The problem with Florence And The Machine is Florence Welch herself. Her voice has only one volume and one pitch (loud and shouty) and it starts to grate very quickly indeed.
Other than that pretty major flaw it’s an interesting debut, although many of the ideas present are either rank bad or just half-formed. Florence’s burning desire to be Kate Bush means this album was never going to be better than OK.
Easily the best track here is the lo-fi garage scuzz of Kiss With A Fist. Unsurprisingly, Flo’s vocals are very low in the mix, giving the listener a rare chance to hear something else other than her nauseating voice.
Scenesters will love it, but for everyone else, Florence and her Machine are just too try-hard and annoyingly, willfully eclectic to do anything other than frustrate and irritate.
Scott Goodacre
1 year ago
I quite like this, although the quality of the songs differ wildly throughout the album.
Jamie Smith
1 year ago
Her voice makes it almost unlistenable for me other than two or three songs. Just makes me grind my teeth together.
Steph Cosway
1 year ago
After first hearing ‘Kiss With a Fist’ I instantly hated Florence and the Machine on principle. Indie tends to be my nemesis, however, with such hype I thought I’d give the album a listen. And sorry, but I really like this album. Its quirky, its wrong, its screechy and yes, like you say, it screams Kate Bush wannabe. But hell I just want to sing along to it (badly) at top volume in my car. Kill me now?
Jamie Smith
1 year ago
As I believe they say – there is no accounting for taste.
I know I’m getting old now as I use NME as a not-to-buy guide rather than a to-buy guide. Hmmm.
Steph Cosway
1 year ago
Hahaha! Yes I tend to avoid NME now. To think it and Kerrang used to be my bibles…
StephenMilnes
1 year ago
Saw her, well, heard her, supporting Blur the other week. Bloody awful. Like somebody was violently spinning and cat around by the tail and had taped a microphone to its mouth. Plinky-plonky I’m a twat in stupid clothes who looks like I just fell out of Nathan Barley NME indie guff-storm. Go away. And stop shouting. Please.
Mike Thompson
1 year ago
Flo is simply brilliant.
She is the new Annie Lennox.
Brilliant.
Can’t wait for her nect album.
Keep going Flo you will be as big as Lily Allen!
Tommo (Winchester)
csheerin
1 year ago
No heard the whole album but caught some songs on the radio and live from Glastonbury. Have to agree with JS – her voice just cuts through your soul.
Johnny Mnemonic
1 year ago
Don’t judge Flo+Machine too quickly, the album is the ‘baby’ of at least three producers and ranges from out and out pop, through post punk and into something reminiscent of folk rock of the 60s. If you really want to judge her fairly try to see a live gig and then you’ll get to see the spark of the real Florence. I am old enough to remember many reviews of first album bands over the years, and before anyone puts their foot competely in their mouth let’s wait and see a bit.
Scott Goodacre
1 year ago
I’ve seen her live actually, as has Jamie as I went with him. She was actually awful and I like the album more than I did seeing her live. I’m going to go again later this year now that I’ve heard the album though.
Jamie Smith
1 year ago
Oi – don’t go announcing our dates all over the internet, people will talk.
Neal
8 months ago
Between Two Lungs is a superb track, the standout (IMO) on an album which everyone seems to consider one of the best of 2009.
Its good but far from great, either that or its a terrible year.