NEW MUSIC EAR : Album Reviews

FOO FIGHTERS "THE COLOUR AND THE SHAPE"   1997     DOLL - The opening track is a half whispered demo style track that is a nice gentle Folk-like introduction to the band's second album.  Coming in at almost 1 and a half minutes this is a very short opener. MONKEY WRENCH - This is actually one of my favourite Foo tracks, an almost Punk Rock number, the chugging backing track and Dave Grohl's angry vocals linking into a quite catchy chorus.  Love it. HEY, JOHNNY PARK! -  A loud, brash opening merges into an Acoustic backed vocal track before kicking in again with a 90s Grunge style chorus and back again.  It see saws like this before the mega Rock ending. MY POOR BRAIN - Bright and breezy 60s style hippie verses and a massive Hard Rock chorus.  Lots of gutiars, feedback effects and a thumping drumbeat with the usual clever veiled Foo melodies.  It's almost Punk gearing to its end! Awesome. WIND UP - Elements of Classic R

WET LEG "WET LEG" 2022 BEING ALONE - The opening track to this debut album by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers is a quirky mix of 90s Grunge and Alternative Pop.  Add a little Psychedelia, funky drums and some flirty, panted vocals this is a great track. CHAISE LONGUE - The debut single by the girls only reached number 74 in the UK chart but had massive play on all platforms and got the band noticed.  It is mostly spoken tonge-in-cheek flirty vocals but its incredibly catchy, reminding me of Elastica and Sleeper in the 90s.  Got me hooked to the girls' music. ANGELICA - A cool, hypnotic slice of early 70s Psychedelia Pop Rock.  Another catchy song that once it hits your head it becomes memorable.  Love it. I DON'T WANNA GO OUT - An Alternative Rock track similar to Garbage with a slow, atmospheric style.   WET DREAM - The second single is a mish mash 90s Pop Rock mix of Grunge, Elastica-style vocals and backing but also a little Alanis Morissette.  It's a

THE STRUTS "YOUNG & DANGEROUS"   2018     BODY TALKS - A storming opening track, The Cult meets Queen in this high tempo hard rocker.     PRIMADONNA LIKE ME - This has a beat like Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" but its a kind of Iggy Pop And The Stooges New Wave Punk rocker. IN LOVE WITH A CAMERA - A quirky Glam Rock styled track with elements of Progressive and Classic Rock.  Catchy chorus as well! BULLETPROOF BABY - Blink-182 and the 90s Pop Alternative Punk bands spring to mind here.  Great tempo, and incredibly engaging with the snappy chorus. WHO AM I? - This is a great Alternative Pop song, similar to bands like Maroon 5 and a quirkiness of Electric Six.  PEOPLE - Snow Patrol meets early Def Leppard, radio friendly Pop Rock at its best. FIRE (Part 1) - Alternative New Wave Rock akin to The Psychedelic Furs.  Carries on right through at a brisk tempo and a booming chorus ending with a piano finish. SOMEB

PALOMA FAITH "DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?"   2009       STONE COLD SOBER - Great debut single from Paloma, has a slight Country twang but is deep in Blues Soul, a bit of everything with some awesome vocals.  Gave us a teaser for what was to come from the fearless singer.     SMOKE AND MIRRORS - A kind of 60s Pop feel to this track, a more laid back vocal this time. BROKEN DOLL - A darkly soft ballad with a distinct Musical feel, Paloma again taking on different styles that has since become her trademark. A little Eartha Kitt or innocent quality of Marilyn Monroe. DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL? - Pure Soul Pop on this title track.  A beautifully (no pun intended) sung and almost 60s era style. UPSIDE DOWN - A great Jazz/Soul hybrid, its fun, its slinky and delivered in the unmistakeable quirky Paloma Faith style.  Love this, its cool.  You can see the dancers sancing behind her in a vintage smoky bar.   R

ALANIS MORISSETTE "JAGGED LITTLE PILL" 1995   ALL I REALLY WANT - With elements of Classic Rock, post Grunge and Pop this was an ear opening unique track.  The first song that I heard from Alanis and its still a classic.  Angst ridden vocals with her own distinct quirky style make her an original artist. YOU OUGHTA KNOW - Another classic Alanis track.  This has a harder 90s Grunge feel and more Alternative Rock style.  Enlisting the aid of Flea and Dave Navarro from Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass and guitar respectively gave this a funky feel as well.  Class.     PERFECT - A hybrid of Pop Rock balladic melancholic moments and Classic Rock segments make this an unusual track.  A really great song. HAND IN MY POCKET - Yet another outstanding track, this is a mainstream Rock song with Acoustic and almost Folk sections with a Bohemian feel. RIGHT THROUGH YOU - This is a straight up Rock track with pumping drums and screeching guitars.  One of

