This is Andy White's 11th studio album and the first one I've heard, though I'm not sure it will encourage me to hear any of the others. But then I've not liked anything by the Finn brothers since Split Enz broke up and Andy has apparently worked with them both over the years. If you like Crowded House then you'll probably like this.
From the outset, Andy White comes on like a bargain basement Jazz Butcher. No bad thing in itself and opener Driftin' could easily be a summation of life of an itinerant musician, always moving on. Alternately, it could, as the press release suggests, be about the break-up of Andy's marriage of 15 years.
Separation Street is a decent song about the end of relationships with a nice organ sound underpinning everything as you try to work out if he is really distressed, distraught or happy at the turn of events.
Then things blend into the background as Andy sings several songs that for me bleed into one. They are normally about relationships it's all very pleasant but she might have got him at hello but that's where he lost me with its sneaky bit nicked from The Beatles. Nothing jumps out and says "listen to me!" until the strings impinge a bit on track 6, All It Does Is Rain. Well, apart from a plea to get away, yes I want to get away from this album. It's far too middle of the road for anyone's good.
Everyone's in Love is just wimpy background schmindie that I hope to forget almost before its finished. Not that it's offensive it's just boring beyond a need to hear again. Shakespeare Take My Hand seems to be trying very hard to be mild and perfect for afternoon radio play with its nice strings and decent backing but it's ultimately just rather bland.
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Closest Thing to Heaven might have some cool lyrics but the Pink Floyd-esque music does Andy a disservice, although the fact I hate the Pink Floyd song he's ripping off doesn't help, I guess.
Picture Of You is not the more famous song of the same name but one of regret that the woman of his desires has found someone new and he still wants them back. The strings are cool and he sounds like he really means it, however. It's probably the best thing on the album and it's a great shame it's followed by the worst.
I've wanted to turn this album off before the last song every time I've heard it. This is because the album ends with yet another god-awful tribute song to John Lennon that sounds like fifth rate Oasis trying to sound like the Beatles. I hate it and the sort of assumption we should all treat Lennon as an Icon.
Please if you have to do a tribute song make it less vomit inducing than this and choose someone who hasn't already got heaps of songs about them. Bah.
Andy White online
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