Lost Sides, The Doves, EMI
Since its inception in 1998, Doves has worked tirelessly to cultivate an atmospheric and deeply emotive sound, one that seamlessly blends overt electronic flourishes with rock ‘n’ roll. Their first two albums, Lost Souls and The Last Broadcast, have earned them fame in their native country and a cult following Stateside. On top of that, their third and most recent release, Lost Sides, is a collection of outtakes and B-sides so strong that it could almost be regarded as an album in its own right.
How does one account for their success? One explanation is that the Doves hail from Manchester, the gritty, industrial city in North England that has become a music capital on par with the likes of New York and London. Manchester has certainly seen more than its fair share of top-notch music from the Northern Soul movement to the post-punk revolution to the druggie, acid house of the ‘Madchester’ scene. While not really known for its aesthetics, (Liam Gallagher describes it as “the hole where I was born,”) the Doves nonetheless spent their youth absorbing a unique and rich musical spectrum in Manchester. This great versatility is a persistent theme in all of Doves’ output, especially Lost Sides, which sees the band taking chances and testing the status quo.
The highlight of Lost Sides is “Darker,” which is an ominous mix of melodious guitar, tight drumming, and roaring bassline. Other great songs include “Hit the Ground Running,” a catchy and danceable rock anthem, and “Down to Sea,” an intriguing recut of the gorgeous “Sea Song” from Lost Souls. “Far From Grace” is a slow ballad so delicately beautiful that one wonders why it wasn’t included on an album. Also, the first pressing of Lost Sides comes with a second CD of previously unreleased remixes of Doves hits; Four Tet’s rework of “M62 Song” and the Soulsavers remix of “Satellites” are both electronic masterpieces.
At times, one must remember that Lost Sides is not a complete album, but only a collection of B-sides. Some of the songs such as “Northerend” sound underdeveloped, while others like “Crunch” simply miss the mark. Still, the compilation is highly enjoyable, and it’s amazing that Doves have this much brilliant material left over after releasing only two LPs.
—Patrick J. Thomas
Seven’s Travels, Atmosphere, Epitaph
It’s a classic music industry story: an underground group slowly gains a devoted fan base. With their increasing exposure comes more commercial success until the group finally “sells out” and succumbs to the pressure to join a mainstream label. They make their music friendly to the masses, and in doing so alienate their former fans.
This was almost the story for Minneapolis-based rap group Atmosphere. Starting out on the independent Rhymesayers label, Atmosphere’s unique sound and lyrics have won them attention for years. For their latest release, Seven’s Travels, the group signed on with Epitaph records, inciting skepticism from die-hard fans who feared that the group might be the next big thing on Total Request Live.
Seven’s Travels, however, is an innovative recording for fans both old and new. It should convince lovers of underground hip-hop that “mainstream” is not synonymous with “awful.” It will also prove to the rest of the population that Eminem isn’t all that white rap has to offer.
Atmosphere consists of producer Ant, rapper Slug, and contributions from other talented rappers such as Eyedea and Murs. The group’s trademark has always been lyrics that inspire one to sit down and think. Seven’s Travels sets these lyrics against a backdrop of rhythms that will make listeners want to get up and dance. The group is evolving, and Ant’s beats complement Slug’s rhymes even better than on past recordings.
Each song has its own specific flavor, and listeners will find a new favorite every time they play the album through. Standouts are the rap-rock fusion of “Cats Van Bags” and the jazzy, romantic, “Good Times.” With emotionally-charged lyrics and acoustic guitar, “Always Coming Back Home to You” is likely to appeal to indie-rock fans. Aside from these tracks, be sure to listen for some untitled surprises.
Seven’s Travels shows its fans that Atmosphere is an amazing group despite not being so underground anymore.
—Abigail J. Lavin
