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Elliot Minor - 'Electric High'

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Fraser McAlpine | 11:04 UK time, Monday, 28 September 2009

Elliot Minor

If I were Sir Alan Sugar, but still had to take time out of my busy business day to concoct a review for an amazing BBC music blog - not sure which is the more unlikely scenario, to be honest, but let's press on - this would be a perfect moment for me to give a short lecture in the realities of business.

Essentially - don't worry, I won't try and do the voice - what you need to do is identify a gap in what we entrepreneurs like to call 'the market'. That means you need to be able to spot when people are just getting by without something, when in reality they would really rather not. No-one seems entirely satisfied with the way you open a tin of beans, for example, and this is why designers are always coming up with new tin-openers.

(Here's the video. None of your arty-farty rubbish here.)

Anyway, in music terms, this often means picking one or two artists who are doing pretty well for themselves, and then getting your band to refurbish some of their ideas to suit a slightly different audience.

Or, to put it into ad-speak "do you want to listen to some aggressive hard rock, but find metal a bit scary? Then why not try NEW IMPROVED FOO FIGHTERS!?"

Elliot Minor occupy the middle ground between 30 Seconds To Mars, McFly and the Jonas Brothers, a middle ground that many people would swear on a stack of Bibles does NOT exist. But clearly it does, or there would be no need for them to do what they do.

And what they do is this: They play a dramatic, slightly gothy version of nice harmony-rich guitary pop music. Or they take dark gothy scary rock music and open the curtains a bit, to let some sunshine in.

This, the second single from their second album, does not muck with the formula in any way. There's a hooky verse, a hooky bridge to the chorus, and a hooky chorus - built entirely on harmonies - followed by a guitar line which would like to be a hook, and maybe when it's a bit older, it will be.

It's all terribly serious, but still friendly on the ear, definitely one for Twilight fans rather than Harry Potterists. And should see a healthy return on Elliot Minor's investment, which is, as Sir Alan would rightly point out, the bottom line.

Three stars Download: Out now
CD Released: October 5th
www.myspace.com/elliotminor
BBC Music page

(Fraser McAlpine)

PS: I don't think I've ever heard a choirboy singing through his nose before. The mouth is the more traditional orifice.

Comments

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  • 1. At 3:54pm on 28 Sep 2009, billybristol wrote:

    I still don't understand your review, what I know is that I like Electric High and its better than all that pop punk that loads of English bands are still churning out. I gather you want all the bands to sound like everyone else or can someone look for that new ground and not get killed by you. Its a strong single by this band with a really good vid to go with it. I am looking forward to the album and seeing them play at The Forum. The mosh pit will be owned by me when they play this....

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  • 2. At 4:07pm on 28 Sep 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    Ah yeah...wandered off the point, didn't I?

    OK, so basically, as far as I'm concerned, this is a four star song, slightly marred by Alex's weirdly nasal singing in the verses. And 'Jessica' remains their best song so far. 'K?

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  • 3. At 4:34pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Hmm. Is three stars "getting killed"?

    I'd never really heard of this lot until Discover a few months back, which was pretty good. Kind of had a similar feel to that Panic At The Disco song last year or the year before (Nine In The Afternoon I think). Pretty, with strings, but not terribly melodramatic.

    Not heard this, and it's not a priority, but might well give it a whirl.

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  • 4. At 4:40pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    Ha ha ! Of course 3 stars is getting killed !

    (But only if you are the world's biggest Elliot Minor fan... )

    Curtains , what would your reaction be if Fraser gave Valentine by Delays only 3 stars ?

    lol

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  • 5. At 4:40pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Just to clarify - pretty but not terribly melodramatic is a compliment. Just in case young Billy gets all annoyed again.

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  • 6. At 4:45pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    You're right. I'd probably order the carpet-bombing of the entire southwest.

    On the subject of the great band, Spirit - I went on a bit of a spree buying their b-sides on Saturday. Such greatness. And I know you weren't a fan of Love Made Visible (nor was I), but the other songs on that EP are truly great (including the remix of Love Made Visible itself).

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  • 7. At 4:49pm on 28 Sep 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    You guys have seen the ChartBlog Delays video, right?

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  • 8. At 5:01pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    Regarding Everythings the rush...

    Why Love made visible , Hooray , and Keep it simple were singles and the best track on the album, Girl's on fire was not , was in my mind , a huge commercial mistake .

    Girls on fire , will always be one of life's great mysteries for me..

    Fraser , where is this video ?

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  • 9. At 5:13pm on 28 Sep 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t_AOGLi8FI

    They really meant it too!

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  • 10. At 5:29pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Excellent. Watching that video will be my first order of business when I get home.

    I like Girl's On Fire, but I disagree that it's the best song on the album. I'm afraid I'd have to give that to Pieces, which is epic. Maybe Girl's On Fire and Silence as joint second.

    But still, they should have replaced half the album with the b-sides from the EP (including using the remix of Love Made Visible instead of the version that's on the album). They were more inkeeping with the slightly darker, more desperate tone of You See Colours, and would have stopped Everything's The Rush sounding so constantly blooming cheerful.

