Album Of The Week 2024 - Archive
Album Of The Week 2024 - Archive
Album Of The Week - 06/01/2024
Losing Streak – Less Than Jake
The first album of 2024 comes from American ska/punk band Less Than Jake and their 1996 release, Losing Streak.
This is the second selection from Less Than Jake following 1998’s Hello Rockview which was my album of the week for 01/04/2023.
Not including their 1995 compilation release, Losing Streak is the 2nd album from the band that followed on from their vey impressive debut, Pezcore, the album that got me into Less Than Jake.
With Less Than Jake the listener knows exactly what they are getting, short sharp songs, catchy ska infused punk rhythms, songs about growing up, friends, family life and drinking.
Losing Streak has a rawness about it which keeps that DIY punk feel with a pop/punk sensibility and without the caustic, challenging approach of some of the other punk bands in my collection, such as last week’s band, the Anti-Nowhere League.
I think what makes Less Than Jake stand out is how they blend the 3 piece brass section with the guitars and drums making them very tuneful, rhythmic and easy to listen to, with collections of songs that can really grab the attention.
Less Than Jake have shown over the years that ska and punk goes together well in the same way punk bands have delved into reggae to produce engaging music. I feel these mixing of genres and influences avoids staleness and we have seen that ska/punk has flourished over the last 30 years, especially in the USA.
Losing Streak contains 16 songs including 2 re-recorded tracks from Pezcore.
In true punk fashion there is no indulgence on the album, only 1 of the songs is over 3 minutes and there is a pretty relentless though melodic pace to Losing Streak.
Not known for being commercially successful in the UK Losing Streak hit 98 in the album charts which I think is impressive for a low key American punk band that lacks the financial backing of a major label.
My first selection is the opening track and first of two singles released from the album, Automatic.
Album Of The Week - 06/01/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from Losing Streak is the track Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts.
This is one of the two re-recorded songs from their debut album, Pezcore, and one of my favourites from the early Less Than Jake releases.
The song is a statement of intent from the band on their approach to music and gigs.
Album Of The Week - 06/01/2024 - Track 3
The latest selection from this week's album slows the pace down a little bit.
The track Dopeman was the second single released from the album and the subject matter is obvious from the title.
Album Of The Week - 06/01/2024 - Track 4
Today's selection from Losing Streak is the longest song on the album at just over 3 minutes.
Never Going Back To New Jersey is a song many can identify with in being disillusioned with your home town as you grow up.
A good song but not one I can personally relate to as I have never left Plymouth.
Album Of The Week - 06/01/2024 - Track 5
Wrapping up Losing Streak is the song Lockdown.
Since the Covid pandemic we think of something specific with the term lockdown but in this instance the song is about the concrete mess seen in many towns and cities with the endless shopping malls and developments.
Its a good song to end the album on.
Album Of The Week - 13/01/2024
Get A Life – Stiff Little Fingers
This week we go back to 1994 and an album that ranks as a classic for me, Get A Life by Stiff Little Fingers
Get A Life is the second studio album following their reformation in 1987 and follows up on the 1991 return, Flags And Emblems.
I have always regarded SLF as one of the pioneer punk bands and they have been one of my favourite bands since 1979/80 when I bought their first two albums. They initially hailed from Belfast so were not part of the 1976/77 London based explosion of punk rock.
In all, Get A Life is their 6th studio album and the second to feature Bruce Foxton, formerly of The Jam, on bass guitar. By the admission of Jake Burns (frontman, guitarist, primary song writer) Bruce added a real drive and enthusiasm to this album as he was there from the start of recording unlike the previous album. The power and dynamism can be felt throughout the whole of Get A Life with its full sound, great guitars and Jake Burns song writing captured perfectly.
The album was pretty much recorded with the band as a trio and all the guitars were done by Jake Burns as fellow band founder and guitarist, Henry Cluney, had by now left the band.
Whatever the means and reasons for his departure the split was not an amicable one and different sources cite different reasons for the split, some say it was a power struggle while others have suggested that Cluney wanted to go for a more metal, Metallica, style sound.
Whatever the reasons, Jake does a superb job on Get A Life and for the tour Ian McCallum joined the band and has been with them ever since.
Although 6 albums in there is a freshness and vibrancy with Get A Life and it feels that with this album in particular Stiff Little Fingers are at their very best. The album has 13 tracks in total and not 1 do I consider as filler or superfluous. There is a mixture of the social and personal in the lyrics, as is generally the case with SLF, Jake Burns is no stranger to taking a shot at the government of the day or addressing issues of concern.
Although they receive virtually no radio play Get A Life reached number 89 in the UK albums chart.
Julie and I saw Stiff Little Fingers play on Plymouth Hoe in 1996 when Get A Life was still there most recent album and if would be fair to say they were outstanding. I have seen them since and never do the band disappoint live.
My first selection is the opening, title track and only single released from the album, Get A Life.
Album Of The Week - 13/01/2024 - Track 2
Today's selection from Get A Life is a track that I consider to be classic Stiff Little Fingers.
Can't Believe In You hits at the heart of those who dwell in extremism be it political, racial, religious and all the other excuses people use to stoke up hatred. Delivered in typical full on SLF style with great vocals from Jake Burns and a blistering punk rock assult.
Album Of The Week - 13/01/2024 - Track 3
The third selection from Get A Life is the track Forensic Evidence.
A song about those who are victims of miscarriages of justice. In light of the ongoing Post Office scandal which has recently been thrust back into the public attention this song is apt.
Album Of The Week - 13/01/2024 - Track 4
Today's selection from Get A Life moves away from the social and politcal with the track Cold.
Not a comment on the weather but a look at the complexities of relationships. This is probably the most commercial song on the album but its a good one nonetheless.
Album Of The Week - 13/01/2024 - Track 5
My penultimate selection from Get A Life is a song which is one my favourites from the album.
The Road To King Come is a fast paced yet melodic offering, powerful and punchy with a lyric that covers numerous topics from class hatred, disinchantment with home and family and environmental destruction.
Another great song from this classic Stiff Little Fingers album.
Album Of The Week - 13/01/2024 - Track 6
The final selection from Get A Life is the closing track, What If I Want More.
The shortest track on the album, is a 93 second punk rock assult to wrap up this superb offering from Stiff Little Fingers.
Album Of The Week - 20/01/2024
Shadows Of A Dying Sun – Insomnium
Insomnium, formed in 1997 are classed as melodic death metal which is not a genre I usually like but there was something about this album that grabbed my attention.
Shadows Of A Dying Sun was my first introduction to Insomnium when I heard the song While We Sleep which led me to buying the album.
The music ranges in tempo, dual guitars with some drawn out notes that reminded me of Paradise Lost in the style and atmosphere creating a sound which gives them a gothic or doom metal feel to compliment the more death metal signature. The subtle layers of keyboards give a depth and at times a symphonic feel but they never dominate and it’s the guitars that take centre stage, as it should be with metal. With Insomnium you get some truly excellent guitar moments from the pounding powerful moments and solo’s that are integral to the song but not showmanship and superfluous. This is then balanced with quieter acoustic moments creating atmosphere and tone.
Vocals are generally harsh, growled with interspersed with clean and spoken parts which gives variety as I feel an album of all harsh vocals can become a bit tedious.
