Chris T-T - 9 Green Songs
7/10
Formerly of Norwich’s own Magoo, Chris T-T released his solo debut Beatverse in 1999. Nine albums later, he has achieved intermittent critical acclaim but never crossed over to the mainstream. That is not to denigrate his importance to and influence on the alternative scene.
9 Green Songs mixes Squeeze style socially aware pop with Kinksesque music hall, folksy Billy Bragg declaiming and Half Man Half Biscuit surrealism. #WorstGovernmentEver is a rambunctious shoutalong. Love Me, I’m A Liberal takes a pot-shot at those politicos whose words speaker louder than their actions over vaudeville piano. Hallucinating is a Home Counties take on Courtney Barnett’s Pedestrian At Best. Over a disquieting rhythm, Cutting A Longbow is a Southern John Cooper Clarke. Highlight is the anti-commuting, accordion lead hoedown that is A Garden On The Motorway. Unfortunately, the a cappella Admit Nothing and sub-Pop Will Eat Itself electrofuturism of Admit Nothing let the side down. Normal service is resumed with the glorious piano ballad that is The Border Crossing.
This doesn’t quite capture the sheer lo-fi joy of T-T’s early days and isn’t a classic. With its thought-provoking, sometimes humorous, songs this is, by most artists’ standards, a fine album. Quite frankly, T-T should be accorded national treasure.
7/10
