8. GlasvegasGlasvegas
Glasvegas have taken the Jesus And Mary Chain’s Velvet Underground meets Phil Spector sound, and just done it again. But better. I think the first Glasvegas album is better than the Jesus And Mary Chain ever were. For sheer power and simplicity of the drum and basslines. Maybe I have a soft spot as my Dad’s from Glasgow and the fact that James sings in such a strong Glaswegian accent. Lyrically, I think it’s not just the melancholy; it goes to my desire for somebody to do something different. He sings songs about things that nobody I’d ever heard sang about. About how he was going to feel older after his father left, and in very simple terms, “All I wanted was a kick about in the park/ For you to race me home when it was nearly getting dark” – very juvenile, very childish, as if he was looking back at being eight years old or whatever it was. It rips your fucking heart out. ‘Geraldine’: “I need to make sure you know that’s just the prescription talking… My name is Geraldine, I’m your social worker.” Nobody had really written lyrics like that before – it’s fucking brilliant. I think that first album is one of the greatest set of songs ever done by a rock band. And I fucking hate rock bands.
