Top Ten Albums of 2012 - #3
Ben Howard's Every Kingdom
Editor's Note: This is the 8th in a quasi-weekly series of reviews marking my favorite ten albums of 2012. The 10th edition is wrapped into the larger year-end post I call "The Ho Media Awards", which will be published just after the new year. Stay tuned!
Chase's departure from "House, M.D." in the final season was tracked with the closing song on this album, "Promise." It gave me chills. "House" brought me several good bands or songs during its eight year run, but I'm not sure it brought me anything better than Ben Howard.
I think of Ben as the anti-Matt Nathanson. Matt is more of a chord-driven songwriter, keeping the songs casual, simple affairs. Good campfire music. Ben plays his guitar like a harp, in that his songs are driven by complex melody lines picked out one string at a time. It's not just good sounding music. It's music that makes you sit back and appreciate the level of technical prowess required to write and play such multilayered songs. And if his busy fingers weren't enough, the body of the guitar is often his percussion section as well (especially live).
The song selection comprising this album is exceptional. It's one of those rare albums that transcends the current setting or emotional state of the listener. It's just as good on a beach in summer as it is in the background of your Thanksgiving festivities. Naturally I tend to gravitate toward the darker songs; the trio that closes the album - "Black Flies," "Gracious," and "Promise" - can often be heard looped in my office.
I just learned about the EP he released about a month ago while pulling this post together. It's called The Burgh Island EP and is intended to give us something new to chew on while he's in the studio working on the next LP. It sounds pretty ominous, so naturally, I'm sold.
Of all of the albums I've recommended throughout the year, this has received the most positive feedback. Do yourself a favor and blow some Christmas cash on it.
Album Highlights: In addition to everything mentioned above, listen to "Diamonds," "The Wolves," and "The Fear."
Chase's departure from "House, M.D." in the final season was tracked with the closing song on this album, "Promise." It gave me chills. "House" brought me several good bands or songs during its eight year run, but I'm not sure it brought me anything better than Ben Howard.
I think of Ben as the anti-Matt Nathanson. Matt is more of a chord-driven songwriter, keeping the songs casual, simple affairs. Good campfire music. Ben plays his guitar like a harp, in that his songs are driven by complex melody lines picked out one string at a time. It's not just good sounding music. It's music that makes you sit back and appreciate the level of technical prowess required to write and play such multilayered songs. And if his busy fingers weren't enough, the body of the guitar is often his percussion section as well (especially live).
The song selection comprising this album is exceptional. It's one of those rare albums that transcends the current setting or emotional state of the listener. It's just as good on a beach in summer as it is in the background of your Thanksgiving festivities. Naturally I tend to gravitate toward the darker songs; the trio that closes the album - "Black Flies," "Gracious," and "Promise" - can often be heard looped in my office.
I just learned about the EP he released about a month ago while pulling this post together. It's called The Burgh Island EP and is intended to give us something new to chew on while he's in the studio working on the next LP. It sounds pretty ominous, so naturally, I'm sold.
Of all of the albums I've recommended throughout the year, this has received the most positive feedback. Do yourself a favor and blow some Christmas cash on it.
Album Highlights: In addition to everything mentioned above, listen to "Diamonds," "The Wolves," and "The Fear."
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