Kate Bush, 50 Words For Snow. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 23rd 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

If there is an enigmatic enigma in music world then that title truly belongs to Kate Bush. It’s been years since the voice of Wuthering Heights, Cloudbusting and Running up that Hill released an album, now in the space of a mere few months, she produces and delivers a second one. This honest, charming and beautiful album, 50 Words for Snow is a bold and inspiring new direction for the woman whose voice broke a million hearts and has soared higher than any before or since.

Kate Bush, 50 Words For Snow. Album Review. full post

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

Doctor Who, The Witch From The Well. Big Finish Audio Play 154, A Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 27th 2011.

Cast : Paul McGann, Julie Cox, Simon Rouse, Andrew Havill, Serena Evans, Lisa Kay, Alix Wilton Regan, Kevin Trainor

L.S.Media Rating ****

The Witch from the Well is the second of Paul McGann’s Doctor Who stories since he returned to the main canon of stories and away from a four year stint in his own series of audio plays. There has been talk in recent weeks of a new film being bandied around various forums and in some national newspapers and if the audio plays that Mr. McGann have been involved with since being lured to Big Finish and reprise his role as the eighth Doctor, if the man’s work is anything to go by and if the talk of a new movie comes to fruition then the producers could do a lot worse than give Paul McGann another shot as the time travelling detective.

Doctor Who, The Witch From The Well. Big Finish Audio Play 154, A Review. full post

(636 words, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

The Christians, Gig Review. Eric’s, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 27th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

The Christians music may be soulful, laid back and with a message delivered in the song that few can come close to matching, however just because a band may sound serene on C.D. doesn’t mean that their gigs are nothing short of exciting and jaw  dropping.

Mix that in with the heady and close atmosphere of Eric’s and the result is one of a powder keg of brilliant music, stunning vocals and just that little fission that makes nights like this worth going out and getting a taste of the Liverpool nightlife and those that inhabit it.

The Christians, Gig Review. Eric’s, Liverpool. full post

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

Sound of Cancer, No Vampires in Gilroy. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 27th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

The name Alexx Calise might not mean a lot to the music lovers in Britain, yet. However this multi-talented woman who has had two critically acclaimed solo albums including the tremendous In Avanti has teamed up Dennis Morehouse to form the band Sound of Cancer and the result is astonishing. The combination of these two separate and maverick style musicians have produced an album of such daring and insanely good quality that it makes you wonder why it took so long to come up with No Vampires in Gilroy. 

Sound of Cancer, No Vampires in Gilroy. Album Review. full post

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

Bryan Adams, Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool. Gig Review.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 29th 2011.

L. S. Media Rating ****

If there are any albums that summed up the great sea change in the way that rock music was presented and looked upon 20 years ago, then music lovers need only look at the at the music of Bryan Adams and Nirvana. Bryan Adams released his Waking Up the Neighbours album after stunning success with the ballad (Everything I Do), I Do It For You. This song captivated the romantic hearts of the single buying music lovers and stayed at number one for an amazing 16 weeks. By the time his album came out, Britain’s youth culture was falling in love with a Seattle Grunge band in the shape of Nirvana.

Bryan Adams, Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool. Gig Review. full post

(664 words, 1 image, estimated 2:39 mins reading time)

Staus Quo, Roy Wood, Kim Wilde: Quo Fest. Gig Review, Liverpool Echo Arena.

Roy Wood rocking the Echo Arena. photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

One of the final songs of the evening summed up totally the reaction of the strong and enthusiastic crowd the whole evening. Whatever You Want indeed! Billed as Quo Fest, it was certainly a celebration of three great styles of music; dynamic, soaring and full of tunes designed to make you stand up all night and dance the night away.

Staus Quo, Roy Wood, Kim Wilde: Quo Fest. Gig Review, Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(906 words, 1 image, estimated 3:37 mins reading time)

Cinderella. Mop! In the Name of Love,Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

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

L.S. Media Rating *****

Cast: Rebecca Bainbridge, Jonny Bower, Carla Freeman, Robert Gilbert, Adam Keast, Chris Lindon, Kate Marlais, Griffen Stevens, Francis Tucker, Sarah Vezmar.

Dust off the tuxedo, air the sparkly gown and make sure that over the festive period you get down to the Playhouse Theatre and take in the spirit of the Everyman Theatre’s traditional and outrageously funny Rock and Roll Panto, Cinderella, Mop! In the Name of Love.

Cinderella. Mop! In the Name of Love,Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(562 words, 1 image, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Go West, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 15th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Even after 26 years, the musicians and vocalist that make up the band Go West, still have the power to entertain and thrill with their infectious lyrics and well delivered music accompaniment.

Admittedly the band took time from recording and touring out between 1992 and the start of the 21st Century, however time has not diminished the voice of Peter Cox and the ability of Richard Drummie to write exceptional new tunes and return to the early days of their career.

Go West, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(341 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Doctor Who, Army Of Death. Big Finish Audio Play 155 review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 18th 2011

Cast: Paul McGann, Julie Cox, David Harewood, Carolyn Pickles, Eva Pope, Mitch Benn, Joanna Christie, Trevor Cooper.

Army of Death is the final release of 2011 and brings together Paul McGann and Julie Cox together for the third time. After the two previous stories, The Silver Turk and The Witch from the Well, being so well written and crafted together, there could be a drop off in the style, a rush to get this season’s trilogy over with and for Big Finish to concentrate on the next set of stories involving Colin Baker’s Doctor and his new companion.

Doctor Who, Army Of Death. Big Finish Audio Play 155 review. full post

(608 words, 1 image, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows. Film Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 21st 2011.L.S. Media Rating *****

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Paul Anderson, Geraldine James.

Everybody has their favourite Sherlock Holmes. It’s a question that gets asked frequently alongside, “So, who is your favourite Bond?” Conversations in pubs go on for hours up and down the country as each generation extols the virtue of, to their mind, the best person to portray the great detective Sherlock Holmes. The one with the best flaws, the little defects that make the man’s mind so fascinating. Of course it could depend on what era you grew up in. To a previous generation before my own, you hear the dulcet tones of Basil Rathbone being mooted, like a fine whisky that’s been kept in a special reserve for 40 years and only opened after a long and protracted battle of wits. There can be no escaping his clutches once you open the bottle.

Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows. Film Review. full post

(888 words, estimated 3:33 mins reading time)