Martin Newell - The Spirit Cage

It's true enough that The Spirit Cage is more of the same from middle-aged Newell. But sometimes more of the same is good, and sometimes -- not that often, actually -- middle-aged is not synonymous with artistic decline or burnout. On this album, he offers a dozen perky, melodic songs that are witty without playing for laughs. It's not as lo-fi as his numerous cassette-only releases, but it's not overly slick either, and quite heavy on the jangly reverb guitar that he uses well. Songwise, it sounds like it could have just as well been written and recorded by him in 1987 or 1995 as 2000, but there is a somewhat more low-key and less sardonic vibe than he's flashed at some points in the past. Read More