Net Music Review

Queen of Denmark - John Grant

Jamie T has been described as "Artic Monkeys crossed with The Streets doing their best Joe Strummer impression" and you wouldn't be far off with that. This is an unmistakeably British album telling stories in a typically British way, celebrating British life (of sorts) in a quirky manner, which is so very…British. This debut and artist are guaranteed to worm their way into your affections and stay there for a very long time.

First, some background; John Grant emerged from the break up of his band The Czars where over the course of 9 months all of the members left. Persuaded back into the studio by Midlake, fans of Grants, from his job of waiting tables the two combined to produce some stunning results. Recorded over two sessions in late 2008 and mid 2009 we are presented with deeply personal lyrics and what, some have described as 70's soft rock. (Something with which I disagree)

Opening with the delicate guitar of TC And Honeybear Grant's majestic voice croons over everything sounding like a softer Eddie Vedder mixed with a little Michael Stipe. There are certainly hints of later day R.E.M. on both this (I'm thinking Daysleeper) and on second track Marz which starts with a piano line that sounds as if it could be borrow from Tubular Bells. Guitar and strings take over and Grant's lyric starts off as if written by Stipe himself, "Bittersweet, Strawberry, Marshmallow, Butterscotch". The song is beautifully crafted and seems to soar high above everything and some of the melodies leave you breathless. Where Dreams Go To Die starts off with a slow, foreboding piano, something you might find in a late night wine bar before Midlake all join in to create a plodding, melodic tune that seems to tug at your heartstrings. Sigourney Weaver, despite the somewhat tacky title, has a sense of grandeur about it and also manages to fit in a reference not only to the Alien actress but also to Wynona Ryder.

Chicken Bones kicks off with funky guitar and piano and has a kind of spiky, loose feel about it and a killer chorus. It leads almost seamlessly into Silver Platter Club which sound, to me at least, vaguely like the Cheers theme tune! It is however a charming song, sounding like Paul McCartney at his campest with its bouncy piano and bassline. It's Easier is mid tempo, confessional song dealing with relationships and finding, guess what, the easy way out. It's well paced and sits well in the middle of the album.

One of the highlights of the album, and there are many, is the boldly titled Jesus Hates Faggots. Starting with 80's-esque synths we are treated to Grant's most brutal lyric of the album dealing with growing up gay in conservative America. The lyrics are clever and witty whilst packing a hard punch lines like "Jesus, he hates faggots son, we told you that when you were young, pretty anyone you want him to, like niggers, spicks, redskins and kikes" Pretty scathing stuff. The album closes with the beautiful, title track, Queen of Denmark. Just backing piano with Grant's startling confessional lyric, building to a crescendo each chorus. Leaves you begging for more.

Truly one of the highlights of 2010, musically speaking, it was while listening to this with a friend one evening, after, erm, some bottles of wine that led us to dub John Grant as "Jack Johnson with undertones of the Beatles and overtones of the Scissor Sisters". Well, maybe we were a little off, but over the course you may be able to see where we were coming from. A great album none the less.