JOE MCALINDEN-BLEACHED HIGHLIGHTS.

dereksmusicblog ♦ November 9, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

JOE MCALINDEN-BLEACHED HIGHLIGHTS.

In the past few years, the way people buy music has changed beyond all recognition. Long gone are the days when buying new music involved a trip to your local record store. Now record stores are disappearing on an almost daily basis, with even the large chains vanishing from high streets. Replacing them online retailers who sell everything from white goods to DVDs and CDs. With music, they’re able to carry a much wider range of releases than the independent record shops that have survived. Not only that, but they’re then able to sell them at seemingly rock-bottom prices. However, much of the music these retailers sell are by established artists. What of the artists struggling to make a commercial breakthrough?

That’s where independent record labels come in. Many of these smaller labels specialise in releasing music by new artists. These labels sell their music through online stores, releasing CDs and even vinyl. Given the way music contracts have changed, with labels of all sizes wanting larger of an artists “pie,” many artists don’t want to sign to a label. Instead, they’ll release music independently,

Nowadays, for independent artists, there are even more ways of distributing their music. Sites like Beatport release music from independent artists from all corners of the globe. So CD Baby and iTunes. All of these sites give artists the opportunity to have their music heard my a wider audience. With these sites, you can hear the music before you buy it. The only downside is that you’re buying downloads. For music lovers of a certain age, this leaves them cold. This means no physical product, no sleeve-notes to read or artwork to enjoy. Instead, it’s just a file on a computer hard-drive, often a pretty poor quality one. Some artists realize that not everyone wants to download an album, and instead, want to own and cherish a CD or vinyl album. One of these artists is Joe McAlinden, who recently released his debut solo album Bleached Highlights.

Joe McAlinden is something of a veteran of the Scottish music scene. He was a member of Superstar, who signed to Alan McGhee’s Creation Records in 1992. After releasing their debut album Greatest Hits Volume One in 1992, Superstar released six further albums. Their final album was Phat Dat, released in 2000 on the Camp Fabulous label. During his time with Superstar, and post-Superstar, Joe has been played and collaborating with everyone from the BMX Bandits, Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and Edwyn Collins. Indeed, Edwyn Collins would play an important role in Joe’s debut solo album Bleached Highlights.

Most of the time Joe McAlinden is writing and recording, it’s at his home studio in Argyll. This is where work began on his debut solo album Bleached Highlights. Given its beautiful, rural location, Argyll is the perfect place to write and record. Although Argyll, might not seem very rock and roll, it allows Joe to concentrate on the things that matter to him, his family and music. It’s not just music that keeps Joe busy in Argyll, as he also runs Inver Cottage Restaurant with his wife Jasmine. It was in Argyll that Joe wrote the ten tracks that became Bleached Highlights. Joe then had to leave behind the beauty of Argyll, heading to London to work with another veteran of Scottish music Edwyn Collins.

Recording of Bleached Highlights took place at West Heath Yard studios in London. Producing Bleached Highlights were Edwyn Collins and Sebastian Lewsley. A small tight and talented band that included Paul Cook and Bart Mosh on drums, were joined by James Walbourne on guitar and mandolin. Joe a multi-instrumentalist, played bass, keyboards, saxophones and violins. Once the ten tracks that became Bleached Highlights were recorded, it was released on AED Records in July 2012.

When it came to the release of Bleached Highlights, Joe decided to as well as selling the album via iTunes and record stores, he’d also sell it via his website. So when I heard Bleached Highlights had been released, I placed my order via Joe’s website and received back a signed copy, complete with a little cartoon drawn on the cover. This makes your copy of Bleached Highlights seem special and unique, as if somehow, Joe cares about people buying his album. It seems Joe McAlinden seems determined to make a good impression even before you’ve played Bleached Highlights. Will Joe have made an even better impression by the time Bleached Highlights is over? That’s what I’ll now tell you.

Opening Bleached Highlights is Brown Bird Singing, a track that sees The Byrds meet Teenage Fanclub and the BMX Bandits. In some ways the track has a quintessentially Scottish sound. Joe’s heartfelt vocal is accompanied by a James Walbourne’s guitar, a rhythm section of drummer Paul Cook and Joe on bass. Joe also plays keyboards and contributes Byrdsian harmonies. It’s a bit like a track you’d expect the Teenage Fanclub or BMX Bandits to have recorded in their heyday. Having said that it’s very beautiful, heartfelt and grabs your attention. You settle back and anticipate the rest of Bleached Highlights many highlights.

There’s a rockier sound to I Just Wanna Be Here (When I’m Somewhere Else). Waves of crystalline guitars and a driving rhythm section give way to Joe’s powerful vocal. His tight, talented band lock into a tight groove, with searing guitars licks and Byrdsian harmonies accompanying his impassioned vocal. The harmonies are dropped in just at the right time. Soon, poppy hooks, rocky guitar riffs and tight soaring harmonies unite. They create an infectiously catchy track that once you’ve heard it, will never forget.

