The Holy Pictures

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The Holy Pictures
TheHolyPictures.jpg
Studio album by
David Holmes
Released8 September 2008
GenreElectronic rock, electronica, krautrock, big beat
LabelGo! Beat
David Holmes chronology
David Holmes presents The Free Association
(2002) 		The Holy Pictures
(2008) 		The Dogs Are Parading

The Holy Pictures is a 2008 studio album by David Holmes. 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.

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic3.5/5 stars[5]
Drowned in Sound(8/10)[6]
The Observer4/5 stars[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][11] and, later in 2012, as the theme for the first series of Dara Ó Briain's Science Club.

Track listing[]

All music composed by David Holmes, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."I Heard Wonders" (Holmes, Leo Abrahams, Martin Rev)5:35
2."The Story of the Ink"5:22
3."Love Reign Over Me"3:47
4."Theme / I.M.C." (Holmes, Abrahams)3:55
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

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Pitchfork Media review
  2. ^ "Choice Music Prize Shortlist". Hot Press. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  3. ^ "Choice Music Prize - Shortlist Announced". IMRO. 2009-01-15. Archived from the original on 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  4. ^ "Choice Music nominees announced". RTÉ. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Allmusic review
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Drowned in Sound review". Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b The Observer review
  8. ^ "Skins - Series 3 Episode 5 Music".
  9. ^ "The Oh Yeah Sessions '08". Archived from the original on 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  10. ^ "Olympics Opening Ceremony - The Playlist". NME. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  11. ^ "Torch Montage including David Beckham - London 2012 Olympics". YouTube.
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