Artrocker – 12th February 2004
Review by: Tom Artrocker and Paul Artrocker

>>>HEAD TO HEAD ALBUM REVIEW<<<

In which Paul and I stick an album on, having never heard it before, and review it in real time, at the same time. It's a bit like playing consequences, when you put the two together you have a story that doesn't make much sense at all. Or does it?

Being 747
Fun and Games
Wrath Records

1) SWINGBALL
The voice hits me straight away in that acurate English way of precise
diction in a "Julian Cope in rocking mode" way. A song about a garden tennis
game though ? (paul)

nice start! nice sort of posh voice, very english, adam and the ants drums.
Says 'casual wear', maybe a hint of Divine Comedy? Sin drum snare. nice.
He said vest. (tom)

2) USE YOUR FRIENDS
I love how minimal and economic this is. It's beefy and driven power trio
stuff - not McLusky but maybe more like the Welsh pop stuff /Gorkeys maybe. (paul)

Machiavellian call to arms, a bit Wreckless Eric at the start. Hoh, nice
organ, "chew them, use them...spit them out!" (tom)

3) TARGET PRACTICE
That English wimsy is back again - The Ghost of David Gedge looming with
David Cooke's story telling angst. The organ has indie or attractionist
vibes. (paul)

A ballad. Mr. Cooke writes very good lyrics, it has to be said, and the band
are tight and even inventive, within very tight parameters. (tom)

4) THAT LOOK AGAIN
The band are rocking a bit more here but don't seem to take off - I think
it's the vocals and lyrics that keep it all on the ground... sadly. (paul)

Townshend guitar opens, it's hard to compare this to other stuff, to give
you reference points. Maybe I'm thinking Moldy Peaches, Geoffrey Lewis,
literate and witty but without the Broooklyn accent. (tom)

5) MAKE THINGS HAPPEN
This is kind of back in power pop terretory - Our Plimsoles played The Jags
at the Club recently. It's clever and well played but it's not Costello or
the rocking Eels - Hookiest track so far though. (paul)

Bit of a pogue-sy workout here withe old acoustic guitar doing the off-beat
thing. Great words again. "This is your elbow and that's your arse." (tom)

6) THE MUSIC OF THE CLONES
A Ballad ? no , fake start no less. These guys have a habit of having
moments when it's going to really liftoff and then .... for some reason it
doesn't. I guess I just need it more extreme - it's not quite XTC spike, Not
quite wierdiness of Elephant 6 - it's that quaint English reserve. (paul)

another ballady one and then it goes nuts and then slows down again with a
very Abbey Road bit, down to an organ for a bit and then fast again. I like
it. (tom)

7) PRESSURE TO PERFORM
Sadly I'm not going to pick them out on the radio. (paul)

Is that a bit of a Beatles riff? Don't put your daughter on the stage Mrs.
Worthington seems to be the message. (tom)

8) TIME TALENT CONTINUIM
Ahhhh, a song about the 'London gig experience'. The witty play on words is
sort of like a Robyn Hitchcock attempt but he was convincing in his own
world ! (paul)

opens with rehearsal studio sound that segues to something a bit more
polished. Nice wobbly guitar and vibes? Can that be vibes? No, it's an
electric piano. Vocal here is a bit too Divine C for comfort. (tom)

9) I MOVE TOO FAST
A country romp - these guys would be cool live for sure - seems something in
the studio has made them all 'proper' and self concious. (paul)

A bit of a knees up here, my favourite so far nice 'gang' backing vocals.
Tenpole Tudor?
I was always a big fan. (tom)

10) ADVICE FROM THE GOLDEN COUPLE
OOOOOOooh ! Seems more abrasive but again the syncopation of the lyrics is
a turn off for me - again , if things 'ripped' it might work or truly
wierded out but these guys are , I believe , rooted in mature English pop
rock. (paul)

Scary start, kinda "come to the sabbat" but about"'self righteous cunts". He
doesn't like couples very much actually, even less than Joe Jackson. (tom)

11) I'M EASY
ooohhh , quaint casios ...that's alright - a Hefner-esque charm. Now this
makes more sense to me wierdly... it's actually a bit oddball and
psychelically Anglais and tuneful. (paul)

Some bleepy stuff! Drum machines etc. build sup as it goes along, bit like
The French, they should gig together. (tom)

12) THE ONE WE DID LAST MONDAY
Nice title (from one being in a band doing new songs). I like this lovely
lollaping semi ballad too and it seems to suite Cooke's vocal too - nice
Hammond organ adds soul too. (paul)

Takes the piss out of Robbie Williams, lovely! (tom)

13) THE GIRL WHO FELL ASLEEP WHILST WATCHING HER LIFE FLASH BEFORE HER EYES
That's the one isn't it - It's either super English in title or one of them
US anglophile bands - quirky ones who sing about sundglasses and such.
Maybe he should be called Ben Cooke.... you know , Ben Vaughan (remember
them ?), Ben Folds ?
How they incorporate the organ live I look forward to seeing ! And you know
what ? It almost does take off at the end.... that's how album's are
supposed to end , isn't it ? (paul)

A big Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Titch ender. the chorus is nice and tear
drops. I guess that's probably an influence i missed. Like I said, very
English.
To be honest I thought this album would rock like nobodies business, bearing
in mind the protagonists and their connections to Wrath Records. But it's an
intelligent listen, full of observation and humour. If you like your lyrics
this album is for you. (tom)