NEW MUSIC EAR : Album Reviews

BILLY CRAIG "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. 

HUE AND CRY    "SEDUCED AND ABANDONED" 1987   STRENGTH TO STRENGTH - The band's debut album, considered to be "sophisti-pop" saved my music listening pleasures along with fellow Scottish counterparts, Deacon Blue, Texas, The Proclaimers and Del Amitri.  Amidst the onrush of Acid House and boybands etc this was bliss.  This opening track criminally was ignored after the success of "Labour of Love".  It is an unusual orchestral Pop Rock track with old style crooning vocals.  Great harmonies and melodies. HISTORY CITY - This track is a mix of Jazz Blues with a little Funk and some awesome vocals from Pat Kane backed ably by his brother Greg on various keyboards.  Its punchy and bright and you can't help but move your feet! GOODBYE TO ME - A pure Pop Soul track with a Country twang.  The band have a great ear for lush melodies and this is no exception.  The lyrics are sometimes highbrow but the sound id incredibly engaging. HUMAN TOUCH - A gentle

SAMANTHA FOX  "TOUCH ME" 1986   TOUCH ME (I WANT YOUR BODY) - Sometimes making a huge switch in careers can be troublesome.  Samantha Fox started as a 16 year old glamour model and became the most sought after pin-up girl in the 80s.  However in 1986 she turned to music and released this great Pop album.  Opening with this massive debut hit, number 3 in the UK chart its a great slice of Synth and Dance Pop with hints of Rock.  Catchy, saucy, sexy and memorable.  I'M ALL YOU NEED - The fourth and final single from this album only reached number 41 in the UK chart.  This is a really nice, quirky Synth Pop track epitomising the early to mid 80s Electronic music boom.  Catchy chorus and some lovely vocals from Samantha. SUZIE, DON'T LEAVE ME WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND - A kind of Motown/ R n' B simple track.  Doesn't really go anywhere to be too engaging on the ear.  Not one of my favourites and definitely a filler here. WILDA KIND OF LOVE - The intro shouts of "

  FLEETWOOD MAC   "RUMOURS" 1977 SECOND HAND NEWS - The opening track of the album is a bouncy, quirky Folk style Rock song, reminds me of the 60s duetted sounds of The Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel.  Sung by Lindsey Bucking ham who was also the composer.  Great melody and harmonies and a neat guitar solo to finish which could have been longer but a great song. DREAMS - The second single from the album reached number 24 in the UK chart and is one of my favourite "Mac" tracks.  It was covered brilliantly by another favourite band of mine, The Corrs as well. This lilting Soft Rock ballad is beautifully sung by Stevie Nicks and is a notable classic. NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN - This song is a merging of Country Pop and Folk Rock with some stunning pure Acoustic guitar and vocals from writer Buckingham.  Really lovely song.  Was a B-side for a handful of singles in various countries.  DON'T STOP - This track criminally only reached number 32 in the UK char

  GEORGE MICHAEL "FAITH" 1987   FAITH - Reaching number 2 in the UK chart, this minimal Rockabilly styled track opens this debut album, although it is debatable (or obvious) that Wham! was essentially George's baby albeit accompanied by Andrew Ridgeley in some small way. This was a short, sharp funky track with just guitar, bass and basic percussion (apart from the cathedral organ at the intro) and allowed George to carry the song with the vocals. FATHER FIGURE - This single reached number 11 in the UK chart and is a Pop ballad of sorts with a slight drumbeat and had some mystical Asian infuence in parts and Gospel in the big chorus.  An emotional song and shows the more mature side of George, making the "Young Guns" days seem very far away.   I WANT YOUR SEX (Parts 1 + 2 ) - This Funk infused Disco track is a gem and reminded me much of my idol Prince in its sexy rhythm and almost lascivious lyrics.  Banned in some media outlets but it is a great slice of Po

