Reviews

Weekly Reviews For 10 December, 2006

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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

Adrien Breda - Life's Blood

Hmm, interrresting, Mr Breda. One part Hall and Oates, hang on, that should be one part Hall and one part Oates, cos one part Hall and Oates would be Hall or Oates. I'm going to stop now.

Imagine that there above plus a bit of Todd Rundgren, without actually cutting up Todd and minus the piratical grammar I was in danger of slipping into.

They called this blue eyed soul in ye olde days, you know, although nowadays we probably have to give all eye colours equal status under law. Suffice to say, this is a truly delightful record, fully deserving of a space in your collection. Highlights - 'Breakin' Me Down' and 'Strength Of A Woman'.

Costar - Too Much Talk


It's only a matter of time before they stop releasing records. I will weep copiously, then retire to my fortress of solitude with the complete recorded works of Atomic Rooster on vinyl, to await my meeting with Death. But if the Rooster are right, he walks behind you, which is surely unnecessary for the Grim Reaper.

Where was I? Oh, yes, Costar and their digital only single. Which I think means it doesn't really exist except as an abstract collection of byte.

A shame, for they give a good name to old style indie, all angular white boy unfunk with feelings, tinged with a brush of rootsy lo fi country.. You'd kick them but feel guilty enough to buy them a low fat, dairy free mocha. Me neither but it was on the blackboard outside a studen coffee shop I passed by.

Lenka Lichtenberg - Open The Gate (Ouvre La Porte)

I don't get many records from Czech born, Canadian based, Yiddish singers. Although this is a largely English languge release, which makes life a whole lot easier for me. I'll let the French songs slip by as a quirk of Canada!

I'm not going to pretend I've had more than a passing exposure to Jewish music, but the limited amount at least ensured that the delightful rhythmic structures felt oddly familiar.

Lenka has a bright and clear soprano voice which, when coupled with engaging melodies and a flair for words, makes for a splendid release.

Louise Setara - Can't Stop The River

Rule number 1 for any sleeve designer should be using a font for the artists name that you can actually read. Especially when it's a new artist. So, after much peering, squinting and toying with the name Laura, I was able to discern that the attractive young lady on the front is one Louise Setara.

18 year old Louise has a voice to die for, somthing picked up on by manager Kwame Kwaten (wasn't he in D'influence?) when she was only 15. The then Louise Smith spent some time with different producers and writers trying to find her voice, something that has paid dividends on this stunning release. The lead track is a slow, soulful Seal co-written number that gives her voice plenty of room to shine. It's even more obvious on the demo version of the Gilbert Becaud song "Let It Be Me". But the best is saved for last on the plaintive "Faith, Hope & New", a retitled Phil Campbell song which originally came out on his 1997 album"Fresh New Life". An absolute gem and reason enough to make this an essential purchase.

Keith Urban - Once In A Lifetime

Keith Urban doesn't have to go looking for trouble, so I'm sure a less than flattering review in a marginal web based magazine won't phase him. Because the lead track here is a formulaic bit of Nashville soft rock that will doubtless help him pay for a few more rehab sessions.

You have to head into the live B-side "Days Go By" to get an inkling as to why the Americans have been lapping up his music over the past few years. It's everything the A-side isn't - punchy, catchy and energetic. Apparently it's from a live DVD called "Livin' Right Now", which may prove to be a better bet.

The Fratellis - Whistle For The Choir


The Fratellis, eh. They've banged out a couple of top notch singles this year, single handedly attempting to restore the na-na-na to the charts, alongside some glam rock tub thumping and shouty choruses. This isn't one of them.

I haven't been counting but this is probably the third single off the album as the law requires that single number 3 must be a dull as ditchwater ballad. Which this is. With whistling. Now whistling was banned after the great Scorpions debacle, to ensure that nothing as bad as "Wind Of Change" be allowed to despoil the charts. This isn't that bad but whistling is whistling. To be fair, they have put out some purty singles to try and sell this what with the 8" single and the pin up shaped disc, but that isn't enough to save them.

Nip home lads and listen to some more Sweet singles. Then come back when you've topped up on na-na-nas.