Customer Reviews

Electric Landlady

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kirsty Maccoll never achieved the kind of notice in the US that she deserved, and now, unfortunately, this extremely talented woman will be missed and we should all mourn the loss of her music as well. "Electric Landlady," her CD from 1991, has always remained near the top in my collection of music. "Walking Down Madison," the opening track, is stupendous. It shows Kirsty branching out, trying her hand at a little rap with a solid beat, but the words are what make the track brilliant. The song is a stinging indictment of all those who refuse to acknowledge the social ills that they encounter on the streets daily. Completely different is "My Affair," a song that never fails to bring a chuckle. It's clever play on words is sheer poetry. "Children of the Revolution" has more of a folk rock feel to it, and again, the lyrics are hard hitting. "He Never Mentioned Love" could have and should have been a huge pop hit, though it far surpasses anything that passes for pop music today. And "Maybe It's Imaginary" will appeal to those for whom environmental issues are a cause. Overall, with its eclectic styles and moods, this CD has something for all listeners. Taken as a whole, it is a brilliant collection of music from a talented woman, a woman whom the music community will greatly miss. There will be no more new Kirsty Maccoll CD's, but "Electric Landlady" will let the beauty and talent of this lady live with us for a long time.

After the focussed and heart-felt brilliance of "Kite", it was initially off-putting to find Kirsty experimenting freely with so many different styles on this album. Not that experimentation is a bad thing,per se, but so much energy seems to have been spent mastering the various musical genres (the latin samba of "My Affair", the socially-aware pseudo rap of "Walking Down Madison")that basic songcraft seemed to have fallen by the wayside. For a singer /songwriter who had finally found her own voice on "Kite", this seemed to be a retreat, hiding her vocal talents and singular world-view behind high-gloss production and superficial genre conventions.Even "Children of the Revolution", an obviously sincere attack on leftist dilettantism seems unbecomingly obvious when compared with scathing indictment of Thatcherism that developed from the accretion of small, personal details throughout "Kite". Still, superficial Kirsty is better than deepest profundities of most pop artists, and the record has several wistful pop gems ("He Never Mentioned Love","All I Ever Wanted"), and even the aforementioned rap and samba tunes are infectious and danceable.("My Affair" has the added advantage of being hilariously funny.) One gets the impression that the record was written quickly, to capitalize on the success of its predeccessor, and that the forced,inorganic feel that pervades the record is simply the result of inadequate gestation. She would bounce back artistically with the lush and sad "Titanic Days" (like "Kite", shamefully out of print in the U.S.), which would meld her wistful pop to state of the art dance tracks and full orchestration in a more seemless presentation. And as the new "Tropical Brainstorm" proves, her interest in latin rhythms was nothing if not genuine.

Kirsty Maccoll has been plying her trade in Britain for a couple of decades. Many of her songs contain acidic lyrics but these are always off-set by her pitch-perfect voice. While not as good as its predecessor "Kite", this is a perfect start for anyone new to the Maccoll oeuvre.

The album contain some experimentation, with some rap beat over "Walking Down Madison" and a light Latin samba to "My Affair". While it is good to see her diversifying they are not the album's strengths. These come in a couple of lovely ballads, "Hallowe'en" and "The Hardest Word" as well as the magnificently acerbic "He Never Mentioned Love".

This is a very good example OF Kirsty Maccoll's style and one that could blow anything that Alanis and Tori have produced out of the water. Discover this genius, tell your friends and BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!

Kirsty MacColl has had a rather strange career. She has managed to stay out of the limelight despite having a handfull of hit singles and a bucketload of talent. Electric Landlady sees Kirsty experimenting with new styles of music. Something that she has continued to do with later albums to varying degrees of success (although Tropical Brainstorm is another clasic). Here though, you simply get such a mixed bag of musical styles, you feel spoilt for choice. Also, if you're a fan of the Pogues or the Smiths, members of both groups are here either co-writing tracks or adding their musical skills. From the first song- Walking To Madison with it's dance beat and rap, you know that you can expect the unexpected. Folk, Indian strings, latino and pop songs follow. Each one powerful and diverse. Add to this Kirsty's unbeatable and angelic harmonies, and you've got a winner. The only other person who can compete for Kirsty's crown for 'Best Voice' is Suzanne Vega. My affair is still one of my all time favourite tracks. All in all, Electric Landlady is the perfect feelgood album!

