Wednesday, April 26, 2006

further listening: 15 - Delays - 'Waste of Space'

Track 15 on the first AgainAgain cd is Delays - "Waste of Space".

Ben says, "It's depressing." But only if you listen to the lyrics, Fuzzy. Otherwise, Greg Gilbert's soaring voice varies between Liz Frazer of the Cocteau Twins and The La's Lee Mavers.

You'll remember The La's from their amazing "There She Goes", which Sixpence None the Richer turned into a tampon commercial. (I've got nothing against tampon commercials per se; it's the awfully bland 'feminine white puffy sheet' soundtracks that irk the hell out of me. /rant)

Speaking of sacharine commercials, 'Long time coming' by Delays was used in a diamond council 'get married all over again' spot recently. Don't get me wrong - the song's fantastic, all 60's Merseyside beats and harmonies - but I'm ambivalent on the use of the song in this commercial- it's neither featured nor really made cool. Just kinda there. I guess I'd really only blanche if the song becomes dinner party music for the couple featured in the commercial. Or, even worse, for their parents.

But the gem of their first CD is 'Hey girl'. Again, it's brimming with Merseyside joy, but this time singer Greg Gilbert (he's got to do something about that name. Greg Gilbert is a guy in accunts receivable, not someone's whose voice soars like this) lays on the falsetto. This, is where the Liz Frazier comparisons come in.

It's gorgeous, it's fantastic, it's the sound of a crush revealed.
Go ahead and download it now, here. 'Hey girl' by Delays.

Read more at metacritic, if you like:
Delays: Faded Seaside Glamour (2004): Reviews: "The Guardian
The first British guitar band in a decade to lay a serious claim to the melodic guitar pop throne invented by the Byrds and the Hollies, and last occupied by the Stone Roses and the La's. "

Download:
'Long time coming'
'Hey girl'

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