Reviews

Weekly Reviews For 31 December, 2006

Review Index

I am Managing Editor at Metal4Life

I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock

I am also featured reviewer at spacerock.co.uk

I was Editor & reviewer at MetalUK.

New Reviews

Man - Diamonds And Coal

I always had a soft spot for Man, as they soundtracked many a misspent moment of my youth. I even recall the excitement of seeing them for the first time on one of their early eighties reunion tours. In a pub, with me inches away, still too young to be legally there.

We've dipped in and out of each others lives since then, but there was always something to enjoy as they continued through line up changes and splits, still pursuing a West coast musical mix of rock, psych and blues.

But even I was perturbed at the notion of a Man record without the eternal Micky Jones. But Martin Ace has stepped up to the plate, swerved round some other cliches, dedicated the album to Micky and delivered one of the best Man albums in aeons.

From the stomping 'All Alone', the swirling psychedelic blues of the title track, the classic chiming Man of 'Man Of Misery' or the CCR move to Swansea of 'Welsh Girl', there is a lot to love here. And I still got a buzz when I got an autographed copy!

Matt Sery - A More Perfect Union


This is actually a rather good set of modern American rock, the kind that means diddlysquat this side of the 'special relationship', but which does a roaring trade on the US collegiate circuit.

And bar a set of eighties leather trousers rarely seen outside of Billy Idols wardrobe, Matt Sery seems to have it all.

Good songs, a distinctive New Wave tinged voice and a passion for song that rings true. Bung in a few references to God and his first classic, 'Dancin' With Mother Mary' and you're sorted. Now if he can just persuade his producer to rein in the dodgy synths and place a song on the O.C., he'll be laughing.

N'awlins Gumbo Kings - Live At UFO Saloon with special guest Dr John

Yes, it's jazz and nothing else, but when music is this life affirmingly good it does it a grave disservice to simply label it. And it's New Orleans jazz. And it features Dr John. And I doubt you'll spend a better eight minutes plus than you will with opening track 'Things Ain't What They Used To Be'.

This is jazz done in a life affirming manner, a world where 'Opus One' is furious, fast and fun, something too many jazz scholars forget about in their rush to deify the latest druggy, drone dirge.

Better to let the best party this side of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band tell you of their quest for 'Bling Bling', something men of their elder statesmen status should be well past worrying about.

And did I mention Dr John was on it, even joining in on his own tribute tune, 'Mr Rebennack'. Now that's class!

The Heise Brothers - The Continuing Saga Of...

I've only recently become acquainted with music of The Heise Brothers but one of the advantages of turning up late to the party is not having to wait so long for the next one.

And so it is that mere months after first encountering 'Listen And Learn With The Heise Brothers', the follow up has arrived. Pity the fools who had to wait a full year.

The brothers are claiming a Stones meets Jefferson Airplane meets Cracker influence and I certainly get the Cracker vibe. But I'm hearing Mink DeVille and Little Steven in there as well.

The boys are at their best when they get all serious which is why 'Seven Long Years' and 'Island Wake' are the highlights, with the latter being their Jefferson Airplane make a spaghetti western moment.

They're less impressive when they attempt levity which is why the skip button leaps into action on 'Throw Them Kisses, Woody Allen', despite the cracking guitar part.

Another splendid outing for The Heise Brothers but curses to the time I'll spend waiting for the next one.

The Tunes & Tones - The Rolling Stone Effect

I'm still not sure whether or not it's a good thing when you scan through a young bands musical influences and a whole album later you're still waiting to hear any of the influences mentioned. Some will say it's a reflection of a band striving for originality in a homogenised musical world. I say, don't promise me the Allman Brothers Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Guns n' Roses, then turn in a fey, limp set of lo-fi alt-country tunes. You will upset me.

Now, it's partly my fault. After all, they also mention Dylan, and if you were to substitute the polite vocals of David Brito with that of a consumptive accordian, then it could be mistaken for said grump.

There are plusses to be taken, though. When they get out of first gear they do threaten to become interesting. The near punky title track is rousing and there is some nice wordplay on offer. However, to reiterate, the word polite keeps springing to mind, not a good thing in my musical world. Grandaddy fans will probably enthuse over their pints of Old Curmudgeon, but the only tracks I found myself returning to were 'Suzie The Mortician' and the sprightly 'About Life'. They are to be commended for sticking to the almost lost art of the sub three minute song, so the seventeen songs fly by, but there's a long way to go.

The Loud Family and Anton Barbeau - What If It Works?


Where has this band been all my life? Thanks to the prolific Anton Barbeau I have made another great discovery from Sacramento this year. Then I found out that none other than Aimee Mann (whose music I have a lot of time for!) asked The Loud Family to open for her on tour.

Opening with an energetic version of The Stones' 'Rocks Off'( the opening song on 'Exile on Main Street') with Hammond Organ added by Ant, The Loud Family then has the audacity to write a 'Song About Rocks Off' where the voices of Scott Miller and Barbeau work well together. Ant takes the lead on his own 'Pop Song 99' while 'Total Mass Destruction' gives a shrewd insight into critical acclaim not necessarily translating into commercial success! Ant adds some unique keyboard touches and as others have commented two single minded stalwarts of the 'indie' scene coalesce in a surprisingly catchy and accessible format that, dare I whisper it- is deserving of a degree of mass appeal?

There are two other cover versions on the album, one of a 1966 Chris White penned Zombies song 'Remember You' and a faithful version of Cat Stevens' 'I Think I See The Light' (off 'Mona Bone Jakon') led by Alison Faith Levy's piano and embellished by Ant's synth,

The first (and only) writing collaboration between Miller and Barbeau produces the sweet (verging on bubblegum) '(Kind of) In Love'.

Miller's 'Mavis of Maybelline Towers' is a stonker of a track, a 'Louie Louie' kind of chord sequence underpinning, Miller's piano arpeggios driving it to its conclusion and Ant providing falsetto backing vocals and shaker, could be one out of the XTC songbook!

There are two bonus tracks the 6 minute- Miller's echo laden 'Don't Bother Me While I'm Living Forever', the most psychedelic sounding piece on the album that owes much to the more experimental side of the 'Fab Four'- again Ant uses a variety of synths to compliment Miller's guitar giving the music an ethereal edge. The album concludes with the catchy 'I've Been Craving Lately', a prime example of Ant's word wizardry, a relative twice removed of 'Lady Madonna' perhaps!

Selections for the iPod/ MP3:
'Total Mass Destruction'
'Mavis of Maybelline Towers'
'Don't Bother Me While I'm Living Together' or 'I've Been Craving Lately'

(Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist)

Symphony In Demeanor - The Second One

This is the cunningly name follow up to Symphony In Demeanors debut album, 'The First One', which may have seemd a bit cocky in its nomenclature at the time but now rings true. And this release is a delightful set of pastoral prog that will make many an old Camel fan very happy. That would be me, then.

It's a bijou release, clocking in at around 23 minutes but what you get are half a dozen absolutely splendid tunes that you'll be returning to time and again. They stray into power pop territory on 'What She Needs' but come right back on track by the time they hit the Alan Parsons Project like 'Visions Without Eyes'. An excellent follow up, well worthy of your attention.