As Bleached Highlights begins, you realize something special is about to unfold. You’re not disappointed. The rhythm section, rasping saxophones and keyboards grab your attention, before Joe delivers a tender, beautiful vocal. His vocal has a vulnerability, and when harmonies sweep in, the track’s beauty grows. James Walbourne’s crystalline guitar punctuates the arrangement and Joe unleashes a braying saxophone solo. Each play their part in accentuating and highlighting the beauty and vulnerability of Joe’s tender vocal. Of all the tracks on Bleached Highlights, this without a doubt is the most beautiful.

Thank You has a hesitant, spacious introduction. Just Joe’s vocal and guitars combine before the rhythm section enter. Soon, the track takes on a rockier sound. Harmonies accompany Joe’s vocal as the arrangement drives along. Layers and waves of music unfold, with sizzling, riffing guitars and harmonies accompanying Joe’s emotive vocal. Not only are there similarities with Glasgow bands like Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits and the Trashcan Sinatras, but a group who influenced these bands, Big Star. To this Big Star influence, Joe adds a plentiful supply of poppy hooks, as California and Glasgow unite.

Round and Round sees another change in sound and style. Joe’s pounding bass and keyboards at the heart of the action, before he reveals a vulnerable, needy vocal. The arrangement takes on an understated sound, never overpowering a pensive vocal. Drums provide the track’s emotive heartbeat, as keyboards give the track a melodic sound. Guitars also play an important role. They replace Joe’s vocal, adding a dramatic sound that reinforces the emotion and vulnerability in his vocal.

Although If I Had Wings lasts less than three minutes, it’s one of the best and most satisfying musical minutes you’ll spend. Listen carefully and you’ll hear The Byrds, Beach Boys and Teenage Fanclub. Just waves of Joe’s guitar accompany his impassioned vocal. It’s one of his best vocals, filled with hope and happiness. Just the rhythm section and Byrdsian harmonies accompany him, creating a track that’s not just heartfelt and very beautiful, but a slice of pop perfection.

Written has a moody sound from the get-go. Guitars shriek, before keyboards and the rhythm section create a broody backdrop. Joe’s vocal is full of hurt and heartache. He breathes life into the lyrics, getting across the sense of loss and longing. In doing so, he and his band sound not unlike Squeeze at their very best. Like Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford, Joe is a hugely talented songwriter and singer, who brings to life the backstory behind the lyrics. Proof of this if any were needed is Written.

Hear My Name is another track where Joe demonstrates his talent as both a singer and songwriter. His wistful, melancholy vocal is accompanied by just keyboards and guitar. Then his vocal and the arrangement grows in power. So too, does the song’s quite beautiful, melancholy sound. Tight harmonies sweep in, accompanying his vocal. They’re just the finishing touch, the clincher, as the track heads to its dramatic, melancholy and beautiful crescendo.

Something Wonderful is a quite apt title for this track. Just a guitar and the rhythm section accompany Joe’s vocal as it unfolds in breathy, waves. It’s as if Joe’s giving something of himself as he delivers the lyrics with feeling and emotion. The arrangement with its chiming, crystalline guitars and tender harmonies proves the perfect accompaniment and helps create Something Wonderful.

Closing Bleached Highlights is Hideaway, which sees the album come to a dramatic conclusion. It’s another track where Joe’s talents as a lyricist and singer come to the fore. He delivers the lyrics in dramatic waves, mixing passion and emotion in equal amounts. Accompanying his vocal are melodramatic, multi-tracked vocals that sound as if they belong on a seventies Queen album. They proves effective. Soon, Joe and his band kick loose. With the rhythm section, keyboards and guitar join the harmonies in accompanying Joe, he bring Bleached Highlights to a dramatic, melodic conclusion.

Although Bleached Highlights is Joe McAlinden’s debut solo album, it doesn’t sound like it. Bleached Highlights is crammed full of perfect three-minute pop songs, which benefit from a plentiful supply of poppy hooks. They’re delivered by Joe with emotion, passion, hope, joy and vulnerability. He breathes life and meaning into the ten tracks, as he demonstrates his twin talents of songwriter and singer. While Bleached Highlights is a debut album, it’s obvious that it’s one that’s been released by an experienced and multi-talented musician. That’s what Joe McAlinden is. He’s been a musician for over twenty years, releasing seven albums with Superstar, and has played and collaborated with everyone from Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and BMX Bandits. During his time playing and collaborating with these artists, he’s taken a little of their sound and style, making it his own. Listen carefully, you’ll hear little bits of each of these artists, plus more than a little of the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, whose influenced a generation of Scottish musicians. Another Scottish musician whose played his part in the sound and success of Bleached Highlights is Edwyn Collins. Along with his production partner Sebastian Lewsley, plus a tight, talented band, they played their part in making Bleached Highlights such a compelling, melodic and beautiful album. 

I just hope that Bleached Highlights finds the wider audience the music deserves. It deserves to become a commercial success, given the sheer quality of music. I’m sure in years to come, Bleached Highlights will be recognized for what it is, a Scottish pop classic. It’s an introduction to one of Scotland’s best kept musical secrets, Joe McAlinden as he embarks on his solo career. Hopefully, Bleached Highlights will be the first of many albums Joe McAlinden will release, and the first of many journeys Joe will take from Argyll to London, in the pursuit of pop perfection. Standout Tracks: Brown Bird Singing, Bleached Highlights, Hear My Name and Something Wonderful.

JOE MCALINDEN-BLEACHED HIGHLIGHTS.