I got a pre-release copy last week and I've been playing it since.

 

I have to say, after the gargantuan effort that was Kish Kash - Crazy Itch Radio is a bit disappointing.

 

Relying too much on the old carnival sound of Romeo and not enough on the experimental genius of the last album, it shows a band resting on their laurels.

 

The intro track is brilliant.... a short stab of dramatic, over-the-top opera, with a chorus of opera singers bellowing the 'Jaxx name to a Wagnerian orchestral backing... then it's down to business-as-usual for the band.

 

The inbetween radio broadcast snippets vary from great to irritating, and it's hard to see how they can stand up to repeated plays... you'll end up skipping half the album.

 

The sleeve is typically gorgeous, though. Always a band to take their artwork seriously, it's one of their best.

 

Tracks like Run 4 Cover are just Jaxx by numbers - we've heard it all before. 'Smoke Bubbles', an ode to smoking bongs is great, but the only huge hit single I can see here is the subdued, gorgeous 'Lights Go Down' which shows a softer, more mellow side to the band.

 

Lacking in great collaborations (how could they top Siouxsie, though, I suppose), this album's a major disappointment.

 

2.5 out of 5

I was going to get this, the cover is hypnotising! May wait a while though for other singles if it isnt that good

A rubbish lead single has put me off. I do agree on the cover though, it's fantastic. I picked it up in the shop and found myself scratching the surface because I love it. :lol: :blush:

The 2nd single (the first in Europe) is Take Me Back Tou Your House

 

Video here:

 

Thought this was out next week, has it been brought forward??

'Husy Boy' was wayyyy too 'Oh My Gosh' for my liking (which is a VILE thing), so I'll have to wait to hear a couple of other singles before I even consider getting the album.

The second single is awful should have picked another one.

Not a good come-back for Basement Jaxx, so far.. :(

Apparently "Run 4 Cover" is the best song on the album?

 

This true?

Apparently "Run 4 Cover" is the best song on the album?

 

This true?

 

definitely not - it's one of the worst on there.

 

U R On My Mind is great, as is Smoke Bubbles, but Lights Go Down is probably the best track.

from what I've heard, Hey You is my favourite

I think ill get this on Sunday, I cant resist the Jaxx anymore! I put there GH on earlier, fab

'Hush Boy', although no Jaxx classic, if far better than 'Oh My Gosh' (which got on my t*ts no end!). The album is very much Jaxx all the way - nothing massively groundbreaking - their usual bonkers style. I still think 'Kish Kash' stands as their leat best album, I don't think they do the electro-mellow style very well at all, which their last album really delved into (that should be left to the experts a la Goldfrapp, Royksopp etc).

 

Still a solid album and I'm still gagging to see them in December!

COuldn't agree more - for a band I usually love. I loved Lucky Star too (which didn't seem to do the business in the singles charts) - Hush Boy just doesn't really cut it for me. I'd give the album about half marks too, which is disappointing for a Jaxx album - as they are one of my favourite bands. I think this album si a bit rushed. When I heard the intro I thought the album was destined for great things but - it seems....not.