by the Sticks were far from perfect though both certainly had their moments, `The Hungry Saw' saw the band take a predominantly stripped down approach leaning heavily on their trademark ballads, `Falling Down a Mountain' was looser with a far more inviting warm production but was found slightly lacking in both the lyric and melody departments. It is with a sense of relief that I don't have to label this latest offering, `The Something Rain', in the same way - as merely a qualified success. Instead we find Staples and Co firing on all cylinders, somewhat unexpectedly returning with an album of all killer, no filler.
`The Something Rain' opens with the decidedly brave nine minute spanning spoken word `Chocolate' and as a mood setter I can't think of anything more perfect, it just adds dramatic weight to proceedings right from the off. I think I just might prefer it to the similar `My Sister' from the second self titled album, it is that good. `Show Me Everything' opens the album proper and sets the tone, smooth and slinky soul - a style that the boys return to again and again, particularly on the horn heavy `Slippin' Shoes' (listen out for the fantastic outro) and the twinkly ballads `A Night So Still', `Medicine' (beautiful strings) and `Come Inside' which recalls the excellent `My Oblivion' from 2003's `Waiting for the Moon'.
Some welcome experimentation is provided by two of the standout cuts from the disc, the stunning wandering bass line and glockenspiel embellished `This Fire of Autumn' and the breathless spy movie soundtrack paranoia of `Frozen' - it is not unreasonable to suggest that this is some of the best material produced in the band's nine album spanning career.
An unexpected classic and it goes without saying this is an essential purchase for established fans and reaffirms the Tindersticks as true masters of the evocative late-night soundtrack.
`The Something Rain' opens with the decidedly brave nine minute spanning spoken word `Chocolate' and as a mood setter I can't think of anything more perfect, it just adds dramatic weight to proceedings right from the off. I think I just might prefer it to the similar `My Sister' from the second self titled album, it is that good. `Show Me Everything' opens the album proper and sets the tone, smooth and slinky soul - a style that the boys return to again and again, particularly on the horn heavy `Slippin' Shoes' (listen out for the fantastic outro) and the twinkly ballads `A Night So Still', `Medicine' (beautiful strings) and `Come Inside' which recalls the excellent `My Oblivion' from 2003's `Waiting for the Moon'.
Some welcome experimentation is provided by two of the standout cuts from the disc, the stunning wandering bass line and glockenspiel embellished `This Fire of Autumn' and the breathless spy movie soundtrack paranoia of `Frozen' - it is not unreasonable to suggest that this is some of the best material produced in the band's nine album spanning career.
An unexpected classic and it goes without saying this is an essential purchase for established fans and reaffirms the Tindersticks as true masters of the evocative late-night soundtrack.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Ladies and gentlemen Tindersticks have come back! It means that we have to enjoy this new CD. Beautiful songs (and so cheap!). I'd specially recommend "Chocolate, Show me everything, Medicine and Goodbye Joe". However if this is the first time you listen to this people, I'd suggest to start with some of their previous albums... like "Waiting for the Moon", for example.
There is something to improve. They don't include the lyrics. And this is something you miss when you listen to it.
There is something to improve. They don't include the lyrics. And this is something you miss when you listen to it.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Better than expected
I hadn't brought a Tindersticks album in years and decided to give this a try after reading a few good reviews. Read more
Published 15 days ago by A. Stanhope
Great album as usual from Tindersticks
Fantastic album, Stuart Staples' voice does not loose any of its enigmatic charm. Never tire if listening to this one
Published 15 days ago by SPOP
Something Special
Having most Tindersticks albums already, I wasn't sure, frankly, that I needed another: if I'm honest, I still haven't really got to know the last one. Read more
Published 20 days ago by MO Taylor
Rain, rain come away...
It's very similar to the last album, Falling Down The Mountain, in terms of both musical and vocal direction. Read more
Published 21 days ago by A. Milewski
Will suit some, but not me...
I have pretty much everything Tindersticks have ever done and I love their music, throughout its various transformations. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. P. Field
Something good
It takes a certain perversity to open an album with the lugubrious 9 minute spoken word "Chocolate" especially when so many subsequent tracks would have made ideal openers. Read more
Published 3 months ago by degrant
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
