Graham Coxon - The Sky Is Too High > Reviews > Lo Fidelity All Star

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Value for Money

Advantages:	Charming acoustic songs
Disadvantages:	Quality not completely sustained

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Solo albums by members of highly successful rock groups are not always a good thing (see Jagger, Mick or Ashcroft, Richard), but as ever an exception must prove the rule. 'The Sky Is To High' is a charming album, unlike any Blur songs besides the obvious 'You're So Great'. Like YSG this album sounds about as polished as Westlife seem talented.

It begins as it means to carry on with Graham, a guitar and only his fragile voice for company. He may not have the range of Celine Dion, but at least he sounds warm and natural. 'That's All I Wanna Do' is a lovely opener. The album mostly follows this formula of strange chords and mellow guitars.

'Waiting' and 'Me You We Two, paired together in the middle of the album are the most chilled out and least formulaic tracks on the album, but 'Waiting' is definitely the weakest song. It just doesn't get started. But elsewhere their is real quality.

It is amazing to think that Graham didn't write songs sooner. 'A Day Is Far Too Long', complete with indulgence of using an organ, is quite outstanding and definitely my favourite tracks. It is paradoxically uplifingly sad. 'Where'd You Go?' is another track that I really enjoy and it seems to have been recorded in the hallway.

Such is the religious adherence to using acoustic guitars, 'Who The Fuck?' comes as a bolt from the blue. It as almost as if Graham wanted an album that was the antithesis of his electric plugging on Blur releases. But WTF? seems to follow that same Blur rule of having one punk song a la 'Chinese Bombs' or to a lesser extent 'Globe Alone'. It is a raging bull of a song. The drums are superb and the riff is nigh on impossible to play.

As it turns out it is a good taster for Grahams second album 'The Golden D', an album that doesn't live up to its predecessor in my opinion. TSITH was written and recorded in a weekend of detoxification for Graham and you can tell. "I thought pain was clean / I thought hearts were strong / But bones aren't sticks anymore / And A day is far too long". These words epitomise the hung-over lethargic sound of this album. It is a beautiful and charming sound too.

It ends with a song recorded on a dictaphone (lo-fi or what?). Graham seems to be aping Robert Johnson with 'Mornin' blues'. One guitar genius impersonating another? I think so, but I know who I'd rather listen to.