KANE "AS LONG AS YOU WANT THIS" 2000   AS LONG AS YOU WANT THIS - A storming opener to the Dutch band's debut album, a classy Alternative Rock track showcasing Dinand Woesthoff's fabulous husky vocals. CAN YOU HANDLE ME - Great Pop Rock track with awesome melodies and harmonies.  Catchy chorus and a foot stomper.     DAMN THOSE EYES - Absolutely gorgeous mid tempo Pop Rock ballad.  Big, anthemic and memorable.  Simply stunning.       HANDS - Reminds me a little of INXS at their peak.  Great mid tempo and another top singalong chorus, these guys know how to hook your ears. WHERE DO I GO NOW - Half Acoustic, this track is almost Grunge Rock, with a little segment of Classic Rock guitars thrown in forgood measure. I WILL KEEP MY HEAD DOWN - An atmospheric Progressive Rock/Classic Rock track.  Some great Acoustic guitar interspersed with searing solos. NOT HERE - A beautifully constructed Rock ballad, great melodies and Dina

NO DOUBT  "TRAGIC KINGDOM"   1995       SPIDERWEBS - The opening track has the previous album's styles of Ska and Reggae but with a Classic Rock, almost Progressive Rock backdrop at some points.  Its a high tempo manic starter for what's to come! EXCUSE ME MR. - A bouncy uptempo Classic/Pop Rock track that has slight elements of quirky Jazz moments, brilliant. JUST A GIRL - New Wave Punk track similar to tracks by early Blondie, frenetic with Gwen Stefani's angst ridden vocals lifting the song to bigger heights.     HAPPY NOW? - A Pop Rock track that reminds me both of Blondie and Bangles, melodious and a catchy harmonised chorus, great tune. DIFFERENT PEOPLE - A throwback to the previous albums, a quirky Ska/Reggae song with the minimal rocky sound in the background this time.  Takes you back to Selecter and The Specials times. HEY YOU - Psychedelic 60s Pop Rock, with some great Classic Rock vocals from Gwen. TH

THE SWEET "FUNNY HOW SWEET CO-CO CAN BE" 1971 CO-CO - Cool, quirky Pop, with Caribbean and Latin infuences, really unusual start for a Glam Rock group's album.  Catchy No.2 hit in the UK.   CHOP CHOP - A little Funk, a little Progressive Rock with some very eerie, shadowed vocals by Brian Connolly.  The band were not scared of experimentation and this was certianly one that worked.   REFLECTIONS - A cover of The Supremes' 1967 hit.  Brave move from a new Rock band on their debut album, covering a Motown track.  A nice version and Brian's voice seems to suit the style. HONEYUCKLE LOVE - Pure 70s guitar driven Glam Rock akin to the sounds Marc Bolan was also making with T-Rex.    SANTA MONICA SUNSHINE - Another change in style for this debut set, proving the band were not going to be pigeonholed into just a Glam Rock band.  This is Country twanged Blues. DAYDREAM - This is another cover of the classic by Lovin' Spoo

  GARBAGE   "GARBAGE" 1995 SUPERVIXEN - Awesome opener to the album, singer Shirley Manson delivers a languid, moody, angry vocal over a high octane crash of searing guitars backdrop.  Garbage liked to push boundaries of genres and this is no exception.  Almost Punk in attitude and Grunge in style. Only released as a promotional single but a class track. QUEER - The band's first big hit in the UK reaching number 13.  This track is a gem and another mix of styles.  There is the Trip Hop vibe of Morcheeba, the Grunge Rock of Nirvana and also the angst and Alternative Pop akin to Alanis Morissette and Alisha's Attic.  Simply brilliant. ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS - The single that got Garbage noticed in the UK reaching the Top 30 for the first time peaking at number 29.  A great slice of Alternative/Electronic Rock, more sing-a-long than the previous tracks it has become a favourite of Garbage fans and many artists have covered the song.  One of my favourite tracks of the

