the magnificent miss murphy

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I went to see Róisín Murphy last night (review in Grau tomorrow). She was WONDERFUL and her hats were FABULOUS. I know she's a long-time poptimist favourite but I don't think we've actually talked about her much, so shall we? Her album is one of the best of the year - my favourite is 'Tell Everybody', omg that was so good last night, she did it as the encore. And there are so many parallels with Gwen Stefani: platinum blonde MILF ex-frontwomen of 'alternative' acts who hit big late in their career, now embracing pop and offbeat couture for their solo careers.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'd better listen to her record then.

[martinv.livejournal.com]

Not sure about the Roisin album. Still think her only real 'pop peak' was 'The Time Is Now' and that was with Moloko. That still sounds fresher than most of Overpowered to me...

Bet she's fun live though.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

On my computer I divide albums up so that the best tracks are in one folder under the artist name (so it includes their previous good album tracks etc.) and the ones I don't rate as much go into an archive folder that I will rarely play stuff from.

Anyway, I think I put all of 'Overpowered' in the premier folder as it's all sounding good enough although there's nothing on it I would class as truly outstanding (similar to 'Tangled Up') and nothing quite as good as the highlights on the last album. but the singles are good, 'Footprints' and 'Scarlet Ribbons' are lovely. i think i like the banging Seamus Hadji mix of 'Overpowered' more than the original now tho - it's in my 07 mix...not sure i've heard the Kris Menace mix but how much different can it be from the Haji one??

Listening to the album

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Overpowered - I know this one and it's good - science metaphor works intellectually but not emotionally: I don't FEEL her desire at all, this is because she has a very detached voice, bit like Sophie E-B

You Know Me Better - cold, vaporous, tedious.

Checkin On Me - better beat for sure, I remember now from Moloko that I really hate her mid-atlantic accent - she sounds like someone deciding to perform being a disco vocalist, rather than a disco vocalist.

Let Me Know - boring ersatz disco, gruesome cod-funkiness on the chorus "lick" betrays a career spent hanging out with ex-member of Chakk. Very tasteful, as ever.

JESUS CHRIST 9 TRACKS TO GO?? Do something under 4 minutes for once!

Movie Star - like the pumping electronics and the chorus is OK, Roisin detached as ever but her high register is a lot nicer.

Sorry Lex I can't get any further with this - it's SO FUCKING BORING, it sounds like every move is really tightly designed to make sure Roisin never risks doing anything tasteless or vulgar. 5 tracks in and I'm desperate to hear, I dunno, Infernal or the Cheeky Girls or ANYONE who doesn't sound quite so superior and BLOODLESS.

[strange-powers.livejournal.com]

The thing I love most about Roisin (beside her hot-mum looks) is that amazing voice, all soul and purring, coupled with her amazing timing and delivery which I think is pretty much unparalleled in this country. The best tracks on the record - Overpowered, Primitive and especially Dear Miami thrive on her phrasing, which is sort of an old-fashioned notion.

I also really love that the album is DISCO and proud, and I'd really love to hear it very loud on a flashing dancefloor.

I have started skipping Scarlet Ribbons though... I liked it at first but now I see it's a schmaltz disaster of epic proportions.

[datura800.livejournal.com]

I saw her on Tuesday night - it was seriously one of the best gigs I've ever been to. Amazing.

I don't really see the Gwen comparisons - Gwen whole-heartedly embraced pop, Roisin is still making quite left-field music. Anyone coming to 'Overpowered' expecting a Kylie record is going to be baffled.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Is it going to be worth me listening to this album considering I haven't liked anything she's done up to now? And words like 'tasteful' and 'soul voice' used together are likely to have me leaping for the stop button within minutes?

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

I love Roisin and raved about her on ILM (and I think here at times). Last tour was one of the best shows I've seen, missed her on this one (although she injured herself and only played like three songs, so I didn't miss much).

I still like Ruby Blue better, though - Overpowered is great but somehow I just haven't been able to get into anything else yet.

[mooxyjoo.livejournal.com]

'too tasteful', etc. - possible measures of it:

intensity of:
the pleasures it gives
the weirdness
the novelty
the satisfaction it aims for
the dissatisfaction it hopes to avoid

or the different kinds of:
uses it can be put to
settings it is appropriate to
moments which call for it
moments which are not made worse by it
people who can agree to keep it playing

[ghettofuture.livejournal.com]

Still waiting for a U.S. release... oh and fuck Perez Hilton, PS.