The Holy Pictures

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The Holy Pictures
TheHolyPictures.jpg
Studio album by
David Holmes
Released8 September 2008
Genre Electronic rock, electronica, krautrock, big beat
Label Go! Beat
David Holmes chronology
David Holmes presents The Free Association
(2002)		The Holy Pictures
(2008)

The Holy Pictures is the fifth studio album by David Holmes released in September 8, 2008. The album departs from the eclectic soundtrack-to-an-imaginary-film style of his previous studio albums, in favour of a more personal approach. [1] It was nominated for the 2008 Choice Music Prize, [2] [3] [4] awarded to the best Irish album of the year. The tracks "I Heard Wonders" and "Holy Pictures" were released as singles.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Drowned in Sound (8/10) [6]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Pitchfork Media (7.8/10) [1]

The album has garnered generally favourable reviews, and is seen as a successful departure from its predecessors. [6] Thom Jurek, writing for AllMusic, called it "engaging, at times stunning", praising the pop aesthetic of the upbeat songs, while remarking that "there is that sadness at this album's heart that draws one in; it doesn't feel like mope or exorcism, just personal". [5] Pitchfork Media added that the closing three songs "seek to recapture a certain back-to-the-womb comfort... and prove an affecting come-down to the preceding songs' sunglasses-at-night swagger". [1] Both critics praised the final song, "The Ballad of Sarah and Jack", referring to it as "gorgeous" and "unspeakably somber". [1] [5] Jurek also favoured the opener, "I Heard Wonders", calling it a "killer track". [5]

The album was seen as reflecting many influences, most notably The Jesus and Mary Chain (particularly Jim Reid's vocal style [5] ), Primal Scream and Neu! in its upbeat songs and Brian Eno in its "warm production" and "limpid, wistful instrumentals". [1] [5] [6] [7]

Appearances in other media

The track "Love Reign Over Me" is featured on the episode "Freddie" (series 3, episode 5) of the UK version of Skins . [8] The track "Holy Pictures" is featured in football video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 . "Theme / I.M.C." previously appeared on the compilation The Oh Yeah Sessions '08 as "McCready Rides Again". [9] The song "I Heard Wonders" was featured in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics [10] and, later in 2012, as the theme for the first series of Dara Ó Briain's Science Club .

Track listing

All music and lyrics written David Holmes, except where noted.

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."I Heard Wonders"David Holmes, Martin Rev Holmes, Leo Abrahams 5:35
2."The Story of the Ink"  5:22
3."Love Reign Over Me" Holmes, Gary Irwin3:47
4."Theme / I.M.C." Holmes, Abrahams3:55
5."Holy Pictures"  5:19
6."Kill Her with Kindness"  4:03
7."Melanie"  3:59
8."Hey Maggy"  4:58
9."Birth"  1:07
10."The Ballad of Sarah and Jack" Holmes, Jon Hopkins 4:27
Total length:42:32

iTunes bonus tracks

No.TitleLength
11."Return of the Nightfarmers"4:28
12."The Dogs They Are Parading"3:12

Personnel

Musicians [11]

Production

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Pitchfork Media review
  2. ↑ "Choice Music Prize Shortlist". Hot Press . 14 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "Choice Music Prize - Shortlist Announced". IMRO. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "Choice Music nominees announced". RTÉ. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Allmusic review
  6. 1 2 3 "Drowned in Sound review". Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  7. 1 2 "CD: David Holmes, The Holy Pictures". The Guardian . 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Skins - Series 3 Episode 5 Music".
  9. ↑ "The Oh Yeah Sessions '08". Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Olympics Opening Ceremony - The Playlist". NME . 27 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  11. ↑ David Holmes - The Holy Pictures , retrieved 18 November 2022
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