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I Am KlootGods And Monsters Echo/Liberation I Am Kloot's 2001 debut, 'Natural History', is a bona fide classic. I mean it. Think 'Abbey Road', 'Dark Side Of The Moon', 'Nevermind', 'Natural History'. Of course, there is one small problem: nobody I meet seems to have ever heard of I Am Kloot, and most people think I'm insane when I mention it. That aside, it gives me great pleasure to think that four years ago I discovered an album that people would consider one of the greats, if only they knew. Then last year saw the release of the follow-up, simply titled 'I Am Kloot', which, in being merely a fucking excellent release and one of the albums of the year, was a bit of a disappointment. Thankfully, 'Gods And Monsters', the British trio's third album, is something of a return to form. It's not in the same league as 'Natural History', but then, very little is. However, it certainly has that classic potential. Just like its predecessor, it is an amazing album from start to finish, but also has four or five songs that really stand out as three-minute masterpieces. First track No Direction Home has a guitar line to die for and An Ordinary Girl is a lyrical narrative which seems strikingly like it could be a soliloquy to a dark musical. But it's Strange Without You, the album's two-minute centrepiece, that brings it up another level. That song has taken on its own personal resonance in my life (this album really came at the right time), but the sheer passion and anxiety with which Johnny Bramwell screams those magically simple words has single-handedly made my last fortnight seem okay. If you're into English, white-boy, alcohol-drenched bluesy acoustic pop music (and you know you are), don't ignore this band and don't ignore this album.  |
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