It's hard to believe an artist of Kirsty's calibre has failed to gain mainstream acceptance. Here pre and post Electric Landlady releases have all shared finely crafted pop songs with Kirsty's unique vocal ability. This album atarts off with her longest track ever a 6.34min bass heavy Walking Down Madison complete with rapping by Aniff Cousins (never heard of him myself). What follows is eleven more tracks ranging from the latin influenced "My Affair" ( which is why it is being offered as a bonus track on her new latinesque "Tropical Brainstorm" perhaps?)to catchy yet lyrically cutting of "He Never Mentioned Love". It's hard to pick a favourite out of this bunch of winners, but to me it is a close call between "He Never Mentioned Love" and her greeny inspired "Maybe It's Imaginary" -"we wash all the food and peel off the skin, but what is the point if it's poisoned within". To me it's an essential in any good music collection

"He Never Mentioned Love" is one of her wittiest and brightest, "Halloween" is one of her most wistful, and "Walking Down Madison" is one of her gutsiest and toughest. All said, "Electric Landlady" packs an emotional punch that keeps me coming back for more. It's got better material than "Kite" and it's not as scattershot as "Galore"(hits package)and I just love her deep, solemn voice and that hushed, prophetic way she has of expressing unrequited love. God bless Kirsty...

I remember this one quite well, because over twelve years ago, it (along with The Pursuit of Happiness' 2nd LP) was the first CD I ever bought. Will at Walrus Music told me it was much more experimental than her first album "Kite", but I loved her voice and bought it anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised. Though it's loaded with a lot of 'hired guns' (The Pogues, Johnny Marr), the mix of styles doesn't sound jarring in the slightest (although the opener, "Walking Down Madison" is a bit dated at this point). Track 3, "Children Of The Revolution" is one of the best non-Smiths collaborations Johnny Marr's ever put his talents to, and track 6, "Lying Down" is a subtle little groove that's infectious as all get out.

As her ex-husband Steve Lillywhite was behind the production, this album has way too much going for it to be any less than four stars, but I generally save five star affairs for 'perfect' records. This one's closer than most.

This one takes me back to my freshman year at the Univ. of Arizona, Fall 1991. I know, I'm old. It was an exciting time, musically of course, but just in general. New beginnings and all. This disc was in constant rotation for about four months. I break it out every October for a few spins -- just feels like an October album. Sentimental favorite for sure. Kirsty, we miss you...

Truly an overlooked talent, Kirsty MacColl was a wonderful singer-songwriter with albums that span the 80's and 90's...not to mention a wide range of influences. Daughter of famous Scots folkie Ewan MacColl and wife of famed producer Steve Lillywhite, Kirsty seems to have been surrounded by music her whole life, and she put her wide musical knowledge to good use on "Electric Landlady" (a play on the title of a Jimi Hendrix album, "Electric Ladyland").

In a mix of wry, sometimes cynical lyrics and tuneful melodies (sung in her fantastic, expressive alto voice), MacColl shows that she far surpasses most of her contemporaries in energy, elegance and wit. There are wonderful commentaries on love ("All I Ever Wanted" and "He Never Mentioned Love"), ecology, ("Maybe It's Imaginary") and politics ("Children Of the Revolution", no relation to the T. Rex song). Her arrangements are very involved, with a wide array of instrumentation. She even attempts (and excels at) a hip-hop influenced song, "Walking Down Madison."

MacColl always used latin rhythms, and they are really in the forefront on songs like the bossa-nova-esque "We'll Never Pass This Way Again", and the zany samba, "My Affair" where Kirsty even tries her hand at singing in some wonderfully unaccented español. Of course, all this experimentation with styles sometimes leads her down paths better not taken (the faux "rock" of "Lying Down" f'rinstance).

Sadly, Kirsty passed away in 2000...and what many consider to be her best album (myself included) "Desperate Characters," still isn't available on CD (although several songs from it may be found on the compilations "Galore" and "From Croydon To Cuba"). Of the four albums and few compilations available to us as I write this, "Electric Landlady" is a shining example of a wonderful writer, singer, arranger and all-around talent that needs remembering...

This is the second record I bought by her because I fell in love with Tropical Brainstorm, her latest and sadly last record to be released. Electric Landlady is dripping with lovely melodies and catchy Latin beats. A definite must have!