Beirut.

I'd previously only heard Feels and the campfire songs side project and hated them. But I love the new record and I've since investigated the record before Feels and I think it's deadly. They're certainly not conventional anyway.

Fantastic band. Only starting to grow on me lately since Aidan posted that "Take Away Show" clip in his Blog.

"The Enemy" alone are enough to persuade me of the thesis of the original poster, sadly.

LOL! I'm with you on that front - the singer looks like a f**king wet rat & the music's atrocious... add to the list Pigeon Detectives, Wombats, Cribs, Maccabees & the Kooks and the state of British music looks pretty dismal.

... Still, can it all be as bad as in the days of Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine?!?!?!

Not sure quiet what to make of Beirut. The album is decent, i really like songs of italy, but its just an american kids take on romanov culture, and when you listen to what hes copying it really comes off second fiddle i think. put on Beirut with Taraf de Haidouks (legends!) or Bratsch, and there is absolutely no comparison.

The best thing about Beirut, i think, is that its turning people on to a hugely ignored part of music. Its a pity Beirut (and Hawk and a hacksaw) focus on the melancholy aspect though.

His new record stepped back from the Balkin thing quite a bit. Much more of a baroque French pop vibe to it. In fact I had a little chat to Owen Pallett about it at the EP as he did some of the string arrangements. He said his one remit was to make things sound "more French".

Beirut just being an American kid doing a take on romanov culture is probably a fair enough comment, however I just take the record as it is as I have no real knowledge of Romanov culture. If it turns people on to this stuff, great. On the other hand I think a most people won't neccesarily dig much further, myself included to be honest.

Back to the actual topic itself. I take it all back having stumbled across this lot lately



Sure, there is nothing revolutionary about it, it's not going to turn the music world on its head, but it's a great tune, and that, for now at least, is good enough for me.

That song does my head in - it's like the Concretes with an Orbital style riff in it.. that SHOULD be a good thing, but it doesn't work for me. Best tune I've heard in a long while is that one Killers did with Lou Reed.. dunno what it's called though.

havent heard the new record, will look into it.

My point about the Romanovs, was about the original post and being "berefit of ideas" Beirut might be a good band, but they hardly got new ideas. someones only job being to make something sound "more french" is a little odd?

CSS have a lot to answer for

Apart from only having 2 good songs on a really s**t LP, that is!

Not sure what that comment has to with anything, but CSS are just a poor mans Chicks on Speed.

"CSS are just a poor mans Chicks on Speed"

no way dude. Do Chicks on Speed have tunes better than 'Let's Make Love...', 'Alala', 'Off The Hook', and 'Music Is My Hot Hot Sex'? CSS are a great band, if completely over-exposed.