It is savage. My prejudice is vindicated! (No, of course I’ve never actually listened to any of his stuff, despite, sorry, Bingos best partisan efforts)
While I agree that FA’s records are largely flaccid affairs (and we must never forget that he is responsible for George Ezra’s Shotgun, and a decent chunk of Ed Sheeran’s catalogue), I think Bingo has been mostly effusive about the live experience, which he certainly makes sound terrific.
The author’s dismissal of the Harry Styles album leads me to question her judgement, that and the fact that the rest of the piece is pretty ropey. I have heard Romy’s collaboration with the man in question entitled Strong and I think it is excellent. That’s the only Fred I know though.
Yep, she’s got shit in her ears re Mr Styles’ opus, it’s really good. She just doesn’t like “pop”, posiibly because all the kids like it and it lacks “Authenticity”.
I found the article quite refreshing. Particularly the reference to last year’s naff inclusion.
The Mercury’s often feel like a wildly inconsistent affair, but I don’t know how you subjectivity choose what’s “better” from often incomparable records. Great exposure for the lesser known selections though.
It’s fine to take against a record on a shortlist getting on ahead of one of your own favourites. I wouldn’t have had Fred in the ten myself this time around. But this writer’s objections seem to amount to
1. Disco Sucks.
No-one comes to dance music for deeply thought out lyrics. The euphoric lifts are often augmented by daft upful phrases. Sometimes Lager Lager Lager is exactly what’s needed.
It seems odd to talk of the merits of eclecticism and then effectively say “hey Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, you can all f**k right off”.
As it happens, Fred did write tentatively and tenderly about his friend’s illness on the first Actual Life album, but even then the record was as much about the beats, the “actual life” drops and the swelling good vibes.
2. He’s had all the breaks
Ah, you English and your hilarious class obsession (within the confines of the entertainment industry where it’s least useful).
Obviously Fred has had enormous advantages. If that’s enough to spoil the music for you, so be it.
But did she really employ the “people are saying” technique to say what she wants to say?
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I certainly can’t match your enthusiasm for Fred but this seems a tad harsh?
@bingo-little
It is savage. My prejudice is vindicated! (No, of course I’ve never actually listened to any of his stuff, despite, sorry, Bingos best partisan efforts)
In a private email, Bingo assures me he will add his comment as soon as he’s finished his Buckle Bunny Barbie© jigsaw.
“in the past, the Mercury Prize has been accused of snobbery” says the winner of this year’s non-self-aware critic award.
While I agree that FA’s records are largely flaccid affairs (and we must never forget that he is responsible for George Ezra’s Shotgun, and a decent chunk of Ed Sheeran’s catalogue), I think Bingo has been mostly effusive about the live experience, which he certainly makes sound terrific.
that Tiny Desk concert he posted is pretty amazing.
The author’s dismissal of the Harry Styles album leads me to question her judgement, that and the fact that the rest of the piece is pretty ropey. I have heard Romy’s collaboration with the man in question entitled Strong and I think it is excellent. That’s the only Fred I know though.
Yep, she’s got shit in her ears re Mr Styles’ opus, it’s really good. She just doesn’t like “pop”, posiibly because all the kids like it and it lacks “Authenticity”.
I found the article quite refreshing. Particularly the reference to last year’s naff inclusion.
The Mercury’s often feel like a wildly inconsistent affair, but I don’t know how you subjectivity choose what’s “better” from often incomparable records. Great exposure for the lesser known selections though.
It’s fine to take against a record on a shortlist getting on ahead of one of your own favourites. I wouldn’t have had Fred in the ten myself this time around. But this writer’s objections seem to amount to
1. Disco Sucks.
No-one comes to dance music for deeply thought out lyrics. The euphoric lifts are often augmented by daft upful phrases. Sometimes Lager Lager Lager is exactly what’s needed.
It seems odd to talk of the merits of eclecticism and then effectively say “hey Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, you can all f**k right off”.
As it happens, Fred did write tentatively and tenderly about his friend’s illness on the first Actual Life album, but even then the record was as much about the beats, the “actual life” drops and the swelling good vibes.
2. He’s had all the breaks
Ah, you English and your hilarious class obsession (within the confines of the entertainment industry where it’s least useful).
Obviously Fred has had enormous advantages. If that’s enough to spoil the music for you, so be it.
But did she really employ the “people are saying” technique to say what she wants to say?