Vanguard - Finley Quaye

"No Glenn Hoddle, No Supermodel, No Dennis Wise with his home and away eyes" is how this album starts before listing varieties of beans. Its the mad, mad world of Finley Quaye. Moving on from the debut album its a bit more varied, a hell of a lot more drug enhanced and a lot better for it. The guys come a long way since claiming to be related to everyone from Tricky to Goldie but no one can deny he's got an ear for a catchy tune. The single "Spiritualised" is not really an indication of what's to come although its that's eclectic it would be hard to say one track could sum up the whole album. Song's about kids are the future ...  Read the complete review

Mr Quaye has been in the media a lot recently mainly through his black eye from Goldie but it hasn't made him more popular. His recent single 'Spiritualized' got in the charts but didn't stay too long and it's easy to see why. This album is at best melodic and funky but seems rather directionless and full of inane ramblings most of the time. The first song entitled 'Broadcast' seems to be a dig at celebrities with the lines 'no dennis wise with his home and away eyes' and 'no david vine, no john virgo'. Quite what Finley was on when he wrote this I dread to imagine. It's a disappointing album especially after the success of ...  Read the complete review

I have to thank dubgirl (great taste in muzak!) on here for making me a tape of 'Vanguard' (I then bought the CD) as then otherwise it'd have been another good album that would've passed me by. I thought the first single 'Spiritualized' was pretty cool with it's indie-rock meets suave vocals, but it was hardly enough to merit me wanting to buy the album. Fortunately though by recommendation I got the tape and was pleasantly surprised! And my Mum's a fan too! I don't have Finley's first album 'Maverick A Strike', but by what I've heard, if you're a fan of smooth soul washed reggae as on that album, you'll ...  Read the complete review