The Frank & Walters: "Grand Parade" (Setanta) Dial-a-track code: 1971
At long last, the Cork trio's second album gets its overdue release, but was it worth the wait? We haven't exactly been holding our collective breath, but Grand Parade does sound like a fresh breeze of innocent pop in today's dusty, world-weary rock environment. The Frank & Walters had their day in the sun back in 1993, when jolly songs like After All, Happy Busman and This Is Not A Song managed to crack the UK charts, but then it all went a little star-shaped for our happy Corkmen. They're going to find it even harder than Blur to crawl back into music press favour, but in the meantime we can enjoy such tunes as Colours, I Suppose, Tony Cochrane and the magnificent Indian Ocean. Despite the odd silly moment like Saturday Night, the song-writing has become more mature and robust, and, amazingly, even more melodic.
The Robert Cray Band: "Sweet Potato Pie" (Mercury) Dial-a-track code: 2081
Robert Cray is at his best when he's burning. As in, singing of the perils of being swept away by a powerful and manipulative women in the title track from his album I Was Warned And pushing his guitar lines over the edge accordingly. On this album, however, Cray is too content to burn. Sure, it was recorded in Memphis, so-called home-of-the-blues, but tunes like I Can't Quite, Not Bad For Love and Simple Things really are little more than smug meditations on the theme of I'm-in-love-and-ain't-life-great. If you're in love maybe life is great. But then if you are, why on earth would you want to be listening to the blues? Check out his earlier albums instead.
Mark Eitzel: "West" (Warner Bros) Dial-a-track code: 2191
America's most maudlin - and most talented - singer/ songwriter caused a bit of consternation when he broke up the American Music Club, arguably the most interesting US band in recent years. His record company must have danced with joy, however, when they found out that Eitzel was getting together with R.E.M.'s Peter Buck to write and record songs for his second solo album. The result is a downbeat combination of Eitzel's morose lyrics and Buck's languid guitar jangling.
If You Have To Ask, Free Of Harm, Stunned And Frozen and Then It Really Happens are the kind of songs Michael Stipe probably wishes he had written (if he isn't too busy being a big rich rock star). Fans of Eitzel's despondent style might worry that Buck will cheer up their hero unduly, but it's OK - Helium, Lower Eastside Tourist and Old Photographs still show a healthy negative side.
