Reviews

Weekly Reviews For April 23, 2006

Review Index

I am Managing Editor at Metal4Life

I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock

I am also featured reviewer at spacerock.co.uk

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I was Editor & reviewer at MetalUK.

New Reviews

Jack Hoban - Bella Mar

As my obsession with the sea grows ever stronger there was little chance of me not giving this CD a spin. Because once you get past the motivational speaker sleeve, Mr Hoban tells you in the notes that the songs are about, and inspired by, the sea. Nice.

Of course there is always the danger that you'll end up with an album full of cod reggae and ukeleles, but that's been largely avoided. Although I have programmed out track 7. Instead, you're left with a rather delightful set of jazz tinged storytelling adult pop songs.

Jack has been writing and performing since the early eighties and has learned his craft well, although I'm not sure he'll be offered another opening slot with Kiss based on his current output.

It's hard to know which tracks to recommend most but my melancholic nature was immediately drawn to "Down By The Shore", which Jack claims is the second saddest song he's ever written. I dread to think what the saddest sounds like. I was also particularly taken with the the Girl from Ipanema inspired "Counting Waves" and the straightforward, upbeat, late blooming lovesong, "Living Loving You".

With a warm voice and some lovely songs, this is thoroughly recommended.

WigWam - WigWam


Bam, gonna make you my man. Now that was proper music. Navvies in spandex, only seventies Britain could have made The Sweet stars.

Almost as bizarre as Alex James and Betty Boo doin' the do forming a Goldfrapp tribute band. How I wish I'd had a very large bet on that happening.

But here they are, and it's a thoroughly enjoyable romp, even if you will forget all about it exactly seven minutes later. Which is what makes it a perfect piece of disposable pop.

And I'm looking forward to the live medley of "Doin' The Do" and "Song 2"!

Keith Urban - You'll Think Of Me

I've never quite worked out what the fuss was with multi CMA winner and all round Antipodean Keith Urban.

There are so many great country singers out there and Keith just isn't one of them. He's good in a competent 9-5 kind of way, but nothing special.

Having said that this is one of his better songs. Which may be due to the fact that he didn't write it. A classy piece of heartbreak modern country with a big Dan Huff production (which reminds me I must dig out my Giant collection soon) which his fans will lap up.

The Rogers Sisters - Never Learn To Cry

I only picked this out of the teetering pile because of the title, with absolutely no idea who or what the Rogers Sisters were. And I'm still not too sure.

Adopting a White Stripes percussive approach, early nineties indie guitar and some deadpan vocals, it's certainly unusual and incorporates quite probably the worst drum break ever, which had me wishing I'd taken the title track to heart earlier.

B-side "The Clock" is even more ramshackle and may actually be a song about a clock. Which would make it the 2nd best song about a clock, ever, surpassed only by the mighty Cheap Trick whose "Clock Strikes Ten" remains unsurpassed. Mind you. they're the only two I know....and what does the bloke non Rogers Sister think about being a Rogers Sister...answers to these questions and more on next weeks episode.

Ray J - One Wish

A song that was a huge hit in the USA, which just goes to show that in a world of crunk and grime, there's still a place for a classic piece of heartbreaking soul.

And for that we should be grateful to producer and writer Rodney Jerkins who has the talent and experience to know what works - just ask Joe, Brandy, Monica, Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston. So he knows how to keep a singer on a tight leash. Which means when Ray J does let fly, it's all the more impressive. R. Kelly would be so proud!

The Zutons - Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?

I'm not sure what their secret is but somehow the Zutons have managed to fool the kids into thinking they're some kind of drip fed indie band. All the more remarkable when you listen to their records and realise that they're actually a honking great classic rock band straight out of the Big Humble Pie Book of Rock Cliches.

In less than 3 1/2 minutes you get the big chorus, a guitar solo and more handclaps than are absolutely necessary, which is always a good thing. Fundamentally, this is everything a great single should be. Long may the deception continue!