My biggest barrier to certain forms of metal, especially death and black metal is often the vocals, if they grate on me or are too harsh then the music behind it does not capture me but with Insomnium and this album in particular I do not find them a distraction to the music.
Lyrically songs are of a personal nature centred around loss, pain, internal struggles as well as songs with a more widely based theme centred around nature.
Shadows Of A Dying Sun is the sixth studio album from Insomnium and was the first of the 2 in my collection. From bits I have heard from their two most recent albums I will certainly add more of their output to my collection.
In their homeland of Finland where the band are commercially successful Shadows Of A Dying Sun went to number 2 in their album chart while in the UK it hit number 15 in the rock and metal chart.
My first selection from the album is opening track, The Primeval Dark, a mainly instrumental piece with only one verse of lyrics. At just over 3 minutes, although the shortest track on the album it’s a good introduction to the 9 songs that follow, including lead single, While We Sleep which the track merges with.
Enjoy
Album Of The Week - 20/01/2024 - Track 2
The second selection from Shadow Of A Dying Sun is the track While We Sleep which I mentioned in yesterday's introduction to the album.
This was the lead single to the album and runs on from the album opener.
Its a powerful yet melodic songs of loss, depression and isolation and its the song the introduced me to Insomnium
Album Of The Week - 20/01/2024 - Track 3
My third selection from this week's album is the longest song at just under 8 minutes.
The River is a intricate, varied and powerful song that draws on Greek mythology and the passage of souls by Charon across the Styx. Lyrically cinematic and engaging, a highlight on Shadows Of A Dying Sun.
Album Of The Week - 20/01/2024 - Track 4
My latest selection is another example of the cinematic lyric scene setting from Insomnium. The Prothean Song is another track rooted in Greek mythology and questions the presence of a great creator.
Musically it switches between the acoustic progressive phases with full metal sections and a melodic clean vocal chorus.
Album Of The Week - 27/01/2024
The Collection 1982-1988 – Big Country
This week’s album is a low key 1993 compilation release from Big Country, a collection the covers their first 4 album releases.
This was the second compilation album released after the highly successful Through A Big Country that came out 3 years earlier and hit number 2 in the UK album charts.
It is questionable that another compilation so soon afterwards was actually required and for me this would appear to be an attempt by the record company, Phonogram, to cash in on a band who were still commercially very successful.
Unlike Through A Big Country, the track listing of this collection includes a couple of album tracks and B-sides alongside some of the more well known singles. In that respect this release has some variety and takes a closer look at some their output to date.
I got into Big Country in their very early days when I was keen on Stuart Adamson’s new project after leaving the Skids, a band that I rated very highly as a youth. Therefore, by the time The Collection was released there was only song of the 17 that I did not have in my Big Country stash. I bought this album when I was making the transition from vinyl to compact disc and it was a worthwhile addition if only for completion purposes and I would say that could be the case for most who bought the album.
What The Collection does highlight is Big Country’s ability to deliver anthemic, hopeful guitar based songs with the iconic sounds created by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, built on the foundation of the solid rhythm section of Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki. Although its evident with songs like Close Action and Girl With Grey Eyes Big Country were no “one trick pony”.
The Collection contains 2 songs from Big Country’s fourth studio album, Peace In Our Time, and with these inclusions you can see how the band were starting to temper down their “celtic rock” sound and by the bands admission Peace In Our Time was styled with American radio play very much in mind.
In the sleeve notes to The Collection Stuart Adamson said that Big Country basically played folk music with loud guitars and those folk leanings can be heard very much on their debut album, The Crossing, especially with songs such as The Storm which is included on this release. The only song I didn’t have prior to this release was The Travellers, originally released as B-side to King Of Emotion, its another song which has its roots firmly in folk music.
Overall I would say this release is a worthy part of my 24 album Big County collection.
It is fitting that my opening selection from the album is their iconic single release, In A Big Country. It was the third single released from The Crossing but it was the song the really encapsulated the bands sound and style. The single hit 17 in the UK singles chart and well as number 17 in the US Billboard top 100, a fantastic achievement for a new Scottish celtic rock band. The clip I have used is a live version recording during their 1984 appearance on The Tube.
Album Of The Week - 27/01/2024 - Track 2
The second selection from The Collection 1982 to 1988 is the track The Storm.
A song initially released from Big Country's debut album, The Crossing, The Storm is a cinematic, lyrical song that delves into Stuart Adamson's love of folk music.
The lyrical content can be interpreted literally or more metaphorically especially in relation to the highland clearances.
The Storm has become a Big Country classic and is a live favourite to this day.
Album Of The Week - 27/01/2024 - Track 3
My third selection from The Collection 1982-1988 is Girl With Grey Eyes.
The track was originally released on the second Big Country album, Steeltown and was a departure from the uptempo anthems they were known for. This is a song of love and longing which has some wonderful dual guitar melodies running through it. An track that goes under the radar when considering the early Big Country releases but an excellent addition to this compilation.
Album Of The Week - 27/01/2024 - Track 4
Today's selection from The Collection 1982-1988 is the track Wonderland.
Originally released a single between their first two albums, it enhanced Big Country's reputation as an up and coming rock band with roots and influencences from Scottish folklore, music and literature.
Wonderland peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart.
The clip I have included is again taken from their 1984 appearance on The Tube and highlights their prowess as a live band.
Album Of The Week - 27/01/2024 - Track 5
Bringing this week's album to close is the track The Travellers. It was originally released as the b-side to the single release of King Of Emotion.
The Travellers is an instrumental with a celtic folk feel which again taps into the music roots and influences of Stuart Adamson. Its a great song and is a real diversion from the big anthemic songs they are more well known for.
Album Of The Week - 03/02/2024
Architecture – Ist Ist
This week we move into the realms of post-punk and one of the bands at the forefront of the revival and resurgence of this broad and varied genre. Architecture is the debut album from Manchester band Ist Ist and the second by the them to be my album of the week following The Art Of Lying (27/02/2023).
Ist Ist are one of those bands that built their reputation and honed their sound by playing live while their growing presence was promoted by various post-punk websites and it was via this route I became aware of them in 2018/19.
After listening to various single and demo releases it was with some anticipation that I acquired a copy of Architecture and it lived up completely to its expectations.
For those of us of a certain age it is impossible to listen to bands like Ist Ist and not look back to the early pioneers of the post-punk genre with bands such as The Cure, U2, PIL, Bauhaus and in this instance, Joy Division, especially with the Manchester connection.
Architecture combines full on guitar based punk influenced songs with some more powerful synth led, melancholic offerings. Always tuneful, they take the listener through the emotions with sounds and structures that are often anthemic with a deep vocal that offers real feeling.
At times the bass lines remind me of Peter Hook from his Joy Division and New Order days and the guitars would have Edge from U2 giving his nod of approval.
There is an assurance and competence with this album and the 6 years of gigging, live and EP releases means Architecture has very strong foundations. We see a band that know exactly what they are doing and the musical path they wish tread.
Architecture an outstanding debut album and one I rate very highly.
Architecture hit number 3 in the UK Independent charts and speaks of the anticipation that was evident for the release of the album.
My initial selection is the opening track and lead single, Wolves, which comes with an enjoyable and atmospheric promo video.
The song is a 3 ½ minute snapshot of the album with a moody synth opening before the driving bass and guitars kick in.
