2024 Charity Shop Purchases # 45 - John Grant - Queen of Denmark
I was vaguely aware of the name John Grant but less familiar with his music so I thought that I should pick up one of his albums to see what the fuss was all about.
Queen of Denmark from 2010 and on the Bella Union label is the first of six studio albums from the ex frontman of the Czars who once appeared here as part of a Saturday Lucky Dip
Described as indie- folk and/or soft rock it was released to critical acclaim with Mojo awarding it Instant Classic status and writing if Queen of Denmark were only comprised of self-lacerating ballads it would still be a work of transcendent beauty, but the second half of the album finds Grant confronting romantic loss with astonishing depth of feeling.
On the album Grant is supported musically by members of the band Midlake who are no strangers to these pages.
Apparently the title track was written on a car journey from Glasgow to Aberdeen. As a bonus you are also getting the cover version by the sadly departed Sinead O'Connor and the only other song I have with Denmark in the title.
Sinead O'Connor - Queen of Denmark
Broken Chanter - Don't Move to Denmark
I love that! And yes, it's achingly sad in sentiment, but underscored with a bit of humour too, albeit humour with himself as the punchline. I'm just off to listen to QoD again. And again.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant album although all his subsequent albums sound very little like this album. For me I love his more recent stuff but Grant acknowledges that some people who loved QoD haven't loved the newer material...
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