Reviews: The Eels, Kathryn Williams and Neill MacColl, and the Proclaimers...

SPIN IT

The Eels – Meet The Eels
 
Reviewed by Rikki Wright
 
Bright and breezy California sound brings a welcome shaft of sunlight into a grey and rainy January English morning.
‘Meet The Eels’ gives all the latecomers the chance to get to know this quirky band as they amble through this album, with a sound that recalls The Monkeys, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, a hint of Green Day, and even a touch of our own marvellous Little Name, for good measure.
This is smiley feelgood music ‘God damn right it’s a beautiful day’ they sing in Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues. It is? Well that’s alright then, about time we had one of them.
4/5
 
 
Kathryn Williams and Neill MacColl - Two
 
Reviewed by Rick Underwood
 
Neill MacColl is one of those rare people born to pair of musical legends, father Ewen MacColl, and mother Peggy Seeger.

Bring the much loved sister Kirsty into the mix, and it makes for a huge legacy for Neill to live up to.

Kathryn Williams is a well respected performer in her own right, so together, you could drool with anticipation over the release of an album that sees them in a musical collaboration.

Unfortunately, the promise of something marvellous is never quite fulfilled on Two, though it is alright. It strays too far into country and western territory in its production values, and lacks the bite and brilliance that we might have hoped for from one of the MacColl clan. It is undeniably pleasant, and melodious, but it’s also quite forgettable stuff.

Overall, it sounds just how non folkies expect folk music made by people of a certain age to sound, which is a bit disappointing, given the pedigree.

3/5

BIN IT

The Proclaimers – New Religion
The bespectacled twins are back with more music for people who don’t like music. Granted, I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles and Letter from America will always pack a student union dancefloor, but isn’t it time to confine this pair to the nostalgia bin where they belong?
1/5