June's Ear Candy
New Listening for the Month
Cob was very kind to me this month, as was the internet and my buddy Pete (Cheers for the Slade!), come to think of it!
Celtic Frost
Since I was reading Thomas G. Fischer's autobiographical account of his time with The Frost up until the end of the 1990s, I thought I'd splash out on a few of their more choice releases after hearing some of their stuff from other sources.
To Mega Therion
A classic thrashy sound with a little bit of experimentation. There's a definate feel here of a band trying to push the boundaries a little here which is great. There's a lot of thrashing about and not as much way-out stuff as on the following album, even though there are the familiar elements such as operatic female backing vocals on occasions. The music is strong and powerful and very metal, and even if it's not as good as it's follow-up, it's still worth a spin.
Into the Pandemonium
A totally barmy album and the first one I spun from the band. The opening song, a cover tune "Mexican Radio" kicks things off in fine, but reasonably normal rocking fashion, but then the whole thing goes potty. There's operatic female vocals, grinding guitars, orchestras, french poetry and sample-based songs about the American space programme of the 1960s. Considering this album was originally released in 1987, a lot of it is way ahead of it's time. You get the feeling that bands like Within Temptation and Nine Inch Nails would be quite different today without the influence of stuff like this.
I was really surprised by this one and thought that I'd not really get into it, but I can't help myself... It's a winner. Even Warrior/Fischer's wierd groany vocals that he sometimes employs was not enough to have me consigning thsi gem to the shelves forever!
Vanity/Nemesis
The follow-up to "Cold Lake", which caused the band a lot of problems with the "you've sold out" crowd back in the day. This album sees the band returning to it's darker sound which is presented with a better production (to my ears, anyway).
A few more listens to this may be the key, but the material is not as striking as on "...Pandemonium". There is a tasty cover of David Bowie's "Heroes", which is fun in a churning kind of way.
Parched With Thirst Am I and Dying
Just waiting for a review!
Apollyon Sun - Sub
Just waiting for a review!
Dolores O'Riordan - Are You Listening
The Cranberries singer goes it alone on this album and delivers a strong set of suprisingly rocking songs. Whilst O'Riordan still delivers her performance with her usual vocal stylings, the band (which includes Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake bass player Marco Mendoza) powers the music along strongly and powerfully. This is not to say that the album is a thrash-fest as the mood is varied across the album from the poppy lead-off single "Ordinary Day" to the rockier "Stay With Me".
I was a little non-plussed on the first spin, but then after a few turns, it really grew on me and I've not stopped spinning it since, especially in the car where it all sounds great. The big sound of the rhythm section sounds great whilst your driving down fast roads on your hols.
Judee Sill - Abracadabra: The Asylum Years
A two-disc set comprising of the two albums ("Judee Sill" and "Heart Food") recorded in 1971 and 1973 for Island with added live tracks. This is pretty compelling stuff really, and even though Sill did sound like a muppet sometimes with the way she sang, the songs are all beautiful and the arrangements are lovely.
It's such a shame that Sill fell apart and eventually passed away as she could have been huge with the proper luck. The material on these albums is strongly recommended to those who like their Joni Mitchell and late 60s/70s Laurel Canyon music. Go get it!
Marillion - Thankyou Whoever You Are
Just waiting for a review!
Karen Matheson - Time to Fall
I can't think of much to write about this album, the second solo CD by Capercaillie's singer, apart from it's beautifully sung, impecably put together and all dreadfully nice. I think the main thing about it is that it just didn't grab me as much as her band material does. This is not to say that it's a bad record as such, just a little samey. I listened to it a few times in a tent on a sunny evening with a bottle of red and it was great accompanyment for that. If you think that's a bad thing, then you want to avoid this one.
Paul McCartney - Run Devil Run
I've had a copy of this (courtesy of me mum) for years, but there was a copy available with the interview CD for a good price, so I went for it.
This is a cracker of an album with Macca and his famous mates (including David Gilmour on axe and the mighty Ian Paice on drums) banging out old songs from the 50s and early 60s, as an exercise to get Macca out of the house after the death of Linda.
The material on here is great and is played with some gusto, which is good and allows the CD to rattle away nicely. It's a good album for a sunny afternoon when you don't want anything too heavy on, but then again you don't want something that will fade into the background.
Hughes/Thrall - Hughes/Thrall
Rocking stuff from Glenn and Pat. I've had a dodgy copy of this one forever and it's nice to actually have a "proper copy" after all this time!
There's loads to recommend on this release. From the ball-busting (I know, I know!) opener of "I've Got Your Number" to the lilt of "Coast to Coast", the whole album rattles along nicely and really does get the blood pumping. Songs of such a great standard such as "Muscle and Blood" just cannot be ignored.
The performances are great all round and it's such a shame that egos and the like couldn't have been controlled enough to let them get the second album released. I've got the demoes on bootleg somewhere and it's all solid stuff... So, go get this one if you like your 80s rock supergroups hot and heavy and volatile!
Black Stone Cherry - Black Stone Cherry
Just waiting for a review!
Slade - Alive!
A classic album, totally excellent. This album shows Slade as they should be remembered, not as a christmas-single-toting bunch of popsters, but as a rabble-rousing, tight-as-a-face-lift rock outfit who could take any audience and shake them into a frenzy. The material is all rocking and rolling and delivered with power. Holder's stage rap is also great and you can feel the audience really get into it as he talks it up during the songs.
Things start steadily enough with "Hear Me Calling", but by the time Noddy starts shouting the intro to "Get Down and Get With It", it's impossible to think that this album is anything but amazing and you wish you were in that audience.
This is an essential live album and I've gotta thank Pete for handing it over to me!
Site Accessibility
© 2006 Graham T. Ebbrell