All Artists:Katell Keineg Title:High July Members Wishing: 2 Total Copies: 0 Label:Megaphone Release Date: 10/10/2006 Album Type: Import Genres:Folk, Pop, Rock Style: Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC:666017079523
Synopsis
Album Details
The Worldy-weary Romanticism of Leonard Cohen with Tim Bukley's Slurred Incantations.
CD Reviews
A welcome return
JoAnn Whetsell | Seattle, WA | 11/28/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love Katell Keineg. Since discovering her marvelous album, Jet, years ago I've bought all her other work. I have enough faith in her to buy her albums as soon as they are available without first hearing any clips or reading any reviews, and she has yet to disappoint. Her new release, High July, has been highly anticipated for more than a year and it's worth the wait.
As usual there are a range of styles. The album follows an up and down pattern of upbeat and slow tracks for the first 5 songs. The energy of "What's the Only Thing Worse Than the End of Time?" is followed by the loose meditation of "High Marks." I can see how people can complain that it's meandering. To me it's a very open and evocative song, moving like water. "Shaking the Disease" is a bit like a more sophisticated version of "Franklin" (from O Seasons O Castles) or Jet's "One Hell of a Life." "Beautiful Day" fits as well here as it does on the What's the Only Thing Worse Than the End of Time ep. The sixth song "Captain" remains upbeat with a riff you certainly will want to steal. It's a distinctive mix of pop and art that Katell has carved out, and I love it.
That said, I must admit I've never been completely satisfied with any of her albums. There always seems to be a song or two that leaves me a bit puzzled, that never quite work for me. This is less so on High July, but here those songs finish out the album, which heightens the fact that I like them a little less.
"Little Joe" is spare, haunting, and achingly beautiful. But I think it's also a song that works differently depending on your mood; on the first few listens I found the first 2:29 irritating. "Brother of the Brush," a song narrated by the painter Paul Gauguin, is a quirky, countryish delight. And although I'm always happy to hear less-often-used instruments like the tuba and the accordion in popular music, I agree that "Seven League Boots" is the weakest track. It goes for a jaunty quirkiness and has rousing sing-along choruses which I rather enjoy. It's well-paired with "Brother of the Brush" but still seems a bit out of place on the album. "Te Recuerdo Victor Jara" is very quiet and though it's beautiful, I wish in a way that she had ended the album with something you didn't have to listen so intently to.
But whatever quibbles I have are pretty minor. Overall I think the first half of the album is more accessible than the second half, but it's all well worth listening to. I just hope we won't have to wait so long for the next album.
"
A Wonderful Bridge for her two proper CDs
Cliff Holt | Hartford, CT | 12/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I just (finally) received my copy of 'High July'. I love it as I knew I would. The songs seem to pull ideas from both her two proper Elektra releases but in a more refined and cohesive way.
'...End of Time' showcases her powerful pop chops with beautiful and very strong results.
'On Yer Way' is very delicate and beautiful and leads to a bit of a rousing ending but never bombastic.
'Captain' & 'Shaking The Disease' are the songs reminiscent of Jet that had muscle to them.
'Brother of the Brush' & 'Seven League Boots' recall O Seasons with all their beauty and wit.
Sadly, Katell is one of the highest underrated singer/songwriters of the present day. Her voice is always stunning and pitch perfect. Her lyrics are challenging yet literate and direct. Her music is always unpredictable and beautiful and always works within the context of the song.
I can't recommend this enough - or anything by her for that matter. Call me biased but at least consider this an honest review. Not because I love it - but because others should as well.
(for a swell summation of Katell's career so far - seek out 'The Battle of the Trees'. All the proof is in that song.)"
A brilliant rock album
HLS | Madison, WI | 01/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
""High July" is no "Jet," but it's darn close, hence the five stars. Keineg's voice has matured, as have her compositions. This is an amazing album!
"Shaking the Disease" is already my favorite song of 2005--no questions asked. It's a political rock anthem that deserves top-40 play, not that it will ever get it."
Stellar Album!
Bill | Chicago | 12/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a fan of Katell Keineg's for years. Without a doubt, she is one of the finest singer/songwriters working today - cunning lyrics with crunchy and haunting melodies. High July is a superb album. Some songs, such as What's the Only Things Worse than the End of Time? and Shaking the Disease are instant catchy,alterna-pop gems and are accessible upon the first listen. Captain (Steal this Riff) is a wonderful song, full of life. On Yer Way is an interesting mix of gorgeous harmonies and uncharted eruptions of electric guitar. And then, as with all of Katell's albums, there are pieces that challenge the listener - those with meandering melodies and introspective lyrics. Little Joe grows on you as you listen and then there is Seven League Boots - one of the finest tuba tunes I've ever heard, just fun. However, the crown jewel of this album is Te Recuerdo Victor Jara - a song filled with wails and whispers that will put you in a trance and haunt you again and again and again... Let's hope that Katell is able to serve up more of her work sooner than later!"
Katell strikes again! She never loses a draftsman's touch...
the astral agent | Brooklyn, NY United States | 10/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Lady K" is back with another gorgeous offering after a 7-year gap since her last full scale release. During this period of escaping from the grasp of the multinational giant Elektra label and finding new restriction-free distribution for her-- now 3-- superb albums, she has let no time be wasted. This new record is well worth the (weight) in quality.
"High July" is Katell with her soaring melodic craftsmanship more alike her debut album "O Seasons..." (1994) than the follow-up "Jet" (1997) but combines the sonic sophistication of the latter with the upfront vocal and clear-lyrical strength of the former.
She begins the album with the perfect opening line "I was born with millennium tension/ It's all gone now/ A miracle in trousers/ Took care of that..." and proceeds to ask the musical question, "What's the Only Thing Worse Than The End Of Time?" (unspoken answer: `nothing'). She leaps effectively from poetic uptempo rock to dreamy slow moody numbers, and often within the same song ("on yer way").
Something a critic wrote about Katell's musical efforts on this new album is well-worth sharing: "Hers is still the music of the earth and sky, simple, textured, capable of sparse, tear-stained fragility and storming tempests; that intricate voice, subtle, sensuous arrangements and lyrical depth and emotion coming together with heart-shuddering effect. It's taking longer than it should to become the major international star that is her talent's birthright, but she's getting there."
Revolutionary, artful, hip...tender. What more can you ask from 10 songs? If you've been following the career of this artist, go forth and purchase your copy of the new cyclone of an album. If not, start `on yer way' going from the first through the last. 'CDBaby' has them all available new and not used at a reasonable price.
Only question I had in listening: I did get a pre-release CD at a show which included a song called "I'm In Love With A German Film Star" which would've been a stellar edition to the official release and clearly should have replaced "Seven League Boots" (the only not-so-great song here) as track 9. See if you can download this somewhere to perfect this darn near perfect CD!!"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1