New Ear Candy Again
Another Selection of Albums New to The Ebbers CD Library
Some new seedees from the past few months.
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Kicking off with the incredibly heavily-rotated on Radio 2 "Radio Nowhere", this album rocks it's way through a hearty selection of tunes played only like the E-Street Band can play. There's something for everyone on here and it all sounds great, the current favourite for me being "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" with it's lovely chorus harmonies and swinging verses.
It's a big, friendly beast of an album which I currently cannot get enough of for some reason and I heartily recommend it to anyone who liked the "Born to Run" era of The Boss's work.
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
The new one from Ms Tunstall. Generally a great album, although not quite as good as the debut, or even the "Acoustic Extravaganza" CD. The songs are all good, but I think that the album runs out of steam a little towards the end. This is not to say that the album is crap, because it is far from. The songs all sound great and she is in fine voice, but it all gets a little slow eventually.
One great praise for this release though is the packaging of the special edition of the album. The photography and artwork is lovely and really does feel nice to hold in the hand with it's very "touchy-feely" recycled paper casing. There's also a DVD of which I've not managed to get a chance to watch yet which I'm hoping is as good as the "Acoustic Extravaganza" documentary.
I think that this one will benefit from a few more plays yet... I'll get back to you!
Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction
People have seemed to have not been too welcoming to this record so far from some of the reviews I've seen so far, but I think that it all sounds fine to my little ears. There are some interesting tunes on it and it's all performed as beautifully as you would expect from any work by Lennox.
Buddy Rich - Big Swing Face
In my continuing quest to try and see just how shitty a drummer I am, I've been playing this album a lot and listening to the true drum master. There's some frightening stuff on here, as you would well expect, with amazing arrangements of songs like "Norwegian Wood" really powering along. I think my favourite song on here though is "The Beat Goes On" with a twelve year old Cathy Rich taking the lead vocals on with great swing and sass!
Burning for Buddy Vol.1 and Vol.2
After reading about this project in Neil Peart's books and hearing so much about it from other places, I went for it and shelled out for both CDs. Yet again, it's another set of performances that make we realise just what it takes to be a great player. The calibre of talent on here is so high that it's ridiculous and it's a great testiment to the legend of Buddy Rich that it takes a whole heap of other players to play what one man first laid down.
The music on here is definately not rock, but the playing is powerful and totally rocking, if you see what I mean. Even the slower numbers are so swinging and lovely. The fact that so many different players take the drum throne doesn't make things too disjointed either, as the different styles and approaches bring the songs alive so well. Stand out moments for me include Peart's "One O'Clock Jump", which he uses in his Rush solo's these days and turns by Manu Katche.
Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman - 1
Review to follow.
Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman - 2
A selection of numbers from the Equation "stars". The songs on here are all impecably produced and performed by the duo with help from brother Seth and some other friends from the Equation band. The music is low-key and laid back with some lovely singing from Roberts and strong playing from Lakeman. This is a great contempory folk album.
Equation - First Name Terms
This poppy-folky rock album from Sean Lakeman and Kathryn Roberts' band has more influences from American music on it than on previous recording apparently, but it's still a very English-sounding record in the choice of instruments and the great performances on the songs. It's all quite boppy in places, but the songs are all strong and it's an entertaining listen. There are guest appearances from most of the Lakeman family and past Equation members such as Cara Dillon on here. So it's a family affair!
I think I prefer the Roberts/Lakeman album, but it's all good stuff and worth a spin.
Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Collection
An excellent release from Rhino which combines both albums by the Wilbury boys with some added songs and and excellent DVD of extras to watch including a fine documentary, which includes interview footage of the late Roy Orbison and George Harrison. The music is all great fun and you can tell that the participants had a whale of a time recording the songs. The warmth and friendship between the band really shines through and makes this a great listen with no real downer points during the album. Even though the set is two albums put together, it rattles along nicely and is a lot of fun.
Evanescence - Open Door
More of the same, only a bit more boring from Amy Lee and band. It's all OK, but it's totally overblown and not as engaging as "Fallen" was. There's not much charm to it, just a long bunch of whining. Put it this way, I'm glad I got it, but I'm glad I got it cheap. The presentation of the CD is great though.
Fish - 13th Star
This album was always going to be a difficult one to approach, especially with all the negative publicity involving Da Fish and his relationship and subsequent break-up. The songs sure do reflect what went on during the making of the album, but that's not to say that it totally takes over the project. The music is generally really great and carries on with the recent explorations into "groove music", as Mr Dick would put it himself. The album is quite heavy in places, but also has some passages of really delicacy and beauty. I think I prefer "Raingods With Zippos" to this one, but this album is a totally worthy addition to a Fish CD collection and to the man himself's back catalogue.
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
A good collection of tunes from Sir Macca which opens with the bubbly "Dance Tonight" and rattles along nicely. I prefer this album to "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" myself even if some of the songs seem to pick up where that (not to shabby) album left off.
Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch
This slice of al-country rock, or whatever label it falls into, from the ex-Drive By Truckers member is a great selection of music. The material is all top-notch, varied in style and only takes one listen to fall for it. If you are a fan of the DBTs, then this is well worth grabbing.
Bon Jovi - Lost Highway
Ahhhh, so finally it happens, the "Bon Jovi Goes Country" album! The verdict? Well, it's not as shite as I thought it may be, put it that way. There's some decent tunes on there, "You Want To Make a Memory" being the best for me with it's sultry ballad stylings. "New Jersey" this definately ain't and if you're looking for an album with a similar feel or one that follows on perfectly from "Have a Nice Day", then don't bother with this. If you're just interested in hearing how the Jove like to experiment with the "Nashville Sound", then go for it.
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© 2006 Graham T. Ebbrell