Customer Reviews

Spinning Top

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Blur were one of my favourite Britpop bands and "The spinning top" is the 7th solo album by its guitarist, Graham Coxon. Fresh from production work on Pete(r) Doherty's delicate and incredibly beautiful debut "Grace/Westlands", this is a retro Folk/Rock affair. A concept album of sorts, chronicling the life of a man from cradle to the grave.

The jaunty and euphoric "Perfect love" sounds like it came out of Simon and Garfunkel's songbook, complete with dual harmonies (which he uses on most of the songs). The delicately plucked acoustic "If you want me" is adorned with tinkling xylophone and intermittedly interrupted by explosive guitars. The upbeat "Dead bees" is Folk/Blues and reminds me a bit of Blur's "Beetlebum". Similar is lead-off single "Sorrow's army". Also upbeat is "Humble man" (with such beautiful chords).

"Caspian sea" is a bubbling Psychedelic ballad with disembodied harmonies fleeting in and out over the strummed guitars. Other standouts include the stunning ballad "Far from everything" (with sitar sounds and a vulnerable/calming vocal delivery from Coxon), the atmospheric ballad "Tripping over" (with a brilliant guitar coda), and closing ballad the chilling droning "November" (with richly layered harmonies and dramatic breaks adding to the dark aura).

Coxon's guitar playing is outstanding at all times. He also did the album artwork. Incredibly moving and beautiful!!

Having been a Blur fan from the start, I naturally followed the various member's solo careers. Graham Coxon, former-estranged guitarist for the band, had a handful of lead vocals while with Blur. For some, his voice is probably an acquired taste. I've always loved his fragile vocals as well as his stellar guitar-work (one of my favorite Blur songs is "You're So Great"). I also enjoyed his solo career, mostly mining territory staked out by lo-fi American indie rock. On The Spinning Top, Coxon goes in a more folk/acoustic direction. I love it. His fragile vocals suit the softer and varied material. He also stretches out on the guitar more so than in the past.
The albums not all soft - there are some bits of loud guitar here and there. Along with Damon Albarn's excursions into Bali music and the Gorillaz in the past few years, there is much to look forward to with both the imminent Blur reunion as well as the continuation of their solo exploits!! ENJOY!

I just got this recently and I've listened to it three times. I'm a big fan of Graham's solo work and a Blur fan, too. This album is a lot different than his other solo albums. I like it a lot. My favorite songs on it are Humble Man, Dead Bees and Caspian Sea, but all the songs are good. It seems to me to be an introspective album, the songs are softer, but there are some rocking moments, too. Graham is one of the most talented guitarists, songwriters and singers of modern times.

I wasn't a follower of Blur, and don't own any of Coxon's previous records. I found out about him as a Robyn Hitchcock fan when I learned Coxon played with Hitchcock at a couple of shows in England a year or two ago.

Having given "The Spinning Top" about 3 or 4 full listens, my initial reaction that it's a great tribute to Nick Drake and Alexander "Skip" Spence is reaffirmed. Much of the record is quietly psychedelic with intricate acoustic guitar work by Coxon.

Just as Spence and Drake were prone to do, there are also some killer fully plugged in electric songs, which, especially with Hitchock's help, propel things into deep psychedelia, at times sounding like Beck. This makes perfect sense, since Beck himself is a huge Skip Spence and Nick Drake fan.

With a couple of exceptions, this is a great album containing instant classics, and the recording is exceptionally clear.

So, time to light up your favorite incense and candles, turn the lights down low, crank it up, then sit back and let the technicolor waves start pouring out of your speakers or headset. Chances are you'll find yourself teleported back to the heady days of 1969 but with exponentially better sound quality.

Graham Coxon's third effort, The Spinning Top, makes me feel as though I need to be in Northern England, frolicking among the flowers. Others have stated that this is his most "folksy" effort and I would tend to agree. It is a good album for hot, lazy summers.

My favorite tracks include "In the Morning" I feel as though he plucks his acoustic guitar so effortlessly and his combination of lyrics (he references a "blackbird") along with the use of East Indian instruments such as the esraj and the jori--I feel as though Coxon is summoning the Beatles.

"If You Want Me" could have easily passed for a Blur single. It starts out simple, but then Coxon adds layers in of the glockenspiel, harmonica, and Robyn Hitchcock's electric guitar and I can almost rock out. Well, at least bob my head to the beat.

I really enjoy "Dead Bees" (again with Robyn Hitchcock) and I can't really say why other than it's chock full of great instruments such as the Theremin and harmonica along with nifty percussion.

Again, this is a great album for summer. It's also a great album for Blur fans who may not know the "softer" more "grown up" side of Coxon.

And if you're looking to purchase the album, it may be ideal to pick up the physical CD, so you can see Coxon's curious, but somewhat whimsical artwork.

This guy had to have written the CD review, or paid someone a lot of money to do it for him. Just awful.