Category Archives: Music

The Kill Van Kulls, Gig Review. The Liverpool Academy of Arts. Liverpool Sound City.

The Kill Van Kulls. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 20th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

The Liverpool Academy of the Arts opened up their Saturday spectacle for the Sound City Festival with a very impressive band from the Greater Manchester area, The Kill Van Kulls.

Alongside the Matthew Street Festival over the August bank holiday, Liverpool Sound City offers the chance for upcoming bands to show why they should be taken seriously. Following on from some incredible performances by really outstanding artists on Thursday and Friday, it was time for The Kill Van Kulls to show their mettle and give some really special attitude to the audience of The Liverpool Academy of Arts.

The Kill Van Kulls, Gig Review. The Liverpool Academy of Arts. Liverpool Sound City. full post

(385 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Joe Bonamassa, Driving Towards The Daylight. Album Review

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

L.S. Media Rating *****

If there is one thing you need to know about Joe Bonamassa and his music, certainly above most other facts about him, is that no matter what, in everything he does, he pretty much succeeds in getting you to believe he is one of the greatest guitarist ever.

This should not be taken as an endless glib statement that ends up in debates where people list millions of other guitarists worth their salt, the bottom line is that the 13th album in 12 short and prolific years have led to possibly the career defining album in Driving Towards The Daylight.

Joe Bonamassa, Driving Towards The Daylight. Album Review full post

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

Gaz Coombes, Here Come The Bombs. Album Review.

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

L.S. Media Rating ****

The name may say Gaz Coombes on the front of the album sleeve for Here Comes The Bombs, but it feels a long way from the days when his group Supergrass were one of the darlings of the Brit Pop phenomenon and they he and the band were a highlight of many a festival bill.

Gaz Coombes, Here Come The Bombs. Album Review. full post

(417 words, 1 image, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Walter Trout, Blues For The Modern Daze. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S Media. May 27th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

When it comes to modern day-post war Blues guitarists, few can touch Walter Trout. With the very obvious exception of Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout stands above most giants of the genre and his latest album Blues For The Modern Daze is a testimony to the longevity and brilliance of the man’s work and sheer volume of work he has been associated with.

Walter Trout, Blues For The Modern Daze. Album Review. full post

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

Paloma Faith, Fall To Grace. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 29th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Paloma Faith has the uncanny knack of making even the most uplifting music appear dull in comparison to her stunning voice and lyrics that scream genuine and absolute desire to be taken seriously as one of the leaders of everything anti-pop.

Paloma Faith, Fall To Grace. Album Review. full post

(407 words, 1 image, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Scissor Sisters, Magic Hour. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 29th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

With the Scissor Sisters fourth studio album Magic Hour, it most certainly is the absolute truth; that if it isn’t broken then why bother getting the decorators round to spruce up the place.

Scissor Sisters have been reduced to a four piece for a couple of albums now but the sound and disco sure fire hits have not diminished, if anything, on Magic Hour the drive that propelled the band forward and suffered slightly on Tah-Dah has gained more momentum. The rhythms and insanely likeable underlying beats that pervade the songs mean they thrust the music into another level that the group’s first hit of Laura suggested they would eventually attain.

Scissor Sisters, Magic Hour. Album Review. full post

(468 words, 1 image, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

Ultravox, Brilliant. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 29th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

For anyone who caught Ultravox on the last tour or even Midge Ure’s much coveted solo gigs in the last few years, it really won’t come as any surprise to find that the first studio album by the band in 18 years is nothing short of sensational.

Ultravox, Brilliant. Album Review. full post

(439 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

John O’ Connell, Gig Review. The Palm House, Sefton Park, Liverpool.

The Palm House in Liverpool, setting for John O’ Connell’s gig.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 5th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

The Palm House that resides within the comfort of Sefton Park provided the perfect setting for John O’ Connell, Liverpool’s own urban troubadour, to perform to an audience that simply was blown away by him and his excellent set of musicians.

John O’ Connell, Gig Review. The Palm House, Sefton Park, Liverpool. full post

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

The Beach Boys, That’s Why God Made The Radio. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media.  June 9th 2012

L.S. Media Rating ****

The world may have moved on, a different vibe purveys the charts and the streets of the American west coast and more importantly the music scene.  Somehow though, no matter what the decade, The Beach Boys make it possible to believe that summer is never that far away.

The Beach Boys, That’s Why God Made The Radio. Album Review. full post

(409 words, 1 image, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Paul Simon, Graceland. 25th Anniversary Edition Release. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 9th 2012.

There can be little doubt that Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland is one of the most important that the former folk singer ever recorded.

Not only did it give a new lease of life to a flagging career after the not well received Hearts and Bones but almost single handed introduced the wider world to the music of South Africa that was still being repressed by the apartheid regime in power at the time.

Paul Simon, Graceland. 25th Anniversary Edition Release. Album Review. full post

(626 words, 1 image, estimated 2:30 mins reading time)