Straight, No Chaser Poetry Mixtape: Volume 2. Christopher K.P. Brown (Spoken. What A Job This Is: The Resume Of Mr. Rating: 5 Stars.
Mr Hudson and the Library were a British music group active from 2006 to 2007 and composed of Mr Hudson (vocals, guitar), Joy Joseph (steelpan, percussion, vocals), Torville Jones (piano), Robin French (aka Maps Huxley) (bass) and Wilkie Wilkinson (drums). The members hailed from Birmingham and London.
Their music has been described as a fusion of old school reggae, rock and soul.[1]
Their first EP entitled Bread & Roses was released in October 2006.[2] This was followed by the hit single 'Too Late Too Late'. The band played two songs, 'Too Late Too Late' and 'Brave the Cold' on Later with Jools Holland on 8 December 2006.[3][4]
Their debut album, A Tale of Two Cities was released on 5 March 2007 on Mercury Records.[5] The album crosses genres, combining Mr Hudson’s songwriting with hip hop-influenced drum patterns, folky acoustic guitar, reggae-influenced bass guitar, classical piano and West Indian steelpan. Two of the tracks from A Tale of Two Cities are covers; 'On the Street Where You Live' from My Fair Lady and 'Everything Happens to Me', as popularised by Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker.
In 2007, Mr Hudson and the Library played a number of high profile support tours, most notably on Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black tour - but have also supported Paolo Nutini, Mika and Groove Armada. They appeared at many UK festivals, including Glastonbury, T in the Park, The Big Chill, V Festival, Godiva Festival, and Bestival. On their own UK tour, they were supported by Cheap Hotel; their singer Anna Calvi went on to acclaimed solo success. In October 2007, Mr Hudson and the Library played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in support of The Police. They also supported Kanye West on his Europe leg of his Glow in the Dark Tour, performing in Dublin, Belfast and other European cities.
In 2008, the band disbanded and Mr Hudson began recording as a solo artist, releasing his first solo album Straight No Chaser in 2009.
References[edit]
- ^'London - Entertainment - Review: Mr Hudson & The Library'. BBC. 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
- ^'Mr Hudson & The Library – The Bread + Roses EP'. Discogs.
- ^'Later...With Jools Holland Episode 6 Later... with Jools Holland, Series 28 Episode 6'. BBC. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^'Later...With Jools Holland Episode 6 Later... with Jools Holland, Series 28 Episode 6, Youtube clip'. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^Sullivan, Caroline. 'Mr Hudson and the Library, A Tale of Two Cities'. Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mr_Hudson_and_the_Library&oldid=932060195'
Londoner Ben Hudson, now shorn of his Library, follows the intrinsic English ska/pop charm of his 2007 debut album, A Tale of Two Cities, with this slick, Kanye West-produced collection. The rapper’s involvement is initially unsettling, but West’s championing of talents beside his own is far more successful here than at awards ceremonies.
It’s testament to his creative strength that Hudson’s own style prevails over any other contributions. His debut’s characterful junk-shop anomalies have been ironed out, with electronic elements brought to the forefront, making way for a more expensive-of-feel affair. Despite the occasional ‘what does this button do?’ moment, it works with effortless grace. The songs, driven by modern RnB beats, are refreshingly unfussy, scattered piano motifs complementing a very un-American doubtfulness in Hudson’s lyrics. Association with big names is not for shrinking violets, but Hudson’s unflappable self-belief serves him well. London and LA have seldom chimed so effectively.
Fears of Auto-Tune overkill are allayed following its effective use on the opening, arena-conquering Supernova and subsequent single White Lies. Thereafter studio tricks are tempered, with the album dropping a gear, as wistful romance and talk of the ‘hood collide. It does grow harder to love as it progresses, but as on his debut, Hudson’s songwriting rewards repeated listening.
Stiff Upper Lip, a phrase which probably prompted West to reach for his English-to-American dictionary, captures the guilt-laced spirit of the morning after, with Hudson subverting the well-worn ‘seize the day’ philosophy by following the celebratory “we’ve never been as f***** as this” with “life’s too short to get caught on the shady side of the street”. If there is fault to be noted it’s that this, along with other songs, fades too soon.
West and fellow rapper Kid Cudi elbow irony, and accusations of ego-stoking, aside to compete for microphone duties on Anyone but Him, but despite the pseudo-gospel of the sublime Learning to Live, simplicity prevails. Straight No Chaser ultimately serves as evidence that Mr Hudson has grown as a pop artist, but without losing his roots.