Album Of The Week - 03/02/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from Architecture is the track Discipline.
The song is dark and brooding built around a distorted bass line and some excellent synths, another fine example of what Ist Ist are about.
Album Of The Week - 03/02/2024 - Track 3
The third selection from this week's album is the track Silence.
With its melodic bass opening and tribal drum beat the influnences of Joy Division can be heard and appreciated.
This is one of my favourite tracks from this superb debut album from Ist Ist.
Album Of The Week - 03/02/2024 - Track 4
There is a gorgeous gothic rock feel to my latest selection from this week's album.
Night Arm has shades of the Cult in its guitars and the lyrics have a dark thematic quality to them. This is another fine offering from Ist Ist's Architecture album.
Album Of The Week - 03/02/2024 - Track 5
Bringing this week's album to a close is the final song on Architecture, the track Slowly We Escape.
It's an emotive song to close the album, a song that has a moody electronic opening that then builds in pace and intensity as the guitars kick in.
It's a great song to bring down the curtain on what is an incredibly accomplished debut album by Ist Ist.
Album Of The Week - 10/02/2024
From Here To Reality – GBH
This week we head into the first selection from my 11 albums by UK punk band GBH with their 1990 release From Here To Reality.
GBH, originally known as Charged GBH date back to 1978 and became known as part of the second wave of punk, sometimes classed as street punk or UK82. I never really got into the second wave bands as much as I did with the 1977 bands as by 82/83 I was more into the post-punk/new wave bands such as U2, The Alarm, Big Country as well as some of the more goth rock bands such as The Cure.
This started to change in 1983 when a friend from college gave me a tape of bands from this newer “hardcore” scene and I really took to GBH, The Exploited, Anti-Nowhere League and Discharge. I liked the power, speed and delivery of some of the content and quickly obtained some early releases by these bands.
For GBH it was their second album, City Baby’s Revenge that really grabbed me and I was hooked on it from my first listen and very soon I added their debut release, City Baby Attacked By Rats to my collection. Despite my enthusiasm for their first 2 albums, it was not until 1996 that I bought another studio album from GBH, my only other addition up to then was a compilation release from their time on Clay Records. It was their album Punk Junkies that reignited my interest in them, as for me, its one of my favourite punk albums and one I still often return to.
Since then I have kept up with their album releases and over time have filled in the gaps, which is where this week’s album comes in.
By the time From Here To Reality was released, GBH, like many other hardcore punk bands had incorporated some metal styles into their sound and there was quite a bit of crossover into speed and thrash metal. Looking back, it is interesting to hear how the big thrash metal bands such as Metallica site these bands, especially GBH, as an influence. Going further back, the delivery and the infectious, rapid drumming and shredding guitar goes back to Motorhead, probably the pioneers of punk/metal crossover.
From Here To Reality is the 6th studio album from the band and its packed with fast paced, superbly delivered songs. Despite the crossover influence there is not a shred of indulgence with none of the 12 songs hitting 4 minutes, although I think the thrash influences are quite apparent in places and this led to some mixed reviews for the album.
Despite the speed GBH can be very melodic, have some great riffs and the vocal delivery is spot on and I believe that Colin Abrahall is one of the best punk vocalists of the punk bands I have heard over the years. The lyrics are typical punk fare, social and political themes from around the world as well those based around more personal experiences. There are elements of irony and humour within so its not just preaching or ranting but more considered and thought out.
My first selection is the opening track, New Decade, an excellent song to kick off the album with lyrics that seem to be centred around the fall of the Berlin wall but would be an appropriate commentary on any uprising.
Album Of The Week - 10/02/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from this week's album is the track, BMT.
This is classic GBH, with its pounding rhythm and great vocal delivery with lyrics that seem to centre around the Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive.
A cracking inclusion on the From Here To Eternity album.
Album Of The Week - 10/02/2024 - Track 3
The latest selection taken from From Here To Reality is the track The Old School Of Self Destruction.
Another belting track from this excellent album, again fast paced with the drumming that grabs the attention from the off. I really like the way this song switches between the fast paced and slower, yet still powerful sections.
Lyically the songs seems to be about those in music who look to exploit those on take a path to destruction
.
My fourth selection from this week's album is the title track, From Here To Reality.
This song highlights the crossover approach of the album but the metal influences do not mask that this is a pure punk rock album.
The lyrics on this track are vivid and apocalyptic, but very much the reality of the modern world.
Album Of The Week - 10/02/2024 - Track 5
To wrap up From Here To Reality we have a little of the lighter side of GBH with the album closer, Moonshine Song.
This is a tongue in cheek, deep South hoedown, and a look at the little known genre street punk country.
An amusing song but I one I suspect has never been heard at the Grand Ole Opry.
Album Of The Week - 17/02/2024
Original Soundtracks 1 – Passengers (U2)
This weeks album takes us back to 1995 and the second of my 24 U2 albums to be selected as my album of the week.
Original Soundtracks was released under the band name of Passengers to set it aside from the “standard” U2 releases given its experimental nature and the fact that Brian Eno, who had been working with U2 since The Unforgettable Fire album, was credited as one of the musicians on the album as opposed to producer as on previous releases.
Although this was seen as a side project from the “day job” Original Soundtracks continues with the experimentation in electronic, dance and ambient styles that was seen with previous U2 release, Zooropa.
As per the title, the songs contained on the album were written as soundtracks for films but in actuality, bar 3 of the songs, they were not for films that actually existed. The album also contained quite a few instrumental tracks, highlighting the soundtrack and ambient feel to the album. This in turn gives the album a disjointed feel, with the emphasis being on atmosphere rather than song structures and subject.
What this project highlights is U2’s approach, making the music and themes lighter, compared to the seriousness the band found themselves in around the time of the Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum.
There are a couple of standout moments on the album, most notably the song Miss Sarajevo, a collaboration with opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. It was released as a single and hit number 6 in the UK singles chart. Although released under the name Passengers the song has since appeared on U2 compilation albums.
The other notable song is Your Blue Room which was scheduled to be the second single released from the album but was shelved due to the poor critical and commercial reaction to the release.
For me, it’s not an album I return to when wanting to listen to U2. I bought the album primarily for completion purposes and in truth, I was not all that impressed with their previous release, the Zooropa album as mentioned above. Although, over time, Zooropa has grown on me and I admire the bands willingness to explore, experiment and evolve. However, the whole band were not sold on this project and its clear to see this album has the Edge and Brian Eno stamped all over it. Despite this, especially where we hear Bono’s vocal, there are moments that are unmistakeable U2.
Regardless of the critical response, Original Soundtracks 1 reached number 12 in UK albums chart despite the band name of U2 not actually appearing on the album cover but the project was well publicised in music press at the time.
My first selection from the album is the opening track, United Colours. This is an instrumental piece that indicates that the listener is not going to get the traditional U2 from the next hour.
Album Of The Week - 17/02/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from Original Soundtracks 1 is one of the more avante garde tracks on the album.
Elvis Ate America is based on a poem Bono wrote about Elvis Pressley, one of his musical heroes. The lyrics is a warts and all look at the man and musically its messy, experimental and reminds me of more leftfield content on The Clash's Sandinista album.
This is by no means classic U2 but again highlights the tone and direction of the Passengers project.