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  • 11. At 5:34pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    Well in my opinion , Girl's on fire would have had a chance of being playlisted at radio 1 , it's that good , and to me is the song that had the most chance of being a commercial success .

    We will never know however .

    See , Curtains , this is the power of respect , I am now gonna give Pieces another listen.

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  • 12. At 5:36pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    I have just been chatting to Aaron online , and the new Delays album will be called.....

    " Star tiger , star ariel "

    Sounds interesting !

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  • 13. At 5:56pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Indeed. Concept album?

    I hope not.

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  • 14. At 6:01pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    Ha ha , and there you were earlier , saying on the Muse blog , that you were gonna purchase the 3 "symphony " tracks from the Resistance album.

    lol

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  • 15. At 6:14pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Yeah. Can't see Delays releasing something called "Exogenesis Symphony", can you? :o)

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  • 16. At 6:42pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    No, but one song that might make the album is called Rhapsody .

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  • 17. At 7:02pm on 28 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Excellent. Spirit, dunno if you saw my post on Rybak last week or not, but if you didn't - do let the band know that their music is epically beautiful. I'm sure they know that already, but it can't hurt to hear it from a fan every now and again.

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  • 18. At 7:15pm on 28 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    Of course .
    Now that Oasis have split up , Delays are your favourite existing band.
    You are seeing them at the Borderline in London , next month , you have made fans out of your girlfriend and friends etc.
    I totally get the picture , Delays make beautiful heavenly music , that moves you and takes you to places that are extremely magical and special .
    Noted sir.

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  • 19. At 7:44pm on 28 Sep 2009, MozFoz wrote:

    Back to the song. Awful.

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  • 20. At 10:41pm on 28 Sep 2009, flatknees wrote:

    oh look everyone turns up now?! ive been keeping this whole damn show running by myself..

    Delays are awesome.. hideaway must have done well in the charts no?
    friends are false for the win. girl on fire? pretty avg.

    herd elliot minor summer b4 last, guilty pleasure band really.. this song is alright, catchy chorus i guess..

    and HA!, "The mosh pit will be owned by me when they play this...."

    yea mate, good luck against those 13 year old girls. go to an In Flames gig and talk to me.

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  • 21. At 00:33am on 29 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    Ha ! Go to an ENTER SHIKARI gig and then talk to me !

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  • 22. At 09:06am on 29 Sep 2009, billybristol wrote:

    yep, see you at Enter Shikari...my lil sis got me into Elliot Minor, she can scream at the barrier I will have my fun. If Elliot Minor is her first band thats fine with me.

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  • 23. At 11:08am on 29 Sep 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    So Billy , are you indeed from Bristol ?
    And will you be catching Enter Shikari at the Academy on the 7th of October ?
    And will you be owning the mosh pit again ?
    And if you had to pick , what is your favourite gig you have been to and why ?

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  • 24. At 7:32pm on 29 Sep 2009, flatknees wrote:

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.

  • 25. At 10:55am on 30 Sep 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Oh dear, Flatknees. What HAVE you said now?

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  • 26. At 3:26pm on 30 Sep 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    Hmm...sorry about that one, Flatknees.

    I think I see why that story was taken down, even though it was about Slipknot. People don't like hearing about cruelty to puppies. Again, even if it was Slipknot.

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  • 27. At 11:13am on 01 Oct 2009, keithfusco wrote:

    Slipknot call their fans maggots. Shows how much they appreciate them. Lawlz.

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  • 28. At 1:56pm on 04 Oct 2009, flatknees wrote:

    fair play, i thought it would have been about the first remark i made in the post.. no matter..

    and they just call their fans that cuz its HARDCORE or smthin i guess.. i don't think they use them as fishing bait...

    .... then again

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  • 29. At 11:52am on 05 Oct 2009, keithfusco wrote:

    I hear the clown likes fishing...

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  • 30. At 12:10pm on 05 Oct 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    ... FOR SHARKS!! USING HUMAN HEADS AS BAIT!!! YOU MAGGOTS!!!!!

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  • 31. At 12:47pm on 05 Oct 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:

    Mods are well frisky atm.

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  • 32. At 1:28pm on 05 Oct 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Yeah. All I said was "30!", as well.

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  • 33. At 1:33pm on 05 Oct 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    Oh REALLY?

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  • 34. At 1:47pm on 05 Oct 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:

    Haha evidently.

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  • 35. At 2:05pm on 05 Oct 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Dammit. Fraser, did you get them to put that back up just to make me look bad?

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  • 36. At 2:14pm on 05 Oct 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    Nope. I put it back up to make you look bad.

    That'll teach you to play the innocent when we KNOW you're a wrong 'un. ;-)

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  • 37. At 4:48pm on 05 Oct 2009, keithfusco wrote:

    Would that be 1-0 to Fraser, perhaps?!

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  • 38. At 5:19pm on 05 Oct 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:

    Not if you count the "bear" pun-off we had the other week. I saw him off on that one.

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  • 39. At 5:23pm on 05 Oct 2009, Fraser McAlpine wrote:

    Yeah, he was the Winnie. I was The Pooh.

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  • 40. At 6:17pm on 05 Oct 2009, thespiritwarrior wrote:

    That now looks like 2-0 !

    It's curtains for Curtains !



    lol

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