Doves have sold over two million records worldwide and have reached the top of the British album charts on two occasions but you could be forgiven for not knowing too much about them. In an industry where subtle seems to be a dirty word Jim Goodwin, Jez Williams and Andy Williams have been happy to do things their own way, accepting success when it comes but not letting it change what they do or how they work.
Doves first emerged in 1998 with the release of the Cedar EP. Two further EPs followed before they signed to the London based label Heavenly Records. Debut album, Lost Souls, was released in 2000 and was subsequently nominated for the Mercury Prize. In 2002 they released their second album, The Last Broadcast, which reached number one in the U.K. album charts. Some Cities repeated this success in 2005. Their fourth album, Kingdom of Rust, was released in April of last year. The band have now gathered their favourite tracks in a new best of package titled The Places Between.
The Places Between comes in two formats. The first is a single CD featuring 14 of their best songs and one new track, Analucia. The second features the aforementioned CD, a second CD of rarities, B-Sides and alternative versions and a DVD featuring their music videos. The second disk and the DVD will mostly appeal to completists but if the price difference isn’t too steep then they are certainly worth a listen.
The short and sweet of it is that Doves are a fantastic band. Songs such as There Goes the Fear, Black and White Town, Sea Song and Kingdom of Rust are as good as anything released in the last ten years. They deal in the type of intelligent, anthemic rock that sounds like it is being played in black and white. It’s hard to listen to these songs without seeing rain soaked streets and moody young men standing in doorways smoking cigarettes. However the most comforting thing about this album is that while a large percentage of British (and Irish) musicians are busy disappearing up their own arses it’s good to know that at least one band has continued to produce great music, bullshit free for over a decade. As is inevitable with this type of collection some people will have gripes about what songs are included but if you aren’t already a fan then this is the perfect place to start. I can’t put it any more simply than this, get this album and your record collection will be a healthier place for it.
The Places Between is out now on Heavenly Records/Virgin.
Never really listened to Doves before but I know a good few people who really like them.
Will check this album out. Thanks John
It’s definitely worth a listen, let me know what you think.
Just gave The Places Between a quick listen on iTunes, had not heard of them, like the instrumentals a lot, some really good songs too..