Lucky Bishops - Grimstone

  by Geraint Jones

published: 17 / 9 / 2002

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Originally from Weymouth, Dorset, the Lucky Bishops had until recently been resident in one of the deeper corners of the county. More precisely, in an old stone cottage named ‘Grimstone’. Despite the fact that the aforementioned has sadly since collapsed, fortunately after the band had vacated the property, the foundations of the album that bears it’s name are much more substantial. You could be forgiven for perhaps having certain preconceptions about the album based on the title, but forget any ideas of dark and foreboding straight away; ‘Grimstone’ is a collection abundant in inventive, psychedelically hued pop music. A four-piece band, three of whom write the material for the band, all of whom sing vocals, though not necessarily all at once, the Lucky Bishops are a band in the truest sense of the word. ‘Grimstone' The band’s second album is undoubtedly a collaborative effort rather than the vision of one man and some other musicians along for the ride. I’d read good things about the band’s self-titled debut a few years ago and having neglected to pick up a copy at the time, will definitely have to backtrack and sort out that oversight soon. Teeming with tunes, quirky unexpected time signatures, accomplished musicianship that’s clever without being too showy and intriguing lyrical twists the album is also a great deal of fun. For me it ought to be the likes of the Lucky Bishops that get all the plaudits rather than the over-hyped and overblown likes of Coldplay or Doves. There may be plenty of detectable references at play here, from XTC and early Pink Floyd to more recent fare like Cotton Mather, Super Furry Animals and Ooberman, but the Lucky Bishops have more than enough of their own identity to easily hold their own in such esteemed company. ‘Grimstone’ is undoubtedly one of the best British albums released this year. At risk of belittling the album with that statement I think a few more listens and I’ll probably drop the British from that sentence.

Track Listing:-

1 You Come Alive
2 Doppleganger
3 The Children
4 Find Out
5 In Everything I Saw
6 Life In Hell
7 Napoleon
8 Wait For No One
9 Pigeon
10 Rock Stars
11 Strange Times
12 I Hate This Town

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