Category Archives: Music

R.E.M., Collapse Into Now. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 9th 2011.

R.E.M have made many notable and groundbreaking albums over the years, so many in fact that their fan base have been spoilt by the richness and depth of the recordings, with many different styles and themes running through each individually tailored album there has been a lot to like and admire of the Georgia band.

Collapse into now is an album that should have followed suit and been amongst the very best that this once mighty band have produced. However with a few exceptions, notably on Oh My Heart and Every day is Yours to Win which sees the band at their melancholic, delightful best, the album seems cliché ridden, desperate to please and tired.

R.E.M., Collapse Into Now. Album Review. full post

(310 words, 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

Jump, The Beachcomber. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 11th 2011.

The Beachcomber is the new studio album by British Rock Band Jump and as ever the guys never let their loyal fan base down with an album crammed with songs that are bound to become crowd pleasers when they play them live.

John Dexter Jones has been one of the best and underrated songwriters of the last twenty years, his personal and sometimes dramatic stories making their way onto albums with apparent ease and yet you know just by listening to songs such as Kingston Corner Blues which deals with the idea of people declaring their life stories on the phone in public and the incredible No One Spoke.

Jump, The Beachcomber. Album Review. full post

(359 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 11th 2011.

It is easy to see why Elbow has been one of the most talked about bands of the last ten years, with a Mercury Prize being a pinnacle of a very achieving career. With four top twenty albums on the spin, Elbow have released what could be their biggest album yet in the form of the brilliantly titles Build a Rocket Boys!

Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys. Album Review. full post

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

The Trestles, What Do You See. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 14th 2011.

If there is a young musician or group of disaffected teenagers currently playing their own music whilst holed up in garages and bedrooms of this fine musical city, if they are blinded by the injustice of the world and fear their voice is not being heard; then they need look no further than the inspiration of a band who knows all there is to know about the fine tradition of Liverpool and Merseyside protest music, The Trestles.

The Trestles, What Do You See. Album Review. full post

(322 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

Queen, Queen. Album Review (2011 Remaster).

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 19th 2011.

In 1991 the world lost one of its most favourite performers and subsequently one its favourite groups as it could be seen that they were never the same again after their charismatic leader’s death. Their melodies, rock compositions and dramatic guitar themes would become a by word for the ultimate accolades labeled upon a band when told they have an element of Queen about them.

Queen, Queen. Album Review (2011 Remaster). full post

(412 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Queen, Queen II. Album Review (2011 Remastered Edition).

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.

1974 saw the release of Queen’s second album Queen II, whereas the first album had seen the emergence of the band into the nations consciousness, Queen II saw the band experiment with the medium they would come to dominate over the next two decades.

From the album cover with its now iconic picture of the four band members faces staring out from a black background to its idea of a Side Black and Side White as opposed to sides one and two, this blurring of the idea of a rock band and the art of Progressive music became a distinct possibility as listeners were treated to the idea of an emotional (white side) theme running through the tracks and a darker, fantasy driven side that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Tolkien novel.

Queen, Queen II. Album Review (2011 Remastered Edition). full post

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

Queen, Sheer Heart Attack. Album Review. (2011 Remastered Edition)

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.

Sheer Heart Attack was the third album delivered by Queen onto the British public and the third within sixteen months. The album marks a turn in the band’s outlook and was beset with ill health and medical problems for guitarist Brain May who had been ill for the early parts of the recording.

With the band’s popularity spreading, not only in their home county where their previous album had reached the top five in the album charts, but also in the emerging markets of Australia and Japan, it is not hard to see why this particular album had all the hallmarks of one of the early classic albums by the band.

Queen, Sheer Heart Attack. Album Review. (2011 Remastered Edition) full post

(390 words, 1 image, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

Queen, A Night at the Opera. Album Review. 2011 Remastered Edition.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.

For some, the height of Queen’s studio achievements was the fourth album, A Night at the Opera. Released in the November of 1975, the album is the epitome of excellent lyric writing, musical themes to die for, that number one record and ultimate promotion technique.

Queen, A Night at the Opera. Album Review. 2011 Remastered Edition. full post

(567 words, 1 image, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

Funeral For A Friend, Welcome Home Armageddon!. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.

Funeral for a Friend’s music may be more in common with West Coast and Mid American acts than with some of their compatriots from Wales, I.E The Stereophonics and The Automatic, but their music still has the ring of Welsh confidence that has seen a resurgence in their country’s output of superb music over the last few years.

The new album has the title to die for in Welcome Home Armageddon! And whilst it may open with a self styled instrumental track in This Side of Brightness, it hides the fact that the album is full of mind crunching riffs that that will satisfy the cravings of those that may have felt a little left out in the home grown hardcore stakes recently.

Funeral For A Friend, Welcome Home Armageddon!. Album Review. full post

(334 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Queen, A Day At The Races. Album Review. 2011 Remastered Edition.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 22nd 2011.

Following on from their smash hit A Night at the Opera, Queen once more delved into the world of The Marx Brothers for inspiration for the title of their next album. They didn’t have to look too far as they chose the name that would have been next on the film list. A Day at the Races became the bands second number one album and although arguably nowhere near as strong as its four predecessors in its direction or overall feel it still marked an important change in the band’s approach and how they were looked upon.

Queen, A Day At The Races. Album Review. 2011 Remastered Edition. full post

(397 words, 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)