“The world’s drinking from a cup that no one wants to shareâ€
“A Book Like This” is a standout Australian album. And with that, I have to breathe a sigh of relief; finally 2007 has seen a new Australian release that rises above a crowd of generally mediocre releases.
A quick visit to their wikipedia page will tell you all the necessary facts about Angus and Julia Stone. They are brother and sister and they come from Sydney. They are also very attractive people. They have also had a helping hand from one Fran Healy, otherwise known as the lead singer and guitarist from Scottish band, Travis. Healy assisted the due in the recording of their early 2007 EP, “Heart Full of Wineâ€.
The record starts off with the upbeat “The Beast†a song sung by Angus, with backing vocals from Julia. By track two of the album, you’ll know it’s a winner. I don’t know, it is something about the breezy simplicity of the melodies and the almost humble delivery of the lyrics that make you become intoxicated with the songs.
I suppose that the great thing about the Stones duo is that their differing vocal styles that alternating songs never make you feel bored. While strings and harmonica occasionally punch through to the forefront of the mix, but for the most part, acoustic guitar dominates the record. There are a few standout tracks (including the aforementioned “The Beastâ€). ‘Just a Boy’ is a great little tune that features Angus on lead vocals, and has a tantalising piano section that tiptoes through the chorus. Julia’s “Wasted†is my pick for best track on the album. It is in this song that her voice becomes vaguely familiar (I can’t really place my finger on it, though a colleague of mine suggests a similarity to the style of Joanna Newsom).
If I had to make a criticism of this album it would have to be that the first half of the record is much stronger than the second. The title-track, “A Book Like This†and “Silver Coin†do drag slightly and you can find your mind wandering. But not all is lost. ‘Jewels and Gold’ picks up the slack, with a great chorus that hearkens back to ’90s artists like Tracy Chapman.
All in all, “A Book like This†is a great Australian release that is worthy of a place in your record collection. It would be no surprise to see it nominated for a J Award, and no surprise if it actually won it.
Rating: 
