PHOTOGRAPH SMILE

JULIAN LENNON

A few comments before I launch myself into a review of this the latest offering from Julian Lennon. The album’s release was heavily reported in the tabloid and broad sheet press, not so much for its content but for the sheer coincidence of it’s being released on the same day as Sean Lennon’s debut album.

Despite all this I found myself having to actually place an order, which leads me to believe that the distribution and record company promotion wasn’t at all times working to a plan (at least in this country). With respect to what the music press has already printed of this album I can only claim to have read one which is the relatively respected, "Mojo". All said they left Julian unscathed and smelling of flowers (but not roses) - coincidentally my overall impression too.

The album opens with ‘Day After Day’, a fine start after a break of several years. The track smacks of all things Lennon and Beatlesque, and if Julian hasn’t got a right to use this well, then nobody has! Production-wise there are a lot of vocals and piano reverb, mixes with relaxed, but nonetheless tight drumming. Extraordinarily reminiscent of Ringo Starr’s ‘brick layers style’ this track really satisfies, especially with it’s punchy break.

‘And She Cries’ Is the sort of song that tends to wedge itself into a corner of your brain and fails to come unstuck – which must be a good sign!! The lead slide-guitar solo left me baffled as to whether or not this was George Harrison under an alias in the credits. I’d love to know. If it isn’t George then this chap has a future in impersonations at every convention in Liverpool!!!

‘Cold’ - Left me cold initially; five or six listens later and you realise that there is something in this. Is it too long to discover the ‘thread’ of the composition?

‘I Don’t Want To Know’ - From it’s opening the guitar arpeggio glows like a nuclear accident, containing all that was great about Beatle compositions circa 1964. ‘Mojo’ in their review put it that this could have been an out-take for ‘Hard Day’s Night’, I find myself agreeing with them. This is a little cracker.

‘Catcher Of The Kiss’ Is a breezy little thing that causes no offence and warrants no great comment. Like all other albums (perhaps with the exception of some of the great Beatle and/or Brian Wilson offerings) there are downsides where the affair runs a little short of steam. Apart from the title track ‘Photograph Smile’ much of what is left is a little ‘moaning’, and easily dismissed by this listener.

One surprise is a song (can’t pin down this particular track) that has a lift 100% out of ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ plain as the nose on your face, and caused a little smile for me as it made itself known. All said, a respectable and in parts strong offering from Julian, though not ‘earth-shattering’, as I believe ‘The Beatles Book’ put it. Definitely worth the investment of a few shillings, this one. If Julian were to team up with the ‘Threetles’ I think I’d re-mortgage the house, if I had to buy a ticket to the gig!!!!

By Peter McGarry

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