Album Of The Week - 17/02/2024 - Track 3
My latest selection from Original Soundtracks is the track Your Blue Room, one of my favourite songs on the album.
This is one of the more accessible tracks compared to the rest of the album and its ironic that this song was put together by the U2 band members with no input from Brian Eno.
Your Blue Room flows silkily with a quiet vocal and a psycedelic keyboard driven backing and this song would have been a worthy inclusion on the U2 Zooropa album.
Although originally earmarked to be the second single from the album it was never released due to the poor commercial reception to the album.
Album Of The Week - 17/02/2024 - Track 4
My next selection from Original Soundtracks is another one of the tracks that U2 were more involved with and one that almost got discarded.
Slug, is a synth driven song with shimmering guitar and electronic drum rhythm with a list like lyric delivered by Bono.
Album Of The Week - 17/02/2024 - Track 5
The final selection from this week's album is a case of leaving the best until last.
Miss Sarajevo is a powerful and beautiful song and in my opinion should have seen the light of day on an actual U2 album rather than this experimental release.
The song is about a group of women in the besieged and war torn city of Sarajevo who decided to run a beauty contest in light of the trauma and conflict being experienced in the brutal war that was raging.
Its a song of hope, peace and defiance and ranks as a real U2 classic and the vocal from the late, great tenor singer Luciano Pavarotti is sublime and adds something extra special to the track.
Album Of The Week - 24/02/2024
Rubicon - Tristania
Rubicon was the bands 6th studio album, released in 2010 after a break of 3 years from their previous release, Illumination, which was my album of the week from 29th October 2022.
Rubicon marked a major change in line up for the Tristania which included new female vocalist, Mariangela Demurtas and male vocalist Kjetil Nordhus from the progressive metal band Green Carnation. The band retained the core members of Einar Moen & Anders Høyvik Hidle who had both driven the sound and direction of the band following the departure of Morten Veland in 2000 after the release of their second album.
For me, Rubicon carried on well from Illumination and the transition to two new vocalists was seamless and did not dilute or detract from the essence of Tristania.
Since the departure of Morten Veland I think Tristania have often drifted from gothic metal into a more gothic rock direction and I feel that is evident on Rubicon. As always the guitars are key along with the multi vocal approach with a liberal use of keyboards and choral effects to add depth and atmosphere. On this album we hear quite a few acoustic guitar moments and I wonder if the Green Carnation influence of Kjetil Nordhus had any bearing on this.
I remember that when I bought this album on release I was pleased with it especially given all the changes and that is an opinion I still hold.
The album has a nice flow, plenty of melodic moments with variety and scope to hold the attention for its 50 minutes and despite the changes this album has Tristania stamped all over it.
Six albums in, with 1 left for the band, I don’t think Rubicon would have won over many new fans but on the same score I see no reason why it would have alienated the fan base.
The critical reviews were lukewarm but the fan reviews seemed more favourable and for me, it’s a worthy album in the bands catalogue.
Tristania announced they were disbanding in September 2022 ending a successful and innovative 26 year career for the band.
My first selection from the album is the opening track and lead single, Year Of The Rat. It’s a convincing album opener with a lyric that paints a scene of someone trying to escape a conflict.
Album Of The Week - 24/02/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from Rubicon is the track The Passing.
A slower paced offering with its roots in gothic rock, a track that uses the full array of vocalists and has a lyric that again speaks of conflict and escape.
I like the dynamic and various styles incorporated into this song with a tradional Tristania sound which includes a violin interlude from Pete Johnanson who also appeared on the bands first 3 albums.
Album Of The Week - 24/02/2024 - Track 3
My third selection from this week's album is the track Exile.
This is one of the more "metal" based tracks on the album with vocals shared by Mariangela and Kjetil giving it a good variety of approach between verses and chorus.
As with the general theme of the album the lyric is very visual with images of war and escape.
Album Of The Week - 24/02/2024 - Track 4
The latest selection from Rubicon is the track Sirens.
Again, the theme of the this song is conflict but from the perspective of the hopelessness of endless and repetive actions of war.
Musicially, the song is mid-paced with vocal lead taken by Kjetil and overall I would say this has a more gothic rock feel when compared to yesterday's selection.
Album Of The Week - 24/02/2024 - Track 5
The final offering from this week's album is the closing track on Rubicon, the song Illumination.
At over 8 minutes this is the longest song on the album and with its dual vocal and cinematic lyrics there is a feeling of prog with this track. In this instance though its works well and is a very good way and given an epic feel to close the album.
Album Of The Week - 02/03/2024
Aura – The Mission
This week’s selection ranks as one of my favourite and often returned to albums.
Aura is the seventh studio album released by UK goth rock band, The Mission, and the third of my 19 Mission albums to be my album of the week.
Their previous release, Blue, very much passed me by at the time and the band disbanded shortly after.
It was with some excitement that I heard that Wayne Hussey had got the band back together with Craig Adams and well travelled guitarist Mark Thwaite and what was intended as a 1 off tour evolved into a new Mission album that became Aura which saw the light of day in 2001.
There was a lot of build up to the release of Aura and I bought the album more or less on the day of release and it was an instant hit on the first play.
From the opening notes of the first track, Evangeline, this felt like The Mission were back to their very best and I was hit with the same enthusiasm that I had when I first heard their classic Carved In Sand album released 11 years earlier.
There is no doubt that the band hiatus following the release of Blue had invigorated and rejuvenated band leader Wayne Hussey to come up with songs, styles and sounds that would appeal to the host of Mission fans and would surely attract younger goth rock fans to the band. With the band consisting of the two members quoted above and former Cult drummer Scott Garrett there was a real quality to the line up for Aura.
While Aura plays to the band’s strengths we do not see the variation as seen with some previous albums but after the lukewarm reception to Neverland and Blue I don’t think that is a bad thing, although I like Neverland (album of the week 04/06/2022).
In their time the Mission have released 10 original studio albums (not including The First Chapter which was a compilation of EP’s) and Aura rates very highly among them and I would recommend it to anyone who may have liked the band during their early, commercially successful days but may have drifted away, as I had on occasions.
Aura failed to make any impact on the UK albums chart but given their hiatus and dip in commercial success in the 1990’s that is not a real surprise but this in no way diminishes the importance of the album in the Mission catalogue.
The album produced 2 singles, the first of which, the album opener Evangeline, hit number 32 in the UK independent singles chart and this is my first selection from the album. An anthemic, powerful guitar driven song which indicates perfectly what is in store for the next glorious hour.
Album Of The Week - 02/03/2024- Track 2
My second selection from Aura is the second single taken from the album and a song that ranks as one of my all time favourite Mission songs.
Shine Like The Stars has all the elements of a Mission classic, great guitars, a tune the grabs the attention and a lyric of devotion delievered perfectly by Wayne Hussey.
Album Of The Week - 02/03/2024- Track 3
My third selection from Aura is the track Mesmerised.
A song with a superb mix of 6 and 12 string guitars giving the song the classic Mission sound with a lyric of devotion delivered with feeling by Wayne Hussey.
Album Of The Week - 02/03/2024- Track 4
Todays selection from Aura is a track that took me back to the Carved In Sand album and the stunning Butterfly On A Wheel.
