See: Adele returns with new video for ‘Hello’ plus album news
It may have sneaked under the radar slightly, but word was quietly put out earlier this week that Adele was releasing an album in the not too distant future. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so quiet, but if any act has the right to return to the public eye with a confident flourish, surely it’s …
News: Villagers announce new album and tour news
Releasing three great albums since forming in 2008, Villagers (a stage name for Conor O’Brien) have not had a big breakthrough to a mainstream audience, but those of us that have followed them so far know that it is only a matter of time. Following this year’s stripped back Darling Arithmetic, Villagers have distilled their …
Classic Album: Elton John – Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player
By the time of Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player, Elton John was one of the biggest musical stars on the planet, his writing partnership with Bernie Taupin being one of the most fertile on the early 70s. They were adaptable too, being able to run the gamut from simple pop, ballads and …
Not Forgotten: Supertramp – Breakfast in America
Breakfast in America is an album that simply shouldn’t have happened. Slightly smug, self satisfied prog-flecked radio-friendly rock by earnest men with beards should have been felled with the double blow of disco and punk, yet there Supertramp were in 1979, knee deep in gold records, releasing a string of hit singles that had conquered …
Album Review: John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
For me, like many people, John Grant first appeared on my radar following the release of Queen of Denmark, his gloriously heartbreaking collaboration with Midlake and simply one of the most astonishing debut albums for many years. Of course, he’d previously been vocalist with the Czars during the 90s and early part of this century, …
Not Forgotten: The Replacements – Pleased to Meet Me
With the departure of Bob Stinson from the band The Replacements slimmed down to a trio for Pleased to Meet Me and continued their journey from barely coherent punks to professional rock and roll band. To their credit they didn’t hide from this fact either, even making direct reference to it in the title and …
Not Forgotten: Roger Chapman – Chappo
Former Family man Roger Chapman didn’t exactly pick a prime time to start his solo career. Following his Family days, he formed a new band, Streetwalkers, who enjoyed modest success, but they didn’t experience the same level of success as Family had. By 1979 the Punk flame, although guttering, was at least still lit and …
Not Forgotten – The Hold Steady – Almost Killed Me
It’s late summer 2007, it’s pouring with rain outside, and I’m spending the evening in the pub. I’d had dozens of nights like this in the previous ten years, a cheery couple of pints in our local had descended into my friend berating me for having a preference for rock music rather than jazz. His …
Not Forgotten: Aretha Franklin – Aretha Now
I have no wish to put the cat among the pigeons, but I have to confess that I marginally prefer Aretha Now above the more widely celebrated I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. As great as Aretha Franklin’s debut for Atlantic is, Aretha Now boasts a measure more lightness of touch …
Not Forgotten – Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
Back in the day Tusk was one of the most anticipated albums ever released. Rumours had launched Fleetwood Mac to the eye-watering heights of rock music’s mega-league, despite the increasingly strained relationships between the five band members, and expectation for its follow up had reached fever pitch. Behind the scenes at Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham …