ALBUMBLE

SOA2025-3

Welcome back to Shite Or Alright for 2025!We start by wondering of the recent rise in talk about 'tariffs' could be leveraged in Eurovision and think about the categories of Eurovision tropes that could be incentivised and sanctioned so the entrance fee for the contest could be slightly negotiated. After that we judge 6 of this year's crop from 0 to 5 and find a show winner!
So here we go!
SHOW 3 - AN EXPLANATION OF URINAL CAKES
Czechia, Denmark, Croatia, Sweden, United Kingdom & Austria
A till from the Grace BrothersThey can no longer afford trousersIs there a culture of Panto...?Dear Finland - your problemDo Polish people want to watch things about Henry VIII?Normal Collier processing

SOA2025-2

Welcome back to Shite Or Alright for 2025!We talk about why we didn't really see Nemo coming for the win last year (I blame trains) but that 's after we start with a brief sojourn into reaction videos - and not just Eurovision ones - before Andy and Ann give their views on each song & performance giving them a score from 0 to 5.
So here we go!
SHOW 2 - SWEEP FOR ESC 2026
Armenia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia & Norway
"Swashbuckle" graphicsA fan of Blue PeterEnya... on drugsShoving fags in his faceA niche to carve outThe Quantum Leap Soundtrack 

SOA2025-1

Shite Or Alright is back for another year!On our return to review the 2025 Eurovision songs, we have a brief moment to recall the (mostly not so nice) events of ESC 2024 and frame the themes and memes we have in store in 2025. We begin with why there are 37 songs on the menu and not the expected 38, why we're only reviewing 35 of them and why some countries are on a final warning.... After each clip Andy and Ann give their views and give them a score from 0 to 5.
So here we go!
SHOW 1 - HOLDEN'S CAULDRON
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Estonia, Poland and Switzerland MarmiteThose buildings looked frankly dirtyWhatever they are dancing to isn't that songNo need for a violinThat's what we do well

18 Service Station at the End of the Universe by Antony Szmierek

In this last episode before a Eurovision break we review a brand new album!!! This is Antony Szmierek's second album although it has been four years since their debut effort. He has been on the scene making waves not in the form of releases but more in the form of live shows and tours.
Former teacher Szmierek takes us for a ride (not like that!) to the world of the service station and is able to pull apart, visualise, imagine and dissect who is there, why are they here and what will happen next. The album itself is a bit of a rollercoaster ride as life, its meaning and its weight upon us is explained to and fought against on a peripheral and personal level. There is also a short discussion about how this spoken word artist is similar and very different to previous ALBUMBLE subject Scroobius Pip.
In April our airwaves will be full of Eurovision news - more about that in the pod. Our news round up is (once again) mostly full of Joost news! Even though the next ALBUMBLE podcast won't be out for a little while, we still reveal which album we'll be looking at in the next ALBUMBLE show which should be out on the 1st May.
To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Service Station at the End of the Universe  is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Antony Szmierek's work and whether you agree with our views !!

17 Meat Is Murder by The Smiths

In this episode we 'celebrate' the 40th anniversary of The Smiths only chart-topping number 1, Meat Is Murder. Known, but not as well known as some of their other releases, this album has a slightly unusual collection of songs in terms of song style, song meaning, song tempo and song length but is possibly more known for the 'political' nature of the lead song and the album artwork.
This was their second studio album and spawned a rather disparate and not too well-known number of singles but the title track certainly captured headlines and hearts.  As we discuss, many of the songs had that stereotypical dreary Smithsness but there are a few rather chipper - almost pop - numbers proving they were more than just a one note band. In addition we also note that the tracks start to strengths of all of the band members not just Morrissey and Marr!
Our news round up is mostly taken up with Joost news! As always though, we reveal of the next albumble album which is a bit different as this album is literally days old as of recording!
To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Meat Is Murder is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of The Smiths' work and whether you agree with our views !!

16 Smart by Sleeper

This episode sees us return to albums and back to the 90s, although for both of us, this wasn't something either of us had on our discmans (discmen?!?!) at the time of release
Sleeper got swept in with the cool kids of Britpop and their debut album has lyrics that are very of their time but, as we discuss, there is a little more too it than that. Smart was certified gold and spawned 4 singles although many of these went under the radar. We also realise many of the themes are much ruder that one might have anticipated and the nuances of a couple of tracks were possibly before their time. Maybe the Sleeper train was piled on because there was a strong female influence but that point of view is something that obviously needed airing!
Our news round up is very short this week as there is not much news going on! As always though, we reveal of the next albumble album which like Smart is also celebrating an anniversary!! 
To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Smart is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Sleeper's work and whether you agree with our views !!
 