Dragonfly has the same feel to it, languid, intricate, beautiful with a lyric of wanting to support the object of one's devotion. This song is another example of why The Mission are regarded so highly and have maintained a large fanbase for so many years.
Album Of The Week - 02/03/2024- Track 5
To bring this week's album to a close I have selected the final track, In Denial.
Thematically it follows in the same vein as much of what has gone before and with the atmospheric guitars, hypnotic rhythms and almost pained vocals its a worthy track to bring this excellent release from The Mission to a close.
On the album there is a "hidden" track to play out the final couple of minutes, a piano piece called Frozen but in my opinion it offers nothing of value to Aura so I have not included it in this summary.
Album Of The Week - 09/03/2024
Pylon – Killing Joke
We are remaining in the world of alternative rock this week as we have my first selection from iconic punk/post punk/crossover band Killing Joke.
Pylon, released in 2015, is to date the last studio album released by Killing Joke and with the recent passing of guitarist and founding member Kevin “Geordie” Walker possibly their final album.
Formed in 1979, Killing Joke have become an iconic band within the realms of alternative rock and their 14 studio albums have challenged and confronted and never stayed safe with given or defined sounds of the genre. Not all albums have been well received by all quarters of the fanbase but they could never be accused of being boring or playing safe.
Killing Joke though have defined the spheres of alternative music with the vocals and synths of charismatic frontman Jaz Coleman, the shredding and definitive guitars of Geordie Walker, and backed by the often hypnotic and tribal rhythms of bassists Youth, the sadly deceased Paul Raven and the drums of Paul Ferguson.
The music though is not your typical shouty, street punk but music that challenges the ears as well as the intellect and Colemans lyrics cover the occult, politics, the environment, as well as corporate greed and control. Killing Joke offers many options on their musical menu.
So that brings us to Pylon and as with their previous 2 albums, Absolute Dissent and MMXIV, the Killing Joke line up reverted to the original 4 members as bassist Paul Raven died in 2007 and Martin “Youth” Glover rejoined in 2008.
I remember there was an enthusiastic build up in the music press prior to the release of Pylon and it was with some anticipation that I bought the album, the deluxe version which came with 5 extra tracks including one of Youth’s famous dub mixes.
It is worth noting that in recent years Killing Joke have released a few dub remix albums that Youth has worked on and they are nothing short of brilliant.
However, back to Pylon, and what we have is 90 minutes of powerful, intense, sometimes beautiful, sometime manic punk rock or post punk from a band at the very height of their creativity and delivery. There is no “going through the motions” with Pylon but in a positive way, it is iconic Killing Joke.
Pylon was received with very positive reviews and it peaked at number 16 in the UK album charts, making it one of their highest charting albums, no mean feat for a band on their 14th original release.
The album produced 3 singles, the lead single I Am The Virus being a perfect taster of what Killing Joke were offering from this immense album and as such, it is my first selection this week.
Album Of The Week - 09/03/2024 - Track 2
The second track I have selected from Pylon is the album opener, Autonomous Zone.
One of quite a few songs on the album to top 6 minutes this is a strident track to kick of the album with a staccato and infectious guitar riff and a lyric that approaches our lives dominated by technology.
Album Of The Week - 09/03/2024 - Track 3
My third selection from Pylon was the second single released from the the album.
The track Euphoria is a syth and bass led song with the guitar taking a more supporting role. As such this focuses on the electronic/industrial side of Killing Joke, a sound not unlike some of their 80's material.
The song has an anthemic feel and a lyric of hope and light and provides a worthy contrast to some of the heavier tracks on the album.
Album Of The Week - 09/03/2024 - Track 4
Bringing the standard release of Pylon to a close is the track Into The Unknown.
This is a strident and urgent song with an intense rhythm over which we have some classic Killing Joke guitars and Jazz Coleman's powerful vocals. The lyrics portray humankinds moral and literal demise into greed and hate.
Album Of The Week - 09/03/2024 - Track 5
Todays offering from Pylon comes from the bonus disc, the song Apothesis.
Musically its continues with the intense rhythms of the main album but its lyrically that this song really delivers. It is a cosmic, creation song, biblical in scale, a prog rock lyric with an industrial rock backing.
Album Of The Week - 09/03/2024 - Track 6
It seems fitting that to close this weeks album we have one of Youths excellent dub remixes that he has done of Killing Joke songs.
As well as being a founding member of Killing Joke, Martin "Youth" Glover is a renowned producer and has worked with many acts over his illustrious career such as U2, Art Of Noise, Crowded House, Dido and countless others.
Members of Killing Joke have said that from their early days they were very influenced by the reggae and dub music of Ladbroke Grove in London and the band have released numerous dub albums, mixed by Youth. These releases, the In Dub albums, are an excellent example of another side of Killing Joke and highlights the versatility of their music.
The dub mix from Pylon is Snakedance (Youth "Rattlesnake Dub" remix), an excellent track to close this superb double album.
Album Of The Week - 16/03/2024
The Singles 1978 - 1982
We remain in the realms of punk this week with one of the many UK Subs compilation albums in circulation.
The Singles 1978-1982 is the fourth of my 17 Subs albums to be selected and there is no hiding the content of this album, the title says it all.
Released in 1989, this collection covers their singles and EP’s from their first 5 years of releases, a period which covered their first 4 studio albums and was their most commercially successful. Their first 7 singles all charted, 6 of which went top 40 and the other reached number 41.
The album also includes the B-sides and this is real attraction of this collection as there are some real gems here. Although I have not made a point of pursuing the multiple compilation releases this album was part of my transition from vinyl to CD.
What this album does highlight is the progression to a heavier approach which came with a change in the rhythm section with the arrival of Alvin Gibbs on bass guitar and Steve Roberts on drums. The singles that sprang from the albums Diminished Responsibility and Endangered Special highlighted this change although there was a more prevalent “metal” edge to their Brand New Age album and all of these three albums benefited from a better, crisper production.
Anyway, I digress, The Singles 1978-1982, is one of the better UK Subs compilations on release as it covers a specific period in their history and a period that helped cement the band as one of the key British punk bands.
I think that through the myriad of line-up changes it is testament to their impact that the band are still going as lead singer and founding member, Charlie Harper, approaches his 80th birthday.
I want to avoid the more obvious album tracks this week and focus on some the more obscure but equally relevant B-sides. With that in mind my first selection is a track that appeared on the flip side of the 1979 Tomorrow’s Girl single, the short but punchy Telephone Numbers.
Album Of The Week - 16/03/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from this weeks album is She's Not There, a cover of the 1964 song by the Zombies.
As far as covers go its not a bad job andI think the UK Subs really made this their own.
The single peaked at number 36 in the UK singles chart and was good interim release between the bands first 2 albums.
Album Of The Week - 16/03/2024 - Track 3
It would be impossible to go through this UK Subs singles collection without including the epic punk rock anthem, Left For Dead.
Released as one of two songs on the flip side to the single, Teenage, this is song has rightly become a classic from the early Subs offerings.
Album Of The Week - 16/03/2024 - Track 4
My fourth selection from this weeks album is a non album single.
Released between the albums Diminished Responsibilty and Endangered Species, Keep On Running has an infectious guitar line and pace that makes this an excellent release. As with Diminished Responsibility, there are some excellent guitar effects which very much emphasised the "post punk" style of the time.
