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Magnum, On The Thirteenth Day. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

On The Thirteenth Day…Magnum was created to rock the socks off die-hard rock and Progressive fans alike.

The new album from the legendary Midlands band follows a trend of superb albums by the group since they reformed in 2001 after a few years away and on various other projects. From 2004’s Brand New Mourning onwards, Magnum have notched up four excellent albums on the bounce and now On The Thirteenth Day joins that run of success and firmly establishes once and for all that Magnum should be seen as one of the best British Rock bands of all time.

Magnum, On The Thirteenth Day. Album Review. full post

(422 words, 1 image, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

Deacon Blue, The Hipsters. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.

L.S.Media Rating ****

When Raintown was released 25 years ago Deacon Blue strode aloft the pop world and made sure that the finality of the 1980’s British music lovers had another band that would be remembered fondly and for good reason. Now 25 years later and ten years elapsing since their last studio album, Deacon Blue have returned with all guns blazing and produced a record of incredible quality befitting the past and yet sounding new and exciting.

Deacon Blue, The Hipsters. Album Review. full post

(362 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Paul Carrack, Good Feeling. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Paul Carrack’s latest offering is quite simply one to savour. Good Feeling is not only the name of this excellent album but also the mood it generates as the various pieces of music drift over you is akin to the very best waking dreams and nights in front of a roaring and comforting fire.

Paul Carrack, Good Feeling. Album Review. full post

(377 words, 1 image, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

No Doubt, Push And Shove. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.

L.S.Media Rating *****

Gwen Stefani is back where she really belongs, back behind the microphone of one of the most original bands to come out of America in the last 20 years and seemingly having fun again with her three No Doubt male members.

No Doubt, Push And Shove. Album Review. full post

(452 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Steve Harris, British Lion. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 26th 2012.

L.S. Media rating ***

British Lion, two words that pretty much sum up Iron Maiden’s founder member and bass player Steve Harris. The writer of a plethora of songs from the British heavy kings has cemented Steve Harris as one of the godfathers of Heavy Metal and quite rightly so.

Now 22 years after his Iron Maiden band mate Bruce Dickinson released his debut album Tattooed Millionaire, Steve Harris has joined forces with Richard Taylor, David Hawkins, Grahame Leslie and Simon Dawson to produce an album that, might not roar like the beast it is represented by but also certainly doesn’t mew like a frightened kitten.

Steve Harris, British Lion. Album Review. full post

(388 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Green Day, Uno. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.

Away from the last two Rock Opera specific albums that Green Day produced, the American band always managed to produce very good albums without straying too far from they stood for. Dookie was very cool and its follow up of Insomniac a step up to the big league.

This is the first of three albums due out in the next few months and worries that the group that bought such excellent songs as Wake Me Up When September Ends, the phenomenal Jesus of Suberbia and 21 Guns, have taken on a project too far look founded and it is enough to make a stone heart weep and their detractors making even louder noises of derision.

Green Day, Uno. Album Review. full post

(404 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Dexy’s, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.


Kevin Rowland at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally Published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

When the band formally known as Dexy’s Midnight Runners announced there was finally going to be a new album for their fans to listen to and digest song by song, few would have guessed what was coming. Many may have hoped for the type of music that made the band one of the most talked about and iconic of the early 1980’s. What they got was something beyond their wildest dreams and Dexy’s, as they now are, were reborn.

Dexy’s, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. full post

(482 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

David Broad, Never Can Tell. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 24th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

David Broad is one serious find when it comes to new music and yet his influences are more in keeping with the country and blues legends of the 20’s and 30’s and his new album Never Can Tell reflects this perfectly.

For someone who may be an unknown quantity in his native home, David has played in some very far reaching places whilst he has perfected a very obvious talent. From London and Brighton to Paris and Memphis, on a porch in Mississippi to the stage of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, if travel does indeed broaden the mind, then not only is David’s surname in keeping but his music is as well.

David Broad, Never Can Tell. Album Review. full post

(344 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Peter Gabriel, Up. 10th Anniversary Retrospective.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 23rd 2012.

For fans of Peter Gabriel, Up,the seventh solo studio released by the ex-lead singer of Genesis, may be a hard one to attune to, to empathise with or even in some cases like.

This seems harsh on a man whose innovative approach to music has seen him lauded and applauded. From his early days with Genesis, through the grand scale of such works as Supper’s Ready, Selling England By The Pound and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and into his own solo career with the eponymous self titled albums and finally the riveting and extraordinary So, he touched so many minds and hearts with his incredible lyrics and mind for the utter dramatic and search for some sort of mythical musical lost city of gold.

Peter Gabriel, Up. 10th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(930 words, 1 image, estimated 3:43 mins reading time)

The Wedding Singer, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal.

The cast of The Wedding Singer. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 22nd 2012.

L. S. Media Rating ***

Cast: Michael John Griesen, Cameron Jones, Anthony Mackin, Katie Speakman, Jennie Scully, Gary Lamb, Jean Aspinall, Diane Glover, Ann Connolly, James Kirby.

It is always a challenge transferring any successful film to the stage, adapting it, playing with idea but never straying very far from what it was that made it that sensation in the first place. The Wedding Singer is no different to say Legally Blonde or Spamalot in that respect and for the Pilkington Musical Theatre, The Wedding Singer was a joy to perform and to watch.

The Wedding Singer, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal. full post

(442 words, 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)