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Elly Roberts reviews
4AD
- January 2007
- Rating: 2/10
After 10 years and 15 albums, Kristin Hersh still hasnt made the grade.
Its no wonder. And this album will do little to alter things. PerhapsKristin Hersh should take her own advice – as the title advocates.
Clearly she is unable to sing, and when she does, theres a distinct likenessto, yes, Welsh chanteuse Cerys Matthews, only on a bad day. Trying to findredeeming qualities is, well, very difficult, as the most of the songs arepretty dire. None of these possess any kind of radio friendliness, (obviouslyits not her agenda) so how she intends to hit the big time is beyond me.
Hersh tries to make an impression from the off, with avalanche – like InShock, which I still am. Nerve Endings heavy violin has somedelightful moments, though the singing sucks. Its soon followed by some heavystring arrangements, only to be killed off by lousy singing and monstrousGoth Rock riffs on Day Glo, which might be wrongly titled as this isthe one that touches the nerve endings. This is the most grating song Iveever heard, and thats really saying something.
Thankfully, some respite on 29 seconds worth of Christian Hearse, but its all too short, unfortunately. What this acoustic interlude is all about,I dont know. Surprisingly, Ice is a neat acoustic-string ballad, butyet again Matthews (Catatonia) comes to mind. So far, Under The Guncomes as the best. Acoustic leads and later heavy riffs make this almostbearable.
The first piano interlude with echoed guitar (Piano 1) seems ratherpointless, as is the later reprise (Piano 2). Inbetween Sugar Babyrises and falls with equal mediocrity, and as a track goes nowhere. Follower,Peggy Lee shifts along at a steady pace, with great strings droppingin here and there to give it a much needed boost.
Weakest track on the album is the insipid ballad Vertigo. Cacophonyraises its ugly head once more on the power-house rocker Winterand surprise, surprise, Catatonia pops up again, in disguise. Wild Vanillais basically another nothing track. And guess what? So is The Thin Man.
As an album, it lacks – soul, depth, creativity, and above all class.
There are better, much better, out there not making it.
Back to the drawing board, again, Miss Hersh.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. In Shock
2. Nerve Endings
3. Day Glo
4. Christian Hearse
5. Ice
6. Under The Gun
7. Piano 1
8. Sugar Baby
9. Peggy Lee
10. Piano 2
11. Vertigo
12. Winter
13. Wild Vanilla
14. The Thin Man
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.