15 Shine On Me [EP] by Boys Wonder

This EP, of sorts, has an amazing back story - a story I felt needed to be shared on the podcast. Boys Wonder was a short lived band during the late 80s but their music wasn't really the expected 80s fayre which probably led to the band's downfall.
The London band released a small handful of songs during their tenure and although an album was mooted, it never materialised. But 35 years after their 'heyday' the band seemed to come back into prominence with people reconnecting with the tracks they loved but also a new batch listeners discovering the band's small but perfectly formed output... Soooooo what did happen all those years ago? Listen on to find out!
The Shine On Me EP is actually a modern release which combines some of their original single releases. The four tracks show a thematic similarity but also brings together a shedload of disparate influences which may explain their pull to the modern audience. We start with a brief recap over past ALBUMBLE reviews and the TV tunes we loved and loathed.
To fully immerse yourself in the ALBUMBLE podcast, listen to the release yourselves (Shine On Me EP is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Boys Wonder's work and whether you agree with our views !!
 

14 Next Day Shipping [EP] by Adult DVD

The run of EPs continue but this time a much more modern affair with the newcomers Adult DVD. This six-piece combo, who are originally from Leeds, have an abrupt and in-your-face (or should that be in-your-ears?) sound which embraces a realm of modern, quirky and retro edges. 
The band were formed in Leeds at the turn of the 2020s and have a small but perfectly formed back catalogue of individual song releases and bulkier EP offerings... Surely a decent sized long player is only around the corner!. The band's sound has an indie edge but an electronic sensibility, plus as you will hear what they sound like and what they look like do not necessarily gel!
Next Day Shipping is five tracks long and sets out their stall for their musical vision but is this a collection of disparate tracks, a homogenous gloop of similar things or something in between? To find out our opinion - listen on! We start with some very weird cultural chat and a very brief look at something that happened on the cusp of the new year. Remember to listen to the end to get the heads up on the next EP we're reviewing!
To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the release yourselves (Next Day Shipping EP is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Adult DVD's work and whether you agree with our views !!
 

13 One [EP] by Mansun

Happy New Year to you all!
We start of this busy time of year by indulging in another EP this time by lesser known North-West indie band Mansun. The band were seemingly a fan of the EP format as they released a slew of them during their tenure; sequentially and numerically named all the way from 1 to 14!!!!
Although they were around as a band for a fair while before and after the height of the fame in the latter part of the 1990's, they are mainly known for two, maybe three songs. This is a little unfair as the band actually had fourteen top 40 hits, nine of them getting into the top 20! Their sound is very much in tune with the Brit Pop scene of the time but they had a slightly rockier, guitar-infested sound which sometimes came across a bit on the Prog side, sometimes on the funk side.
The EP we discuss today has four tracks... or is it five....? Whichever side of the debate you are on, it seems fair to say this is (quite literally if you are talking about 7" releases) an EP of two sides. Some of the tracks appear to be the typical Britpop indie fayre but some of it seems a bit more melodic - almost funky -  but some how leaves us wondering... well.... listen on and find out!!!
To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the release yourselves (One EP is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of IMansun's work and whether you agree with our views !!

12 Lagos Paris London [EP] by Yannis & The Yaw ft Tony Allen

Instead of albums, starting with this unpigeonhole-able release from the front man of Foals,  we are going to be whipping out a range of EPs for us to peruse over. It is a busy time for us (and most of you!) at this time of year and this allows everyone a break from without stopping the podcast.
Yannis Phillippakis is joined on this recording by the drummer from the very first Afrobeat combo - Africa 70 - the late Tony Allen who has collaborated with a long list of musicians and singers spanning a wide range of genres and nationalities. We tap into how and why these two came together and also why it took so long between the recording the tracks in 2020 and their release in 2024.
This may well only be a 5 track offering but it soon becomes clear that if you were expecting an Afrobeat record, or an indie record, or a funk record, or a jazz record; this EP none of those things and all of those things at the same time.