Charlie Simpson // Long Road Home
Simpson goes folk-rock. Not for fans of Busted or Fightstar
Released 4tth August 2014
Charlie Simpson // Long Road Home, Nusic Sounds
The PR blurb for this, the second album from the Busted and Fightstar man, talks of confessionals smoky vocals, Nick Drake and raw acoustic delivery. Well, beyond the acoustic delivery I’m not buying that.
Midlake’s the Trials of Van Occupanther is a reference throughout. Indeed, opener Long Road Home takes the riff and melody from Head Home but doesn’t do anything new with it, whilst Winter Hymns hints at former Midlake frontman Tim Smith covering Neil Diamond. Comets could be Asgeir with Of Monster And Men shouted heys thrown in. Emily combines Crosby Stills & Nash with occasional Elton piano flourishes. Haunted and Blood are the most straight ahead and original songs here, the former peppered with some tasteful electric guitar. Neither has the gravity they seem to think they have. The remainder of the tracks could all be outtakes from Van Occupanther.
This isn’t bad, it is just like a supermarket meringue, fluffy and sweet but lacking substance and, ultimately, unsatisfying. Credit to Simpson for experimenting with his sound and not taking an easy route. He may one day make a great album of real substance. This is not it.
Pavlis (5/10)
Released 4tth August 2014
Charlie Simpson // Long Road Home, Nusic Sounds
The PR blurb for this, the second album from the Busted and Fightstar man, talks of confessionals smoky vocals, Nick Drake and raw acoustic delivery. Well, beyond the acoustic delivery I’m not buying that.
Midlake’s the Trials of Van Occupanther is a reference throughout. Indeed, opener Long Road Home takes the riff and melody from Head Home but doesn’t do anything new with it, whilst Winter Hymns hints at former Midlake frontman Tim Smith covering Neil Diamond. Comets could be Asgeir with Of Monster And Men shouted heys thrown in. Emily combines Crosby Stills & Nash with occasional Elton piano flourishes. Haunted and Blood are the most straight ahead and original songs here, the former peppered with some tasteful electric guitar. Neither has the gravity they seem to think they have. The remainder of the tracks could all be outtakes from Van Occupanther.
This isn’t bad, it is just like a supermarket meringue, fluffy and sweet but lacking substance and, ultimately, unsatisfying. Credit to Simpson for experimenting with his sound and not taking an easy route. He may one day make a great album of real substance. This is not it.
Pavlis (5/10)