NATALIE IMBRUGLIA "LEFT OF THE MIDDLE"   1997     TORN - One of my alltime favourite songs by any artist and this was a massive hit globally for ex-Neighbours star Natalie Imbruglia proving she wasn't a bubblegum puppet unlike some of the other soap stars.  This was a brilliant Pop Rock track that was a cover of obscure Rock band Ednaswap who hadn't released it before this version.  Pure sultry vocals, a slight dance beat and swirling melodies made this a top song by any artist.     ONE MORE ADDICTION - A more edgy side of Rock for this track, an almost funky backing similar to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Natalie's Edie Brickell/Sophie B. Hawkins style vocals.  Very cool track. BIG MISTAKE - A Grunge Rock style similar to Garbage and Paramore, quiet, angst ridden vocals  build into a storming anthemic chorus with a crash of drums and guitars.       LEAVE ME ALONE - A kind of Morcheeba style Trip Hop merged with a little Jazz.  S

XIXA     "BLOODLINE" 2016   BLOODLINE - The opening track to this debut album by the band from Tucson, Arizona is a taster for the rest of the album.  A merging of many genres but keeping with the Latin influences and "desert rock". It is almost Gothic Rock and Punk in places with a hint of Nick Cave and Iggy Pop.  The eerie effects and twangy guitars add the Blues style and New Wave connections.  This is Rock but not as you know it, awesome.   VAMPIRO - The frenetic almost Rockabilly guitars back up a moody, desperate vocal.  It reminds me at times of BowWowWow but without Annabella Lwin's angry vocals.  Love how it incorporates the Latin and cowboy western style rhythms.  Experimental at its best and has a strange Punk danceability KILLER - This track is the most Pop styled track so far.  Its calypso and almost ska feel is usually linked to Cumbia Rock which the band have infused into their unique music.  Its quirky and endearing melody and mid tempo backin

KATZENJAMMER "ROCKLAND"   2015     OLD DE SPAIN -  The opening track is almost like a pirate shanty, Indie Folk complete with harmonies, chanting and a variety of acoustic instruments.   Great intro to the third album by the talented Norwegian band. CURVACEOUS NEEDS - A quickstep tempo, a mixture of Folk, Pop, Soul and Blues.  A fabulous foot tapper! A catchy chorus make this an irresistible slice of Scandinavian brilliance. OH MY GOD - A very unusual track, its got distant Soul backing vocals at times but mostly a Punk style vocal backed by an uptempo Indie Folk.  This is genius and an experimental masterpiece. LADY GREY - A simply beautiful Pop Folk track, melancholic and emotive vocals and melodies.  Reminds me a little of Susanna Hoffs and Bangles' tracks.  Its got that 60s Pop Rock vibe. MY OWN TUNE - This track is a quirky, upbeat track that has a little Latin Disco feel with a merging of Folk and there is also a Rap inter

MADNESS "ABSOLUTELY"   1980     BAGGY TROUSERS - The opening track was the one that got me hooked on Madness, I wasn't really into Two Tone or Ska at this point but their qurky sound was so unique.  It was a slice of infectious Pop with a little Punk, and the catchy qualities of Pop.  Sheer class.     EMBARRASSMENT - A darker tone on this track, and a little more New Wave Pop than previous Madness tracks.  It was apparently about band member Lee Thompson's sister being pregnant by a black man.  Although the lyrics were darker, the slightly upbeat music kept it light.     E.R.N.I.E. - This is a "nursery rhyme" style chirpy little Ska ditty that is thoroughly engaging and experimental with almost fairground style backing.  Also the backing vocals make it sound a little more Punk. CLOSE ESCAPE - This is more a Ska Punk track.  Reminds me of Ian Dury and that style of quirky jagged tempo. NOT HOME TODAY - The beat and

  MUD  "MUD ROCK" 1974 ROCKET - The debut album opens with this fourth single from the set that reached number 6 in the UK chart.  An original composition by renowned writers Mick Chapman and Nicky Chinn.  It is a straight up Pop Rock track with a memorable chorus as was Mud's forte.     DO YOU LOVE ME/SHA LA LA LA LEE - Medley of The Contours 1962 hit (written by Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.) and Small Faces' 1966 hit.  Despite the difference in the originals' styles these two songs merge brilliantly to make a cool Rock 'n Roll track. RUNNING BEAR - The first cover on the album written by The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry "JP" Richardson Jr.) and gave Johnny preston a big number 1 hit on his debut in 1959.  It's a mid tempo almost Native American sounding blues song. THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE - A Rock 'n Roll/Blues/Rock combo track with some great guitar solos.  One to really rock out to! SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL/SEE YOU LATER ALLIGATOR - A medl