While this blog tends to steer its tiller towards literary content, every so often, the chance comes along to share an artistic review of a different kind, and this is where we find ourselves today.
For, screaming over the horizon, with all cannon blazing, comes something unique. It is the new album by Justin Liquid Anderson – the marvellously monikered “Not Everyone’s Cup O’Tea,” released last week by the fine team at Shambotic Recordings.
If you are a regular visitor to these parts, you may recall meeting our friends at Shambotic Recordings once before. They operate under the straightforward philosophy: “If it’s good, it’s in.”
Given this qualification criteria, I am happy to report that Justin Liquid Anderson smashes it adequately in an undeniably extraordinary release. At the time of writing, I have listened to the album on half a dozen occasions. I have found something different on each listen, and each time I have been entertained and amused in equal measure.
So, the problem I have is this.
It is my understanding that music reviews are generally written by the encyclopedically gifted – people who spot what something sounds like and can identify its roots to the nth degree. Either I cannot do that, in this case, or this long-player is something marvellously unique and eccentric. I am happy to report that I believe it to be the latter.
“Not Everyone’s Cup O’Tea” sounds unlike anything that I have encountered, yet the sound, underpinned by those everso languid vocals, is undeniably Justin Liquid Anderson. It is, I must warn you, catchy as hell. You will hum the tunes at work. You will. And how cool will you look when you tell your co-workers where the tune that they are now humming came from? Perhaps this is why Mr Anderson is liquid – because he will get everywhere.
So what we have here is 34 minutes and 34 seconds of uplifting and joyous earworms. Ten perfectly crafted anthems, one turn of the tap away from soaking you in bubbly, warm water. This album is a jacuzzi for your ear canals. Surely you cannot deny them that pleasure?
We start with “Luv is a crazy game.” This one will pull you in. To paraphrase Anderson, he always knew he’d get you, since the day he met you. Crashing in as track one, this will drag you into the vortex. I found it was easier not to resist – just go with it.
Hot on its heels comes another stonker. “I like everything about you” is glorious, one of my favourites. I would like to describe it as Munsters Rockabilly, and it is cooler than Steve McQueen with a baseball. I particularly love the 50’s style harmonies, which, if life were a movie, would be delivered by sunflowers in mirrored aviators. Trust me on the description. It will make sense.
“Magic Time” follows. This one will also appear on film one day, playing over a US teen beach party. All the cool kids will be having fun, while the clown of the piece will grimace comically when an ice-cream cone inevitably adorns his boat race.
“Koochie Rydes Again” has some lovely jangly guitars and would probably be the tune I would choose to go hot-air ballooning to. It’s slicker than a greased ferret down a drainpipe.
JLA treats us to an instrumental with Track Five, the foot-tap inducing “Good Mood.” It’s well-titled too. Settle in and glide off on the guitars. They’ll take you to better times and warmer climes.
“Fall in Love” is a track that I had heard before sampling this cup of tea, and it rumbles in at number six. It’s great, super and smashing. Minimalist in places, the juxtaposition allows the chorus to soar. “Fall in love with someone; take the chance right now. Change your life for someone!” What a message of selflessness! We can all take something from that.
As we begin to enter the last few furlongs, the energy levels of this runaway stallion of an album do not drop. “Sum1 Wiv Sum1” crashes into the neighbouring meadow rather than simply jumping the fence. There’s some lovely guitar work, which flow in and out over a simple drum pattern. It’s actually rather relaxing.
Next up is the superb “Old England,” which has a bit of “Get Carter” menace and chic to it. While the fella from “Coronation Street” is not thrown from a multi-storey, this track is right on so many levels. (Get your coat, Ed.) It’s a cracker. It’s Old England with a new electro-sound, lifted by a kazoo chorus, which I would like to think is accompanied by the Peking Rip-Saw Orchestra. At least that’s what I would like to imagine Mr Anderson was going for.
I picked up a dash of Polyphonic Spree in Track Nine, simply called “Hey Girl.” It’s like petrichor – you know – that lovely smell that parched land gives off after an unexpected shower. That’s the best way and describe it. Have a listen and see if you get what I mean.
By the time the final track comes around, you will feel like you are saying goodbye to an old friend. This long-player is that good.
The honour of closing the album is given to “Harmony.” This track will get the festival-closing, crowd-hugging call and response, as the collective realises that the present is about to fade into memory. It’s a wholly adequate close to a fantastic body of work.
In reflecting, we must recall that music is about emotional connection and transportation. I found “Not Everyone’s Cup O’Tea” by Justin Liquid Anderson was capable of doing just that. It is joyous, uplifting and full of positive energy. Who could not do a with a spot of that? Best enjoyed with beer, friends and a stout pair of dancing brogues, I cannot recommend it enough. It is certainly a record that I shall return as the summer deepens and the sunshine follows. And failing an appearance by our helio-shy friend, “Not Everyone’s Cup O’Tea” will certainly brighten your day.
“Not Everyone’s Cup O’Tea” is released on Shambotic Recordings. I have pleasure in including a link to the album here or check out Shambotic’s Facebook Page. Go on, you know you want to. (Album link opens in Spotify.)
Simon Gary is not really a music writer, as you can probably tell, but he is the author of the darkly comic novels “Gone to the Dogs” and “Thryke: The Man That Nobody Knew.”