This is a more theatrical version of Brit Pop than I’m normally used to – that’s not to say it’s super theatrical but it is definitely glammier (for lack of a better word) than their contemporaries.
A lot of that theatrical side comes from Anderson’s singing style, which reminds me of a bunch of other singers (Marc Bolan maybe?) from the glam rock era. With a different singer, I’m not sure I would find the music that theatrical.
The music itself is a little more muscular than some Brit Pop, which is nice. And there’s a real depth to the recording that makes it sound more “rock” than some of the contemporary Brit Pop bands (cough Oasis cough). The band behind Anderson is pretty good and the recording of them captures them at their best. (I will note some of the keyboards kind of date the record, though.)
But the songs aren’t super memorable to me – a common criticism I have with nearly every Brit Pop band outside of Blur – and the whole thing feels, to me, like a slight variation on a genre that I don’t particularly love. I listened to this record twice, then didn’t listen to it for a couple weeks, then listened to it a third time and I didn’t remember it at all that third time; it was like I never listened to it before. That’s on the songs, I think.
6/10
All lyrics written by Brett Anderson; all music composed by Bernard Butler.
- “So Young” 3:38
- “Animal Nitrate” 3:27
- “She’s Not Dead” 4:33
- “Moving” 2:50
- “Pantomime Horse” 5:49
- “The Drowners” 4:10
- “Sleeping Pills” 3:51
- “Breakdown” 6:02
- “Metal Mickey” 3:27
- “Animal Lover” 4:17
- “The Next Life” 3:32
- Brett Anderson – vocals
- Bernard Butler – guitar, piano
- Mat Osman – bass guitar
- Simon Gilbert – drums
Additional musicians
- Shelley Van Loen – violin
- Lynne Baker – viola
- Caroline Barnes – violin
- John Buller – horn arrangements
- Trevor Burley – cello
- Simon Clarke – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Phil – percussion
- Ed Buller – synthesizer, arranger, keyboards, production, engineering
- Gary Stout – engineering