Lateness of the Hour.

Alex Clare's Lateness of the Hour album was released in the US on March 26, 2012.  In early March, I caught a sample of his single "Too Close" while watching an IE9 commercial.  Arrow.  Right through my musical little heart.  I feel in love in an instant.  I feverishly surfed the channels to find the commercial playing again.  I couldn't find it so....YouTube came to my rescue.  I had Shazam at my fingertips and decided to Shazam the song since I NEEDED wanted to know who the artist was.  Come to find out....Mr. Alex Clare.  I downloaded the only 2 tracks available in the US at that time - Too Close and Up All Night.  Well...to my dismay, nothing else was available for download in the US.  I even went so far as to try to change my iTunes store to the UK store so I could buy everything I could get my hands on.  Finally in late March, I was able to download the album.  And thank GOD!!!!!!  So now ladies and gentlemen, my review of Lateness of the Hour by Alex Clare.

Track 1: Up All Night.
This track is completely dancable (and I just created a word there...!).  Every time I hear it, dance is all I want to do. And I frequently bust a move.  Don't judge.  The chorus has an amazing hook and the story behind the lyrics is simple.  Partying.  Way too hard.  To the point where you sleep when the sun comes up.

Track 2: Treading Water
"Maybe you're another chance...to mock myself again".  Nothing like a song about love gone wrong.  We can all relate to this song and I tend to listen to it on repeat.  Warning for the parents out there, there is a foul word in the song so I tend to skip over it when the Monsters are in the car with me.

Track 3: Relaxed My Beloved
I find this song to be very melancholy, even bluesy.  I love it though.  Its soothing in a way too.  Short track that you can really sink in to.

Track 4: Too Close
"And it feels like I am just too close to love you".  Wow.  Google the lyrics.  Keep in mind he dated Amy Winehouse.  Enough said.

Track 5: When Doves Cry
Cover of Prince's song.  I'm not a Prince fan but I do love this song.  It has a slightly different sound than the original (thankfully) and has some beats that I can totally get in to.

Track 6: Humming Bird
This is another dancable track.  I hear it and wish I knew how to salsa.  The tempo and beats just make me happy.  "Like a humming bird in flight you are...hoverin...hoverin round me.  When I go near you fly away..."

Track 7: Hands are Clever
This is the dirty love song of the album.  You won't know until you actually read the lyrics but um.  Yeah.  Slightly risque but not so much that you can't let you grandmother listen to it.  Just don't sing along...don't wanna clarify those lyrics :-)

Track 8: Tight Rope
Great song.  "Life's a tight rope and you're standing on one toe".  To me, this song is saying "Stand up to your fears."

Track 9: Whispering
Another slow track, I like this one because I can really belt it out.  Its very soulful and mellow at the same time.

Track 10: I Love You
Interesting beats in this song.  But yeah...this is the sweet love song.  :-)

Track 11:  Sanctuary
"I will find sanctuary in your arms".  Sweet song.  I'd love a guy to sing this to me...*sigh*.  If you can get over the British pronunciation of Sanctuary, you'll be just fine. LOL!

Track 12:  I Won't Let You Down
Love song, yes?  I like to sing this one to myself as motivation to not let myself down.

Overall, I love this album and can't wait for more.  I would advise against downloading the remixes available on iTunes because they use a voice similar in sound but not nearly as soulful.

Next review:  Red