Album of the week - Friday 6th March

Its album of the week time, and clearly it has to be an offering from an Irish band.

Monday wasn’t a great day for the bank balance, although I must congratulate Morrison’s on providing me with U2’s ‘No line on the horizon’ for six English pounds, winner. This however is not where my musical journey ended as I also visited Fopp and purchased Bell X1’s ‘Blue lights on the runway’, this as it happens, wasn’t as reasonably priced as my earlier acquisition, however after buying both albums I am now left with an interesting question - which one is better?

So heres the deal, I'm not sure whether this is whimping out by not actually answering the question but I feel I have to be honest. ‘Blue lights on the runway’ has been that good that ‘No line on the horizon’ hasn’t really made it into the cd player, therefore my album of the week must come from Bell X1.

Each song is so original and different from the next, yet there is a thread that travels throughout the entire album holding it together as one piece. The vocals are very distinctive, with very tight harmonies and some extremely intelligent and thought provoking lyrics. The title track or indeed the song that inspires the title of the album is awesome and has this guitar lick in the chorus that sounds as if it has been inspired by a few hours of listening to Paul Simons ‘Diamonds on the soles of her shoes’, complimenting the alternative sound to the rest of the song almost as well as butter does toast.

What I really like about this album is that there are a few tracks that are instantly amazing and grab you there and then but there are also a few tracks that are like your favourite pair of shoes, you pretty much don’t start to appreciate them until they are well walked in.

If you haven’t got this album then I suggest you go and buy it. If you haven’t got any Bell X1 albums, make your weekend much better by getting your hands on ‘Music in mouth’ and ‘Flock’ as well.