Album Of The Week - 16/03/2024 - Track 5
Today's selection from The Singles 1978-1982 is a track taken from the 1982 EP Shake Up The City.
Although this release is 5 years into the UK Subs recording career there was a back to basics approach and the track Self Destruct could have easily been from their debut album.
With the emergence of the "UK82" punk bands the Shake Up The City release saw the UK Subs move more into that direction as oppossed to the post-punk route of many of their contemporaries.
Album Of The Week - 16/03/2024 - Track 6
The final selection from this week's album is the closing track on the album and a song I regard as a UK Subs classic.
Anti Warfare first appeared on the 1984 punk compilation album We Don't Want Your F****** War, a collection of anti-war songs from bands considered hardcore punk. Most of the album passed me by in truth but this offering from the Subs really impressed me and its a track I still love.
Album Of The Week - 23/03/2024
Wild Mood Swings – The Cure
This weeks album takes us back to 1996 and the 10th studio album from The Cure, the fourth to be selected as my album of the week.
This was an album that was seen to take the band back to a more alternative rock direction following the more pop infused direction of their previous album, Wish.
I find there are quite a few lighter moments on this is album and there are also some “avant-garde” moments that do not always work but that is not unusual for The Cure. What Wild Mood Swings does have is variety of style and approach. Many have likened it to 1987’s Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me album but I have not really made than connection.
The music press were not that impressed with this offering and after the fact Robert Smith said the album was too long and disjointed with too many influences vying for attention.
The fans seem to be more forgiving and have accepted it more favourably than much of the music press.
For me, this was an album was added to my collection more for completion purposes and the limited attention I have given it has not really grabbed me unlike other Cure albums. In my opinion, there is something missing. I do agree with Smith in that the album is too long and there are some songs that if culled would have made the album much stronger. However, The Cure are very adept at dark and melancholic, the edgier alternative and the poppier side so maybe this album was trying to be all things to everyone without really achieving the end result.
For all of that, there are some good songs on the album and lyrically Smith casts his inquisitive attention and insight at the vagaries of the human heart.
There are 14 songs on the album and only two of them playing for over 5 minutes and with its varied styles the amount of songs is maybe what gives it the disjointed feel that Robert Smith alluded to.
Wild Mood Swings hit number 9 in the UK album charts, giving it the approval that the critics lacked, and produced 3 singles, all of which hit the UK singles chart. Whether its me being awkward but for me these 3 singles are the weaker songs on the album and do not give an accurate picture of the album generally, again we are back to that disjointed feel.
My first selection is the opening track, Want, a song that kicks off the album with an excellent alternative rock feel.
My second selection from Wild Mood Swings is the track, This Is A Lie.
The Cure, for me have always been at the best when delivering the heartfelt and questioning songs and Robert Smiths delivers this song perfectly. A real highlight on this varied album.
Album Of The Week - 23/03/2024 - Track 3
Yet again, I am avoidng the singles taken from Wild Mood Swings and concentrating on the album tracks and one that really grabs me is Numb.
A song of despair, pain and addiction, delivered with the classic Cure melancholy. There is real beauty in this mournful offering.
Album Of The Week - 23/03/2024 - Track 4
Todays selection from Wild Mood Swings shows the lighter side of the Cure, with the second single from the album, Mint Car.
Of the 3 singles released in the UK from the album this is my pick as for me the other 2 are very weak tracks.
Mint Car peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart and taken with the rest of the album shows the diversity of Wild Mood Swings.
Album Of The Week - 23/03/2024 - Track 5
Some Cure fans may think that in chosing the track Bare as my final selection I have left the best to last, which is my opinion.
Bare is the longest song on the album at over 7 minutes and its the sort of Cure song I love. The music is slow, languid, moody with a thoughtful, beautiful lyric.
There no doubting that Wild Mood Swings is a good album but for me it could have been a great album with 3 of the lighter songs removed.
As always, I have you have enjoyed this week's selections.
Thanks
Album Of The Week - 30/03/2024
Fuck The System – The Exploited
This week we have the 8th and so far, last studio album from Scottish punk band The Exploited.
Along with bands such as Discharge and GBH, The Exploited were seen as part of the second wave of punk, the umbrella term UK82 was adopted from their song of the same name.
I took a punt on their second album, Troops Of Tomorrow, back in the early 80’s and to this day it remains a classic punk album but I have never really pursued their releases. At the time of writing I have 3 of their 8 studio albums in my collection.
Along with the bands mentioned above, The Exploited were key to the evolution of thrash metal and the punk/metal crossover that has influenced some of the major thrash bands. Certainly from their second album onwards there was the incorporation of metal power into their full on, fast paced punk. What I like about this style is that it lacks the self indulgence often seen in metal and its roots are very much in the style and directness of Motorhead, probably the archetypical crossover band.
Unlike most metal acts of the time, these punk bands were rooted in the social and political scenes and topics of the time and this added relevance to the overall picture. There have been elements of the Exploited lyrically however that do not sit easily with me. From some of their earlier releases there were songs that openly advocated violence against followers of other musical scenes and also songs promoting violence against the police. I found these songs pointless and not worthy of a punk scene built on DIY music, questioning, challenging and opposing, but not through the promotion of vandalism and violence. It was perhaps these traits that lead to some labelling the Exploited as caricature or “cartoon” punks. I think this has led me to see that in some instances, lyrically there is a degree of naivety which can turn a good idea into nothing more than expletive laden rant, without the tongue in cheek irony of bands such the Anti-Nowhere League.
What there is no doubting though is the conviction and passion for punk rock and we see that in abundance with this release. We have 13 songs delivered with passion, anger and true belief with a well honed thrash based approach. Despite the negatives I have alluded to, I think the Exploited have delivered some fantastic hardcore punk over their time and this album is no exception.
The Exploited are still regularly gigging but there has been no new releases for over 20 years and despite being on the major metal label Nuclear Blast I wonder if there is anymore to come.
It is testament to vocalist and band leader, Wattie Buchan, that The Exploited are still active as he has had multiple heart attacks and subsequent bypass surgery.
My first selection from the album is the opening and title track from the release.
Enjoy
Album Of The Week - 30/03/2024 - Track 2
Todays selection from this weeks album is the second track on the album, Fucking Liar.
One would expect a polital assult judging by the song title but this example of Exploited punk thrash is far more personal.
Album Of The Week - 30/03/2024 - Track 3
My third selection from this weeks album is the track Never Sell Out.
The title leaves little room for misinterpretation and is very much a punk rock statement of intent from the Exploited. A powerful song with a basic lyric which for reason takes a swipe at former guitarist Big John and the band Conflict in the final verse.
Album Of The Week - 30/03/2024 - Track 4
Todays selection from Fuck The System is Holiday In The Sun.
Despite the title, this is not a cover of the Sex Pistols song of a similar name.
Lyrically, far more simplistic but its a great, full on punk rock track.
Album Of The Week - 07/04/2024
Requiem: For My Mother – Rebecca Dale
Despite my earlier decision to suspend the blog for a week I have decided that instead, for this week only, I will actually select a specific album rather than one being drawn at random.
It is to mark the passing of my mum, Margaret Joy Collins, that I have selected the debut album from British composer Rebecca Dale.
