Back in Black was one of the first great albums of the 1980’s being released in late July in 1980. It’s easily AC/DC’s best selling album, entering the record books with an incredible 42 million sales worldwide. The second best selling album in history, (second only to Michael Jackson’s album Thriller which to this day has flattened all other competition with a massive estimate of 108 million copies sold worldwide,) Back in Black entered the U.K and Australian album charts at #1, reaching only #4 in the U.S charts, despite becoming the fifth best selling album in U.S history. MOAR »
Ah, Blonde on Blonde, as a new found Bob Dylan fan I must say I have been looking to reviewing this album immensely. So much to talk about with this legendary album sadly, so little time. But I will try my level best to fit all I can in this review. This album is widely recognized as Dylan’s best album and achievement. This thought was widely accepted soon after its release, which I assure you is no mean feat. MOAR »
The year was 1973 and the Irish Blues/Rock legend Rory Gallagher was really peaking as an artist. It was in this year, at the age of just twenty-five that he released his fourth studio album, Tattoo. This album was another in his rapidly growing collection, which proved him and his band’s talent, despite a constant change in drummers and keyboard-players. Rory himself wrote all the tracks on the album, with him on vocals and lead guitar and Gerry McAvoy as always on bass.
The tracks themselves were impressive, with many being included in Greatest Hits/Ultimate Collection albums, and other artists, due to Rory’s talent as a songwriter, have covered many of the tracks on the album, which also gave him many favourites for playing live on his tours. The most notable of these would probably be “Cradle Rock”, an all right song, but I thought it was a little dull and repetitive at times.
The album stuck to the Rory Gallagher that fans knew and loved by incorporating his signature blues/rock/jazzy sound. In particular the song “They Don’t Make Them Like You Anymore” was a great jazz riff and had very catchy beat, and still stuck to his rock roots with a nice little guitar solo to finish it all off. “They Don’t Make Them Like You Anymore” along with “20:20 Vision” are probably the more jazzier and light-hearted tacks on the album. While the rest seem to take a more bluesrock route. MOAR »
An artist thats getting maximum exposure in the recent Sure for women ad, things are looking up for this 17 year old Aussie. Sweet About Me has gained popularity and will surely be a hit of the Summer, as she looks to cement her name at the top along with Kate Nash, Duffy, Amy Winhouse and the likes. Unfortunately, the album disappoints.
To my shock and disbelief, the opening song, ‘Save the Lies’, is a debacle. Roll on the cheesy synths and oh-so-predictable, vocals. She attempts to give the song a funky 70’s style disco ring to it, but fails miserably, even the Fast Food Rockers could do better than this(maybe an overstatement!). Thankfully, the pattern of awful songs isnt repeated in the all of the album, only some of it. The already popular ‘Sweet About Me’, already the flaglining the album, is the best song on the album. Easily constructed and sang, and so relaxing her voice is, it could but you to sleep. Its a shining example of a song that can be both actually good and be on the radio simultaneously, which is no mean feat.<
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It was on a Monday on the 8th of November 1971, when Led Zeppelin released their fourth album. Usually, in a review, the name of the album would be given or mentioned, but Led Zeppelin chose not to have an official name or title for their album. Instead the four symbols pictured above (designed to represent the members of the band) were the only discernable markings on an otherwise blank album with the exception of a painting of an old man carrying sticks.
It is, however, most commonly referred to as IV. The album had a lot to live up to at the time. While Led Zeppelin had admiration from many fans, the media was not one of them. While regular fans fawned over them, the media thought of them as overrated and only selling albums from their namesake. Led Zeppelin had to prove their worth to fans and media, and many would say that this album was the pinnacle that started their ascension to become one of the biggest bands of all time. MOAR »
The Mystery Jets isn’t a band that would jump straight into your head as recognizable, but rest assured, after listening to this album, it wont be long until they will be.
The bands previous album, Making Dens, caused quite a stir when it was released two years ago, with the band being hailed as the king of 80’s revival. Its quite a big name to take, but from the first album, it was deserved. The band had been quoted as THE band reviving the eighties and ‘how they plan to take over the world.’
The new album, Twenty One, again focuses with 80’s The Cure inspired melodies, with a punchy electronica/indie feel to it. Up to the pre-release of the album, the band released a free Christmas single, ‘Flakes’, which features on the new album. The song is beautifully executed, with the bubble-pop guitar strumming swiftly moving from three different melodies, beginning woeful, then bright, spunky Duran Duran like chords, and then to a more Cure sound. The song is a highlight of a very colourful and bright album. Hideaway gives away a punchy electronica bassline, and a magnificent and simple, powerful voice to accompany it. MOAR »
After waiting 4 long years, The Offspring are back with their eighth studio album!
“Rise and fall, rage and grace” shows signs of going back to their pre-”Americana” sound with tracks like “Trust In You” and “Hammerhead” which can compare with tracks from their album “Smash” which was released in 1994 and is still their best selling album. But the album takes a different trip for almost each track. Some have the pop-punk sound that they have adapted to over the last few albums (i.e. tracks “Rise and Fall” , “Let’s Hear It For Rock Bottom”). There’s some signs of a Green Day style approach in the track “Fix You”. Good lyrics, but it’s been compared to Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. And if you listen to the two, you’d agree. But all in all, this album brings a diversity of styles to The Offspring’s sound compared to their last few albums.
This album also has something new to it: Dexter sings! He actually sings!! In the track “A Lot Like Me”, you can hear the heart and effort that was put in compared to “Splinter” which seemed to lack it compared.
This album also brings serious issues to it as well compared to singing about fly white boys like in the past. In the track/first single “Hammerhead” this is clear. This track brings up the serious issue of gun violence around the world; first looking at a soldier and then a school shooting. Such a change from the past. Sure, they have “Gone Away” which is clearly about the death of Dexter’s first wife, but no other track brings up a serious issue like such. MOAR »
After the resounding success of Costello music, The Fratellis had a lot to live up to for their second album. The media pressed that the ‘woeful’ second album of every artist would be likely for The Fratellis second. This is not the case. The Fratellis has met expectations, and thankfully has exceeded it. It can be quite tricky for a band to write an album that preceded concert anthems like Chelsea Dagger and Creeping Up the Backstairs, but the guys decided to go on a slightly different path.
The album begins with a more crunchy, more rock steady song, ‘My Friend John’. The song starts off a bit downbeat, but takes off blissfully. MOAR »
This is Children of Bodom’s sixth studio album, and is clearly more of a reversal for Bodom, after the “Are you Dead yet?” album, where many felt the band sold out. Returning to a more thrash and aggressive state, I feel this album shows that Bodom still have the ability to crank out a good album. There are several good guitar solos, like in the song “LoBodomy” (which also keeps up the tradition of having at least one song in an album having Bodom in the name) and “One Day You Will Cry”. The production is well carried out, done by Mikko Karmila and Peter Tagtgren, which is too be expected, as Tagtgren has worked with many heavy metal bands. Overall, I liked this album, and feel it is a vast improvement on “Are You Dead Yet?” MOAR »
Indestructible (Disturbed’s 4th studio album) was released on iTunes on the 30th of may. I had high expectations of this full length album - partly brought about by Dan Donegan’s claims that the new album will be more “Ballsier” than the previous 3 albums. When I compare Indestructible to The Sickness I admit I wouldn’t call it “Ballsier”. For one it’s lacking the trademark “Grr” I associate with Disturbed. There are some great heavy metal tracks on there (The title track is a true neck breaker), mixed in with some more mid-tempo general audience songs. The production quality is excellent considering they produced this album themselves. MOAR »
