John Grant – Queen of Denmark (Bella Union)
3/5
By: Keri Kennedy
Is a four – yes, four – page press release too much? Much like submitting your CV, surely two sides of A4 is enough before the reader gets bored or gives up and moves on? In this case, being put off an album before even taking it out of its sleeve has left John Grant with an unfair disadvantage. On press release information alone, Queen of Denmark sounds like a cheesy soundtrack to an Augusten Burroughs novel - it has everything from growing up as a homosexual with your father and school peers hating you, to years of alcohol and cocaine addiction. Too harsh? Maybe. Or perhaps, just too much information for one record?
The former songwriter with the Czars has teamed up with the much acclaimed Texans Midlake, who provide their usual unashamedly Seventies backdrop to twelve songs depicting a troubled life of said addictions and growing up in a homophobic town.
‘TC And Honeybear’ is a sad story of an impossible relationship, complete with flute and operatic backing vocals - it wouldn’t seem out of place on TV biopic about The Carpenters. The oddly titled ‘Sigourney Weaver’ harks back to when Grant was picked on at high school for being gay; he used to imagine himself as the actress battling against the aliens. The overdubbed vocals and crystal clear production are a perfect impression of the 70s rock of Chicago. It’s almost so serious you take it as anything but.
‘Chicken Bones’ leans towards early Elton John – the vocal is uncanny at times – as with a piano and harpsichord backing, Grant tells the story of his days living in Brooklyn. Even though at times bleak this is a high point of the album, while ‘JC Hates Faggots’ takes us back down to the low point of suicide. With its squelching dark synths, the song is the furthest from the 70s sound of the rest of the album that they reach. It’s a story of growing up in a religious family and contemplating suicide after being told ‘Jesus hates homos son…. and when we win the war on society I hope your blind eyes will be open then you'll see’. It’s a difficult song to listen to, and presumably, a pretty difficult one to sing as well.
Queen of Denmark is a difficult album. Musically, it’s light-hearted soft rock (which the Midlake hardcore will lap up), however lyrically Grant pours his heart, soul and entire life out for everyone to hear. This is a record which the current fans of Grant have probably been waiting for, and though it is worth putting in the effort, newcomers might struggle to get along with it on first listen.
Artists in this article: John Grant
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