SINNOBER    "LITTLE WARS" 2016   EVERYTHING WE NEVER ASKED FOR - The debut album by Sinnober (multi-instrumentalist songwriters Sebastian and Natalie Brice) opens with a smooth Folk Pop ballad.  Beautiful harmonies and light melodies ease you into this album.  Reminds me a little of Simon and Garfunkel in its composition. MARIA - A little more stripped back than the previous track, this Everly Brothers styled track focuses on the brilliant vocal arrangements before reaching a minor crescendo towards the end.  Nice and mellow.   GO BACK - Another really polished song from this debut album.  Its 60s style Alternative Pop has slight hints of Swing and Jazz. REALITY TV - This slow Pop Rock ballad reminds me of Bon Jovi's Acoustic numbers where they slow everything down and its almost grass roots.  Really lovely song. TALK ME DOWN - A pure, live sounding Acoustic Pop ballad with hints of Rock.  Just sounds amazing and even better in headphones, its like you're in the

YUNA  "YUNA" 2012 LULLABIES - Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna opens her first international debut album with a laid back ballad.  Yuna's gentle, soothing voice echoes eerily over a slow tempo Trip Hop style beat.  Lovely introduction to this lady. FAVOURITE THING -  An engaging, captivating vocal drifts through a slow melodious Synth Pop styled backing .  Dreamy Pop. REMEMBER MY NAME - This track has a delightfully quirky and sparse backing but reminds me of the style of Simon and Garfunkel.  A little upbeat and uplifting Folk Pop for your ears. DECORATE - Another soulful slow Pop ballad with stunning vocals.  This was also the title of her debut Malaysian album. PLANES - Straight forward Pop this time, almost Acoustic backing and a really catchy chorus.  One of my favourites. BAD IDEA - An unusual switch after the Pop of the previous track.  This is a jazzy, chanteuse styled track that has a "musical" feel to it.  Yuna is no one trick pony and even on thi

  ECHOBELLY  "ON" 1995   CAR FICTION - The opening track of this second album by the band has a distinct Punk vibe and very similar to a Blondie track.  The thumping, crashing rhythm of the guitars and drums back up singer Sonya Madan's unique vocals brilliantly. KING OF THE KERB - The second single from the album is predominantly Brit Pop with hints of Blur and Supergrass and the Gothic arena style guitars.  Great track with a catchy chorus, it reached number 25 in the UK chart. GREAT THINGS - The track that got me hooked on the band and the debut single from this set that reached number 13 in the UK chart and remains their highest chart hit to date. It is Pop, Rock and has a little Bangles style vocals and guitars.  Chirpy, catchy and brilliant.   NATURAL ANIMAL - A little more harder than the previous tracks.  This is a Grunge Rock style, big guitar driven stadium rocky song.  Has some nice, softer Acoustic moments but then hits it with the big noise.  Top track. G

  THE THE   "INFECTED"   1986 INFECTED - The second album by Matt Johnson's The The following "Soul Mining" opens with this brilliant track.  Kicking off almost with a gospel intro before hitting an infectious Synth Pop style beat, add some snarling Billy Idol-like vocals and it's already reaching "hit" status.  An infectious (no pun intended) chorus emerges into a Synth Rock/New Wave hybrid.  Just a class track.  Criminally ignored only reaching 48 on the UK chart. OUT OF THE BLUE (INTO THE FIRE) - An engaging Punk Pop ballad, the musical intro reminds me of The Pretenders but quickly kicks into a track Iggy Pop would be proud of.  Another gem merging New Wave with classic Punk elements.  HEARTLAND - This single release reached number 29 on the UK chart.  It is a beautifully composed track with an orchestral style backing.  Add an awesome piano solo, some Soul driven vocals from Matt and a lovely harmonised chorus it makes for a great listen.

JOANovARC "JOANovARC"   2019     BURNING - An almost Iron Maiden style opener to this second album by the female Rock quartet.  The vocals are akin to an angry Pat Benatar, it meanders along a little and doesn't have the great melodious Rock that previous songs have hinted at. WAITING FOR - This is more like what I expected from the band, a pumping Rock masterblaster, great riffs, elements of Classic Rock and a very slight leaning to Pop Rock, this is just awesome. DOWN BY THE RIVER - A slower tempo, almost Progressive Rock to start, before entering into a great chorus, reminding me of Joan Jett and a little early Heart.  Searing guitars and great vocals, another stomping rocker. PEOPLE COMING UP - The girls give us the Funk. simple in composition with a "whoah" chorus repeating but it hits the mark, you can't help but sing along and enjoy! TAKE IT OUT - This reminds me a little of early Bangles tracks.  It's catc