I've heard both the 14th and the 21st as release dates for Isidore.
I have the album and wrote most of the following after an initial two listens.
I listened to this through twice...with an hour or so between. This is still very much of an initial assessment...it's mostly picking out the things that struck me -- for good or for bad -- and often the most satisfying bits take much longer to surface for me. Also, I generally don't pay close attention to lyrics on the first few listens...sometimes they do stand out though -- rather I try to get an overall feel for the songs.
The Privateer -- Very cinematic...I felt as if I was watching the beginning of a grand, expensively produced movie in a big theatre. Really like it. The first time through I did find the background voice/chatter at the end annoying (although I found them effective at the beginning of the song) and felt it went on too long. One second listen I didn't find that nearly as annoying and the outro seemed a lot shorter.
Life Somewhere Else -- this one I immediately liked. Liked on first listen, liked more second time around.
Old Black Spirit -- I expected it to be more angry. It feels more sad and bewildered, which I think is actually more effective.
Recoil -- more bite to this one.
Oh My Sky -- First time through I didn't care for this at all. Second time through I found I really liked the music, but found the lyrics early on clunky. The last few minutes of the song really grew on me though, especially the second time through. Still don't think the lyrics in the song among SK's best.
Just Dust -- When it first started I though oh fuck I'm going to hate this one, but I actually enjoyed it a lot. I was surprised.
Belle in Mid Air -- Breezy and sunny...until you actually listen to the lyrics. Effective.
The Headlight Child -- perhaps it was because I had a headache, but I found the drum sound way too loud and prominent. I'll have to listen without a headache....
Initially I found the middle of the album the weakest -- Reappearance and Oh My Sky didn't thrill me on first listen -- but upon a second listen I'm not so sure that is correct. The Headlight Child (3rd listen now -- still with headache) is still bugging me.... The Kilbey Kennedy albums are very consistent...lovely all the way through. MK's music seems to bring out the beautiful in Steve's voice, and they are very appealing immediately. This album has more stylistic variation which makes it less immediate for me. Nothing I hate -- I didn't get any unbearable urge to skip any songs -- which is always a very positive sign. It's a good album...very good. Is it one of SK's very best to me? That's going to take more time and listens...which isn't bad at all.
Upon a few more listens I think I could drop a few songs from the album and still be very happy with it. It's not that I hate them (The Headlight Child still bugs me for the same reasons it did initially), it's more that the album is long and I wouldn't really miss them within the context of the album. I'd like them as bonus songs though. So that's a very minor point for me. Plus I saw a review by someone else who thought The Headlight Child was the best song on the album, so it's a good thing for him it's on there. :-)
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