shop | mailing lists
musicOMH
music: album reviews
Rosie And The Goldbug - Rosie And The Goldbug (Lover)
UK release date: 15 September 2008
3.5 stars
Rosie And The Goldbug - Rosie And The Goldbug

buy this title


track listing

1. Lover
2. War Of The Roses (Because You Said So)
3. Butterfly
4. Feeling
5. Heartbreak
6. Soldier Blues
7. Contain You
8. You've Changed
9. Strange Girl
10. In The Red
11. Springtime Dreaming
Rosie And The Goldbug are trying to be original. They don't have to try too hard; the eclectic and eccentric backgrounds they all seem to possess assure of that. They are one-offs. But does it follow that their music is too?

The trio from Cornwall, led by piano-playing singer Rosie Vanier, draws a line of influences between Kate Bush's wonderment, Cyndi Lauper's pop and a dash of Debbie Harry and Blondie's poise.

Together they've created an array of heartfelt punk, alternative tunes that try to hit a range of spots but indulge in a spot of wandering about first.

Before writing them off as nostalgic pastiche, there's a smashing of techno, electro-rock and disco in there too which nibbles at the graceful heels of Alison Goldfrapp and Roisin Murphy. They're a little rough around the edges but this helps them not to sound too alike any of their influences.

Neat and tidy drums, guitar and bass complement the controlling keyboard and electronics. Vanier's vocals lend a touch of loose and easy, laid back freshness, while the unpolished edge gives a live, uninhibited finish to the studio album.

War Of The Roses (Because You Said So), Lover, Contain You and Butterfly are the stand-outs, abounding with energy. War Of The Roses was released earlier this year as an EP and Lover is their first single.

You've Changed ropes in Lauperesque production values. Feeling reaches out for comparisons with Tori Amos but (by this point predictably) falls short. Although the tone heads in the right directions, the tracks simpl aren't uniformly strong enough to reach the ambitious heights their creators intended for them.

The entire album is listenable and enjoyable; a small breath of fresh air, though one that could have been a gust.

  share: 
Facebook | Digg | del.icio.us | more
Mercury Prize 2009 nominees
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE SPEECH DEBELLE KASABIAN FRIENDLY FIRES
LA ROUX BAT FOR LASHES THE HORRORS GLASVEGAS
SWEET BILLY PILGRIM THE INVISIBLE LISA HANNIGAN LED BIB




out this week:
tUnE-yArDs - BiRd-BrAiNs Norah Jones - The Fall Will Young - The Hits
Ebony Bones - Bone Of My Bones Mariah Carey - Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
coming soon:
Gabby Young And Other Animals - We're All In This Together Rihanna - Rated R Codeine Velvet Club - Codeine Velvet Club
recent releases:
Shirley Bassey - The Performance Martha Wainwright - Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, a Paris Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
Robbie Williams - Reality Killed The Video Star Pascal Babare - Thunderclap Spring Joe Goddard - Harvest Festival
Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit Nirvana - Live At Reading (Deluxe Edition) Nirvana - Bleach (20th Anniversary Edition)
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young The Hidden Cameras - Origin: Orphan Weezer - Raditude
Cheryl Cole - Three Words Kings Of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence Portico Quartet - Isla
The Antlers - Hospice Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
more album reviews
TOP ARTICLES NOW
BLOG: The X-Factor and what to do about it

GIG: The Decemberists: two sets in one night

MORE GIGS: Blue Roses, Editors, Patrick Wolf, Melody Gardot, Great Lake Swimmers, Paul Curreri, Alexandra Burke, Roberto Fonseca, Mayra Andrade, Rihanna, Beyoncé...

ALBUMS OUT THIS WEEK: Gabby Young And Other Animals, Rihanna

INTERVIEW: Martha Wainwright on her Edith Piaf album Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, a Paris

RELATED ARTICLES
ALBUM:
Rosie & The Goldbug - Rosie & The Goldbug

EXTERNAL LINKS
Rosie And The Goldbug



  more album reviews...



musicOMH
about us
contact
copyright
home
elsewhere
Twitter
Facebook
Last.fm
Soundcloud
MySpace
© 1999-2009 OMH