The Unfairground
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| BBC | very favourable[2] |
| Mojo | [3] |
| Q | [4] |
| Stylus | A-[5] |
| The Sun |  [6] |
| The Times | [7] |
| Uncut | 4/5[8] |
The Unfairground is a 2007 album by Kevin Ayers, recorded with members of Ladybug Transistor, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Roxy Music.[9] It is his sixteenth studio LP and his first new set of recordings in fifteen years, as well as the last album released before his death in 2013. It was recorded in New York City, Tucson, Arizona, London and Glasgow.[10] It debuted at #14 in the UK Indie Album chart.
The Unfairground deals with themes of love, loss and the passing of time and it has garnered strong critical endorsements for its author's brutally honest ruminations on his tumultuous life.[11] Ayers stated in a 2007 Sunday Times interview that it is “very much a reflective album: lost love, lost feelings, lost sensibilities. I had to include some of my blood, sweat and tears – if you are going to be honest, it can’t be avoided.” [12]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Kevin Ayers
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Only Heaven Knows" | 2:47 |
| 2. | "Cold Shoulder" | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Walk on Water" | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Friends and Strangers" | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Shine a Light" | 3:47 |
| 6. | "Wide Awake" | 2:54 |
| 7. | "Baby Come Home" | 2:36 |
| 8. | "Brainstorm" | 4:31 |
| 9. | "Unfairground" | 3:51 |
| 10. | "Run, Run, Run" | 3:37 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Kevin Ayers – guitar, vocals
- Gary Olson – trumpet, producer
- San Fadyl – drums
- Jeff Baron – guitar
- Norman Blake – guitar, backing vocals
- Francis MacDonald – drums
- Julian Koster – singing saw
- Candie Payne – backing vocals
- Euros Childs – backing vocals
- Bill Wells – bass
- Joe McGinty – keyboards
- Phil Manzanera – guitar
- Robbie McIntosh – guitar
- Hugh Hopper – bass
- Daisy Martey – backing vocals
- Tucson Philharmonia – strings
- Bridget St. John – vocals
- Dave McGowan – pedal steel
- Heather McIntosh – bass, cello
- Kellie Sutherland – brass
- Tara Shackell – brass
- Isobel Knowles – brass
- Gus Franklin – brass
- Graham Henderson – accordion
- Peter Nicholson – cello
- Francis Reader – backing vocals
- The Wyattron
Technical
- Peter Henderson – producer
- Timothy Shepard – producer, artwork, executive producer
- Bernard MacMahon – executive producer
References
- ^ Jurek, Thom. The Unfairground at AllMusic
- ^ De Ledesma, Charles (2007-09-14). "BBC - Music - Review of Kevin Ayers - The Unfairground". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ Clifford, Danny (September 2007). "MOJO review September 2007". users.globalnet.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ Kane, Peter. "Q review September 2007". users.globalnet.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ Atkinson, Mike (2007-10-26). "Kevin Ayers - The Unfairground - Review - Stylus Magazine". stylusmagazine.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ The Sun review
- ^ The Times review
- ^ Gill, Andy. "Kevin Ayers - The Unfairground - Uncut.co.uk". uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ Pitchfork July 31 2007 Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Album liner notes
- ^ Mojo September 2007
- ^ The unsung hero of psychedelia - Times Online
External links
- Kevin Ayers Returns With Help From Roxy, Ladybug, Architecture by Paul Thompson and Amy Phillips (Pitchfork Jul 31, 2007) link
- Indie Stars Guest On Rock Legend's First Album In 15 Years (NME Aug 10, 2007) link
- Album Review by Simon Cosyns (The Sun Aug 31, 2007) link
- The Father of the Underground by Garth Cartwright (Daily Telegraph Aug 30 2007) link
- The Unsung Hero of Psychedelia by Lisa Verrico (The Sunday Times Sep 2, 2007) link
- Soft Centered by Pierre Perrone (The Independent Sep 11 2007) link
- Album Review by Andy Gill (Uncut Sept 2007) link
- Album Review by Mike Barnes (Mojo Sept 2007) link
- Kevin Ayers by Mike Atkinson (Stylus Oct 23 2007) link
- Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt by Simon Reynolds (Reynoldsretro Dec 14 2007) link