Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Josh's Favorite Albums of 2010: #6 Codeine Velvet Club - Codeine Velvet Club

Josh’s Top 15 Favorite Albums of 2010

#6 – Codeine Velvet Club - Codeine Velvet Club

First off. Worst. Band name. Ever. Okay, now that I got that off my chest, here’s an intro to Codeine Velvet Club. As with Slow Club (The “Club” thing is just a coincidence. I think.), this is one of those album released in the UK in 2009 but didn’t get here until the spring of 2010 so I’m counting it. But anyway, CVC was a side project from Fratellis front man, Jon Fratelli. Their sound is basically the Fratellis + jazz band. Sorta. Oh but you might not know The Fratellis. Right. You know, they did that song that was in this iTunes commercial from a few years ago. That solves that.

No but seriously, their debut, 2006’s Costello Music, is one of my favorite releases of the past five years and they did put out a good number of great singles. Too bad the 2008 follow-up, Here We Stand, was a bit of a letdown but such is the sophomore slump. But with songs like “Chelsea Dagger”, “Henrietta”, “Whistle For The Choir”, and I could keep on going, they had quite the output. Point is, there was a lot to like from this band and then…nothing. Then one day it comes out that Jon’s now fronting a new band that also features a female vocalist (Lou Hickey), so I was intrigued.

So with the run-up, how’s the new stuff, you may ask? It’s still painfully apparent that they are mostly Jon’s songs, just with a twist as not only are Lou’s vocals, which appear in almost all of the songs as either the lead or providing harmonies, but lots of mini-horn sections as well to put a stamp on this being more than just “The Fratellis 2” which is a good thing. It’s not bad to step away and try out something a little different and that is the case here. Anyway, both lead singles, “Vanity Kills” and the follow-up “Hollywood” are absolutely stunning, and two of my favorites from this year. Jon has a wonderful knack for melody and hooks like almost nobody else and Lou’s vocals add a dimension not found in The Fratellis.

Anyway, this would normally be where I’d say I’m looking forward to their next album but by this past summer Jon had already moved on to a proper solo career as he not only gave the axe to CVC but also said that The Fratellis are on indefinite hiatus. Oh well, we still this gem of an album. Enjoy a few videos.

Hollywood