Growing up, there was often classical music being played around the house and to be honest, I couldn’t stand it. However, in recent years I have become very keen on orchestral film scores and in turn this has opened the door to contemporary classical.
I became aware of this album after if was featured on Classic FM and I decided to add it my collection. As I already had Karl Jenkin’s Requiem I thought this would album would be a good addition, and so it has become even though classical music only makes up a small part of my collection.
Initially, a requiem mass was music to accompany a Catholic mass for the deceased but many composers have composed requiems as stand alone works for concert performances and in the modern age as recordings. Such composers as Mozart, Verdi and Faure have written requiems as well as modern composers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and the above mentioned, Karl Jenkins.
After making a name for herself composing for the screen, Requiem For My Mother was Rebecca Dales first album release and it reached number 4 in the UK Classical Artists chart.
It was written after the loss of her own mother and this requiem recording was released in 2018.
So, it is fitting that in the week that we said goodbye to my mum that this album be selected in her memory.
I will not post daily updates just a link to the whole work.
Thanks
Album Of The Week - 13/04/2024
Layers Of Ages – Peter Knight’s Gigspanner
We move into the world of folk music this week and album which I acquired without knowing anything about the named artist or band credited.
I heard the track Hard Times Of Old England on the now defunct Country TV Folk Show and right away sought out the album it came from.
On doing a little digging, I learnt that Peter Knight was for over 40 years a member of the folk rock band Steeleye Span but they were not a band I ever took any notice of and even since getting into folk music that remains the case.
I also learnt that Peter Knight founded a new project called Gigspanner, initially as a trio but which has now evolved into a bigger band format.
Under the banner of “Gigspanner” there have been 3 studio albums, a live album, a compilation and last year a collaboration album of music and prose with author Raynor Winn.
To date, Layers Of Ages is the only Gigpanner album in my collection but its an album I very much enjoy.
There is a mixture of original and tradition songs on the album and running through it there is a haunting melancholy that very much appeals to me and the fiddle playing by Peter Knight is enthralling and captivating and reminds of some of the moments created by Phil Beer who is a member of folk legends, Show Of Hands.
Of the 9 tracks on this album 3 of them run for over 8 minutes so there is epic feel to some of the numbers which gives plenty of space for the music to evolve and wander. A fine example of this is an eight minute instrumental version of She Moved Through The Fair.
It is these type of lyrical, story telling songs, often with a dark undercurrent, with great tunes that first enticed me into the genre of contemporary folk music 20 years ago and Layers Of Ages ticks a number of those boxes.
My first selection is the album opener, Bows Of London, a folk song with numerous versions that originally dates back to the 1950’s. It’s a sinister tale of sisterly rivalry, jealously hatred and murder, the often tread waters of folk music.
Album Of The Week - 13/04/2024 - Track2
The second selection from this weeks album, Layers Of Ages, is a rendition of a much recorded traditional folk song, She Moved Through The Fair.
Followers of the Simple Minds will know it as the tune upon which their epic, Belfast Child, was written around.
Album Of The Week - 13/04/2024 - Track 3
My next selection from Layers Of Ages is another tradional folk song which has had multiple recordings from various artists. Mad Tom Of Bedlam is based on a poem written in the 17th century about a man who has left an asylum and is living homeless.
Album Of The Week - 13/04/2024 - Track 4
Today's selection from Layers Of Ages is another dark folk song with roots that go back to the 17th centuy. Death And The Lady seems to have been put to music in the early 1900's and has been convered by numerous folk based artists, in recent times by The Demon Barbers and Bellowhead.
The song tells the tale of a maiden who chanced upon the Grim Reaper while out wandering and their subsequent conversation.
Album Of The Week - 13/04/2024 - Track 5
My final selection from Layers Of Ages is the closing track, Hard Times Of Old England.
This was the song that introduced me to the album yet despite its contempory feel it is another song with its roots in the 18th century.
The song was brought to fame by Peter Knight's former band, Steeleye Span, but I had no knowledge of this before hearing the Gigspanner version.
For me, this is the perfect finale to this fine folk album.
Album Of The Week - 20/04/2024
Decades – An Archive Of Song 1996–2015 - Nightwish
This week we dip into the genre of symphonic/gothic metal and the band that are regarded by many as the template for this type of music.
With Nightwish I have a degree of nostalgia as they were a key band in opening me up to the genre of gothic metal 25 years ago. Although I do not pursue many metal bands these days, Nightwish is a band I like to keep current with.
Decades is a 30 year summary of Nightwish covering their 8 studio albums released from 1997 to 2015. As is often the case with bands over a long career there has been quite few changes of personnel and with Nightwish they have had 3 vocalists yet despite these changes to such a key role the band have lost none of their appeal or popularity. However, for many, the classic Nightwish period is from 1996 to 2005 when Tarja Turunen, the original vocalist fronted the band. Her extraordinary vocal range gave the band a completely unique sound allowing her to deliver songs either with a rock or operatic vocal. So strong is her operatic abilities that she has released albums in this style as well as performing in operatic productions.
Tarja was dismissed from the band in acrimonious circumstances in 2005 after the band felt there was a split in approach and attitude towards the music and band members, to the point it was felt they could no longer work together.
Decades also covers the two outstanding albums when the band were fronted by Annette Olzon, who like Tarja was also dismissed in contentious circumstances, and the album with the current vocalist Floor Jansen.
Decades is a double album containing 21 tracks and shows the path the band have taken and emphasises the evolution of the big, bold, symphonic sound that has been their backdrop throughout. What is evident in more recent albums is use of live orchestration and the incorporation of folk influences, especially since 2013 when multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley joined the band.
As always, the driving force creatively in Nightwish is keyboard player and song writer Toumas Holopainen who writes all the music and lyrics and very much determines the direction of the band. His love of film scores and especially the work of Hans Zimmer is evident, especially so in the albums since Once, released in 2004.
Toumas took on the male vocals for the first album, Angels Fall First, but handed this on afterwards as he wanted to concentrate on keyboards. To be fair, I think this was a wise decision as he is not a great vocalist and this type of music calls for a power and versatility he does not possess.
Decades was released in 2018 and hit number 62 in the UK album charts and unsurprisingly it went to number 1 in their native Finland as is the case with all of their studio albums since the release of Wishmaster in 2000.
I will refrain from selecting any tracks from Wishmaster given that is my album of the week in July 2023.
The album track listing runs from newest to oldest but my selections will not follow the same pattern, so my first selection will be The Carpenter. Taken from the Angels Fall First, the song was their debut single and reached number 3 in the Finnish singles chart. Although a strong debut single it was clear the male vocals would need changing.
Album Of The Week - 20/04/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from Decades by Nightwish is the track, Gethsemane.
Named after the location in which Jesus was arrested following his betrayal by Judas, this song pulls on these biblical referrences to create a superb lyric to layer over the excellent track. The song originally appeared on the bands second album, Oceanborn, the first one of theirs I ever bought, an album that embedded the sound of Nightwish and provided some real classics, of which Gethsemane is one.
Album Of The Week - 20/04/2024 - Track 3
My third selection from Decades is a song which has become a Nightwish anthem.
The song Nemo was the first single taken from their 5th album Once, a big budget, highly produced recording that took the band to another level. The album, Once, was the last to feature singer Tarja Turunen as she was dismissed from the band 7 months after its release.
