Posts Tagged ‘album review’
Written by editor on 03 December 2009
Slow Attack by Brett Anderson
Is a break from the norm for someone that found fame in the britpop era, where most have failed to move on or mature with Slow Attack Brett Anderson has done just that, orchestral in its production and cinematic in its feel. The album has some stand out tracks like the ethereal hym complex beguiling melancholy. The album has elements of folk and as such is a mixed bag and as such shows an artist maturing, and this is the result timeless and haunting a great album
8/10
Tags: Album releases, album review, albumreviews, brett anderson, brettanderson, Music, reviews, Tour
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Written by editor on 02 December 2009
Declaration of Dependence
An open love letter years in the writing would be a great desciption for this album a reminder to gentler time when vocal harmony and word play in verse were the order of the day, not to say that this is retro in any respects it just charts its own route into your senses.
And that is where it stays for days as you sink deeper into its bitter sweet meanderings around memories and emotions, like all great music it isn’t defined by genre or time but stands on its own.
A great album that will stay with you 9/10
Tags: album review, albumreviews, Kings of Convenience, kingsofconvenience, Music
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Written by editor on 25 November 2009
The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s journey from Art Punk to polished pop act can be charted in their albums.
From their first true public outing with the EP master which was almost raw in its energy and really showed a band totally in love with what they were doing and the city which they reflected with its diverse mix of styles and influences, it could be said that they have tried to recapture that moment ever since with greater or lesser degree’s of success.
Fever to tell was really just an extention of the first EP and still maintained the energy of the first, but was more controlled with standout tracks like pin which was the band first major international charting track which brought them to the attention of a wider audience.
A hint at the future direction of the band could be seen in maps which had a greater level of sophistication than anything which had gone before, however the album was still routed in the New York art house punk scene.
- shepperd’s bush empire
Whilst this was breaking the band were establishing themselves as a great live band with a really strong fan base, mainly down to the on stage presence of Karen O who’s sense of the theatrical has stood the band in good stead in what was to come next.
This was the album Show your bones which was a complete departure from the stripped back sound of previous releases, by this time the industry had taken notice of the band and were positioning them as major artists.
The stand out tracks on the album were really fancy, turn into and golden lion as they retained enough of what went before whilst pointing to the bands new direction as a much more mass market band. The bands next album Its Blitz as a personal opinion really didn’t work it was too much of a departure from the bands original core material with an excessive reliance on synths although the album was both lyrically and in terms of production far superior to anyting than band have produced before in some respects since all in all only a few tracks really work and they seemed to be a lack of direction with the album.
Since the band have embark on the in some respects the last two albums its been the EP’s and extended singles which have been the most interesting aspects of the groups work with various guest performers and mixers taking the band back to their much more experimental routes.
It is this which has kept the interest in the band going, as a live band you want to hear the old songs and the accessable songs that everyody is at ease with, and with the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s they’ll deliver every time with Karen O onstage how could you fail not to be entertained .
But still its the need of the band to reinvent themselves that matters, sometimes they may fall short in some peoples eyes however if you want the same songs each time the rolling stones would be a good bet.
The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s not perfect but truly unique.
Tags: Album releases, album review, Music, yeah yeah yeah's, yeahyeahyeah's
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Written by editor on 23 November 2009
In the end it was swift but much anticipated from their last but one performance at i-tunes live which was the scene of a major liam outburst, regardless this was one of their best performances to date in front of a expectant capacity crowd at the Camden Roundhouse.
It was a shame in someways that this was one of the last before the bust up on the european tour, but as a band their life span was always going to be limited brothers never really make great band members as there isn’t a place you can get away from the pressure you find yourself under.
This has been true for every band where sibling rivalry has taken hold or been the driving force behind it, and it was the same for Oasis the dynamic between noel and liam drove the band to their success far more than talent did, at each turn trying to out do each other .
The rivalry between them was the spark that made their songs so good and perfect within their genre and context, However in the end it was this same rivalry that was to bring them down in that it turned in on itself and became a cancer at the core of the band which in time would consume the band.
Tags: album review, Music, oasis
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Written by martyn foster on 23 November 2009
The Noisettes have been around a for a while now on the live circuit and from their performance at the Empire its easy to see that they have mastered their craft for its onstage you see that there is more to them than the catchy pop songs you hear on commercials.
Their lead singer has a great sense for the dramatic onstage, greeting the audience with a serenade from the balcony which was the almost perfect opening to what could be their best show to date.
The whole presentation was slick in its delivery with the most well know songs placed throughout the show which meant the audience had to wait for the singles , but that wasn’t really a problem as the band carried the audience along with them throughout their set.
In truth the only thing that has changed over time with the band is the production behind them has become more extravegant as their confidence in themselves as performers has increased, in the bands case its not a sign of being showy it just suits them so well.
The band have been touring the album for sometime and in some respects that does show in that there are no real suprises in the set with only one album underneath their belts the set is predictable, this doesn’t affect the show overall in that the band make the show regardless of the familarity of the material.
All in all its one of the best shows you’ll se from a band who at times are at the top of their game.
Tags: album review, live review, livereviews, Music, musicreviews, noisettes
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Written by editor on 21 November 2009
11:11 Rodrigo Y Gabriela
The Mexican guitar duo have taken time to get here with numerous cover version finally they have an album of their own material.
11:11 is their best work yet 9/10
The mexican guitar due have indeed taken some time to get to this point, and in truth when you look back at their previous you can see a clear progression which has lead to a beautifully crafted record.
There are no real weak track on the album each one stands by its own as a masterclass in virtuoso guitar playing whilst remaining controlled with songs like Hanuman and Buster Vodoo being prime examples.
11:11 cements the reputation of due as being the best guitarists of their generation.
Tags: Album releases, album review, albumreviews, Music, rodrigo y gabriela, rodrigoygabriela
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Written by martyn foster on 20 November 2009
Lily Allen it’s not me, it’s you
The latest release swings from witty to charming with a fair influence of past musical styles all in all it hangs together well
Some of the best song writing of recent times 9/10
Lily Allen’s it’s not me , it’s you, is a record I wasn’t sure I was going to like to be brutally honest the whole production around her as a performer in the past has left me cold, that in part could have been down to the rather excessive tabloid interest which in my own view has overshadowed her musical ability.
In this album however nothing could have been further from the truth the album is both witty and satirical in certain aspects whilst remaining charming, the album also borrows heavily from earlier styles of music .
That is not to say it is old fashioned it is totally upto date and plays with the ridiculousness of modern life and preconceptions it places upon us.
All in all its’s not me , it’s you contains some of the best song writing and lyrical phrasing of any album released in the last few years.
Tags: Album releases, album review, lily allen, Music, review, Tour
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Slow Attack by Brett Anderson
