ANIIMALIA – CAROUSEL
I got pretty excited 18 months or so ago when I reviewed Aniimalia’s (and that second “I” is enough to confuse a stupid person) first EP. They formed four years ago, won a deal with Marshall Records (home to MV faves Therapy? and Bad Touch), and set about making good on the obvious ambition.
“Ambition”: that’s the word you have to use again as “Who’s Gonna Stop Me” heralds the kick-off of “Carousel”. It sounds like a dare.
Forget it, given that singer Kira Beckett is somewhere between Skin from Skunk Anansie and Amy Lee. She’s astonishing. “Puppeteer” is the obvious stand-out. All choppy modern metal, with a message and with Kieran Boobyer bringing the thick riffs like he does on “Doom”, there’s every reason to still be excited about them.
Rating 8/10
NATE SMITH – THROUGH THE SMOKE (2024)
Right at the end of “Through The Smoke” there’s a cover of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box”. It’s 30 years since Cobain died (that in itself scarcely seems believable) and it’s odd to hear it sung by a country star, even one that’s wearing a Motley Crue shirt on the cover (I had the same one as a kid).
Yet, Nate Smith basically plays it straight and rocks the thing up. Which is especially odd when the rest is so modern country.
Nate recently celebrated 10-weeks at the top of the US Billboard Country Airplay Chart with ‘World On Fire’, a feat which saw him tie the longest domination in the chart’s 34-year history.
“Bulletproof” proves why. The chorus came on for the first time when I was 45 seconds away from work and I’d played it. By the second, 20 seconds later, it was lodged. Kudos.
And basically, if you like modern country (that’s the second time I’ve added “modern” because George Jones this ain’t) you’ll love the likes of “Wish I’d Never Felt”, “I’d Rather Be Lonely”, gloriously and unashamedly pop-tinged as it is, or “Here’s To Hometowns” – and if you need that one explained you’re probably reading the wrong review.
The acoustics come out and War And The Treaty join him on “Make It With You” and the ambition on “Hollywood” shines. This wants to be the soundtrack to Middle America, hell middle anywhere.
Polished and primed, when the smoke clears “Through The Smoke” is going gold.
Rating 8/10
BLANCO BROWN – HEARTACHE AND LEMONADE
The first words on “Heartache And Lemonade” are “Johnnie Walker Whiskey”, which might tell you where Blanco Brown is coming from. “Energy” though is more pop than country and there’s a real soul to his voice.
The man himself calls his style “Trailer Trap”, which is fine, and he has a real gift for gentle melody, as he shows on “Tailgating In The Sun”. “As Good As It Gets” is going to be the soundtrack to couples – as Bon Jovi put it – losing more than that in backseats all over America. Hell, I’ve no romance in my soul and even I liked it.
“Sunshine Shine” adds a touch of funk – and dance moves – and there’s no doubt that Blanco Brown is rather crafting his own sound and following his own path.
Never mind the pain in the title, “Heartache And Lemonade” is just sweet.
Rating 7/10
