BAXTER DURY- LEN PARROT'S MEMORIAL LIFT (ROUGH TRADE)

Baxter Dury is actually the son of Ian Dury (of Blockheads' fame), but this is NOT a case of like father, like son. The songs are languid, dreamy, and atmospheric with instrumentation and vocals that remind me of Belle and Sebastian or recent Flaming Lips (think strings, pianos, epic arrangements). This is quality mellow pop. The male falsetto can be grating, and there are some forgettable tracks, but, when the tracks are good, you just want to curl up and listen. -RML

*1*- my favorite: eerie, sad, and epic; FCC (unfortunately, but it's barely distinguishable); haunting female vocals and an odd male falsetto; picks up when female vocals briefly take over; strings, piano, guitars, etc. join in
*2*- my second favorite: sleepy and beautiful; muffled vocals with strings that build and subside; almost alt-country at choruses with female harmonies and slide guitar; grand finale
*3*- a mid-tempo romp, very Belle and Sebastian; peppy guitar and male/female vocals; strings and effects finish out the track
4-spacey and mellow: kinda Flaming Lips? minimal intro with acoustic guitars and male vocals; effects and layered harmonies at choruses; cheezy guitar solo but never mind.....
5-similar in feeling to 4: piano instead of acoustic guitar, but the same spacey feel to the choruses; becomes more structured as percussion joins in; very pretty ending
6-not my favorite: a little more rockin' with a slight Beatles feel; guitars plod along with prominent male vocals; a silly and repetitive chorus "be youself"
7-nothing special: subdued and dreamy; organ and hushed harmonies; an impossibly low voice chimes in midway (sort of a soulless/British Barry White)
*8*-another pop gem: an upbeat beginning (male vocals, organ) leads into an ominous and gorgeous finale (layered guitars and "frantic" percussion)
9-more upbeat and dreamy, but obvious FCC; pianos accompany male vocals: peppy bass and bright piano chords make the choruses very cheerful; huge, sparkling finale