BILLY CRAIG - 2018 (1 ALBUM)

-



"SONIC TUNESMITH"

2018


FADE AWAY - Opening the album is a Blues Country track with great Slash/Prince like guitars throughout.  Its laid back Bon Jovi style vocals make this sound like a cool Rock ballad.  Great track to ease you in to the set with a positive and optimistic lyric.

NOWHERE TO GO - A Rock N' Roll foot stomper similar to rocker Dave Edmunds with the quirkiness of The Cars and Tom Petty.  The familiar Country twang is perfectly intertwined with the Rock sound without overpowering the whole feel of the song.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME - This could be a song on a ZZ Top album.  That great chug-a-chug Blues sound collaborating with Texan drawl.  Big and bold Country Blues Rock, it is raw, keeps pumping to the end and has a nice Classic Rock music interlude at 2.20.  Add the throaty vocals akin to Billy Gibbons and you have a fabulous track.

SUPPOSED TO BE - Slow tempo Pop Rock ballad with a hint of Country Blues.  Think of Jon Bon Jovi, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan and mash them together.  That's Billy Craig's vocals in a nutshell.  He can give them all a good run for their money.  Nice electro guitars on this track, arena style Rock balladry at its best.

TURN AWAY - Petty/Dylan-esque vocals on this Electric Rock track, sounding like Country style slide guitar throughout until around the 2 minutes 10 seconds mark where there's another great Slash/Prince influenced solo.  Laid back and wonderful.

WITH YOU - Another Tom Petty style rocker, laid back Rock N' Roll, a real feel good song.  Also has a hint of Folk, reminding me of The Travelling Wilburys, the group Petty shared with Orbison, Dylan, Harrison and Lynne.  Tap your feet with glee along with this one!
 
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL - This track reminds me of Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and Guns N ' Roses' "Patience".  It has that sweet but tough Rock vibe within a very emotive ballad.  Absolutely love this track, the melancholic guitar work and soft vocals and beautiful chorus make this a winner.

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING - After the intitial intro that comes through like an REM tune, this could be Dylan at his best.  Classic Folk Rock with a hint of Country Blues, really like this.  A true message too, you don't get something for nothing in this day and age.

FROZEN HEART - Atmospheric Acoustic ballad, Country Pop Rock mixed with a little Folk.  A gentle slow burner that's soothing, laid back and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  Really nice track to relax by.

SUMMERTIME - Kick off your shoes, pull up a chair and chill out to this Acoustic track,  pure unadulterated Country Blues.  Brings up images of sitting on the wood floor outside a barn house and strumming my guitar in the sunshine.  Nicely done Mr Craig.
 


C'MON IN - An emotive Country ballad to finish off a fine album of diverse styles.  A mix of spoken word and singing vocals combine with a soothing, relaxed backing to wind you down after a rollercoaster of an album full of Rock history styles.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - 1984 - 1986 (THE COMPLETE 3 ALBUM COLLECTION)

-
Image
     "PURPLE RAIN"  "1984" LET'S GO CRAZY - The abum opens with the famous church organ sounding out with a little Prince-like "sermon" before firing up a blistering funky Rock anthem that is one of my favourite songs by the man.  The single was the 2nd single release from the album and along with its B-side "Take Me With U" hit number 7 in the UK chart.  If previous releases wan't enough proof this track shows Prince the brilliant guitarist.   TAKE ME WITH U - As previously stated this was a double A-side of "Let's Go Crazy" which radio sometimes played as an alternative.  Sung as a duet with Apollonia Kotero (the female lead in the "Purple Rain" movie) with co-vocals by Jill Jones and Lisa Coleman.  A melodic easy going romantic track with strings bringing down the pace a bit after the opening track. THE BEAUTIFUL ONES - One of Prince's most loved sexy, lustful, emotionally charged romantic ballads.  Altho
Read more

MADONNA - 1983 - 2003 (9 ALBUMS)

-
Image
"MADONNA"   1983 LUCKY STAR - The opening track is a Disco Pop song, which became her trademark for this debut album before moving into more Pop areas in her next few albums.  Its mid tempo beats and twangy guitars and elctro synths made this an accessible staple to radio airplay connecting to a variety of listeners.  Classic Madonna. BORDERLINE - A change of direction after the first upbeat song, this is a kind of Pop ballad set to a Disco track.  Some lovely harmonies and became her first top ten hit in the USA.  A Reggie Lucas written composition and it gave Madonna chance to explore her vocals and conveying emotion in her songs.  One of my favourites. BURNING UP - One of my top songs by Madonna.  Similar to the later "Gambler".  It is a fast paced Disco beat laden track with a rockier twist with random guitar riffs.  A real gem.     I KNOW IT - This track is keyboard led and has a nice 60s Pop/Rock N' Roll vibe akin to the later "True Blue".  A
Read more

PRINCE - 1978 - 2021 (9 ALBUMS)

-
Image
"FOR YOU"   1978 FOR YOU - The very first track on any Prince album is a little over a minute long and showcases the astounding vocal range of the then teenage artist.  Harmonising with himself, using his voice as melodies and adding a Gospel and church choir like style.  Brave for a first track to bare himself like this but then Prince was to be no ordinary performer! IN LOVE - A Pop Soul track that has very slight hints of Funk.  It is essentially a mid tempo ballad.  Showing the early talent this guy had for hearing unusual sounds that merge together brilliantly.  All tracks here composed, performed, arranged and produced by this teenager on his debut, that in itself is remarkable. SOFT AND WET - The first introduction to the now famous (or infamous to some) sexual innuendo laden tracks that he composed during his reign.  A Disco Funk track with a little Soul, was released as a single on his 20th birthday as the first from this album.      
Read more