Zeitgeist Reviews - METALLICA, M3, JEN ELLIOTT, AMY STUDT, COLCHESTER RECORDINGS

CD OF THE WEEK

JEN ELLIOTT - The Secret's Out

Well, this is a gem. A mixture of blues rock and blue eyed soul with a hint of pop perception.

It all kicks off with a bang, "Move" a significant statement of intent from a remarkable voice. Your attention is held all the way to the end with a rambunctious blast of honky tonk rhytm and blues, "Pop Blue"s.

Oddly enough, Jens Elliots voice sounds as though it would be more at home in the world of classic seventies soul rather than the blues based metier she has chosen to work within. However, the clash of voice and style is one of the things that make this CD so appealing.

There are also hints of a Santana like vibe in places, which ads enough variety to keep you paying attention when things lull slightly. Of course, in 2004, the audience for this style may be dwindling. Even Sheryl Crow has had to resort to the Greatest Hits route, although with the likes of Amy Studt wailing away, there may be hope yet.

However, if "Empty Eyes" were released to radio, its commercial enough to pick up some valuable exposure, to fill the void until Anastacia recovers. "Why Can't This Be A Love Song?" could also be a contender, although less poppy. This is a remarkably assured debut, and an indicator of a major talent, waiting to be discovered.

Colchester Recordings

Colchester Recordings

Metallica

Metallica

Amy Studt

Amy Studt

YEAH, IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE THAT...A COLCHESTER RECORDINGS COMPILATION VOLUME 1

Your opinion of this compilation will largely depend on your opinion of lo-fi. If you like big shiny sounds that go oomph on a regular basis, then probably best look away. Eleven artists, so here's a quick rundown.

Sean Parker chips in with a fairly standard oh poor me, acoustic singer songwriter thing. Conformist go all cut up samples on our ass to very good effect. Very dubby, very nice. Candy Sniper is all Sonic Youth. Good if you like that sort of thing. Dub Monster could be heralding the arrival of English skank. Ben Marwood is very new wave, the original new wave that is, not the new new wave. I shouldn't like it, but do.

Anglo Japanese punk time next (again!). Fifty eight seconds of Billy Idle & Caustic Goat is probably about enough. Frankie Machine is more nu-folk nonsense, but with balls. Better. Epoché is a bit good. Old school electronica with super furry melodies. We reviewed The Party once, and claimed they were as crotchety as Mark E Smith. And they are, but with
more guitars, which is nice. Punk rappers Kill Dizney will doubtless be sued to death, so enjoy their falling apart at the seamness while you can. Steve Rudd ends things by ripping up the big book of song writing and starting again from scratch. Damn that pesky verse chorus verse nonsense.

METALLICA - The Unnamed Feeling EP

We didn't castigate St Anger as much as most round our way.

Anticipation had been heightened to an unsustainable level. They made an uncommercial album, and it has been uncommercial. No surprise there. After all, their first few albums were hardly pop hits. People seem to forget that pre "Metallica", they were just one of the Big Four of metal. Nothing more. Which is why the 'commercial sell outs', "Load" and "Reload" have considerably outsold "St Anger".

I can only assume that this EP is their equivalent of the white flag. One new tune (and video) plus 6 (count 'em) classic tracks recorded live. Which is why people will buy it. But, again, Metallica are going for credibility as well as cash. When "Ride The Lightning" was released it wasn't a world beater, it was an underground hit. Now I don't know if Metallica have totally lost the plot, but if they want the big sales back, then they have to release another melody charged beast like "Metallica".

You get "The Four Horsemen", "Damage Inc", "Leper Messiah", "Motorbreath" "Hit the Lights", and "Ride the Lightning". Wham bam, competently performed, as they have been a thousand times. At this rate Metallica will be their own tribute band soon. But, if you're a fan, it's a nice live souvenir, and will keep Mr Mustaine in candles and incense for a wee while yet. Lars may want to kick my ass for that comment, but I'll still be heading to Download to take my chances.

M3 - Classic 'Snake Live Volume 1

A couple of years back, the BBC ran a poll for the greatest lyrics ever. I contributed "Take Me With You" by Whitesnake. The first Whitesnake song I ever heard (I've still got the orange Liberty label 7"), and here it is 25 years on, closing this great set.

I never really took to the whole Company of Snakes thing. It seemed like they couldn't make uptheir minds whether they wanted to be taken seriosuly as a 'new' band or whether they wanted to be their own tribute band. Well, looks like they made up their minds. Billed as M3 (that's M to the power of 3), the lineup for this live album consisted of;
Guitar - Bernie Marsden, Guitar - Micky Moody, Bass - Neil Murray - all ex Whitesnake, Lead Vocals: Tony Martin - ex Black Sabbath, Keyboards: Mark Stanway - ex Magnum, Drums: Jimmy Copley

Now there is no doubting the validity of Marsden / Moody / Murray - integral components of the classic Whitesnake sound, and I have no problem with them trying to reclaim some credit for the incredible work they produced. After all, Mr Coverdale spent 20 years pretending it never happened. Only with the Silver Anniversary Collection did he finally 'fess up.

But how would former Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin measure up. Well, to his credit, and unlike some of the previous incumbents of the Marsden/Moody bands he remains his own man, making no attempt to be an impersonator. And he is a good singer, "Tyr" remains a forgotten classic and some of the work he's done with Dario Mollo is excellent. Check out "The Cage" if you don't believe me. Here, he sings the songs as Tony Martin, nothing else, and does a very good job.

If, like me, the first 5 years of Whitesnake were a formative musical experience for you, the track listing is a dream; Walking in the Shadow of the Blues, Don't Break My Heart Again, Lonely Days Lonely Nights, Hit An Run, Ready 'An Willing, Ain't Gonna Cry No More, Young Blood, Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City, Child of Babylon, Here I Go Again, Take Me With You.

I mean you can't really go wrong, especially hearing some of these numbers live for the first time in over 20 years. A special mention for Mark Stanway who fills in admirably for Jon Lord and Jimmy Copley does a sterling, understated job.

Apparently, Volume 2 featuring outtakes and rare tracks will be available in 2004. And there are rumours of a Glasgow show in the spring. Please let it be so. This isn't essential, but for those of a certain vintage, and those wondering what the fuss was about, it's certainly a treat. Favourite moment - "Child Of Babylon". Now where's my copy of "Live At Hammersmith"?

AMY STUDT - All I Wanna Do (Polydor CD single)

We like Amy. 17, gorgeous, sings like an angel. I can only assume that her first album didn't sell as many as the marketers had hoped. Hence, the Sheryl Crow cover, and working with the bloke behind the A*Teens.

To be fair, the Sheryl Crow song is over 10 years old, so there's a reasonable chance that her target demographic have no idea that an 'orignal' version even exists. Which is why I'm concerned. Amy is still gorgeous, still sings like an angel, does a bang up job on "All I Wanna Do", co-writes the two new tracks (of which "You're Like The Breeze" is fabulous), but I want more. Be your own woman, you're young enough and talented enough to make it on your own.