WOW!! Have to admit, not been a fan of Harding`s, but his debut back so many years ago. But no doubt....by far, by a long mile, this is his finest release and one that after four/five listens in the past week, just won`t let its grip loose. He is fully, completely refreshed after a 4 year layoff and welcome, welcome back! Listen to the soundbites, please! He delivers 12 delectable pop confections that go down easy, even as their lyrics haunt. Much like Warren Zanes` Memory Girls, the influence of The Beatles` weighs heavily upon Harding`s melodies while yanking them through the post-punk psychedelia of Robyn Hitchcock and XTC. "4 1/2 stars.... rich, melodic canvas to paint superb pop soundscapes like "Pull" and the blissfully crooned "Negative Love." Come to think of it, Harding`s voice has never sounded better on melodic midtempo numbers like the organ-peppered "Nothing at All" and the vibrant, riff-filled "It Stays." While the quirky "Protest Protest Protest" comes off as an amusing novelty that examines the differences between 1960s activism and the politics of today, some could argue its tech-laced production affects the flow of the songs it rests alongside. Nitpicking aside, from the perky, orchestrated opening of "Monkey and His Cat" through to the devotional parting ballad "When You Smile," Adam`s Apple is a disc worth biting into again and again. "AMG.
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
|