Steven Mark - Racing Grey

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 22 / 7 / 2007

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I was one of those who was knocked sideways by New Yorker Steven Marks’ last album ‘Aloneaphobe’ and have to admit that this album although eagerly awaited was, on the first play, a little disappointing. With ‘Aloneaphobe’ I was smitten from the off, for the most part anyway. While others made references of Elliott Smith and The Byrds which were pretty much spot on I also had to add in a couple of not so obvious 60's influences in Mark’s vocals. They seem to be missing this time and the songs take a little more time to register than I remember the tunes on ‘Aloneaphobe’ taking. That said these songs are still first class and Mark’s way with words and melodies has not diminished; in fairness had this album come before ‘Aloneaphobe’ then no doubt it would have been given a much more favourable review but that second album from Mark was so exceptional that it would have taken something along the lines of an album of the year to match it song for song. There’s a harder edge to some of these songs. ‘Our Sun Must Set’ for example would have sounded out of place on ‘Aloneaphobe’ and it’s not so easy to see where Mark is coming from lyrically on this song, the end of a relationship or the loss of a child maybe. His previous set also had it’s share of oblique lyrics but on the whole lyrically it was easier to understand. But, thankfully, Mark’s vocals still have that sweet sound to them, not totally unlike the aforementioned Elliott Smith, and that warmness that comes through in his voice is still very much evident as are te Beatles harmonie. ‘Take Your Place Now’ is a prime example of this. In fact something happens during that song which appears almost mid-way through the album. Whatever it was that made that previous album so special starts to make an appearance on this song and it makes a showing on the following song, the political ‘Gods On High’, which is a highlight of the album with Mark’s sweet vocals and jangly guitar sound belying the seriousness of the lyrics. Then the biggest surprise of the album follows; a cover of Bacharach and David’s ‘Always Something There To Remind Me’ made famous in the U.K. way back in 1964 by Sandie Shaw ( brought back into the limelight by the Smiths in the 80's) although probably better known to our American cousins by the Dionne Warwick version. Mark slows the song right down and those 60's vocal inflections I mentioned in my review of ‘Aloneaphobe’ again can be made; I knew I didn’t imagine it. The song takes on a completely new stance. In some strange way Mark has added years to the song. Shaw’s version was of a young girl maybe mourning the loss of a first love; Mark’s has all the longing and hurt of someone who has lost a love all too often. From then on in the album just gets better and better. ‘Angel’s World’, ‘I Never Saw You’ and so on; it just gets better and each song is a match for anything on ‘Aloneaphobe’. Maybe it just takes the first few plays of this new album to appreciate where Mark is coming from now. It’s only been two short years since he made that second album but during those 24 or so months Mark’s writing seems to have matured, his melodies are not so instantly catchy these days and lyrically he demands more thought. That’s no bad thing of course but it does take a while to accept the ‘new’ Steven Mark. If you’re looking for a taster from this album check out the video for ‘Paris Hilton Generation’ that’s doing the rounds on the internet. Apart from being a good video the song is representative of the sound Mark is making just now. Listening to the album from the start now the second half has gotten under my skin it makes more sense. It’s still debateable if the album as a whole is as good as its predecessor but with each and every play it’s edging nearer and nearer.

Track Listing:-

1 Abingdon Square
2 Numb Yourself Inside
3 Forever Tonight
4 Our Sun Must Set
5 So Look Away
6 Take Your Place Now
7 Gods on High
8 Always Something There To Remind Me
9 Angel's World
10 Father Journeys On
11 I Never Saw You
12 Paris Hilton Generation
13 The Mountain

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