Nemo is not to be mistaken with the Disney character of the same name, the name itself comes from a Latin term for "without name" or "nameless" and the song is about loss and distance.
In my opinion there are few better Nightwish tracks than this and as such has become a live favourite over the years.
Album Of The Week - 20/04/2024 - Track 4
Todays selection from this weeks album is the track Amaranth.
This was the lead single from Nightwish's 6th studio album, Dark Passion Play, and saw the introduction of new vocalist Anette Olzon. The change did not negatively impact on the band in any way with Amaranth becoming the most successful Nightwish single to date going to number 1 in 3 countries and also hit top spot in the UK rock charts.
The single came with a very visual, big budget video.
Album Of The Week - 20/04/2024 - Track 5
My latest selection from Decades is one of two on the compilation taken from the Imaginarrum album and for me, I Want My Tears Back, highlights the majesty of the album. It is a full on rock track, with all the grandeur of a big symphonic backing and the folk influenences of the pipes and vocals from bassist Marko Hietala.
Marko Hietala quit the band in 2021 and I think his absence has robbed Nightwish of a major player which I feel was noteable on their most recent album.
Anyway, I Want My Tears Back has again become another live favourite and a real gem for a band that has produced many such gems.
Album Of The Week - 20/04/2024 - Track 6
My final selection from Decades is the track My Walden.
A song taken from Endless Forms Most Beautiful, the first album to feature singer, Floor Jansen.
The album is based around nature and evolution and My Walden is focused on making a home within nature. It again incorporates whistles and pipes to give the song a Celtic folk feel.
Album Of The Week - 27/04/2024
No Place Like Home – Big Country
This week we have the 5th studio album from Big Country and the fourth to be selected as my album of the week.
No Place Like Home was released in 1991 and the album marked a further progression away from the Celtic rock that had become synonymous with Big Country, almost to the point of it being cliché.
The 1988 release, Peace In Our Time, started the shift into more traditional rock avenues and No Place Like Home continued that expansion of the Big Country sound.
Big Country were still receiving a lot of mainstream attention at the time and this shift in style seemed to be well received and it would be fair to say the two singles released from the album were a statement that the band were experimenting and evolving.
There were still the tight rhythms and intricate dual guitars but the iconic drum sound had been diluted as band drummer Mark Brzezicki had returned to his former position as session musician so did not appear on the whole album.
For some, myself included, although there are some great tunes on the album, parts of it lacked power and whether that was down to intent or poor production, I am not skilled enough to say. When compared to earlier works such as Steeltown or The Seer the waters seemed to be muddied somewhat. It is interesting to note in hindsight that the power was back with a vengeance 2 years later with their next album, The Buffalo Skinners, which included two reworked songs from No Place Like Home.
There are influences of country and blues on this album, genres that Stuart Adamson was always keen to explore which he would do to once his Big Country days were done but on No Place Like Home they do not dominate, rather add a layer to the Big Country sound.
Big Country were enjoying a rich vein of creativity during the sessions for No Place Like Home and there were a number of songs that have emerged as B-sides and bonus tracks that would have sat very comfortably on the original release, songs which have been included in subsequent extended versions.
No Place Like Home peaked at number 28 in the UK album charts, their lowest position at the time and the album produced two singles, the lead single, Republican Party Reptile just scrapping into the top 40 UK singles chart.
This lead single is my first selection from the album and it shows the direction and influences the band were experiencing at the time with Reptile drawing heavily on American country rock.
Album Of The Week - 27/04/2024 - Track 2
My second selection from No Place Like Home is the opening track We're Not In Kansas. In essense, the title track with its refences to the Wizard Of Oz, this is a powerful opening to the album.
Musically, it has the all the qualities of a Big Country classic with its superb guitars and a biting, harsh lyric from Stuart Adamson which examines the bias and hypocrisy of Western attitudes to life. The song feels like a harsh critique of middle America, commentating on the skewed thinking that has enabled the arms race, gun ownership and white supremacy.
Album Of The Week - 27/04/2024 - Track 3
The third selection from No Place Like Home is one of the most politcally charged songs on an album not short on commentary and insight.
The Hostage Speaks paints a picture of Middle East conflict and religious intolerance with its cynacism and the ultimate acceptance of a bad situation becoming a norm.
Maybe not the best known Big Country song but certainly one of their best.
Album Of The Week - 27/04/2024 - Track 4
My next selection from No Place Like Home is the 2nd single released from the album.
Beautiful People is a great song from Big Country which highlighted the band's versitility by drawing on the influences that contributed to the album. The song is slice of Americana which replaces the electric guitars with banjo and piano.
Stuart Adamson was alway a gifted lyric writer this song of acceptance and understanding rates as one of his most uplifting.
Album Of The Week - 27/04/2024 - Track 5
The final selection from the original release of No Place Like Home is the album closer, Into The Fire.
A song centred around the innocence of young love and the ensuing nostalgia, this an excellent song to close the album with its excellent guitars and the coda to play out is classic Big Country rock blues, one of my favourite tracks from the album.
Album Of The Week - 27/04/2024 - Track 6
There were song superb songs that came out of the sessions for No Place Like Home and thankfully 5 of them appear on the CD extended version of the album.
Of these 5 tracks I have selected Kiss The Girl Goodbye, a song that Stuart Adamson rated as "almost a classic" but he was unhappy with some of the lyrics.
In my opinion its a superb song and rates as an actual Big Country classic and is fitting track on which to wrap up this week's album.
As always, I hope you have enjoyed this weeks blog.
Thanks
Album Of The Week - 04/05/2024
The Best Of Gary Numan 1984-1992 – Gary Numan
This week’s album is one of a number of record label cash-in compilation albums that have been released over the years.
In itself this is not a bad album but one that will mainly appeal to avid Numan fans and would be bought for completion purposes only.
The tracks included on this compilation covers a period that Numan has expressed dissatisfaction with in recent years, a period when he was not happy with his musical performance, ability and creativity. As his success waned so did the confidence which lead to Numan working to a formula in a bid to recapture the exposure that he enjoyed prior to his ill fated “retirement” in 1981.
Most of the songs have been lifted from the albums Berserker, The Fury and Strange Charm with one offering from Metal Rhythm and two from the widely lambasted Machine + Soul. The album also contains the track London Times, a collaboration with the short lived project Radio Heart. For some reason, there is also a live version of Are Friends Electric which may have been a cynical lure to get people interested in an album that was always going to have very limited appeal.
Although the material from these 9 years had limited commercial success compared to his earlier albums, they are not all bad and there was some excellent music produced by Gary Numan during this time.
Most of the releases during this time was put out on Gary’s own Numa label but with poor album sales and expensive tours Numan was almost bankrupt at the end of this period when Machine + Soul was released. It is ironic though that the final release on Numa was the Sacrifice album which began the resurgence both critically and commercially.
In conclusion, this is not a bad summary of the period mentioned in the title but its unlikely to win any new fans.
My first selection is the opening track from the album, I Can’t Stop, a song that originally featured on the 1996 album Strange Charm. A edited version was released as a single and hit number 27 in the UK singles chart. As was the case at the time there are prominent female backing vocals and a heavy, percussive synth bass sound which gave the music a hard edge and the iconic “cold” Numan atmosphere.
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