Graham Coxon – ‘Love Travels At Illegal Speeds’ (Parlophone) Released 13/03/06

Well if Coxon came across shy and nervous before, he has definitely got over that as his new album is about as shy as a guy who turns up to parties completely naked and hits on your mum. Yep he’s definitely got some confidence here, as he’s gone all punky in some places. Before we begin, don’t go thinking that this is going to be another ‘Happiness In Magazines’ cos it’s not, oh no, this one’s a concept album. With this his sixth solo album Coxon has concocted an album full of songs about love, but not in the shit James Blunt way.
 
‘Love Travels At Illegal Speeds’ covers all facets of love in a plethora of tunes about just what love can make a person do, see and feel, and judging by this release indifference is the emotion of choice on some of these tracks. ‘Love Travels…’ is not a fantastically coherent album by any means as it dips in some areas, and in others completely blows your mind. So it’s a bit of a tease of an album. Of course first single ‘Standing On My Own Again’ (about breaking up) is abso-frigginlu-tely awesome with its catchy hooks and uncomplicated freak out moments, which will sit comfortably in his extensive catalogue of hits, but it’s the songs like the ultra boring and really annoying ‘You & I’ (about thinking how the relationship is going) that drags hints of an ok song yet won’t let the listener like it every time it goes back to the you and I/gonna think for a while parts, that are the weights that drag this album down. Not to mention the sleepy ‘Just A State Of Mind’ (about wanting to break up) that is another solemn tune that leaves out the Coxon charm completely by the man himself sounding bored whilst singing it! So as said before there are songs that reek of indifference and a nonchalant outlook that almost feels and sounds like Coxon is resting on his laurels, which is quite disappointing as the man quite clearly seems to be taking a more self indulgent attitude.

Having said that though this album isn’t without it’s gems…’Gimme Some Love’ (one guess what this ones about) is a homage to the Sex Pistols/Ramones rough and raw style and it quite frankly rocks, whereas ‘I Don’t Wanna Go Out’ (about annoying your girlfriend) has one of the coolest guitar riffs that this writer has ever heard, so oh yes, there are songs on here that are as cool as a second-hand duffle coat, but not enough to overshadow the crap ones. All in all there are some of his best songs on here, but as an album, sadly it just doesn’t gel.