Hotel Shampoo

[Tommy BOO]

The new Gruff Rhys album finally dropped through my mailbox this week, and after a few listens I can say that it's really really good. I don't even know why I'm so surprised about that to be honest, perhaps it's got something to do with 'The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness'...

Anyway, Hotel Shampoo is definitely Gruff's best solo record so far, and I think it's up there with some of the best SFA stuff as well. I can't really name any standout tracks on it, all the 13 songs are relatively short and have some catchy hook in them. It's a very pleasant sounding album, albeit a bit melancholic. But that's a good thing.

Did I say that it's a really really good album?
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"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius" -BC

[Melz]

Can't believe it's taken me this long to say anything about this. First time I listened to it, I kind of had it playing in the background and didn't really take much notice of it (shame on me!) But.. I really liked it when I actually listened to it as a collection of individual songs rather than a full album.

Definite highlights for me though are 'Honey All Over' and 'Sensations In The Dark'. Might take me a few more listens before I start rating it all collectively higher than Candylion, but I reckon I will eventually.
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"It's too beautiful to stay inside..."

[Tommy BOO]

I thought that the album sounded a bit boring on my first listen too, but it has definitely grown on me. I can't name any definite highlights on the album, but my lowlights (that's the opposite, isn't it?) are 'Sophie Softly' and 'Conservation Conversation', perhaps 'Take A Sentence' too... but I still quite like even these songs. If I would have to pick a favourite, that would probably be 'If We Were Words (We Would Rhyme)' - I guess I just like pop songs in waltz tempo! ('Waltz #2' by Elliott Smith is totally amazing)

I never liked 'Candylion' that much, it's a good album too but I rarely listen to it anymore. In fact I think I preferred the first Gruff Rhys solo album, the Welsh one which name I can't spell without the help of google...
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"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius" -BC

[discoRdance]

Yr Atal Genhedlaeth is best, Candylion is good, although not quite up with great SFA and I'm struggling with Hotel Shampoo... bit too laid back, maybe. Melodies aren't upto his usual standard, overall.