Album Reviews
Album Review: Lonelady – Hinterland
Manchester’s Julie Ann Campbell, aka LoneLady, piqued listeners’ interest with her debut album five years ago and has now returned with the remarkable Hinterland, an incredible hat tip to early ‘80s dance music. In a city with such a strong male-dominated mod rock tradition, LoneLady stands out a mile with classic Roland riffs and Nile …
Say Psych: Album Review – Eyes In The Melancholy Palm by Cathode Ray Eyes
It’s weird where music takes you sometimes. During my second listen to this album by Cathode Ray Eyes, a solo project by Ryan, guitarist/ vocalist from Psych Insight favourites Cult of Dom Keller, I went off of a mind riff on what would have happened if Ian Curtis had not tragically killed himself. I think …
Album review: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Writer: Carmen Efferson Compton’s native son delivers a sound riot revolution with a backbeat and a message to young black males the ghost of Mandela hope my flows they propel it let these words be your earth and moon you consume every message – Kendrick Lamar AND JUST LIKE THAT…in one massive broad stroke of …
Album Review: Gallows- Desolation Sounds
Once upon a time, Gallows were an entirely different band- complete with a set of brothers by the name of Carter, they released two albums with this line-up, before the departure of their frontman Frank Carter in 2011. They then released one more album- their self-titled effort, with guitarist Steph Carter still in the band. …
Album Review: Wire – ‘Wire’
As a band Wire are far more accomplished and creative, than to rest their laurels on past glories. Throughout their, almost, 40 year existence, they have constantly produced music that is very much of the here and now. Maybe not so much in the limelight, but their presence has been constant, not exactly underground, more …
Not Forgotten – Mott the Hoople – Mott
Having established themselves in the late 60s as Dylan and Stones infused rockers, Mott the Hoople spent the next few years with a reputation of a storming live act whose studio material failed to capture the magic they routinely produced on stage. After four albums for Island Records in which they explored hard rock, country …
Album Review: San Cisco – ‘Gracetown’
I need to give full disclosure straight away here. I love San Cisco. My love affair began back in Barcelona last August when their infectious “Awkward” was on heavy rotation on my hotel music channel and it’s only grown stronger in the months between. I’d barely got to grips with enjoying their debut eponymous album …
Album Review: They Might Be Giants – Glean
Do you remember when music’s primary function was to provide fun entertainment? It’s something that has been increasingly overlooked in recent years, and the majority of attempts to remind us of it have been dismissed as disposable pop confectionary that it was impossible to take seriously. After all, proper musical statements demand to be taken …
Album Review: Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
Not since Seven Swans has Sufjan Stevens put out such a confessional, introspective, and heartfelt record. Even more, while Seven Swans was heartfelt and confessional, it was a generalization of those feelings of life, loss, and love. Carrie & Lowell is an album of grief pulled straight from Sufjan’s own life. The album is named after Stevens’ mom and stepdad, and …
Not Forgotten: Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Brain Salad Surgery
‘Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends’ How’s that for a killer opening line? Read it again. It’s brilliant. It’s irresistable, pulling you in, promising a life-affirming musical experience and ramps up the anticipation for what can only be one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Except that it doesn’t …