Originally published by L.S. Media. September 14th 2012.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
If any proof were needed that you don’t have to have been born in America, be past the age of 30, nor have been born male to understand or more importantly feel how the blues can be played, audiences need look no further than Midlands raised Joanne Shaw Taylor and her incredible new album, Almost Always Never.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 13th 2012.
The question that some people who follow these type of things closely will be asking, is Momentumpossibly the best thing that Progressive Rock stalwart Neal Morse has ever given to the world? The follow up will no doubt be “why the long wait?”
The new album is arguably one of the finest albums that Neal has ever had a part in, the best though? Perhaps with the exception of The Whirlwind by Transatlantic and the 2002 album by Spock’s Beard Snow, then undoubtedly it is pretty darn close. It takes time to feel comfortable, to be in a space where you are not just going through the day to day motions or perceived monotony in which to produce an album which stands out, especially in the world of Progressive Rock.
Originally published by L.S.Media. September 12th 2012.
Whatever accusation you throw at Hugh Cornwell, boring and banal are the superlatives that should not ever be amongst them.
Since leaving The Stranglers in 1990, Hugh’s song-writing has stretched people’s intellectual knowledge and meant the freedom to enjoy a good song for what it is worth. He has produced albums that the listener either will adore and the songs much called for during his live set or frustrate with their alleged simplicity and lyrical content. Such is life and Hugh more than likely won’t care which camp you end up in. The same will be felt for Hugh’s new album Totem and Taboo. It will frustrate and please in equal measure and even though Hugh’s back catalogue reflects his time in the profession with a smile, there are times when even a fan will shudder. Totem and Taboo somehow manages to still have the raw inner anger in his compositions that endears him to a certain section of music lovers.
First published by L.S. Media. September 12th 2012.
It might not have the distinctive feel of her earlier albums such as The Kick Inside or Never For Ever or even the later album released in 1985, the sensational Hounds of Love but The Dreamingdeserves to be recognised as album of sheer incredible artistry by the elusive Kate Bush.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 8th 2012.
Normally an album can leave you feeling as exhilarated and insanely happy as almost anything you have ever experienced, sometimes the opposite is true, the melancholy that is there parading through every track on the album, doesn’t necessarily make you despondent but it will grab your attention and the mixture of melancholy and joy is a mix that very few artists manage to pull off.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 8th 2012.
Two albums in a matter of days by the some of the kings of Progressive Rock may have had fans of the genre in apoplexy, a state of progressive nirvana that would see them upbeat about the state and nature of Progressive rock towards the end of the 1980’s. For some the disappointment of Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reasonwas coupled with how Progressive Rock would fare in the brave new world of resurgent electronica music and soap stars becoming music personalities.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 7th 2012.
A Momentary Lapse of Reason was the first Pink Floyd album since Roger Waters had left the band in 1985 and it didn’t nearly happen. Originally intended as a David Gilmour solo album, Momentary… suddenly became a vehicle for David Gilmour to show that the Pink Floyd name wasn’t dead and buried, “a spent force” as Roger Waters had suggested. Joined by drummer Nick Mason, the only member of Floyd to have played on every album, Momentary… was for the new look Floyd as The Final Cutwas for the band as they started to disintegrate and ultimately go their own way.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 6th 2012.
It is considered amongst one of the finest of the band’s long recording history and for fans of the Pet Shops Boys it is regarded as almost near perfect as is possible for them to have achieved.
On the 25th anniversary of the album’s release, Actually still stands as almost required listening, not just to the huge fan base that the Pet Shop Boys have garnered and kept over the period of time but to any historian or lover of music genres.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 2nd 2012.
In 1992 Tori Amos released her debut solo album Little Earthquakes and in amongst the battle ground between the dying days of 1980’s preening rock stars, the new wave of grunge and the coming of so called super celebrity music. The music, always evolving always up for musical comment and commitment to the latest music cause looked to dragging out in a three way battle that ultimately has led to none being hailed as loudly as Tori Amos, the first woman of 1990’s music.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 1st 2012.
When looking back at the work of Roger Waters, it is of course impossible to leave aside the time he spent with Pink Floyd. The legendary Progressive Rock king’s output had been prodigious and ground breaking with Roger being the main songwriter behind some of the group’s work in the post Syd Barrett era. His solo career though, the music he created after leaving the band as the thoughts of winding up the group completely was not to be considered in the same vein and by some not fit to mentioned in the same breath as say Animals, The Wall or Wish You Were Here.