Album Reviews
Album Review : John Carpenter’s ‘Anthology : 1974 -1998
I believe we’ve entered the John Carpenter renaissance. Five years ago the man was on the bitter end of a film career that had seen better days. To those in the know the man was and is a filmmaking icon. His subtle nuances, patient tension building, exquisite camera work, and of course his film scoring …
Album Review : Primus’ ‘The Desaturating Seven’
When Primus put out their musical tribute to the Gene Wilder classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the aptly-titled Primus & The Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Orchestra back in 2014, everything about the Bay area prog/funk/freak trio seemed to make perfect sense. Les Claypool, the elastic bass genius and singer for the band has …
Album Review: Steve Miller Band – Ultimate Hits
Released as both single and double disc compilations, Ultimate Hits is an odd one. The single disc does everything a compilation should do, giving the listener the feel for the Steve Miller Band’s long career, whereas the double disc version I am reviewing is a game attempt to fill a particular niche. The single disc …
Say Psych: Album Review: New Candys – Bleeding Magenta
Rating: 9/10 Venetians New Candys were formed in 2008 and have gone from strength to strength, increasing their popularity and appeal with every rotation of the sun. Their next offering, Bleeding Magenta, has been released this month on Fuzz Club Records after much anticipation from fans and media alike. The stylish four piece released debut …
Album Review: Richard Thompson – Acoustic Rarities
The new Richard Thompson album, Acoustic Rarities, arrives barely two short months after the release of its sibling, Acoustic Classics Vol II, and is released both separately, and as a bonus disc to its predecessor. Where Acoustic Classics Vol II revisited well loved numbers from Thompson’s songbook, Acoustic Rarities takes the opportunity to compliment and …
Album Review : Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s ‘Luciferian Towers’
It’s always been difficult for me to describe the listening experience involved with Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Talking about their records as merely collections of songs doesn’t work. Each album is more like a visceral experience. A complex stream of emotions and feelings that come over you. Joy, menace, confusion, resilience, contentment, and chaos are …
ALBUM REVIEW: Gary Crowley’s Punk and New Wave
As compilations go this is a great set, compiled by Gary and his Soho radio co host Jim Lahat this 3CD set gives a better insight into the Punk and New Wave scene than most. If you’ve not heard Crowley`s Show on Soho radio, you should tune in, his knowledge of punk and new …
ALBUM REVIEW: Cherry Red Reggae Reissues – No More Heartaches/What Am I To Do & Marcia Griffiths: Naturally / Steppin
Cherry Red Reggae Reissues September 2017 By Leggy Mountbatten No More Heartaches/What Am I To Do 2 CD Set Compilation Marcia Griffiths Naturally and Steppin 2 CD Set No More Heartaches and What Am I To Do various artists reissued by Doctor Bird/Cherry Red Having the original Trojan and Harry J vinyl versions which would …
Say Psych: Album Review: Acid Baby Jesus – Lilac Days
Rating: 7/10 With such a tripped-out name drawing focus, the new Acid Baby Jesus album, Lilac Days, released on Fuzz Club Records, has a lot to live up to. These Greek garage rockers have been championed highly in the international scene, being less concerned with the spiritual and tripped-out realms that their name foreshadows but …
Mammoth Penguins and Friends – John Doe
This is a bit unexpected. Mammoth Penguins’ first album, while with its own style, picked up not a million miles away from where Emma Kupa’s first band, Standard Fare, left off – quality indieish guitar pop soundtracking vignettes from day-to day life. So when the needle drops on some background noise, stately strings, mandolin and …