Album Of The Week

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 - 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 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 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 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

No Place Like Home – Big Country

 

This week we have the 5^th 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.

 

 Enjoy

 

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 - 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 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 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 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

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. 

 

 Enjoy

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 - 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 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 - 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

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.

 

Enjoy

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 - Update

Due to a family circumstance there will a break in the album of the week blog until Saturday 13th April.

Thanks to all that have followed my blog and I will be back soon.

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 - 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 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

Fuck The System – The Exploited

 

This week we have the 8^th 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 - 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 - 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 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 2

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

Wild Mood Swings – The Cure

This weeks album takes us back to 1996 and the 10^th 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.

 

 

Enjoy