Stuart A Staples - Leaving Songs

[Psychocandy]

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I've been a fan of Tindersticks ever since I caught the video that accompanied their Bathtime single on MTV. The next day I went out and bought their first three albums and spent the next six months soaking in the majestic melancholy sounds I found therein. My obsession continued to grow with each subsequent album and never really peaked. As a band their albums are like gold mines that just keep coughing up nuggets with a dependability that most other bands would do well to envy.

Things have been a bit fallow for a few years where Tindersticks are concerned with an inaugural solo outing (Lucky Dog Recordings)from lead singer Stuart A Staples proved slightly disappointing. Fortunately he's significantly redressed the balance with his sophomore effort, the recent Leaving Songs. This is a masterpiece. Ten songs of unparalleled genius (am I giving this the hard sell or what?). Seriously though. I know that there are a lot of fellow schmoes who would dig this real bad. It's a great album brimming over with soulful melancholy. Perfect late night listening. I'll post a couple of the highlights in a wee while.

[bowieee]

Ooh I love me some tindersticks. I'll definetly be snagging myself a copy of this.
Psychocandy does he go with a more stripped down approach than with the tindersticks?

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by bowieee
Ooh I love me some tindersticks. I'll definetly be snagging myself a copy of this.
Psychocandy does he go with a more stripped down approach than with the tindersticks?

A little. But only a little. The sound is still pretty lush. One thing that does demand mentioning is the presence of two outstanding duets. "The Road Is Long" with Maria McKee and "That Leaving Feeling" with Lhasa De Sela. The latter is up there with the very best duets Stuart has recorded as lead singer with Tindersticks. And being a fan you'll know that that is high praise indeed. And I don't know whether it was intentional but the first duet occurs four songs in and the last four songs from the end. This provides the album with a delightful symmetry. This is seriously good stuff. I'll admit that I was somewhat disappointed by Stuarts debut solo album but this has actually succeeded in driving me to give it another shot in case I was mistaken. Perhaps there are depths that remain untapped there. I hope so.

[bowieee]

O.K. I'll post my musings on the subject once it arrives in the mail.
Thanks for the heads up psychocandy.