Category Archives: Music

Train, California 37. Album Review.

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

L.S. Media Rating **

Train have finally released their sixth studio album, California 37, and in small parts it was well worth the three year wait that fans of this American folk rock band have had to endure.

The parts that work well, have a delightful and attention seeking quality that rarely gets played, or even a second thought this side of the Atlantic but in the United States of America can seem two a penny and for that it is a shame. For what can seem sometimes fresh and a tad exciting in Heswall or Coventry is already inducing boredom in Texas or Philadelphia.

Train, California 37. Album Review. full post

(401 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

All We Are, We Hunt. E.P. Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

All We Are…are simply phenomenal and this comes across in the new E.P. We Hunt which was launched at the unlikely setting of St. Brides Church in Liverpool. Accompanied by an extremely good video for the song Trainspotting which delves into the world of 1940’s Film Noir, We Hunt is an E.P. that deserves nothing but the highest praise.

All We Are, We Hunt. E.P. Review. full post

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

Jack White, Blunderbuss. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S.Media. May 2nd 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Jack White has long since departed The White Stripes, has dabbled with various artists, other bands including The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, Bob Dylan, Norah Jones; and for all that is known, Uncle Tom Cobley and his eclectic band of English nursery rhymes.

Jack White, Blunderbuss. Album Review. full post

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

Stephen Langstaff, Colours. Album Review.

Stephen Langstaff. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally by L.S. Media.  May 3rd 2012.L.S. Media Rating *****

Stephen Langstaff has come a long way in such a short space of time, it’s a wonder that he has found the time to stand still and reflect on his life so far, let alone go into the studio and come out with a stunning album that does justice to his prestigious talent but also features one of the finest Roy Orbison covers ever recorded.

Stephen Langstaff, Colours. Album Review. full post

(402 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The Hollies, Radio Fun. Album Review.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Among the many things to thank the B.B.C. for, somewhere near the very top should be that unlike the amount of early pioneering television programmes that were wiped to save money and space, at least the corporation managed to have the foresight to know where they could lay their hands on the early recordings of some of the more influential pop groups of the sixties.

The Hollies, Radio Fun. Album Review. full post

(461 words, 1 image, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

Damon Albarn, Dr Dee. Album Review.

Originally blished by L.S. Media. May 8th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ***

Damon Albarn is one of those musicians that made his name in the 90’s and managed with some skill and incredible fortitude to remain vital and interesting in whatever project he had his eye on next.

From the heady days of Blur and the unforgettable public spats with Oasis and the Gallagher brothers and the Brit Pop culture explosion to the remarkable fusion of the ground breaking rock animation and slightly disturbing nature of Gorillaz to his debut album Dr Dee, it seems that the man who gave the nation songs such as Country House, Tracy Jacks, Dirty Harry and Clint Eastwood has now set his eyes on a higher, more lofty enterprise.

Damon Albarn, Dr Dee. Album Review. full post

(457 words, 1 image, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

Graham Gouldman, Love and Work. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 10th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

There’s something comforting about hearing an old master return to the studio and release a brand new album of songs. Songs that strike a chord in the heartstrings and gives the listener the realisation that no matter the public may think from time to time, there is always a place for the older statesmen of British Rock to make excellent music.

Graham Gouldman, Love and Work. Album Review. full post

(470 words, 1 image, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

The Small Faces, Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. 2012 Reissue.

L.S. Media Rating *****

Arguably, 1968 was a fantastic year for music. With artists such as Aretha Franklin and her album Lady Soul, Moody Blues and their opus of In Search of the Lost Chord, Pink Floyd’s A Saucerful of Secrets and Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World all making a deep impact onto the record buying publics purse strings that year, surely the stand out album was Britain’s premier Psychedelic Rock band, The Small Faces and their album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake.

The Small Faces, Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. 2012 Reissue. full post

(696 words, 1 image, estimated 2:47 mins reading time)

Morten Harket, Out Of My Hands. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 14th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ***

Morten Harket’s music always seems to grab you more when he is being personal and open with his lyrics than most of his musical compatriots from the 1980’s teen idol, music video-raised era.

The former Norwegian heartthrob to a million girls via the band A-Ha has come a long way since the days of Hunting High and Low and the single that kicked off the band’s good fortune, the popular and extremely catchy Take on Me. Even with A-Ha ‘s last release in 2009, Morten Harket sounds more relaxed and true to his original ethos on his new album, Out of my Hands, than he has done throughout the whole of his career.

Morten Harket, Out Of My Hands. Album Review. full post

(495 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Garbage, Not Your Kind Of People. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 14th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

There was a time when it could have been conceivable to anyone who cared about music during the 90’s and away from the whole faux Brit-pop sideshow that seemed to dominate news item after news item, that the band Garbage might just be the ones to save music from digesting its own hype.

Garbage, Not Your Kind Of People. Album Review. full post

(463 words, 1 image, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)