Katy Perry: One of the Boys

Being able to burp the alphabet and choosing guitar over Ballet as described in the title track certainly strike a chord with me. Apparently she also kissed a girl and liked it. Still no complaint from me, in fact that’s quite an achievement for a Californian grown daughter of 2 pastors raised on sweet gospel music. However, I suspect she’s just teasing rather than getting down to some serious girl on girl action, but still, she kissed a girl, and I liked it. Katy’s bright colourful burlesque and sassy image could well just be a brief distraction but as Rob Brydon would say “It’s just a bit of fun”. This may be a little different from my normal musical fare but oranges aren’t the only fruit.

Mercury Rev: Snowflake Midnight

Moody electronic ambience prevails over the psychedelic rock of previous albums and sound effects entwined in the synthesisers bring nature and life to these new recordings. The overall feel of “Snowflake Midnight” is solemn and melancholic, but that suits a contemplative old misery like me.

Cold War Kids: Loyalty To Loyalty

“Loyalty to Loyalty” is the second album from the Californian Indie Rockers whom presumably have taken their name from the generation in which they have grown up. Standout tracks include “Against Privacy” which has a first-rate but distant guitar that sounds like it was recorded in the studio down the corridor while rest of the band meandered though a steady blues number. And “Something Is Not Right With Me” with it’s series of 6 word shouted short sentences that sounds like a White Stripes song with added bass.

Dungen: 4

A scratching Violin is joined by jazzy drums and piano and then a highly distorted guitar and we’re off on a psychedelic freak-out. This Stockholm based 4 piece use drums evocative of Pink Floyd’s “A Saucerful of Secrets” throughout “4” whilst blending their native Swedish folk music with Progressive Rock and Jazz. “Samtidigt1” sets them off into a world of vastly twisted guitars rather like Hendrix going off-piste on spaced out jam whilst other tracks bring the trip down gently with softer piano focused numbers.

Pink: Funhouse

My 12 year old daughter recognised the opening track, “So What”, when I played it today. She doesn’t normally appreciate the dulcet tones emanating from my study, so I’m either getting more hip in her eyes or more likely, I’m starting to loose the plot and need to return to a strict diet of Zeppelin and Floyd. But surprisingly I rather like the brash, in your face appeal of “So What”. Unfortunately, after this opening track the album calms down and at times tries to take itself far too seriously with a string of tedious ballads.