The Alarm, Direct Action. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 18th 2010.

Once more The Alarm release an album full of social commentary, hard hitting lyrics that will make you stop and think and above all, music that will make you want to sing along and go with the flow.

The album Direct Action seems like a wonderful reminder of the band’s previous releases, not only in name, but in the way the band have pieced the tracks together to show how little society has moved on in the years since the band unleashed their debut album Declaration onto an unsuspecting public in 1984.

The Alarm, Direct Action. Album Review. full post

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

Meat Loaf, Hang Cool Teddy Bear. Album review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 19th 2010.

Almost 40 years since his first foray into the music business, larger than life showman Meat Loaf has released his 11th studio album, bizarrely titled, Hang Cool Teddy Bear.

More importantly it the fourth studio album that the singer has had no collaboration with Jim Steinman, and in parts it shows that however much Meat Loaf is a talent in his own right, the one person who truly understands him and the best out of out of him is Steinman.

Meat Loaf, Hang Cool Teddy Bear. Album review. full post

(380 words, 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Sweet, Sweet Lies, Gig Review. Mojo Bar, Liverpool.

photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 21st 2010.

There are so many young talented bands currently doing the bars, clubs and smaller venues at the moment that you can easily get lost in the maze of angst ridden lyrics, fading, dashed dreams and get soaked in the sweat of hope and insecurity.

One such band that won’t have any of those problems is Brighton’s six piece, Sweet, Sweet Lies , whose very presence at Mojo’s dwarfed others who would have felt lost in the close confines of the narrow stage and proximity to the enthusiastic audience.

Sweet, Sweet Lies, Gig Review. Mojo Bar, Liverpool. full post

(303 words, 1 image, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

Idlewild, Gig Review. The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 24th 2010.

There is only one thing better than catching a band on top form for a gig and that is to see them at few venues during the tour and know for certain that the band have been on fire for the vast majority of it.

Idlewild played Liverpool during the Summer Pops last year and since then they have been busy recording and promoting the latest studio album Post Electric Blues. With that in mind, it is nothing less than stunning to see them play with such dedication to the music and to the audience, some who have travelled the country with them, never letting up on their devotion to arguably one of the finest bands to have survived the late nineties music scene.

Idlewild, Gig Review. The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. full post

(365 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

The Bad Shepherds, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 26th 2010.

Perhaps it is appropriate that The Bad Shepherds are touring at the moment, for nobody would have possibly enjoyed the nod to creativity of The Bad Shepherds to folk up classic punk tracks than Malcolm Mclaren who sadly passed away earlier this month.

In salute to the man behind the Sex Pistols the band opened up an evening of skilful toned down music with the fitting song Anarchy in the U.K. and The Smiths’ lament Panic. There will be those that have never really been fans of The Smiths but to hear this particular song being played by the genius insanity that is Adrian Edmondson would have been a joy to behold.

The Bad Shepherds, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead. full post

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

Chronicles Of Long Kesh, Play Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2010.

Cast: Billy Clarke, Chris Corrigan, Marty Maguire, Andy Moore, Marc O’Shea, David Craig, Paul Boyd, Conleth White, Paul Burke, Elaine Barnes, Deidre Ashe.

Carefully mixing humour with the despair and hope, The Chronicles of Long Kesh is possibly one of the most important plays to have come to Liverpool.

Superbly written by Martin Lynch, the play deals with the dark days of the seventies and early eighties when the troubles in Ireland were hitting new lows and the relationships between neighbours were more than strained.

Chronicles Of Long Kesh, Play Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(413 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

The Floe, No Looking Back. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2010.

No Looking Back is the startling debut album by The Floe. Sensual, beautifully crafted and full of little surprises that will jolt you occasionally from the relative tranquility you will feel when you first play the album.

It is one of those albums that upon first listen will make you think that the world is a good place and nothing much can go wrong with it. Scratch underneath the surface though and listen closer to the lyrics and you will find a roller coaster of emotions waiting to be explored, dissected and enjoyed. This is especially true on the songs One Deep Breath and the lamentable Playing Safe; both songs capture the imagination and the subtleness of the music superbly.

The Floe, No Looking Back. Album Review. full post

(248 words, 1 image, estimated 1:0 mins reading time)

The Reasoning, Adverse Camber. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2010.

There is an old saying that goes “If it isn’t broke, don’t change it”. The Reasoning sort of hold true to that adage for the third studio album Adverse Camber, what they have done instead is taken all that they have learned over the last few years and gone one better. The result is an album full of great, solid and cleverly written songs that screams for your attention from the moment you press the play button.

The Reasoning, Adverse Camber. Album Review. full post

(329 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

The Alarm, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool.

The Alarm in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 4th 2010

The last night of a tour is always quite emotional for any band, but for Mike Peters and the Alarm it is always special when they finish their tour in Liverpool. Mike has a lot of affection for this city and it comes through in a lot of the lyrics that the band has written over the years.

The Alarm, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool. full post

(451 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Hugh Cornwell, Gig Review. Gloucester Civic Hall.

Hugh Cornwell in action. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 17th 2010.

One of the joys of travelling around the country to see musicians ply their trade is that sometimes you get to go to a completely new venue in a brand new city. For the first time as a fan of music I had the pleasure of visiting Gloucester Civic Hall to see Hugh Cornwell on his latest tour and I wasn’t disappointed by the venue or the man behind some of the iconic songs of his generation.

Hugh Cornwell, Gig Review. Gloucester Civic Hall. full post

(449 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)