We FINALLY got our copy of Bobby Flynns debut album, woowoo! But in all serious we are very nervous to listen to it since he only made the Top 7 of Aussie Idol!
BOBBY FLYNN
Track 1- Any Means -"Cruisy". Any Means is a familiar song to us becuase we've heard it on Australian Idol, but even then this summery track is still refreshing. " It's a great day to pack up the car" and that's exactly what this song is perfect for. Relaxing on a porch or cruising to the beach.
Track 2 - Fire Me Away - "Sway-y" The soft guitar chords at the begining of the song esclate up so sublimely into Bobby Flynns raspy vocals, ballads are usually boring to us but the soft whirlpool in this song has us swaying along to the very-Bobby lyrics like "if we run to the aching". Touching.
Track 3 - Under The Milky Way - "Upbeat/Reggaeic". A familiar tune to us not just from the original but due to Bobbys performance on Idol in 2006. But this clean, studio produced vesion has us wanting to walk down the street with it blaring in our ears. Like U2 if they weren't mainstream, or Coldplay if they were any good (at all). But with a strong twinge of The Police. But really, Bobbys voice is so unique you can't place it anywhere.
Track 4 - Human - "Sexy Foreplay to -Rabbit Humping". This song is a metaphor for sex. It starts of all confusing, then you connect, and slow, sexy foreplay keeps your occupied through the sensual, silky beat, Flynns voice also somewhat sexier. You start to undress and feel exposed at the hint of vocoda which raises more than eyebrows. A twitch then a twang later and your on your knees. Ok before you think we are getting out of hand with this review, then you start humping like rabbits at the 3:09 mark for about -40 seconds... well, isn't that how long it usually takes?
Track 5 - Out Of The Blue - "Folky Afrikaan". Immediately we feel out of the blue, or this song more so. Sing, lalalalla la lala laa, we're loving this! We almost HAVE to dance. It's easy to picture the pridelands of the lion king or some naked African children running along a river not giving a shit about cutting thier feet up, just laughing and having a terrific time! In fact every song so far we can picture it to images. And Bobby is singing his little heart out here! WOAH! Who's this!? Some chicky has joined in the vocals, we can't stop dancing, this is like the first time we heard "Since You've Been Gone" or Placebo's "Running Up That Hill" the music and lyric just running right through us! "TOOK MY BABY!" Hope it's a single!
Track 6 - Take Me By The Hand - "Cocktail Lounge". This loungy song seems to have the mentality of a Burt Bacarach song, including the music to the "flying on our own" lyric. We can almost hear Dionne Warwick singing it! Even Elvis Costello.
Track 7 - The Boy Had Trouble - "Progressive Funk". We've heard this before, maybe 3 or 4 different versions, but none compare to the (final?) studio version. A wilting black rose amoungst a backdrop of luscious red roses, this bittersweet tale of heartache is reminiscent of Nick Cave or even portishead, or a fusion of the two.
Track 8 - Own Words - "Indie Rock". Another sensual ballad to have sex too, Bobby has you covered, this time a seductivly smooth indie rock number that progresses with it's lyrics into it's own sexuality. Listening to Bobby it's easy to kick back and relax, there's a fair bit of lyric, mostly poetic but never obnoxious, but alot of the time you are given the opportunity to lose yourself in the music, Own Words ironically enough is one of them.
Track 9 - Payload - "Rythym and Blues". What we enjoy about idol is the versatility in alot of the artists, those that can take the ... mentality.. of a particular genre and fuse it into thier own song, thier own journey. This is the perfect example of Bobby Flynn having made it to an RnB week on Idol (if there was one). Sure, another sexy, smooth ditty, this one seems to follow the mentality/bass line of a Rythym and Blues song, almost Soul, but of course with the Bobby Flynn twist. And the big notes, love the big notes!
Track 10 - Kindly - "Huka Waka Hiki". The ukalelee makes another appearence (we think haha) and this time it takes our bodies to some fun places. The lovely lyric, the Hawaiian/Summery feel leading into a chorus that skids you along like a shell on the water until you're soaking in the warm tropicalness, basking in the sun or even just drinking coconut milk on the front porch. This song is certainly a mood setter! You find yourself "walking away" with Bobby and his "get me throu-ough" is a delight to hear in it's cheekiness!
As the lyrics read, this song just jumps with joy, in the Bobby Flynn way of course! The instrumental ending carries on a tad, but it's not really a complaint.
Track 11 - Come Get Away - "Even Swayier". The gothic feeling the opening bars draw leave us wondering where could this album possibly go next. And then we find a simple, sweet song, it seems to be a letter of thank you to a loved one who's opened his heart and mind, and even though it's not us the hypnotic guitar and tone to Bobbys voice wish we could get away with him, to the beach or Hawaii or Africa or the Cockrail lounge he's just taken us too prior to this soft, lingering track. Yes, Bobby, pick us!
Love the Album, an excellent debut and all hesitations out the window and in the chicken feed. Bobbys Vocals draw you in from the Summery opening to the Lingering finale and leave you wanting more, not unsatisfied but pleasantly surprised you enjoyed yourself so much listening to an Idol Alumni debut album. This isn't an Idol pop album by any means, Bobby Flynn is a singer, songwriter, musician above even Shannon Noll.
We wish it all the best in the scary wide world of music and hopefully it's a peek at what's in store for the future!
love,
W&E.
